An Improved Trolley for Taking Electric Current, applicable to the Electric Traction of Vehicles, Boats, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1898 - Accepted, 15th Apr., 1899
An Improved Trolley for Taking Electric Current, applicable to the
Electric Traction of Vehicles, Boats, and the like.
I, LOUIS LOMBARD-GERIN, of 31, Quai Saint Vincent, Lyons, in the Republic
of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:--
This invention relates to a self-propelling trolley for taking the electric
current from one or more line wires and transmitting it by a flexible conductor
to the vehicle, boat or the like driven by electricity. This arrangement has
for its object to avoid the inconveniences of taking current by the means at present
employed such as trolleys, brushes, slides and the like which are dragged by
the vehicle. These known devices are often exposed to lateral strains which may
cause them to leave the line wire and more particularly they cannot be practi-
cally adapted to electric traction on roads without rails.
My improved device for taking current, moves of itself along the line wire
and independently of the vehicle to which it is connected by a flexible conductor
of variable length, so that the carriage may freely describe all the necessary
curves without ceasing to receive the current and without the auto-car trolley
undergoing any deleterious lateral strain. Owing to this arrangement the device
for taking current is no longer connected in a more or less rigid fashion with
the vehicle to be driven, and the trolley and vehicle therefore form two apparatuses
which travel side by side and are capable of moving apart or approaching more
or less one to the other, and it is sufficient for the good working of the system
that their respective mean speeds should be rendered practically equal by any
suitable known means of regulating.
This self-propelling device for taking current may be employed equally well
for distributing electric energy by continuous, alternating or polyphase currents.
It may assume various forms and constructions.
One of the methods of carrying out my invention is shown in the accompanying
drawings, in which,
Figures 1 and 1* are front and side views respectively showing the mounting
of the apparatus on a line operated by continuous current;-
Figure 2 is a front view of a mounting for tri-phase current;
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively front and side views of the self-propelling
trolley:
Figures 5 and 6 are front and side views respectively of the dragged contact.
The self-propelling trolley is constituted as follows (see Figures 3 and 4).
It is formed of a frame-work S suspended by two rollers d and e on one of
the line wires, the lower part of which framework supports an electro motor M.
A pulley m is keyed on the shaft of the motor M, which pulley transmits its
movement by means of a chain or cord to a pulley keyed on the same shaft
as one of the rollers of the trolley, for instance that of the roller The
current for feeding the electro-motor M is taken either by the rollers de
or

page_text: by a collector or spoon a or any other suitable device ensuring a good contact.
It is evident that when the electro-motor M is operated it will drive the trolley
by the gearing fm along the wire which supports it.
The dragged contact, Figures 5 and 6 is formed of a metallic frame A sus-
pended by rollers B and C and carrying a counterweight D. This contact is
connected to the self-propelling trolley by a flexible connection E in Figure 1,
which indicates the method of mounting in the case of a continuous current.
Posts F support the wire G and the return wire G¹. On one of these wires the
self-propelling trolley travels and drags with it the contact placed on the other
wire. Distributing wires H and I follow the flexible connection E which connects
the self-propelling trolley with the vehicle in order to be connected with the
driving apparatus. This connection E is of sufficient length to afford between
the vehicle and the contact trolley the necessary distance to allow of the vehicle
taking a sinuous course. For this object the cable is wound in the vehicle on a
winding device operated by the conductor which may thus according to require-
ments allow more or less of the connection E' to run off. This part may of
course be automatic. ·
".
2.
Figure 2 shows an example of mounting in the case of triphase currents,
which as may be seen necessitates the use of two 'dragged contacts instead of
a single one.
. J
My system of travelling current taker solves therefore the question of electric
locomotion on roads with or without rails. It forms in addition a very efficacious
method of taking current for any aerial or subterranean line where it is a
question of locomotion, the traction of boats, the driving of travelling apparatuses
or aerial carriages travelling on cables or the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
"
1. A system of trolley or current taker for electric traction, characterised by
the trolley being provided with its own motor sods to be self-propelling and
independent of the movement of the vehicle to which it is connected mechanically
and electrically. by a flexible conductor or connection of variable length sub-
stantially a as and for the purpose herein before indicated.
2. In a system of trolley or current taker for electric. traction such as described,
a trolley carrying an. electro-motor (M) mounted on a framework (S) provided
with rollers (de) running on one of the line wires, said electro-motor, which may
be excited in any suitable way, having a belt gearing (m f) for transmitting its
movement to one of the rollers of the trolley; substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to. Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. "
"
3. In a system of trolley or current taker for electric traction, such as described,
the construction and use of one or more dragged or sliding contacts connected
with the self-propelling trolley substantially as hereinbefore described with refer-
ence to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Doted this 7
her 1808
3.
.1....
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
"