Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1898
Complete Specification Left; 2nd May, 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
I, CHARLES M. JOHNSON, of 22 and 23, Laurence Pountney Lane, in the County™
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention pertains to the means of operating a carrier system, provided
with a signalling apparatus, an automatic switch and a cushioning device.
One way of operating this carrier system may be described as follows:-I
provide an electric way upon which the carrier is to travel, and the carrier is
propelled by electricity in the usual manner. In order to avoid a collision of
the carriers, I provide an electric signalling apparatus and electric current switch
so that no two carriers can ever be in the same block at the same time, and there-
fore avoid collisions.
a
In operation. I use a feed wire, from which the trolly wire is fed
in sections, which sections may be the length of the blocks. I also use
separate cable or wire to operate the electric switches and signals for shunting
on and off the electric current from the feed wire or cable to the trolly wire on
or in cach block or section, so that when a carrier is travelling upon the way,
the trolly of one block in the rear of the carrier is always kept free from electri-
city, but, when the block is clear, electric connection is again made by the
carrier or traveller automatically.
I may also use, either directly or indirectly, the electric current to stop any
carrier from entering one block before that block is cleared. I may also pro-
vide. this carrier system with an automatic electric switch, constructed in such a
manner. that the carrier may automatically set its own switch by making a
mercurial electric contact, and release that switch by breaking the contact, that
is, for diverting, switching or shunting the carrier from the branch upon the main
line, or from the main line to or upon the branch line.
I may also provide with this carrier system an air cushion for stopping the
carrier, constructed in such a manner that the carriers may be stopped without
injury at their destination, or upon the route, by making the carrier to fit com-
paratively tight (but not to touch) in a section of the way, as a plunger or piston
fits a cylinder, with the tube sections' compressing end closed, so that the carrier
is brought to a stop by the air which it compresses in front.
In order to make the electric contacts- perfect, I provide a mercurial contact
for make and break circuits. I may also provide in connection with the elec-
trical signalling apparatus, a dial in the operating station, so that the position of
any carrier may be always known, and its destination, if desired, controlled by
the operator.
I do not limit myself to any particular form of mechanical construction, but
I do wish to provide a safe and rapid means of operating a carrier system by
the use of positive electrical and mechanical devices.
noted this Second day of August 1898.

page_text: 1, CHARLES M. JOHNSON, of Denmark House, Redhill, in the County of Surrey,
England, late of 22 and 23, Laurence Pountney Lane, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement;-
The present invention relates to the operating of a carrier system, provided
with a signalling apparatus, an automatic switch, which automatic switch may
shunt the carrier from a main line to a branch line may operate the signal upon
the line, and also at any central station, or any other point as desired may cut
in and out the power circuit in blocks or in any other manner as desired, auto-
matically, by the moving of the carriers upon the way.
The chief characteristic features will be readily understood from the following
description, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, viz.:-
Fig. I is a horizontal section of an electric way, showing the means of cutting in
and out the electric circuit. Fig. 2 is a plan of the railway showing the means
of shunting the carrier from the main to a branch way. in Fig. 1, A, A¹ A"
represents the trolley wire and also represents blocks of which T, T is the
track or rails on which the carrier or car travels B B the power circuit from the
dynamo P, S, the return circuit of the power circuit B, B-f f¹ connections
from the power circuit B, B' through the switch at c c C, C & D is a separate
circuit for operating the switch or cut out, the switch being hinged or pivotted
at p, p¹; d, d' electro magnet; 2, branch wire running from one pole of the
operating circuit to the magnets d d'; and into the mercurial cup e e¹; 8, operat-
ing circuit wire running from one switch to another, viz.:-from the point x of
one switch to the point 2 of the other; z points of cut in and out of the trolley
wire; pp pivotted points of the switehes; w w¹ weight for bringing back switch
in normal condition when line is clear. sy wires leading from operating cir-
cuit to and in connection with mercurial cups bb; s operating circuit wire
leading to next switch or cut out ahead.
In Fig. 2, R R1 represents the main way; F the branch way; N points of
switch; K solenoid, L pulley, M weight, CC operating wires, H electro magnet,
PP pivotted points, I armature of electro magnet, J contact point, w mercurial
cup in connection with operating wire C, O lever for breaking the circuit at w.
a, an armature, a part of which being of soft iron and a part of which being made
of non-magnetic material, so that the armature is moved out by the electric cir-
cuit being completed and pulled back and in by the weight M.
In operation of Fig. 1, we will suppose the carrier E travelling upon the way
to have passed T the line being clear, the wheel of the carrier strikes the pro-
jection a, the lever 7 being pushed down the point is brought into the mercurial
cup e and the electric connection is made through the operating circuit wire D), i,
1, 8, 61, z¹, s¹ and C C¹; so that the main power circuit B B is cut out from
block A through the mercurial circuit cup c, at point z, and remains cut out
until the carrier has passed the next block; the trolley wire A A¹ A" representing
blocks of any distance or lengths as may be desired. It will also be seen that if
there is a break in the trolley wire in a block ahead all the electric energy fed
to the trolley wire is cut out by breaking the circuit through the mercurial
cups c c¹, or similar connecting points such as electric magnets or like devices
similar in character to the spirit of the invention. After the carrier has passed

page_text: to the next block the wheel of the car comes in contact with the lever by striking
the projection a' and pushing the lever down the electric operating circuit wire D
sends a current through, the electric magnet d', the mercurial cup e¹, through
the point of the lever at ¹, on to the next switch or cut out ahead over the wire sui
Now, when the carrier E puts the lever in its present position it will be seen
that the point ¹ has been withdrawn from the mercurial cup 6', and that the
operating circuit is broken, that the weight wo of the lever has lifted the point.c
out of the mercurial cup c the armature of the lever being released by the mag-
net d, and that the power circuit of the wire B connected as shown to the mer-
curial cup c, the electric power current passes through the point and on to the
feed wire f to the trolley wire A which shows to the operator of the motor car or
by the operation of the car itself that there is a clear block ahead, but if the cir-
cuit is broken ahead no current can travel for there would be no electric current.
in trolley wire A', and in that block, and the motor car would have no current
to drive it over this block, as will be shown.
It will be readily seen that the switches or cut outs may be placed such a dis-
tance apart that one or more clear blocks as is desired must intervene before the
electric power current will be cut into the trolley wire A and propel the next
carrier over this block, and so on over each block, as long as there is one (or
more is desired) clear blocks ahead.
In Fig. 2 the car E has a slight projection which may be a spring, a brush or
the like may be set in a position to come in contact with the lever and armature l;
pivotted at p which when not in use and the operating circuit C C¹ broken stands
out in its present position being held by a spring or weight, but when the lever
or armature is pressed down to J the electric operating circuit C C is completed
through the magnet H the solenoid K, the mercurial cup W and the armature. a
is pushed out towards the track R R and throws the points N out, directs the
car or carrier down the branch line F. After passing the points the projection
on the car strikes the lever O lifts the mercurial contact point out of the mercurial
cup which breaks the circuit C C¹, then the weight which may be secured by
a flexible rope to the armature and held in position over the pulley L draws
the switch back to its present position and sets the switch for the main line;
at the same time, the spring of the armature throws back the armature ready
again to receive a carrier for this branch line F.
It is plain by this that the carrier sets the switch by completing the circuit,
and releases the switch by breaking the circuit so set; and in the same manner
the carrier can set a semaphore arm, can operate an electric signal to show the
position of the carrier on the route of the way, by completing the electric circuit
and release the same by breaking the circuit 80 set.
I have herein shown a simple method which may be operated in slightly varied
forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare what I claim is :-.
1. In an electric carrier system the means by which a carrier may cut out
the electric current for one or more blocks substantiallly as is shown and de-
scribed.
2. In an electric carrier system the means by which a carrier may cut out the
electric current for one or more blocks and cut in the electric current so cut out
substantially as is described.
3. In a carrier system the manner as shown of a carrier setting its own switch
by completing the electric circuit and releasing the switch so set by breaking
the circuit so completed substantially as described and shown.
4. In a carrier system the means of setting the switch or signal by coni-
pleting the circuit and releasing the said switch or signal so set by breaking the
circuit substantially as described and shown.

page_text: 5. The construction of a carrier system substantially is herein described and
shown.
6. The combination of a carrier system as herein shown and a mercurial elec-
tric contact point substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
Dated this 1st day of May 1899.
CHARLES M. JOHNSON.