Improvements in the Mode of and Apparatus for the Transmission of Currents through Conduits for the Propulsion Electrically of Railway Cars and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1892-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Mode of and Apparatus for the Transmission
of Currents through Conduits for the Propulsion Electrically of
Railway Cars and the like.
I, JOHN WALTER GRANTLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at
No. 522 Franklin Street, in the City and County of Philadelphia, and State of
Pennsylvania, Mechanical and Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR
THE TRANSMISSION OF CURRENTS THROUGH CONDUITS FOR THE PROPULSION
ELECTRICALLY OF RAILWAY CARS, &c., and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be. particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The principal objects of my invention are first, to ensure the presence of a
continuous and uniform current throughout the entire length of a conduit for
operating the motor of an electric railway car; and second, to maintain the main
conductor for conveying the current through a conduit or sub-way substantially
dry and free from moisture, whereby undue leakage of the current from the
conductor is obviated.
My invention comprises in electric railway propulsion the mode of supplying
electric currents to moving vehicles, which consists in electrifying the exterior
surface of a conductor, dissipating moisture from the electrified surface thereof by
passing a drying medium in contact with the interior surface of the conductor and
leading the current from the electrified surface of the conductor to the moving
vehicles.
My invention further comprises in electric railway propulsion, the mode of
transmitting electric currents to moving vehicles, which consists in electrifying the
exterior surface of a conductor, passing a heating or drying medium in contact
with the interior surface of the conductor, reheating said medium and leading the
current from the electrified surface of the conductor to the moving vehicles.
My invention further comprises in electric railway propulsion, the mode of
preventing leakage from a sub-way electric main or conductor, which consists in
electrifying the surface of the conductor, dissipating moisture from the electrified
surface thereof by passing a drying medium through the conductor and maintaining
said medium in a heated condition; and
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described and claimed.
According to my invention leakage from a main conductor located preferably in
an underground conduit may be obviated in the following manner.
The walls of the conductor located in and insulated from a conduit or sub-way
are included in circuit and impart the required current to the motors of the cars or
other vehicles by means of trolleys, brushes or sleds connected with the cars and
traveling in contact with the electrified surface of the conductor, and a heated
medium as a stream or blast of hot air, is forced through the hollow interior of the
conductor. This heated medium not only warms and drys the exterior surface of
the conductor itself, but also imparts by radiation a portion of its heat to the air or
other gaseous matter contained in ducts or passages extending throughout the length
of the conduit and located at that portion of it, usually the top, where the presence
of moisture is most deleterious, so that the surface of the main conductor is not only
dried by the direct application of heat to the interior wall thereof, but is also
protected from moisture by using a portion of the heat of radiation for preventing
the deposition or collection of moisture at the top of the conduit from which it
would tend to fall in drops upon the conductor.
The nature and characteristic features of my invention will be more fully

page_text: understood from the following description taken in connection with the accom-
panying drawings forming part hereof; and in which
Figure 1, is a transverse section of an underground conduit or sub-way
embodying features of my invention and especially adapted for use in carrying
out my mode of transmitting currents in connection with electric railways, into
effect.
Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a transverse section of a conduit or electric subway embodying a
modification of my invention.
Fig. 4, is a transverse section of the trolley arm, showing the bolts for securing
the parts thereof to place; and
Fig. 5, is a diagrammatic view representing in elevation an apparatus for
maintaining a circulation of heated air through a main conductor appertaining to
an electric railway conduit and coils connected with the tubular conductor for
re-heating the circulating air of the conductor.
In the drawings a, is a conduit or subway adapted for use in connection with an
electric railway and provided with a slot a', for the reception of a trolley arm b,
and with an overhanging portion a², for affording a space a³, at or near the top of
the conduit for the reception of a main conductor c, of good conducting material as
copper. This main conductor e, is hollow or tubular and may be of any preferred
form in cross-section. d, are bridge-pieces disposed at convenient distances apart
and ranging transversely of the space a³. Each of these bridge-pieces, is
supported upon lugs e and e¹, projecting respectively from the side-wall of the
conduit and the overhanging portion a², and is provided with an insulating gasket d'.
f, are hangers depending from the bridge-pieces d, and embedded in the insulating
gaskets d. The lower extremity of each of the hangers f, is T-shaped and these
T-shaped extremities engage suitable cleats c', projecting from the exterior of the
hollow conductor c, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, so that the conductor C, is afforded
a slight range of end-play in the hangers, in order to compensate for expansion or
contraction due to changes of temperature. g, is a shield interposed between the
top of the space a³, and the bridge-pieces d, so that one or more ducts h, are formed.
g', are apertures formed in the shield y, adjacent to the side walls of the space a³,
in order to permit drops of moisture to escape from the ducts h, and collect in the
lower portion of the conduit from which they may be drained off by suitable off
take pipes (not shown). In practice a heated medium is caused to traverse. the
interior of the main conductor e, and thus the exterior of the conductor becomes
sufficiently heated to dissipate all moisture that may tend to collect thereon.
Moreover, heat is radiated from the conductor c, and is imparted to the air or
gaseous vapor contained in the ducts h, and this heated air or vapor tends to keep
the upper portion of the space a³, free from moisture which otherwise would tend
to collect by reason of the condensation that occurs upon the underside of the top
plate of the conduit. Consequently the surface of the conductor c, is accessible to
a trolley, sled or contact brush and is kept dry with the result that the leakage of
the current therefrom is reduced to a minimum.
b, is a trolley-arm especially adapted for use in connection with the above described
conduit. This trolley-arm comprises a copper conductor, provided at one
extremity with a suitable journal 2, for the trolley-wheel ³, and at the other
extremity thereof with electrical devices connected with a motor carried by a car
or other vehicle, not shown. The conductor 61, is enveloped in insulating material b*,
and is enclosed in a two-part steel casing 6, whereof the respective members are
welded or bolted together by means of bolts &', Fig. 4. ., are solid steel bars or
guards connected with the respective end walls of the casing, by means of
bolts, and adapted to protect the same from undue wear and accidental injury.
Various mediums may be employed for conveying heat to the interior of the
hollow conductor c. However, in the present instance air, is the medium employed
for this purpose. Moreover, various forms of apparatus may be employed for
producing and forcing currents or blasts of hot air through the conductor c.

page_text: In Fig. 5, of the accompanying drawings, j is a rotary exhaust fan adapted to
draw air from one extremity of the conductor c. , is a furnace adapted to heat a
coil of pipe j', communicating with the atmosphere and with the other extremity of
the conductor c, so that the fan j, draws air through the heated coil of pipe j,
wherein it becomes heated, and then causes the heated air to traverse the interior
of the conductor c, as is shown by the arrows in Fig. 4. k, are insulating gaskets or
sections of insulating tubing interposed between the conductor c, and the fan j, aud
coil of pipe j. l, is a conductor leading to the hollow conductor e, from one pole of
a generator, of which the other pole is connected to earth. 1, is a conductor con-
necting the hollow conductor c, to earth at the end of the line, so that the current
traverses the main portion of the conductor c, without interfering with the operation
of the fan or furnace. In long lines the heating medium is apt to become cool;
however, this rather objectionable feature can be readily obviated by causing the
hollow conductor c, to branch off laterally from the conduit a, and to interpose
externally heated coils m, in these branches, in order to re-heat the heating medium.
No useful purpose is attained by permitting the current to traverse these coils m, so
that auxiliary conductors n, are provided for enabling the current to bridge across
the branches in the conductor c.
The construction and mode of operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, are as
above described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, with the exception that the
hollow conductor c, is made in two parts and firmly united together instead of being
made in one part, that is to say, the main tubular body c³, of the conductor c, is
composed of one material as iron, and the conducting portion e*, thereof comprises
a bead or wire of conducting material applied directly to or located in proximity
with the tubular portion c*, the object of this construction being to reduce the cost
of the conductor.
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 electric railways, the mode of supplying electric currents to moving
vehicles, which consists in electrifying the exterior surface of a conductor, passing
a drying or heating medium in contact with the interior surface of the conductor;
and leading the current from the electrified surface of the conductor to the moving
vehicles, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In electric railways, the mode of transmitting electric currents to moving
vehicles, which consists in electrifying the exterior surface of a conductor, passing
a heating medium in contact with the interior surface of the conductor, reheating
said medium and leading the current from the electrified surface of the conductor
to the moving vehicles, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In electric railways, the mode of supplying electric currents to moving
vehicles, which consists in electrifying the exterior surface of a supported conductor
in a slotted overhanging conduit, passing a heating medium through the conductor
to dry the exterior surface thereof and by radiation prevent deposition or collection
of moisture around or about the internal surface of the overhanging portion of the
conduit and leading the current from the electrified surface of the conductor to a
trolley sled or brush connected with the vehicle, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
4. In electric railways, the mode of supplying electric currents to moving
vehicles and preventing leakage in a conduit or subway, which consists in main-
taining a hollow conductor throughout its length in a dry state by causing a heating
medium to be conducted through the same, dissipating moisture around or about
the conduit or sub-way and leading the current from the electrified surface of the
conductor to vehicles, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. A conductor having the external surface thereof adapted to supply electricity
to moving contacts as trolleys, brushes or sleds, and having an internal bore or

page_text: channel for the passage of a drying medium in contact with the interior surface of
the conductor, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6. A tubular conductor adapted for the passage of a. stream or blast of an
absorbing or drying medium and having the external walls included in circuit and
accessible to a trolley brush or sled, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
7. In an electric railway, a sub-way or conduit, a hollow conductor having the
external wall thereot included in circuit and accessible to a trolley brush or sled,
and means for forcing a blast or streams of a drying medium through said conductor,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
8. In electric railways, the mode of supplying electric currents to a vehicle,
which consists in electrifying the surface of a supported conductor in a slotted and
overhanging conduit, introducing at certain points and conducting through the
conductor a heating medium to dry the electrified surface thereof and by radiation
preventing the deposition or collection of moisture around or about the overhanging
portion of the conduit and leading the current from the electrified surface of the
conductor to a trolley, sled or brush connected with the vehicle, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
9. In an electric railway, an overhanging slotted underground conduit, a vehicle
provided with an arm carrying a trolley, sled or brush, a hollow electrified con-
ductor having a stream or blast of an absorbing or drying medium conveyed
through said conductor, and relay stations connected with said conductor for
..reheating the medium conveyed through said conductor, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
10. In electric railways, the combination of an overhanging slotted conduit, a
hollow conductor supported beneath the overhanging portion of said conduit, a
heating or drying medium introduced at suitable distances apart into and conducted
through said conductor, means for electrifying the exterior surface of the conductor,
a vehicle provided with a depending arm having a trolley, sled or brush attached
thereto and contacting with the electrified surface of said conductor, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
11. In electric railways, the combination of an underground slotted conduit
provided with an overhanging part, a tubular hollow conductor supported beneath
the overhanging portion of said conduit, means arranged at suitable distances apart
for permitting of the introduction and passage of a blast or stream of an absorbing
medium into and through said conductor and by radiation preventing deposition or
collection of moisture around or about the conduit, a vehicle provided with a
depending arm extending through the slotted portion of the conduit and carrying a
trolley, sled or brush adapted to contact with the electrified surface of the
conductor, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
12. In an electric railway, a sub-way or conduit, a hollow conductor, means for
forcing a heating medium through said conductor and relay-heating stations
connected with said conductor, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
13. In an electric railway, an overhanging sub-way or conduit, flues or passages
in the overhanging portion thereof, a conductor located adjacent to said flues or
passages and having its external walls included in circuit and accessible to a trolley,
sled or brush and means for forcing heated blasts or streams through said conductor
to heat the same and produce a circulation of gaseous vapor in said flues or passages,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
14. In an electric railway, a hollow conductor, means for forcing a drying
medium through said hollow electrified conductor, relay stations interposed in
branches from said conductor for revivifying said drying medium and shunt
conductors cutting out said relay stations, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
15. In an electric railway, an overhanging conduit or sub-way, bridge-pieces
.., ranging transversely of the space formed by the overhanging portion of the conduit
:

page_text: or sub-way, a shield supported on said bridge-pieces and forming ducts or passages,
carriers depending from said bridge-pieces and insulated therefrom, a hollow con-
ductor supported by said carriers and means for forcing a heating medium through
said hollow conductor, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
16. In an electric railway, an overhanging conduit, bridge-pieces ranging
transversely of the space formed by the overhanging portion of the conduit or
sub-way, T-arms depending from said bridge-pieces and insulated therefrom, a
hollow conductor provided with cleats engaging the heads of said T-arms and
adapted to compensate for expansion and contraction of the conductor and means.
for forcing a heating medium through said conductor, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
17. In an electric railway, an overhanging conduit, a hollow electrified conductor
located within the space formed by the overhanging portion of the conduit, a shield
disposed above the conductor and provided with deep apertures at the edges.
thereof, means located at suitable distances apart for causing a heating and drying
medium to be conveyed through said conductor and a vehicle provided with a
depending curved arm carrying a trolley, sled or brush and adapted to engage with
the electrified surface of said conductor, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
18. In an electric railway, an overhanging and slotted conduit supporting a
tubular conductor having a heating and drying medium conveyed through the same
and having the exterior surface electrified, a vehicle provided with an arm con-
sisting of a copper conductor embedded in insulating material, a two-part casing,
solid bars applied to the exterior wall of said casing and a trolley, sled or brush
attached to said arm and adapted to contact with the electrified surface of said
conductor, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
19. In an electric railway, an overhanging and slotted conduit, a conductor
supported beneath the overhanging portion of said conduit having a drying medium
conducted through the same, relay stations connected with said conductor at
determinate points, a trolley arm provided with a flat or sheet copper conductor
embedded in insulating material, a casing enclosing the copper conductor and its
complemental insulating material and bars suitably connected with said casing,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
20. An electric railway comprising a sub-way or conduit, a hollow conductor
suitably supported therein, means for forcing a heating medium through said
conductor, relay heating stations connected with said conductor, and a vehicle
provided with an arm carrying a trolley, sled or brush adapted to contact with
the electrified surface of said conductor, substantially as and for the purposes.
described.
Dated this Third day of May A.D. 1892.
JOHN WALTER GRANTLAND.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.