Improvements in Electric Suspension Railways.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Suspension Railways.
I, HIPPOLYTE DE ROMANOFF, of 2, Rue Kanatuaya, Odessa, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows.
My invention relates to an electric suspension railway, the characteristic or dis-
tinguishing feature of which is that the working rail also serves as a conductor for
carrying the electric current. In this way the whole apparatus is simplified,
friction diminished, and the capacity of the railway increased.
The apparatus consists essentially of a shaft or spindle running in bearings,
On the shaft and between
and having at one end the armature of an electromotor.
the bearings is the carrying pulley running on the upper rail which as already
mentioned serves as the conductor for carrying the electric energy. One of the
two bearings is prolonged and carries the electromagnet of the motor. At the end
of the shaft and behind the motor is the armature already mentioned. The two
bearings are connected by an arched construction, one of the arms of which is
extended downwards, its lower end being also bent round. On this bend are two
vertical shafts or spindles on which are rollers between which pass the lower and
guide rail, which ensures a surer guiding of the whole apparatus. At the upper
end of the arched construction is an arm carrying at its free end the brushes for
the commutator. When the railway is employed for the conveyance of heavy
loads, the guiding of the apparatus is further provided for by furnishing the arched
construction (which connects the two bearings) with arms or projections which
carry at their ends cylinders or rollers placed fore and aft of the motor, and running
on the before mentioned upper (working) rail.
The working and guide rails are connected by adjustable bolts, pins, or
equivalents.
Did this 10th day of Santember 1896
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.
ements in DICCHIC
I, HIPPOLYTE DE ROMANOFF, of 2, Rue Kanatuaya, Odessa, 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 suspension electric railways, and the distinguishing
feature is, that the rails serve also for conveying the electric current. By this

page_text: means the construction is simplified, friction reduced, and the capacity of the
railway increased. In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1, is a section, and
Fig. 2, a side view. The construction consists essentially of a shaft a one end
of which runs in the bearings b, while at the other end is the armature f of an
electric motor. On that part of the shaft comprised between the two bearings b
is the working wheel c. This wheel runs on the upper rail d, which serves at the
same time for transmitting the electric current. This rail d is connected with
the lower guide rail d by means of the adjustable bolts m, and these rails are
supported by a bearer o provided on the standards », so that the current passing
through rail which rests thereon cannot be transmitted to the guide rail d
One of the two bearings b is prolonged and carries the electric magnet e of the
electric motor employed. At the end of the shaft and behind the electric magnet
is placed the armature f. The two bearings b b are connected by a bent or hoop
like part , one arm g of which is prolonged downwards and bent horizontally
at its lower end g. On this bend are arranged two rollers h¹ (free to rotate
round the vertical spindles ), which clasp the lower rail d' and steady the whole
arrangement. The upper end of g is furnished with an elbow i which carries at
one end the brushes for the commutator, whilst at the other end is the keeper i
and slide 2, which arrangement permits of the interruption or closing of the
return electric current by putting the same in and out of contact with a wire con-
neted with the earth. The current flowing through rail d is conveyed by way
of wheel and shaft a to the armature of the electro-motor & puts the latter in
operation. If however the return current he interrupted by movement of slide ²,
the motor and the suspension railway will be brought to a standstill.
If the railway is used for carrying heavy loads or large numbers of people,
greater security may be obtained by providing the part g with the saddle k carrying
the rollers placed fore and aft of the motor.
A hook on the arm g carries the load W which is to be transported. If
persons are to be carried, the carriages specially constructed for the purpose are
likewise connected in a suitable manner with the arms g².
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. Improvements in suspension electric railways, the essential features of the
said improvements being. (a) That the rail d serves at one and the same time
for the transmitting of the electric current and for the carrying of the load, and (b)
that the electric motor employed is carried on the shaft of the wheel c, the whole
substantially as described in the above specification and exemplified in the
accompanying drawing.
2. The improvements in suspension electric railways, provided for and operating
substantially as described in the above specification, and exemplified in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of May 1807
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.