Improvements in the Arrangements and Apparatus for Electrically Lighting Railway Trains.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 29th May, 1890-Accepted, 19th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Arrangements and Apparatus for Electrically
Lighting Railway Trains.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD LANGDON Electrical Engineer Midland Railway Derby
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
In the employment of an improved electrical coupling for connecting the
several cables or wires through from vehicle to vehicle, and for automatically
under certain conditions, connecting together and disconnecting certain of the
said cables or wires. And in the employment in connection with certain of the
said cables in each vehicle electrically lighted, where the system of electric light-
ing is that known as the "parallel system, of an electrical resistance automatic-
ally operated so that when the current from the dynamo is in operation, the
said resistance shall be thrown into the lighting circuit of the said vehicle, and
when the current from the dynamo is not in operation, the said resistance shall
be cut out of the lighting circuit. Also in the employment upon any electrically
lighted vehicle, of a special device for the purpose of enabling the electrical
condition of the batteries or accumulators of the said vehicle to be readily
ascertained, and for providing against injury to the batteries by "short circuit-
ingat such points. Also in making suitable provision for obtaining ready
access to the electric lamps for cleaning and for other purposes.
In order to effect this, I form each part of the said coupling of three sets of
split bars of suitable metal, so arranged, that each part forming a set, is com-
posed of two bars or projections with a space between. Each of the said bars or
projections I split so as to render them less rigid. The bars of each part of the
coupling being thus formed, are so arranged that on being put together, the
projections of the one half fit into the intervening spaces and form electrical
contact with the bars of the opposite half of the coupling. Each of the three
sets of split bars I insulate, and attach thereto the cables composing the con-
ducting cables or wires of the system of electric lighting for railway trains
described in my application for Letters Patent No. 9171 of 18SS; and in con-
nection with the bars forming connection with the dynamo, or charging cable,
or that forming connection with the lighting cable I arrange a coupling or con-
necting piece for the purpose of, under certain conditions joining the said cables
automatically when the coupling comes apart. The said connecting piece may
be a spring contact piece. similar to that shown in my above mentioned pre-
vious patent specification, or may be a lever or sliding rubbing contact piece
drawn forward, so as to connect the bars or conductors, in the coupling when
the coupling comes apart, and so that the act of coupling up pushes back the
contact piece out of contact with both or either of the said bars. And I encloso
the whole of the parts of the said coupling in an outer metal case in form and
mode of handling, similar to that used for the automatic break coupling.
And with the object of rendering the light uniform in its powe., inasmuch
as when the current from the dynamo is in operation, the electro motive force is
raised, in which case the power of the light is also raised, I place in the dynamo
or charging circuit of each vehicle at a point between the junction of one of the
main charging cables connected with the dynamo and the accumulators, an
electro magnet so arranged that it shall on the current from the dynamo passing
through the coils of the said electro magnet bring into play, in the lighting

page_text: circuit a resistance of such a nature as shall counteract the said increased electro-
motive-force which it is necessary the dynamo should evolve in order to overcome
the electro motive force of the accumulators.
By this means the electro motive force of the lighting circuit of each vehicle is
maintained fairly equal whether the lighting be obtained from the accumulators
or the dynamo or both jointly.
I further make use of the coil or coils of the said electro magnet or solenoid,
employed as aforesaid, to form wholly or in part that electrical resistance which
I make use of as explained in my application for Letters l'atent numbered 9171,
1888, to aid in the equalization of the distribution of the current from the
dynamo or from the accumulators themselves.
And for the purpose of providing a convenient means of testing the condition
of the battery From any convenient point in the battery circuit of each vehicle,
I carry two wires one from the positive, and the other from the negative polo
of the said battery or accumulators-to a convenient device which
fix upon a
convenient part of the vehicle, preferably on either side, so that it may be easily
within reach of the electrical attendant whose duty it is to test the efficiency or
condition of the said batteries. This device is provided with such an electrical
resistance as will enable the batteries to be tested without their being readily
discharged or the wires overheated by short circuiting as would be the case were
they connected together without any resistance being interposed. I carry
one pole of the battery to one end of the said resistance, the other end of the
resistance attach to one of two testing points in the device.
"
The other pole of the battery I connect to the other testing point. The two
testing points being properly insulated and enclosed in a suitable receptacle, I
have a means of ascertaining by the application of a simple galvanometer or
other suitable instrument to the two testing points, the electrical condition of
the batteries. The resistance may, if more convenient, be inserted at any
point in either of the wires leading to the said device.
"
And in order to provide a ready means of access to the electric lamps employed
in each vehicle, where such are enclosed within a glass shade or cover, I sur-
1ound the rim of this outer cover or shade, with a piece of brass forming a brass
rim, and I turn a thread in this brass rim, corresponding to a thread turned in
an outer rim, or piece of brass fixed to the boss or part carrying the lamps. Thus
the shade can be screwed up to this outer rim.
At a given point in the rim in which the glass shade is fixed, I cut a slot,
and in the outer rim I arrange a spring with a catch-piece, so that when the
shade piece has been screwed up to a certain point, this catch-piece shall enter
the slot cut in it, and hold it there until the spring has been forced back by
a key provided for the purpose.
0011 1
1
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Arrangements and Apparatus for Electrically;
Lighting Railway Trains.
I. WILLIAM EDWARD LANGDON, Electrical Engineer, Midland Railway, Derby,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:
My invention consists in an improved electrical coupling for connecting the
several cables or wires throughout the train from vehicle to vehicle, and for auto-
matically, under certain conditions, connecting or disconnecting certain of the
said cables or wires; also in the employment in connection with cables in each

page_text: electrically lighted vehicle on the parallel system of an electrical resistance
which is automatically operated in such manner, that, when the current from
the dynamo machine is in operation, the resistance is thrown into the lighting
circuit of the vehicle, but when the current from the dynamo is not in operation
the resistance is cut out of the said circuit; also in the employment of special
devices for providing against injury to the batteries or accumulators of the
vehicle by short circuiting. My invention also consists in means for affording
a suitable locking device for the cover of the lamps, and facility for ready access
to the lamps for cleaning and for other purposes. In order to provide an
improved electrical coupling, I form each part of the said coupling on the prin-
ciple of split bars as represented in Fig. 1, which shows in plan one bar of each of
the two halves of a coupling placed together as they would be when joined up.
Fig. 2. is a sectional side elevation, and Fig. 3. a perspective view of a half
coupling enclosed in its iron case, and in the position in which it stands when
coupled up for use.
In Fig. 1, the two halves, of which the coupling is composed, are fork shaped
or have projections a b and a² 6 6 6 one side of each fork being split for the
purpose of securing elasticity or feathering action, the projections and spaces
of the one half interlocking with those of the other, being interchangeable, and
forming perfect electrical contact of the bars of the opposite half of the coupling.
Three of these pieces are coupled together by insulating pins passing through
the holes to form a half coupling as in Fig. 2, the intervening space between
each of the pieces A, being filled by insulating material B, Figs. 2 and 3, and
enclosed in a metal ease or socket L. To the several bars A A² A³ Fig. 2, I
attach the main cables of the system referred to in my Patent Specification
No. 9171 June 23, 1888, and as will be further on referred to when describing
Fig. 4. The sets A' A² are connected to the changing cables 1 and 2, and the
set A is joined to the lighting cable 3, the parts A and A2 being arranged as
far apart as is conveniently possible in order to avoid bringing them together
accidentally and so short circuiting the batterics.
To A Figs. 2 and 5 I pivot a movable connecting piece C by means of the
screw for the purpose of, under certain conditions joining the said cables
automatically when the coupling comes apart. The piece C here serves to con-
nect the bars A2 and A³, and is provided with a trigger piece E, pivoted to the
piece Cat F, free to be pressed inwards towards C. but otherwise retained in
the position represented by means of the spring C. Beyond the fulcrum F', this
trigger piece is provided with a shoulder which I'mits its movement away from
C beyond the position desired. Figs. 2 and 3 show A2 and A³ connected by the
piece C. Fig. 5 shows the two bars disconnected. In its two positions, the
connecting piece C comes either against a shoe piece H on the bar A², or against
shoe piece H' on the bar A3. In Fig. is shown a hooked rigid bar K, more
fully represented in another direction in Figs. 6 and 6, which illustrate the
manner in which the hook K is fixed to the ebonite boss B, in which the seg-
ments of the coupling are fixed. The object and arrangement of the hook K
in connection with that of the piece C are that the hook K shall operate the
piece C as may be required. Thus when so arranged, on the two parts of the
coupling being placed together, the end of the piece K will thrust the connect-
ing piece C before it and force it from the bar A and leave it jammed by the
shoe on the bar 12. The connection between 12 and 13 is thus broken.
On the coupling being drawn apart the hook end of
trigger E and the piece will then be drawn from the
and be forced into contact with the shoe H on the bar
will then be connected.
will engage with the
shoe H on the bar 12
A³ the bars A2 and A³
For slip coaches a special flat not hooked form piece is provided instead of
the hook formed piece K so that whilst pushing the piece C back it shall not
again draw it forward to complete connection between the bars A2 and A³.
The coupling thus formed is inserted in an insulating boss B and this latter

page_text: is inserted in an iron case or socket L provided with a hook M at its lower part
and a straight bar N at its upper part and a slot so arranged that the
straight bar N of the one half coupling shall enter the slot of the other half
coupling and the hook M of the one half coupling engage with the hook M of
the other. O is an India-rubber ring fixed in an undercut or dovetailed annular
groove formed in the flange of the metal case L the object of which ring is on
the coupling being joined to exclude the wet.
Figures 7 and 7 represent in sectional side elevation and end view the half
coupling when joined to the connecting box P fixed on the end of a vehicle. The
three cables from the vehicle are brought up and attached to terminals has
shewn which terminals are fixed to an insulating disc j. To a continuation h
of the said terminals are attached the three cables g' comprised within the com-
bined cable Q and which are at their other ends attached to their respective
bars A, A3, A²
As in my specification 917188 1 also in this arrangement employ on each couch
En connection with each coupling a dummy coupling which is not electrically
connected and provide it with the hook piece K for the purpose of operating the
connecting piece C on which to place the electrical coupling when the lights are
not required and the coach is not coupled up.
Instead of the connection figures 23 and 5 a metallic ball connection C
figure 8 may be made use of for connecting A2 and A. In providing for this
I cut a suitable recess (" in the ebonite block B and form the sides of the bars
A and A with grooves A so that a metal ball rolling between them may make
contact with each.
When the coupling is disconnected and hangs down or is fixed in a downward
position the ball will roll from its recess (" into the position shewn and make
contact between A and A thereby putting the lights on. On the coupling
being joined up the ball will be thrust into its recess free from A and A bar
the bar K previously described.
With the object of rendering the light uniform in its power inasmuch as
when the current from the dyname is in operation the electromotive force is
raised is which case the power of the light is also raised and in order therefore
to meet the difference between the E.M.F. of the dynamo and that of the accu-
mulator batteries or to regulate he pressure of the current passing through
the lamps I place in the charging or dynamo circuit of each vehicle at a point
between the junction of one of the main charging cables connected with the
dynamo and the accumulators an electromagnet or solenoid so arranged that
when the current from the dynamo passes through its coils it shall bring into
play a resistance in the lighting circuit, the resistance being of such a nature
as to counteract the increased E.M.F. which the dynamo must evolve in order to
overcome the E.M.F. of the accumulators and such as shall reduce the E.M.F.
to that required by the lamps. By this means the E.M.F. of the lighting cir-
cuit of each vehicle is maintained fairly equal whether the lighting power be
obtained from the accumulators or the dynamo or both. Figure 9 shews a
device for carrying out this part of my invention and Figure 4 illustrates a
mode of applying the same. An electromagnet R is inserted between the junc-
tion with the main charging wires and the accumulators or the point at which
the lighting wires are taken therefrom. The coils of this electro magnet are
in circuit as described above being the coil wires. S is the armature pivoted
at W. To an extension from the opposite end of this armature is attached a
knob of metal S¹ so arranged that when no current is passing through the magnet
coils it shall rest between and make contact with the metal springs U. These
The normal condition of the armature
springs are connected to a conductor m.
$ is that shewn in Figure 9 in which position it is retained by a regulating or
tension spring T. T is an adjustable screw governing the upward movement of
S or controlling the extent of the influence of the spring T. The centre or pivot

page_text: W is connected to a conductor w and between the wires me and I insert the
resistance X required to equalize the E.M.F. passing through the lamps.
The tension spring T is so adjusted that the armature S shall not be operated
by any current from the batteries but that when the current from the dynamo
flows through the coils which current is of a higher E.M.F. it shall cause the arma-
ture S to be drawn down and the opposite end S to be lifted from its contact with
the springs U. Thus in the position represented in Figure 9 the current from
the dynamo would pass along R. R. and being sufficiently strong to over-
come the spring T the armature S would be drawn down to the dotted position
while the opposite end St would be lifted out of contact with the springs and
the current would thus be caused to pass through the resistance X and would
thereby be reduced to the required pressure or power.
י!
Now suppose a less powerful current to pass such as from a secondary battery
say for the purpose of supplying an adjoining vehicle. This current not being
of sufficient strength the armature S will not be operated and the current will
pass along R. R. r. w. W. S₁ C. m. passing by X which is bridged over
between Wand St.
Referring now more particularly to Figure 4 which represents the electrical
arrangement of a vehicle provided for electric lighting R is the electro magnet
described under figure 9 X the resistance I. I. the accumulators y safety fuses,
P the lamps 1. 2. and 3 the electrical cables or mains. Now on cables 2 and
being joined as explained in relation to figures 2, 3 and 5 by the aid of the
connecting piece a current will flow from the batteries I and light the lamps
on a current passing through cable No. 1 from the dynamo it will operate the
armature S of the electro magnet R and the resistance X will be brought into
play thereby reducing the E.M.F. to that required by the lamps. Should the
How of current from the batteries or the dynamo prove excessive the safety
fuses I will according to their capacity be affected and will destroy or cut the
circuit before any damage can be done. I specially employ a safety fuse of the
required capacity between the cells of the accumulators with the object of pre-
venting in case of accident or irregularity on the part of workmen the evolution
of an excess of current. also insert safety fuses is each lighting circuit and
at either end of the batteries as shewn in Figure 4 for a similar purpose.
In order to provide a ready means of access to the electric lamps employed in
each vehicle where such are enclosed within a glass shade or cover I hinge or
otherwise connect the said cover to the outer ring or piece of brass fixed to the
boss or part carrying the lamp so that the cover can easily be detached or
opened. And I cut a slot in the rim of the cover which rim may be of brass and
I provide a spring with a catch piece so that when the cover has been raised and
closed to catch piece shall enter the slot and hold it until the spring has been
forced back by a key provided for the purpose.
Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 illustrate such an arrangement, figure 10 being a
side view of the lamp rim and the cover hinged thereto and Figure a plan
of underside. Figure 12 and 13 shew the key and the locking device. Figure 14
shews the closing device in another position. A is a brass rim fixed to the
vehicle. Bis a rim which holds the glass shade E and is hinged to the rim A at
C. Dis the catch or lock by which it is secured. E, figure 13 is a key for
operating the lock. The locking stud a passes through the rim B and can be
turned around as desired by the key E.
The locking stud a passes through a hole which is provided in the rim A and
is eccentric to the stud which has a one sided head. The bottom or opposite
end of the stud has a head with a cross slot eccentric thereto as shewn in
Fig. 12. The cross slot is continued on each side into a cap which covers the
head partly. The object of cutting a and beccentrically and causing
to work
under the cap is that when the key E is inserted to turn it the key can only
be removed after the stud a has been placed in the locking position. d is a

page_text: spring with a lever end against which the head of the stud a can be locked as
shown in Fig. 14.
Now assume the glass shade to be open as shewn in the dotted position Fig. 10.
On closing it the one sided head of the stud a passes through the hole provided
for it in the rim A and presses back the spring until d enters the notch or
part under the head of the stud when the rim B carrying with it the glass
shade becomes locked with the rim A.
To release this lock it is necessary to insert the key E in the slot f and to
turn it half round. The key cannot however be withdrawn until it has been
turned back again into the locked position or has completed the entire revolution
for the reason that the slots f are out of centre with the stud a.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what 1
claim is
1. In electric conductor wire vehicle couplings forming the end piece of each
wire as a forked bar one side of such fork being solid and the other split and
clastic or feathering so that when the two halves of the coupling come together
the said forked bars interlock in such manner as to give perfect electrical contact
while constituting interchangeable connection substantially as set forth.
2. In electric conductor wire vehicle couplings the devices substantially as
described and shewn on the drawings for electrically connecting two conductor
wires in a half compling in an automatic manner when the coupling comes
apart and for automatically disconnecting the said wires when the coupling is
made or the two halves come together.
3. The construction of interchangeable electric conductor wire vehicle coupl-
ing substantially as described and shewn in the drawings.
4. The application and use on each train vehicle fitted with secondary bat-
teries for electric lighting of a resistance which is adapted to equalize the cur-
rent and which comes into play automatically when a current from the generator
such as a dynamo is acting substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. The construction of parts in connection with an electro magnet or solenoid
for automatically bringing a resistance into play in each train vehicle fitted with
secondary batteries for electric lighting when the current from the generator such
as a dynamo is acting substantially as described and shewn in the drawings.
6. In connection with the circuits in each train vehicle fitted with secondary
batteries for electric lighting the employment of safety fuses between the cells or
parts of accumulator batteries for the purpose of preventing excessive or dangerous
discharge of one or more of the said cells in case of becoming short circuited
substantially as described with reference to Fig. 4.
7. The construction of locking device for electric lamp cover substantially
as described with reference to Figs. 10 to 14.
8. The adaptation of the dummy coupling described in Patent Specification
No. 9171 to the purpose of my present invention by providing it with a hooked
piece K as set forth."
JENSEN & SON.
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.