Improvements in and relating to Electric Traction with Overhead Conductors.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left. 17th Apr 1900-Accented 30th June 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Traction with Overhead
Conductors.
We, THOMAS PEASE, of 130, Dale Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Electrician, and CHARLES BARNARD BURDON, of 49, Lausanne Road, Hornsey,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
According to this invention, the electric current is conveyed to the vehicle
to be propelled, by means of overhead wires, strips or the like on which a small
trollev device can run as if on rails.
The framing or body of the trolley depends between the wires so as to keep
the centre of gravity well below the wheels.
The connection with the car or other vehicle may be made by a flexible con-
ductor leading to a mast or pole on the car and projecting sufficiently above it
to avoid interference with the seats on top, and also to allow of the flexible con-
ductor clearing any passing vehicles.
The trolley may be arranged in connection with three or more overhead wires
for polyphase currents, but for direct currents only two need be used and these
may be the wires or the like on which the trolley runs.
The trolley may carry a small transformer to supply the vehicle with a current
of moderate tension although the current in the overhead wires may be of very
high tension. Thus none of the conductors appertaining to the vehicle would be
under a dangerous tension although the economy due to high tension in the over-
head wires would be secured.
The mast or pole on the vehicle may be hinged, telescopic or otherwise made
adjustable in height.
The overhead wires or the like may be supported in lyre-shaped brackets having
their lower ends bent inward and upward, this arrangement allowing of the
trolley passing between said ends without difficulty.
In some cases the vehicles may be provided with small storage cells kept
constantly charged for use temporarily in cases of emergency.
By means of the above invention electrical traction may be applied to the
propulsion of ordinary road vehicles, such as omnibuses, vans, waggons and the
like without any tram rails being required, as the flexibility of the connections
and the height at which they are arranged permits the vehicle to move about
freely from side to side and any number permissible can be coupled together
forming a train.
The invention also permits of ordinary tram systems being converted into
electric ones without interference with the roadway and without requiring any
bonding of the rails, as the current is confined entirely to the overhead conductors.
The invention also allows of private electric vehicles being supplied with current

page_text: for which purpose the trolleys may be let out for periods, or they may be kept
for hire at kiosks arranged along the route, so as to be available in case of a private
vehicle breaking down and requiring assistance.
Tout
T 1
1000
CHAS. B. BURDON,
Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Traction with Overhead
Conductors.
We, THOMAS PEASE, of 130, Dale Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Electrician, and CHARLES BARNARD BURDON, of 49, Lausanne Road, Hornsey,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to electric traction with overhead conductors (herein-
after termed wires), and is designed mainly to enable current to be supplied to
electrically propelled vehicles in such a manner that these can move freely from
side to side as ordinary vehicles do.
According to the said invention a trolley device is arranged to run on the
overhead wires, and is connected with the vehicle or with a mast thereon, by a
flexible conductor. The body of the trolley preferably depends between the wires,
to secure steadiness, and these latter are supported by lyre-shaped brackets to
permit of such trolley body passing freely.
Referring now to the accompanying drawings:-
1
Figure 1 is a general perspective view of the arrangement, the example illus-
trated being one in which two overhead conductors are disposed side by side say
for direct current traction.
Figures 2 and 3 are part sections to a larger scale of the trolley shown in
Figure 1.
Figures 4 and 5 are side and plan views of a four-wheeled trolley which may
sometimes be employed.
Figure 6 illustrates in perspective an arrangement with three overhead con-
ductors for polyphase currents.
Figures 7 and 8 are detail views showing in side elevation and plan the device
by which, in the last arrangement, the current is collected from the uppermost
conductor.
Referring more particularly to Figure 1 a are the overhead wires of which
there are two, one positive and the other negative; these may be of any desired
section. They are preferably supported from standards arranged at the side of
the road as shown.
b are the lyre shaped brackets for supporting the wires, their lower ends, to
which the wires are connected, being bent inward and upward as at c, and suitably
insulated.
d is the trolley which depends below the wires to secure steadiness. It may
have two wheels e as in Figures 1 to 3, or four as in Figures 4 and 5 in which
latter case, either or both pairs of wheels may be provided with a bogey arrange-
ment. Obviously the number of wheels is a matter of convenience.
The wheels e are insulated from each other and serve as movable contacts with
the wires. They can travel freely past the brackets owing to the upward bending
cf the ends c giving clearances for the flanges of the wheels. As shown in Figures 2

page_text: and 3 the wheel axles are supported in side pieces or frames d' secured to an
insulating block . Collector springs or brushes are provided to collect the
current from the wheels if necessary.
f indicates the vehicle to be propelled, say a carriage, van, waggon or omnibus.
It is provided with any suitable steering mechanism after the manner of a motor
car.
g is the flexible conductor, which contains two wires, a lead and a return as
will be obvious.
is the mast or pole on the vehicle to which the flexible conductor is con-
nected; the connection may either be direct, or to a spring drum i for the purpose
of drawing in slack. This mast or pole keeps the conductor sufficiently high to
avoid interference with other traffic on the road.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 6 the application of the system to poly-
phase or rotary currents is illustrated. In this case a third wire is supported in
the upper part of the bracket, and the trolley has a grooved contact roller j
carried say by a swivelling arm like that of an ordinary trolley car. Figures
and 8 show a convenient arrangement in which is a light arm pivoted on a
stud projecting from a swivel-post m, mounted in some convenient part of the
trolley. This arm is pressed towards the upper conductor by a spiral spring n.
With such an arrangement the conductor g is a triple one, that is it has three
separate insulated strands corresponding to the three overhead wires.
It will thus be obvious that an electrically propelled vehicle, supplied with
current in the above way becomes in effect a motor-car, and can be steered with
great freedom owing to the flexibility of the connection between it and the
trolley.
The trolley may either be drawn along by the vehicle, or be provided with a
motor for the purpose of driving it at a slightly higher speed than the vehicle,
so as to keep a strain on the conductor g. A similar object may be attained
however by a weak brake (such as the springs ) acting on the trolley-wheels
so as to cause the trolley to drag slightly. This will also ensure a more efficient
electrical contact between the trolley wheels and the wires. Either of these
arrangements is specially suitable where decided gradients are met with.
It will be readily understood that the vehicle propelled in this way may be
an ordinary tram-car, or even a canal barge or a pleasure boat. In the former
case there will be no need to interfere with or alter the rails, as they play no
part in the electrical transmission.
If high tension currents are to be used in the overhead wires, a transformer
may be arranged on the trolley, the primary coils being connected with the
trolley wheels and the secondary with the flexible conductor, so as to secure the
economy of high tension transmission, without the disadvantage of having a
dangerous tension in any of the conductors connected with the vehicle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
:--
1. In the electrical propulsion of vehicles by means of overhead wires, the
employment of a trolley running on the said wires and connected with the vehicle
by a flexible conductor, such wires being supported side by side by lyre shaped
brackets so as to permit the trolley travelling freely on them, substantially as
described.
2. In the electrical propulsion of vehicles, the employment of overhead lead
and return wires, a trolley depending beneath them, and a flexible conductor
leading from such trolley to the vehicle to be propelled.
3. The combination with an arrangement such as referred to in either of the
preceding claims, of a mast or the like on the vehicle for supporting one end of
the flexible conductor and keeping it high enough to avoid interference with other
traffic, substantially as described.

page_text: 4. The combination of a steerable vehicle, a mast thereon, a trolley adapted to
travel with said vehicle on overhead wires, and a flexible connection extending
from said trolley to said mast, substantially as described.
5. In the electrical propulsion of vehicles, the employment of overhead wires
arranged for polyphase currents, and a trolley adapted to travel on the same
with the vehicle to be propelled together with a flexible conductor adapted to
establish connection between said trolley and vehicle, substantially as described.
6. The arrangement for carrying out electrical traction by means of overhead
wires substantially as described with reference to Figure 1.
7. The employment of a transformer on the trolley for the purpose specified.
8. The arrangement for carrying out electrical traction by means of overhead
wires and polyphase currents substantially as described with reference to Fig. 6.
9. The employment of a bracket with its ends bent inwardly and upwardly
to carry the wires on which the trolley travels, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.