Improvements in Electric Tramways on a Road Contact System.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Electric Tramways on a Road Contact System.
I, WILLIAM HEATH MERRIMAN, of The Beeches, Sutton Coldfield, in the County
of Warwick, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said inven-
tion to be as follows:
My invention has for its object improvements in and connected with electrical
tramways and in the transmission of electricity to the car or vehicle by which I
am enabled to automatically ensure the raising and lowering of the contact
studs.
of the car.
In carrying my invention into practice I mount the contact studs which
transmit the electrical current for driving the car or vehicles, below the level of
the road and between the permanent way, the distance between each of these
studs along the permanent way is dependent upon the length of the wheel base
Each contact stud is supported at its lower end in a socket piece and
is attached to one end of a fulcrum lever working on a pivot below the level of
the permanent way. Also fixed to this end of the lever is a balance weight for
automatically lowering the contact stud. Fixed to the other end of this lever
is a stud projecting through a hole in the trough or hollow of the tram rails
and this stud carries or supports a treadle or bar, fitting in the trough or hollow
of the tram rails which in its normal position is flush with the level of the rails
and roadway.
The end of the lever which operates the contact studs is preferably attached
to a collar fitting loosely around the contact stud between two coiled springs
also fitting loosely around the contact stud and each bearing against a collar fixed
to the contact stud. A shoulder or enlargement is formed preferably near the
lower end of the contact stud immediately above that portion fitting into the
socket piece which when the contact stud is lifted by the action of the fulcrum
lever comes in contact with a flexible ring or spring connected with the electrical
feeders by which means the electrical current is passed through the contact stud
to a collecting skate fixed under the car between the wheels at a convenient
distance above the road level against which the contact stud presses when raised
and from thence to the usual motor or motors returning either to earth in the
usual way or if preferred through another contact stud. The spring placed
around the contact stud between the loose and the upper fixed collar is provided
for the purpose of ensuring a firm rubbing contact between the contact stud and
the collecting skate, the lower spring being provided so as to keep the head of
the contact stud firmly pressed against a rubber washer surrounding the hole
through which the contact stud passes so as to prevent water or other foreign
matter from entering the box or trough in which the mechanism is placed.
The action is as follows:-
When the car starts the flange of the wheel depresses the first treadle and
with it the stud which supports it thereby tilting or lowering that end of the
fulcrum lever and consequently raising the opposite end and the contact stud

page_text: attached thereto which action presses the contact stud against the collecting
skate fixed to the bottom of the car the spring fitted between the loose and upper
fixed collar ensuring a firm rubbing contact. As the contact stud rises the
enlargement or shoulder at the lower end comes in contact with the contact
springs thereby allowing the electrical current to flow through the contact stud
to the collecting skate and from thence to the motor or motors in the usual way.
As soon as the wheel of the car has passed over the treadle the balance weight
causes that end of the fulcrum lever and consequently the contact stud to lower
thereby breaking the electrical circuit. This balance weight should be suffi-
ciently heavy so that only the weight of the car would depress the treadle and
the lower end of the contact may form a dash pot to relieve the jar of the falling
weight if necessary.
The various contact studs are arrayed along the route so that the electrical
contact in each contact stud is broken before the body of the car has passed
over thus preventing any object coming in contact with these contact studs while
the electrical current is flowing through them. For the same purpose the con-
tact is made after the immediate front portion of the car has passed over the
contact studs.
Instead of the treadles a continuous flexible strip may be used which will be
depressed by the flanges of the wheels and held down by them as the car passes
along this particular portion returning again to its normal position after the
last wheel of the car has passed over by means of the counterweights before men-
tioned supplemented if necessary with springs or other devices. In this case it
will probably be necessary to effect a quick break" between the contact ring
or spring and the enlarged portion of the contact stud by means of springs or
other suitable devices.
66
When applying my invention to the permanent way as at present constructed
a set of dummy wheels running in additional rails in which the treadles are fitted
may be employed.
Tramways constructed according to my invention do away with the dangers
arising from the wheels of vehicles catching in the tram lines as the trough or
hollow portion of the lines is filled with the treadles which are flush with the
level of the road.
TIL
T
L A
.
1000
Improvements in Electric Tramways on a Road Contact System.
I, WILLIAM HEATH MERRIMAN, of The Beeches, Sutton Coldfield, in the County
of Warwick, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has for its object improvements in and connected with clectrical
tramways and in the transmission of electricity to the car or vehicle by which I
am enabled to automatically ensure the raising and lowering of the contact
studs.
In carrying my invention into practice I mount the contact studs which

page_text: transmit the electrical current for driving the car or vehicles, below the level of
the road and between the permanent way, the distance between each of these
studs along the permanent way is dependent upon the length of the wheel base
of the car.
Each contact stud is supported at its lower end in a socket piece and
is attached to one end of a fulcrum lever working on a pivot below the level of
the permanent way. Also fixed to this end of the lever is a balance weight for
automatically lowering the contact stud. Fixed to the other end of this lever
is a stud projecting through a hole in the trough or hollow of the tram rails
and this stud carries or supports a treadle or bar, fitting in the trough or hollow
of the tram rails which in its normal position is flush with the level of the rails
and roadway.
The end of the lever which operates the contact studs is preferably attached
to a collar fitting loosely around the contact stud between two coiled springs
also fitting loosely around the contact stud and each bearing against a collar fixed
to the contact stud. A shoulder or enlargement is formed preferably near the
lower end of the contact stud immediately above that portion fitting into the
socket piece which when the contact stud is lifted by the action of the fulcrum
lever comes in contact with a flexible ring or spring connected with the electrical
feeders by which means the electrical current is passed through the contact stud
to a collecting skate fixed under the car between the wheels at a convenient
distance above the road level against which the contact stud presses when raised
and from thence to the usual motor or motors returning either to earth in the
usual way or if preferred through another contact stud. The spring placed
around the contact stud between the loose and the upper fixed collar is provided
for the purpose of ensuring a firm rubbing contact between the contact stud and
the collecting skate, the lower spring being provided so as to keep the head of
the contact stud firmly pressed against a rubber washer surrounding the hole
through which the contact stud passes so as to prevent water or other foreign
matter from entering the box or trough in which the mechanism is placed.
The action is as follows: _
When the car starts the flange of the wheel depresses the first treadle and
with it the stud which supports it thereby tilting or lowering that end of the
fulcrum lever and consequently raising the opposite end and the contact stud
attached thereto which action presses the contact stud against the collecting
skate fixed to the bottom of the car the spring fitted between the loose and upper
fixed collar ensuring a firm rubbing contact. As the contact stud rises the
enlargement or shoulder at the lower end comes in contact with the contact
springs thereby allowing the electrical current to flow through the contact stud
to the collecting skate and from thence to the motor or motors in the usual way.
As soon as the wheel of the car has passed over the treadle the balance weight
causes that end of the fulcrum lever and consequently the contact stud to lower
thereby breaking the electrical circuit. This balance weight should be suffi-
ciently heavy so that only the weight of the car would depress the treadle and
the lower end of the contact may form a dash pot to relieve the jar of the falling
weight if necessary.
The various contact studs are arranged along the route so that the electrical
contact in each contact stud is broken before the body of the car has passed
over thus preventing any object coming in contact with these contact studs while
the electrical current is flowing through them. For the same purpose the con-
tact is made after the immediate front portion of the car has passed over the
contact studs.
Instead of the treadles a continuous flexible strip may be used which will be
depressed by the flanges of the wheels and held down by them as the car passes
along this particular portion returning again to its normal position after the
ast wheel of the car has passed over by means of the counter-weights before men-
tioned supplemented if necessary with springs or other devices. In this case it
will probably be necessary to effect a "quick break" between the contact ring

page_text: or spring and the enlarged portion of the contact stud by means of springs or
other suitable devices.
When applying my invention to the permanent way as at present constructed
a set of dummy wheels running in additional rails in which the treadles are fitted
may be employed.
Tramways constructed according to my invention do away with the dangers
arising from the wheels of vehicles catching in the tram lines as the trough or
hollow portion of the lines is filled with the treadles which are flush with the
level of the road.
In order that my invention may be more clearly understood and easily carried
into practical effect I have appended hereunto three double sized sheets of
drawings upon which I have illustrated examples of my road contact system.
Figure 1 is a part cross sectional view of a portion of the permanent way of
an electrical tram route fitted with my contact system.
Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 shewing a slight modification.
Figure 3 is a diagram view shewing the studs in contact with the skate fixed
under the body of the car.
Figure 4 is a diagram view shewing the rigid treadles depressed or in the
position they assume when the car passes over.
Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4 shewing the flexible continuous treadle
depressed as the car passes along.
In carrying my invention into practice I mount the contact studs A which
transmit the electrical current for driving the car or vehicle B, below the level
of the road and between the permanent way the distance between each of these
studs being dependent upon the length of the wheel base of the car. Each
contact stud is supported at its lower end a' in the socket piece D and is attached
to the end e¹ of the fulcrum lever E which is pivoted at 2 below
the level of the permanent way as clearly shewn at Figure 1. Also
fixed near this end of the lever E 1s the balance weight W for
automatically lowering the lever and consequently the contact A. Attached to
the other end of this lever E is the stud F which projects through a hole in
the trough or hollow of the rails R and this stud F carries or supports the
treadle or bar H also fitting in the trough or hollow of the rails R and which in
its normal position is flush with the level of the rails and roadway. The end e¹
of the lever E is preferably pivotedly atached to the collar I fitting loosely around
the contact stud A between the coiled springs S and S1 also fitting loosely around
the contact stud the other ends of which bear against the collars J J fixed to the
contact stud. The shoulder or enlargement a² is formed preferably immediately
above the portion of the end a fitting in the socket D so that when the contact
stud is lifted by the action of the fulcrum lever E this shoulder or enlargement
comes in contact with the flexible ring or spring K preferably surrounding the
contact stud by which means the electrical current is passed through the con-
tact stud to the collecting skate L fixed under the body of the car between the
wheels at a convenient distance above the road level against which the top end
of the contact stud presses when raised and the electrical current passes from
thence to the usual motor or motors returning to earth in the usual way (or if
preferred through another contact stud) as shewn in diagram at Figure 3. The
spring S is provided for the purpose of ensuring a firm rubbing contact between
the contact stud A and the collecting skate L when the stud is raised the
spring S¹ is for the purpose of keeping the head a³ (see Figure 1) of the contact
stud firmly pressed against the rubber washer M surrounding the hole in the
guide N through which the upper end of the contact stud passes so as to prevent
water or any other foreign matter entering the box or trough in which the
mechanism is placed.
At Figure 2 I have shewn a slight modification. In this case I lengthen the
end e¹ of the lever E and extend it beyond the contact stud so as to fix the weight
on the other side of this stud by which means a greater leverage is required to

page_text: raise the contact stud thereby absolutely preventing the treadles or bars H from
being depressed by other vehicles or other means than the wheels of the cars or
their equivalents. This lever E is cranked at es so as to allow sufficient space for
its movements and is 'formed with an eye or opening at e6 which fits around and
is pivoted at e to the collar I which collar fits loosely around the contact stud
between the springs S and S as previously described.
Instead of using a number of rigid treadles H which are depressed bodily as
the car passes over as shewn in diagram Fig. 4 I may use continuous flexible
strips P. fitted in the hollow or trough of the rails and which are depressed by
the flanges of the wheels and held down at that particular portion by them as
the car passes along as clearly shewn at Figure 5 returning again to their normal
position after the last wheel of the car has passed over by the action of the
weight W on the lever E assisted if necessary by springs or other devices.
In this case it will probably be necessary to effect a quick break" between
the contact ring or spring K and the shoulder or enlargement a² by means of
springs or other suitable devices.
"
The whole of the parts where necessary are covered with the insulating
material T so as to prevent the current of electricity from being diverted.
The action is as follows:-
When the car starts the flange of the wheel depresses the first treadle or the
particular portion of the flexible strip and with it the stud F thereby tilting or
lowering that end of the lever E upon which this stud rests and consequently
raising the opposite end and with it the contact stud A which action presses the
contact stud against the collecting skate L or its equivalent fixed to the under-
side of the car the spring S ensuring a firm rubbing contact. As this contact
stud rises the shoulder a comes in contact with the flexible ring or spring K
or its equivalent thereby allowing the electrical current to pass through the con-
tact stud to the collecting skate and from thence to the motor or motors in the
usual way.
As soon as this wheel of the car has passed over the treadle or its
equivalent the balance weight W causes the end e¹ of the lever E and consequently
the contact stud to lower thereby breaking the electrical circuit. The balance
weight W should be sufficiently heavy so that only the weight of the car would
depress the treadle or flexible strip, and the lower end of the contact stud A
may form a dash pot to relieve the jar as the weight falls.
The various contact studs are so arranged along the route that the electrical
contact in each contact stud is broken before the body of the car has passed over
thus preventing any object coming into contact with these studs while the elec-
trical current is flowing through them. For this same purpose the contact is
made after the immediate front portion of the car has passed over the contact
studs.
When applying my invention to the permanent way as at present constructed
a set of dummy wheels running in additional rails in which the treadles H or
continuous flexible strips P are fitted may be used.
Tramways constructed according to my invention do away with the danger
arising from the wheels of vehicles catching in the rails of the permanent way
as the trough or hollow portion of the rail is filled with the treadles or continuous
flexible strips which are flush with the level of the road.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
CLAIMS.
First: The mode and means for making electrical alternating connections
between the car by means of the contact stud lever pedal and supporting stud
operating as herein explained and as illustrated.
Second: The improvements in electric tramways on a road contact custom

page_text: consisting essentially for the means for transmitting the electrical current to
the motor or motors of a car or cars through the medium of contact studs placed
below the level of the ground the said contact studs being actuated by balanced
weighted levers through the medium of the wheels of the car as it travels along
depressing treadles or flexible strips or their equivalents fitting in the trough
or hollow of the rails in the manner substantially as herein set forth and as
shewn upon the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Third In a road contact system for electric tramways as claimed in the pre-
ceding claims operating a contact stud such as A by a lever pivotedly connected
one end of which is connected to the said contact stud the other end being con-
nected to a stud carrying or supporting a rigid treadle such as H or a flexible
strip such as P fitting in the hollow or trough of the rails in the manner substan-
.tially as herein set forth and as shewn upon the drawings.
Dated this 18th day of Iul 1800
WILLIAM HEATH MERRIMAN.
By George Barker,
Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agent for Applicant, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.