An Improved Method of and Means for Employing Electric Traction on Ropeways, Railways, and like Means of Transit.
Year: 1897

page_text: An Improved Method of and Means for Employing Electric Traction
on Ropeways, Railways, and like Means of Transit.
We, JOSEPH WALWYN WHITE and HERBERT WHITE, both of The Old Public
Hall, Widnes, Lancashire, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a method of and means for transmitting electrical
energy or current to the motor trollies or carriages of electrical ropeways and
railways, which method consists in supplying electrical energy or current to the
ropeway or railway or conductor-and thence to the trolly-at points or stages
throughout its length, in the manner hereafter described. The supply of current
is controlled by the trolly itself and in such a manner that an advancing trolly
automatically provides for its own supply of current, whilst, at the same time,
it causes the rope, rail, or conductor which it has just traversed, to be incapable
of supplying current to a subsequent trolly until the first mentioned trolly has
traversed a certain distance or stage in advance.
We divide the entire length of the ropeway, railway, or conductor, into sections,
each section being electrically insulated. Between such sections we dispose a
rocking rail or bridge piece, which serves to convey the trolly wheels, or contact
maker, from one section to another, the rail or bridge piece being so pivotted
as to make contact with one section, only, at one time. To every alternate bridge
piece we conduct electrical energy. In this manner electricity is supplied to
every alternate section of a ropeway, railway, or conductor.
In the case of an aerial ropeway, we preferably construct this of two lines of
carrying ropes (each line being composed of sectional lengths) running parallel
with each other and insulated from each other. Electrical energy is conducted
to one line of ropes, and the sectional lengths of this line are insulated, one from
the other. The trolly or carriage used on the ropeway has two wheels, or pairs,
or sets of wheels, one wheel or set of wheels running on one line and the other
wheel or set of wheels running on the other line of ropes.
wheel is used on each rope, one of these may be the
collect electrical current from the rope, or to give it up
may be the driving wheel and may be suitably coated with rubber, wood, leather,
or other substance giving greater adhesion to the wheel; or all the wheels may
be coupled together and all made into driving wheels.
Where more than one
collecting" wheel-to
and the other wheel
Upon an aerial ropeway constructed on the principles above enunciated, we
employ a system of electric traction, the nature of which we will now describe.
We will assume the ropeway to consist of two rope lines, one preferably above
the other, each line consisting of short lengths or sections of rope, as above
described. We supply the electric current to the sections of one of the rope
lines, and use the sections of the other rope line as the return leads, the current

page_text: passing from one rope to the other by way of a motor carried by the trolly or
carriage, and through the wheels or other contact maker.
A scheme of electric traction the nature of which is herein described is prac-
ticable where the ropeway is laid in sections of rope lengths according to our
invention, and by it certain advantages are obtained, namely the current is
supplied to sections of the ropeway, each insulated from neighbouring sections,
and in such a manner that the section of rope just traversed by a trolly is rendered
incapable of supplying current until the trolley has traversed the next section in
front, thus providing an automatic block system and we cause the trolly itself
to switch on current to the section of rope upon which it is entering and to switch
the current off the section of rope which it is leaving behind.
The said switching of the current from a section left behind and on to a section
which the trolly is entering, by the trolly itself, may be done in a variety of
ways, and the method which we will now describe must only be taken as illus-
trative of the nature of our invention, and although-for facility of description-
the actual contact of the rocking rail with the rope sections is referred to in the
following description as the electrical contacts maker and breaker, we may employ
mercurial or other suitable contacts, either alone or in conjunction with the
actual contact of the rocking rail, for the purpose of preventing undue sparking
or arc-ing of the current.
We conduct from end to end of the entire ropeway, or between such stations
as may be decided upon, a live electric lead or conductor. The said conductor
may be supplied by dynamos and, or, storage batteries, and be laid above or below
ground. From the said conductor we carry a lead to every alternate supporting
post of the ropeway, which we will here term the sunnly posts. This lead
energises (successively, as will be hereinafter explained) the two ropes lengths of
the positive line which lead to right and left of the supply post, the ends of said
lengths being insulated both at the supply post from which they spring and the
intermediate supporting posts where they terminate, rocking bridge rails being
employed on both the supply posts and the intermediate posts. The said con-
ductor lead is carried up the supply post and is electrically connected with the
rocking bridge rail which conveys the trolly from rope to rope. Inasmuch that
this pivotted bridge rail is weighed down to one rope, namely that upon which
the trolly is approaching, and assuming that the trolly is passing from left to
right of the spectator, it follows that the rope to the left of the supply post will
be a live conductor up to the intermediate post on the left, and when the trolly
reaches and crosses the bridge rail on the supply post the bridge is lifted from
the rope to the left and is depressed on to the rope to the right, upon which the
trolly now enters. The rope to the left of the supply post is therefore cut out
for the time being. It now becomes necessary to retain the bridge rail (against
its tendency) in contact with the rope to the right of the supply post, whereby the
latter may be a live conductor, whilst the rope to the left is cut out and forms a
block to the trolly following, and this we prefer to do by means of an electro-
magnet the ends of whose coils are connected respectively to the bridge piece
and to the rope to the right of the supply post. The trolly is thus supplied
with current until it reaches the intermediate or next post to the right. When
therefore the trolley passes over the rocking bridge rail of this intermediate post
the rope left behind is cut out of circuit, and the electro-magnet which has held
down the bridge picce at the last supply post is no longer energised and allows
the bridge piece to fall on to and energise the rope length to the left of the said
supply post, ready for the next trolly. It is at the intermediate post therefore
that a trolly leaves behind the influence of the last supply post and enters the
field of influence of the next adjacent supply post in front.
Instead of employing the rocking bridge rail as the mechanical medium for
switching the current, switches for this purpose may be operated by arms pro-
jecting from the trolly.

page_text: The starting and stopping switch of the trolly motor may be disposed so that
the trolly can be started by hand and stopped by the switch handle coming in
contact with a projection at the side of the ropeway.
An arrangement practically similar to that above described can be applied to
the rail or lead carrying the electric current on any kind of electric railway as
well as on ropeways. For instance, the current carrying lead may be divided into
insulated sections, with the rocking bridge piece connecting the sections substan-
tially as described, the wheel or shoe which picks up the current travelling and
operating in the same manner as described with reference to ropeways.
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Registered Patent Agent (Qual. by Exam.),
10, St. George's Crescent, Liverpool,
Agent for the Applicants.
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Registered Patent Agent (Qual. by Exam.),
10, St. Georgo's Crescent, Liverpool,
Agent for the Applicants.
An Improved Method of and Means for Employing Electric Traction
on Ropeways, Railways, and like Means of Transit.
We, JOSEPH WALWYN WHITE and HERBERT WHITE, both of The Old Public
Hall, Widnes, Lancashire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to overhead or aerial ropeways for the transport
of merchandise, produce, minerals, and other goods, and passengers.
Such ropeways as at present constructed consist of one continuous wire rope,
stretched between termini or stages, and supported intermediately by posts or
stages, and to the use of a continuous rope there are certain objections which will
be hereinafter referred to.
According to this invention we employ a series of comparatively short ropes
instead of one continuous rope. The first rope preferably extends from a terminus
to the first intermediate post, the second rope between the first and second posts,
and so on to the other terminus. Each span of the ropeway thus consists of a
separate rope and is complete in itself, communication between one rope and
another being made by means of a rocking bridge rail which rests alternately
on each rope, a continuous pathway being thus provided for the wheels of the
carrier. Each section of rope has separate straining arrangements, which may
be provided at each end of the rope, or at one end only, the other end being made
fast.
In the case of an aerial ropeway on which electrical traction is employed, we
preferably construct it of two lines of carrying ropes (each line being composed
of sectional lengths) one preferably above the other and insulated from cach other.
We supply current to the sections of one of the rope lines and use the sections
of the other rope line (which are electrically connected together) as the return
lead, the current passing from one rope line to the other by way of a motor carried
by the trolly or carriage and through its wheels or other contact makers.
REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically an aerial ropeway constructed according to
our invention, with a single carrying rope.

page_text: Figure 3 is a side view of an
front view and Figure 5 a plan.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 are three
intermediate supporting post, Figure 4 being a
Figure 6 is a detail.
diagrams illustrating our scheme of electrical
traction as applied to a ropeway composed of sectional lengths of rope.
Figures 10 and 11 illustrate two constructions of trollies.
On reference to Figure 1 it will be seen that we construct a ropeway of a series
of rope lengths 1, 2, 3, 4, each of which spans two supporting posts, the latter
being designated 5, 6, 7. Two lines of ropes are shewn in Figure 2, one being
above the other, the sections of the lower rope being designated 1", 2*, 3ª, 4*.
Taking the ropes 2 as an example of the other sections, it will be seen that onc
end passes over guides and is secured to the post 5, the other end of the rope
passing downwards over guides on the post 6 to a straining device designated 8
and a ground anchor 9. As a modified means of tightening the rope it may be
led to the end of a screwed rod carried in a bracket attached to the post and bo
tightened by a nut upon such rod, a spring being by preference interposed between
the nut and the bracket whereby sudden strains or shocks, and contraction and
expansion of the rope are allowed for, and (where two or more ropes are used)
to ensure that the weight of the load is equally divided between them. Or the
end of the rope may be attached to a weight sufficiently heavy to keep it at the
required tension, or any other customary method of straining ropes may be
employed.
<<
Assum-
up" and
Figures 3, 4 and 5, illustrate an arrangement of the supporting post head
whereby the ropes ends are supported and secured. On the extremities of the
cross-trees 10 are provided guides 11, over which the ropes ends are led.
ing the post shewn to be the post 5 of Figure 2, arranged for an
down" line, it will be seen that the rope 2 passes over a guide 11 and is
secured to the post at 12, and the rope 1 is led downwards over a guide 13 to
a straining device or to a weight. The rope 1" is similarly secured to the post
at 14 and the rope 2" is led downwards over a guide 15 to a straining device.
65
In order that a continuous road may be provided for the trolly or carriage we
pivot a rail 16 in the space between the ropes 1 and 2, and a similar rail d
between the ropes 1 and 2. Such rails are pivotted as shewn in Figure 6 to
plates 11" which are bolted to the guides 11, or are otherwise supported. Where
the traffic is in one direction only, such pivotted rail is depressed by a spring
or counterweight on to the rope along which the trolly approaches.
Upon a ropeway constructed as above described may be employed a system of
electric traction comprising the following features.
Electrical energy is conducted to one line of ropeway and the sectional lengths
of this line are insulated from the earth and one from the other, which may be
done by lining the rope grooves in the guides 11 with vulcanite or in any other
convenient manner. The trolly or carriage used on the ropeway has two wheels,
or pairs, or sets of wheels, one wheel or set of wheels running on one line and the
other wheel or set of wheels running on the other line of ropes of a double ropeway.
When more than one wheel is used on each rope, one of these may be a collecting
wheel to collect current from the rope or to give it up and the other wheel
or wheels may be driving wheels and may be coated with rubber, wood, leather,
or other substance giving greater adhesion to the wheel; or all the wheels on
one rope may be coupled together and form driving wheels. Such electric energy
is transmitted through a motor on the trolly and is given up by the wheels of the
trolly to the other line of ropeway which forms the return lead. The separate
spans or sections of the "return" rope are electrically connected to each other,
so as to form a complete metallic circuit for the return current, and they can be
"earthed" at intervals, in order to lessen the resistance of the return circuit.
We supply electrical energy or current to the sectional ropeway in such a manner
that the section of rope just traversed by a trolly is rendered incapable of supplying
current to a succeeding trolly until the first trolly has traversed the next section,

page_text: thus providing an automatic block system; and we cause the trolly itself to switch
on current to the section of rope upon which it is entering and to switch the
current off the section of rope it is quitting.
The said switching of the current by the trolly itself may be done in various
ways, and although the actual contact of the rocking rail with the ropes is referred
to in the following description as the electrical contact we may employ mercurial
or other suitable contacts, either alone or in conjunction with the actual contact
of the rocking rail for the purpose of preventing sparking or arc-ing of the
current and for making better electrical contact one with the other.
Referring to the diagrams Figs. 7, 8 and 9 we conduct from end to end of the
ropeway or between such stations as may be decided upon, an insulated live
electric conductor 18 which may be supplied by any source of electrical energy
and be laid above or below ground. The four sections of ropeway shewn in the
diagrams are lettered A, B, C, D. From the conductor 18 we lead branches 19
to the rocking rail 16 on every alternate post. The leads 19 energise (successively)
the two lengths of rope which lead to right and left of such electric supply or
alternate posts, the ends of said lengths being insulated.
Figure 7. It will be seen that the rail 16 on the post 5 is weighed down on the
rope A (by the spring or counterweight before referred to). It therefore follows
that the rope A will be a live conductor until the trolly 20 (travelling in the
direction of the arrow) crosses said rail. In the latter action the rail is rocked
from the rope A. on to the rope B. The rope A is now cut out of circuit, and B
is energised in its stead.
Figure 8. To retain the rail 16 (against the tendency of its spring or counter-
weight) in contact with the rope B, whereby the latter may be a live conductor
whilst the rope A is not, we prefer to employ an electro-magnetic solenoid whose
coils are in shunt or in series with the lead 19 and the rope B, whereby the solenoid
is energised only so long as the rope B is a live conductor. The trolly 20 is now
supplied with current from the post 5 until it reaches the post 6. In passing over
the rocking rail on the post 6, the rope B is in turn cut out of circuit owing to
the solenoid on post 5 being no longer energised and allowing its rocker to again
fall on and energise the rope A ready for the next trolly.
Figure 9. The trolly 20 is now upon a rope C and obtains its current from the
rocking rail upon the post 7.
It is at the intermediate or non-supply posts therefore that a trolly leaves the
influence of the last supply post, and enters the field of influence of the next
supply post ahead. To start traffic on the ropeway after it has been suspended
(say at night time or for repairs or the like) the solenoids may be energised by
means of a subsidiary electric current of sufficient strength to do so, but not
sufficient to drive the motors. The subsidiary current will be switched on
simultaneously with the working current, but the former would only be kept on
for a few seconds sufficiently long to energise the solenoid coils-and then cut off,
the rockers being then controlled by the working current only. It must be under-
stood that a solenoid is provided for every alternate or supply rocker 16, and
operated as described.
Figures 10 and 11 illustrate two arrangements of trollies whereby a load is
more widely distributed over the ropeway and whereby the opposite gradients
of the catenary curve are neutralised. M and T, Figure 10, represent a motor
trolly and a carrying trolly respectively, coupled by a girder G. Mand T¹, Fig. 11,
are, respectively, motor and carrying trollies, the latter travelling on the lower
ropes of the ropeway. In Fig. 10 the wheels of the rear trolly must be the
collecting wheels so that the rocking rails are not held down by the solenoid
until such rear wheels have passed. If the wheels of the carrying trolly are
electrically insulated they may be used as the collecting wheels, leads being
conducted therefrom to the motor, and in this case the motor wheels may be
rubber coated to afford better adhesion. By making the length of the girder G

page_text: equal to one-half of the distance between the posts of the ropeway (und the
respective weights of the motor and carrying trollies approximately the same)
the descent of one trolly into a catenary curve assists the other trolly in ascending
out of it.
The rocking rails may be mounted upon springs as may also the wheels of the
trollies, so that where (on upper and lower ropes) a trolly passes over two rocking
rails a good contact between the wheel and conducting rocker is ensured and
whereby smooth travelling is obtained without undue loss of electrical energy.
Instead of the traction of the loads being performed by the adhesion of the
motor driving wheels to the carrying ropes, their haulage may be effected by
means of an electrically driven drum on the motor car hauling in a separate
hauling rope as the motor advances and paying it out behind; the hauling rope
making one or more turns around the winding drum, in order to secure the
necessary adhesion. The motor may be supplied with current on the absolute
block system already described. The hauling rope is of course fixed at each
terminus. Or the haulage may be effected by means of an endless hauling rope
in the usual manner, the rope itself moving and carrying the loaded carriers
along with it. Or ordinary animal or other motive power may be employed for
haulage purposes.
It is understood that although we have described the use of two carrying ropes
on which the weight of the load is equally divided, that we do not confine ourselves
to the use of two ropes. The load may be carried on only one rope, or in case of
very heavy loads, three or four or any number of ropes may be used.
Instead of using a spring device at the end of each rope to ensure the equalizing
of the load between two or more carrying ropes, each pair of ropes may be con-
nected at each support and the light or loop passed over a sheave which is retained
by a tension device. If our electric block system of haulage is used it will be
necessary to connect the carrying wire ropes in this case by means of hemp or
nonconducting rope, running over an insulated sheave, to prevent short circuiting
of the electric current.
The starting and stopping switch of the trolly motor may be disposed so that
the trolly can be started by hand and stopped by the switch handle coming in
contact with a projection at the side of the ropeway.
The trolly may carry a rubbing or spring brush or similar device which makes
contact with the current carrying rope and so assists the wheels in collecting the
working current from the ropes and rocking rails, and a similar device may be
employed for returning the current to the return lead or rope.
If necessary, ordinary supporting posts may be placed between the straining
posts of the ropeway.
By employing a series of short lengths as above described we are enabled to
use rope of lighter make and of less strength than would be necessary if a con-
tinuous rope were used, inasmuch that the maximum strain to which an individual
length is subjected is merely that which pertains to such individual length.
Moreover a flatter catenary curve may exist between posts owing to the greater
relative tension which may be applied to the ropes and to the use of lighter
material. The provision of a spring on the "approach" end of a rope will servo
to draw in the rope as the trolly approaches the supporting post and to flatten the
catenary curve of the rope as the load advances thus lessening the gradient.
A worn or damaged section of rope can be quickly removed and a new length
substituted without splicing. The ropes may also be readily turned round so as
to wear evenly. The difficulty which now exists of transporting a continuous rope
of great length is entirely obviated. Curves can be readily made without the
special angle stations hitherto required, by merely using curved rocking bridge
rails instead of straight ones. Branch lines may diverge at intervals from the
main line at intermediate posts, where the rocking rail will also be swivelled or
otherwise moved so as to become a switch which may be put over to the branch

page_text: or main line by a rod or other gear operated from the ground or elsewhere. The
main line or branch lines may be opened for traffic up to the completed point,
whilst the ropeway is being erected, and may, when completed, be readily
extended one or more rope lengths. A rope length may be led from a beach to
a ship at anchor, and be strained by a device upon the ship. For shore to ship
use we may use one or more rope lengths and conduct it or them over posts erected
on pontoons which are anchored between the ship and the shore, or fixed in the
sea bed and these posts may be provided with straining and rocking devices as
herein above set forth or they may be merely supporting posts.
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. An aerial ropeway comprising one or more rope lines each composed of a
series of short ropes which are independently strained at supporting posts, and
wherein two meeting ropes are led over a post to opposite sides thereof and thero
made fast and strained respectively, whereby the strain exerted upon a post by
one rope is opposed and balanced by the strain exerted upon it by the other rope;
and rocking rails on said posts which bridge the space existing between such ropes,
whereby a continuous road is provided for a trolly; substantially as described.
2. The system of electrical traction described with reference to the novel form
of ropeway herein described, which consists in using two or more lines of ropes;
in electrically energising every alternate rocking rail of one rope line so that
every alternate rope of such line is energised; in causing such rocking rails when
they are rocked on to intermediate ropes by a trolly to be held in contact with
such ropes when a trolly is upon them, by a magnetic device which is energised
only when a trolly is upon such intermediate ropes; and in employing the other
line or lines of ropes as the return current; whereby an advancing trolly is
continuously supplied with current, whilst the rope immediately in rear of the
trolly is temporarily incapable of supplying current to a succeeding trolly;
substantially as described."
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Chartered Patent Agent, 10, St. George's Crescent, Liverpool,
Agent for the Applicants.