Improvements in or connected with Electric Railways.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1.94-Accepted, 21st Apr.. 1891
1
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Electric Railways.
I, EDWARD HOLMES BROWN, of Salem, County of Essex, State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, Attorney at Law, 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:-
My invention relates to closed conduit electric railways of that type in which
magnetic induction from the car is employed to lift the service conductor, and to
switch surface supplies into and out of circuit with the main supply.
•
Known characteristic features in such a system are a magnetic attachment to
the car or vehicle, fixed surface magnetic pieces electrically and magnetically
insulated from each other, a continuous flexible magnetic conductor forming a
component part of the main electric conductor conveying the working current,
which conductor has an upward motion for producing the contact, and which after
the magnetic influence is over returns to its normal position by the force of gravity.
My invention consists of improvements, as hereinafter described and claimed,
and having the following objects in view :-
To arrange the main supply wire entirely distinct aud apart from the enclosure
containing the switch contacts; to constitute such enclosure for the switch
contacts of independent closed sections which form a centre rail from which the
current is collected; to make these sections, or surface conductors, of considerable
length, with a considerable insulating space between them, and to employ them in
connection with brushes and magnets, so that with two brushes and two magnets,
for instance, each brush will be arranged near a magnet, and each set be placed at
such a distance apart that the head magnet and brush will make contact on the
section which is being approached before contact is lost on the section which is
being left behind; to give to the separate switch boxes a continuous contact
throughout their length, the contact point not being confined to the point directly
below the magnet pole; to make the connection between each of said magnetic
contacts and the main feed flexible, and to have the series of magnetic contacts
connected independently to the main electric feed which is made continuous.
The instrumentalities with which I accomplish these objects are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the entire arrangement;
Fig. 2, a transverse view, partly in section, illustrating the construction in cross
section of the enclosure forming a surface conducting switch box, and its connection
with the magnet, the connection of branch magnetic rod therein with main electric
feed, and the relative positions of these devices with the side tracks and car
wheels, and
Fig. 3, a cross section of a modified form of a branch magnetic conductor.
Referring to the drawings, A represents an electric main insulated conductor or
buried supply wire, leading from any suitable source of electricity. B, B are
branch wires leading into enclosures, D, and there connecting by spiral spring
connections, t, with switch contacts, which may be either wire rods 4, as shown
in Fig. 2, or flexible metal strips 9, as in Fig. 3, or said wires B,
connected directly to said rods h, as shown in Fig. 2.
may
be
The enclosures D, are boxes, perferably tubular in form with flat top covers or
surfaces, preferably non-magnetic. They are arranged in sections in the middle of
the track, and are separated by quite a long space. The switch contacts are each
the length of a box; and lie loosely upon a bed of insulating material, which:

page_text: material.also extends along the sides of the contacts and fills up the box, except
the space directly between the contacts and top of the box. The boxes rest in
brackets, m, which are bolted to the ties, n. The switch contacts may be made in
one or more pieces. On the car frame are carried a motor, M and a battery, Y.
N is a battery switch "and W a motor switch. Beneath the car frame and
suspended from a supplementary frame, H, are brushes E and magnets, P. The
brushes are hung on the ends of rods, F, and so as to collect the current from the
top metallic surfaces of the boxes or the tubes D which form the centre track.
The brushes and magnets are set together in pairs, in one set the brush being in
advance of the magnet, and in the next set the brush being behind the magnet.
The magnets are each provided with coils, S, S'; baving supply wires, leading
respectively, as indicated by O, O', from battery, Y. This battery circuit serves
to energize the magnets, and when thus energized the contact is kept closed through.
the track switches even if the battery switch N, be then opened.
4
The battery coils, S, S¹ are connected by wire, r. The brush circuit around the..
motor is from surface of contacts, D, through wire, a, connecting the brushes,
thence through wire b, to and through the motor switch W, to the, motor.
The magnets are energized from main line circuit through the shunt coils, T, T',.
by wire c, to coil T, thence through wire d, to coil T', and from coil T', through
wire e, back to the return wire, Z.
The character of the battery motor, magnets, coils and, brushes, the shape of
the contact sections, whether. round, partly circular or square, and the contact
switch contacts, whether a rod or a strip, are not essential, and may be varied.
The connections, B, however, between the contacts and the insulated main line
should be flexible, in order that the said contacts, which are placed loosely within
their enclosures, D, may be free to touch throughout their length the under part
of the top surface of such enclosures.
13
The advantages of constructing the switch boxes, which form the centre rail,
independently, are to give independent access to each section when the box or its:
enclosed contacts are in need of repair or replacement without disturbing the,
adjacent boxes, or without interrupting the running of the cars, and to prevent the
line from being short circuited by the filling of the contact enclosures by water as
in those systems having a continuous and connected tube or conduit.
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. In a closed conduit electric railway system, in combination with a car provided
with magnets, a main electric supply wire, magnetic contacts and separate and
independent enclosures for the same, said enclosures forming sections of a continuous,
central rail, said main wire: being. independent of said enclosures and directly
connected with said contacts, substantially as set forth..
J
2. A main electric supply in combination with separate and independently.
operating magnetic contacts, separate insulating enclosures for said contacts
forming conducting surfaces, said contacts lying. longitudinally and loosely within
said enclosures, and a separate flexible and direct connection between each of said,
contacts and the main electric supply, substantially as set forth.
3. Closed independent and separate sections, each forming, a surface conductor,
a section of a continuous central rail, and an insulating enclosure, in combination
with independent longitudinal switch contacts each lying loosely within such
enclosure, substantially as set forth.
.
4. The closed switch boxes in sections forming the centre rail of considerable
length and separated by a considerable insulating space, in combination with the
separate and independently movable magnetic contacts :contained in said boxes,
said magnetic contacts adapted to have a continuous connection: throughout the
entire length of each contact with the conducting, surface of said boxes, of a car,
magnets and current collectors on the car, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 5. In combination with magnets on a car, a series of boxes containing magnetic
rods or strips lying in insulated watertight spaces in said boxes, and having upper
coverings of good conductivity, preferably non-magnetic, said rods or strips being
connected with the main line wire by a flexible insulated wire allowing said rods
free play up and down in said spaces, said series of boxes being placed in the
ground between the rails, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination of a continuous insulated main line wire with one or more
magnetic rods or strips, the said main wire being connected to said rods or strips
by a flexible wire, a watertight receptacle having a cover of conducting material,
said rods or strips lying loosely in said receptacle and a car provided with magnets
and contact brushes on its under surface, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 13th day of March 1894.
J. G. LORRAIN, M. Inst. E.E., &c.,
Chartered Patent. Agent.