Improvements in Electric Conductors for Underground Conduits.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1894-Accepted, 21st July 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Conductors for Underground Conduits.
I, DANIEL ELLIS CONNER, of the City of Covington, in the County of
Kenton, State of Kentucky, United States of America, 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
This invention relates to an electric sub-cable or conductor arranged in an
underground conduit for the transmission of electric power for propelling cars &c.,
the conduit being of that class having a slot through which projects the stem or
blade of a trolley which is carried by the moving car, and by means of which a
current is carried from my specially constructed and arranged conductor and.
contact chain or connected contact pieces, upward to the motor on a car.
The object of my invention is to provide improved means for conducting the
electric current from the generating station and supplying it to the motor or motors,
or other devices at a distance therefrom; and to these ends my invention consists
in the various features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more
particularly pointed out.
I will now particularly describe my invention with reference to the accompanying
drawing, in which,―
Figure
represents a transverse section, on enlarged scale, of my stringer
containing the double conductor imbedded in insulating material, and the gravity
contact chain;
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of my gravity contact chain;
Figure 3 represents a side elevation of my contact chain, showing the links or
pieces connected by a wire;'
Figure 4 represents a side elevation, on enlarged scale, of my trolley ;
Figure 5 represents a transverse section of a conduit containing my improved
electrical conducting devices and trolley, suitably arranged for conducting electricity
to a motor on a car, and
Fig. 6 is a modification of the chain shown in Figs. 2 & 3.
In carrying out my invention, I construct a suitable stringer in the form of an
inverted box or trough C, composed of side walls, c, c', and the cover c¹¹; or the
stringer may be cast with side walls and top in one piece. The side walls, c, c¹,
are preferably inclined downward and inward, as shown in the enlarged section
view, Figure 1, to aid in holding the insulating material in place. This stringer is
nearly filled with insulating material G, within which is partially imbedded the
live double wire or rod F. The insulating material contains a longitudinal passage L,
and a downward slot, l, through its lower edge. The lower half of the double
wire F, projects into the passage L, in the insulating material, so that it may be
readily subjected to contact with the linked contact pieces, f, constituting the
contact chain E. The longitudinal slot, 1, opening downward in the insulating
material G, is made slightly flaring in cross section, as shown in Figure 1; that is,
the walls of the slot diverge from the lower edge toward the longitudinal passage L,
for the purpose of receiving and retaining the contact chain E. The links, f, of
the contact chain are made wedge-shaped in cross section; that is thicker at their
top edges and tapering to their lower edges, and are adapted to closely fit the
slot, 1, in the insulating material G of the stringer, so as to make a tight joint, and
thereby keep out moisture. They are adapted to be raised by the trolley wheels
into contact with the live wire F, and then to fall by gravity, so as to fill and close
the slot. The links of the chain may be about one-half an inch in width and

page_text: sufficiently thick to fit into and close the slot, and they may be constructed at the
ends with notches, e, and tongues e', loosely fitting one into the other, as shown in
Figure 2. They are also provided with oval transverse apertures, g, through which
are passed pins, i, which also pass through the insulating material or side walls of
the stringer and serve to support the links, f, and hold them against lengthwise or
other displacement. The apertures g and pins i, also permit the links to be raised
into contact with the live wire and then fall by gravity, so as to close the slot l.
As shown in Figure 2, the links f, are not absolutely connected one with the other,
though the tongues, e', loosely fit into the notches, e, and make contact, while the
links are supported by the transverse pins i. The top thick edges of the links may
be grooved, as shown in Figure 1, for making better contact with the live wire F,
and the links may be made of suitable lengths to permit of curves and turns in the
live wire if required.
In practice, I construct a suitable box or conduit, A, having braces, a a¹, and
supported upon the cross ties of the road way. My stringer C, containing the live
wire and the contact chain, is preferably secured by means of brackets R to one
side or wall of the conduit A, as shown in Figure 5, so as to be at one side of the
conduit and away from the longitudinal slot in the top or cover B, B.
Immediately above the stringer C, I firmly secure to the bracket R, a guide
rail D, for sustaining one wheel of the trolley H. The trolley H, is composed of
a frame having three arms to which are pivotally connected the upper wheel h, and
the two lower wheels, 1, 1, which are preferably set at the points of an equilateral
triangle.
The two lower wheels, h¹, h, bear up against the links, f, of the contact chain, E,
so as to force a link or two at one time up against the live double wire F. The
trolley stem or blade H² passes through the slot of the conduit and connects with
the car in the usual manner. The upper wheel, h, of the trolley will, in practice,
be suitably insulated, and an insulated conducting wire will also, in practice, pass
along or through the blade H2, but the particular construction and arrangement of
such insulating material is not here shown, as it forms no part of my invention.
Figure 3 shows a contact chain which is more particularly adapted for long and
straight courses of road. It is provided at its bottom edge with a continuous round
wire, m, for the trolley wheel to bear against, and its upper portion is formed of
sections, corresponding in shape with the links heretofore described. In case a
continuous bar or rod is used in the first instance for the upper half of this form
of chain, such rod or bar is cut at suitable intervals as indicated at e", down to the
continuous bottom wire, m, as shown in Figure 3, so as to make it more flexible
and respond more readily to the pressure of the trolley. This construction of
contact wire or chain prevents the too sudden starting or stopping of the car.
The wire, m, may be cast with or welded to the sections f, or f¹. The continuous
wire, m, may also be secured in the same way to the sections or contact pieces f,
shown in Figure 2, and in connection with such links forms part of my invention.
The return-current wire may be located in the conduit; and for this purpose
I provide a stringer N, of any suitable wood, having a longitudinal groove, n,
in which is laid the return-current wire p. Okonite or other insulating material
is packed into the groove, n, around the wire and a close fitting cover n', is secured
to the top of the stringer by clamps, t, or other fastening devices. The stringer N
is preferably supported upon the bracket R.
By means of my stringer or casing, containing the insulated conductor and closed
at the top, I effectively protect the conductor from water which might pass down
through the top slot of the conduit, and by means of my gravity contact pieces, f,
constituting the contact chain, E, I avoid the use of springs and similar devices
which have heretofore been used for raising the contact wire or other devices away
from the live conductor, and thus much simplify the construction and operation of
an underground electrical conductor. The springs heretofore used were liable to
get out of order and fail to act. The links or pieces of my contact chain fall by
gravity after being raised by the trolley, and fill the downwardly extending slot,

page_text: so as to keep out moisture, and thereby preserve the live wire in good active
condition.
In Figure 6 the contact links or pieces, f, are shown with their ends bevelled or
inclined from their top edges downward and backward, so as to form a triangular
space between the adjacent ends, and between such ends I insert triangular blocks, k,
of hard rubber or equivalent material. The blocks, k, are fixed tightly in the slot, !,
in the insulating material G, for the purpose of holding the walls apart and
maintaining a uniform width of slot. The blocks, A, being tapered from below
upward permit the contact pieces or links, /, to be readily raised in the slot and
then to fall back and make tight joints. I prefer to use rubber blocks, k, in
practice.
Since two trolley wheels, h', h', are used to bear upon the lower edge of the
contact chain, flashing is prevented at the joints of the chain, for the reason that
the electric current will pass through the wheel in good contact on one-of the
pieces, while the other wheel is crossing the joint.
At suitable intervals, the walls of the stringer or casing C, may be provided
with apertures, d, which also extend through the insulating material, G, for making
connections with the live wire whenever necessary: Portions of the live wire may
thus be connected with lateral branches, whenever it is desired to take out a section
of the stringer or live wire for repairs.
The method of operating my trolley in connection with the contact chain and
the live wire enclosed in the insulating material within the stringer, C, will be
understood from the above description by those skilled in the art.
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 an electric condunt, a live wire or conductor, in combination with the
contact pieces or links loosely supported below said conductor in a slot in insulating
material and exposed below to direct contact of a trolley, substantially as
described.
2. In an electric conduit, a live wire or conductor partly imbedded in the
insulating material having a downwardly extending slot below the conductor and
contact pieces or links loosely supported in said slot, substantially as described.
3. A stringer containing an insulated live wire or conductor having a down-
wardly extending slot in its lower edge and a contact chain composed of links
loosely supported in said slot, substantially as described.
4. In combination with a suitably insulated live wire or conductor, a gravity
contact chain composed of contact pieces or links continuously in contact, one with
another, forming a continuous conductor, and loosely supported below said live
wire, and adapted to be raised by the trolley and to fall by gravity out of contact,
substantially as described.
5. A stringer or casing, containing an insulated live wire or conductor, and
having a downwardly extending slot with walls converging toward the lower edge,
said slot containing wedge-shaped contact pieces or links loosely supported therein
below the conductor, substantially as described.
6. A stringer or casing containing insulating material in which is partially
imbedded the live wire or conductor and having a downwardly extending slot below
said conductor, containing loosely supported contact pieces or links adapted to be
raised against the conductor by the trolley and to fall by gravity away from said
conductor, substantially as described.
7. In combination with a live wire or conductor and slotted insulating material
below the same, contact pieces or links, having transverse openings and transverse
pins passing through said openings for loosely supporting said pieces or links in the
slot, substantially as described.
8. In combination with a conductor, a contact chain composed of links having

page_text: their ends provided with notches and tongues fitting one into the other, and means
for loosely supporting said links below the conductor, substantially as described.
9. In combination with a conductor a contact chain composed of pieces or links
baving a continuous wire or rod at their lower edges and means for loosely
supporting said links below the conductor, substantially as described.
10. A double live wire or conductor partially imbedded and supported in
insulating material, in combination with the yielding gravity contact chain
supported below the same, in the slot of insulating material and adapted to be
raised into contact with said live wire by a trolley and to fall out of contact by
gravity, substantially as described.
11. In combination with a conduit, a bracket applied to the side wall thereof, a
stringer supported by said bracket and containing a conductor and gravity contact
chain, a guide rail above said stringer and a trolley having a wheel resting on the
guide rail and another wheel bearing upon said contact chain, substantially as
described.
I
12. In combination with a conduit, a stringer suitably supported therein and
containing a live wire or conductor and gravity contact pieces loosely supported in
a slot of insulating material below said conductor, a suitable trolley bearing upon
the lower edge of said contact pieces and an insulated return current wire located
in the conduit, substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of May 1894
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.