Improvements in and relating to Electric Railways.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 9th Feb., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Railways.
I, JOHN CHARLES LOVE, of Room 817 Rookery Building, Corner of La Salle
and Adam Streets, in the City of Chicago, County of Cook and State of Illinois,
United States of America, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in that class of electric railways, or
tramways, in which the line wires or conductors, for supplying current to the
electric motor on the vehicle, extend through an underground conduit having a slot
at the surface of the roadway, through which slot extends the traveling contact
device on the car, by which the current is taken from the wires. The invention
embraces improvements in the construction of the slotted conduit itself, in means
for supporting the electric conductors therein, in devices for keeping the conductors
tightly stretched and adjusting the tension of the same, in the traveling contact
device, which is carried by the car and which runs in contact with the conducting
wires within the conduit, for taking the current from the same, and in an auxiliary
conduit adapted for use in connection with the main conduit for carrying supply or
feeder wires, or other purposes.
My invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a sectional, perspective view of a conduit tramway embodying my
invention.
Figure 2 is a view in transverse, vertical section of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the way or track.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of the conduit taken longitudinally through the
same.
Figure 5 is an enlarged detail plan view, partly in section, showing the manner
of connecting the slot rails to the yoke or cross-piece of the conduit.
Figure 6 is a vertical section of parts shown in Figure 5, taken on line 6–6 of
said Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a plan view of the way or track, showing the position of the hatch-
way or man-hole with relation to a yoke and slot rail.
Figure 8 is a vertical transverse section, taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a horizontal or plan section of the conduit, taken on line 9-9 of
Figure 8.
Figure 10 is an enlarged, sectional, detail view of the man-hole cover shown in
Figure 7.
Figure 11 is a side view of one of the yokes separate from other parts of the
conduit.
Figure 12 is a view in horizontal or plan section of the lower part of the yoke.
Figure 13 is a cross-section of the yoke, taken on line 13-13 of Figure 11.
Figure 14 is a section similar to Figure 13 showing a modified form of the
stiffening bar illustrated in said Figure 13.
Figure 15 is a detail vertical section of the upper part of the yoke shown in
Figure 11.
Figure 16 is a cross-section, taken on line 16-16 of Figure 15.
Figure 17 is a sectional view taken through one of the man-holes, showing a
modified form of the deflecting plate.

page_text: Figure 18 is a sectional view, taken' on line 18-18 of Figure 17.
Figure 19 is a view in cross-section of one of the yokes of the conduit tramway,
showing a supplementary conduit for containing feed wires, which are connected at
intervals with the line-wires within the main conduit, and by means of which
current is supplied to the latter.
Figure 20 is a view in longitudinal section of the feed wire pipe or auxiliary¨
conduit, taken on line 20-20 of Figure 19.
Figure 21 is an enlarged, detail, end view of one of the integral sleeves in the
yukes forming a part of the supplementary conduit.
Figure 22 is a transverse sectional detail, taken on line 22-22 of. Figure: 20.
Figure 23 is a longitudinal sectional detail, taken on line 23-23 of Figure 21.
Figure 24 is a similar view, taken on line 24-24 of Figure 22.
Figure 25 is a detail side elevation of one of the insulating clips for supporting
the feed wires within the conduit pipe.
Figure 26 is a cross-section taken through the man-hole, showing the construction
of the conduit pipe where it passes through the same, the section being taken on
line 26-26 of Figure 27.
Figure 27 is a longitudinal section, taken on line 27-27 of Figure 26.
Figure 28 is a side elevation of an insulating support for sustaining the line wire
within the conduit.
Figure 29 is a cross-section of the same, taken on line 29-29 of Figure 28.
Figure 30 is a plan section, taken on line 30-30 of Figure 28.
Figure 31 is a view similar to Figure 30, showing a construction of the inter-
locking parts slightly different from that shown in Figures 28, 29 and 30.
Figure 32 is a view of the upper portion of the conduit, showing tension devices
for the line wires.
Figure 33 is a horizontal section, taken on line 33-33 of Figure 32.
Figure 34 is a longitudinal section of the telescopic connection for joining two
adjacent sections of the line wire.
Figure 35 is a transverse section of the telescopic connection, taken on
line 35-35 of Figure 34.
Figure 36 is a cross-section, taken on line 36-36 of Figure 32, showing one of
the joints between an auxiliary conductor section and one of the supporting clips of
the main line conductor.
Figure 37 is a cross-section, taken on line 37-37 of Figure 32.
Figure 38 is a view in side elevation of a traveling contact device adapted
to move through the conduit for taking the current from the line conductors
therein.
Figure 39 is a top or plan view of the same.
Figure 40 is a view in side elevation of another form of traveling contact device,
in which a spring is employed to hold the trolley wheel of the contact device
yieldingly against the conductor.
Figure 41 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 40.
To first describe the features of construction of the conduit itself, shown in
Figures 1 to 18, these parts are constructed as follows:
The yokes or main frame pieces A of the conduit are designed to support both
the slot rails B, by which the sides of the slot of the conduit are formed, and to
also support the tram rails C, on which the car wheels rest. Said yokes, to this
end, are made of a length substantially equal to the distance between the tram
rails, and are provided at opposite ends with enlarged parts A' forming seats for
the tram rails. The under surfaces of the enlarged parts A¹ have the form of
V-shaped cavities a the side walls of which stand approximately at right angles to
each other. Slots or bolt holes a' extend from the rail seats downwardly to the cavities,
the same being downwardly tapered in form and adapted to receive the bolts c,
which secure the tram rails to the yoke. The bolts c are shaped at their upper
ends to form hooks which engage the base flange of the rail. Securing nuts care
placed on the lower ends of the bolts and act against the side walls of the cavities a.

page_text: The tapered shape of the bolt hole a¹ is to give the tram: rails a slight range of
lateral adjustment when they are clamped against the yoke by the bolts c.
The yokes A are provided centrally of their length with a deep recess A² of the
same shape as the main part of the conduit, and also with overhanging supports A³
designed to support the slot rails B. Said slot rails are made of U-shape in cross-
section, and are made with their flanges depending so that the inner flanged thereof
forms the side of the conduit slot. The central part, or web, d' of the slot rail
rests upon the upper surface of the support A3, which latter rests within or fits
between the inner and outer flanges d and d' of said slot rail. A chamber a is
formed in the upper surface of the yoke outside of the support A³, said chamber
being formed by means of an upwardly extending flange a³, which forms three walls
of the chamber, the latter being open at its side nearest the said support A³. Within
said support is formed a rectangular recess a designed to receive a nut a, which
engages a securing bolt A. This securing bolt A is inserted from the chamber a
through an aperture formed in the outer flange of the slot rail, and through a bolt
hole a', which extends through the support into the rectangular recess. a.
The space between the ends of the flange a³ and the support A³ is made some-
what wider than the thickness of the outer flange of the slot rail, to provide for
any required lateral adjustment of said slot rail. Said lateral adjustment may be
made in any preferred manner; as, for instance, by the insertion of a wedge or
plate between the said flange of the slot rail and the adjacent side of the support A³.
The margins of the yokes A are flanged, and the bottom edge of the yoke is
provided beneath the central recess A2 with a strengthening web A³, the edges of
which latter are also flanged. This web A' does not extend to the ends of the yoke,
but meets the bottom edge thereof at some distance inwardly from the ends, so that
the said bottom edge of the yoke immediately beneath the tram rails has a broad,
horizontal surface adapted to rest upon a bed H of concrete, which is commonly
provided for supporting the yokes. This construction affords a strong support to
resist the downward pressure of vehicles upon the tram rails. At opposite sides of
the supports A³, are located lugs A, which are provided with recesses as adapted to
receive and hold the ends of longitudinally arranged rigid bars or plates A?.
These plates will be hereinafter termed "paving plates." These paving plates A'
are of proper length to extend from yoke to yoke, and the ends thereof are so bent
as to rest within the recesses a³, while the main or central parts thereof lie closely
against the flange d² of the slot rail B. By reason of this construction, the slot
rails B may be readily removed by a withdrawal of the securing bolts A* without
disturbing the street pavement P, inasmuch as the latter abuts upon and is
supported by the paving plates A' and does not come in contact with the slot rails.
To prevent the accumulation of dirt within the chambers a', and to afford a neat
finish to the surface structure, said chambers are provided with covers a, which
are provided on three sides with depending flanges, which fit within the flanges a³
which form said chamber. The cover a is provided centrally with an aperture for
the insertion of any proper tool by which it may be removed from the chamber a*.
The side walls of the conduit are formed by means of curved plates or "liner
plates "A8, the ends of which are provided with offset parts or flanges A' which
rest upon or against the side flanges of the yokes, as best seen in Figures 8 and 9.
The bottom edges of the liner plates are located in the same horizontal plane with
the bottom of the central recess of the yokes, and they join the concrete bed, su
that the liner plates and the bed together complete the enclosure of the conduit.
The top edges of said liner plates terminate beneath the outer flanges d² of the slot
rails B, and in close proximity thereto.
In order to afford convenient access to the line wires within the conduit and the
insulating support by which they are sustained, I have provided a hatchway or
man-hole at the side of the couduit. Said man-hole opens into the conduit, and its
top opening is bordered at one side by the slot rail, so that the cover or hatch of
the man-hole extends to and abuts against the slot rail, thereby affording
convenient access to the line conductors when the hatch is removed. In the

page_text: particular instance illustrated, the man-hole is formed by means of side and end
walls G and G, which are cast integral with the adjacent yoke A, as seen in
Figures 7, 8 and 10. The outer wall G, which is parallel with the track rails,
together with the transverse or end wall G¹ remote from the yoke, is cast integral
with the yoke, while the end wall G nearest the yoke is formed by the central
flange of the yoke itself, which is properly extended to form the same.
The
hatch G³ rests in a groove or rebate formed at the upper edges of the man-hole
walls, the inner edge of the said hatch extending to, but being unconnected with,
the slot rail. The wall G¹ is provided on its outer surface with a socket g to
receive the end of the adjacent paving plate A'. The walls of the man-hole are
herein shown as being extended downwardly to the level, of the bottom of the
conduit, and as being provided at their lower edges with an outwardly extending
flange adapted to rest on the top of the concrete bed H.
Line wires E are shown in this case as being supported by means of insulating
supports, which consist of clamping jaws e, which are attached to sliding insulating
blocks e sustained by means of horizontal guide rods e' which are secured to the
slot rail supports A³ and extend outwardly from the same parallel with the slot
rail. These insulating supports will be located at a distance apart to properly
sustain the line wire. A man-hole will commonly be employed at the points where
the insulating supports are located, the man-hole in each case being located at the
same side of the yoke at which the sliding block e¹ is placed and opposite the
insulating support, with the result that the latter may be conveniently reached
from the man-hole.
As a further improvement, I provide, in connection with the man-hole hatch, a
deflecting plate I which is arranged beneath the hatch, so as to deflect water,
which may pass the edges of the hatch, outwardly and away from the conducting
wires.
The inner edge of the deflecting plate is preferably extended to a point between
the flange d² of the slot rail and the insulating support e of the line wire. Such
deflecting plate may be attached to the hatch G³ by posts I', this construction being
shown in Figures 8 and 9. Another arrangement of the deflector plate is illustrated
in Figures 17 and 18. In this instance the end walls G¹ G of the man-hole are
provided with downwardly and outwardly inclined flanges or ledges y² provided at
suitable points with lugs or stops g³. A loose deflecting plate I, or one disconnected
from the hatch cover,. rests upon the ledges 92 with its upper edge near the
insulating support and below the inner flange of the slot rail, the same being
supported in this position by contact of its bottom edge with the lugs g³ of the
ledges g. It will be apparent that by lifting the lower edge of the deflecting plate,
said plate may be allowed to slide down over the lugs or stops g³, thereby affording
access to the line wires when desired.
In the laterally extended parts or end portions of the yokes, by which the tram
rails are sustained, are formed horizontal slots or openings a³, through which may
be inserted the auxiliary conduits J for carrying the feed wires for supplying
current to the line wires, or which may be employed to carry other electric
conductors. By thus providing the yokes with slots as, conduits J may be placed
in position either at one or both sides of the main conduit during the construction
of the road, at a relatively slight cost, and wires may subsequently be inserted
through said conduits as they may be required for the operation of the road or for
other purposes. The yoke A, Figures 1 to 17, is made of cast metal, and is
provided below the central recess thereof with a depending web A³ having at its
lower margin a stiffening flange A, said web A³ extending at its ends past said
central opening A², to points near the outer ends of the yoke so as to give ample
stiffness or rigidity to the central part of the yoke. The web A' thus constructed
will commonly project downward into the mass or bed H of concrete, upon the
surface of which the end portions of the yoke rest, for effectually sustaining the
track rails. The web constructed as above described will be efficient for giving
proper strength to the yoke in most instances. It is desirable under. some

page_text: circumstances, however, that the depth to which the excavation for the yokes
extends, should be as small as possible, as when excavation in rock is required. In
order to provide ample strength under such circumstances I propose to employ the
construction shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13, the same embracing a horizontal
stiffening bar K of steel, which stiffening bar is embedded in the cast metal
constituting the yoke, by having the same cast around the steel bar at the time of
casting the yoke. As shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13, the bar K is of rectangular
shape in cross-section, and the web A5 is without any stiffening flange. In
Figure 14 the steel bar K is shown as made in the form of an I-beam, having
upper and lower lateral flanges kk and the web A, instead of completely
surrounding the bar, embraces the top of the upper flanges of the bar, and also the
sides of the bar between the flanges thereof. The construction shown in Figure 14
has the advantage of making the yoke stiffer or stronger, without a corresponding
increase in weight of the steel bar. The presence of the outer depending flange on
the slot rails, makes necessary the connection of the rail supports A³ with the body
of the yoke, by a relatively narrow connecting part or neck, as clearly seen in the
side view, Figure 11. The vertical thickness of the metal at this neck is made as
small as possible in order that a maximum space may be obtained within the
conduit for the conducting wires, it being obviously desirable that the wires should
be placed as high as possible within the conduit, both that they may be protected
from the dripping of water by the flanges of the slot rail, and that ample space
shall be left below them for the trolley or traveling contact device. For the
purpose of giving ample strength to said neck, while inaking it as thin as possible,
I cast within the upper ends of the yoke stiffening bars L of steel, which extend
from the body of the yoke through the neck referred to, into the slot rail supports,
as clearly seen in Figures 11, 15 and 16.
In Figures 19 to 27, both inclusive, I have illustrated a supplementary pipe or
conduit for the feed wires adapted for use in connection with the slotted main
conduit having transversely arranged yokes, such as has been heretofore described,
said supplementary conduit being for the purpose of containing feed wires, which
are connected at suitable intervals with the line wires within the conduit, and by
means of which current is supplied to said line wires. To now refer more
particularly to the features of construction illustrated in Figures 19 to 25, the same
are made as follows:
In said Figures 19 to 25 of the drawings, A designates a transversely arranged
conduit yoke adapted to support at its ends the tram rails B, and formed at its
center with the usual conduir opening A1, at the top of which a continuous slot A²
is provided between slot rails Ċ rigidly bolted to the yokes. DD designate the
line wires or conductors supported within the conduit by suitable insulators, and
which furnish the current to traveling contact devices carried by a supporting arm
or bar which extends into the conduit from the motor car through the slot A2, in a
familiar manner. Said yoke A comprises a vertical web A and marginal
flanges A, but any similar yoke possessing the same general features may be
equally well provided with these improvements. EE designate the usual feeder
wires which are connected at suitable intervals with the line conductors D. Said
feeder wires E are herein shown as located in a separate or supplementary conduit
or pipe F, which in this instance passes through the webs A³ of each yoke near
one of the outer ends thereof, such location enabling them to be gotten at without
disturbing the mass or bed of concrete which will be ordinarily located along the
main conduit A¹.
Said conduit pipe F is composed of upper and lower semi-cylindric pipe
sections F and F made of suitable lengths to extend between two adjacent yokes
and adapted to detachably engage short tubular sleeves A³ extending at opposite
sides of the vertical webs A³ of the yokes and cast integral with said webs. For
detachably connecting the sections and F2 of the pipe with the sleeves A³, the
latter are formed at their ends with curved upper and lower flanges a and a¹, of

page_text: which the outer surface of the upper flange a and the inner surface of the lower
flange a are curved concentrically on a radius substantially equal to the exterior
radius of the pipe sections.
The upper pipe section F' rests at its ends upon the exterior of the upper
curved flange a, and the lower pipe section F2 rests at its ends within the lower
Hanges a¹. The lower section is placed in position before the upper section by first
resting its ends upon the upper flanges a and then rolling or turning it axially upon
said flanges, such movement obviously causing the ends of the section to pass edge-
wise between the adjoining margins of the flanges, and within the lower flange.
When the upper section is thus rolled or twisted into place the latter is placed in
position with its ends engaging the upper flanges a, as stated, and with its side
inargins joining the side margins of the lower section, thus forming a continuous or
completely closed pipe or conduit. In this instance the flanges a and a¹ are each
made of semi-cylindric form und terminate at their side edges in a horizontal plane
passing through the horizontal axes of the sleeve and pipe. Shoulders a² and a³,
respectively, are also formed at the inner ends of said flanges a and a¹ so as to
abut.against the ends of the pipe sections and thereby hold the same from end wise
movement.
The feeder wires E are suspended within the conduit pipe F by means of
insulators G G located at sufficiently frequent intervals to support the wires free
from contact with the walls of the conduit pipe. As herein shown, two insulators
are provided for each length of pipe, i.e. between each pair of adjacent yokes, one
being located near each end of the section F1 F. Various forms of insulator may
be used for this purpose, but as a further improvement and as a simple and con-
venient construction in an insulator for the purpose stated, I have herein shown
each insulator as formed by two similar blocks G of non-conducting or insulating
material, curved at their ends to fit closely within the pipe F, and each provided
with an open ended horizontal slot extending from one end of the block into
the latter somewhat more than half the length of the block. The two blocks
forming each insulator are slipped over the feeder wires from opposite sides of the
same before the upper pipe section F is put in place, and are placed side by side
within the lower section F2. Short lugs fare herein shown as formed or secured
on the inner surface of said section in position to engage the remote faces of the
two blocks, and to thereby hold the same together and against movement within
the pipe longitudinally of the latter. After the insulators are thus inserted the
upper section F of the pipe is put in place and engages the upper portion of the
curved ends of the blocks.
Preferably, and as herein shown, the blocks G¹ are so shaped as to maintain the
slots g' somewhat above the center of the pipe F, thereby permitting the wires E
to sag more than half the diameter of said pipe before a contact will occur between
the wires and the bottom of the pipe. Normally, however, the sag between the
adjacent insulators will be very slight. The vertical width of the blocks G' need
only be enough to prevent them from being easily broken in handling, and is herein
shown somewhat less than half their length. The space thus left above and below
the insulators is ample to permit of a circulation of dry air being maintained
within the conduit, if desired, and to permit any accumulated moisture to be
drained off through convenient drain pipes, not shown.
Obviously it is not imperative that the ends of the blocks G be accurately curved
to fit the interior of the pipe F, since any configuration thereof which will provide
sufficient points of engagement between the blocks and pipe to maintain the
former in proper position will suffice for many purposes. On the other hand, it
may sometimes be found desirable to make said blocks in the form of either apertured
or imperforate discs of suitable size to fit within the pipe F. Such changes, how-
ever, would involve no departure from the spirit of my invention as hereinbefore
set forth.
The conduit yoke is made of such length as to extend at its ends outwardly

page_text: beyond the rails, and the tubular sleeves A are located directly beneath the rail'
seat at one end of the yoke, so that the conduit extends vertically beneath one of the
rails. The principal object of this construction is to so locate the conduit that
the latter will not pass through or occupy available space within the man-holes of
the road, which latter are provided at intervals to afford access to the main conduit.
In order, however, that the auxiliary conduits may be easily drained and access had
to the wires therein, said auxiliary conduits are arranged to open into the man-
holes, which latter will be provided with the usual drain pipes leading to a sewer,
so that special drain pipes for the auxiliary conduits will not be required. A con-
struction of this kind is illustrated in Figures 26 and 27 of the drawing. As shown
in these figures H indicates a man-hole the lower part of which is formed of concrete
walls H' and the upper part by a metal casing, consisting of an outer wall H³ and
side walls H³ H³. The man-hole is provided with the usual hatch or cover H*..
The outer wall H2 of the man-hole is in this instance bent or deflected outwardly
beneath the rail so as to extend outside of the line of the auxiliary conduit, so that
the latter will extend through the man-hole adjacent to its outer wall. Within the
man-hole, however, the lower part or section of the conduit. is omitted so as to
form an opening through which water may drain from the conduit into the man-
hole, and by which access may be had to the wires within the conduit. The top
section of the conduit, being continuous, protects the wires therein from dirt and
water which may drip from the top of the man-hole, and at the same time prevents.
accidental contact with the wires of workmen who may be within the man-hole. A
drain pipe I leading from the man-hole in the usual manner affords a means by
which water, which may accumulate therein from the main and auxiliary 'conduits,.
will be drained into an adjacent sewer..
In Figures 28, 29 and 30 I have shown a device for supporting the line wires of
conductors within the conduit, which differs somewhat from those illustrated in the
preceding figures. As illustrated in said Figures 28 to 30, A designates the line
wire or conductor, and B stationary supporting rods or bars from which the line
wire is suspended. C is a clamp comprising two separable plates C1 and C2 which
are shaped at their lower ends to form jaws e between which the line wire is
gripped and held. As herein shown, the wire A is provided on each side above its
center with a longitudinal groove a, and the lower edges of the jaws care turned
inward to engage said grooves, so that the wire is held solely by its upper portion,.
leaving its lower half unobstructed and fully exposed at every point to the passing
trolley wheel.
As an improved means of clamping the plates C1 and C2 together the plate C¹ is.
herein shown as provided centrally with a laterally projecting loop c¹ adapted to
extend through a corresponding aperture 2 in the plate C³, and secured therein by
a wedge or key C³ which passes through the loop and engages the outer surface of
said plate C². By driving in the wedge C³ the two plates must obviously be drawn
tightly together and the line wire or conductor A firmly held between the jaws c at
their lower ends.
The wedge C3 is conveniently locked in place after being driven in as far as
desired by means of a malleable strip, strand or wire C, which is inserted and held
between the outer face of the wedge and the loop, and has its ends c* c³ bent so as
to engage the end of the wedge and the side of the loop in such manner as to
prevent the wedge from slipping from its place. A longitudinal groove e³ is made
in the outer face of the wedge C³ to form a seat for the wire C, the ends c* c* of
which are bent over in opposite directions to engage respectively the head of the
wedge and the side of the loop remote from the head of the wedge. T'he end co
of the locking wire will ordinarily be bent over before the wire is inserted, its other
end being lett straight. The straight end of the wire is placed in the groove at
the small end of the wedge and slipped along said groove beneath the loop e¹ until
its bent end comes in contact with the edge of said loop. The end of the wire
is then hammered or otherwise bent over to closely engage the head of the wedge,
and obviously thereafter prevents the wedge from working loose. A recess c in

page_text: the head of the wedge forming a continuation of the groove c³ affords a seat for the
end of the wire when bent over as described.
The clamp C is suspended and insulated from the stationary support B by means
of a block D of insulating material in which the upper end of the plate C, which
is extended above the plate C, is embedded; said block being grooved at its
opposite sides to engage the supporting rods B B. Flanges c c project laterally
on both sides of the plate C¹ along the upper elge thereof to afford a stronger
connection between the plate and the block.
Instead of the rods B B any form of stationary support may be used which may
be engaged with the insulating block D in any desired manner. In the particular
form herein shown, the two parallel rods B B. are similar to those which are
secured in the yokes of a slotted underground conduit, of a kind shown in the
accompanying drawings, and the block D is provided on opposite sides with
grooves d adapted to engage the said rods when the block is placed between the
latter.
This construction obviously permits the line wire supporting device to slide
freely end wise on the support B and provides for any longitudinal movement of the
line wire resulting from any cause, as from the application thereto of tension devices
of the kind herein described.
In Figure 31 I have shown a slightly modified construction of the insulating
support in which the wedge C³ is reversed or turned with its grooved face inward
against the plate C². The end of the locking wire C in this case engages the
edge of the plate C2 instead of the edge of the loop c', as in the construction first
described, but obviously the locking effect is the same in either case, though the
construction shown in Figures 28, 29 and 30 is the most convenient, and is
preferred.
In Figures 32 to 37 are shown devices, intended more especially for use in
connection with slotted underground conduits of the kind hereinbefore described,
for maintaining the line wires or conductors under sufficient tension between the
insulators, or from being unduly deflected by the pressure of the traveling contact
devices carried by the car.
In carrying out this part of my invention, the line wire or conductor to which
the tension devices are applied, is made in separable sections of any desired length,
and the sections are separated in such manner as to be capable of some longitudinal
movement relatively to their supports or to the conduit. At one or both of its
ends, each section of wire is secured to a movable or slotted insulating block
mounted to slide longitudinally on horizontally arranged guides to which block are
connected the tension devices for drawing taut the line wire. The continuity of
the line wire as a whole is maintained by providing the adjacent ends of the sections
with sliding or telescopic joints permitting longitudinal movement of the sections
with relation to each other. To now refer more particularly to the figures of the
drawing illustrating this part of my improvement, namely, Figures 32 to 37, in
said figures A designates the slotted underground conduit, and B B two of the
yokes thereof. C is a line wire supported longitudinally of the conduit upon any
suitable insulators adapted to permit some extent of longitudinal movement in the
said line wire. The line wire C is divided into separable sections C', of any desired
length from a hundred to a thousand feet or more or less, according to the
circumstances of the case. Said sections C¹ are each engaged at one or both ends
by clips D which depend from insulating blocks D' mounted to slide upon longi-
tudinally extending stationary guides B¹. As herein shown the guides B₁ comprise
parallel rods b b. extending between the adjacent yokes B B, and the insulating
blocks D are provided on opposite sides with longitudinal grooves which are
engaged by the rods b when the blocks are placed between said rods. The clips D
are herein shown as conveniently formed by two elongated plates D2 and D³ which
are detachably secured together by bolts d so as to tightly embrace the wire C
between their lower edges. Said wire is in this instance provided with longitudinal
grooves cc, and the lower edges of the plates D2 D3 are shaped to form jaws d¹

page_text: Near their forward
which engage said grooves and thus firmly grasp the wire.
ends the plates D2 D3 are provided with upwardly extending portions d³, of
which the part d' of the plate D² rises above the part d³ and is embedded in the
insulating blocks D', thereby rigidly connecting the clips and blocks.
E designates an insulating block which is mounted to slide between the rods b b
in the same manner as the block D'. Said block E is connected with the clip D
by a link or coupling rod F, and is elongated or has a long bearing on said rods,
in order that it may slide smoothly thereon. The latter, as herein shown, is
attached to the clip D by being formed at its rear end with a loop which
detachably engages an upwardly projecting hook shaped lug on the front end of
the clip. At its front end F' the link is flattened as shown, and is secured by
bolts to the side of a downwardly projecting plate E, the upper portion of which
is embedded in the insulating block E. The extreme front edge of the flattened
end F2 of the link is furthermore herein shown as turned or bent laterally, so as to
hook over the front edge of the plate E' and thus afford a shoulder adapted to
directly resist the strain coming on the link. A turn-buckle F3 pivotally engaging
the rear end F¹ of the link and having a screw threaded engagement with its front
end F permits the length of the link F to be adjusted as desired.
G designates a coiled compression spring inserted between the back of the block E
and the face of the adjacent yoke B, suitable lugs e and being in this instance
provided on the block and yoke in position to enter or engage the ends of the spring
and thereby maintain the same in position. Said spring G will obviously exert
constantly a yielding pressure on the back of the block E tending to thrust the
same forward on the rod and serving to draw taut the connected section C¹ of
the line wire.
Tension devices of the construction thus described will usually be provided in
pairs, one connected with each of the adjacent ends of the two adjoining sections C¹
of the line wire, as shown in Figures 32 and 33, and with their springs acting in
opposite directions against the faces of two adjacent conduit yokes B. The extreme
ends of the adjoining sections C' must obviously be left separated by a sufficient
space to permit the ends of said sections to approach each other or separate as the
tension devices operate to take up any slack which may occur in said sections.
The practical continuity of the line wire between the sections is, however, preserved
by means of a telescopic connection H comprising a tubular sleeve H' adapted to
receive the ends of the sections C and depending from an insulating block H
which is in this instance mounted upon the guide rods b.
As herein shown said telescopic connection H is so constructed as to permit the
interruption of the circuit between the adjoining sections Cat will. To this end
the sleeve H' is formed of two separate sections provided with upwardly pro-
jecting lugs, which are rigidly bolted between the opposite ends of parallel
plates of insulating material. Said plates 123 are herein shown supported
from the block H2 by being bolted to the opposite sides of an intermediate plate /*
at the lower edge thereof, the upper portion of said plate being embedded in the
insulating block H2. Midway between its ends and at a point slightly above its
lower edge the plate 2 is apertured to receive the stud upon which is mounted a
revoluble disk H³ of such diameter that the lowermost part of its perimeter is
substantially in line with the lower edge of the sleeve H', said disk being inserted
within a suitable recess h° provided centrally in the plate h³. Said disk H³ is
composed of a larger segmental portion of insulating material, through which
the stud is passed, and a smaller segmental portion of copper or other suitable
conducting material. The inner ends of the sleeve / terminate on a curve.
concentric with the disk H³, and have a radius equal to the radius of said disk, so
that said ends constantly engage the perimeter of said disk H³. Consequently
when the disk is turned to bring the conducting segment 8 between the ends h³ of
the sleeve the latter will be electrically connected and the current will pass from
one of the sections C¹ of the conductor to the other through the sleeve h and the
connecting segment without interruption. Obviously, however, when the disk is

page_text: rotated to bring the insulating section lowermost and between the ends of the
sleeves the passage of the current will be interrupted. Preferably the width or
thickness of the disk H' and the radial thickness of the conducting segment are
made substantially equal to the outer diameter of the sleeves h so that the area in
cross section of the segment 18 is ample to transmit the current which may pass
through it. To enable the disk to be readily rotated when desired the stud is
made to revolubly engage the plate 2 and is formed with an enlarged, square outer
end, which is adapted to be engaged by a suitable wrench, the disk H³ being at
the same time rigidly secured to the stud so as to rotate with the same.
Under the most favorable conditions, however, the telescopic connection H will
offer more or less resistance to the passage of the current, because of the sliding
joint between the ends of the sections C and the sleeves and the joint between
the inner ends of said sleeves and the conducting segment . For the purpose,
therefore, of affording a more perfect electrical connection between the adjoining
sections C³, I provide a short, flexible conductor I, preferably provided with an
insulating covering, suitably connected at its ends to said sections C and extending
loosely around the telescopic connection H. As herein shown said flexible.cou-
ductor is provided at its ends with metallic plugs I adopted to be tightly fitted
within sockets d' on the clips D. When the plugs I are inserted in the sockets d'
the current is obviously free to pass from one section C to the next through the
flexible conductor I without diminution by the resistance offered by the coupling H.
By pulling out one of the plugs I the connection afforded by the conductor I may,
however, be broken, and the current may then be entirely interrupted by rotating
the disk H³ to bring its insulating segment between the sleeves h. Between its
ends the conductor I may be supported in any convenient manner as by insulators i
projecting from the walls of the yokes and conduit. Said conduit will usually be
enlarged to form a man-hole, such as is shown in Figures 7 and 8 wherever the
tension devices are located, to permit free access to said tension devices.
While the tension devices are in this instance provided in pairs, one applied to
the end of each of the adjoining sections, it will be understood that each device.
operates entirely independently of the other and would operate as well so far as
its own section is concerned, if the adjoining end of the next section were rigidly
secured instead of being also supplied with a yielding tension device. Moreover,
although ordinarily intended to be applied to both ends of each section it is
obviously practicable to provide a tension device embodying my invention at one
end only of each section by attaching the other end of the section rigidly to the
conduit.
In Figures 38 to 41 of the accompanying drawings I have illustrated an
improvement in traveling contact devices, by which electric connection is
established between the line wires or conductors of an electric railway and the.
motor on the vehicle, these devices being more especially designed for use in
connection with the slotted conduit which contains the line wires, such as is shown
in other figures of the drawings and has been hereinbefore described. The
traveling contact device embodying my invention is intended to be supported
from the body of the car by means of an upright bar secured to the car at its
upper end and extending downwardly into the conduit through the continuous
longitudinal slot of said conduit. Said contact device consists generally of a
. laterally and vertically movable trolley arm, which carries the trolley or grooved
wheel which runs in contact with the line wire, said trolley arm being composed of
a relatively short part or section, which engages a horizontal pivot projecting
from the supporting standard, and a relatively long section, which carries the
trolley wheel and is connected with the free end of the short section by means of
a pivot arranged at right angles to the horizontal pivot, so that the point of
contact of the trolley wheel with the line wire is at the side of the horizontal pivot
opposite the point of connection of the two sections. Said arm is further
provided with spring or gravity devices, by which the trolley is constantly pressed
against the line wire. In the figures of the drawing in which this part of my

page_text: invention is shown, the traveling contact device is illustrated in connection
with two line conductors, and embraces two separate trolley arms arranged at
opposite sides of the supporting bar. It will be obvious, however, that the
improvement may be adapted for use also in connection with a single line wire, in
which case only one trolley arm will be employed.
To now refer in detail to said Figures 38 to 41 of the drawings, A designates
one of the line wires or conductors, for contact with which the trolley is designed.
Said line wires are located in an underground, slotted conduit, such as is shown in
other figures of the drawings hereinbefore described. B designates the upright
arm or standard, which is secured to the car and projects downwardly into the
conduit through the slot, thereof to support the contact device; and B' is a
block of any suitable non-conducting material attached to the lower end of the
standard B, and to which the contact devices are directly connected.
CC designate flat plates screwed or otherwise secured to the sides of the
insulating block B¹ and provided with laterally projecting horizontal pivots c,
preferably cast integral therewith, upon which the trolley arms D are mounted.
Each of said. trolley arms comprises a short section D' which pivotally engages
the stud or pivot c, and a long section D2 carrying at its outer end the trolley
wheel or other suitable contact device E, and pivotally connected at its inner end
with the free end of the section D¹ by a pivot d arranged at right angles to the
pivot c and in this instance substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of
the section D. The section D' is designed to normally project from the pivot e
on a line approaching the horizontal, being herein shown normally inclined slightly
downward towards its outer end, and the section D is arranged at an acute angle.
with the section D' and extends upwardly the bring the trolley E in contact with
the line wire A at a point on the other side of the pivot c from that on which the
pivot d which joins the two sections D' and D2 is located.
In the construction shown in Figures 38 and 39 constant pressure is applied to:
the trolley wheel E for the purpose of holding the same yieldingly in contact:
with the conductor by means of a weight D³ attached to the free end of the
section D' of the trolley arm, and, in this instance,. made in the form of an
integral extension thereof, said weight being so proportioned as to impart to the
arm D a tendency to rotate about the pivot e as a center, sufficiently to throw the
trolley wheel E against the conductor with the yielding force desired. It will,
of course, be obvious that because of the arrangement of the trolley on the
-opposite side of the pivot e from the point of connection of the sections D₁ and D²,
the tendency of the sections D' to rotate downwardly about the pivot c will
produce in the free end of the section D2 an opposite tendency to swing upwardly
about said pivot c, thereby forcing the trolley E against the line wire or
conductor.
C
In Figures 40 and 41 I have provided devices for throwing the trolley
upwardly against the conductor by spring pressure. To this end the section D₁
is shown provided with a rigidly attached arm D comprising an inwardly
projecting part d¹, an upwardly inclined portion d², herein shown extending
substantially parallel with the section D2, and an out-turned end at the upper
end of the part d² extending outwardly directly above the section D2 and beneath
the conductor A. A coiled spring F is attached at its upper end to the upper
end d³ of the rigid arm D and at its lower end to a hook c¹ located upon an
outwardly inclined extension C¹ of the plate C, in a common plane with the
section D of the trolley arm and directly beneath the conductor A. The tension
of the spring F acting through the rigid arm D of the section D' will obviously
tend to throw said section downwardly about its pivot c, thereby throwing the
trolley E upwardly against the conductor A in the same manner as when the
weight D³ is employed. As a further improvement, however, said spring F is
made of closely coiled wire of considerable stiffness and the extensions C¹ of the
plate Care provided with curved flanges C² over which said springs F are

page_text: normally bent in passing from the ends d³ of the rigid arm D* to the hooks c' to
which their lower ends are secured. With this construction the tendency of the
coil to resume its normal or contracted form will obviously produce an additional
tendency of the trolley arm to rotate on its pivot C so as to throw the trolley
against the supporting wire. By so arranging the spring F in the vertical plane
of the section D' its force is always exerted at right angles to the pivot c of said
section D' in a manner tending solely to revolve the trolley arm about said pivot
without producing any side strains tending to cause the bearings to twist or bind.
For the purpose of preventing the springs or weights from producing an undue
upward motion of the trolley when the same is not in contact with the conducting
wire A, I provide stop chains G attached at their upper ends to the upper portion
of the sections D² of the trolley arms, and at their lower ends to the outer ends
of arms G¹ secured to the bottom of the standard B and projecting outwardly
therefrom. Said chains will remain loose or slack under ordinary circumstances,
but are of such length as to become taut in case of an excessive upward.movement
of the trolley, and thus restrain the same from passing beyond a desired limit.
An important and obvious advantage of the trolley arm constructed as described
lies in the fact that by such construction I am enabled to produce a contact
device having the sections of its trolley arm sufficiently long to provide the extent
of movement desired both laterally and vertically without assuming too great an
angle relatively to the conductor. The contact device thus made, furthermore, is
in a more compact form and occupies much less space than in the case where both
sections of the trolley arm extend in one direction from its point of pivotal
connection with the supporting standard. A convenient and desirable arrangement
of the parts is that herein shown in which the point of contact of the trolley with
the couductor and the point of connection of the two sections of the trolley arm
are arranged at substantially equal distances from the opposite edges of the
supporting standard B, the amount of projection of the parts on each side of the
support B being in such case approximately equal in both directions.
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. A slotted conduit, comprising a slot rail having a depending flange, a yoke
provided with an upwardly projecting support for the slot rail, which support is
provided with a recess to receive a nut and with a bolt hole extending horizontally
into the said recess, and meaus for fastening the slot rail to said support,
consisting of a bolt which is inserted through the rail flange and the bolt hole,
and a nut located within said recess and engaging the screw-threaded end of
the bolt.
2. A. slotted conduit, comprising a flanged slot rail, a yoke provided with a
support for the slot rail, containing a recess to receive the nut and a bolt hole
extending into said recess, said yoke being provided also with a recess or chamber
outside of said support to receive a bolt head, and means for fastening the slot rail
to the said support consisting of a bolt which engages the flange of said slot rail
and passes through said bolt hole, and a nut located in the said recess and engaging
the screw-threaded end of the bolt.
3. A slotted conduit, comprising slot rails having inner and outer depending
flanges and cast metal yokes provided at their upper ends with integral supports
for the slot rails constructed to enter between the flanges of said slot rails, and
means for fastening the slot rails to said supports consisting of bolts which pass
through the outer Hanges of the said slot rails and into the said supports, and
which act to clamp the rails laterally against said supports.
4. A slotted conduit, comprising slot rails and yokes consisting of integral
castings provided at their upper ends with integral supports for the slot rails,
and vertically arranged paving plates located outside of and parallel with the

page_text: slot rails and extending between the yokes, said yokes being provided at their
sides faces adjacent to the said supports with vertical sockets to receive the ends
of the paving plates.
5. A slotted conduit, comprising slot rails having depending flanges, yokes for
supporting the said slot rails, and paving plates extending between the yokes
outside of the slot rails, said yokes being provided at their upper ends with supports
for the slot rails and being provided also with chambers outside of said supports
to receive bolt heads, and having at opposite sides of said chambers sockets to
receive the ends of the paving plates.
6. A slotted conduit, comprising slot rails, yokes for supporting the same provided
with overhanging supports for the slot rails, paving plates extending between the
upper ends of the yokes outside of the slot rails, and liner plates extending between>
the yokes below the slot rails.
7. A slotted conduit, comprising slot rails, yokes provided at their upper ends
with overhanging supports for the slot rails, paving plates extending between the
upper ends of the yokes outside of the slot rails, and liner plates extending between
the yokes below the slot rails, said yokes being provided with sockets to receive the
ends of the paving plates and having flanges adapted to engage the ends of the
liner plates to hold the latter in place.
8. An electric railway, comprising a slotted conduit having slot rails, a yoke
consisting of an integral casting having a central conduit opening, overhanging
supports for the slot rails, and lateral extensions for supporting the train rails; said
yoke being provided also with integral walls forming a man-hole to afford access to
the interior of the conduit, a conductor within the conduit, an insulating support
for the conductors attached to the yoke, and a hatch or cover fitting within the
upper margins of the walls of the man-hole, by the removal of which access may
be had to said insulating support.
9. A slotted conduit, provided with slot rails and with a man-hole adjacent to
said slot rails, a cover for said man-hole, and a inovable deflector located within
the man-hole beneath the cover thereof.
10. A slotted conduit, provided with slot rails and with a man-hole adjacent to
said slot rails, with a cover for said man-hole and with a movable deflector located
within the man-hole and projecting at its upper edge past the adjacent edge of the
adjacent slot rail.
11. A slotted conduit for electric railways, comprising slot rails, line wires
suspended beneath the slot rails, a man-hole adjacent to said slot rails, a man-hole
cover, and a movable deflector located within the man-hole and having its upper
edge arranged between the line wire and the outer edge of the slot rail.
12. A slotted conduit, comprising slot rails and provided with a man-hole, a
deflector plate within the man-hole, and inclined flanges at the sides of the man-hole
for supporting said deflector plate.
13. A slotted conduit, provided with slot rails and with a man-hole, and inclined.
flanges at the sides of the man-hole for supporting the plate, said flanges being
provided with stops to hold the plate in its operative position.
14. A conduit tramway, comprising a conduit, train rails and yokes for the
conduit having lateral extensions for supporting the tram rails, said latéral extensions
being provided with seats for the tram rails, and within said seats downwardly
converging bolt holes, and beneath said seats bearing surfaces for nuts arranged at
right angles to said bolt holes, said bolt holes being made sinaller at their lower
than at their upper ends, and hook bolts inserted through said bolt holes and
engaged with the flanges of the tram rails.
15. A slotted conduit, comprising slot rails and yokes for supporting the same,
said slot rails being provided with depending, stiffening flanges and being supported
by the yokes only, and a man-hole which opens into the conduit and is provided
with a hatch or cover which is supported at its outer and end margins only, and
extends at its inner edge to, and is at such inner edge free from and unsupported by,
the adjacent slot rail.

page_text: 16. A slotted conduit, comprising slot rails, yokes which support the slot rails,
said slot rails having depending, stiffening flanges and being supported by the yokes
only, a man-hole which opens into the conduit and is provided with side and end
walls cast integral with one of the yokes, and a hatch or cover for the mau-hole
which rests on the side and end walls of the man-hole and extends at its inner edge
to; and is at such inner edge free from and unsupported by, the adjacent slot rail.
17. A slotted conduit, comprising slot rails, yokes supporting the slot rails, a
concrete bed which forms the bottom of the conduit, and a man-hole which opens.
into the conduit and is formed by side and end walls, which are cast integral with
the yoke and which extend downwardly to and rest upon the said concrete bed.
18. A slotted conduit, comprising slot rails, yokes for supporting the slot rails,
paving plates extending between the yokes outside of the slot rails, and a man-hole
formed by said end walls which are cast integral with the yoke, the end wall of the
man-hole being provided with a socket for the adjacent end of the paving plate.
19. A yoke for a conduit tramway having a central conduit opening and provided
with lateral extensions for supporting the tram rails, said extensions having lower,
horizontal, bearing surfaces formed by horizontal flanges which are extended to form
the bottom wall of the conduit opening, and a central depending stiffening web
extending downwardly from said flanges and containing a stiffening bar of wrought
metal cast in the said stiffening web.
20. A slotted conduit, comprising slot rails having depending flanges and cast-
metal yokes having rail supports which enter between the flanges of the slot rails,
said yokes being provided with wrought metal stiffening bars embedded in the metal
of the yoke and extending from the body of the yoke into said slot rail supports.
21. A conduit tramway, comprising a slotted conduit, yokes for the conduit
which support the tram rail, and a supplementary conduit pipe consisting of integral
sleeves on the yokes, and pipe sections engaged at their ends with the ends of said
sleeves and forming with the same the continuous conduit pipe.
22. A conduit tramway, comprising a slotted conduit, yokes for the said conduit
which support the tram rails, and a supplementary conduit pipe consisting of integral
sleeves on the yokes and longitudinally divided pipe sections which are engaged
with the said sleeves and form with the same the conduit pipe.
23. A conduit tramway, comprising a slotted conduit, yokes for the conduit
constructed to support the tram rails, and a supplementary conduit pipe consisting
of integral, tubular sleeves on the yokes, provided at their outer ends with upper
and lower curved flanges and semi-cylindric upper and lower pipe sections which
rest at their ends respectively upon the upper flange and within the lower flange of
the tubular sleeves.
24. An insulator for supporting a line conductor within a conduit pipe, the same
consisting of a plurality of blocks of non-conducting material, said blocks being
provided with oppositely arranged, open ended slots so constructed that when the
blocks are oppositely placed within the conduit pipe said slots will form an aperture
for the passage of the conductor.
25. A conduit pipe for electric conductors, consisting of upper and lower longi-
tudinally divided sections, and insulators for supporting the electric conductor
within the pipe, comprising a plurality of non-conducting blocks provided with
oppositely arranged, open ended slots, and adapted at their ends to engage the
opposite sides of the pipe, the lower section of said pipe being provided with lugs
which project from its inner surface in position to engage the outer faces of the
blocks, and thereby hold the same together and against displacement.
26. A conduit tramway, comprising a slotted conduit, tram rails and man-holes,
yokes for supporting the rails, and a supplementary conduit pipe consisting of
integral sleeves in the yokes located below the rail seats thereof, and pipe sections
which extend between the yokes and are engaged at their ends with the said sleeves,
said pipe sections being arranged to pass through the man-holes and being provided
with openings located within the man-holes whereby access. may be had to the
conductors located within the supplementary conduit pipe.

page_text: 27. A supporting device for line wires comprising two separable plates between
the margins of which the conductor is gripped and held, one of which plates is
apertured and the other provided with a loop which projects therefrom through the
apertured plate, a wedge passing through the said loop and engaging the outer face
of the apertured plate, and a locking wire inserted between the said welge and an
opposing part of one of the plates, said wire being bent at its ends to engage the
head ends of the wedge and an oppositely facing surface of one of the plates.
28. A supporting device for electric conductors provided with a clamp comprising
two separable plates between the margins of which the conductor is gripped and
held, one of said plates being apertured and the other provided with a loop which
projects therefrom through the said apertured plate, a wedge passing, through the
said loop and engaging the outer face of the apertured plate, and a locking wire
seated in a groove in said wedge and bent at its ends to engage the head of the
wedge and an oppositely facing surface of one of the plates.
29. A support for electric conductors, comprising an insulating block, two
separable plates, between the margins of which the conductor is held, one of which
plates is extended past the other and is embedded in said insulating. block, one of
said plates being apertured and the other provided with a loop which projects
therefrom through the said apertured plate, a wedge passing through said loop and
engaging the outer face of the apertured plate, and a locking device to hold the
wedge in place.
30. A tension device for keeping under tension a conductor which is free to move
endwise relatively to its supports, the same comprising a guide rod or rods arranged
parallel with the conductor, a sliding insulating block which supports the end of
the conductor, a supporting clip for the conductor attached to said insulating block,
a second insulating block also adapted to slide on said rod or rods and having an
elongated bearing thereon, a plate attached to said insulating block and extending
toward the conductor, an adjustable coupling rod connected at its ends with the
said clip and plate, and a spring applied to act on the second insulating block for
maintaining tension on the conductor.
31. A tension device for keeping under tension a conductor which is movable
endwise relatively to its supports, the same comprising guide rods, an insulating
block, a clip attached thereto and engaging the conductor, said clip being provided
at one end with a book shaped projection, a second, sliding insulating block having
an elongated bearing on said guide rods, a plate secured in said second block and
extending toward the conductor, and a coupling rod provided with a turnbuckle
and having at one end a loop or eye to engage the hook shaped projection on the
end of said clip, and at its opposite end a lateral projection adapted to engage the
said plate.
32. A slotted conduit for an electric railway provided with yokes and containing
a line wire or conductor, and a tension device for keeping the said line wire under
tension, consisting of a guide rod or rods attached to the yokes of the conduit, an
insulating block sliding on said guide rod or rods, a clip for supporting the wire
secured to said insulating block, a second insulating block also sliding on said guide
rods, a plate secured in said second insulating block, an adjustable coupling rod
connected at its ends with the said clip and plate, and a compression spring applied
between the said second insulating block and an opposing surface of one of the
yokes.
33. A connecting device between the sections of an electric line wire or conductor
consisting of a revoluble disc which is mounted at one side of the conductor and
projects between the adjacent ends of the sections, said ends of the sections being
curved into concave form to fit against the periphery of the disc, said disc
consisting of conducting and non-conducting parts whereby electric connection may
be established or interrupted by turning. the said disc to bring its conducting or
non-conducting part into contact with the conductor sections.
34. A line wire or conductor, consisting of a plurality of sections which are free
to move longitudinally with relation to their supports, and a telescopic coupling for

page_text: electrically connecting the ends of the adjacent sections, said coupling comprising
insulated sleeves which receive the ends of the conductor sections, and a revoluble
disc consisting of conducting and non-conducting parts, and which engages at its
periphery the inner ends of said sleeves.
35. A telescopic connection between the sections of a line wire or conductor,
coriprising an insulating plate, sleeves attached to said plate to receive the ends of
the conductor sections, and a revoluble disc mounted on said plate with its periphery
engaging the inner ends of said sleeves, said disc being provided with conducting
and non-conducting parts.
36. A line wire for electric railways consisting of a plurality of sections which
are free to move relatively to their supports, means for supporting the said wire
comprising sliding insulating blocks, and clips secured to the said blocks and
supporting the adjacent ends of the sections, tension devices acting on said clips to
keep the sections under tension, and a telescopic coupling piece connecting the
adjacent ends of the conductor section and an auxiliary conductor section detachably
connected at its ends, with the said clips.
37. A traveling contact device for electric railways, comprising a trolley arm
which consists of a short section mounted on a horizontal pivot.and a longer section
pivotally connected with the shorter section by a pivot arranged at right angles to
the horizontal pivot, whereby the trolley wheel or contact piece is supported on
the opposite side of the horizontal pivot from the point of connection of the two
sections of the arm, and means affording a yielding upward pressure of the trollcy
wheel or contact piece against the conductor.
38. A traveling contact device for electric railways, comprising a trolley arm
which consists of a short section mounted on a horizontal pivot and a longer section
pivotally connected with the shorter section at an acute angle therewith by a pivot
arranged at right angles to the horizontal pivot, whereby the trolley wheel or
contact piece is supported on the opposite side of the horizontal pivot from the
point of connection of the two sections of the arm, and means affording a yielding
upward pressure of the trolley wheel or contact piece against the conductor.
39. A traveling contact device for electric railways, comprising a trolley arm
which consists of a relatively short section mounted upon a horizontal pivot and a
relatively long section carrying the contact device and pivotally connected with
the shorter section by a pivot arranged at right angles with the horizontal pivot,
and means applied to the shorter section of the arm tending to rotate the arm
about its horizontal pivot and to thereby hold the contact piece yieldingly against
the line conductor.
40. A traveling contact device for electric railways, comprising a trolley arm
which consists of a relatively short section mounted on a horizontal pivot, a
relatively long section carrying the contact device and pivotally connected with
the shorter section by a pivot arranged at right angles to the horizontal pivot, an
arm rigidly secured to the shorter section, and a spring for lifting the contact piece
attached at its upper end to the upper end of said arm.
41. A traveling contact device for electric railways, comprising a supporting
bar, a trolley arm consisting of a short section which is pivotally mounted on a
horizontal pivot attached to the supporting bar, and a longer section carrying the
trolley or contact piece and connected with the shorter section by a pivot arranged
at right angles with the horizontal pivot, an inclined arm rigidly attached to the
shorter section, a spring attached at its upper end to the said arm and at its lower
end to a rigid part projecting from the supporting bar, and a curved surface on said
part over which the spring is bent.
Dated this 8th d... of T100=
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.