Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 26th May, 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897
ERNEST KILBURN SCOTT The Elms Bushbury Lane Wolverhampton Electrical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is for the purpose of taking advantage of the extreme lightness
combined with strength, of bamboos.
The mast is in reality a compound one consisting as it does of the bamboo A & a
thin steel or silicum bronze tie rod B as shown in the Figure. The bamboo & rod
are connected together at their ends & also about midway in their length by the
short tie C; the bamboo is given a permanent bend or set & the tension rod is fitted
with a right & left hand screw D.
When in its working position the tension rod B is uppermost & thus the pull
stress due to the grooved trolley wheel Z being pressed upwards against the electric
conductor or trolley wire Y is resisted by this rod. It will also be noted that by
means of this rod, the metal end fittings P & Q which clamp onto the bamboo are
kept rigidly in position. It has still another function inasmuch as it serves to
convey the electric current from the trolley wheel to the cable which passes down the
inside of the pillar J. A tube & washer of ebonite in the union N serves to
insulate the rod.
The vertical upward pressure of the trolley wheel Z is obtained by means of the
laminated spring G pressing against the roller H which is attached to the heel of the
trolley mast.
I, ERNEST KILBURN SCOTT of The Elms, Bushbury Lane Wolverhampton, Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly ascertained and described in and by the
following statement ;-
The object of this invention is to take advantage of the extreme lightness combined
with strength possessed by rods of bamboo when in compression for the purpose of
constructing trolley poles or masts such as are used for the purpose of conveying an
electric current from overhead conductors to tram cars or similar vehicles operated on
the overhead system..
In order that the invention may be the more fully and completely understood
reference is made to the drawing filed with the Provisional application numbered as

page_text: above. This represents a trolley pole or mast constructed in accordance with my
invention in section and broken through in the middle so as to enable the drawing to
take up less space.
The mast consists of a tension member B consisting of, steel wire silicon bronze
wire or a thin rod of either of these or other suitable material and of a compression
member A consisting of a long bamboo rod in its natural state. The lower end of
the bamboo is secured firmly in the metal piece Q while its other end is similarly
secured in the fitting P which carries the pulley Z running upon the conductor Y.
The tension member B is tightened by a screw sleeve or similar devico N working on
a projection D of the metal piece Q. A strut C holds the member B and the bamboo
rod A apart from one another. When the tension member B is sufficiently tightened
up by means of N the whole forms a rigid mast or pole. The metal tension member
B may be employed for carrying the current. A prolongation of projecting down-
wards and carrying at its lower extremity a pulley II is acted upon by a powerful
spring G and as the whole mast is pivotted in the upright. J it is pressed upwards by
the action of this spring G so as to exert the necessary upward pressure upon the
conductor Y.
Having now particularly ascertained and described the nature of iny said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is ;-
A compound mast or trolley pole consisting of a tension member B and a
compression member A constructed substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 96th day of May 1897
ERNEST KILBURN SCOTT.