Improvements in the Distribution of Electricity Over Electric Railways.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1895--Accepted, 30th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Distribution of Electricity Over Electric
Railways.
I, MICHELANGELO CATTORI, Electrical Engineer of 47 Via Castelfidardo,
Rome Italy 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 relates to improvements in the distribution of electricity over
electric railways such as described in the specifications of my former Letters Patent
No. 14234 A.Ď. 91 No. 6119 A.D. 1892 and No. 6212 A.D. 1894 and refers more
particularly to the distribution of electricity over crossings or shunts.
Figs. 1 & 2 of the accompanying sheet of drawings illustrate the manoeuvre of
the cars or trains on crossings or shunts, when the latter form the continuation of a
circuit, as follows that is to say
A and A' are the two portions of the rails which terminates at the shunt; S is
the shunt D the generator r the rails and w the line wire. On this shunt, as far as
concerns the insulation of the rails from the ground, there is no difference from the
insulation practised over the remaining part of the track. The points may freely
contact with the rails; but in order to render them independent from these rails,
when the points are open, the metallic chair, on which they rest, should be divided
into two insulated parts, one serving as a support of the rail and the other as a
point.
As the current is conveyed from the rails to the electromotors through the
wheels, to prevent the breaking of the circuit of the car, and short circuiting
between the conductors (rails), the crossing apparatus should be cut off in one
piece a which must have a length inferior to the distance separating the axles of
the electric locomotives and be electrically insulated from the remaining part of
the line.
In consequence thereof when the car is about to pass on the crossing apparatus
the first wheel takes no current because it is on the insulated part, but the second
one feeds the electromotors; afterwards, on the contrary, the first wheel takes the
current, the second having reached the insulated part.
The cut off parts of the rails are joined by means of two insulated copper wires,
as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 1 illustrates the entering of the cars in the shunt, while Fig. 2 show the
same leaving this shunt, together with the relative movements of the com-
mutator C.
In the same figs. 1, 2, 3,-9, 10 are interruptions of circuit which terminate at
the commutator C, and are arranged in such a way that the same movement
closes 1-2, 7-8 and 3-6 and opens 3-4, 5-6 and 9-10, and "vice versa."
In order not to break the circuit it is necessary to manoeuvre first the points, and
afterwards the commutator..
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the manoeuvring of the trains in the shunt in connection
with the circuit of the commutator.
All the axles of the electric locomotives travelling on the line, as well as those
of the ordinary vehicles propelled by these locomotives, should be insulated from
the wheels, this may be effected in different manners; such as for instance by inter-
posing between the wheel and the axle a collar of insulated material, such as paste
board, papers &c.

page_text: The current is conveyed to the electromotor of the train or car either through
the wheels, by causing a certain number of brushes to rub on their tyres hubs, or
other suitable part, or it may be conveyed directly from the rails, by means of a
shoe or sledge driven along by the motor vehicles themselves.
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 :-
In electric railways the distribution in series of the electric energy to the motor
vehicles substantially as herein described and shown.
Dated this 26th August 1806
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.