Improvements in Conductors, Conduits, and Collectors for Electric Railways and Tramways.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1898
COMI
Improvements in Conductors, Conduits, and Collectors for Electric
Railways and Tramways.
HERMANN DANIEL, Tradesman, Berlin, Wilhelmstreet 12, Germany, 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:
The object of the present invention is to provide certain new and useful
improvements in conductors, conduits and collectors for electric railways, and
tramways and it relates more especially to means whereby to insure a reliable
underground contact between the stationary electric current conductor and the
current collector, moving along with the car and conducting the current to the car
motor.
In order to carry out my invention I provide a slotted rail, within which is
enclosed an isolating (wooden or the like) longitudinal sleeper for carrying the
conducting rails and rubber rails or guards. The two conducting rails, one
preferably of iron and the other of copper, are mounted upon U shaped carriers
or supports, which by their elasticity tend to press the two parallel arranged
conducting rails together, but which have enough give to permit the blade-shaped
collector to pass between the said conducting rails. The spring-action of the
carriers or supports serves to thus press the conducting rails firmly against the
passing collector, thereby assuring a good contact. Rectangularly bent rubber
guards are also provided upon the isolating sleeper, in such a way, that the
horizontal parts ordinarily close over the conducting rails and touch each other.
In this way accidental entrance of water, dirt or the like into the conduit is made
almost impossible. Should however some water have found its way in, it will at
once drain off again through openings provided in the lower part of the rubber
guards and of the slotted rail.
In order to make my invention more easily understood, I have illustrated it on
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved conduit with the lower part
of the collector, also in section.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the conducting rail c, the carrier or supports f and the
longitudinal sleeper in section.
Fig. 3 is
collector.
a side view and a vertical cross section respectively of the
Fig. 4 shows how the rubber guard rails close in front and back of the
collector.
a, a are the two parts, making up the slotted rail. is the slot. b is the
longitudinal, isolating sleeper, upon which are mounted the elastic U shaped
carriers or supports f, the free ends f¹, fl of which carry the conducting
rails c¹. g g¹ are the two rubber guards, resting upon the isolating sleeper b
and being bent rectangularly, so as to ordinarily enclose the conducting rails
and protect them from water, dirt and the like. i is the current collector,
tapering at the lower flattened end and reaching in through slot between

page_text: the two rubber guards and the conducting rails. d d are openings in the
rail and rubber guard respectively for allowing the water, if any, to drain
off.
It will thus be seen, that my improved conduit is perfectly protected against
the usual disturbances from without, i.e. the running full of water or getting
clogged up with dirt, as the rubber guards are only parted during the passage
of the collector.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and the manner, in which it is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:
1/ In an electric underground conduit a slotted rail, being made up of the two
parts a a', within which, upon an isolating, longitudinal sleeper, U shaped
elastic supports f are mounted, the free ends of which carry the current
conducting rails, as and for the purpose specified.
2/ In an electric underground conduit a slotted rail a a¹, within which upon an
isolating, longitudinal sleeper, U shaped elastic supports f are mounted, the free
ends of which carry the current conducting rails, said supports and conducting
rails to be enclosed by two rectangularly bent rubber guards g, g¹, being also
mounted upon the said sleeper, as set forth.
3/ Openings d, d in the rubber guards and slotted rail for draining off
purposes.
4 A current collector, having a flat, rounded, tapering lower end as and for the
purpose specified and illustrated in Fig. 3.
Dated this 1st day of August 1898.
FRANZ HICKMANN,
Agent for Applicant.