Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1889
Specification Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1889
I, CLARK HOMER WELLS, a Citizen of the United States of America, residing at
Number 1216 Washington Street, Kansas City, in the County of Jackson and Stato
of Missouri, one of the United States of America, Electrician, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to bo
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
"
My invention is designed for use in connection with those systems of electric
railways, wherein the current is supplied to the car motor from one or more suspended
or overhoad wires, adapted to serve as the trackway of travelling trolleys of
conducting material said trolleys being in electric contact with said trackways and
connected by depending conductors with the car motor, the arrangement being such
that the depending conductors and the trolleys travel with the car.
In electric railway systems of this general character, the particular exigencies of
the case frequently require that for a portion of its length the same conductor be
employed for trolleys supplying motors upon cars travelling in opposite directions.
In such case it is obvious that in order for the two oppositely moving trolleys to pass
each other without interference, one of thein must pass out upon a branch from the
main conductor, and that a movable switch must be provided at the point of meeting of
said branch and main conductors.
In those instances where the return current to the source of electrical energy is
conveyed by a second overhead conductor also provided with a travelling trolley and
depending connection, a similar branch and switch must be provided for said second
conductor.
The same necessity arises where from a terminal point or station, two branch
conductors or pairs of conductors extend along the route traversed, one of said branch
conductors or pairs of conductors serving the motors of cars travelling toward the
terminal, and the other serving the motors of cars travelling from it. In such case, it
has been customary for the branch conductors to connect by means of a switch with
main conductors common to both, a manually operated switch being necessary to
transfer the trolleys from the branch to the main, and out again upon the other branch
for the return trip.

page_text: The purpose of my invention is to obviate the loss of time, and inconvenience
consequent upon these manually operated switches, by providing a switch of such a
character that the trolley or trolleys advancing toward it automatically shift said
trolley or trolleys upon one of the branches, said switch also permitting the passage
of a trolley or trolleys past it from the other branch, both operations being effected
without manual intervention of any kind whatever.
In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, 1 have
illustrated my invention as applied to an overhead system of the two wire type.
Figure 1 represents a plan view of such a system, embodying my improvements.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation thereof, the point of view being at the lower
part of figure 1.
Figure 3 represents in detail a side elevation at the point of meeting of the con-
ductor shown at the upper part of figure 1, and one part of the movable switch.
Figure 4 represents a like view at the point of meeting of the conductor shown at
the lower part of figure 1, and the other part of the movable switch.
Figures 5 and 6 represent, in detail, plan views of the switch-crossing, the switch
being shown as opened by the passage of a trolley on the upper conductor in onc
direction, and as remaining closed during tho passage of a trolley on the lower
conductor in the opposite direction.
Figures 7 and 8 represent end views of the system, showing respectively the
trolleys as passing out upon a branch, and as entering upon the main line, and
operating the switch in their passage.
Figuros 9 and 10 represent respectively plan views of figures 7 and 8.
Figure 11 represents a cross section taken upon a line 11-11 of figure 1.
Figure 12 represents in detail side elevation one of the outgoing trolleys on its way
towards the switch crossing.
Figure 13 represents in detail end elevation the approach of one of the incoming
trolleys toward said crossing.
Figures 14 and 15 represent respectively and upon an enlarged scale, a side elevation
and plan view of the gravitating hingod arm forming a part of the switch.
Figure 16 represents a flexiblo track hanger.
Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.
In the drawings, 1. 2 indicate "overhead" main conductors of opposite sign,
carrying respectively the incoming and returning currents of the car motors and
serving as trackways for the travelling contact trolleys of said motors.
For the purposes of illustration, I will assume that a terminal station is located at
the proximate ends of these main conductors, the line 1. 3 representing a branch,
supporting trolleys moving towards the said terminal and the line 2. 4 representing
a branch, supporting trolleys moving from the terminal. The conductors 1. 2. 3. 4
are supported in the usual manner from fixed bracket arms 5 or the like attached
securely to a suitable bearing frame, as indicated in dotted lines in figure 1 and in
full lines in the other figures. The trolleys of conducting material are of the usual
form employed for overhead systems, and have a double flange forming a deep
intermediate groove as shown, the depending conductor 6 serving as the trolley axle,
and having a double bend 7 so as to bring it directly in line with the trolley itself.
Below the bend it is provided with a heavy insulating sleeve 8.
The conductors 1. 2 are continuous throughout and at the switch are located in the
same horizontal plane. The main portion of said conductors is as usual circular in
cross-section but at the point of divergence toward the branches and preferably for
some distance beyond said points, the said conductors are flattened out so as to form
broad vertical faces or contact surfaces 9. 10. The proximate end 11 of the branch
conductor 4 is flattened to correspond to the surface 9, and normally rests against
said surface, the combined thickness of the main conductor and branch along the
points of contact being equal to or less than the diameter of the main body, so that a
trolley passing over the joint may not be forced off its track.
•
The branch conductor 4 rises from the horizontal plane of the main conductors 1. 2
forming a curve above the switch section 12 and again dropping to the horizontal

page_text: plane at the point 17, the highest point of the curve being just over the switch
section 12.
The said curved portion of the branch conductor 4 is rigidly connected at the point
18 to one of the brackets or hangers 5, but is flexiblo beyond said point toward its
free end, said free end boing sustained by the hanger 15.
This hanger is of such a character as to normally hold the flattened surface 11 of
the branch conductor against the flattened surface 9 of the main conductor 1 thereby
ensuring good electrical contact along said surfaces. To attain this purpose, I prefer-
ably provide said hanger 15 with a loose joint as shown. This joint is outside of the
center of gravity of the depending arm of the hanger whereby the latter tends
constantly to gravitate into a vertical plane and is of sufficient weight to normally
hold the free end of the branch conductor against the flattened surface of the
main conductor 1, whilst at the same time it permits said free end to swing
inwardly when slfifted by the passage of a trolley as hereinafter described, dropping
back to the normal position after the trolley has passed. It is evident that the
depending arm of the hanger instead of being jointed, might be of flexible material
closing the connection with the main conductor as before, but by reason of its flexibility
capable of permitting the inward swing of the branch conductor, as describeḍ.
The branch conductor 3 dips downwardly in a descending curve from a point 25
to its free end 13 which is flattened and forms a lap joint as shown with the Hattened
and 14 of the movable switch section 12. The said switch section is supported upon
hangers 19, 20 of the kind hereinbefore described. From the lap joint referred to
the switch section 12 curves gradually upward and terminates in a second flattened
portion 16 fitting against the flattened portion 10 of the main conductor 2. The
swinging arus or brackets 19, 20 serve to maintain the movable switch section
normally in the position shown in full lines in figure 1, but permit it to be shifted by
the trolleys in the manner hereinafter set forth.
At the flattened end 13 of the conductor 3 and at the flattened end 16 of the switch
section 12, aro provided gravitating arms 22. 23, similarly disposed with relation to
said ends. It will be noted that these arms are hinged to the flattened ends at an
angle to the perpendicular, whereby they normally drop obliquely downward and
inward from said ends, the extent of the drop being limited by the back stops 24 as
shown more fully in figures 14 and 15. The length and inclination of the arm 22 is
so chosen that it will lie in the path of movement of the bend 7 of a trolley advancing
toward it from the main conductor 1; whilst arm 23 is so arranged as to guide the
insulated portion of a trolley passing out upon the branch 4, in such manner as to cause it
to separate the lap joint at the junction of the branch 3 and movable switch section 12.
The parts being constructed and arranged as described the operation of my invention
is as follows;
In moving out upon the branch 4. 2, the trolleys shown in figure 1 upon the main
conductors 1.2 must pass the switch. The bend 7 of tho right hand trolley in passing
the switch strikes the depending arm 22, thereby causing the switch section 12 to
swing inwardly through the intermediency of the hanger 20 into the position shown
in dotted lines in figure 1 and in full lines in figures 7 and 9. This shifting of the
switch section permits the trolleys to pass out along the main. With the passage of
the trolley the hanger 20 drops back to its original position thereby restoring the
switch section. The trolley shown on the conductor 1 of figure 1 in passing out on
the branch rises upon the curved section of the branch 4 until it attains the summit of
said curve.
At this point of its route, the insulated portion S, is guided by the
depending arm 23 directly to the lap joint formed between the end 13 of the branch 3
and the end 14 of the movable switch section 12. The said insulated portion 8
accordingly opens said lap joint, as illustrated more fully in figure 5, thereby
permitting the depending connection froin the trolley to the motor to pass the switch.
When the trolley has passed, the gravitating hanger 19 brings the switch section back
to its original position, closing the lap joint.
In passing from the branch 1. 3 to the main conductors 1. 2, the bend 7 of the
outside trolley enters the angle formed between the conductor 1 and the free end of

page_text: the branch conductor 4 forcing said free end to swing inwardly upon its hanger 15 as
shown in dotted lines in figure 1 and in full lines in figures 8 and 10. After the
passage of the trolley, the free end of the conductor 4 swings back to its original
position.
The trolley upon the branch conductor 3 passes in upon the main conductor 2,
past the gravitating arms 23, 22, which being hinged fold inwardly upon the hinge
joints so as to permit the passage of the trolley whereupon they drop back to their
normal positions.
It is evident that without departing from the spirit of my invention, the positions
of the swinging hanger 19 and the adjacent rigid support 5 with respect to the lap
joint between them might be reversed and the same result attained; that is a swinging
hanger might be arranged to support the free end of the branch conductor 3, and in
the inner end of the movable hanger in that case be rigidly supported, involving
merely an inversion of the parts.
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 1
claim is :-
1. An overhead system for electric railways provided with travelling trolleys and
depending motor connections, and consisting of main conductors carrying currents
of opposite polarity, two pairs of branch conductors the outer members of which form
continuations of the main conductors, and an automatic switch connecting the inner
members of said pairs of branch conductors to the main conductors; substantially as
described.
2. An overhead system for electric railways provided with travelling trolleys and
depending motor connections, and consisting of main conductors carrying currents of
opposito polarity, two pairs of branch conductors the outer members of which form
continuations of the main conductors, and the inner members being connected to
said main conductors by an automatic switch provided with flexibly supported end
sections normally in contact with said main conductors, but adapted to be swung
aside to permit the passage of trolleys travelling in either direction; substantially as
described.
3. An overhead system for electric railways provided with travelling trolleys and
depending notor connections, and consisting of main conductors carrying currents of
opposite polarity, two pairs of branch conductors the outer members of which form
continuations of the main conductors, a swinging bracket supporting the free end of
one of the inner branch conductors and holding it normally in contact with one of the
main conductors, a movable switch section connecting the free end of the other
branch conductor to the other main conductor, and swinging brackets normally holding
said switch section in contact with said latter branch and main conductors; substantially
as described.
4. An overhead system for electric railways provided with travelling trolleys and
depending motor connections, and consisting of main conductors carrying currents of
opposito polarity, two pairs of branch conductors the outer members of which form
continuations of the main conductors, a swinging bracket supporting the free end of
one of the inner branch conductors and holding it normally in contact with one of the
main conductors, said free end rising from its point of contact with the main
conductor to the point where it crosses the plane of the other branch conductor,
and a movable switch section connecting the free end of said latter branch conductor
with the remaining main conductor, and swinging brackets normally holding said
switch section in contact with the latter branch and main conductors; substantially as
described.
5. An overhead system for electric railways provided with travelling trolleys and
depending motor connections, and consisting of main conductors carrying currents of
opposite polarity, two pairs of branch conductors the outer members of which form
continuations of the main conductors, a swinging bracket supporting the free end of
one of the inner branch conductors and holding it normally in contact with one of the

page_text: main conductors, said free end rising gradually from its point of contact with the main
conductor to the point where it crosses the plane of the other branch conductor, a
Inovable switch section connecting the free ond of the other branch conductor with the
remaining main conductor, said free end and said movable switch section being each
provided with a gravitating guide arm, and swinging brackets normally holding said
switch section in contact with the said latter branch and main conductors; substantially
as described.
6. An overhead system for electric railways provided with travelling trolleys and
depending motor connections, and consisting of main conductors carrying currents of
opposite polarity, two pairs of branch conductors the outer members of which form
continuations of the main conductors, a swinging bracket supporting the free end of one
of the inner branch conductors and holding it normally in contact with one of the
main conductors, said main conductor and free end being flattened at their surfaces of
contact and said free end rising gradually from its point of contact to the point where
it crosses the plane of the other branch conductor, a movable switch section flattened
at its opposite ends and forming a lap joint with the flattened free end of the other
branch conductor and with the remaining main conductor, said free end and
said movable switch section being each provided with a gravitating guide arm for
shifting the switch section, and swinging brackets normally holding said switch
section in contact with the said latter branch and main conductors; substantially as
described.
7. An overhead system for electric railways provided with travelling trolleys having
depending motor connections, and consisting of main conductors, and two pairs of
branch conductors the outer members of said pairs forming continuations of the main
conductors, and the inner members crossing the one above the other at the switch, the
lower one being provided at the point of crossing with a separable joint normally
closed, but permitting the passage of the depending motor connection of a trolley
upon the upper branch; substantially as described.
8. In an overhead system for electric railways of the kind described the combination
with a movable switch section of an obliquely hinged gravitating guide arm, adapted
thereby to fall normally in the path of a trolley advancing toward the branch from the
innin line, but to be thrown out of obstructive engagement by the trolleys advancing
in the opposite direction; substantially as described.
9. In an overhead system for electric railways provided with trolleys and depending
motor connections, the combination with a main conductor of a branch and a swinging
hanger supporting the free end of the branch and normally holding it in contact with
said main conductor, and a gravitating obliquely-hinged guide arm attached to the free
end of said branch and projecting into the path of movement of a trolley advancing
along the main conductor; substantially as described.