Improvements in Electric Railways.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 12th Apr., 1890
Improvements in Electric Railways.
1 HOSEA W. LIBBEY, of Boston, in the County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,
United States of America. Medical Doctor; do hereby declare the nature of my inven-
tion for IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC RAILWAYS" 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 my invention is to construct an elevated electric railway and cars
for the same particularly adapted for the rapid transit of, mail-matter or
merchandise.
The invention consists in the peculiar construction of the track and its supports.
the construction of the car and the manner of mounting the same, and also in
the construction of the switch and the means of shifting a car from an upper to
a lower track, or rice versa, all as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in
the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a
single-track elevated electric railway and car embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an
end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view, on an enlarged scale, showing the car
in section. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the car. Fig. 5 is an
end view showing an outward and return track. Fig. 6 is an end view showing two
outward and two return tracks. Fig. 7 is an end view showing a modification of the
manner of supporting the car. Fig. 8 is an end view of the switch. Fig. 9 is a side
view of the same. Fig. 10 is a plan or top view of the switch open to the main line.
Fig. 1 is a similar view showing the switch open to a branch or siding. Fig. 12 is
a side elevation of a switch and the raising and lowering mechanism showing a
car ready to be shifted from the upper to the lower track. Fig. 1 is a general
plan view of a section of the railway, switches and means for raising and lowering
the cars.
A A represent columns, which are arranged in a single row at suitable distances
apart. from each of which is supported one or more arched T-irons B, by means of
stays or braces C C. the ends of the T-irons B being bent outward to form a rest or
bearing for the rails D. or inwards as in the modification shown in Fig. 7. At a
suitable distance below the rails Danother rail E is provided, said rail being supported
by a bracket F. secured to the column A.
Gis the car, preferably of cylindrical form. to which are secured two straps or
bands H, that pass under the car and up on each side above the rails D, and to each
of their upper ends is secured a wheel I, which runs upon the rails D.
The driving-wheel J is mounted in the centre of the car and runs upon the rail E.
Motion is communicated to the drive-wheel J from an electric motor K. (see Fig. 3)
to which the electric fluid is supplied, as hereinafter described.
The car G, is divided into compartments by means of partitions L. the central
compartment M being occupied by the drive-wheel and motor K, the compart-
ments N on either side being intended to receive the mail or other matter to be
transported. At each end of the car a buffer or bunter P is provided. the inner end
of which when pushed in enters the cylindrical chamber Q. the space R around which
can be utilized to carry freight. The several compartments are provided with doors g I.
which may be arranged at the top, side, or other convenient place and hinged and
secured in any suitable manner.
To the under side and in the centre of the arched T-iron is secured a flat metal
har S. said bar being insulated from the T-iron, and a wheel U, mounted on the car.
is emploved to make contact with the bar S. said wheel being mounted on the end of
a rods, the lower end of which passes into a cylinder 7 (see Fig. 4) on the top of the

page_text: car G.
A spiral spring a, placed around the end of the rod in the cylinder,
keeps the wheel U pressed upward, so as to keep it in contact with the bar S.
The electric current is generated by a dynamo-electric machine V (see Fig. 13) and
conducted by a wire r to the har S at one end of the track or section thereof, and the
other end of the track or section, thereof is connected to ground through the arch B,
stays C. and posts A, or by wire :
In operation, the bar S being charged with the electric current and the wheel
being in contact with the bar S. the current passes along the bar S to the wheel_U.
and from thence by wire to the electro-motor K, and through the driving
wheel to the rail E. and thence through the nearest bracket F and post A to the
ground; or the rail E might be connected by a wire to the dynamo-machine, so that
the circuit would be from the dynamo V through wire. to bar S. through the
wheel U. motor K, and wheel J to rail E, and thence by negative wire to the
dynamo V.
To switch the ears on to another track, or to the lowering and raising mechanism,
I employ a switch constructed as shown in Figs. S to 18. in which
a represents a platform of suitable height provided with rails, and is a carriage
mounted upon wheels d, that run on the rail 7, stops a being provided at each end of
the rail to regulate the proper position of the switch. To the carriage care secured
columns A A². To the column A' are secured rails D1, that correspond with the
Fails D of the main track, and to the columns A are secured rails D², which at one
end can be brought into connection with the rails D and at the other end with rails D
of a branch, siding, or raising and lowering apparatus. It will be seen that by the
earringe being pushed or drawn one way or the other the switch forms connertion
with the main line or branch.and the switelemay be operated by hand or by mechanical
means. It will also be seen that between the rails D' D' and D D² the bar S and
lower rails are dispensed with and the ear runs on the upper rails alone, the
momentum of the car being sufficient to carry it past the switch:
When an outward and a return track. are employed, and it is desired to shift.
the car from one track to the other. the raising and lowering device, as shown in
Fig. 12, is employed, in which D represents rails carried by brackets f. secured to an
elevator Z. provided at each corner with wheels 4, that run against standards. One
end of a rope is connected to the top of the elevator Z. The said rone then passes
over a pulley k. and is at its other end connected to a weight 7, which should be
sufficient to counterbalance the weight of the elevator and car. As shown in Fig. 12.
supposing the upper track to be the outward one and the lower one the return track.
and the car having been switched into the position shown, it is then suspended, from
the rails D, and by raising the weight or drawing down the elevator Z the car G
will be brought down on a level with the rails D² of the lower or return truck of the
switch, and can then be pushed off on in the main or return track after the motor has
been adjusted to run in the proper direction.
Should the distance between one station and another be so great that the electricity
generated by a single dynamo at one end is not sufficient, then the bar S may be sup-
plied at intermediate stations in any suitable manner, as may be required, and insicad
of employing the bar S. for conducting the positive current and the rail E for the
negative the current may be reversed, in which case the motor would also have to be
reversed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what I
claim is
1. An elevated electric railway and support, consisting of a single row of columns A,
cach having an arch B. secured to the column by braces C and carrying the rail D.
from which the car is suspended, and also an upper bar S. the bracket F., secured to
the column and carrying the rail E. the rail-bar S being the positive and the rail E
the negative conductor of electricity, or vice versa, substantially as set forth.
2. In an elevated electric railway, two upper side rails D D, from which the

page_text: ear is suspended, in combination with a lower rail E, upon which the driving-
wheel of the car runs, and a bar S. situated between but above the level of the
rails D. the bars S being the positive and the rail E the negative conductor of
electricity, or vice versa, substantially as set forth.
#1
3. In an electric-railway system, two main rails supported upon arches carried
by a single row of posts. in combination with an upper bar, a lower rail, and
car having an electric motor, whereby the car is suspended by the two mains rails,
and an electric circuit is formed between the upper bar, the motor in the car, and the
lower rail, substantially as set forth.
4. In combination with an elevated electric railway, a car divided by partitions
into compartments and provided at each end with a buffer and in the center with
a driving-wheel and motor, the latter being connected to a yielding contact-roller.
and the car being carried by wheels running on two side rails arranged above the
car, substantially as shown and described.
5. In combination with an electric railway such as described, the car G, provided
with wheels I, driving-wheel J, motor K. yielding contact-roller U, and buffers P,
substantially as shown and described.
6. In an electric railway, a switch consisting of a carriage mounted upon a plat
form and provided with two rows of columns A' A², to one of which is secured the
rails connecting the main line, and to the other the rails connecting to the branch.
each set of rails being supported by a separate row of posts, so that one set of rails
will make connection with the main line and the other set with a branch or siding,
substantially as shown and described.
7. In combination with an elevated electric railway, a switch consisting of a
platform, provided with rails 7, and stops c. a carriage, provided with a row
of posts A, supporting rails D' for making connection with the main line, and à
row of posts A², supporting rails D², for making connection with a branch or
siding, substantially as shown and described.
8. In an electric railway system, two main supporting rails, and an upper bar
carried by arches secured to a single row of posts, in combination with a lower
rail supported by a bracket from the posts, and a car suspended from the main rails
and having an electric motor and driving-wheel running upon said lower rail, and a
contact-wheel electrically connecting the upper bar to the motor, substantially as shown
and described.
9. In combination with an elevated electric railway, having one track below the
other, a device for shifting the cars from one track to the other, consisting of au
elevator Z, guides h. rope j, pulley k, and counter-weight 7. the elevator being pro-
vided with brackets f. carrying rails D', upon which the car to be shifted is run.
substantially as shown and described.
10. An elevated electric railway, provide with an upper and lower track
wherein the rails and electrical conductors are supported by a single row of
columns, in combination with switches mounted upon carriages, and a device for
shifting the cars from one track to the other, substantially as set forth.
DEAL
1800
HOSEA W. LIBBEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co..
45, Southampton Buildings, London. Agents for the Applicant.