Means De Employed де In on or Apparatus to Electricity to Propel Vehicles Tram or other Rails. with or without
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan.. 1887
Complete Specification Left, 17th Oct., 1887-Accepted, 17th Jan.. 1888
Means
De Employed
де
In
on
or Apparatus to
Electricity to Propel Vehicles
Tram or other Rails.
Аррисанов
Roads with or without
I, FRANK WYNNE, of 7, Carteret Street, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My present invention relates to the development of former inventions of mine,
according to which vehicles can be propelled along roads (provided or not with rails
for the vehicle to travel upon) by means of electricity actuating a motor or motors
carried by the vehicle propelled, and which is or are introduced into a circuit that
is progressively closed as the vehicle proceeds.
According to my previous inventions, road-bars, plates, or studs are employed in
connection with a closed channel in which is a main conductor of electricity.
The method of electrically connecting the main conductor and the studs or plates
(hereinafter sometimes called road or positive contacts) is by means of contact makers,
each of which carries a suitable armature or keeper which is attracted or moved by
the magnetic influence of the stud, when the same is as is hereinafter described, given
magnetic polarity, and by means of suitable attachments, when thus moved makes
and keeps electrical connection between the main conductor and said stud, so long as
the magnetic polarity of the stud continues.
Each positive contact is provided with its own contact maker which works in a
space between the lower end of the stud and the main conductor. These spaces may
together form a continuous channel in which the main conductor is suitably carried,
or they may be discontinuous spaces, the main conductor being left bare only in these

page_text: spaces where the contact maker works. I find it convenient to make the contact
maker of a strip of copper, but it may be a rod or spring, carrying the iron armature ;
it is hinged or pivotted on the main conductor or on a conveniently arranged extension
of the lower end of the stud or positive contact, and is normally held out of contact
with the said stud or main conductor respectively by its weight or by a spring or its
equivalent until forced into contact by the temporarily induced magnetic influence of
the positive contact.
In one arrangement I wind the lower part of the insulated positive contact, made
of soft iron, with insulated wire forming a solenoid of comparatively high resistance
so that it forms an electric magnet on the passage of a comparatively small current of
electricity through the solenoid. One end of this insulated wire is connected to the
metal of the stud, and the other with one of a second set of insulated contacts or
studs (hereinafter called earth contacts) exposed in the roadway, and with which the
vehicle in its passage makes contact, connecting them temporarily to "earth."
The action of this arrangement is as follows:-Let it be supposed that a vehicle
suitably provided with a dynamo electric motor for driving it, and with one running
contact maker (bereinafter called a positive running contact) making contact with the
positive contacts under or near the vehicle, and with another running contact making
contact with the earth contacts under or near it, the motor being electrically connected
up whilst running between the positive contacts and "earth," and let it further be
supposed that there is already contact between one or more of the said positive
contacts, through its contact maker and the main conductor so that the stud on the
positive running contact reaching it is temporarily made an electro magnet with the
current through its solenoid flowing to earth through the earth contact carried by.
the vehicle and in this condition continues its contact with the main conductor. On
the vehicle moving forward by the action of the current which its motor thus receives,
its two running contacts will come into electrical connection with other positive and
earth contacts the studs of these other or new positive contacts will consecutively
become polarized by the current from the positive running contact through their
solenoids to the earth running contact and thence through the vehicle to earth, and
their respective contact makers with the main conductor will come into action, and so
the vehicle in its progress over the contacts will be continually supplied with current,
and after the passage of the running contacts, the circuits of the solenoids being
broken their contact makers will cease to act. The initial excitation of one solenoid
may be effected by a light secondary battery carried on the vehicle and giving
sufficient E. M. F.
A convenient arrangement is that of a series of iron boxes strung at intervals on the
main conductor which may be laid insulated at a convenient depth parallel to the
course of the vehicle; the top of the box may be on the level of the roadway, the stud
with its solenoid being screwed in or fastened, it being so arranged that on screwing
the stud into place the "earth" connection of the solenoid will be made to a terminal
which passes insulated to the earth contact, which may conveniently be a plate sand-
wiched between the pavement setts with its edge projecting so as to catch the running
earth contact from the vehicle.
"
I may dispense with the before mentioned solenoids on the studs, and with the
earth" contacts, and induce the magnetic polarity in the studs by means of an electro
magnet carried on the vehicle, the pole of such electro magnet being placed
successively near to or in contact with ends of studs made in this case preferably of
soft iron. In such an arrangement I consider it desirable that the box or channel
containing the contact makers should not be of a strongly magnetic material.
on
A convenient shape in which to make the electro magnet carried on the vehicle is
in the form of a star or a wheel, the rays or spokes of which respectively are wound
with solenoids to constitute each spoke an electro magnet, such a star revolving
an axis parallel to that of the axles of the wheels of the vehicle, and with the ends of
its spokes distanced the space between two consecutive road contacts may be made to
roll in contact with the said contacts, the connections of the solenoids of its respective
spokes, being so connected up to a commutator on its axis, to which the current is

page_text: supplied by suitably connected brushes that only that solenoid which is in contact or
over a road contact will be excited.
By grooving or channelling the road contacts transversely to the direction of motion
of the vehicle and suitably shaping the ends of the electro-magnets arranged in wheel
or star form as set forth, so that they shall gear with or enter the grooves or channels
of the road contacts, the said star if geared up mechanically to the electro motor on
the vehicle may be employed either wholly or in part as the driving wheel to propel
the vehicle, with the advantage that at the same time metallic contact between the
electro magnets and the road contacts will be made very good, the electro magnet
cores being used as the running positive contacts to take the current from the road
contacts. As will be evident my invention may be carried out in various forms.
Dated this 17th day at Innua 1007
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Means or Apparatus
to be Employed in the Application of
Electricity to Propel Vehicles on Roads with or without
Tram or other Rails.
I, FRANK WYNNE, of 7 Carteret Street, in the City of Westminster, 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 :-
My present invention relates to the development of former inventions of mine,
according to which vehicles can be propelled along roads (provided or not with rails
for the vehicle to travel upon) by means of electricity actuating a motor or motors
carried by the vehicle propelled and which is or are introduced into a circuit that is
progressively closed as the vehicle proceeds.
According to my previous inventions, rod-bars, plates, or studs are employed in
connection with a closed channel in which is a main conductor of electricity.
The method of electrically connecting the main conductor and the studs or plates
(hereinafter called positive contacts) is according to the present invention by means
of contact makers, and breakers (hereinafter called contact makers). Each contact
maker comprises a suitable armature or keeper which is attracted or moved by the
magnetic influence of the positive contact when the same is, as is hereinafter described,
given magnetic polarity, and which by means of suitable attachments or connections,
when thus moved, makes and keeps electrical connection between the main conductor
and said positive contact so long as the magnetic polarity of the stud continues.
Or an independent or separate iron armature with suitable attachments for electrica
contact, may be used which armature by its attraction to the positive contact may
make metallic connection between the conductor and the positive contact and continue
the connection so long as the magnetism of the said positive contact continues. Each
positive contact is provided with its own contact maker which works in a space
between the positive contact and the main conductor.
These spaces may together form a continuous channel in which the main conductor
is suitably carried or they may be discontinuous spaces or boxes laid in the roadway,
the main conductor being left bare only in these spaces where the contact makers
work. In some cases I find it convenient to make each contact maker with a strip
of copper, but
may be with a rod or spring, to carry the iron armature. The metal a
strip or its equivalent may be hinged or pivotted or otherwise secured to or carried
by the main conductor or to other suitable support and is so arranged that the
armature is normally held out of contact with the said positive contact or the main
conductor respectively or both by its weight or by a spring or its equivalent until
forced into contact by the temporarily induced magnetic influence of the positive
contact.
In one arrangement I wind the lower part of the positive contact, made of soft iron,

page_text: with insulated wire forming a solenoid or coil, which forms with the positive contact
an electro-magnet on the passage of a comparatively small current of electricity
through the said solenoid or coil. One end of this insulated wire is connected to the
metal of the positive contact, and the other with one of a second set of insulated
contacts or studs (hereinafter called earth contacts) exposed in the road way, and with
which the vehicle in its passage, makes contact, connecting them temporarily to earth
through the vehicle say to the rails. The positive contacts and contact makers may
conveniently be carried by a series of iron boxes strung at intervals on the main
conductor which may be laid insulated at a convenient depth parallel to the course of
the vehicle. The top of each box may be arranged lovel with the surface of the
roadway. Each positive contact with its solenoid or coil is screwed or otherwise
secured to or be part of its box. One end of the said solenoid or coil is preferably
so arrangod that when the positive contact is in place the "earth" connection of the
solenoid or coil will be made to an insulated conductor which passes to an earth
contact. Each earth contact may conveniently be in the form of a plato sandwiched
between the pavement setts with its edge projecting so as to make contact with a
running earth contact carried by the vehicle to be electrically propelled.
The positive contacts when separately carried by independent boxes, will under
ordinary circumstances be sufficiently insulated without insulating them from the
boxes, but if they are carried by a metallic channel common to a considerable number
of them they must be separately insulated from such channel.
Referring to the accompanying two Sheets of Illustrative drawings.
Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a longitudinal vertical section and a transverse section
illustrating an arrangement of apparatus for carrying out this invention.
Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive are longitudinal vertical sections, and Fig. 7 a transverse
section, illustrating other arrangements of apparatus.
Referring to figs. 1 and 2, 1, 1, are positive contacts carried by a series of boxes 2
placed at short intervals along the road upon which a vehicle is to be electrically
propelled. The lower part of each of these positive contacts is surrounded by a
solenoid or coil 3 of high resistance the upper end of which is connected to the
contact as shown. 4 is an insulated conductor (fig. 2) one end of which projects into
a corresponding box 2 and make electrical contact with the lower end of the solenoid
or coil 3 therein. 5 is an earth contact in the form of a plate, arranged between the
pavement setts with its upper edge projecting a short distance above them; to it the
other end of the insulated conductor 4 is connected. 6 is an iron armature arranged
below the positive contact 1 and carried by a metal spring arm 7 which is secured
(with electrical contact) to a main conductor 8 of electricity. The armature 6 and
spring arm 7 together constitute a contact maker which normally assumes a position
such as to break connection between the positive contact 1 and the main conductor 8.
Those parts of the conductor 8 which extend between the boxes 2 are insulated, whilst
those that are within the boxes are shown bare. 9 is a positive car contact or brush
carried by the car or vehicle to be propelled it is connected to the positive pole of the
car motor and is arranged to travel against the exposed upper ends of the positive
contacts 1. 10 is a return or negative contact or brush similarly carried; it is
connected to the negative pole of the car motor and is arranged to travel against the
exposed upper ends of the earth contacts 5 and place them in communication with
"earth" such as the tram rails by a circuit carried by the car or vehicle. 11 (fig. 2)
represents diagrammatically the car motor.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Assuming the car or vehicle propelled
to be in a state of rest, the contact makers 6, 7, will in positions in which they break
connection between the positive contacts and the main conductor. If it be desired
to propel the vehicle by its motor 11, one or more of the solenoids or coils surrounding
the positive contacts must be initially excited in order to close one or more of the
circuit makers and thus establish connection between one or more of the positive
contacts and the main conductor. This initial excitation may be effected by a suitable
secondary battery carried by the vehicle one pole of the battery being placed in
electrical connection with one or more solenoids or coils by means of the positive car

page_text: contact 9 and positive contact or contacts 1. and its other polo with earth. The car
motor being thus placed in circuit with the main conductor the vehicle will be
propelled. The arinature of each contact maker will after being attracted by its
polorarized positive contact be held thereto so long as the solenoid or coil surrounding
the said contact is in connection with earth by the car circuit. As the vehicle moves
forward its positive and negative car contacts 9 and 10 will come successively into
electric contact with other positive and earth contacts 1 and 5. The forward positive
contacts will then become consecutively polarized by a small part of the electric
current which will pass from the car contact 9 to earth through each positive contact
in succession and its solenoid or coil, conductor 4, carth contact 5, negative car
contact 10, and car circuit to earth. The respective contact makers will be operated
in turn (by the polarization of the positive contacts above them) to close the circuit
between the said contacts and the main conductor so that as the vehicle moves forward
over the positive contacts it will be continually supplied with an electric current.
After the passage of the car contacts 9 and 10 over the positive and earth contacts
the circuits of the solenoids or coils will be consecutively broken and their contact
makers will assume their normal positions and cease to connect those contacts with
that part of the main conductor between which they are placed.
In the arrangement shown in fig. 3 the lower end of each solenoid or coil which is
of low resistance is connected to one end of a conductor 12 the other end of which is
connected to a pivotted tongue 13 which is so arranged between the lower end of the
adjacent positive contact 1 and the armature 6 of its contact maker as to be normally
out of contact with both.
Each solenoid or coil is provided with an exposed part 3* adapted to make
contact with the adjacent tongue of the next forward solenoid or coil, when this
tongue is raised.
By this arrangement when one of the armatures is attracted by its polarized positive
contact 1 the tongue 13 situate between them will be pressed into metallic contact
with the armature and with the part 3* of the solenoid or coil above it, but not with
the lower end of the said contact. Thus the tongue and its connected forward
solenoid or coil and positive contact as well as the solenoid or coil above it, and conse-
quently the positive contact in connection therewith will be placed in electrical
connection with the main conductor. By thus placing each positive contact in turn in
electrical connection with the main conductor through the solenoid or coil surrounding
it and contact part 3*, such contact will remain polarized and its corresponding
armature held up and the car motor circuit completed, so long as the car contact 9 is
in connection with the said positive contact. When the car contact 9 reaches the new
forward positive contact, the circuit of the solenoid or coil will be completed through
the said car contact 9 and car motor to earth. The positive contact will thus become
polarized, and operate its contact maker, which then places the solenoid or coil above
it, and the next forward positive contact and solenoid or coil, in connection with the
main conductor as before. Thus as the vehicle moves forward, its motor circuit is
continually completed by the contact makers acting consecutively. After the passage
of the car contact 9, the contact makers cease to act consecutively as before. The
initial excitation of one or more of the positive contacts to complete the car motor
circuit at starting, can be effected by a magnet that may be carried by the vehicle to
be propelled, but which does need not act continuously to attract the armatures. This
method of initial excitation may be employed in the preceding arrangement instead of
an independent battery. With this last described arrangement (Fig. 3) the series of
earth contacts 5 and the car contact 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are dispensed with.
The two positive contacts 1, shown to the left of Fig. 3, are carried by a channel
common to both of them, or it may be to a series of them, the said contacts being
insulated from each other by insulating the parts of the channel that carry them, it
may be as shown. The contacts to the left are each carried by an independent box.
In Fig. 4, the means for successively completing the car motor circuit are similar to
those shown in Fig. 3, except that the armatures 6 of the contact makers are carried
by spiral springs 7*, which normally hold the said armatures away from the positive

page_text: contacts. In this arrangement, the main conductor and the conductor 12 are inclosed
in the same cable as shown.
In Fig. 5, the positive contacts 1 are in the form of plates arranged transversely to
the length of the road on which the vehicle travels. These contacts are electrically
connected in pairs with a box 2 which is formed with a downwardly projecting part 1*
that serves as the channel positive contact, and which is polarized at the desired time
by a solenoid or coil 3 in the manner hereinbefore described, for the purpose of
operating the adjacent contact maker.
In Figs. 6 & 7 the main conductor 8 is shown arranged at the side of the positive
contacts, and the tongue 13 connected with the solenoid or coil of an adjacent positive
contact is formed of iron to serve as the contact maker, and is mounted inde-
pendently of the main conductor. The arrangement is such that, when the tongue is
attracted by the polarization of the contact above it, it places such contact by way of
the exposed part 3* and the solenoid or coil 3 surrounding such contact, as well as
itself in electrical connection with the main conductor. In some cases, I may dispense
with the before mentioned solenoids or coils on the positive contacts, and with the
"earth" contacts, and induce the magnetic polarity in the positive contacts by means
of an electro-magnet carried on the vehicle, a pole of such electro-magnet being
successively placed near to or in contact with the exposed upper ends of the positive
contacts which in this case are preferably made of soft iron. In such an arrangement,
I consider it desirable that the box or channel containing the contact makers
should not be of a strongly magnetic material.
A convenient shape in which to make the electro-magnet carried on the vehicle is
in the form of a star or a wheel, the rays or spokes of which are wound with solenoids
or coils to constitute each spoke an electro-magnet. Such a star or wheel revolving
on an axis parallel to that of the axles of the wheels of the vehicle, and with the ends
of the spokes distanced the space between two consecutive positive contacts may be
made to roll in contact with the said contacts, the ends of the solenoids or coils of its
respective spokes being so connected up to a commutator on its shaft, to which
commutator the current is supplied by suitably connected brushes, that only that
solenoid which is in contact with or over a road or positive contact will bo
excited.
I have not considered it necessary to illustrate this arrangement of car magnet for
polarizing the positive contacts, as it will be readily understood by those skilled in the
art to which this invention relates.
It is to be understood that the terms positive and negative herein used are to be
understood only as relative terms.
As will be evident my invention may be carried out in various forms.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner it is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. For propelling vehicles on a road, the use of contacts arranged at intervals in
such road and insulated from each other, means for imparting magnetic polarity to
such contacts or to other contacts in electrical connection therewith, a main conductor
of electricity and contact makers, the arrangement being such that the contact makers
will, as the vehicle travels, consecutively and automatically make electrical connection
between successive contacts and the main conductor as set forth.
2. The use for exciting the contacts referred to in the preceding claim, of solenoids
or coils substantially as described.
3. The use for exciting the contacts referred to in claim 1 of a magnet carried by
the vehicle to be propelled substantially as described.
4. For propelling a vehicle on a road by electricity, the use of two separate contact
makers carried by the vehicle and a series of road contacts and a series of earth
contacts each having parts exposed in the road along which the vehicle is to travel, the
arrangement being such that each of the road contacts can be magnetically excited in
consecutive order by a current from a main conductor, which current is caused to

page_text: traverse a solenoid or coil encircling it and the circuit of which is completed through
one of the earth contacts and one of the contact makers carried by the vehicle and
connected with earth.
5. For propelling a vehicle on a road, by electricity the use of a contact maker
carried by such vehicle and a series of road contacts magnetically excited in
consecutive order by a current from a main conductor of electricity passing round a
solenoid or coil attached to a road contact, the circuit of any one solenoid or coil
being completed by the attraction of an armature attracted by the road contact imme-
diately in rear of it and going through the solenoid or coil of the forward of the two
contacts just mentioned to the vehicle and thence to earth.
6. My apparatus as hereinabove described with reference respectively to and shown
in Figs. 1 and 2; in Fig. 3; in Fig. 4; in Fig. 5 and in Figs. 6 and 7 of the
drawings annexed for use in the application of electricity to propel vehicles on
roads.

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 17th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 17th Jan., 1888
1, FRANK WYNNE, of 7, Carteret Street, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My present invention relates to the development of former inventions of mine,
according to which vehicles can be propelled along roads (provided or not with rails
for the vehicle to travel upon) by means of electricity actuating a motor or motors
carried by the vehicle propelled, and which is or are introduced into a circuit that
is progressively closed as the vehicle proceeds.
According to my previous inventions, road-bars, plates, or studs are employed in
connection with a closed channel in which is a main conductor of electricity.
The method of electrically connecting the main conductor and the studs or plates
(hereinafter sometimes called road or positive contacts) is by means of contact makers,
each of which carries a suitable armature or keeper which is attracted or moved by
the magnetic influence of the stud, when the same is as is hereinafter described, given
magnetic polarity, and by means of suitable attachments, when thus moved makes
and keeps electrical connection between the main conductor and said stud, so long as
the magnetic polarity of the stud continues.
Each positive contact is provided with its own contact maker which works in a
space between the lower end of the stud and the main conductor. These spaces may
together form a continuous channel in which the main conductor is suitably carried.
or they may be discontinuous spaces, the main conductor being left bare only in these
DQ17

page_text: spaces where the contact maker works. I find it convenient to make the contact
maker of a strip of copper, but it may be a rod or spring, carrying the iron armature;
it is hinged or pivotted on the main conductor or on a conveniently arranged extension
of the lower end of the stud or positive contact, and is normally held out of contact
with the said stud or main conductor respectively by its weight or by a spring or its
equivalent until forced into contact by the temporarily induced magnetic influence of
the positive contact.
In one arrangement I wind the lower part of the insulated positive contact, made
of soft iron, with insulated wire forming a solenoid of comparatively high resistance
so that it forms an electric magnet on the passage of a comparatively small current of
electricity through the solenoid. One end of this insulated wire is connected to the
metal of the stud, and the other with one of a second set of insulated contacts or
studs (hereinafter called earth contacts) exposed in the roadway, and with which the
vehicle in its passage makes contact, connecting them temporarily to "earth."
The action of this arrangement is as follows:-Let it be supposed that a vehicle
suitably provided with a dynamo electric motor for driving it, and with one running
contact maker (hereinafter called a positive running contact) making contact with tho
positive contacts under or near the vehicle, and with another running contact making
contact with the earth contacts under or near it, the motor being electrically connected
up whilst running between the positive contacts and "earth," and let it further be
supposed that there is already contact between one or more of the said positive
contacts, through its contact maker and the main conductor so that the stud on the
positive running contact reaching it is temporarily made an electro magnet with the
current through its solenoid flowing to earth through the earth contact carried by
the vehicle and in this condition continues its contact with the main conductor. On
the vehicle moving forward by the action of the current which its motor thus receives,
its two running contacts will come into electrical connection with other positive and
earth contacts, the studs of these other or new positive contacts will consecutively
become polarized by the current from the positive running contact through their
solenoids to the earth running contact and thence through the vehicle to earth, and
their respective contact makers with the main conductor will come into action, and so
the vehicle in its progress over the contacts will be continually supplied with current,
and after the passage of the running contacts, the circuits of the solenoids being
broken their contact makers will cease to act. The initial excitation of one solenoid
may be effected by a light secondary battery carried on the vehicle and giving
sufficient E. M. F.
A convenient arrangement is that of a series of iron boxes strung at intervals on the
main conductor which may be laid insulated at a convenient depth parallel to the
course of the vehicle; the top of the box may be on the level of the roadway, the stud
with its solenoid being screwed in or fastened, it being so arranged that on screwing
the stud into place the "earth connection of the solenoid will be made to a terminal
which passes insulated to the earth contact, which may conveniently be a plate sand-
wiched between the pavement setts with its edge projecting so as to catch the running
earth contact from the vehicle.
1 may dispense with the before mentioned solenoids on the studs, and with the
"earth" contacts, and induce the magnetic polarity in the studs by means of an electro
magnet carried on the vehicle, the pole of such electro magnet being placed
successively near to or in contact with ends of studs made in this case preferably of
soft iron. In such an arrangement I consider it desirable that the box or channel
containing the contact makers should not be of a strongly magnetic material.
A convenient shape in which to make the electro magnet carried on the vehicle is
in the form of a star or a wheel, the rays or spokes of which respectively are wound
with solenoids to consitute each spoke an electro magnet, such a star revolving on
an axis parallel to that of the axles of the wheels of the vehicle, and with the ends of
its spokes distanced the space between two consecutive road contacts may be made to
roll in contact with the said contacts, the connections of the solenoids of its respective
spokes, being so connected up to a commutator on its axis, to which the current is

page_text: supplied by suitably connected brushes that only that solenoid which is in contact or
over a road contact will be excited.
By grooving or channelling the road contacts transversely to the direction of motion
of the vehicle and suitably shaping the ends of the electro-magnets arranged in wheel
or star form as set forth, so that they shall gear with or enter the grooves or channels
of the road contacts, the said star if geared up mechanically to the electro motor on
the vehicle may be employed either wholly or in part as the driving wheel to propel
the vehicle, with the advantage that at the same time metallic contact between the
electro magnets and the road contacts will be made very good, the electro magnet
cores being used as the running positive contacts to take, the current from the road
contacts. As will be evident my invention may be carried out in various forms.
Dated this 17th day of January 1887.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Means or Apparatus to be Employed in the Application of
Electricity to Propel Vehicles Roads with or without
on
Tram or other Rails.
I, FRANK WYNNE, of 7 l'arteret Street, in the City of Westminster, 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 statenient :-
My present invention relates to the development of former inventions of mine,
according to which vehicles can be propelled along roads (provided or not with rails
for the vehicle to travel upon) by means of electricity actuating a motor or motors
carried by the vehicle propelled and which is or are introduced into a circuit that is
progressively closed as the vehicle proceeds.
According to my previous inventions, rod-bars, plates, or studs are employed in
connection with a closed channel in which is a main conductor of electricity.
The method of electrically connecting the main conductor and the studs or plates
(hereinafter called positive contacts) is according to the present invention by means
of contact makers, and breakers (hereinafter called contact makers). Each contact
maker comprises a suitable armature or keeper which is attracted or moved by the
magnetic influence of the positive contact when the same is, as is hereinafter described,
given magnetic polarity, and which by means of suitable attachments or connections,
when thus moved, makes and keeps electrical connection between the main conductor
and said positive contact so long as the magnetic polarity of the stud continues.
Or an independent or separate iron armature with suitable attachments for electric
contact, may be used which armature by its attraction to the positive contact may
make metallic connection between the conductor and the positive contact and continue
the connection so long as the magnetism of the said positive contact continues. Each
positive contact is provided with its own contact maker which works in a space
between the positive contact and the main conductor.
These spaces may together form a continuous channel in which the main conductor
is suitably carried or they may be discontinuous spaces or boxes laid in the roadway,
the main conductor being left bare only in these spaces where the contact makers
work. In some cases I find it convenient to make each contact maker with a strip
of copper, but it may be with a rod or ring, to carry the iron armature. The metal
strip or its equivalent may be hinged or pivotted or otherwise secured to or carried
by the main conductor or to other suitable support and is so arranged that the
armature is normally held out of contact with the said positive contact or the main
conductor respectively or both by its weight or by a spring or its equivalent until
forced into contact by the temporarily induced magnetic influence of the positive
contact.
In one arrangement I wind the lower part of the positive contact, made of soft iron,

page_text: with insulated wire forming a solenoid or coil, which forms with the positive contact
an electro-magnet on the passage of a comparitively small current of electricity
through the said solenoid or coil. One end of this insulated wire is connected to the
metal of the positive contact, and the other with one of a second set of insulated
contacts or studs (hereinafter called earth contacts) exposed in the road way, and with
which the vehicle in its passage, makes contact, connecting them temporarily to earth
through the vehicle say to the rails. The positive contacts and contact makers may
conveniently be carried by a series of iron boxes strung at intervals on the main
conductor which may be laid insulated at a convenient depth parallel to the course of
the vehicle. The top of each box may be arranged level with the surface of the
roadway. Each positive contact with its solenoid or coil is screwed or otherwise
secured to or be part of its box. One end of the said solenoid or coil is preferably
so arranged that when the positive contact is in place the "earth" connection of the
solenoid or coil will be made to an insulated conductor which passes to an earth
contact. Each earth contact may conveniently be in the form of a plate sandwiched
between the pavement setts with its edge projecting so as to make contact with a
running earth contact carried by the vehicle to be electrically propelled.
The positive contacts when separately carried by independent boxes, will under
ordinary circumstances be sufficiently insulated without insulating them from the
boxes, but if they are carried by a metallic channel common to a considerable number
of them they must be separately insulated from such channel.
Referring to the accompanying two Sheets of Illustrative drawings.
Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a longitudinal vertical section and a transverse section
illustrating an arrangement of apparatus for carrying out this invention.
Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive are longitudinal vertical sections, and Fig. 7 a transverse
section, illustrating other arrangements of apparatus.
Referring to figs. 1 and 2, 1, 1, are positive contacts carried by a series of boxes 21
placed at short intervals along the road upon which a vehicle is to be electrically
propelled. The lower part of each of these positive contacts is surrounded by a
solenoid or coil 3 of high resistance the upper end of which is connected to the
contact as shewn. 4 is an insulated conductor (fig. 2) one end of which projects into
a corresponding box 2 and make electrical contact with the lower end of the solenoid
or coil 3 therein. 5 is an earth contact in the form of a plate, arranged between the
pavement setts with its upper edge projecting a short distance above them; to it the
other end of the insulated conductor is connected. 6 is an iron armature arranged
below the positive contact 1 and carried by a metal spring arm 7 which is secured
(with electrical contact) to a main conductor 8 of electricity. The armature 6 and
spring arm 7 together constitute a contact maker which normally assumes a position
such as to break connection between the positive contact 1 and the main conductor 8.
Those parts of the conductor 8 which extend between the boxes 2 are insulated, whilst
those that are within the boxes are shown bare. 9 is a positive car contact or brush
carried by the car or vehicle to be propelled it is connected to the positive pole of the
car motor and is arranged to travel against the exposed upper ends of the positive
contacts 1. 10 is a return or negative contact or brush similarly carried; it is
connected to the negative pole of the car motor and is arranged to travel against the
exposed upper ends of the earth contacts 5 and place them in communication with
"earth" such as the tram rails by a circuit carried by the car or vehicle. 11 (fig. 2).
represents diagrammatically the car motor.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Assuming the car or vehicle propelled
to be in a state of rest, the contact makers 6, 7, will in positions in which they break
connection between the positive contacts and the main conductor. If it be desired
to propel the vehicle by its motor 11, one or more of the solenoids or coils surrounding
the positive contacts must be initially excited in order to closed one or more of the
circuit makers and thus establish connection between one or more of the positive
contacts and the main conductor. This initial excitation may be effected by a suitable
secondary battery carried by the vehicle one pole of the battery being placed in
electrical connection with one or more solenoids or coils by means of the positive car

page_text: contact. 9 and positive contact or contacts 1, and its other pole with earth. The car
motor being thus placed in circuit with the main conductor the vehicle will be
propelled. The armature of each contact maker will after being attracted by its
polorarized positive contact he held thereto so long as the solenoid or coil surrounding
the said contact is in connection with earth by the car circuit. As the vehicle moves
forward its positive and negative car contacts 9 and 10 will come successively into
electric contact with other positive and earth contacts I and 5. The forward positive
contacts will then become consecutively polarized by a small part of the electric
current which will pass from the car contact 9 to carth through each positive contact
in succession and its solenoid or coil, conductor 4, earth contact 5, negative car
contact 10, and car circuit to earth. The respective contact makers will be operated
in turn (by the polarization of the positive contacts above them) to close the circuit
between the said contacts and the main conductor so that as the vehicle moves forward
over the positive contacts it will be continually supplied with an electric current.
After the passage of the car contacts 9 and 10 over the positive and earth contacts
the circuits of the solenoids or coils will be consecutively broken and their contact
makers will assume their normal positions and cease to connect those contacts with
that part of the main conductor between which they are placed.
In the arrangement shown in fig. 3 the lower end of each solenoid or coil which is
of low resistance is connected to one end of a conductor 12 the other end of which is
connected to a pivotted tongue 13 which is so arranged between the lower end of the
adjacent positive contact 1 and the armature 6 of its contact maker as to be normally
out of contact with both.
Each solenoid or coil is provided with an exposed part 3* adapted to make
contact with the adjacent tongue of the next forward solenoid or coil, when this
tongue is raised.
By this arrangement when one of the armatures is attracted by its polarized positive
contact 1 the tongue 13 situate between them will be pressed. into metallic contact
with the armature and with the part 3* of the solenoid or coil above it, but not with
the lower end of the said contact. Thus the tongue and its connected forward
solenoid or coil and positive contact as well as the solenoid or coil above it, and conse-
quently the positive contact in connection therewith will be placed in electrical
connection with the main conductor. By thus placing each positive contact in turn in
electrical connection with the main conductor through the solenoid or coil surrounding
it and contact part 3*, such contact will remain polarized and its corresponding
armature held up and the car motor circuit completed, so long as the car contact 9 is
in connection with the said positive contact. When the car contact 9 reaches the new
forward positive contact, the circuit of the solenoid or oil will be completed through
the said car contact 9 and car motor to earth. The positive contact will thus become
polarized, and operate its contact maker, which then places the solenoid or coil above
it, and the next forward positive contact and solenoid or coil, in connection with the
main conductor as before. Thus as the vehicle moves forward, its motor circuit is
continually completed by the contact makers acting consecutively. After the passage
of the car contact 9, the contact makers cease to act consecutively as before. The
initial excitation of one or more of the positive contacts to complete the car motor
circuit at starting, can be effected by a magnet that may be carried by the vehicle to
be propelled, but which does not act continuously to attract the armatures. This method
of initial excitation may be employed in the preceding arrangement instead of an
independent battery. With this last described arrangement (Fig. 3) the series of earth
contacts 5 and the car contact 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are dispensed with. The two
positive contacts 1, shown to the left of Fig. 3, are carried by a channel common to both
of them, or it may be to a series of them, the said contacts being insulated from each
other by insulating the parts of the channel that carry them, it may be as shown. The
contacts to the left are each carried by an independent box.
In Fig. 4, the means for successively completing the car motor circuit are similar to
those shown in Fig. 3, except that the armatures 6 of the contact makers are carried
by spiral springs 7, which normally hold the said armatures away from the positive

page_text: contacts. In this arrangement, the main conductor and the conductor 12 are inclosed
in the same cable as shown.
In Fig. 5, the positive contacts 1 are in the form of plates arranged transversely to
the length of the road on which the vehicle travels. These contacts are electrically
connected in pairs with a box 2 which is formed with a downwardly projecting part 1*
that serves as the channel positive contact, and which is polarized at the desired time
by a solenoid or coil 3 in the manner hereinbefore described, for the purpose of
operating the adjacent contact maker.
In Figs. 6 & 7 the main conductor 8 is shown arranged at the side of the positive
contacts, and the tongue 13 connected with the solenoid or coil of an adjacent positive
contact is formed of iron to serve as the contact maker, and is mounted inde-
pendently of the main conductor. The arrangement is such that, when the tongue is
attracted by the polarization of the contact above it, it places such contact by way of
the exposed part 3* and the solenoid or coil 3 surrounding such contact, as well as
itself in electrical connection with the main conductor. In some cases, I may dispense
with the before mentioned solenoids or coils on the positive contacts, and with the
"earth" contacts, and induce the magnetic polarity in the positive contacts by means
of an electro-magnet carried on the vehicle, a pole of such electro-magnet being
successively placed near to or in contact with the exposed upper ends of the positive
contacts which in this case are preferably made of soft iron. In such an arrangement,
I consider it desirable that the box or channel containing the contact makers
should not be of a strongly magnetic material.
A convenient shape in which to make the electro-magnet carried on the vehicle is
in the form of a star or a wheel, the rays or spokes of which are wound with solenoids
or coils to constitute cach spoke an electro-magnet. Such a star or wheel revolving
on an axis parallel to that of the axles of the wheels of the vehicle, and with the ends
of the spokes distanced the space between two consecutive positive contacts may be
made to roll in contact with the said contacts, the ends of the solenoids or coils of its
respective spokes being so connected up to a commutator on its shaft, to which
commutator the current is supplied by suitably connected brushes, that only that
solenoid which is in contact with or over a road or positive contact will be
excited.
I have not considered it necessary to illustrate this arrangement of car magnet for
polarizing the positive contacts, as it will be readily understood by those skilled in the
art to which this invention relates.
It is to be understood that the terms positive and negative herein used are to be
understood only as relative terms.
As will be evident my invention may be carried out in various forms.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner it is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. For propelling vehicles on a road, the use of contacts arranged at intervals in
such road and insulated from each other, means for imparting magnetic polarity to
such contacts or to other contacts in electrical connection therewith, a main conductor
of electricity and contact makers, the arrangement being such that the contact makers
will, as the vehicle travels, consecutively and automatically make electrical connection
between successive contacts and the main conductor as set forth.
2. The use for exciting the contacts referred to in the preceding claim, of solenoids
or coils substantially as described.
3. The use for exciting the contacts referred to in claim 1 of a magnet carried by
the vehicle to be propelled substantially as described.
4. For propelling a vehicle on a road by electricity, the use of two separate contact
makers carried by the vehicle and a series of road contacts and a series of earth
contacts each having parts exposed in the road along which the vehicle is to travel, the
arrangement being such that each of the road contacts can be magnetically excited in
consecutive order by a current from a main conductor, which current is caused to

page_text: traverse a solenoid or coil encircling it and the circuit of which is completed through
one of the earth contacts and one of the contact makers carried by the vehicle and
connected with earth.
5. For propelling a vehicle on a road, by electricity the use of a contact maker
carried by such vehicle and a series of road contacts magnetically excited in
consecutive order by a current from a main conductor of electricity passing round a
solenoid or coil attached to a road contact, the circuit of any one solenoid or coil
being completed by the attraction of an armature attracted by the road contact imme-
diately in rear of it and going through the solenoid or coil of the forward of the two
contacts just mentioned to the vehicle and thence to earth.
6. My apparatus as hereinabove described with reference respectively to and shown
in Figs. 1 and 2; in Fig. 3; in Fig. 4; in Fig. 5 and in Figs. 6 and 7 of the
drawings annexed for use in the application of electricity to propel vehicles on
roads.
Dated this 17th day of October 1887.
FRANK WYNNE.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.