Improvements in Permanent Ways for Vehicles Propelled by Electricity.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1889-Accepted, 29th June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Permanent Ways for Vehicles Propelled by
Electricity.
I JOSEPH KINCAID of 11 Great George Street in the City of Westminster Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
-
My Invention relates to the permanent way for electrically propelled vehicles in
which permanent way a conduit is required in the roadway in which the contact
maker or arrow carried by the vehicle can travel.
The main object of my Invention is to provide a permanent way wherein the parts
are more readily accessible and renewable than hitherto and the rails and conduits for
which are more conveniently and economically made than is the case with such
conduits as hitherto formed or constructed. The conduit is placed underneath one of
the track rails. I according to my Invention make the groove for the flanges of the
wheels of the vehicles at the side where the conduit is situated between two rails
which may be of a section analogous to ordinary railway rails supported in chairs
formed at the upper ends of yokes to which also are connected the separate plates
which form the top of the conduit as hereinafter described. The yokes are so shaped
as to leave the necessary opening below the level of the paving setts. The vertical
centre line of this opening is not directly underneath the slot or space between the
rails but is placed somewhat inside the track so that the side of the chair directly*
under the head rail can be vertical this giving increased support where strength is
required in order to bear the weight of the vehicles and the arrow is not situated
directly underneath the slot so that it is not exposed to wet and dirt falling down.
The risk of the spring jacks being interfered with through the slot opening is also
prevented. Greater facility is also given for access to the spring jacks by their being
placed directly under the hatches which are situated on one side of the rails.
The rails themselves can be rolled in lengths corresponding to the distance apart at
which the spring jacks are placed. The yokes on each side of the rail points are
proferably placed closer together than the ordinary yokes are placed and are provided
with recesses or parts for the reception of the stone ware insulators to which the
spring jacks are attached. The tube or conduit between the yokes is preferably
formed of portland cement concrete the yokes themselves being firmly bedded in this
material The roof of the tube consists of the aforesaid plates fitting into recesses
or the like provided for them in the yokes. Where the springs jacks occur these
roof plates are omitted and frames substituted into each of which is fixed a removable
cover which may be fitted with paving blocks so as to give access to the spring jacks.
Where the spring jacks occur the concrete chamber should be increased in width in
order to provide space for the insulators-Between the spring jack chambers an
earthenware pipe is laid buried in the concrete bed on which the ordinary paving
setts are laid. This pipe is for the insulated cables. As the points of the rails
occur at the spring jacks the fish plates are accessible through the hatches-The
tube is kept clear of water by means of drain pipes placed at suitable intervals
connecting with the ordinary road drains. The plates which form the top of the
conduit may be bent up so as to have greater strength.
Where points occur the two rails forming the slot are splayed out in such a
manner that the left hand rail remains the tread rail of the left hand road and
the right hand rail becomes the guard rail of the right hand road-Yokes somewhat
similar to those used in the ordinary construction may be used for supporting the
splayed rails or a continuous tube of metal may be employed for this purpose. The
space between the slots is dealt with in the following manner. At the heel end of
the point an I shaped casting is bolted at the bottom of the tube to the yokes or

page_text: frame forming the same, the length to which this casting extends in the direction of
the toe depends on the width of tabe required below the surface which limits the
distance in which it is possible to place a vertical web. To this I shaped casting a
surface casting may be bolted of a trough shape in section the recess or box formed
thereby being fitted with paving blocks or the like brought to the ordinary surface
level of the roadway. The heel of the last named casting is provided with suitable
recesses for the reception and fishing of the ordinary slot rails. A vertical web is
provided at the toe of this casting and to this web is attached the moveable tongue by
means of a strong spring a projecting bracket or seat also being left on the casting on
which the heel of the tongue rests. The spring is generally so arranged that the
tongue is kept pressed over against the right hand rail so that the vehicles may be auto-
matically guided into the left hand track. The toe of the tongue rests on a moveable
or rocking support contained in a box at one side of the track and bolted to the frame
work of the point and being provided with a moveable cover at the level of the road.
The support is so shaped in plan that when the left hand road is used the arm or
shank passing through the slot presses it to one side the support not being required in
such cases the tread of the wheel not being on the tongue. When the right hand
road is used and the weight of the vehicle is upon the tongue the support remains
constantly in position. Springs or weights are provided in the box so as to return
the support to its proper position after being displaced. In order that the tongue
may be moved at will in either direction so as to allow of the point being used as a
forcing point a clutch or claw is pivoted on to the rocking support in such a manner
that when allowed to hang vertically it does not encroach on the space required in the
tube. A rod connects this clutch with a small lever situated in a box at the level of
the roadway and at a convenient distance outside the track. A slot is provided in this
last named box through which a handle can be inserted so as to permit of a
connection being formed with or a continuation made of the lever-On the lever
being pulled over the claw is first thrown upwards so as to engage with the under
surface of the tongue and when so attached the continued pull on the lever draws
over the tongue and the rocking support so that the tongue is pressed against the
left hand side of the track and the vehicle is guided into the right hand track. On
releasing the lever the claw falls back into a vertical position and the tongue being
released is forced back by the spring or weight so that the left hand track is left
open for the passage of the car wheels-The crossings consist of two surface crossings
and of the foundation casting the latter being either a continuous tube or several
yokes being used to which the surface castings are bolted. The space between the
two surface castings form the slot.
D
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Permanent Ways for Vehicles Propelled by
Electricity.
I, JOSEPH KINCAID of 11 Great George Street in the City of Westminster Civil
Engineer 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 the permanent way for electrically propelled vehicles in
which permanent way a conduit is required in the roadway in which the contact
maker or arrow carried by the vehicle can travel.
The main object of my Invention is to provide a permanent way wherein the parts
are more readily accessible and renewable than hitherto and the rails and conduits for
which are more conveniently and economically made than is the case with such
conduits as hitherto formed or constructed. I will describe my invention with
reference to the accompanying drawings Figures 1 and 2 of which represent

page_text: respectively in longitudinal section and plan a portion of tramway constructed
according to my invention and Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sections of the same.
Figures 5 to 10 shew the construction of a movable point and Figures 11 to 16 are
views illustrating the construction of the crossings. Referring to figures 1 to 4, A
and B are the track rails connected together to give the required gauge by tie rods C.
The track rail B consists of two rails bb' which may be of a section analogous to
ordinary railway rails arranged at a short distance apart so as to provide between
them a slot e for the flanges of the wheels on one side of the vehicles to run in.
Beneath the track rail B is constructed the conduit G in which the arrows or current
collectors carried by the vehicles travel. The rails bb' constituting the track rail B
are supported in chairs D formed at the upper ends of yokes E to which yokes
plates F are connected which form the top of the conduit as hereinafter described.
The yokes E are so shaped as to leave the necessary opening below the level of the
paving setts, the vertical centre line of which opening is not directly underneath the
slot or space c between the rails but is placed somewhat inside the track so that
the support of the chairs D directly under the tread rail b can be vertical thus giving
increased support to hear the weight of the vehicles and the arrows or current
collectors carried by the vehicle are so shaped as not to be situated directly under-
neath the slot c so that they are not exposed to wet and dirt falling through the slot
and the risk of the spring jacks or contact makers being interfered with through the
slot is also prevented. Greater facility is also given for access to the spring jacks or
contact makers by their being placed in chambers H' directly under the hatches H
which are situated on one side of the rails.
The yokes E forming the sides of the chambers H' are preferably placed closer
together than are the other yokes and may be provided with recesses E' for the
reception of the stoneware insulators to which the spring jacks or contact makers are
attached. The rails are preferably rolled in lengths corresponding to the distance
botween the chambers H' and are connected together by fish plates between the
yokes forming the sides of the said chambers the close spacing of which yokes give a
firm support and increased strength to the rail joints, whilst ready access might be
had to the joints when required through the hatches H. The tube or conduit G is
preferably formed of Portland cement concrete, the yokes E being firmly. bedded
therein as shewn in Figure 1 of the drawings. The roof of the conduit between the
hatches H consists of the plates F fitting into recesses for the like provided for them
in the yokes. Where the hatches occur the roof plates F are omitted and frames H*
constituting the backs of the hatchways and removable hatches or covers H (fitted
with paving blocks) are substituted, so as to give access to the chambers H'. The
concrete walls of the tube or conduit may be so built as to give greater width between
them where the chambers occur than at the other parts of the tube or conduit. I are
earthenware pipes for the insulated cables which pipes may be buried in the concrete
bed between the hatchways H on which the ordinary paving setts are laid. The tube
or conduit G is kept clear of water by means of drain pipes placed at suitable
intervals and communicating with the ordinary road drains. The plates F which
form the top of the conduit are preferably bent up or corrugated so as to have greater
strength.
Where points occur in the track the two rails 661 forming the slot for the wheels of
the vehicles are splayed out as shewn in Figure 5 so that the left hand rail b¹ remains
the tread rail of the left hand road and the right hand rail 6 becomes the guard rail
of the right hand road. Yokes somewhat similar to those herein before referred to
may be used for supporting the splayed rails or they may be supported by a
continuous tube of metal Kas shewn in Figures 5 and 6. The space between the
rails and is dealt with in the following manner. At the heel end of the point in
the conduit G there is bolted to the yokes or to the tube forming the conduit a
casting L the length of which in the direction of the toe of the point will depend on
the width of conduit required below the surface, which limits the distance in which it
is possible to place a vertical web. To this casting L is bolted a surface casting M
of a trough shape in section the recess or box formed thereby being fitted with

page_text: paving blocks or the like arranged to correspond to the ordinary surface level of the
road way. The heel of the casting M is provided with recesses N for the reception
and fishing of the ordinary slot rails. A vertical web P is provided at the toe end of
the casting M and to this web is attached by means of a strong spring R, the
moveable tongue Q, a projecting bracket or seat R being left on the casting Mon
which the heel of the tongue Q rests. The spring R generally so arranged that
the tongue is, kept pressed over against the right hand rail so that the vehicles inay
be automatically guided into the left hand track but it may be otherwise arranged if
desired. At one side of the track and bolted to the frame work of the point is a
box or chamber S containing a rocking support or rest U for the toe end of the
moveable tongue and provided with a moveable cover, level with the general surface
of the road. The top of the support U is inclined in opposite directions in plan as
shewn in Figure 5. so that when the left hand road is used the arm or shank of the
arrow or current collector carried by the vehicle in passing through the slot pressos
the support to one side it not being required in such cases as the tread of the wheel
is not on the tongue. When however the right hand road is used and the weight of
the vehicle is upon the tongue Q the support U moves with and remains constantly
in position to support the tongue. Springs V. or weights are provided in the box S
so as to return the support to its proper position after being displaced by the passing
vehicle. When it is required to provide means for moving the tongue by hand in
either direction and to allow of the point being used as a facing point there is
pivoted on the rocking support U a-tumbler W having a clutch or claw W2 which
tumbler when not in use may be allowed to hang out of contact with the-point so as
not to encroach on the space required in the conduit but allow of full clearance for
the passage of the current collectors or arrows.
To the tumbler W is attached by a connecting link X a lever Y centred at Z in a
box or chamber S which communicates with the box or chamber S. This lever may
be operated when required by means of a key or handle y inserted through an
opening in the top of the chamber S² and provided with a socket to fit onto the end
of the lever Y so that on pulling over the lever by means of the handle y in the
direction of the arrow in Figure 10 the tumbler W is first turned on its centre to
so as to cause the claw W to engage the under surface of the tongue Qafter
which by the continued pull on the lever the tongue together with the rocking
support will be forced over so that the tongue Q is pressed against the left
hand side of the track and the vehicle is guided into the right hand track. On
releasing the lever Y the tongue is forced back by the spring V. (or a weight) into
its normal position the left hand track being then open for the passage of the car
wheels and at the same time the tumbler W will fall out of engagement with the
tongue being assisted if necessary by a spring. The crossings which are illustrated
by Figures 11 to 16 each consists of two surface castings A B and a foundation
casting the latter being a continuous tube or if desired it may be composed of
several yokes suitably connected together. The surface castings are bolted to the
casting with a space between them as shewn to form the slot for the flanges of
wheels on one side of the vehicles and the stems of the arrows or current collectors to
travel in, the grooves for the wheels on the opposite side of the vehicles being formed
in the castings A* B³.
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 permanent ways for electrically propelled vehicles, a tube or conduit beneath
one of the track rails formed of concrete in which are embedded at suitable distances
apart, metal yokes to which are fixed two rails arranged side by side with a space or
slot between them for the flanges of 'the wheels on one side of the vehicles to run in,
and in which the arrows or current collectors carried by the vehicles travel, the said
space or slot being arranged on one side of the vertical centre line of the conduit or
tube substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.

page_text: 2. In permanent ways for electrically propelled vehicles, chambers or hatchways
arranged at intervals along the track, where the spring jacks or contact makers and
the joints of the rails occur, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
3 In permanent ways for electrically propelled vehicles a conduit or tube arranged
beneath one of the track rails, the roof of the conduit being composed of metal plates
supported by the yokes except where the chambers or hatchways are situated where
removable covers or hatches are provided substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described.
4. For the permanent way of electrically propelled vehicles points constructed
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 6 to 10 of the
accompanying drawings.
5. In movable points for the permanent way of electrically propelled vehicles, a
rocking support for the toe end of the movable tongue, the said support carrying
a tumbler or lever provided with a claw or projection for engaging the moveable
tongue when it is required to use the point as a facing point and means for operating
the tumbler for this purpose substantially as herein before described with reference to
Figures 5 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
6. Crossings for the permanent way of electrically propelled vehicles constructed
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 11 to 16 of the
accompanying drawings.
7. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting improvements
in the permanent ways of electrically propelled vehicles substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of Anril 1889
JOSEPH KINCAID.