Improvements in and connected with the Collectors and Conduits for Electric Tramways.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Collectors and Conduits for
Electric Tramways.
I, ALFRED MILLS TAYLOR, of 62, Heathwood Gardens, Old Charlton, in the
County of Kent, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
To each end of the motor truck I attach what I call a picking-up-box which
can carry along or leave behind the plough at the will of the driver, so that the
car can proceed unhindered from the end of an underground conduit section
and enter an overhead trolley-section, and, vice versa, can, on leaving the latter
section, enter the underground conduit section while picking up a plough that
was left behind. Such a picking up device may also be so designed as to possess
the advantage of a safety device whereby in the event of the plough getting jammed
in the conduit the car is allowed to pass over the obstruction without damage
to the plough.
I provide at the place where the two systems meet a bye pass between the up
line and the down line and common to both; the cars leave or take up the
plough in this bye-pass. A refuge" may be provided for the convenience and
safety of the public at each end of the bye pass and between the up line and
down line.
In one arrangement I suspend the picking up box by parallel motion jointed
bars and springs from the end of the motor truck and provide its interior with
electrical connections and contacts for conveying the current from the plough to
the motor. It has also a lid or slide at the end nearest the car. This slide is
adapted to take bearing against an upper projection or head of the plough which
passes up through the slot between the rails. The slide can be moved up out of
the way of the said head by a cord under the drivers control, who by this means
can raise or lower the slide on the leading picking-up-box. The slide is held
against the end of the plough head in a yielding manner, the spring or springs
which may be used for this purpose are therefore only strong enough to hold
the slide against the normal resistance of the plough. Instead of springs I may
use weights. The plough having the aforesaid upward projection or head for
detachable connection with the motor car in front of each picking-up-box is by
preference made of two long thin side parts or contact bars between which the
head is fixed. The side parts each consist of a number of thin flat steel pieces
arranged in one length, which pieces at their meeting places are united by what
I call expansion joints, these being formed of U shaped strips, the flanges of
which are riveted to each two adjoining side pieces; the plough is thus rendered
flexible enough to pass easily round curves without being distorted. The side
parts are also united by bolts passing through some intermediate blocks of wood
or other insulating material. Each head of the plough consists of a single verti-
cal thin flat conductor with thin flat insulating pieces all enclosed in an outer

page_text: protecting steel sheath, having flanges and bolts for uniting it to the sides of the
plough, with an insulating plate between, and with a block of wood or other
insulating material which holds the sides apart.
The
nose" of the plough is provided with a guiding wheel, to keep it central
in the conduit when passing curves and with two striking plates which serve
to open contact studs arranged in the interior of the conduit. It may also
carry at either end a steel wire brush for clearing out the conduit; or the
brush may if found desirable be carried down from the car direct so as to
forcibly carry forward to the next sump any solid matter blocking the conduit.
The latter consists of two rails with the slot for the plough head between their
upper inner heads, and the contact studs are arranged in lateral street boxes
provided opposite each other or nearly so at suitable intervals along the line.
The rails have at their joints fish plates and sole plates which grip over their
bottom flanges. Sumps are provided laterally below the conduit at inter-
vals into which the water and dirt are swept by the wire brushes. These sumps
are connected with the road drains.
I also provide automatic means for enabling the car driver to pass from a
deep conduit section of tram line to a shallow conduit section without a change
of collectors and without stopping the car to change ploughs or without in fact
taking any notice of the change except not to stop his car at the "dead point"
or unelectrified part where the two systems join. I might of course use two
different types of plough, one for each section of system, either of which would
fit into my aforesaid picking-up-box, the one plough to be abandoned and the
other to be picked up in the bye pass when the change of conduit occurred, but
I prefer the automatic means just referred to. The bottom of the deep conduit
is for the purpose of this part of my invention joined to the bottom of my afore-.
said shallow conduit by a slope of some feet in length. Between the side pieces
of my plough at each end of same are pivoted two double armed levers one arm
of which serves to make contact with the plough while the other arm carries a
guide wheel and a collector bar provided with a wearing pad. These pads are
for rubbing on the longitudinal conductors of the deep conduit. The pivot is
insulated from the plough..
When the guide wheel mounts the aforesaid slope between the deep and the
shallow circuit the double armed lever is turned on its pivot whereby the collector
is electrically disconnected from the plough and raised so as to trail in the
shallow conduit. Each end of the collector bar in one form works in a slot in
the corresponding double armed lever.
Dated this Ninth day of Octalian 1000
JENSEN & SON,
77. Chancery Lane London. W.C., Patent Agents.
Improvements in and connected with Collectors and Conduits for
Electric Tramways.
I, ALFRED MILLS TAYLOR, of 62, Heathwood Gardens, Old Charlton, in the
County of Kent, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
These improvements relate firstly to what I call a picking up box which can
carry along or leave behind the plough at the will of the driver so that for
example the car can proceed unhindered from the end of an underground conduit

page_text: section and enter an overhead-trolley-section, and vice versa can on leaving the
latter section enter the underground conduit section while picking up a plough
that was left behind; secondly to a safety device for driving the plough whereby
in the event of the plough getting jammed in the conduit the car is allowed
to pass over the obstruction without damage to the plough; thirdly to the plough,
fourthly to automatic means for enabling the car driver to pass from a deep
conduit section of tram line to a shallow conduit without a change of ploughs
and without stopping the car to change the same and fifthly to means for pass-
ing the cars from the deep conduit or shallow conduit system to the overhead
trolley system.
I shall describe a portion of these improvements with reference to and applied
to the conduit and the street boxes in connection therewith, which are described
in my Patent Specification No. 4727 of 1899, but it must be borne in mind that
I merely use this application as an example.
Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section through the said conduit and a street box
on the right hand side, the one on the left side not being shown; Fig. 2 is a
plan view of the street box, the lid being removed, and Fig. 3 a section on
line X X Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross section through the conduit and a sump
shewing also an end view of the plough. Fig. 5 is a side view of one end of a
plough attached to a picking-up-box which is suspended from one end of the
car, Fig. 6 is a plan view of the plough, Fig. 6 a cross section through the
conduit and the lower part of the plough. Fig. 6 is a cross-section shewing a
modified form of conduit and plough. Fig. 7 is an enlarged side view of part
of the picking-up-box. Fig. 8 is plan view of a head on the plough together
with the lips of the box which support it. Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section
through the plough head and the picking-up-box, and Fig. 10 is a front view
of the inclined faces on the plough, shewing also a modified arrangement of the
supporting lips of the picking-up-box.
Fig. 11 is a side view, and Figs. 11ª 12 and 12" are plan views of another
arrangement of the picking-up-box and safety device for driving the plough.
Fig. 12" shews a modified form of draw-link in side elevation.
Fig. 13 is a sectional side elevation and Fig. 14 cross section of another
arrangement of contacts for the picking-up-box.
Fig. 15 is a section of an ordinary deep conduit of the New York type with
continuous conductors shewing also a collapsible plough in section on the centre
line 15-15 of the plough, Figs. 16 and 17.
Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section of the conduit on the centre line 16 (Fig. 15)
shewing also a portion of the plough.
Fig. 17 is a plan of the plough as shewn in Figs. 15 and 16.
Fig. 18 is a section of the plough to an enlarged scale on the line 18-18
Figs. 16 and 17.
Fig. 19 is a section of the plough to an enlarged scale on the line 19-19
Figs. 16 and 17.
Fig. 20 is a section of the plough to an enlarged scale on the line 20-20
Figs. 16 and 17.
Fig. 21 is a cross section of a shallow conduit and of the plough in the col-
lapsed position on line 21-21 Figs. 22 and 23.
Fig. 22 is a longitudinal section on the centre line 22 (Fig. 21) of the conduit
shewing a portion of the plough.
Fig. 23 is a plan of the plough as shewn in Figs. 21 and 22.
Fig. 24 is a general view to a reduced scale of the centre portion of the col-
lapsible plough.
Figs. 25 and 26 are respectively sectional elevation and plan of conduit points
shewing means for guiding the nose of the plough in the right direction.
Fig. 27 is a plan of the byepass where the conduit system joins the overhead
trolley system.
The plough works in the conduit formed between the rails A A and the upward

page_text: projections of the plough pass up through the slot between their upper inner
flanges.
The plough as it passes between the yielding studs E see Figs. 1 and 2 forces
them further apart and forms electrical connection between the contact piece H
and the split contact socket I which is connected with the current conductor
through a fuse thereby closing the circuit. The spring F causes the plugs to
resume their normal position when the plough has passed. Either one of the
contact plugs E may be dispensed with and a yielding dummy plug substituted
when it is desired to use the conduit in connection with a ground return system.
To prevent the sides of the plough from touching the walls of the conduit in
going round curves or in entering turn outs, I employ dummy insulating studs
of porcelain or other suitable material fitted at frequent intervals into the web
of the rails A. In Fig. 4 are shewn dummy studs K.
To enable the plough to pass round curves or to enter turn-outs it is made
of a flexible construction.
The use of this flexible plough enables me to employ longer ploughs than have
heretofore been used whereby the contact boxes can be arranged at greater dis-
tances apart than is usual with the great advantages of a corresponding diminu-
tion in the initial cost of the track, in the cost of maintenance and in the number
of elements of possible leakage.
Fig. 4 also shews a front view of the plough as it passes a sump L, in con-
nection with the sewers.
The plough is so long and the plugs E and street boxes are spaced so far
apart longitudinally that the plough before it leaves two plugs enters between
the two following ones.
and
or
The plough is by preference provided with an upward projection or projections.
head or heads for detachable connection with the motor car in front of
each picking up box or between the two picking up boxes and is connected
with the motor car in such manner that the plough will become detached and
left behind if the strain on it by reason of the obstruction becomes too great.
Various yielding stops carriers connections or other devices may be devised for
that purpose of which I shall describe by way of example several forms and
these in connection with what I have called a picking-up-box. I now proceed
to describe the first example of a picking-up-box with reference to Figs. and 7
to 10, which can carry along or leave behind the plough at the will of the
driver or while the car is still in motion can pick up a plough.
I suspend the picking-up-box P from the end of the motor truck by parallel
bars 13 and a spring or springs P which support the weight of the said box
and I provide the interior of the said box with suitable connections and contacts
for conveying the current from the plough to the motor which as shown may be
suitably insulated weighted or spring controlled contacts 5. P is the lid of
the box, the sides being rigidly connected together in any convenient and suit-
able manner. The bottom of the box P is open to permit of the passage of the
upward projection or projections of the plough and the weight of the plough
is supported on lips integral with and extending inwardly from the sides of the
said box or the lips as shewn see Fig. 9 may be in the form of detachable slide
blocks 6 secured by set screws so as to be readily renewed when worn or as
shewn in Fig. 10 the detachable slide blocks 6 may be supported on lips 7
on the said box and secured in position in any known manner. The lips of the
box P or the slide blocks 6 as the case may be are bevelled fore and aft to
facilitate the entry of the head or heads of the plough in whichever direction the
car may be running. The ends of the lower portions of the sides of the box P
being flared laterally or bevelled for the same purpose.
The picking up box P may be provided with a hood (not shewn) at each end
to prevent mud being splashed on to the insulating surfaces on the upper face of
the head of the plough.
In connection with this picking up device I provide a lid, slide or other safety.

page_text: driving device, at or near the end nearest the centre of the car. This slide or
safety driving device is adapted to take bearing against an upper projection or
projections or head or heads of the plough which passes or pass up through the
slot between the rails. The slide or safety driving device is held against the
end of the plough head or other upward projection in a yielding manner the
spring or springs which may be used for this purpose are therefore only strong
enough to hold the slide or safety driving device against the normal resistance
of the plough. Instead of springs I may use weights.
Such a safety device may as shewn in Figs. 5 and 7 be conveniently attached
to the picking up box Pitself consisting of a flap P pivotted at 2 to the end
of the box P which is the nearer to the centre of the car and against which the
head M of the plough bears. The flap P is held in position by springs 12
which are only strong enough to hold the flap P' against the nornial resistance
of the plough so that in the event of the plough getting jammed in the conduit
the abnormal pressure of the head M opens out the flap P¹ against the tension
of the springs P2 thus permitting the head M to slide out of the box P while
the car passes on. In order that the plough may at the will of the driver be left
behind so that for example the car can proceed unhindered from the end of an
underground conduit section and enter an overhead trolley section. I provide
the safety driving device with suitable means whereby it may be operated by
the driver from the platform so as to permit the head M of the plough to slide
out of the box P during the continued motion of the car.
For this purpose I provide the flap P with an arm 3 to which I attach a
cord or bar 4 which is carried to the platform where it may be operated by the
driver. The plough see Figs. 5 to 10 having a head M for each box P for
detachable connection with the motor car is by preference as shewn made of two
long side parts M' between which the heads M are fixed. The side parts M¹
each consist of a number of thin flat steel pieces in continuation which are united
by what I call expansion joints these being formed of U shaped strips M³ the
flanges of which are riveted to each two adjoining pieces M' the plough is thus
rendered flexible enough to pass easily round curves without being distorted. At
short intervals in the length of the plough I provide blocks of wood Mas
shewn in Fig. 6 and 6" or Brooklyn strain insulators M³ as shewn in Fig. G
which serve to unite the side parts M¹.
The stem of each head M of the plough consists as shewn especially in
Figs. 6 and 9 of a single vertical thin flat conductor M in electrical connection
with the side parts M³ of the plough with thin flat insulating pieces M7 all
enclosed in an outer protecting sheath 8 of steel or other suitable material
having lower flanges see Fig. 6 which are seated on an insulating plate M10
and secured by bolts M to a block M" of wood or other insulating material
which is attached to the side plates M and holds these apart.
The upper flanges M15 see Fig. 9 of the said sheath are secured between an
upper insulating plate M6 and lower slide blocks M by bolts M¹ the connection
between the head M thus formed and the stem being further strengthened by
the blocks 18. The ends of the head are tapered on all sides as clearly shown
in Figs. 7, 8 and 10 so as to facilitate the entry of the head into the box P both
laterally and vertically, the upper extremity of the conductor M see Fig. 9
is provided with a suitable contact strip M20 secured on the top of, or as shewn
in a groove in the insulating plate M¹ and upon which the contacts 5 rest.
Each nose of the plough see Figs. 5 and 6 is provided with a guiding wheel N
to keep it central in the conduit the nose is tapered to form striking plates 12
to facilitate the entry between and to open or force further apart the contact
studs E which project into the conduit.
These striking plates see Fig. 11 are attached to the nearest U expansion
joints by countersunk bolts with self locking nuts so as to be readily renewable
when worn out.
At each end the plough carries a steel brush 0 for clearing out the conduit;

page_text: or the brush may if found desirable be carried down from the car direct; in
any case so as to carry forward to the next sump any matter blocking the conduit.
Where the line is likely to be flooded by storm water I provide special insu-
lating means for preventing leakage of current across the conduit. In one form
I employ a plough as shown in Fig. 6 consisting of two sides M M which at
intervals of say a foot or two are united by short wood blocks M. The inner
walls of the conduit are lined with smooth wood battens A* or other suitable
insulation capable of withstanding frictional wear against them; the contact
plugs E pass through holes in the battens. Or the upper and lower portions of
walls of the conduit may be similarly insulated by separate battens.
Upon the
plough and between the wood blocks M and the sides M₁ are fixed continuous
pieces M of flexible insulating material say asbestos or canvas sheeting soaked
in paraffin, or rubber, sufficient to withstand 500 volts. M22 22 are continuous
renewable strips of wood, celluloid vulcanite or other good insulating and wearing
material united to the pieces M21 say by rivets. Springs M2 M2 are provided at
intervals. M2 M2 are continuous strips of insulating material of say paraffined
cardboard for still further preventing leakage across the conduit. A shielding
strip M26 may be provided for preventing water from entering between the
block M and the strips M21.
It is obvious that the safety driving devices may be arranged at any convenient
points between the picking up boxes provided insulated upward projections from
the plough are arranged for the purpose of driving the plough or that such
safety driving devices may even be arranged close together say at the centre of
the car so that only one insulated upward projection from the plough arranged
between the said devices is necessary for the purpose of driving the plough.
It is also obvious that such safety driving devices may be employed in con-
junction with any suitable means for supporting the weight of the plough; the
necessary electrical connections being provided.
Referring to Figs. 11 11 12 12 and 12" as in the first example already
described with reference to Figs. 5 to 10 to each end of the motor truck I attach
a picking-up box P which can carry along or leave behind the plough at the
will of the driver or while the car is still in motion can pick up a plough.
In addition to the vertical movement of the picking-up box P already described
I provide the said box with a horizontal movement. This horizontal movement
is conveniently attained by pivotting the parallel motion bars P³ to a block or
blocks pivotted to the motor truck by a pin P10. The horizontal movement of the
box is preferably controlled by springs P5 attached to the box and to the motor
truck or to the motor.
. In connection with this picking up device I provide a safety driving device
adapted to take bearing against an upper projection of the plough which
passes up through the slot between the rails. The safety driving device is held
against the upward projection in a yielding manner the spring or springs which
may be used for this purpose are therefore only strong enough to hold the safety
driving device against the normal resistance of the plough whereby in the event
of the plough getting jammed in the conduit the car is allowed to pass over the
obstruction without damage to the plough. In the case of a long plough this
arrangement has the advantage of greater flexibility where for example the curves
are of short radius and further the driving point being situated at any convenient
position in front of in relation to the direction of motion of the car instead of
between the two picking up boxes as in the first example described or even at
the nose of the plough as shewn in the drawings, there is no tendency of the
nose to be deflected and so possibly to be jammed in the conduit owing to an
obstruction there is also no tendency of the sides of the plough to bulge and
so endangering a short circuit. This construction of safety driving device it
being well understood that, as in the first example described the said device is
arranged on either side of the centre of the car, permits of the plough being held
within certain limits governed by the strength of the safety device in a more

page_text: or less rigid connection with the car in whichever direction the latter be desired
to be run.
A single head M may however be used in case of this construction
of plough if both positive and negative connections were applied to the head.
The safety driving device may as shewn in Figs. 11, 12 and 12" consist of
two pivotted draw-links Q each attached at one end to the car itself the other
end taking a bearing against an upward projection of the plough which passes
up through the slot between the rails. This latter end is preferably formed with
a bow or loop Q, the end Q7 of which is curved as shewn and along which the
upward projection of 'the plough may slide when passing curves. Means are
provided for raising and lowering the draw-links Q and adjusting them on the
upward projections of the plough so that the plough may be placed somewhat in
tension and for counteracting the effect of the varying height of the car from the
rails and oscillation of the same. Such means as shewn in Fig. 11 may consist
of a block Q to which the draw-link Q is pivotted and which slides in a bracket Q³
attached to the car and is raised or lowered by a screw Q which revolves in
the said bracket when operated from the driving platform and a hanging link or
links Q the lower end of which is pivotted to the draw-link Q while the upper
end is pivotted to a block which slides in a slotted bracket Q, attached to the car
thus affording a movable fulcrum for the draw-link Q.
The draw-link Q may be provided with any known safety or break-away
device which will yield after a given strain has been reached and which will
thus release the plough in the event of a serious block in the conduit.
One such device I have illustrated in Fig. 12. The end Q of the bow of the
draw link Q is made separate from the sides Q and sprung into position between
the side pieces and held there by conical headed studs Q8, on the ends of the
sides Q6, which take into corresponding holes in the ends of the piece Q7, or
the draw-link between the link Q, and the bow may be divided into two por-
tions connected by a coupling piece provided with a portion cut away in a well
known manner so as to break after a given strain has been reached and which
in case of being broken could be easily and readily replaced by a spare coupling
piece carried on the car to meet such an emergency.
Fig. 12 shews a modified form of draw-link Q which I preferably rise where
the road is rough the end or bow Q6 which takes over the upward projection of
the plough being provided with a sweep so as to ride over any projections in
the road way.
I provide in front of each picking up box or preferably as shewn in Figs. 11
and 11 at each end of the plough an upward projection or driving horn M¹³ and
a head or heads for detachable connection with the motor car all of which pass
up through the slot between the rails. The projection M3 is attached to or
forms part of the nose of the plough but is insulated from the plough. The nose
of the plough is made solid and is formed with an upward sweep to the horn M¹³
so that a stone or the like which may have dropped between the lips of the
conduit rails and have got wedged there will be forced upward and out of the
slot by the progress of the plough. As already described to the nose of the
plough I attach a brush O and guide wheel N and in addition to or in place of
said brush I may also provide a guard or scoop 9 which is slightly narrower'
than the diameter of the guide wheel N so that stones, horses shoes, or the like
may not get wedged between the nose of the plough and the bottom of the con-
duit and so as to break up and throw upwards any accumulation of caked mud
or snow or other foreign matter which might jam below the nose of the plough.
M2 are the striking plates already described.
The aforesaid horn M¹³ may be provided with a grooved roller in which the
end Q of the bow may ride so as to afford a rolling connection in passing round
curves.
Figs. 13 and 14 shew another arrangement of contacts for the picking up box
in connection with a plough head by which the box is made shallower when
desirable. P is a block of wood fixed to the lid P. A contact spring Pa is held

page_text: rigidly by a screw 10 at one end to the underside of the wood block P7 and
at the other end which carries the electrical connection P to the car is supported
by a screw 11 which passes through a slot in the spring P8. In other respects
the box is similar to either of the two examples already described.
66
These
I also provide automatic means for enabling the car driver to pass from a
deep conduit section of tram line to a shallow conduit section and vice-versa with-
out a change of collectors, and without stopping the car to change ploughs or
without in fact taking any notice of the change except not to stop his car at
the dead point" or unelectrified part where the two systems join.
improvements are applicable to the ordinary construction of plough as well as
to the constructions of ploughs above described. I might of course
use two
different types of plough one for each section of the system, either of which
would fit into my aforesaid picking up box, the one plough to be abandoned and
the other to be picked up in the byepass where the change of conduit occurred,
but I prefer the automatic means just referred to, which I shall now describe
as an example with reference to Figs. 15 to 24.
In Fig. 15 is shewn an ordinary deep conduit of the New York type; the
bottom of this conduit is for the purpose of this part of my invention, joined to
the bottom of my aforesaid shallow conduit shewn in Fig. 4 or other shallow
conduit by a slope or striking bar of some feet in length the use of which is
hereinafter referred to.
Between the side pieces M¹ of my plough, see Fig. 24, are pivoted two double-
armed levers R. one short arm of which serves to make contact with the sides M¹
of the plough while the other long arm carries a guide or striking wheel U
and a flexible collector bar T provided with a wearing pad T¹ for rubbing on
the continuous longitudinal conductors T2 of the deep conduit.
As shewn in Figs. 15 to 20 the pivot S of each of the four levers R is insulated
from the sides M¹ of the plough or preferably, as shewn in Fig. 18 Sheet 6, each
nivot is insulated from the levers R by a bush S of suitable insulating material.
The levers R are also insulated from the sides M¹ of the plough by collars S
so that contact between the sides M¹ of the plough and the levers R is effected
only in connection with the deep conduit as shewn in Figs. 15 to 17 by means
of a projection cam or wedge shaped switch R¹ on the short arm of the said levers.
Springs or spring washers S³ are provided to form an elastic joint.
The flexible collector bars T are carried on bolts R2 in the long arm of the
levers R said bolts being insulated from the levers R by bushes R3 of suitable
insulating material see Fig. 20 while the said collector bars are insulated from
the levers R by collars R. Springs or spring washers R5 are provided to
form an elastic joint. To allow for the movement of the levers R the bolts R
at each end of the collector bar may work in a slot in the corresponding lever R
but as I prefer it the collector bars T are provided with slots T3 in which
the aforesaid bolts R2 slide. The collector bars T are extended beyond the
bolts R2 said extensions carrying wedge-shaped contact pieces T4 see Figs. 17
and 19 for continuing the circuit, when in connection with the continuous con-
ductors of the deep conduit only, through the levers R and the aforesaid cam R¹
to the sides M¹ of the plough. To the levers R or preferably as shewn to the
said collector bar extensions I bolt arms U, which are insulated from both
the bolts U1 and the said extensions by bushes U2 and collars U³ of suitable
insulating material and serve to carry the aforesaid guide or striking wheel U⚫.
The aforesaid slope or striking bar is formed with an upper and a lower ledge
and may be conveniently made of a piece of channel or I iron so that when the
plough passes from the deep to the shallow conduit the striking wheel U runs
up the lower flange thus causing the plough to collapse see Figs. 21 to 23 and
when the plough passes from the shallow conduit to the deep conduit the striking
wheel runs along the upper flange causing the collapsed plough to open out as
shewn in Figs. 15 to 17. In this construction of plough I may also employ the
expansion or flexible joints M2 at suitable and convenient points.

page_text: When the action of the said slope causes the plough to collapse in a vertical
direction the action of the wedge shaped switches R' and the movement of the
levers R in conjunction with the spring washers produce simultaneously a
horizontal collapse so that the collector bars T rest within the side M¹.
In the collapsed position the whole of the deep conduit gear is insulated from
the sides M the switches R¹ having fallen clear of the same.
Instead of allowing the striking rollers V to trail in the shallow conduit I
prefer to provide a clip or clips T5 on the sides M¹ of the plough but insulated
therefrom each of which take into a depression in the pads T¹ and hold the deep
conduit gear in the collapsed position with the rollers V clear of the bottom of
the shallow conduit.
I provide at the place where a deep or shallow conduit system joins an over-
head trolley system a bye-pass 12 see Fig. 27 between the up-line and the
down line of both systems and common to both, the cars leave or take up the
plough in this bye pass. In order to ensure that the plough may at the point
13 where the conduit slot of the up line 14 joins the conduit slot of the down
line 15 take the right slot I provide special points see Figs. 25 and 26.
The point 16 is pivotted at 17. To the bottom of the conduit I pivot at 18
a second bar 19 so curved on either side as to form in both positions a con-
tinuation of the web of the conduit rails A. The bar. 19 is operated by a pin 20
in the point 16 which passes into a hole in the bar 19. The pivots 17 and 18
and pin 20 are so arranged relatively to each other that when the point is put
over in either direction by hand or as may be in this case is controlled by a
spring the bar 19 is put over to a greater extent so as to continue the line of
the web of the conduit rails in either direction.
A refuge 21 may be provided for the convenience and safety of the public
at each end of the bypass and between the upline and the downline.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
In an underground electrical sectional contact system having a slotted conduit.
1. The combination with a motor-driven car a plough, means for supporting
the weight of said plough and suitable electrical connections and contacts, of a
safety driving device substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. The combination with a motor driven car a plough, and means for driving
said plough of one or two picking up boxes substantially as and for the pur-
poses described.
3. The combination with a motor driven car and a plough, of two picking-up
boxes arranged one at each end of the motor truck and a safety device or devices
for driving said plough arranged on the said motor truck between the said two
picking-up boxes and adapted to release the said plough automatically when the
plough becomes jammed in the conduit in whichever direction the car may be
running substantially as set forth.
4. The combination with a motor driven car and a plough of two picking-up
boxes arranged one at each end of the motor truck each box being provided
with a spring controlled vertical movement and a safety device for driving said
plough so as to release the said plough automatically when the plough becomes
jammed in the conduit in whichever direction the car may be running substan-
tially as set forth.
5. The combination with a motor driven car of two picking-up boxes arranged
one at each end of the motor truck each box provided with spring controlled
vertical and horizontal movements, a flexible plough and a safety device or
devices for driving said plough adapted to release the plough automatically when
the plough becomes jammed in the conduit in whichever direction the car may
may be running substantially as set forth.
6. The combination with a motor-driven car of two picking-up boxes arranged

page_text: one at each end of the motor truck each provided with a spring controlled vertical
movement or vertical and horizontal movements a flexible plough, and a pivotted
safety device for driving said plough attached to each end of the car and adapted
to release the said plough automatically when the plough becomes jammed in
the conduit in whichever direction the car may be running substantially as set
forth.
7. The combination with a motor driven car and a plough of a picking up
box a safety device for driving said plough and means for actuating the said
safety driving device from the driving platform so that the said plough may be
released or attached at the will of the driver in whichever direction the car may
be running substantially as set forth.
8. The means employed for picking up carrying driving and releasing the
plough as described with reference to Figs. 5 to 14.
9. In an underground electrical sectional contact system having a slotted con-
duit provided with lateral contact studs the combination with a motor driven
car of a plough with sides of opposite polarity insulated from each other and
built up in sections united by flexible jointing pieces, means for supporting
and driving said plough and suitable connections and contacts for conveying the
current from said plough to the motor substantially as set forth.
10. In an underground electrical conduit system having a slotted conduit the
combination with a motor-driven car, of a plough provided at or near each end
with an upward projection which passes up through the slot of the conduit where-
by the said plough is driven and a nose having an upward sweep so as to clear.
out said slot means for driving said plough, means for supporting the intermediate
weight of said plough, and suitable connections and contacts for conveying the
current from said plough to the motors substantially as set forth.
11. In an underground electrical sectional contact system having a slotted
conduit provided with lateral contact studs the application to each end of a
plough having a tapered nose of a guide wheel below the level of the contact
studs, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
12. In an underground electrical conduit system the combination with sumps
arranged at suitable distances apart and connected with the sewers for draining
the conduit of a guard and brush attached at or near each end of the plough
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
13. In an underground electrical conduit system consisting of a section of
shallow conduit and a section of deep conduit in continuation thereof the com-
bination with a motor driven car of a collapsible plough consisting of a collector
for the deep conduit and a collector for the shallow conduit, means for electri-
cally connecting the former collector with the latter collector when in the deep
conduit, means for causing the said plough to collapse or open out on passing
from the deep to the shallow conduit or vice-versa and to electrically disconnect
the two collectors, means for driving and supporting said plough, and suitable
connections and contacts for conveying the current from the shallow conduit
collector to the motor substantially as described.
14. The constructions of plough as described with reference to Figs. 4, 5, 6,
6. 6. 7 to 11 and 11.
15. The construction of collapsible plough as shown in Figs. 15 to 24.
16. The general arrangement for connecting an underground conduit system
to an overhead trolley system substantially as described and shown with refer-
ence to Fig. 27 and for the purposes set forth.
17. The construction of combined slot and conduit points substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 25 and 26.
Dated this Seventh day of February 1900.
JENSEN & SON.
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.