An Improved Conduit for Electric Railways.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1889-Accepted, 14th Sept.,. 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Conduit for Electric Railways.
I, MADISON DALLOS, a Manufacturing Chemist, of 346 Chestnut Street, New
Orleans, in the County of Orleans and State of Louisiana, United States of America,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performel, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
My invention relates to improvements in a Conduit for electric railways, in which
a sheave is made to operate in conjunction with a wire or rod, and the objects of my
invention are to provide a device whereby cars may be propelled by electricity by
means of a surface conduit.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings
in which-
Figure 1 is an end view.
Figure 2 is side view.
-
Similar letters referring to similar parts throughout the several views.
In constructing my device I take two pieces of wrought iron as shown by A,
which forms the side of Conduit. These pieces are about three sixteenths of an inch
thick and say fifteen or twenty feet in length. I also place between side pieces A,
a wooden strip as shown by B. This strip is about one quarter of an inch thick,
and so constructed that the wire or metal rod C, rests within the same. This
wire or rod C, may be from one half to one inch in size.. I then adjust side
pieces A, to cross, ties I, by bolts E, and by means of bolt D, hold side pieces A,
in position and when drawn together leave an opening at top of conduit of three
quarters of an inch for sheave F, to work in; I also place small openings in
each end of side pieces A, for water to drain through.
H, are wooden pieces of from fifteen to twenty feet in length which are placed on
each side of conduit, and are fastened to cross ties, and shield conduit from vehicles
crossing same.
K, are metal strips running the entire length of wooden pieces H, and prevent wear
and tear of same.
In practice sheave F, (which is held in position by arm G, attached to bottom of
car) forms a contact with wire or metal rod C, thus enabling the electric current
with which C, is charged to be utilized the plant for generating electricity may be
situated several miles distant.
A striking advantage of my conduit is that it is unnecessary to make an excava-
tion as the conduit is placed upon the ties either in the centre of track or in close
proximity to the rail, thus enabling a railway company to construct a conduit at an
expense of not over twenty five hundred dollars per mile, and avoiding all gas and
water pipe connections in the streets of cities.
By the use of my conduit it is possible to propel by electricity cars, other than
those used on street railways.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1-In a surface conduit for electric wires for street or other railways such as
described, the side pieces A, wooden strip B, metal rod or wire C, in combination
with cross ties I, side pieces H, and metal strips K, for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 2-In an electric railway system, the combination of a sheave attached to a car and
forming a contact with rods or wires charged with electricity, the conduit secured to
ties above the ground, and without forming an excavation, and a wire or rod arranged
in the said conduit to receive the sheave, substantially as specified.
Duind this 26th day of Luke 1000
MADISON DALLOS.
By Huelser & Co.,
Attorneys.