Improvements in Trolley Supports for Trolley Cars.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1896-Accepted, 20th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Trolley Supports for Trolley Cars.
I, OTTO HOLZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at 239 Liberty Street,
of Schenectady, in the County of Schenectady, and State of New York, U.S.A.
Electrician, 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 :-
This invention relates to trolley arms, and trolley wheels for trolley cars, and
the object thereof, is to provide a trolley arm, with a spring supported trolley
wheel or wheels; a further object being to provide a combination of two trolley
wheels, which are provided with peripheral grooves and which are adapted to be
supported side by side, and between which the main trolley wire or conductor
passes.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which :-
Fig. 1, is a side view of a section of a trolley arm showing my improvement
connected therewith, part of the construction being shown in section;
Fig. 2, an end view thereof; and,
Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of construction, the
trolley wheels and their immediate supports being only shown.
In the drawing forming part of this specification, A, represents a trolley arm,
which in practice is rigidly secured to a car, and which projects backwardly and
upwardly, at an inclination from the top of the car, and which is provided at its
upper end with a horizontal backwardly directed extension a, and mounted thereon,
is a vertical oblong frame B, which is composed of side pieces b, and end pieces b³,
and through which passes a vertical rod D, which is provided at its upper end with
two spring arms G, which are curved outwardly and upwardly, and then outwardly
and upwardly, so as to form extensions or shafts g, on each of which is mounted a
wheel K, each of which is provided with a peripheral groove k.
The rod D, extends vertically through the frame B, and through the extension a,
of the arm A, and is free to move vertically therein, and mounted thereon within
said frame is a spiral spring H, one end of which bears upon the lower portion of
the frame B, and the upper end of which bears upon a disc or plate h, secured to
the rod D, and it will be seen that said rod, and the wheels K, which are supported
thereon, may be depressed against the operation of said spring by pulling thereon,
or whenever pressure is applied, either to the supports of the wheels K, or through
the arms A.
In ordinary forms of construction, this result is accomplished by means of a
spring connected with the lower end of the arm A, whereby said arm is given a
spring actuated movement, and this manner of connecting the arm A, with the car
is expensive, and not so convenient and effective as that herein described.
I also connect with the outwardly directed portions of the spring G, by which
the wheels K, are supported, cords chains or other devices L, which extend
downwardly, and are connected at M, from which point a single, cord, chain or
other device O, extends, and said cord or chain O, is under the control of the
conductor or motorman and may be operated to depress the wheels K, whenever
desired, and also for separating said wheels in order to permit of the introduction
of the trolley wire or conductor between the same.
The spring arms G, are so connected that by simply pulling on the cord O, the
wheels will be separated and when thus separated, the trolley wire or conductor

page_text: may be passed between said wheels, after which the arms and the wheels assume
the position shown in Fig. 2, and the trolley wire or conductor passes through a
circular groove formed by the annular groove k, in said wheels, and said trolley
wire or conductor, and said wheels K, cannot be separated under ordinary
circumstances, and are not liable to become detached in the operation of the car.
In Fig. 3, the spring G, are of slightly different form and the extensions or
shafts g, connected therewith, are extended or lengthened and the wheels K, assume
the form of spools, and by this arrangement the space between said wheels is much
elongated, and the trolley wire is free to move between the spools, and is also
capable of vertical movement, without being detached or dis-connected from the
spools or wheels.
This device is simple in construction and operation and is also comparatively
inexpensive, while being perfectly adapted to accomplish the result for which it is
intended, and it is evident that changes in, and modifications of the construction
herein described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention,
or sacrificing its advantages; and I reserve the right to make all such alterations
therein, and modifications thereof, as fairly come within the scope of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said iuven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a trolley arm, which is adapted to be secured to a car,
of a frame supported thereby, and a spring operated rod which passes therethrough,
said rod being provided at its upper end with spring arms, and two wheels or
pulleys which are mounted thereon, and which are arranged horizontally, and
provided with peripheral grooves, and between which the trolley wire or conductor
is adapted to pass, substantially as shown and described.
2. The combination with a trolley arm, which is adapted to be secured to a car,
of a frame supported thereby, and a spring operated rod which passes therethrough,
said rod being provided at its upper end with spring arms, and o wheels or
pulleys which are mounted thereon, and which are arranged horizontally and
provided with peripheral grooves, and between which the trolley wir. or conductor
is adapted to pass, said spring arms by which the wheels or pulleys e supported
being each provided with a cord or other device which extenus therefrom,
substantially as shown and described.
3. The combination with a trolley arm, which is adapted to be rigidly secured
to a car, of a frame supported on the upper end thereof, a ver. cally movable
spring operated rod supported in said frame, and spring arms connected with the
upper end of said rod, and a grooved wheel or spool mounted on each of said arms
and between which the trolley wire or conductor, is adapted to s, and means
connected with said spring arms separating the same, substantially as shown and
described.
Dated this 14th day of May 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, V.C., Agents.