Improvements in Collectors for Electric Cars.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left. 9th May, 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Collectors for Electric Cars.
1, GEORGE SYLVESTER GRIMSTON, of Claremont, Glenluce Road, Westcombe
Park, in the County of Kent, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the conductors employed for transmitting electricity
from an overhead main conductor to a car travelling under the main conductor.
For this purpose the conductor is made in two rigid parts which may be rods or
tubes, connected together by a helical spring. The upper rigid part carries a
roller or rubber which travels along the main conductor, the lower rigid part is
firmly attached to the car, the spring which connects the two parts being bent so
that the upper part is inclined backwards, yields to inequalities of the road or of the
conductor above, whilst its elasticity keeps the roller or rubber always in contact
with the main conductor. The strength or yield of the spring may be varied by
enclosing more or less of its length within a sleeve or sleeves that can be screwed
along either or both of the rigid rods or tubes to which the two ends of the spring
are attached.
Dated this 21st day of August. 1891
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Collectors for Electric Cars.
I, GEORGE SYLVESTER GRIMSTON of Claremont, Glenluce Road, Westcombe
Park in the County of Kent, Electrical 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 :—
This invention relates to the conductors employed for transmitting electricity
from an overhead main conductor to a car travelling under the main conductor.
For this purpose, the conductor is made in two rigid parts which may be rods or
tubes connected together by a helical spring. The upper rigid part carries a roller
or rubber which travels along the main conductor, the lower rigid part is firmly
attached to the car, the spring which connects the two parts being bent so that the
upper part is inclined backwards, yields to inequalities of the road or of the
conductor above, whilst its elasticity keeps the roller or rubber always in contact
with the main conductor. The strength or yield of the spring may be varied by
enclosing more or less of its length within a sleeve or sleeves that can be screwed
along either or both of the rigid rods or tubes to which the two ends of the spring
are attached.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side view and Fig. 2 is an end view of
the upper part of a car with collector according to this invention for conducting
electricity from an overhead wire.
Fig. 3 is a part longitudinal section to an enlarged scale of the spring with means
of adjusting its flexibility.
Fig. 3 shews a modified form of spring.
Fig. 4 is an end view and Fig. 5 a side view showing a modified form of the
collector.
As shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, the collector consists of two rigid parts A and B,
which may be tubes, connected together by a helical spring C which, as shewn in
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page_text: Fig. 3, can have more or less of its length enclosed in screw sleeves D, so as to
have less or greater flexibility. As shewn in Fig. 3ª the spring may be double,
the internal spring C and an external spring C¹ which can be more or less_com-
pressed by screw collars D¹. The rigid part A is firmly secured to the car E, the
other part B carries a roller F which rolls along the underside of the overhead
conductor G allowing for inequalities of the conductor G and for oscillation of the
car connected to a cross bar or tube H which runs along the underside of the
conductor G.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
A collector for an electric car consisting of a part rigidly attached to the car an
inclined part having its end bearing against the overhead conductor, and a helical
spring connecting the two parts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. .
Dated this 9th day of May 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.