Year: 1899

page_text: I, ERNEST ROWLAND HILL, of No. 814, Maple Avenue, Wilkinsburg, in the
County of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., Electrical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to electric lighting systems for electric railways and
particularly to those railways in which energy is supplied to the lamps from a
third wire or similar system embodying positive, negative and neutral conductors
between two of which conductors the electric lamps are connected.
My invention is more particularly intended for use on those railways on which
the cars are driven by electric motors but is applicable to railways in which the
cars are not so driven.
In railways of the kind above mentioned the positive and negative conductors
are usually arranged either in alternating sections or continuously along parallel
or substantially parallel lines of track, the neutral conductors being continuous
In order to avoid short circuits it is essential that the current collecting devices
carried by the cars shall not bridge the space between successive conductors in
the first case or the conductors of opposite sign in passing from one track to
another in the second case. When, however, current is supplied to lamps for
lighting the train from this conductor it is of course necessary that such supply
shall not be discontinued at any time, otherwise the cars would sometimes be
devoid of illumination.
According to the present invention I avoid the difficulty by employing two sets
of lamps and two current collectors on the car, one of the current collectors is
connected to one set of lamps and the other to the other set of lamps, both sets
being also joined through a third collector (usually the wheels of the car) to one
of the neutral conductors of the system. The current collectors are so arranged
that the two together bridge the space between adjacent conductors so that one or
other of said collectors will always be in contact with one or other of the conductor
sections; at the same time if the space between the conductor sections is bridged
there will be no short circuit established because the current will require to flow
through both sets of lamps in passing from one section to the other."
In the accompanying drawings :
Figure 1 is a diagram of a three wire railway lighting system arranged in accord-
ance with my invention, and
Tice is a dio showing o modifiantion

page_text: 6
In Figure 1 the generators are shewn at 1, 2; 3 is the positive feeder main
which is connected to sectional conductors 4, these latter alternating with sectional
conductors 6 connected to the negative feeder main 5. The sectional conductors 4,
may be of any suitable length and usually are many times the length of the
space between the adjacent ends of the sections. is the neutral conductor or
third wire which may be continuous and is connected to the generators 1 and 2
in the usual manner.
The car is merely indicated diagrammatically by means of two wheels 8 and 9
which run upon the neutral conductor 7 which is used as a track rail or rails.
10 and 11 are the car motors and 12 and 13 are two sets of lamps which are used
for illuminating the car. One ond of the lamp circuit 12 and one terminal of the
car motor 10 are connected together and to a pair of contact shoes 14 which are
electrically connected and span a space of less distance than that between the
sectional conductors 4 and 6. The terminal of the other set of lamps 13 and the
other motor is similarly connected to the shoes 15 which are arranged similarly to
the shoes 14 but overlapping in position so that the extreme end shoe 14 will not
leave one conductor before the shoe 15 at the other end makes contact with the next
conductor. The free terminals of the motors and lamp circuits are connected
together and through the wheel y to the neutral conductor 7.
It will be readily understood by engineers from the diagram that when one of
the contact shoes 14 is in connection with one of the sectional conductors as shewn
in the diagram current will be supplied to the motor 10 and set of lamps 12 only,
when, however, both contact shoes 14 and 15 are connected to the same sectional
conductor which would be the case if the car in Figure 1 be moved a short distance
to the right, both sets of lamps and both motors will be supplied in parallel
between the outer conductor and the neutral conductor. If, however, the end
shoe 14 make connection with one of the sectional conductors and the shoe 15
at the other end make connection with the adjacent sectional conductor which
is opposite in sign the two sets of lamps and both motors will be supplied in series
from the positive and negative feeders as would be the case if the car be moved
a little to the left in Figure 1. If the conductor 15 only be in contact with one
of the sectional conductors 4 or 6 the set of lamps 13 and the motor 11 will be
supplied with current from one of the feeders and the neutral conductor. It is
clear, therefore, that in all positions of the car at least one set of lamps will be
supplied with current.
In Figure 2 the outer conductors 3, 5 are shewn as continuous, two tracks being
employed. The neutral conductors 7 are connected in parallel at numerous points
by the wires 16 and are connected between two generators. When two or more
lines of track are so arranged it is usually necessary to have switches and cross-
over devices to enable the cars to pass from one track to another, in this Figure
the cross-over track is indicated at 17 and forms the neutral conductor being
connected to the two conductors 7. The positive feeder 3 is provided with an
extension 18 parallel to the track 17 and the negative conductor 5 is provided with
an extension 19 parallel to the same, a space being left between the ends of the
extensions.
The car is provided with two sets of lamps and collectors as above described
with reference to Figure 1 and it will be clear that under these conditions one
or other of the set of lamps will always be supplied with current. In this diagram
I have only shewn one motor 10 so that during a short perind when the contact
shoe 14 does not make contact with the sectional conductors 18 or 19 the car
will be moving by its own momentum, but obviously two motors as shewn in
Figure 1 might be employed.
It is clear that my system is applicable to a train of cars as shewn in the upper
part of Figure 2 each car of the train being provided with two sets of lamps, one
set being connected to a current collector at one end of the train and the other
being connected to the current collector at the other end of the train. The only
difference which the length of the train makes is in the distance between the con-

page_text: tact shoes 15 at one end and the contact shoes 14 at the other end. If the train
bas only one motor car it will be provided with contact shoes arranged as shewn
in Figure 1, or, where one motor only is employed on the car, as shewn in the
middle of Figure 2.
My invention may be applied to cars having more than two motors one or more
of said motors being arranged in parallel with one set of lamps and the remaining
motors being arranged in parallel with the second set of lamps and being connected
to the other contact shoe. Where two or more motors are thus employed I
ensure by this means that energy for the propulsion can always be obtained and
thereby secure smooth and easy running.
My invention may obviously be employed for lighting cars or trains electrically
where the propelling energy is not obtained from an electrical source.
Dated this 13th day of November 1899.
Improvements in the Electric Lighting of Railway Vehicles.
L, ERNEST ROWLAND HILL, of No. 814, Maple Avenue, Wilkinsburg, in the
County of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., 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 follow-
ing statement:-
My invention relates to electric lighting systems for electric railways and
particularly to those railways in which energy is supplied to the lamps from a
third wire or similar system embodying positive, negative and neutral conductors
between two of which conductors the electric lamps are connected.
My invention is more particularly intended for use on those railways on which
the cars are driven by electric motors but is applicable to railways in which the
cars are not so driven.
In railways of the kind above-mentioned the positive and negative conductors
are usually arranged either in alternating sections or continuously along parallel
or substantially parallel lines of track, the neutral conductors being continuous.
In order to avoid short circuits it is essential that the current collecting devices
carried by the cars shall not bridge the space between successive conductors in
the first case or the conductors of opposite sign in passing from one track to
another in the second case. When, however, current is supplied to lamps for
Jighting the train from this conductor it is of course necessary that such supply
shall not be discontinued at any time, otherwise the cars would sometimes be
devoid of illumination.
According to the present invention I avoid the difficulty by employing two sets
of lamps and two current collectors on the car, one of the current collectors is
connected to one set of lamps and the other to the other set of lamps, both sets
being also joined through a third collector (usually the wheels of the car) to one
of the neutral conductors of the system. The current collectors are so arranged
that the two together bridge the space between adjacent conductors so that one or
other of said collectors will always be in contact with one or other of the conductor
sections; at the same time if the space between the conductor sections is bridged
there will be no short circuit established because the current will require to flow
through both sets of lumps in passing from one section to the other.
In the accompanying drawings;
•

page_text: Figure 1 is a diagram of a three-wire railway system arranged in accordance
with my invention, and
Figure 2 is a diagram showing a modification.
In Figure 1 the generators are shown at 1, 2; 3 is the positive feeder main
which is connected to sectional conductors 4, these latter alternating with sectional
conductors 6 connected to the negative feeder main 5. The sectional conductors 4,
6 may be of any suitable length and usually are many times the length of the
space between the adjacent ends of the sections. 7 is the neutral conductor or
third wire which may be continuous and is connected to the generators 1 and 2
in the usual manner.
The car is merely indicated diagrammatically by means of two wheels 8 and 9
which run upon the neutral conductor 7 which is used as a track rail or rails.
10 and 11 are the car motors and 12 and 13 are two sets of lamps which are used
for illuminating the car. One end of the lamp circuit 12 and one terminal of the
car motor 10 are connected together and to a pair of contact shoes 14 which are
electrically connected and span a space of less distance than that between the
sectional conductors 4 and 6. The terminal of the other set of lamps 13 and the
other motor 11 is similarly connected to the shoes 15 which are arranged similarly
to the shoes 14 but overlapping in position so that the extreme end shoe 14 will
not leave one conductor before the shoe 15 at the other end makes contact with
the next conductor. The free terminals of the motors and lamp circuita are con-
nected together and through the wheel 9 to the neutral conductor 7.
It will be readily understood by engineers from the diagram that when one of
the contact shoes 14 is in connection with one of the sectional conductors as shown
in the diagram, current will be supplied to the motor 10 and set of lamps 12 only,
when, however, both contact shoes 14 and 15 are connected to the same sectionál
conductor which would be the case if the car in Figure 1 be moved a short distance
in the upward direction according to the diagram, both sets of lamps and both
motors will be supplied in parallel between the outer conductor and the neutral
conductor. If, however, the end shoe 14 make connection with one of the sectional
conductors and the shoe 15 at the other end make connection with the adjacent
sectional conductor which is opposite in sign, the two sets of lamps and both motors
will be supplied in series from the positive and negative feeders as would be the
case if the car be moved a little in the downward direction according to the diagram
in Figure 1. If the conductor 15 only be in contact with one of the sectional
conductors 4 or 6 the set of lamps 13 and the motor 11 will be supplied with current
from one of the feeders and the neutral conductor. It is clear, therefore, that in
all positions of the car at least one set of lamps will be supplied with current.
In Figure 2 the outer conductors 3, 5 are shown as continuous, two tracks being
employed. The neutral conductors 7 are connected in parallel at numerous points
by the wires 16 and are connected between the two generators. When two or more
lines of track are so arranged it is usually necessary to have switches and cross-
over devices to enable the cars to pass from one track to another, in this Figure
the cross-over track is indicated at 17 and forms the neutral conductor being
connected to the two conductors 7. The positive feeder 3 is provided with an
extension 18 parallel to the track 17 and the negative conductor 5 is provided with
an extension 19 parallel to the same, a space being left between the ends of the
extensions.
The car is provided with two sets of lamps and collectors as above described
with reference to Figure 1 and it will be clear that under these conditions one
or other of the set of lamps will always be supplied with current. In this diagram
I have only shown one motor 10 so that during a short period when the contact
shoe 14 does not make contact with either of the sectional conductors 18 or 19 the
car will be moving by its own momentum, but obviously two motors as shown in
Figure 1 might be employed.
It is clear that my system is applicable to a train of cars as shown in the upper
part of Figure 2 each car of the train being provided with two sets of lamps, one

page_text: set being connected to a current collector at one end of the train and the other
being connected to the current collector at the other end of the train. The only
difference which the length of the train makes is in the distance between the con-
tact shoes 15 at one end and the contact shoes 14 at the other end. If the train
has only one motor car it will be provided with contact shoes arranged as shown
in Figure 1, or, where one motor only is employed on the car, as shown in the
middle of Figure 2.
My invention may be applied to cars having more than two motors one or more
of said motors being arranged in parallel with one set of lamps and the remaining
motors being arranged in parallel with the second set of lamps and being connected
to the other contact shoe. Where two or more motors are thus employed I
ensure by this means that energy for the propulsion can always be obtained and
thereby secure smooth and easy running.
My invention may obviously be employed for lighting cars or trains electrically
where the propelling energy is not obtained from an electrical source.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. Railway vehicles lighted electrically from a three wire or similar system
and provided with two current collectors between which and the neutral conductor
two sets of lamps are severally connected, the collectors being arranged to severally
engage one or both of the positive or negative conductors, for the purpose specified.
2. In an electric railway embodying continuous neutral contact conductors and
interrupted positive and negative contact conductors, a car or train having two
independent current collectors each of which spans a less space, but both of which
combined span a greater space than that between adjacent ends of positive and
negative contact conductors so that in every position of the car at least one of
such collectors shall be in engagement with either a positive or a negative con-
ductor for the purpose of supplying current to the car lamps or to propelling
motors or both substantially as described.
3. The systems of supplying electric energy to cars or trains substantially as
described with reference to Figure 1 or to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of August 1900.
FREDERICK WILLIAM LE TALL.
Chartered Patent Agent,
The Westinghouse Patent Bureau, Westinghouse Building,
Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C.