IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC RAILWAYS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cromwell Fleetwood Varley, of Bexley Heath, in the
County of Kent, and Walter Judd, of Penang Straits Settlements, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC RAILWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cromwell Fleetwood Varley
and Walter Judd at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
28th January 1882.
CROMWELL FLEETWOOD VARLEY of Bexley Heath in the County of Kent and
WALTER JUDD of Penang Straits Settlements. IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
RAILWAYS,
Our Invention consists of a metal conductor laid in a groove cut in a sleeper of
non conducting material which sleeper is preferably creosoted or is impregnated
with paraffin or petroleum or other non-conducting fluid. This sleeper is
preferably covered with guard-plates fastened on the sleeper. The guard-plates
do not entirely close in the upper surface of the sleeper but are so arranged as to
leave a space sufficient to allow a roller or rollers or contact makers connected with
the car to make contact with the conductor, so as to convey the electricity from
the conductor to the electric motor in the car. In order to reduce the loss of
electricity that might be caused by leakage, the guard plates are sometimes laid in
sections of convenient length separated from each other by a small space. The
guard-plates may be hinged to facilitate the cleaning and inspection of the groove
and the conductor.
To prevent electro-chemical decomposition of the conductor due to electrolytic
action, the conductor may be and usually is kept electro-negative to the earth.
We sometimes close in the groove in the sleeper by a flexible, preferably
waterproof, insulating band over the conductor. Through this band there aro
conducting bolts which connect the conductor with the contact roller or rollers
wheel or wheels when the wheel or wheels traverses over and depresses the
band.
The space between the insulating band and the sleeper is sometimes filled with

page_text: Petroleum or other insulating fluid and where necessary, under pressure forming a
hydrostatic spring. When the collecting roller or wheel or brush passes over tho
upper band contact is made between the metal bolts and the conductor and is
thence convoyed via the roller or brush to the car.
The metal roller wheel or brush used in the groove may be insulated at the 5
sides to prevent loss by contact with the guard-plates and it is preferably mounted
on a jointed axle.
There is a brush or scraper to remove dirt from the groove in the sleeper which
is attached to the car in order that the escape of electricity may be reduced. At
any convenient place a dynamo machine or other source of electricity is connected
with the conductor to supply the power.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Cromwell Fleetwood Varley and Walter Judd in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 28th July 1882.
CROMWELL FLEETWOOD VARLEY of Bexley Heath in the County of Kent, and
WALTER JUDD of Penang Straits Settlements. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
RAILWAYS."
Our Invention consists of a metal conductor or conductors laid in a groove or
grooves cut in a sleeper or sleepers of non conducting material such as wood
dessicated by superheated steam or hot air.-The chamber in which the sleepers
are placed to be dessicated is after the dessication exhausted while hot by air
pumps paraffin wax, ozokerit, bitumen, wood, pitch, or suitable material is then
admitted:-
When the chamber is full or nearly so the vacuum is destroyed and a high
pressure is applied to force the insulating material preferably while hot, into the
pores of the wood, such sleeper or sleepers being preferably impregnated with
paraffin or ozokerit or petroleum or other non conducting substance while fluid.-
These sleepers are preferably covered with guard plates fastened on the sleeper.―
Tho guard plates do not entirely close in the upper surface of the sleeper but are
EO arranged as to have a space sufficient to allow a roller or rollers or contact
makers connected with the car to make contact with the conductor, so as to convey
the electricity from the conductor to the electric motor in the car.-In order to
reduce the loss of electricity that might be caused by leakage, the guard plates aro
sometimes laid in sections of convenient length, separated from each other by a
small space. The guard plates may be hinged to facilitate the cleaning and
inspection of the groove and the conductor. To prevent electro chemical decom-
position of the conductor due to electrolytic action the conductor may be and
usually is kept electro negative to the earth, the conductor may be the rails
themselves in which case we prefer to galvanize or coat them with zinc or tin or a
mixture of suitable metals the fish plates and bolts being similarly treated so as to
make good electric connection.
We sometimes close in the groove in the sleeper by a flexible preferably
waterproof insulating band over the conductor.-Through this band there are
conducting bolts which connect the conductor with the contact roller or rollers
wheel or wheels, when the wheel or wheels traverses over, and depresses the
band.
The space between the insulating band and the sleeper is sometimes filled with
petroleum or other insulating material, and where necessary under pressure forming
a hydrostatic spring.
When the collecting roller or wheel or brush passes over the upper band, contact
is made between the metal bolts and the conductor and is thence conveyed vid the
roller or brush to the car. Each metal roller wheel or brush when used in the
groove may be insulated at the sides, to prevent loss by contact with the guard
plates, and proferably mounted on a jointed axle. This insulation is conveniently
effected by placing steel plates on each side of the conducting roller or brush;
but insulated therefrom by such materials, as vulcanite or suitable materials.―
There is a brush or scraper to remove dirt from the groove in the sleeper, which
is attached to the car in order that the escape of electricity may be reduced.-At
any convenient place a dynamo machine or other source of electricity is connected
with the conductor to supply the power. A reversing commutator in the car

page_text: enables the driver to go either forward or if in motion to stop or go backwards
at will.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of
the said Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried
out in practice, we hereby declare that we claim the said Invention of "Improve-
ments in Electric Railways" substantially as herein before set forth and described.
In witness whereof I the said Cromwell Flectwood Varley have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Twenty seventh day of July in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness:
T. MORGAN
21 Cockspur Street S.W.
C. F. VARLEY. (L.S.)