Improvements in or connected with Conduits for Electric Railways.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES DIBBLE COMSTOCK HUESTIS, Fort
Wayne, Indiana, U.S.A., Engineer.]
Improvements in or connected with Conduits for Electric Railways.
I, JOHN EDWARD EVANS-JACKSON of 45 Holborn Viaduct London in the
County of London, Engineer & Patent Agent, 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 improvements in conduits for electric railways, and its
objects are to provide an improved conduit which shall better prevent the entrance
of foreign substances into it, which shall be more convenient in its construction and
economical in use, and which shall provide for improved and complete drainage of
any water which may enter the slot (from the surfaces) through which the sup-
porting arm of the contact devices passes.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings
in which:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the conduit with trolley wheel adjusted on wire;
Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of the conduit placed in the ground with
drain.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the adjustment of the wire to the standard C.
Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the views.
My improved conduit consists in forming the slot on the side of the conduit by
making an upper plate A, removable, and constructing the other part B, preferably
semi-circular in form, with a side b extending vertically up the side so as to form
with the plate A, the slot S, and extending a slot E from the surface down one
side of the box or pipe below it into a drain. The upper plate A of the conduit
projects on one side a over the lower part so as to form the entrance slot s
between the two parts to the interior on that side of the conduit for the supporting
arm L to pass through into the conduit and operate freely. It is immaterial
whether a trolley as shown in the drawings, or other contact device is used to collect
the current from the conductors. The arm L is of any suitable size and shape to
support the contact devices and afford a connection to the motor.
I prefer to have the side a of the upper part extend slightly down below the
level of the top of the other side b, as shown, because such construction more
effectually prevents the entrance of dirt and other substances into the interior of
the conduit. This is the preferable construction for such slot, but the two parts a
and b of the sides may be, if desired, in perpendicular line with each other, in
which case the slot between them will have to be wider to permit the necessary
play of the arm L. And in such case any dirt which may fall on the angle of the
arm L is more liable to be jarred off into the conduit.
Within this conduit I attach firmly, preferably on the bottom, a standard C,
preferably of compressed fibre, or other insulating material, to support and hold
extended the conductor wire W. Such attachment is preferably made by forming
on the lower end of the standard a screw bolt, and tapping it into the lower or
bottom part of the conduit, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. I also adapt this standard C
so as to support and firmly hold the flange F, which flange is firmly attached to
he wire W, preferably by soldering it thereto. A preferable method of attaching
he flange F to the standard is shown in Figs. 1 and 3. It consists in cutting out a
abbet on the upper part of the standard for the flange to rest on, and securing
he flange thereto by nuts and bolts D. These flanges F rest on a conducting
plate 6 secured to the standard which forms a connection for the current to pass
from one section of the conducting wire to the next one.
The bolts D pass

page_text: through the slots d in the flanges holding the conductor wire firmly thereto, but
permitting a lineal movement of the flange for the purpose of providing for any
expansion or contraction of the wire W which may occur from changes of tempera-
ture. By such construction, the wire W is held in a straight line and may be of a
very large size, if desired.
The standards C are placed at suitable distances apart so as to support the con-
ductor wire in a straight line without sagging. The supporting arm L passes
down through a slot E provided in the materials enclosing the conduit, and from
thence it is bent so as to pass through the slots and form a horizontal journal / for
the trolley wheel R or other contact device to revolve or move on. The method
of conducting the current from the conductor wire W to the motor by means of a
trolley wheel or other contact device, and a supporting arm are well known, and
therefore such description is omitted.
This conduit may be placed between the rails of the railway either above the
general surface, or with its top even therewith. But the construction shown
makes it peculiarly adapted to be placed at one side of the track, in which case
one rail can be utilized to form a guard to one side of the slot E. It is generally
preferable to place the conduit slightly below the surface, and to cover it over the
top with flagging, and put grouting on the side forming with it the slot E; the
whole being adapted to protect the conduit and preserve the slot E intact. I
extend the slot E down even with the bottom of the conduit, but preferably a
short distance below, and form a drain H of sufficient size to carry off all the
water that can possibly enter the slot, so that the water can never fill it up as high
as the slot S. This drain H is connected at suitable intervals with the city sewers,
or with catch basins especially provided for it, or it may have independent outlets.
Such connections are not shown, as this construction will readily occur to those
skilled in the art.
For the purpose of economical construction, the semi-circular part or shell B is
preferably made of comparatively thin metal and is reinforced by ribs M termi-
nating on the upper side in a longitudinal rib H, the shape and size of the ribs
being calculated in combination with the shell to support any weight or jar that
may come upon it from street travel or use.
In describing the box or pipe as semi-circular in form, I mean such form is pre-
ferable, but I do not wish to confine myself to that form nor to any other. I mean
by the words "semi-circular in form" such curved form as will afford strength and
economy of construction and permit the sides or plates forming the slot E to be of
vertical construction.
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 conduit for electric railways the combination of a box or pipe, with the
plate A forming the upper side a; the lower part 6 forming with said upper side a
slot; a slot extending from the roadway or track down to or below the bottom of
the box or pipe, one side of said box or pipe forming part of one side of said
slot, the same being adapted to permit the operation of a supporting arm of
a contact device, and also adapted to confine within the slot the passage of water
and other substances which may enter it, and conduct such passage outside the box
directly into the drain; a drain placed below the bottom of said box and directly
beneath said slot and communicating with it adapted to carry off the water which
may pass into it; standard C adapted to support the trolley wire or conductor;
flanges provided with longitudinal slotted. holes and attached by bolts to said
standards and adapted to permit a lineal movement; and a conductor or trolley
wire attached to said flange.
2. In a conduit for electric railways the combination of a box or. pipe con-
structed with a longitudinal side entrance or slot for the supporting arm of a
contact device to pass through and be operated, said side entrance being formed

page_text: by the upper part or vertical plate of one side of the box projecting laterally
over the lower part of the same side; a slot extending from the roadway down
to or below the bottom of the box or pipe, one side of said box or pipe
forming part of one side of said slot, the same being adapted to permit the
operation of a supporting arm of a contact device, and also adapted to
confine within the slot the passage of water and other substances which may
enter it and conduct such passage outside the box directly into the drain;
a drain placed below the bottom of said box and directly beneath said slot
communicating with it, adapted to carry off the water which may pass into
it; a trolley wire or conductor supported within said box and adapted to
permit the passage of a trolley wheel or contact device upon or in contact
with it.
3. In a conduit for electric railways the combination of a box or pipe provided
with a longitudinal slot; with a slot extending from the roadway or track to or
below the bottom of the box or pipe, one side of said box or pipe forming part of
one side of said slot, the same being adapted to permit the operation of a supporting
arm of a contact device also adapted to confine within the slot the water and other
substances which may enter it, and conduct such substances outside of the box;
and a drain placed beneath said slot communicating with it.
Dated this 12th day of July 1892.
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Applicant's Agents.