Improvements in Means for Supplying Electric Current to Road Vehicles, Boats, and the like
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application. 4th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Feb, 1890-Accepted, 3rd May, 1890
TRUVISIONAL
DITUITICATION.
Improvements in Means for Supplying Electric Current to Road
Vehicles, Boats, and the like.
1, ROBERT COOKE SAYER, of 1, Clyde Road, Redland, Bristol, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-―
In the case of tram cars and vehicles on public roadways, or canal or other boats,
the electric current to work their motors is conveyed to them by means of similar line
conductors explained in Patent Application No. 3487 A.D. 1889, but the wheels are
to be inverted and the conductors carried above the vehicles or boats, the latter
(the conductors) are to be deepened to act as longitudinal continuous girders when
desired for long spans, and reduced to compound wires or cables when desired for
short spans or to prevent obstruction: they are carried over the direction to be
taken, and each of a pair is to be connected to (but insulated from) one another,
so as to be celular if desired: any number of pairs are to be attached to cross bars
at certain distances apart, by which they are suspended from wire ropes stretching
across the road or water ways, from supports of any suitable kind: between each pair
an insulator is provided so that should two be forced together the electric current
shall be maintained as intended: the aforesaid wheels for this purpose have deep
flanges and are forced upwards for the conductors to rest between and upon them,
and have lateral play, and the same is provided for the ropes by springs, and by
supporting the conductors in such a way upon the aforesaid cross bars, that they
shall be enabled to travel upon them laterally that the road vehicles may keep the
direction, slight concave wide grooves are formed in the roadway (where desired)
for the wheels to run in, but so as not to interfere with the other road traffic:
and usual means are applied for steering the vehicles and keeping them sufficiently
near the direction of the conductors: intersecting conductors cross one another on
the same level, and the flanges pass through notches in them in a similar way to
points and crossings on a railway similar brakes are also provided as those
imentioned in the application referred to. In streets where traffic is very great the
vehicles are to be carried overhead by similar wheels running upon similar con-
ductors (that act as rails) as those referred to: these rails are carried upon the
lower flanges, (one each side of the web) of longitudinal girders, that also have
insulated longitudinal excrescences upon the underside of the upper flanges, which
support the wheels laterally: the girders are carried by suspension rods supported
by a single metal wire cable that obtains its support from piers formed of two
masts: the wheels support a rage that with them follow the undulations of the
girders, in this cage one, (or two) dinamos are carried, that by bevel'd gearing
Connect and work the wheels and thus give motion to the cage: the cage supports
the vehicle by one central transverse bolt, and at each end of the cage, the vehicle
arries a cylinder (for compressing air or water) that is (or are) connected at the
bottom by a pipe, having an air chamber attached the cylinders have rams, the
heads of which are connected with the ends of the cage, so that as the cage pitches
with the undulations of the longitudinal girder, the vehicle is maintained in a
horizontal position, by the one ram being forced in (by the weight of the vehicle)
and the other forced out, any difference of pressure being absorbed into and given
out by the air chamber. To obviate the lateral oscillations of the longitudinal
girder, light transverse girders are carried at the top of it, these carry a continuous
cable at each end, the cables are laid to parabolic curves which regulate the length
of the (cross) girders, and intersect one another at a suitable distance from the
piers, and are depressed in height and taken to the outside of the two masts (or
piers) and secured to them (or arms projecting from them) in such a way that the
versed sines formed by their horizontal and vertical cords are sufficient to keep
:

page_text: the longitudinal girder stiff at all points in both directions. For expediting the
erection and for the purpose of obviating obstruction in the streets, short sections
of the longitudinal and two or more of the cross girders are attached, and hauled
up simultaneously, from a travelling cage running upon wheels and supported on
the top of the main cable aforesaid, the sections are attached to each suspending
rod by means of a single bolt the travelling cage is formed in two, balanced, and
suspended from the axles of two or more wheels, so that each half shall pass on
either side of the suspension rods: four catches are provided to connect the two
halves of the cage that shall be thrust back by the suspension rods successively
as they pass it, and automatically fall into place again, and so that the cage shall
always be connected by three of them: the cage is drawn along by ropes attached
to it and passing down the piers to the surface. The piers, of two masts, are to be
connected on top, hinged at the bottom, and through them the vehicles pass.
In the case of submerged boats in deep water, the power for actuating them is to be
obtained by means of the pressure obtained by the head of water (when submerged at
a sufficient depth) working a turbine or other motor, which shall directly (or by
means of a dinamo obtain a storage of electricity that shall) actuate the boat, the
exhaust water being discharged when the boat rises to the surface or be dealt with in
a somewhat similar manner to that described in the Patent Application No. 3487
A.D. 1889.
1 1
1000
ROBERT COOKE SAYER.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Supplying Electric Current to Road
Vehicles, Boats, and the like.
I, ROBERT COOKE SAYER, of 11, Clyde Road, Redland, Bristol, Civil 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:
-
Tram cars, vehicles on public roadways or canal or other boats, receive the electric
current to work their motors by means of line conductors suspended above them from
any suitable supports, or supported below them in pairs, one for the outward the other
for the return current and grooved wheels (or rigid projections similarly formed are
so fixed upon them that they (the wheels) may be raised or lowered or moved laterally
for the purpose of supporting the conductors upon them, or resting upon them (when
below) and thus exert a light pressure against them: the copper (or other) conductors
are carried between jaws of steel or iron which form bands so that the friction of the
grooves shall wear away both together, and where long spans have to be met, or it is
more convenient, such bands assume the form of girders, and when street traffic
requires it, the cars are carried overhead by girders and suspension rods of a special
nature and the current is similarly supplied through grooves in the peripheries of the
wheels Sheet No. 1 figs. 1 to 9 show this arrangement for vehicles where fig. 6 is a
section of the conductor A which is a longitudinal hoop iron or steel carrying the
copper or other conductor, which is rolled into it so that the working friction shall
not readily wear it away: they are suspended in pairs as shown in section and eleva-
tion at figs. 2 and 3 where are the conductors suspended from a ware insulator C.
C is carried by an iron sheeth E that is connected by the bolts : E is carried by the
traversing thimbles of that gives lateral play to the stops G: fare carried by the rod H
which is suspended from any suitable support: to prevent b from touching its fellow,
between the supports they carry the separating insulating bridge J shown at figs. 3,
4 and 5 in elevation, plan and section respectively. J is provided with the four pro-
jections K forming two grooves, it also carries the springs L that connect it with b
and b.
Communication is made with the vehicles by means of the wheel M figs. 7 and 8 in
ide and end elevation, where the grooves M² and M³ in its periphery, receive band K,

page_text: and as the vehicles or boats advance J is raised but is kept in its place and drawn
down again by L: M is screwed and thrust up against by rotating the handle N,
and M. receives a lateral motion by rotating the handles that work the pinions P
that rest in the cogs Q: the frame carrying M is attached at or near the top or side
of the vehicle or boat. Any number of pairs of are carried by H, and where they
cross one another they are united together on the same level and insulated from one
another as shown in plan ai fig. 9 where 6 are secured in grooves R (or one cheek
only): the current is connected by insulated wires passed over the top, and the
grooves M retain the direction of 6 by means of the ribs dotted, the cross ribs are
notched to allow the passage of the flanges similar to a railway: thus the current is
broken from M for only the distance the inner ends of R are apart: the current is
taken from the periphery of M by means of spring contacts and are lead down the
frame Z to and from the motors: when the vehicles have to leave the direction taken
by one current and traverse another, the one is carried through as usual as shown at S
fig. 10 on plan: but to turn it off to the new direction T, M is drawn down by N,
traversed by 0, and raised again to meet of T. That the road vehicles may keep
the direction, slight concave wide grooves are formed in the roadways where desired
for the wheels to run in and usual means are supplied for steering and keeping them
sufficiently near the direction of the conductors: where more convenient instead of M
being in the form of a wheel it is formed as a single flanged shoe. In streets where
traffic is very great the vehicles are to be carried overhead by similar wheels running
upon similar conductors (that act as rails) as those described: these rails are carried
upon the lower flanges (one each side of the webs of longitudinal girders, and when.
more convenient the wheels are to be so carried, and the conductors communicate with
their grooved peripheries, as shown more clearly on Sheet 2 fig. 6 where are sus-
pended as before from the insulators C, and take into the groove M2 in which the
conductor is carried by the insulated part of the periphery M³ of the wheel M. (shown
more generally at fig. 4) and the current is taken from M² to the motors as usual: at
junctions where the direction is changed the connection is broken and remade similar
to that explained, but the conductor is raised and frees itself, and a bell mouthed
grooved lever directs the other conductor into the grooves: the girders A shown in
cross section at fig. 4 are carried by suspension rods C supported by a single metal
wire cable and are shown more generally at figs. 1, 2 and 3 in elevation plan and
section respectively,d obtains its support from piers formed of two masts, wheretension
ties can be secured, or by two masts E each side as shown, and secured on top by one
main bolt f, and tension ties G at the bottom: the wheels M support a cage H that
with them follow the undulations of A, a dynamo is carried in H that connects by
gearing and works M and thus gives motion to H. H supports the vehicle or car J
by a central bolt K and frame K (when A, undulates or has steep gradients in rising
from or falling to the street level) at each end of K² a cylinder is carried (for com-
pressed air or water) that are connected at the bottom by a pipe having an air
chamber the cylinders have rams, the heads of which are connected with the ends
of H so that, as H pitches, J is maintained in a horizontal position, by the one ram
being forced in, and the other forced out, any difference of pressure being absorbed
by the air chamber. To obviate the lateral oscillations of the longitudinal girders,
light transverse girders N are carried at the top of A in the centre, and at each side
light rolled joists similarly act, the former carry a continuous cable at their ends.
O are laid to parabolic curves which regulate the length of N as shown and intersect
one another at 0 they are depressed in height and taken to the outside of the masts
or piers E and secured to them (or arms projecting from them) in such a way that
the versed sines formed by their horizontal and vertical cords are sufficient to keep A
stiff at all points. For the purpose of maintaining this rigidity and allowing for
contraction and expansion 0 are passed over pullies P (the case shown on the
Drawing giving sufficient versed sine for the intended purpose) and taken inside the
masts E, and are there connected to traversers that carry the weights R, thus
the weights of Q always keep 0 in tension and obviously allows it to draw in and out

page_text: Where
with changes of temperature: where the versed sines are not sufficient, the projecting
arms of a cross girder connecting E increases them and support P, and O are passed
over P as before and carry the ends of a lifting platform that support weights and
act similarly to the above." Where a single line of C only is adopted, for the purpose
of expediting the erection and preventing obstructions in the streets, short sections of
the longitudinal and two or more cross girders are attached and hauled up together,
from a travelling cage running upon wheels and supported on the top of d.
two diagonal lines of C are adopted as shown on Sheet 2 a similar cage, but
in one, similarly fix C, and for the purpose of adopting the same electrical means for
the construction, the cage H is formed as shown on Sheet 2 in elevation at fig. 5
where are the axles, H² the frame that carries a third pair of wheels H³ that roll
against the bottom axle iron A² of A: the front axle M' carries a lifting jib or
crane S that is raised or lowered vertically by means of the screw S2 carried by the
trunnioned nut 83 that obtains its support from the cross girders H₁ of H²: Sis
worked by means of the pinion and worm S and is manipulated by the handle S:
when S is lowered down it is able to pass under N and thus, by means of the dynamo
as explained for the permanent arrangement it is able to traverse material for the con-
struction when received at the piers, or regulate it vertically by means of a winch
attached to Mt: the masts of the piers E span the streets where practicable and are
raised into position bodily after being connected by f, by being laid down full length
with the one pair of secured to their foundations, the other pair have their tension
bolts attached and also a pair of rollers to carry E, and the longitudinal tension
bolts temporarily used are of a length equal to the stretched out masts E: f and E
are then raised by jacks and the longitudinal tension bolts tightened up and thus cause
E to roll along and so proceed by tightening up the longitudinal bolts until the proper
elevation is attained, the longitudinal tension bolts are then cut to their permanent
lengths, the rollers taken off after E are secured to their foundations.
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 :-
1st. The means (a) of constructing the electric compound conductor of a hard as
well as the usual metal to prevent wear, and the adoption of separating intermediate
insulators (4) the means adopted for carrying the conductors in any number of
pairs, and the grooved wheel (or shoe) for conveying the current to the motors of
street vehicles or boats, and for similar purposes: (c) the means of adopting the above
and conveyingthe electric current similarly to the peripheries of the wheels supporting
the vehicles, and in each case the means for leaving one pair of conductors and con-
necting with another pair, and enabling the vehicle to take another direction
substantially as described.
2nd. The means adopted for suspending the girders that carry elevated suspended
vehicles over busy streets, by one main cable and two lateral diagonal cables by which
both lateral and vertical stiffness is obtained by such cables, whose strains are wholly
in tension, and the means by which the contraction and expansion (by changes of
temperature) of such cables are provided for by traversers within or suspended from
the piers and also for the combination enabling the above explained electrical means
for actuating the motors of such vehicles to he used for the elevated vehicles and those
running upon the streets and also the means adopted for keeping the vehicles vertical
whilst traversing the gradients leading from the one level to the other: also for the
arrangement of the piers by which they are erected without any scaffolding and with
a minimum of obstruction, to the street traffic: also for carrying horizontally by means
of a jib cage the materials for the construction of the girders and apurtenances, and
the adaptation of the above electrical means for actuating such horizontally worked
vehicles or cages for such work, substantially as described.
3rd. The general arrangement whereby electric conductors for road vehicles and
canal and other boats and the like suspended above or supported below them, and

page_text: working motors for propelling them horizontally by the adaptation of the means
provided for each case, and also for so carrying Tram or other Cars above congested
streets, and adopting such a means of suspension that similar electrical means are
available for their propulsion without obstructing the traffic of the public ways
substantially as described.
IV.1 11 14 L... of Falmou
1800