Improvements in a Method of and Means for making Connection between an Underground Conductor and a Vehicle Motor.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 9th Dec, 1898-Accepted, 14th Jan.. 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in a Method of and Means for making Connection
between an Underground Conductor and a Vehicle Motor.
I, HARRY LOUIS BUTLER, of 91, High Street, Stoke Newington, London, N.
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:---
My invention relates to improvements in a method of and means for making
connection between an underground conductor and a vehicle motor, and refers more
particularly to certain improvements in connection with the method of making
connection between an underground conductor and a vehicle motor described in the
specification of my former Letters Patent No. 1493 A.D. 1898, the object being to
dispense with the rising and falling plunger described in the specification of the
aforesaid former patent, and to provide simple and compact mechanism arranged
within a hollow lever, in such a manner that the whole is enclosed so as to be entirely
water-proof and impervious to the action of damp or moisture.
According to my present invention I bolt or otherwise secure suitable frames to one
of the running rails at convenient distances apart, and within each frame is arranged
a lever in the form of a hollow box preferably of triangular shape, and having a
removable side or end secured in position in such a manner as to form a water-tight
joint.
The lever or hollow box is pivoted at one end upon a spindle in such a manner as
to either turn upon the pivotal spindle, or the said pivotal spindle may turn or
revolve with the lever, the extremity of said lever being thus capable of rising and
falling a certain suitable distance, when acted upon by magnets carried beneath the
vehicle, said extremity being shod with or carrying a suitable block or plate of iron or
other suitable material to be acted upon by the aforesaid magnets.
In order to make connection between the underground conductor and the metallic
plate or block at the extremity of the lever, I employ a gravity contact and to this
end a lead from the cable is led through the pivotal spindle of the lever, which is hollow
for this purpose, where it is tapped, an insulated metal arm projecting and carrying
the current into the box, while the cable itself is of hollow or annular form, the object
being to minimise the rise of temperature in the said cable thereby increasing
its conductivity.
The block or plate of iron, steel, or other suitable material which is secured to the
extremity of the lever to be acted upon by the magnets carried beneath the vehicle,
is secured to the end of an insulated spindle or the like leading into the interior of
the lever, while secured to the extremity of said spindle is a flexible metallic strip,
weighted at its end, and normally lying a sufficient distance from the end of the
aforesaid projecting arm, leading the current into the interior of the lever.
The action is as follows:-
The vehicle in passing over the lever, raises saine by reason of the magnets carried
beneath the vehicle acting upon the shoe, block or plate of iron, steel or other
suitable material, arranged at the extremity of said lever, which in rising brings the
aforesaid flexible metallic strip into contact with the projecting arm leading the
current into the interior of the lever, and by this means contact is made, the current
being carried through a suitable conducting strip arranged beneath the magnets

page_text: carried by the vehicle, in a similar manner as described in the specification of my
aforesaid former Patent No. 1493 A.D. 1898.
The projecting insulated metallic arm leading the current into the interior of the
lever and the flexible metallic strip are preferably arranged relatively one to the other,
in such a manner that contact is made when the lever is at about half its travel,
and maintained until the maximum height is reached, contact being broken
in a similar manner at about half way of the rearward travel or fall of the said
lever.
Improvements in a Method of and Means for making Connection
between an Underground Conductor and a Vehicle Motor.
I, HARRY LOUIS BUTLER, of 91, High Street, Stoke Newington, London, N.,
Gentleman, 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 a method of and means for making
connection between an underground conductor and a vehicle motor, and refers more
particularly to certain improvements in connection with the method of making
connection between an underground conductor and a vehicle motor, described in the
specification of my former Letters Patent No. 1493 A.D. 1898, the object being to
dispense with the rising and falling plunger described in the specification of my said
former patent, and to provide simple and compact mechanism arranged within a
hollow lever or segmental box, in such a manner that the whole is enclosed so as to
be entirely water-proof and impervious to the action of damp or moisture.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed to describe
same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the essential parts of this invention,
more particularly as applied to the vehicle.
Fig. 2 is a plan of a portion of the road.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through one of the hollow levers or segmental
boxes illustrating the contact making mechanism according to one form of this
invention.
Fig. 4 is a similar view but illustrating a modified form of contact making
mechanism, and
Fig. 5 illustrates the second position of Fig. 4, showing the position the hollow
lever or segmental box assumes when acted upon by the magnet or magnets carried
beneath the car.
Fig. 6 is a partial cross section taken through the free extremity of the hollow
lever or segmental box, and shown in connection with the current collector, according
to the said modified form of this invention.
Fig. 7 is a similar view taken through the free extremity of a hollow lever or
segmental box illustrating the mechanism employed when the current is to be
returned through a separate conductor instead of through one of the running
rails.
Figs. 8 and 9 are detailed views illustrating a suitable method of setting the boxes
containing the mechanism, in the road, and

page_text: Fig. 10 is also a detailed view illustrating a suitable form of current collector for
use in connection with the modified form of this invention.
According to this invention, suitable frames a are bolted or otherwise secured to
one or both of the running rails b (Figs. 8 and 9), by means of suitable plates or
extensions c of the frame a, and at a convenient distance apart, and within each frame
is arranged a hollow lever or segmental box d preferably forined with a removable side
or in two parts d d as shown (Figs. 6 and 7), connected together in any suitable
manner.
Each hollow lever is pivoted at one end upon a spindle e in such a manner as to be
free to turn or revolve a certain suitable distance when acted upon by a magnet or
magnets carried beneath the vehicle, the free extremity of each said segmental box or
hollow lever being furnished with or carrying an insulated block or plate f (Fig. 3)
of iron or other suitable material designed to be acted upon by the said magnet or
magnets arranged beneath the vehicle.
In order to make connection between the underground conductor and the metallic
plate or block fat the extremity of the lever, a gravity contact is employed and to
this end a lead g from the cable y is led through the pivotal spindle e, which is formed
hollow for this purpose. It is there tapped by an insulated metallic arm g¹ projecting
and carrying the current into the box.
The block or plate f, secured to the extremity of the lever or box g, is connected
with the end of an insulated spindle g², while secured to the extremity of said spindle
is a flexible metallic strip g³, weighted at its end and normally lying a sufficient dis-
tance from the end of the aforesaid projecting arm g¹ (Fig. 3).
The car or vehicle, when fitted with the mechanism described in the Specification
of my former Patent No. 1493 A.D. 1898, in passing over the box or lever d, raises
same by reason of the magnet or magnets carried beneath the vehicle acting upon
the block or plate f, until the box assumes the position shown at Fig. 5.
The box or lever d in rising brings the flexible metallic strip g³ into contact with
the extremity of the arm g¹ leading the current into the interior of the box or
lever d, and in this manner contact is made, the current being carried through the
spindle g² and the block or plate f to a conducting strip arranged beneath the
vehicle and in a similar manner to that described in the Specification of my afore-
said former Patent.
According to the modified form of my invention and as more particularly illus-
trated in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10, of the accompanying drawings, the box or
lever d is merely lifted or raised by the magnet or magnets beneath the vehicle, the
said box or lever being preferably maintained in the raised position by mechanical
means, while the current collector, taking the current from the extremity of each
box or lever, is of different form to that described in the Specification of my former
Patent, serving as it does the double purpose of current collector and supporting
device for retaining the extremity of each lever or box in the raised position while
the vehicle is passing.
The essential features of this modified form of my invention comprise a metallic
current collector a¹ (Fig. 1) suspended from and stretching lengthways beneath the
car and at a sufficient height above the road level, the said current collector a¹ having
an electro-magnet or electro magnets b¹ at each end, the face of these magnets being
curved down from the current collector a¹ to almost the road or rail level, the current
collector with its front or leading and back or trailing electro-magnets thus forming
what may be termed a bow flattened in the middle.
I further arrange within frames a, (Figs. 4 and 5), boxes or levers d preferably
formed in two parts d¹ d² (Figs. 6 and 7) as hereinbefore described.
Each of the frames a contains a hollow lever or segmental box d of iron or steel
pivoted at one end as at e, the top surface of the box or lever d being flush with that.
of the outer frame a and also the road and rail level as shown, so that any movement,
of the hollow lever or segmental box d will be a partial revolution around its pivoted
end and will bring its free end above the level of the road, at the same time bringing
certain insulated parts of this free end into contact with the current collector, which

page_text: current collector, according to the modified form of my invention, retains it in the
raised position while the vehicle is passing.
Within each hollow lever or segmental box d a blind lead c¹ is run from the main
conductor y through its pivotal end, the extremity c² of the blind lead c¹ being of
suitable form for making contact with a suitable flexible metallic strip d³, when the
box or lever d is in the raised position as shown Figs. 1, 5 & 9. The extremity of
the flexible metallic strip d³ is connected with an insulated spindle h, the ex-
tremities h¹ projecting through the sides d¹ d² of the box or lever (Fig. 6), while
the flexible metallic strip and the extremity c² of the lead cl may be enclosed
within a suitable box k of earthenware or other suitable material, furnished with a
screw lid k¹, for the purpose of keeping these parts perfectly dry and in condition for
making good contact.
The current collector a¹ arranged beneath the car preferably comprises two flexible
metallic side strips m¹ having lower underturned edges m² designed to support the
box or lever d in the raised position, by the projecting extremities h¹ of the spindle h
resting or bearing upon same while collecting the current, the blocks m, which may
be of wood or other suitable material, serving to support the side strips m¹ m³, retain
them an equal distance apart throughout, while they further serve as a means by
which the current collector may be secured to the car.
The operation of the modified form of this invention is as follows:-
The vehicle, in passing, raises the box or lever d by its front or leading magnet or
magnets o, the extremities h¹ of the insulated spindle then resting or bearing upon
the underturned edges m² of the current collector, which retain it in the raised
position while the vehicle is passing. As the box is raised contact is made between
the extremity c² of the blind lead c¹ carrying the current into the box, and the flexible
metallic strip d³, though which the current then passes to the insulated spindle h,
and from the projecting extremities h' of this spindle h the current is collected by the
metallic side strips m³ of the current collector a' (Figs. 1 & 6).
The electro-magnet or electro-magnets at the extremity of the current collector,
which may for the time be "leading" (according to the direction in which the car is
travelling) can be excited either by the current drawn from the main conductor, or
from a battery carried on the car, while the electro-magnet or electro-magnets which
are for the time "trailing" are not excited, the curvature given to the under surface
of such magnet or magnets being sufficient to force down the pivoted levers or
boxes d, and leave the road "dead" and free from current.
The current may be returned through a separate conductor, instead of through the
running rails, by running another insulated blind lead from this return conductor
into the hollow lever or segmental box d, and making the insulated spindle h in two
parts h2 h (Fig. 7) insulated from one another, and suspending from each part h² h³
a flexible metallic strip d³ d, the extremities of these metallic strips d³ d being
fastened to a block of suitable insulating material, which serves as the weight
for the gravity contact and also as a distance piece, to keep the strips in position.
The current collector a¹ is constructed in a suitable manner so as to be sufficiently
flexible to enable it to adjust itself to the curves of the line, while the current is led
from the current collector a¹ to the car motor by a suitable lead or leads.
It is not essential for the purposes of this invention that the current collector a¹
should support the boxes or levers d, as in addition to their being raised by an electro-
magnet or magnets, they may be retained in the raised position during the passage
of the vehicle by a further electro-magnet or electro-magnets, or after having been
raised by an electro-magnet or electro-magnets, they may be retained, while required,
in the raised position, in any other convenient and suitable manner.
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 method of and means for making connection between an underground
conductor and a vehicle motor, the arrangement of frames a at certain suitable

page_text: distances apart along the road, containing hollow levers or segmental boxes d pivoted
as at e, each having a blind lead y carrying the current into the box and a projecting
metallic arın g¹; an insulated block or plate f, inner projecting spindle g² and a flexible
metallic strip g₁ designed to make contact with the metallic arm g¹, when the free
end of the hollow lever or segmental box d is raised by means of an electro-magnet
or magnets arranged beneath the vehicle, substantially as herein described and shown
with more particular reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings, and for the
purposes specified.
2. In a method of and means for making connection between an underground
conductor and a vehicle motor such as above claimed; the method of making contact
been a metallic arm such as g¹, projecting from a blind lead g carrying the current
into the hollow lever or segmental box d, and a flexible metallic strip g³ suitably
connected with an insulated block or plate such as f, carrying the current to a
conducting strip arranged beneath the car or vehicle, substantially as herein described
and shown, inore particularly with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings
and for the purposes specified.
3/. In a method of and means for making connection between an underground
conductor and a vehicle motor, the arrangement of frames a, at certain suitable
distances apart along the road, containing hollow levers or segmental boxes d, pivoted
as at e, and each having at its free extremity an insulated spindle h, with projecting
ends or extremities h¹, designed to be supported by the underturned edges m² m² of
the current collector a', as the car or vehicle passes; in combination with a flexible
metallic strip d³ connected with the spindle h and designed to make contact with the
conveniently shaped and arranged extremity c² of the blind lead c¹, carrying the
current into the box or lever d, when the said box or lever is raised by an electro-
magnet or magnets arranged beneath the car or vehicle, substantially as herein
described and shown with more particular reference to Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, of the
accompanying drawings.
4/. In a method of and means for making connection between an underground
conductor and a vehicle motor such as above claimed; the method of making contact
between a flexible metallic strip such as d³ connected to an insulated spindle such
as h, and the conveniently shaped and arranged extremity c² of a blind lead c¹, carrying
the current into the box or lever, when the said box or lever d is raised by a magnet
or magnets arranged beneath the car or vehicle substantially as herein described and
shown and for the purposes specified.
5/. The combination with a method of and means for making connection between
an underground conductor and a vehicle motor such as above clained; of a current
collector such as a¹ comprising flexible metallic side strips m m¹, having underturned
edges m² m² designed to support the hollow lever or segmental box d in the raised
position during the passage of the vehicle, by means of the projecting extremities h¹
of an insulated spindle h; substantially as herein described and shown and for the
purposes specified.
6/. The modification of the invention for the return of the current through a
separate conductor, substantially as herein described and shown with reference to
Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings.
νυμιννα συνυ
F. G.
CASSELL
(Of Cassell & Co.),
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agents for the Applicant.