Improvements in and relating to Electric Railway System
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1895-Accepted. 18th Jan.,
1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Railway System
We, JOHN MCLEOD MURPHY, Inventor, and ALBERT FRANCIS PIERCE,
Clergyman, citizens of the United States of America, residing respectively at
71 River Street, and 2 Chapel Place, in the Town of Danbury, in the County of
Fairfield and State of Connecticut, one of the United States of America, 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 :-
Our invention relates to that class of electric systeins in which is employed a
main line conductor, a series of sectional or track conductors, successively put in
and out of electric connection by suitable switch mechanism operated by the
passing car; and such invention has for its object to provide a simple and
inexpensive system of this kind, in which all the wires are practically insulated,
and the switch mechanism operated by direct transmission of power from the
passing car.
Our invention also has for its object to provide a series of switch or cut out
devices practically arranged and adapted to positively operate, and so arranged
that as one set becomes worn or inoperative, it will not affect the remaining switch
devices.
The invention consists in the novel combination and peculiar arrangement of
parts, illustrated in the drawing and described and claimed in the Specification.
In the drawing-
Figure 1 is a view illustrating our system as a single track line;
Figure 2 is a similar view of a double track line;
Figure 3 is a transverse section taken practically on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 ;
Figure 4 is a detail view of parts, in perspective;
Figure 5 is a view of one of the cuffs or switch blocks;
Figure 6 illustrates the push pin, and
Figures 7 and 8 are detail views hereinafter referred to.
Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1, the rails A, A¹ are
insulated from each other, and the rail A' arranged in the nature of a sectional
conductor, comprising members a a' of any length desired. On a crowded street
the sectional conductor may be of the length of a single rail, or two or more rails,
it being manifest that when a sectional conductor is formed of two or more rails,
the several rails forming such conductor are electrically connected.
In suburban districts, the sectional conductors may be much longer than in
a city.
Cindicates the main line or feed wire, insulated its entire length and preferably
held in a conduit, as shown.
While we have shown the current wire and operating mechanism underground,
we desire it understood that we do not confine ourselves to the use of the said
devices as shown, as practically the same arrangement may be used as an overhead
system with but slight modification of parts.
The main wire C runs parallel with the track, preferably at one side thereo
whereby a great leverage or throw power of the cut-off operating devices can be
obtained with a minimum depression of the push rod, bereinafter referred to.
D indicates the shunting devices, which are arranged in the laterals E, which
connect the sectional conductors with the live wire, as most clearly shown 1

page_text: Figure 3, such shunting devices comprising a rotary cut off G, a switch block F,
connected therewith having its terminals ff connected with the sectional conductor
or rail A¹, and the main wire C, respectively.
The cut-off G is in the nature of a disc formed of non-conducting material, such
as hard rubber, and provided with a series of contacts 9 g, spaced regularly apart,
whereby to provide alternate contact and insulated portions g g¹.
The peripheries of the cut-offs G have a number of ratchet teeth g³, preferably
one for each space g g¹, with which is adapted to engage a spring pawl H,
pivotally held on the end of a swing lever I, which extends transversely under the
track bed, it being pivoted at its outer end, as at i, to a peudent bracket ; in a
housing J provided for the said lever, and the cut-off and switch mechanism.
In practice such housing J at a point above the cut-offs, has a covered man-hole, as
shown.
For each of the sectional conductors a cut-off and switch mechanism, shown in
Figure 3, is provided, and each of the levers I has its outer end connected to a
push or pressure rod K, which extends up through the housing J and has a head k,
which, when a grooved rail is used, seats in the groove of such rail a little above
the base thereof.
It will be noticed that the member K passes up through the outside or ground
rail, such arrangement being provided to obtain a sufficient sweep or throw of the
pawl H and lever I to operate the rotary cut-offs with a minimum depression of
the member K, whereby to keep the said member K practically out of sight
and in a plane with the upper face of the rail, so as not to form an obstruction for
vehicles.
We prefer to use in our system the grooved rail as the head of the rod K will
then be practically protected from being depressed and operated by heavy vehicles
passing over the same.
To hold the member K from being depressed by light vehicles, whose wheels
may run in the groove of the rail, or by mischievous persons, such member is
normally held spring-pressed to its upper position by a powerful coil spring L, the
tension of which in practice is regulated to be overcome by the weight of a
car body.
So far as described it will be readily seen that should the cut-off be in the
position shown in Figure 4, the current from the main line to the rail will be
broken and the sectional conductor connected to the cut-off, be dead. When in
this position, should the car wheel flange engage the member K, such member will
be depressed, and the lever I, through its pawl, will rotate the cut-off G, one space,
and move the contact points g into engagement with the terminals to the position
shown in Figure 3, and thereby throw the sectional conductor into electric
connection with the main line, it being obvious that, when so charged, the current
will, as the car passes over the charged conductor, pass up through the motor
and out through the ground rail.
To provide for cutting off the current from each section as the car leaves the
same, and also for making any section operate independent of the others, in either
direction of movement of the car, we provide each cut-off G with a shaft G,
which extends back to the preceding conductor section and has a toothed wheel O,
corresponding in size and shape to the cut-off G of such preceding conductor,
it being preferably held in close relation to, but not in contact with, such
cut-off G.
The object of thus locating the wheel O is to obtain duplex action, one for
the section to be cut out, and the other for the section to be made a live
section.
For this purpose the pawl on each lever I, is a double pawl, one member of
which engages the cut-off G, while the other engages the wheel O. At this point
it should be stated the several cut-offs G, have their contacts g-g arranged
alternately, ie, when one contact is in electric connection with the main wire, the
other is out of electric connection therewith.

page_text: By the construction shown and described, it will be clearly apparent that should
the car be at X, in Figure 1, the cut-off will be in the position shown in
Figure 3, and all others in the position shown in Figure 4, the conductor section Y
at this time being in electric connection.
Now, should the car reach the point marked Z, it will depress the lever I', which
will cause the cut-off I to move to the position shown in Figure 4, and at the same
time, through the wheel 1, turn cut-off 2 to its connected position and make the
section Y the live one, the section Y, as all others, being non-electric.
Thus a very simple and positive switch mechanism is provided which will
effectively serve to electrify the conductor rails; such mechanism being operative,
no matter in which direction the car moves, and each cut-off mechanism being
independent of the other it follows that should one or more of the cut-off
mechanisms get out of order it would not materially interfere with the running of
the cars.
We desire it understood, the detail arrangement of parts may be varied without
departing from our invention. For instance, instead of providing a lever having a
double pawl, a second lever may be provided at each end of the sectional
conductors, one for turning the cut-off in connection with the main wire and the
other to cut out such cut off.
As a convenient means for protecting the shafts P, of the cut offs G, and wheels O,
the same are held in tubular bearings R, which are connected at the ends to the
housing J, as shown.
While we have not illustrated our system as an overhead one, it is manifest that
practically the sanie arrangement of devices, inverted, may be used for such
purposes, a trolley being made to run on an overhead track, which will serve to
operate the lever operating members K, the same as the flanges of the car wheel
operate the ground system.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. An electric railway system comprising a series of sectional conductors, a main
circuit wire, laterals connecting such main line and the sectional conductors, switch
devices in such laterals and a lever mechanism operated by the passing car adapte l
to set such switch devices to simultaneously cut out one conductor and put in
electric condition the next succeeding conductor substantially as specified.
2. In an electric railway system as described, the combination with the sectional
conductor rails at one side and the ground rails on the other side, a main line
arranged adjacent the conductor rails, laterals connecting such rails, having switch
devices, of a lever mechanism held transversely under the rails connected with the
switch devices at one end and a presser rod projected up through the ground rail
connected with the other end of the lever substantially as shown and for the
purposes described.
3. In an electric railway system as described, the combination with the main
line wire, the sectional conductor rails and the divided laterals connecting the main
line and conductor rails, of rotary cut off's having alternate contact and insulated
portions, the switch plates projected thereover having the terminals of the laterals
connected therewith, and mechanism for imparting a successive double movement
to such cut off as the car passes over each conductor section as specified.
4. In an electric railway system substantially as described, the combination with
the main line, the sectional conductors and the laterals, of the rotary cut offs in
such laterals having alternate contact and insulated spaces, a pivoted lever held
transversely of the rails, having a normal spring resistance, a presser member for
the short end of the lever adapted to be engaged by the passing car, and a
pawl carried on the long end of the lever to engage the cut off G, and tur
it one space at each depression of the presser member, substantially as shown and
described.

page_text: 5. In a system as described, the combination with the sectional con luctors, the
main line, the laterals having cut off devices and the pivoted lever mechanism for
shifting the cut offs, of the grooved rail sections; and the presser rods passing
down through the said rail sections and connected with the shifting lever, and
having head portions fitting and movable in the groove
In the rail, and
normally held from projecting above the tread face of the said rail sections, as
specified.
6. In a system as described, the combination with the main electric wire, the
sectional conductors and laterals, of the rotary cut offs G, having shafts G³,
provided with toothed wheels O, corresponding in shape to the cut offs G, the
lever J, pawls H, and presser K, the housing J, and the tubular connections for
the housing J, forming bearings for the shafts Y, all arranged substantially as
shown and described.
7. An electric railway system comprising a series of sectional conductors, an
insulated main line wire held adjacent the sectional conductors, a single lateral
connecting each conductor with the main line wire, a switch mechanism in each
lateral and a single operating lever mechanism for each conductor section, adapted
to be moved to an operative position by the passing car, and connections joining
each of said lever mechanisms to a pair of switch devices, arranged substantially
as shown, whereby when any one of the levers is operated, two of the switch
devices will be simultaneously operated to cut out one conductor section and put in
electric condition the next succeeding section as specified.
Dated this 19th day of November 1895.
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.