Electro-magnetic Induction System of Supplying Power to Electrically Propelled Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
COMIDELE DIECITICATION.
Electro-magnetic Induction System of Supplying Power to
Electrically Propelled Vehicles.
I, ALPHEUS CARPENTER SHUTTLEWORTH of No. 4318, Frankford Avenue,
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Electrician, do
herehy declare the nature of my 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 a system of distribution of electrical energy for the
propulsion of cars, in which system is employed an alternating or interrupted
current traversing a stationary primary conductor in induction proximity to a
moving secondary conductor and in conjunction with stationary parts of a magnetic
circuit, and moving parts of a magnetic circuit.
The stationary parts of the magnetic circuit is composed of iron rails and
laminated iron ties both of which must be of sufficient area in cross-section for
conducting the requisite amount of inagnetism induced by the primary circuit.
The said primary circuit in my invention consists of a single insulated conductor
of a number of convolutions embracing or encircling sections of laminated ties,
said convolutions to be in parallel with the rails and at right angles to the
laminated ties.
The moving parts of the magnetic circuit are composed of the wheels and
laminated iron core or axle.
The secondary circuit is composed of insulated conductor of a number of
convolutions in close proximity and encircling the iron core or axle, said
convolutions to be stationary on the car and connected with motor for
propulsion.
At the junction of neighboring convolutions of the primary conductor,
I locate automatically operating switches for the purpose of producing a series
and multiple arrangement of the convolutions on the different sections of road-bed,
thereby at all times utilizing the conducting properties of the primary circuit, and
dispensing entirely with auxiliary feed wires.
have illustrated my system of electrical propulsion by the drawings herewith
in which-
Figure 1 is a perspective or diagramatic view of a section of finished road-bed,
showing the iron rails and laminated iron ties, and a number of convolutions of the
insulated primary conductor encircling the laminated iron ties; and showing the
position occupied by the automatically operated switches and their connections
and relationship to the primary convolutions, and the moving parts of the magnetic
conductor and secondary circuit.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the primary circuit of a number of convolutions, and
illustrating the position of the automatic switches and their relationship to the
said convolutions in their two directly alternate positions, and showing the series and
multiple conditions of the primary circuit when the car is upon the roadway; the
full lines indicating parts of convolutions above the ties, and the broken lines
parts of convolutions below the ties.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the iron rails, laminated iron ties, and
insulated primary conductor.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the road-bed showing the iron rails, and laminated

page_text: iron ties, with a portion of the said laminated iron ties removed at a suitable point
for the reception of the automatically operated switches, and in proximity to
neighboring convolutions of the primary conductor.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the laminated ties, which shows the
exact position of the automatically operating switch; the iron part or central
zone of said switch being in alignment with the ties, when under maguetic
influence.
Figure 6 is a similar view of the said parts described in Figure 5, but showing
the automatically operating switch with its iron part or central zone at right angle
with the ties, when it is free from magnetic influence.
Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevation of the automatic switch.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal vertical section of the said. switch, representing its
interior construction.
Figure 9 is a transverse vertical section of one of the spheres comprising the
switch.
Similar letters and numbers designate like parts in the several views of the
drawings.
In the construction of my improved system of electric railways I employ suitable
shaped rails R, which in cross-section afford a substantial and permanent tramway,
and also provide sufficient area for conducting the necessary amount of magnetism
required for the propulsion of the cars; and to the hottom of the rails are secured
laminated iron ties T, said ties being simply a number of iron bars laid parallel
with each other, and at right angles with the rails and of sufficient thickness and
length to provide a durable and solid road-bed, and also act as a competent
magnetic conductor.
Around the laminated ties, T, of lengthened sections is wound an insulated
primary electric conductor P, said convolutions or windings being in series of
upper and lower sections of spirals encircling the ties throughout the length of
the road-bed, and a number of said convolutions being short circuited and connected
in multiple by means of automatically operated switches S, when there are no cars
upon that section of roadway.
The abovementioned automatically operating switches are cach preferably
constructed with iron armatures forming central zones of spheres, and metalically
connected one with the her at X, the adjoining sections a', of the said spheres
being constructed of insulating material.
That portion of the central zones A, is overweighted at g, for a purpose herein-
after described.
The said connected spheres are hermetically encased in suitable metallic
casing B, and are of much less diameter than the interior of said casing, and are
each pivoted at e, in the walls of the same, the casing having an interior lining of
insulation L.
The difference in size between the spheres and the interior walls of the casing,
provides for a reservoir N, which is supplied both with oil O, and mercury M, the
mercury being the heavier of the fluids lies at the bottom of the divided reservoir,
in two parts.
Along the primary electric circuit. 1, at regulated distances, and in the magnetic
circuit 2, are placed the above described automatically operating switches.
The said switches are located at the junction of two convolutions (as shown
in Figures 1 and 4), fcr the purposes of electrically connecting at s, said
convolutions of the primary conductor when no cars are on the rails of the
section.
When a car approaches a switch, the resistance of the magnetic circuit of
the section governed by the said switch will be lessened and the intensity
of the magnetism increased, and the iron armature A, of the switch will align
itself with the laminated sleepers (as shown in Figure 5) by magnetic action; at
the same time severing its connection with the mercury at the ends of the con-
volutions, thereby throwing said convolutions in series for the purpose of intensifying

page_text: the magnetism in said section, said magnetism penetrating the iron wheels and iron
core 17 will produce a current in said secondary circuit for the purpose of propelling
the car by motor.
After a car has passed any particular switch the magnetic circuit being lengthened,
the magnetism through said switch section of rails and laminated ties will decrease
sufficiently to allow the over-weighted globe-shaped switch to right itself, joining
the mercury, and assume the position shown in Figure 6.
When the two ends of the primary conductor are connected at p, to the
generator G, the current from said generator will traverse the primary conductor
to switch S-4 there divide flowing through the branches 11, 12, 13 as indicated by
arrows a, to switch S-6 the conductor indicated by broken lines being that part of
the primary circuit traversing the underside of the ties, the current flowing in the
direction of the arrows on said broken line, as indicated No. 12, being in the same
direction as the arrows on the full lines 11 and 13, and on opposite sides of the ties,
the polarity in the said ties will be reduced to a minimum.
As the car is between the switches S-7, and S-9, and over switch S-8, said
switches 7, 8, 9, will assume the position shown in Figure 5, in line with laminated
ties, thereby throwing the winding in series, the current flowing in opposite
directions above and below the ties in the direction of the arrows on broken and
full lines, thereby intensely magnetizing the rails in the section of road-bed
between the switches 7, 8, 9.
The section between switches 5 and 7, being short circuited by the switch S-6
in its normal condition as shown in Figures 2 and 6, of the drawing, will impede
any excessive magnetic leakage from section in proximity to car.
All of the above conditions being substantially reproduced upon opposite end of
the car, the said condition between switches 5 and 7 will be similar to those
of 9 and 11, and those between 4 and 6 will be similar to those between
switches 10 and 12.
Switches S 4, S5, S6, S 10, S 11 and S12, are shown in their normal
positions.
The above result is successively reproduced in each section by the forward
movement of the car.
The primary insulated conductor must be wound as far from rails as is practical
upon the laminated ties for the purpose of preventing induced or secondary currents
in said rails.
The ties are laminated at right angle to the insulated primary conductor for the
purpose of preventing induced or secondary current.
The conductors at s being for the purpose of electrically connecting the
convolutions with the mercury in the switch for the purposes already described.
In the construction of a road-bed for such a system of electrical propulsion as
has been described, the number of spiral windings or convolutions of the insulated
primary conductor on any single section may vary from one to an indefinite number,
the number of loops or windings being increased or diminished in any single or
number of sections in the length of the road as may be found necessary, the number
of windings being determined by the grade, conditions and class of work for the
road to perform.
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:
In a system of distribution of electrical energy for railways, the combination
with sections of laminated iron ties, of a single insulated primary conductor wound
around and at right angle above and below the sections of laminated ties in a series
of convolutions or spirals, said laminated ties forming stationary parts of the
magnetic circuit, a movable part of the magnetic circuit, a secondary electric
circuit encircling the movable part of the magnetic circuit, and automatic switches

page_text: for producing a multiple or parallel arrangement of the upper and lower sections
of the primary conductor when said switches are in. their normal. positions, substan-
tially as described.
Dated 10th dom
For the Applicant,
W.. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's. Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.