Improvements in and relating to Electric Railways.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Railways.
I, JAMES FERGUSON MUNSIE, residing at 337 Broadway Brooklyn, in the
County of Kings, State of New York, United States of America, 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 :-
My invention is designed principally for the adaptation of an ordinary tram-way
line to electric railway purposes by the installation in connection therewith, of
accessory parts which together make up a simple, durable, and economical under-
ground current-supply system.
In carrying out my invention, I establish, preferably in the space between
adjacent track-ways and below the surface of the road-bed, an underground conduit
for the reception of electric conductors and particularly for the reception of the
main line conductors carrying the car-motor current. At regular intervals along
the line of the track-ways, the underground conduit opens into wells or man-holes,
extending transversely to about the center of the track-way, at which points
supporting posts are located surmounted by contacts adapted to be electrically
connected to the main-line wires of the underground conduit, and said contacts are
stationed in front of the open ends of slotted guards or casings extending from
one well or man-hole to the next in the series, the said guards being firmly
supported by the track-way sleepers.
As thus constituted, the organization is well adapted to the electric propulsion
of cars constructed and arranged to carry a contact bar in circuit with the car
motor and making travelling connection with the main line contacts. The contacts
are supported upon insulators especially adapted for the purpose.
My invention is also designed to prevent grounding of the current at the point
where the arm or arms for suspending the contact bar or other contact device
passes through the conduit slot.
I
In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of my invention,
Fig 1 represents in cross-section, at one of the wells or manholes, an electric
railway embodying my improvements;
Fig. 14 represents, on a larger scale, a partial sectional view of one of the main
line contacts and its support;
Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section and partial elevation on a plane taken
through the center of the slotted casings ; and
"Fig. 3 represents, in cross-section, the electric railway at a point intermediate of
the wells or manholes.
Fig. 4 represents a side-elevation and partial section of a part of the road bed at
a point where a change of grade takes place and illustrates the action of the
longitudinally and laterally flexible contact bar;
Fig. 5 represents an end elevation and partial cross section of the parts shown in
Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 represents partly in section and on a larger scale an edge view. of the
contact bar at one of the flexible joints ;
1
Fig. 7 represents a side elevation thereof;
Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 represent respectively, a side elevation, vertical section,
plan view, and horizontal section of one form of insulating contact support;
Figs. 12. and 13 represent respectively a vertical section and horizontal section
of a modified form of insulating support.
Fig. 14 represents my preferred means for preventing grounding, of the current
at the conduit slot; and

page_text: Fig. 15 represents à cross-section on the line 15-15 of Fig. 14.
Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.
Referring to the drawings, 5 indicates the track-rails, 6, the stringers, and 7, the
sleepers of a tram-way, of an ordinary construction, to which my improvements
may be applied, for the purpose of adapting said tram-way to the electric
propulsion of cars. To this end, wells or man-holes 17 are established at regular
intervals along the line, said wells or man-holes being suitably walled in and
extending slightly beyond the centers of the track-ways and across the intervening
Брасе. Access is afforded to the interior of the wells by means of the removable
cover 20.
From one well to the next in the series extends a slotted guard-casing or box 16,
whose upper surface is at substantially a level with the road bed, and whose lower
surface rests upon and is firmly supported by the sleepers 7. In front of the open
ends of the casing, are located the contact rollers 18, of conducting material, mounted
in a metallic frame 21, having a pin projection 22, normally held out of electrical
contact with the metallic plate 23 by means of a spring 24, seated in a recess of the
insulator cover 25, said recess being protected against drippings from above by
means of the water shed flange 26. The main body portion of the insulator consists
of a cup-shaped portion 27, adapted to contain a body of sulphuric acid or other
hygroscopic material, and having a tubular central projection upon whose summit
rests the contact plate 23. Surrounding the tubular projection 28 is a concentric
partition 29 having basal apertures 30 to admit the hygroscopic liquid to the
intermediate space.
The insulator is mounted upon a hollow iron pillar 31 arranged within the well
or man-hole out of contact with the casing and well grounded, so that, in the event
of possible leakage of current, such leakage will be directly carried to earth, instead
of being transmitted to the walls of the casing. Within the hollow pillar 31 is
contained the tube 32, preferably of paper or other insulating material of appropriate
thickness, and through the said tube 32 and the tubular projection 28 of the
insulator passes the line-wire 33 conveying the current to the contact plate 23.
After the insulator cup 27 is attached to the pillar 31, and before the overhanging
cap-piece 25 is applied thereto, the space surrounding the conducting wire 33 is
filled in with a body of liquid insulating material such as melted tallow or the like,
whereupon the contact-plate 23 is secured in place.
The line-wire 33 enters the inner tube of the hollow pillar 31 from an under-
ground conduit 47 extending along the line of the track-ways and communicating
with the man-holes. In order to protect the insulator from being splashed by any
water which in rainy weather might collect in the casings and flow out of the open
ends thereof, I provide a gutter 34 and drip pipe 35 whereby such water may be
conveyed to the sewer-trap 36 at the center of the inclined bottom of the well or
man-hole.
The line wire furnishing the current from the distant generator and extending along
the line of track from end to end is in electrical connection with the contact plates 23,
which therefore form part of the generator circuit. The contact rollers 18, which
are held normally out of electrical connection with the plates 23 are adapted to be
depressed, so as to make electrical connection therewith, by means of the contact
bar 9 supported by suitable hangers 11 from the car or cars. The contact bar is in
electrical connection with the car motor, so that when said contact bar depresses
the contact roller 18 the generator current or a portion thereof passes through the
motor causing it to propel the car or cars. The contact bar is of such length as to
make connection with each of the contact rollers 18 before breaking contact with
the next preceding roller, thereby preserving a continuous supply of current to the
car motor. When the contact bar, during its forward travel leaves the contact
rollers, they successively resume their normal positions out of contact with the
plates 23.
In order to permit the contact bar 9 to pass around curves in the roadway, it is
made of flat metal, set edgewise, so as to be capable of lateral flexure; and in

page_text: order to permit it to follow changes of grade in the roadway, I construct the bar of
a number of sections of such flat metal connected by flexible joints, and at spaces
intermediate of the supports 11. By virtue of this construction the bar is
automatically kept in touch with the line wire contacts whatever variations the
track may make to the right or left of a straight line or whatever variations in
pitch may exist along the track.
The hangers 11 engage within slots 12 which permit the necessary longi-
tudinal movement requisite to the lateral flexure at the track curves, as will be
fully apparent. The joints, preferably midway of the hangers, are formed by
means of the cheek pieces 13, which are rigidly attached by two or more bolts 14 to
the end of one of the sections, and by a single bolt 15 to the end of the adjacent
section, the connection being such as to permit movement upon the bolt 15. As the
car or cars & pass from one grade to another the longitudinal flexure of the contact
When
bar at the joints between the hangers automatically compensates therefor.
the car or cars reach a level portion of the track the bar returns to its straight or
horizontal position.
By means of the wells or man-holes, the system may be kept under careful
supervision to insure its accuracy of operation. The hygroscopic material within
the insulator may be renewed from time to time as required, and while present will
tend to maintain the lower surface of the cap-piece 25 free from moisture so as to
In case of
guard against grounding of the current from the contact roller 18.
possible leakage of current from the insulator due to some unforeseen cause, the
current will be grounded through the pillar 31, instead of through the walls of the
casing, and consequently there will be no danger to be apprehended to life or
property by reason of contact with the casing.
A characteristic feature of my invention is that it may be applied without
material difficulty to existing tram-ways of an ordinary construction and at a com-
paratively small expenditure of time, labor or money. In this connection it will be
especially noted that the casings 16 are not conduits for the reception of the
line-wire but are simply guard boxes to receive the travelling contact bar and
protect it from injury during transit, the underground conduit for the line wires
being exterior to the casings and at such a distance from it as to be entirely
removed from its influence.
In some instances, it may be preferred to employ a form of feed-wire contact
adapted to co-operate with a bar passing along its under surface. In such case, I
may employ the modification shown in Figs. 12 and 13, wherein the base-piece 37,
cup-shaped portion 27, annular partition 29, and filling of hygroscopic liquid are
the same in substance as the like parts of the other form of insulator, save that the
partition is interrupted at the points 39, 40, as shown.
The tubular projection 41 is widened sufficiently to form a secure support for the
inner end of the contact plate 42 which is connected to the line wire 33 and which
passes outwardly beneath an overhanging projection 43 of the cap-piece 44. In
this modification of my invention the annular partition 29 prevents the accumulation
of moisture upon the inner end of the contact 42 and the insulating effect thus
produced is re-enforced by the outlying body of hygroscopic material in the space
outside of the partition.
To co-operate with this form of feed-wire contact, the hangers from the car
would require to be bent inwardly at their lower portions; this construction is
indicated in Fig. 14, wherein 52 indicates the hanger and 60 its inward bend, the
contact bar 54 being supported at the outer end of said bend.
In Figures 14 and 15, I also illustrate my preferred means of preventing
grounding of the current at the conduit slot, while at the same time protecting
the hanger by a suitable metallic supporting tube or shield. In these figures,
53 represents the shield, between which and the conducting hanger 52 is interposed
a suitable insulator 55. On the lower end of the shield 53 is a bell-mouthed
projection 56 as shown. The inside of this projection is kept dry by means of
hygroscopic material 58, such as chloride of calcium, contained within the cup 57

page_text: .
preferably of insulating material; or by means of heat applied in any suitable
manner. The overlapping projection 56 protects the hygroscopic material from
drippings of water, so that its function is restricted to absorbing such moisture as
would otherwise condense upon the under surface of the said projection. I may
also provide the shield 53 with a cup 59 at its upper end and place hygroscopic
material within said cup.
During a rain storm, water is liable to reach the shield 53 and to down
pass
along the same and to make electrical connection between said tube and the conduit
at the slot 51. The dry break between the cup 58 and the bell-mouth pro-
jection 56 is an efficient safe-guard against grounding of the current under such
circumstances.
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 I
claim is:
1. An electric railway consisting of a series of wells or man-holes spaced at
intervals along the line, slotted guard casings extending from one well to the next
in the series, feeding conductors exterior to said casings, and contacts connected to
the feeding conductors and located at the ends of the casings ; substantially as
described.
2. An electric railway consisting of a series of wells or man-holes spaced at
intervals along the line, slotted guard casings extending from one well to the next
in the series, an underground feeding conductor conduit extending along the line
exterior to the casings and communicating with the wells, and contacts connected
with the feeding conductors and located at the ends of the casings; substantially as
described.
3. An electric-railway consisting of a series of wells or man-holes spaced at
intervals along the line, slotted guard casings extending from one well to the next
in the series, feeding conductors exterior to said casings, contacts connected to the
feeding conductors and located at the ends of the casings, an insulating support for
said contacts, and a base of conducting material upon which the insulating support
is mounted, said base being grounded; substantially as described.
4. An electric railway consisting of a series of wells or man-holes spaced at
intervals along the line, slotted guard casings extending from one well to the next
in the series, feeding conductors, contacts connected to the feeding conductors and
located in front of the ends of the casings, and collecting pipes for carrying off
drippings from said ends; substantially as described.
5. In an electric railway of the kind described, the combination with the
insulator, of a support therefor consisting of a metallic pillar and an insulating tube
located within said pillar for the reception of the feed wire; substantially as
described.
6. In an electric railway, a car provided with a flat contact bar flexible edge-
wise; substantially as described.
7. In an electric railway, a car provided with a longitudinally and laterally flexible
contact bar; substantially as described.
8. In an electric railway, a car provided with a contact bar consisting of a
plurality of sections connected together by flexible joints; substantially as
described.
9. In an electric railway a car provided with a contact bar and consisting of a
plurality of sections jointed together at points intermediate of its supports; sub-
stantially as described.
10. In an electric railway, a car provided with a contact bar consisting of a
plurality of sections and side pieces rigidly connected to the end of one of the
sections and flexibly connected to the proximate end of the adjacent section;
substantially as described.
11. In an electric railway, a car provided with a contact bar consisting of a
plurality of sections, side-pieces connected to the end of one of the sections by a

page_text: plurality of bolts and to the proximate end of the adjacent section by a single bolt ;
substantially as described.
12. An insulator provided with a cup-shaped base, an inner projection for the
attachment of a contact, an outlying partition between the said inner projection
and the interior surface of the base, and an overhanging cap-piece, the space on
each side of the partition containing hygroscopic material; substantially as
described.
13. In an electrical railway system, a conductor to take up the electric current,
combined with a tube or shield therefor, an insulator on said shield to prevent
short-circuiting therethrough and a drying medium to counteract the effect of
moisture between the shield and conductor; substantially as described.
'
14. In an electrical railway system, a conductor to take up the current, combined
with a tube or shield therefor, an insulator and a hygroscopic material to dry said
insulator, substantially as described.
15. In an electrical railway system, a conductor to take up the current, combined
with a tube or shield for the same, a cap-piece on said shield and a cup beneath
said cap-piece containing an absorbent or drier to absorb moisture within the cap-
piece, substantially as described.
16. In an electrical railway system, a conductor to take up the electric current,
combined with a tube or shield for the same, a cap-piece on the same having its
opening facing downwards, and a cup beneath the latter carried by said conductor
and insulated from the cap-piece, and an absorbent or drier in said cup, substantially
as described.
17. In an electrical railway system, a conductor to take up the electric current,
combined with a tube or shield on the same, and insulators on opposite ends of the
shield, and a drying medium to prevent moisture collecting between the insulator
and the conductor at the ends of the shield; substantially as described.
Dated this ash dave of Naramba 1901
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.