Improvements in Couplings for Connecting Together the Electric Wires as used on Railway Trains for Electrical Communication and such like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 31st May, 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
Improvements in Couplings for Connecting Together the Electric
Wires as used on Railway Trains for Electrical Communication
and such like.
I, ALEXANDER SHIELS, of 190, Bath Street, Glasgow, M.B., C.M., B.Sc., do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to couplings for connecting together the electric wires as
used on railway trains for electrical communication between the passengers and
the officials of the train or for such like purposes.
The present invention is a development of and improvement upon my prior
invention No. 8743 of 1892.
In carrying out my present invention I make the coupling of two portions which
are precisely similar in shape and construction. Each portion is provided with a
metal base having a vulcanite or other insulating plug therein. Passed through the
plug is an electrical contact which may take the form of a spring tongue of metal
having a gripping spear, fork, hook, or equivalent, at the end. Projecting later-
ally from the base are two, preferably, semi-circular hollow extensions arranged,
by preference, one slightly within the other. The outer extension has its longi-
tudinal faces or edges cut obliquely.
At the base of the half coupling one or more rubber rings or equivalent are
secured in such manner that they act as cushions should the half coupling hang
loose and strike against the end of the railway carriage.
When the half couplings are fitted together they lock telescopically into one
another and the contacts bear against and grip one another.
The positive current is preferably carried through the contacts of the coupling
whilst the return current is carried through the metal of the coupling itself.
The half couplings are suspended from the ends of each carriage by means of
a tube or an arm or equivalent of any suitable construction. The tube or arm
carries the electric wires.
The coupling may be made to carry two or more wires by merely multiplying
the contacts and wire connections.
Dated this 20th day of Anous 1808
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Couplings for Connecting Together the Electrio
Wires as used on Railway Trains for Electrical Communication
and such like,
I, ALEXANDER SHIELS, of 190, Bath Street, Glasgow, M.B., C.M., B.Sc., do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
-
.
This invention relates to couplings for connecting together the electric wires as 5
used on railway trains for electrical intercommunication between the passengers
and the officials of the train or for such like purposes.
The present invention is a development of and improvement upon my prior
invention No. 8743 of 1892.
In order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto 1
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section showing the coupling complete.
Fig. 2 is an end view of one portion of the coupling.
Fig. 3 is a view showing the two portions of the coupling locked together.
Fig. 4 is a view of one portion of the coupling alone.
In carrying out my present invention I make the coupling of two portions a, b,
which are precisely similar in shape and construction. Each portion is provided
with a metal base c having a vulcanite or other insulating plug & therein. Passed
through the plug is an electrical contact which may take the form of a spring
metal tongue e having a gripping hook or equivalent at the end. Projecting
laterally forwards from the base c are two semi-circular hollow extensions f, g,
arranged concentrically the one within the other (see Fig. 4). The outer exten-
sion g has its longitudinal faces or edges gl cut obliquely.
As will be seen from the drawings each extension f is cast in one with the
base whilst each extension g is cut from a metal tube and secured to its inner
concentric extension f by means of pins o. The extensions fare, preferably, made
with exterior ribs or corrugations p.
For the sake of distinction in Fig. 1 the parts f, g, of the left hand half coupling
are marked with an a thus f*, g³.
At the base of each half coupling a rubber ring i or equivalent is secured in
such manner (as shown) that it acts as a cushion should the half coupling, when
hanging loose at any time, strike against the end of the railway carriage.
When the half couplings are fitted together which can be readily done by
merely pushing the one telescopically into the other. (see Figs. 1 and 3) the
contacts e, e, bear against and spring grip one another.
The positive current is, preferably, carried along the wires j, j, and through
the contacts e, e, of the coupling whilst the return current is, preferably, carried
along the wires k, k, and through the metal of the coupling itself.
The half couplings are suspended from the ends of each carriage by means of
rubber or other tubes 7 of any suitable construction and through which the electric
wires are passed. The tubes 1, 7, are attached at their upper ends to the tubular
metal brackets m which latter are secured to the woodwork of the carriages.
The coupling may be made to carry two or more wires by merely multiplying
the contacts and wire connections,

page_text: 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 consider novel and desire to claim is: -
An electric coupling for electric wires on railway trains constructed substan-
tially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this 30th day of May 1899.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.