Improvements in the Mode of Connecting the Oar with the Overhead Wire in Tramways Worked by Electricity.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th Jan., 1897--Accepted, 20th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Mode of Connecting the Oar with the Overhead
Wire in Tramways Worked by Electricity.
WILLIAM EDWARD KENWAY Civil Engineer 86 Corporation Street Birmingham
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
These improvements have for their object the simplifying the construction &
working of electric tramways in which the current is supplied to the car by means
of an overhead wire.
The essential features of this invention are as follows:-
A single wire only is used for working either single or double line of tramways
& so supporting the wire that it presents a smooth unbroken surface on the side
towards the lines. The arm by means of which the car is put in connection with
the overhead wire is supported on a standard fixed to the top of the car & moves
in a horizontal direction only-the top of the standard is at a lower level than the
wire so that the arm has to be curved upwards for its outer end to be at the proper
height to engage with the wire. The outer end of the arm is fitted with one or
more vertical metal bars or "contact makers" suited for sliding along the electric
wire & making contact therewith for the purpose of conveying the electricity to
the car.
When the cars pass each other the arm projecting from the car furthest from the
overhead wire passes over the arm of the car nearest to the overhead wire and
its "contact maker" slides over that of the nearest car so that contact with the
wire is practically never broken as the cars pass each other.
Dated this 20th day of April 1896.
W M. E. KENWAY.
Improvements in the Mode of Connecting the Car with the Overhead
Wire in Tramways Worked by Electricity.
1, WILLIAM EDWARD KENWAY, of No. 66 Corporation Street, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention and in what, manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in the mode of
connecting the cars with the overhead wire in tramways worked by electricity
whereby a single overhead electrical conducting wire only is employed, whether the
said tramway is a single live or double line tramway, the method of connection
bereinafter described permitting two cars, in the case of a double line tramway, to
pass each other in opposite directions without or practically without breaking the
electrical communication between the cars and the single overhead wire.
In carrying my invention into effect 1 so support the single overhead electrical
conducting wire that the said wire has at the side towards the tramway lines a
smooth continuous or unbroken surface. The arm by means of which the tram car
is put into electrical connection with the overhead wire is supported on a standard
fixed to the top or roof of the car and is capablo of a horizontal angular motion on

page_text: the said standard. The top of the standard on the car is situated at a lower levol
than the overhead wire so that the connecting arm is curved or inclinod upward
from its inner to its outer end.
The outer end of the arm is fitted with one or more vertical metallic rods, bars o
contact makers which when the car is in motion slide along the overhead electrical
conducting wire and make electrical contact therewith.
When two cars in the case of a double line tramway travelling in opposite direction
pass each other the arm projecting from the car furthest from the wire passes over
the arm of the car nearest the wire and the contact maker of the first named arm
slides over that of the nearer car so that electrical contact with the wire is practically
never broken as the cars pass each other.
Figure of the accompanying drawings represents in end elevation two care
provided with my improvements passing each other on the up and down lines of a
double line tramway and Figure 2 is a plan of the same. Figure 1^ represents a
part of Figure 1 drawn to a larger scale.
Figure 3 represents the inclined arin of a tram car and a portion of the standard
on which the said arm turns; Figure 4 is a section on the line, Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a section on the line y, y Figure 3; and Figure 6 is a section on the
line, Figure 3.
Figure 7 is a plan of an arrangement for preserving the contact maker enrriod by
the inclined arm in electrical connection with the overhead electrical conducting
wire.
Figures 3, 4, 5 6 and 7 are drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1 and 2.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of
the drawings.
On the top or roof of each tram car is a hollow upright or standard A within
which is a tube a carrying at top the inclined tubular arın 6 to the outer end of
which the vertical rod or contact maker c is fixed. The inclined tubular arm bis
preferably of an elliptical figure in cross section the longer axis of the ellipse being
vertical. The vertical rod or contact maker has at or near its top and bottom discs
or buttons c, c capable of a rotary notion on the said rod or contact maker c.
I prefer to make the said discs or buttons e, of the star like form best seen in
Figure 6. The rod or contact maker c is in electrical connection with the wire or
electrical conductor which passes down the inclined arm b and tube a to the car.
The inclined arm is counected to the vertical tube a by a quadrant d and screw
nuts and bolts e, e', e, e' the suid screw bolt e passing through slots in opposite sides
of the said quadrant d so that the arm 6 may be adjusted to the desired inclination
with respect to the standard A. The screw bolts e, el fit in grooves in the tube a
so that when the several screw bults e, e, e, e are relaxed the armb may be turned
horizontally on the tube a. The inner end of the inclined arm & preferably extends
beyond the vertical tube a the extended part carrying a weight sufficient to
counterbalance the weight of the arm b.
The tube a is fixed at bottom to mechanism which tends to turn the said tube a
into such a position that the inclined arm b carried by it would make if free a right
augle or nearly a right angle with the side of the car. I do not limit myself to aoy
particular meelauism for effecting this object as any mechanism in the nature of
those ordinarily employed for closing swing doors will answer the purpose. I have
however shown one arrangement of parts in Figure 7 for effecting the aid object.
The said mechanism consists of a cam a' ou the tube a which cam is situated within
the rectangular loop of a frame made in two parts marked respectively and
The two parts of the frame are closed on the cam a' by the action of the springs k, k.
When the tube a and cam a' are turned in the standard A the frame f, g is opened,
as indicated in dotted lines and the springs k, k are compressed. Or instead of
employing the arrangement of parts described and represented I may employ
mechanism which while preserving the tube a in the position required permits it to
perform a completo rotation in the standard A.
The overhead wire i conveying the electrical current by which the cars are

page_text: worked is so supported by mechanical clips or soldered ears fixed horizontally to
the arms or brackots h of the street posts or columns H that a continuous smooth
or unbroken surface is presented for the contact maker of the inclined arm b of
each car to work against. When the cars are placed on the tramway rails the
arms b have to be turned from their position at right angles to the car as will be
seen by reference to the plan Figure 2 80 as to bring the contact makers c against.
the overhead wire i. The springs k, k of the mechanism represented in Figure 7.
are consequently put into a state of compression by virtue of which the said rods
or contact makers c are preserved in electrical contact with the overhead conducting
wire i. The buttons or discs e, con each of the rods or contact makers e prevent
the contact maker, by the swing or vibration of the arm & produced on the travelling
of the tramcar, from being thrown over or under the overhead wire i.
When two cars travelling in opposite directions are passing each other the arm 6-
of the car most distant from the overhead wire i glides over and is slightly raised
by the arm of the other car and the rod or contact maker c of the raised arm
moves round the rod or contact maker of the other arm b so that electrical contact
of the rods c, carried by the arms b, with the overhead wire i is practically never
broken.
By the swing or vibration of the arms b of the tram cars the contact makers care
made to rise and fall while in contact with the overhead wire i so that the tendency
in the said wire to cut a groove in the contact maker o will be counteracted. I may
however provide the rods or contact makers with long tubular metallic sleeves or
rollers which on the motion of the cars roll against the side of the overhead wire and
rotate on the rods or contact makers proper.
It will be seen that by the construction and arrangement or combination of parts.
hereinbefore described and represented tramcars may be worked on two parallel
lines of rails by the use of one overhead electrical conducting wire only, the electrical
connection of the tram cars with the overhead conducting wire being practically
never broken.
I wish it to be understood that although I have represented my invention in
connection with a street tramway for passenger traffic it is equally applicable to
other tramways such for example as the tramways commonly called light railways
which are principally used for light goods traffic.
The parts of the electrical apparatus necessary for the working of the tramway
which have not described or represented are such as are in common use and
constitute uo part of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that I claim
as my invention :-
Connecting the cars of tramways worked by electricity with an overhead electrical
conducting wire by means of an inclined arm on each tram car the said arm carrying
a vertical rod or contact maker which rod or contact maker has at or near its top
and bottom circular or radial armed discs or buttons the rod or contact maker on
the arm of the car most distant from the overhead wire, in the case of a double
line tramway, passing over the contact maker of the other car when two cars are
passing each other in opposite directions by a sliding or rolling motion the said rods
or contact makers being preserved in continuous contact with the overhead wire by
means of mechanism tending to turn the inclined arms outwards, that is, in the
direction proper to make them press against the overhead wire substantially as.
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings:
Dated the Fifteenth day of January 1897
W. T. WHITEMAN.
Agent for the Applicant..