IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONDUCTING A CURRENT OF ELECTRICITY TO OR FROM A TRAIN IN MOTION
Year: 1884

page_text: I JAMES ENRIGHT of 202 Holland Road, Kensington in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR CONDUCTING A CURRENT OF ELECTRICITY TO OR FROM A TRAIN
IN MOTION to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is improvement in the apparatus for conducting a
current of electricity into a moving train from the signal box or elsewhere for the
purpose of signalling or telegraphing to or from the train.
Hitherto I have used a contact post bearing an ordinary telegraph insulator with
a delicate spring fixed to its upper surface. This spring was permanently con-
nected to the line wire. On the train I fixed an insulated conductor with a
smooth, lower surface, which rubbed the delicate spring aforesaid during the passage
of the train thus making contact and leading the current into the train from
whence it went' to earth. My improvement consists in making the upper surface
of the contact post, metallic and smooth and in fixing a series of springs to the
under surface of the long insulated conductor on the train so that as the train
passes one of these springs at least may touch the contact post.
The smooth, metallic upper surface of the contact post overhangs and completely
roofs in the non-conducting support by which it is insulated. (By means of india-
rubber collar this support may be completely inclosed). The insulating part with
its metallic cap is set in a hollow iron, tube which is fixed in the proper position..
The long insulated conductor on the train may have the springs depending,
vertically from it or they may be horizontal in a puckered condition when they are
connected by spiral springs or india-rubber bands. The long conductor itself may
be connected to the train by spiral springs.

page_text: "7
I JAMES ENRIGHT 202 Holland Road Kensington London Electrician do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
CONDUCTING A CURRENT OF ELECTRICITY TO OR FROM A TRAIN IN MOTION 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 improvements in apparatus for conducting a
current of electricity into a moving train from a signal box or elsewhere for the
purpose of signalling or telegraphing to or from the train.
One of the arrangements which I have hitherto employed for this purpose
consisted in a row of dwarf posts set at considerable distances apart close along-
side of the line of railway-Each post carried an ordinary insulator with a
delicate spring fixed to its upper surface-These springs were permanently con-
nected with a line wire carried by posts in the usual manner to the signal box or
elsewhere On the train I fixed an insulated conductor with a smooth lower
surface which rubbed the delicate spring aforesaid during the passage of the train
thus making contact and leading the current into the train and from thence the
current went to earth.
My present invention relates to an arrangement which I have found more
efficient; I make the upper surface of the contact post some inches in diameter,
approximately globular metallic and smooth, this head head has an insulating
support. which it roofs over. The dwarf post may be of iron and tubular and the
insulating support may be set into it at its upper end. The insulated wire con-
necting the metallic head of the post with the line wire may pass down through
the interior of the hollow post.
:
On the train I provide an insulated conductor several feet in length and in such
a position as to pass the posts at a safe distance such that the space between the
head of the post and the conductor shall be one or two inches as a minimum.
I stud this insulated conductor which may be several inches in width all over from
end to end with wires projecting downwards or otherwise from the conductor.
These wires which are of spring metal project to a distance sufficient to ensure a
continuous contact being maintained with the head of the post whilst the conductor
upon the train is passing it.
Thus electric continuity is brought about between the head of the post, the
spring wires, the long conductor and the conducting wire which is led away from
the long conductor to the electrical apparatus upon the train. This electrical
apparatus may be such as is described in the specifications of former Patents
granted to me.
In place of studding the conductor with spring wires as described above it may
be arranged to carry springs of U form attached at both extremities to the
conductor. The conductor should be provided with three or more rows of such
springs so as to ensure that the belly of one at least of the springs shall bear upon.
the head of the post all the while that the conductor is passing it.
The spring

page_text: also should be of such dimensions as not to be injuriously strained by contact with
the head of the post. The long conductor itself may be carried upon coiled springs
in place of being rigidly fixed to a carriage of the train.
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
My improvements in conducting a current of electricity to and from a train in
motion consisting in the use for this purpose of a combined apparatus comprising
posts along side the line of railway having smooth insulated metallic heads
connected with a line wire; and also a long insulated conductor studded with
springs carried upon the train which in passing brushes the heads of the posts and
so establishes an electric connection which is continuous over the time the conductor
takes to pass a post.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.