Improvements in Electric Railways on the Closed Conduit or like System.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 24th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
0
Improvements in Electric Railways on the Closed Conduit or like
System.
I, HARRY BARRINGER Cox, of 126, Liberty Street, New York, United States
of America, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in electric railway systems,
and more particularly to an improved, what might be termed, a safety electric
cable railway system, and the objects and nature of the invention will be more
fully set forth in detail hereinafter.
The invention consists in certain novel features in construction, and in com-
binations, and in arrangements, and in details of parts as particularly described
and specified in the following specification.
The invention comprises the employment of a movable live bare line con-
ductor arranged loosely in a suitable enclosing and insulated case or conduit
which is usually and preferably made of non-magnetizable material except at
that portion provided with the exposed sections of conducting material with
which said line conductor is drawn into contact by the magnet of the car.
This enclosing case or conduit can be, and is preferably although not neces-
sarily composed of a grooved wooden stringer or beam, running parallel with
the rails of the track. This conduit is preferably secured directly on the cross
ties, if such be employed and can be arranged midway between the rails, or at
other points parallel with and adjacent to the rails or one rail. The wooden
stringers are formed with top grooves or longitudinal passages, and are laid to
form a continuous conduit which is thoroughly insulated, preferably by being
coated at the interior with insulating material so that the live line conductor is
insulated from said grooved piece. The conduit is formed with bottom interior
with insulating material so that the live line conductor is insulated from said
grooved piece. The conduit is formed with bottom draining openings or pas-
sages, for the outflow of any moisture which might by some possibility gain
access to the interior of the otherwise sealed conduit.
The conduit is closed at the top and insulated from the conducting sections,
which cap and seal the top of the conduit. These sections are suitably formed
of the proper conducting metal and fit the sides of the grooved stringers and
close and extend across the top thereof and are bolted or otherwise rigidly
fastened to the stringers or ties. The conducting sections are exposed and
formed of the desired length, say about half the length of a car, and at their
ends are insulated from each other.
The live continuous bare line wire or conductor is arranged movably and
loosely in the conduit, adjacent to but normally out of contact with the exposed
conducting sections which cap the conduit. This line wire is without such
mechanical connections as would prevent free movement thereof, but on the
contrary is so supported and arranged as to facilitate such free movement within
the conduit. For instance, the line wire can be loosely upheld in an elevated

page_text: position within the conduit by any suitable cross or horizontal supports such as
pins or rods, arranged at intervals within the conduit, or grooved or other
rollers can be provided to turn loosely on such pins or other supports and carry
the line wire loosely and permit the free lateral and forward movement.
Also if desired, the feed wires, from the main feed wire or conductor, can
connect electrically with such pin or pins and pulleys or rollers which in such
case would be composed of conducting metal, whereby the bare line wire in
electrical contact with such supports would be supplied constantly with the
power current at various points along the line through such supports from the
main feed wire.
The live bare line wire is mounted and movable about as in the ordinary
mechanically operated cable street railway, although of course in my system I
have a sealed insulated conduit with the other obvious differences from the
mechanical cable system.
In carrying out my system, the car is provided with any suitable magnet,
which is suitably mounted and moves over the exposed capping conducting
sections of the conduit. Any suitable contact device is carried by the car and
moves in electrical contact with said exposed conducting sections beneath the
car and collects and takes off the power current which passes therefrom through.
suitable connections to the car motor and thence returns through a connection
which can include a car axle and wheel and rail to the generator of the system.
If desired a shunt can be provided to throw part of the power current through
the magnet coils, if such be provided. The various car connections are pro-
vided with the usual switch and other proper appliances, and the invention is
in no way limited to the kind or construction of magnet or current collector
employed or to the connections or arrangements of the electrical devices or con-
nections on the car.
If desired a storage battery or other supplemental source of current can be
placed upon the car to provide for energizing the magnets.
I preferably employ a bare live line conductor, which is not flexible in the
ordinary meaning of that term, but which on the contrary would usually be
termed stiff, yet such wire is of sufficient flexibility by reason of its great length,
to respond to the power of the car magnet, and move laterally in a long bend
or offset into electrical contact with the exposed normally electrically dead con-
ducting sections in succession as the magnet moves over the same. The collect-
ing brush or other contact of the car engages the conducting section of the
conduit over which the magnet is located and which is in electrical contact with
the line wire for the moment and collects the power current therefrom, while
the other conducting sections not beneath the car are electrically dead, and
hence the system is absolutely safe as the live line wire is thoroughly enclosed
and insulated in the conduit and is only brought into electrical contact with the
exposed conducting section immediately beneath the car. I am also enabled to
effect the slightest possible area of contact between the line wire and the con-
ducting sections, the point of contact being practically a mathematical point
only, as is the case with the ordinary trolley wheel and wire in the over-
head system, and yet all the current necessary passes from my line wire to the
sectional conducting plates, as the line wire in the form, it might be said, of a
long extended wave, bulges up against the said plates in succession, and yet
without kinking or doubling up within the conduit.
The line wire, by reason of the construction and arrangements as generally
before mentioned, moves slightly horizontally or forwardly under the impulse
of the car magnet and hence constantly creeps within the conduit, thereby
keeping the wire and the under side of the conducting sections bright and free
from such corrosion as would increase the resistance and prevent the proper
electrical contact, whereby I am enabled always to secure the proper electrical
contact between the line wire and conducting sections no matter how slight the
actual mechanical contact or engagement.

page_text: In one arrangement the belt line railway in which the movable loose live line
conductor is endless, with the return through the inner line of rails, and the
endless main feed conductor supplied from the system generator and having
the lateral feed connections at intervals to the supports of the line conductor in
the conduit. The main feed conductor is preferably buried, and is completely
insulated and enclosed to prevent leakage.
In another arrangement there is a double track system having a three wire
system of supplying and returning the current from the two generators, one
generator for each track, having their like poles connected, by connections,
respectively, with the return connection rails of their respective tracks, and
their opposite like poles both connected by connections respectively with the
single main feed conductor, adjacent both tracks and supplying the line con-
ductor of each by the lateral feeder wires, as before described. With such an
arrangement each track circuit is complete with its generator and yet the two
generators are connected in series or in the usual method of connecting gene-
rators, and with the obvious advantages of utilizing the well known economy of
the three wire system.
If desired the pole pieces of the magnet, carried by the car can be formed by
rollers, travelling on the sectional cap, but such rollers need not be employed.
Also a flexible conductor can be employed, if desired, resting in the bottom
of the groove in the conduit or grooved stringer.
Improvements in Electric Railways on the Closed Conduit or like
System.
I, HARRY BARRINGER Cox, of 126, Liberty Street, New York City, United
States of America, Electrician, 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 certain improvements in electric railway systems,
and more particularly to an improved, what might be termed, a safety electric
cable railway system, and the objects and nature of the invention will be more
fully set forth in detail hereafter.
The invention consists in certain novel features in construction, and in com-
binations, and in arrangements, and in details of parts as particularly described
and specified in the following specification taken in connection with certain
examples of constructions which might be employed in carrying out my inven-
tion as shown in the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1, shows in diagram a belt or loop electric railway line, in accordance
with my invention, showing part of the exposed insulated conducting sections
removed,
Figure 2, is a detail cross sectional view through the conduit, showing sup-
porting means for the movable live line conductor in elevation.

page_text: Figure 3, is a corresponding view showing a different form of supporting
means for said line conductor.
Figure 4, is a detail longitudinal sectional view through a part of the con-
duit, showing the sleepers or railroad ties in cross section.
Figure 5, is a diagram showing my invention as it can be employed in a
double track railway and provided with a three wire system of supplying and
returning the power current.
Figure 6, is a cross sectional view through the railroad track and conduit,
showing the same on the ties.
Figure 7, is a corresponding view taken through the double track system.
Figure 8, is the conduit in longitudinal section with the live line conductor
elevated by the magnet of the bar into contact with the exposed conducting
section, the car magnet and collecting brush and the current connections of the
car being shown in diagram.
Figure 9, shows a cross section wherein an elevated insulated cross support
for the line conductor is provided which does not form a supply conductor.
Figure 10, shows a section of track broken away with a car thereon.
Figure 11, is a cross sectional view showing a modified arrangement of con-
duit and line conductor.
In the drawings, a, are ordinary, or any suitable construction of railroad rails,
laid and secured on the cross ties b, in any suitable manner.
My invention comprises the employment of a movable live bare line con-
ductor arranged loosely in a suitable enclosing and insulated case or conduit
which is usually and preferably made of non-magnetizable material except at
that portion provided with the exposed sections of conducting material with
which said line conductor is drawn into contact by the magnet of the car.
This enclosing case or conduit can be, and is preferably although not neces-
sarily composed of a grooved wooden stringer or beam c, running parallel with
the rails of the track. This conduit is preferably secured directly on the cross
ties, if such be employed, and can be arranged midway between the rails as
shown, or at other points parallel with and adjacent to the rails or one rail.
The wooden stringers are formed with the top grooves or longitudinal pas-
sages c¹, and are laid to form a continuous conduit which is thoroughly insulated,
preferably by being coated at the interior by insulating material so that the
live line conductor is insulated from said grooved pieces. The conduit is formed
with bottom draining openings or passages c¹¹, for the outflow of any moisture
which might by some possibility gain access to the interior of the otherwise
sealed conduit.
The conduit is closed at the top and insulated from the conducting sections c³,
which cap and seal the top of the conduit. These sections are suitably formed
of the proper conducting metal and fit the sides of the grooved stringers and
close and extend across the top thereof and are bolted or otherwise rigidly
fastened to the stringers or ties. The conducting sections are exposed and
formed of the desired length, say about half the length of a car, and at their
ends are insulated from each other, as seen at et, Figs. 1, 4, and 8.
d, is the live continuous bare line wire or conductor arranged movably and
loosely in the conduit, adjacent to but normally out of contact with the exposed
conducting sections which cap the conduit. This line wire is without such
mechanical connections as would prevent free movement thereof, but on the
contrary is so supported and arranged as to facilitate such free movement within
the conduit. For instance, the line wire can be loosely upheld in an elevated
position within the conduit by any suitable cross or horizontal supports such as
pins or rods e, as shown in Fig. 3, arranged at intervals within the conduit, or
grooved or other rollers such as e¹, can be provided to turn loosely on such pins
or other supports and carry the line wire loosely and permit the free lateral and
forward movement.
Also if desired, the feed wires 2, from the main feed wire or conductor 3, can

page_text: connect electrically with such pin or pins and pulleys or rollers which in such
case would be composed of conducting metal, whereby the bare line wire in
electrical contact with such supports would be supplied constantly with the
power current at various points along the line through such supports from. the
main feed wire.
It will be observed that the live bare line wire is mounted and movable about
as in the ordinary mechanically operated cable street railway, although of course
in my system I have a sealed insulated conduit with the other obvious differences
from the mechanical system.
In carrying out my system, the car is provided with any suitable magnet,
such as f, shown in the diagram of Fig. 8, which is suitably mounted and moves
over the exposed capping conducting sections of the conduit. g, in the said
diagram is any suitable contact device carried by the car and moving in elec-
trical contact with said exposed conducting sections beneath the car and collect-
ing and taking off the power current which passes therefrom through suitable
connections, say 4, to the car motor 5, and thence returns through a connec
tion 6, which is supposed to include a car axle and wheel and rail to the
generator 7, of the system. If desired a shunt 8, 9, can be provided to throw
part of the power current through the magnet coils, if such be provided. It is
obvious that the various car connections are provided with the usual switch and
other proper appliances, and that the invention is in no way limited to the kind
or construction of magnet or current collector employed or to the connections
or arrangements of the electrical devices or connections on the car.
If desired a storage battery or other supplemental source of current can be
placed upon the car to provide for energizing the magnets, as indicated by 10,
in Figure 8.
I preferably employ a bare live line conductor d, which is not flexible in the
ordinary meaning of that term, but which on the contrary would usually be
termed stiff, yet such wire is of sufficient flexibility by reason of its great length,
to respond to the power of the car magnet, and move laterally in a
long bend
or offset into electrical contact with the exposed normally electrically dead con-
ducting sections in succession as the magnet moves over the same. 'The collect-
ing brush or other contact of the car engages the conducting section of the
conduit over which the magnet is located and which is in electrical contact with
the line wire for the moment and collects the power current therefrom, while
the other conducting sections not beneath the car are electrically dead, and
hence the system is absolutely safe as the live wire is thoroughly enclosed
and insulated in the conduit and is only brought into electrical contact with the
exposed conducting section immediately beneath the car. I am also enabled to
effect the slightest possible area of contact between the line wire and the con-
ducting sections, the point of contact being practically a mathematical point
only, and as is the case with the ordinary trolley wheel and wire in the over-
head system, and yet all the current necessary passes from my line wire to the
sectional conducting plates, as the line wire in the form, it might be said, of a
long extended wave, bulges up against the said plates in succession, and yet
without kinking or doubling up within the conduit.
The line wire, by reason of the construction and arrangements as generally
before mentioned, moves slightly horizontally or forwardly under the impulse
of the car magnet and hence constantly creeps within the conduit; thereby
keeping the wire and the under side of the conducting sections bright and free
From such corrosion as would increase the resistance and prevent the proper
electrical contact, whereby I am enabled always to secure the proper electrical
contact between the line wire and conducting sections no matter how slight the
actual mechanical contact.or engagement.
In Figure 1,.I show a belt line railway in which the movable loose live line
conductor is endless, with the return through the inner line of rails, as shown,
and the endless main feed conductor supplied from the system generator 7, and

page_text: having the lateral feed connections 2, at intervals to the supports of the line
conductor in the conduit. The main feed conductor is preferably buried, and
is completely insulated and enclosed to prevent leakage.
In Figures 5 and 7, I show a double track system having a three wire system
of supplying and returning the current from the two generators 7, 7, one
generator for each track, having their like poles connected by connections 11, 11,
respectively, with the return connection rails of their respective tracks, and
their opposite like poles both connected by connections 12, 12, respectively
with the single main feed conductor 3, adjacent both tracks and supplying the
line conductor of each by the lateral feeder wires 2, as before described. With
such an arrangement each track circuit is complete with its generator and yet
the two generators are connected in series or in the usual method of connecting
generators, with the obvious advantages of utilizing the well known economy
of the three wire system.
If desired the pole pieces of the magnet f, carried by the car can be formed
by rollers, as shown by dotted lines in Figures 8, travelling on the sectional
cap 3, but such rollers need not be employed.
Also a flexible line conductor d, can be employed, if desired, as shown in
Figure 11, resting in the bottom of the groove in the conductor grooved
stringer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
-
1. In an electric railway system, the combination of a continuous conduit
formed of non-conducting and non-magnetizable material and capped by insu-
lated conducting sections, and a continuous live magnetizable conductor loosely
and movably located within the groove or passage of the conduit and in direct
connection with a generator so that a magnet may move said conductor into
electrical contact with said conducting sections, substantially as described.
2. In an electric railway, the combination of an insulated conduit having
insulated conducting sections, a continuous magnetizable bare line conductor
resting loosely in said conduit normally out of contact with said conducting
sections and movable laterally and longitudinally, a magnet for moving said
loose line conductor into contact with said conducting sections and contact
devices for taking off the power current from said conducting sections, substan-
tially as described.
3. A safety electric railway system, substantially as shown and described.
4. A safety electric railway system comprising a closed insulated conduit, a
live movable line wire loosely arranged in said conduit, and raised supports of
conducting material on which said line wire loosely rests at intervals, and
electric feeder connections to said supports at intervals.
5. A safety electric railway system comprising a closed insulated conduit
having conducting elevated supports, a main feed conductor, feeder connections
therefrom to several of said isolate supports, and movable line wire resting
loosely and movably on said supports and electrically supplied wholly or in part
therefrom.
6. A safety electric cable railway system for a double track comprising live
line conductors for the tracks, respectively arranged in closed insulated con-
duits having exposed conducting sections normally electrically dead, a single
main feed conductor insulated and having lateral feeder connections at intervals
to both of said line conductors, generators for said tracks respectively, each
having its track return connected thereto. and both generators connected with
the single main feed conductor, substantially as described.
7. In a safety electric railway system, the combination of a closed insulating
conduit having a sectional exposed conductor, a movable line wire or conductor

page_text: within the conduit, and means facilitating the longitudinal movement of said
line wire within the conduit, substantially as described.
S. In combination, a sealed conduit having exposed conductors, isolated feed
conductors in said conduit, an enclosed insulated main feeder outside of said
conduit and provided with branch feed connections to said feed conductors, and
a live line wire located in the conduit, and at intervals loosely resting on
movably contacting said feed conductors within the conduit and receiving, in
whole or in part, current therefrom, substantially as described.
9. In a safety electric railway system, an exposed conductor, and a magnet
on the car having roller pole pieces, substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of April 1899.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.