Improved Road Contact and like Systems for Electric Railways.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Road Contact and like Systems for Electric Railways.
I, WILLIAM GRUNow, Junior, of 70, Broad Street, in the City of Bridgeport, in
the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, United States of America,
Electrical Engineer, 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 electrical railways and particularly to an improved
system of forming contact between the supply conductor and a double or twin"
working conductor; and some of the objects of the invention are to provide a
working conductor which will be normally dead or unenlivened, and to
produce means for forming contact between the supply and working conductors,
to charge that section of the latter immediately in use, or directly under the
vehicle and further to produce means whereby the section so charged will auto-.
matically become "dead" or unenlivened, as soon as the vehicle shall have
passed beyond the same.
Another object is to dispose with the electro-magnets upon the vehicle, to
attract the contact device and close the circuit through the working conductors;
and further to provide a system by means of which the contact devices are
operated positively and quickly to charge, in advance, the immediately preceed-
ing section of the working conductors and close the circuit therethrough as soon
as the current collector enters upon the same, in order that a high rate of speed
may be attained by the vehicle, and perfect contact be assured.
A further object is to produce a contact device constituting a terminal of the
supply conductor, and adapted to be actuated by an independent circuit and to
break contact by gravitation.
With these, and other, objects in view, the invention consists essentially of
the construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as herein-
after more fully described in the following specification and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a cross or transverse section of a street railroad bed, illustrating the
manner of securing the track or service rails and sections of the working con-
ductors in position;
Fig. 2 is a diagramatic view showing a twin or double sectional working
conductor, with contact devices, the track or service rails, the supply conductor
and the car windings or connections;
Fig. 3 is a diagramatic view illustrating a working conductor, consisting of a
sectional rail with its adjacent energizing sections, a compound wound contact
device, car wiring and connections;
Fig. 4 is a similar view showing twin posts constituting a working conductor
and a long collector operating therewith also car wiring and connections;
Fig. 5 is a diagramatic view showing a single working conductor and one
sectional service or track rail and one continuous service or track rail, together.
with electrical connections and contact device terminal;

page_text: Fig. 6 is a diagramatic view of the wiring and connections of a motor, car or
vehicle, showing storage battery and automatic circuit breaker;
Ol'
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of one of the contact receptacles with a single
shunt" winding, showing the contact mechanism in elevation;
Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the same with the top or cover removed;
Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the copper contact plate showing the
manner of attaching the same;
Fig. 10, is a bottom plan view of the same;
Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of a carbon contact plate, showing the manner
of attachment;
Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section of a contact receptacle, with both secondary
or shunt" and feeder windings, showing contact mechanism in elevation;
Fig. 13, is a top plan view of the feeder winding about the magnet cores, con-
nections thereof with the flexible connections and the final connection of the
feeder with the core;
Fig. 14 is an end elevation of the magnet core, showing terminals of feeder
windings and the insulating magnet connector carrying the flexible connections;
and
Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the flexible connections, the feeder connections
and magnet connections.
Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the
several views.
Referring to the drawings, and particularly to the construction shown in
Fig. 1 thereof, the reference character 1 designates the track or service rails, of
the ordinary construction, which are preferably spiked, or otherwise secured, to
suitable beams, or cross ties 2, upon which, preferably midway between the track
rails, is suitably secured a creosoted continuous stringer or timber 3, or creosoted
wooden blocks may be substituted for the stringer, if desired.
"
Upon the stringer or blocks are preferably secured the sections of the "twin
or double working conductor 4, here illustrated, as formed of angle irons; but
any preferred form or construction of the same may be employed, and the sections
of the working conductors may be secured in position upon the stringer or
blocks 3, in any desired manner, and the extremities thereof may be inclined or
bevelled, to lessen the impact of the current collector or shoe in passing over
the same.
If desired, a metallic brace 5, may be secured to the cross-ties inside of the
track rails, to provide additional strength and rigidity therefor; and the service
or track rails are suitably connected or bonded, and the return current is con-
veyed through the same.
Suitably secured upon the cross-ties 2, by spikes or bolts are the contact
receptacles 6, preferably provided with attaching lugs 7, adapted to receive spikes
or bolts 8, whereby said receptacles are secured in position, and the receptacles 6,
are preferably provided with a tubular projection 9, to receive the branch 10, of
the supply conductor or feeder cable 11, as shown.
The receptacles 6 are preferably provided with tops or covers 12, of conductive
material, connected by a bond 13, with the adjacent working conductor 4; and,
if desired, the working conductors may be separated longitudinally by suitable
insulation 14, and the section of the working conductor more remote from the
contact receptacles is preferably connected to the track or service rail 1, by a
conductor 15, as clearly shown in the figures of the drawings.
A collector or shoe 16, of any preferred construction, is employed to take up
the supply current from the working conductor, after the latter has been charged
by the contact devices. through the top 12 and bond 13, as will be hereinafter
more fully explained.
The construction illustrated in Fig. 1, is particularly adapted for a street rail-
road bed but I do not confine myself to the particular construction and arrange-
ment therein shown, as the same may be varied in practice if found desirable,

page_text: In Fig. 2 is illustrated, by means of a diagramatic view, the "twin" or double
sectional working conductor 4, one of which is connected by a bond 13, with the
top or cover 12 of the contact receptacle (not shown) and the other working con-
ductor is connected by a conductor 15, to the track or service rail, 1, after said
conductor has been wound about the contact device 17, as shown.
A resistance 18, consisting of electric incandescent lamps or any suitable
material or substance, or compound of copper, iron steel, German silver, wires or
bands wound and sustained in the usual waterproof manner, or carbon graphite
rods or plates, may be interposed between the contact device 17, and the track
or service rail, as shown, for the purpose of reducing the secondary or shunt
circuit to lower voltage, sufficient to energize the contact device 17, and raise
the same into contact with the top or cover 12, and charge that section of the
werking conductor, as hereinafter more fully described.
The twin or double working conductors are preferably divided into sections
of predetermined lengths, preferably isolated or insulated from each other, and
the ends of the sections may be bevelled to reduce the impact of the collector 16,
which may move along the upper surface or sides of the working conductor, and
is preferably of sufficient width to bridge or span both conductors.
The construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, before described, operates in the
following manner; as soon as the current collector 16 enters upon the section of
the twin or double sectional working conductor the current passes through the
member thereof more remote from the contact device or supply terminal 17,
through the shunt or energizing circuit, energizing the contact device 17, through
the resistance 18, connection 15 to the track or service rail 1, through the vehicle
wheel and connections, to the controller and motor as will be readily understood.
When the contact device 17 is energized, in the manner just described, it will
be raised into contact with the top or cover 12 of the contact receptacle (not
shown) thus causing the full current from the supply conductor or feeder or
cable 11, to pass through the branch 10 thereof, the contact device 17, top or
cover 12 and bond 13, to the adjacent member of the working conductor 4, from
which the working current is picked up by the collector or shoe 16 and conveyed
to the controller and motor, in the usual manner.
In Fig. 3 is shown a construction similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2, with
the exception that the working conductor consists of a sectional rail 20, and a
plurality of blocks 21, or similar devices connected to the secondary coil 22, upon
the contact device 17, which is also provided with another winding coil, con-
stituting a continuation of the supply conductor 11. as will be explained more
fully hereinafter.
The member 20 of the working conductor is bonded at 13, to the top or cover 12
of the contact receptacle (not shown) and the branch 10 of the supply conductor 11;
is wound about the cores of the contact device 17, thus making the same the
terminal of the supply current, so that the contact device 17, will when raised
into contact with the top or cover 12, transmit the working current therethrough,
by means of the bond 13 to the member 20 of the working conductor from which
it is taken up by the current collector 16 as before described.
Meanwhile the contact device 17 is converted into an electro-magnet by reason
of the supply current passing through the windings about the same; and this
electro-magnet terminal of the supply conductor, being of bipolar construction,
will also complete a closed magnetic circuit, when thus raised into contact with
the top or cover of the receptacle, when the working circuit is closed.
The sole object of this feeder winding or supply coil is to assist with the
secondary or shunt coil, in energizing the contact device 17, when the same is
raised into contact against the cover or top 12 of the contact receptacle (not shown)
and the circuit is closed.
The secondary coil 22 is suitably connected with the blocks 21 and a resistance 18
having connection with one track or service rail 1, and the function of this
secondary coil is to energize the contact device 17 and raise the same into contact

page_text: with the top or cover 12 as before described, and is connected in shunt across the
service conductor and one member of the working conductor.
Further description of the operation of the construction illustrated in Fig. 3
will not be necessary here.
Still another construction of working conductor is shown in Fig. 4, wherein
contact posts 26 are preferably employed, instead of the "twin" working con-
ductor heretofore described, and a long collector or shoe 16 is used to bridge the
distance between these posts.
The post nearer the contact device 17 is preferably connected to the top or
cover 12, of the contact receptacle (not shown) by a bond 13, and the remote post
is connected to the contact device 17, by a conductor 22, which is wound about
the cores of the contact device 17, and connected with a suitable resistance 18
having suitable connection 15, with a track or service rail 1, in the manner before
described, and the remaining construction and arrangement is similar to that
described in connection with Fig. 2 and further description thereof in connection
with this figure will be unnecessary.
The current from the generator is supplied to the contact device 17, through
branch connection 10, of the supply conductor 11, or in any other manner, and
the current may be branched and supplied to any number of contact receptacles;
and it will be understood that the track or service rails are suitably bonded, and
that the return current is conveyed therethrough to the generator.
In Fig. 5 of the drawings is illustrated a construction, wherein only a single
working conductor 90 is employed, preferably of the form shown, the current
collector 16, may move along the top or side thereof; if desired, and each section
of said conductor is bonded at 13, to the top or cover 12, of one of the contact
receptacles (not shown); the contact device or supply terminal 17 having suit-
able branch connections 10, with the supply or feeder conductor 11, as before
described.
One end of the energizing or shunt coil 22 is connected to one of the track or
service rail 1, which is preferably divided into sections of the same length as the
sections of the single or working conductor and substantially constituted the
other member of the working conductor, as will be readily understood; and is
then connected with a suitable resistance 18, after which the secondary or shunt
coil passes around the cores of the contact device 17 and the other end thereof
may be connected to the top or cover 12 or with the adjacent section of the work-
ing conductor 90, as shown, in Fig. 5 of the drawings.
The operation of the construction shown in Figure 5, is substantially as
follows the current passes through the section 1 of the sectional service or
track rail, through the connector 15, resistance 18, around the cores of the con-
tact device 17, through the top or cover 12 the bond 13, to the adjacent section
of the single working conductor 90, from which it is taken up by the current
collector or shoe 16, when the vehicle or motor car enters upon that section of
the working conductor, and sectional rail or service conductor, as will be readily
understood.
Referring to Figure 6, of the drawings, I have illustrated a separate means
for energizing the shunt coil or secondary winding of the contacting terminal
or contacting device 17, preferably consisting of a separate current furnished by
primary or storage battery 106, desirably consisting of a few cells, and carried
by the vehicle or motor car, the electrical connections and wirings of which, I
have here illustrated.
The object of this separate battery circuit is to energize the contact device 17
and raise the same into contact with the top or cover 12, of the contact receptacle
(not shown) and to keep the contact device in such position to retain the feeder
circuit closed, even should the generated current have been cut off at the generating
station, for any reason or by accident.
By reason of this construction, when the supply current has been regenerated
or started again, the same will enter that section of the working conductor, over

page_text: which the vehicle or motor car is located, by reason of the circuit having been
kept closed; whereupon the battery circuit will instantly be cut out of circuit
by means of an automatic switch or magnetic blow-out 108, carried by the
vehicle or motor car, as will be readily understood.
In this construction the supply conductor 11, is connected with the contact
device 17, by branches 10, as before described, and the tops or covers 12, of the
contact receptacles, (not shown) are provided with bonds 13, with the adjacent
sections of the working conductor; and when the contact device 17 is in contact
with the top or cover 12, the supply current passes therethrough, through said
bond 13, to the section of the working conductor 4 from whence it is taken up
by the current collector or shoe 16, and conveyed to the controller and motor, as
herembefore explained.
The energizing coil or winding 22 is connected at one end to the adjacent
section of the working conductor, passes around the cores of the contact
device 17 and is connected to a suitable resistance 18, which is connected by a
suitable conductor 15, with one of the bonded track or service rails 1, in the.
manner herein before stated; that as soon as the current collector or shoe 16.
enters upon the section of the working conductor 4, the energizing circuit is
closed through the vehicle and the contact device 17 is raised into contact with
the top or cover 12 and the working current is thus conveyed to the adjacent section
of the working conductor.
Referring to Figs. to 15 inclusive of the drawings the reference character G
designates a contact receptacle, preferably constructed of glazed vitrified brick.
or of well creosoted wood, although any other suitable material may be employed,.
and the receptacles may be molded or pressed into the desired shape or form,
which will be varied as found desirable in practice.
The receptacles are preferably provided with metallic covers or tops, of malle-
able or cast iron, or steel or any composition of the same, which may be.
removably secured in position by bolts, or similar devices, and the receptacles
are preferably located in proximity to the section of the working conductor, with
which their covers are connected or bonded.
The construction of the receptacles are preferably substantially as shown.
and they may be provided with end or side attaching extensions or flanges 7,
wherein are preferably formed openings or notches 42, to receive a spike or
bolt, by means of which the receptacles are secured in position upon the beams.
or cross-ties as before described.
The contact receptacles are also preferably provided with a laterally extending
tubular projection 9, through which the supply conductor or feeder cable 11, or
a branch connection 10 thereof, enters the receptacle in a water tight manner,.
the extremity of said supply conductor being preferably connected by a con-
nector clamp 45, of any preferred construction, resting upon the bottom of the
receptacle and extending along one side thereof, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of
the drawings.
groove 46,
The rim of the receptacles 6 is preferably provided with a recess or
which may be filled with asphaltum or other suitable material, to insure a water
tight enclosure, and the metallic top or cover 12 of the receptacles is preferably
removably secured in position by means of bolts or screws, and the cover 12 is
preferably provided with a rib 48, adapted to enter the cess 4G in the rim of the
receptacles.
The cover 12 projects beyond one end of the receptacle, as shown at 49, Figs. 7
and 12, and is provided with an opening 50, adapted to receive a tubular or
solid plug 51, which may be conical, carrying a bond or connector 13, which may
be either round or flat in shape, leading from one of the "twin" working con-
ductors; and the inner or under surface of the top or cover 12 is preferably
planished or ground, flat and smooth to afford good contact surface for the con-
tact device hereinafter described.
Preferably resting upon the shoulders or ledges 53, near the bottom of the

page_text: contact receptacles 6 is a removable tray 54 desirably of slate or creosoted wood,
to which is connected a base or plate 55, provided with a guide rod 56, prefer-
ably of non-magnetic material, upon which is freely and independently mounted
a contact device or electro-magnetic terminal 17, of the supply conductor 11,
preferably constructed of cast steel, malleable, cast or wrought iron. The
contact device 17, is preferably provided with a bottom portion or yoke 58,
having a central opening to freely or loosely receive the guide rod 56, in such
a manner as to provide tor the free and independent movement of the contact
device upon said rod.
Formed upon, or connected with, the under surface of the contact device 17,
is a metallic connecting arm 59, adapted to receive, and retain, one of the flexible
conductors 60, Figs. 7 and 8, the other end whereof is retained by the connecter
clamp 45 as before described; thus assuring to the contact device a free and
independent movement.
When a compound wound core is employed the connecting arm 61, is prefer-
ably secured to the contact device in the same manner as before described, but the
arm 61 preferably consists of insulating material such as compressed fibre, hard
rubber, or other suitable insulating material, to which is attached the ends of
the flexible conductors 60, but the connectors are preferably such that the contact
device 17 is electrically insulated from said conductors 60 as shown in Figs. 12,
13 and 14 of the drawings.
Where a compound wound core is used, Figs. 12, 13 and 14, an insulated
conductor 22 of the required carrying capacity is preferably wound around the
cores or headed projections 76 of the contact device, and one extremity of said
conductor is preferably connected by insulated bolts 66, to each of the flexible
connectors 60, and the other end of the same is preferably metallically connected
to the base or yoke 67 of the contact device, preferably by means of a clamp or
bolt 67", as shown in detail in Figs. 13 and 14.
By means of this construction the contact device is made a terminal of the
feeder or supply current, and, when raised into contact with the top or cover of
the contact receptacle, transmits the generated or supply current through the same
and the bond to the adjacent sections of the working conductor.
It will be understood that the contact device is converted into an electro-
magnet, by reason of the supply current passing through the windings or coil
about the same; and this electro-magnetic terminal being of bipolar construction,
completes a closed magnetic circuit, when raised into contact with the cover of
the receptacles, when the current is closed.
1 preferably employ for the terminal or contact device, as shown in Figs. 12, 13
a secondary or shunt coil 68, and which I may use exclusively as shown in Figs.
and S wherein the winding or coil of the supply conductor may be entirely
dispensed with.
In the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the feeder or supply current passes
directly from the supply conductor 11 or branch connection 10 thereof through
its conductor clamp 45, the flexible connections 60, metallic connecting arm 59,
to the magnet core or contact terminal 17.
In the construction illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, the feeder or supply current
passes directly from the supply conductor 11, its conductor clamp 45, flexible
connections 60, thence through the insulated connecting bolts 66, through the
insulated conductor 22" wound about the cores or spools of the contact device 76,
after which it finally makes metallic connection at the clamp 67" with the bottom
or yoke 67 of the contact devices.
The object of the feeder winding or coil is to assist with the secondary or shunt
coil GS in energizing the contact terminal or device 17, when the same is raised
into contact with the top or cover 12 of the contact receptacle.
One end of the secondary or shunt coil 68, Figs. 7 and 8, Figs. 12 and 13, is
preferably connected to one of the working conductors, or contact posts, or it

page_text: may be connected directly to the cover of its contact receptacle, while the other
end is connected to a predetermined calibrated resistance 18 preferably located
within the lower compartment of the contact receptacle, and the other end of
the resistance is preferably connected directly to one of the continuous track or
service rails.
It will be readily understood that the secondary or shunt coil, with its resistance,
is connected in shunt across the service or track rails and one of the sections of
the twin working conductor or contact posts.
It will be understood that one member of the "twin" sectional working con-
ductor, or one of the twin posts, being bonded to the cover of the contact
receptacle, will receive the full supply of current from the feeder or supply
conductor, when the contact device is raised into contact with said cover and the
circuit is closed, while the other member of working conductor or post serves
only to receive current from the collector for the purpose of transmitting the
same to the secondary, shunt or energizing coil of the contact device as before
<lescribed.
Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, I preferably employ a sheet of hard rolled copper,
or composition thereof 75 to cover the flattened headed projections or cores 76
constituting the cores of the contact device, and bent upwardly to from a frictional
contact with the top or cover of the contact device, for the purpose of over coming
or destroying residual magnetism.
This copper contact is preferably connected to a flanged cleat 77, adapted to
slid between the flattened heads 78 of the headed projections or cores 76 and be
retained in such position by bending the ends of the flanges of said cleats laterally
around the corners of said headed projections or spools 76, as shown at 79, in
Figs. 9 and 10; and the cleat 77 is preferably provided with a central tubular
projection 80, adapted to loosely receive the guide rod 5ti, Figs. 7 and 8, upon
which the contact device is freely and independently mounted, as before described.
I may employ a carbon plate 81, Fig. 11, instead of the copper contact plate
before described, which is preferably secured in position upon the headed pro-
jections or cores 76 by means of a flanged cleat 83, preferably bolted to said
carbon plate, as shown at 84 in Fig. 11.
By means of the foregoing construction the electro-magnets upon the vehicle,
heretofore used to attract a contact device or terminal to close the circuit to
charge a working conductor, have been disposed with, and the function of said
magnets is performed by this secondary or shunt coil upon the contact device,
for when the collector or shoe shall have been bridged over, or entered upon, a
section of the working conductors, a portion of the current transmitted to that
section by the shoe, will pass through the secondary or shunt coil of its contact
device, thereby raising the same and closing the feeder circuit for that section
of the working conductor, which will become charged before the collector shall
have left the last section and so repeat throughout the system.
It is evident that by the use of a suitable length of collector or contact shoe,
the feeder circuit is never interrupted or broken in supply current to the vehicle
motor, consequently arcing" can never occur within the contact receptacle in
the making and breaking contact within same, as the circuit is first broken on
the working conductor by the collector or shoe.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, I have shown a collector or shoe 16, which may
be carried by any suitable spring actuated frame or gravity hanger secured to
the vehicle though insulated from it, and the collector may be of any desired
length and of any preferred construction, and provided with suitable electric
connections with the vehicle, controller and motors, as shown, the latter in turn,
being electrically connected with the vehicle wheel or truck and to the service or
track rails conveying the return current to the generator, as indicated; I may
also employ two collectors of like construction one at each end of the vehicle.
When this system is used for street railways the working conductors may be
surrounded by asphaltum, each section being half the length of the vehicle or

page_text: motor car. The spaces between the ends of the sections may be from one to two
inches, which are also filled in with asphaltum.
The covers of the contact receptacles will be even with the street pavement :
and it will be understood that the contact receptacles can be readily opened for
inspection and that all parts appertaining thereto are readily interchangeable.
There are neither mechanical or electrical complications in the construction,
neither is there friction to overcome in the operation of the contact device or
terminal within the contact receptacle as above described; the same being loosely
mounted and guided is free to the alternate section of upward magnetic attraction
and gravitation.,
The operation of this system will be readily understood from the foregoing
description, when taken in connection with the accompany drawings, and the
following explanation thereof.
As the vehicle or motor car proceeds forwards, or backwards and its collector
or shoe 16 enters upon the next section of the working conductor, the current
will be transmitted to that section by the shoe, dividing itself through the two
parallel members of the working conductor of that section, closing the shunt
circuit, there by raising the contact device or supply terminal against the cover
or top of the contact receptacle, closing the supply or feeder circuit and transmit-
ting the same to the vehicle or motor car, before its collector or shoe shall have
left the proceeding section of the working conductor, thus insuring the attach-
ment of a high rate of speed by the vehicle and perfect contact. When the
collector or shoe shall have entirely left a section of the working conductor both
circuits will have been broken for that section, and the contact devices or supply
terminal, being unencumbered, will drop by its own gravity, thus rendering that
section "dead" again.
It will be understood that this system is applicable to all conditions of road
beds, at switches, track crossings and particularly at stations and in freight
yards and leakage or grounding of current can only occur in one section at a
time, when charged and in open country stretches, each section of working
conductors may be one hundred or more feet in length, requiring fifty or less
contact receptacles per mile.
I do not desire to confine myself to the specific construction, combination and
arrangement of parts herein shown and described, and I therefore reserve the
right to make all such changes in and modifications of the same, as come within
the scope of my invention.
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:-
1. A free or independent contacting electro-magnetic terminal carrying means
for preliminary excitation.
2. A free or independent contacting electro-magnet, the core whereof forms
the terminal of the supply or feeder current, and having means for the preliminary
excitation thereof.
3. A free or independent contacting electro-magnetic terminal operated by a
shunt circuit and gravitation.
4. A free or independent contacting electro-magnet operated by a shunt circuit
and gravitation.
5. A free or independent reciprocating contacting electro-magnet operated by
a shunt circuit and gravitation.
6. A free or independent contacting electro-magnet provided with a winding
or coil adapted to receive a shunt circuit.
7. A free or independent contacting electro-magnet provided with a winding
or coil and resistance adapted to receive a shunt circuit, and connected in shunt
across one of the working conductors and track or service rail.
S. A contacting device or terminal embodying an electro-magnet provided

page_text: with a shunt winding or coil having connection with one of the working con-
ductors and the track or service rail.
9. A free or independent contacting electro-magnet having supply connections
whereof it forms a terminal and carrying means for the preliminary excitation
thereof, sectional working conductors, an armature connected with one member
of the latter, and means for forcing said electro-magnet into contact with said
armature.
10. A free or independent contacting electro-magnet having supply connections,
whereof it forms a terminal and carrying means for the preliminary excitation
thereof, sectional working conductors, means connected with one member thereof
to receive said electro-magnet and a winding or coil upon said electro-magnet
connected with the working conductor and service or track rail to force said
electro-magnet into contact with said means.
11. A free or independent contacting electro-magnet having supply connec-
tions, sectional working conductors an armature connected therewith, and a wind-
ing upon said electro-magnet and connected with said working conductor and
track or service rail.
12. A free or independent contacting electro-magnet having supply connec-
tions, sectional working conductors, a device connected with the latter against
which said electro-magnet contacts, connections for said electro-magnet with the
working conductor and track or service rail and means for reducing the current
passing through said connections.
13. A contacting electro-magnet provided with cores having a winding or coil
connected with a working conductor and track or service rail, and having supply
connections, and an armature connected with the other working conductor and
means carried by the vehicle to energize said magnet and close the supply
current.
14. A contact system embodying two working conductors, and a contacting
electro-magnet, forming a terminal of the supply conductor, having an energizing
winding or coil connected with one member of the working conductor, and track
or service rail.
15. A contact system embodying twin sectional working conductors, an arma-
ture connected with one member thereof, a contacting electro-magnet having
supply connections and a winding or coil connected with the other member of
said conductors and track or service rail.
16. A contact system embodying twin working conductors, an armature con-
nected with one member thereof, a contacting electro-magnet having supply
connections, and a winding or coil connected with the other member of said
conductors and a resistance connected with said coil and with track or service
rail to force said electro-magnet into contact with said armature when the ener-
gizing circuit is closed.
17. A contact system embodying sectional working conductors an armature
connected with one member thereof, a contacting electro-magnet having supply
connections, a winding or coil upon said electro-magnet connected with the other
member of said working conductor and with the track or service rail, and a
collector or shoe upon the vehicle adapted to bridge or span said conductors and
to close the circuit through said winding or coil to raise said electro-magnet into
contact with said armature and close the supply circuit through the other member
of the working conductors.
18. A contacting device embodying a bi-polar contacting electro-magnet the
cores whereof are provided with a winding or coil connected with a working con-
ductor and track or service rail.
19. A contact system provided with a receptacle having a guide pin or rod, a
contacting electro-magnet mounted freely or independently thereon and means
carried by said electro-magnet for the preliminary excitation thereof.
20. A contact system provided with a receptacle, and a contacting electro-
magnet movably mounted therein having a winding or coil connected with a

page_text: working conductor and track or service rail to raise said device into contact with
said receptacle.
21. A contact system provided with a receptacle, and an electro-magnet
movably mounted therein having supply connections and provided with a wind-
ing or coil to raise said electro-magnet into contact with said receptacle and close
the supply circuit therethrough.
22. A contact system provided with a receptacle, a contacting electro-magnet
movably mounted therein, having supply connections and provided with a wind-
ing or coil connected with a resistance to reduce the current sufficient merely to
energize said electro-magnet and close the supply circuit through said receptacle.
23. A contact system provided with a receptacle, an electro-magnet movably
mounted therein having a winding or coil for the preliminary excitation thereof
and flexible connections between said electro-magnet and the source of supply
to provide for the free or independent movement of the electro-magnet.
24. A contact system provided with a receptacle having connections with the
source of supply, an electro-magnet movably mounted therein and having a wind-
ing or coil for the preliminary excitation thereof, a connector clamp attached to
said supply connections and flexible connections between said clamp and electro-
magnet to provide for the free or independent movement of the electro-magnet.
25. A contact system provided with a receptacle having supply connections, an
electro-magnet movably mounted therein having a winding or coil for the pre-
liminary excitation thereof provided with a resistance a connector clamp attached
to said supply connections and flexible bands attached to said clamp and electro-
magnet to convey the supply current to the latter and permit of the free or inde-
pendent movement thereof.
26. A contact system embodying twin working conductors, a contact receptacle
bonded to one member thereof, an electro-magnet movably mounted in said recep-
tacle having an energizing winding or coil connected with the other member of
said conductors and track or service rail and flexible conductors connected with
said electro-magnet and source of electrical supply, whereby said device is raised
into contact with said receptacle when the circuit is closed through said energizing
coil and the bonded member of the working conductor is charged with the supply
current.
27. An electro-magnet provided with an energizing winding or coil and supply
connection's said electro-magnet having a contact plate, provided with tongue and
grooved connections therewith.
28. An electro-magnet provided with an energizing winding or coil and supply
connections, a cleat carrying a contact plate secured upon said electro-magnet
by deflecting the extremities of the cleat around the cores of said device.
29. A contact system provided with a receptacle an electro-magnet movably
mounted therein having an energizing winding or coil and supply connections,
and a contact plate connected with said electro-magnet to prevent residual
magnetism during operation of said electro-magnet.
30. An electro-magnet having an energizing winding or coil, a connector arm
attached to said electro-magnet, a connector clamp having supply connections and
flexible connections between said arms and clamp to convey the supply current
to said electro-magnet.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.