IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEMS
Year: 1885

page_text: I THOMAS JOHN HANDFORD of 42 Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEMS" a communication to me from
abroad by Frank Julian Sprague of New York in the County of New York and
State of New York, United States of America, Electrical Engineer to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce an economical and efficient system for
utilizing electricity as the motive power in railways; and the invention consists in
the various novel arrangements and devices, employed in accomplishing the above
named object as hereinafter described.
In carrying out this invention my foreign correspondent provides first one or
more continuous main conductors, preferably of low resistance which may be carried
on poles, placed in pipes, buried underground, carried on or under the ties or placed
and protected in any other suitable manner. But preferably they are placed in
pipes or tubes underground. The electric motors which run on the railway do not
take their current directly from these main conductors, but such conductors are
connected at intervals with others which may be termed "working conductors"
and from which the current is taken. These working conductors may be
continuous, but for lines of any length it is preferred to divide them into regular
sections. The conductors are insulated from the earth and from other liue
connections and may be placed in any suitable position to be in connection with
the motors. My said foreign correspondent prefers to employ central rails placed
between the rails of the track, though in some cases the conductors may be wires
or bars placed in a trench between the rails, or wires placed upon poles may be
used; also in some cases the rails of the track form one side of the working circuit.
The two sets of conductors are normally connected together at intervals by means
of branch conductors.
+
In some cases when the working conductors are above ground, I provide a shield
above them to protect them from the weather.

page_text: By this invention is provided a path of low resistance for the main current and a
conductor therefor which is not subject to the wear and tear of the moving contact
with the motors on which owing to the low resistance there will be little loss
from leakage and which, if the working conductor is damaged or broken at any
point, still maintains an unbroken circuit to the rest of the line. Further the
amount of the working conductor's resistance in circuit at any time is never more
than that of one of its sections, the circuit of the section being closed simply by
the passage of the motor upon it, the working conductors being normally connected
with the main conductors by the branch conductors. Safety-catches and hand
switches may be placed in the branch conductors if desired.
To supply the main conductors with current my said foreign correspondent
prefers to connect several generators or several series of generators at different
points along the line so as to maintain an equality of load and the same potential
at all the generator terminals wherever the motors may be on the line, by which
arrangement the most efficient work is obtained.
For each section of the working conductor, an electrically operated signalling
device is provided, placed preferably in the branch which connects such section
with the main conductors. When circuit is closed in a section by the entrance
'upon it of a motor such signalling device is put in operation. A visual signal is
preferred though a continuously ringing bell may be employed. The signal
indicates to a following or oppositely approaching train that the section is already
occupied.
If wires are used for the working conductors, means are provided for maintaining
a normal degree of mechanical tension upon such conductors. For this purpose
adjustable springs or equivalent devices are connected with the working conductor
at different points such springs being placed out of the line of continuity of the
conductor.
If from heat or other causes the wire tends to become slack the springs auto-
matically tighten it. The connections of the branch conductors to the working
conductors are made in such manner as not to interfere with the motor contacts
taking ourrent therefrom,
In taking the current from the working conductors it is best to use two or more
current collectors such as rollers, springs or brushes, placed one behind another and
connected with the same terminal of the motor so as to afford continuous contact
in passing over a break or depression in a working conductor or in the rails when
they are used as the return circuit.
My said foreign correspondent provides in connection with a motor suitable
regulating and circuit controlling devices.

page_text: I THOMAS JOHN HANDFORD of 42 Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent 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:-
The object of this invention is to produce an economical and efficient system for
utilizing electricity as the motive power in railways; and the invention consists
in the various novel arrangements and devices employed in accomplishing the above
named object as hereinafter described.
In carrying out this invention, my foreign correspondent provides first one or
more continuous main conductors, preferably of low resistance, which may be carried
on poles, placed in pipes, buried underground, carried on or under the ties or
placed and protected in any other suitable manner. But preferably they are placed
in pipes or tubes underground. The electric motors which run on the railway do
not take their current directly from these main conductors but such conductors
are connected at intervals with others which may be termed "working conductors"
and from which the current is taken. These working conductors may be continuous,
but for lines of any length it is preferred to divide them into regular sections.
The conductors are insulated from the earth and from other line.connections and
may be placed in any suitable position to be in connection with the motors. My
said foreign correspondent prefers to employ central rails placed between the rails
of the track, though in some cases the conductors may be wires or bars placed in a
trench between the rails, or wires placed upon poles may be used; also in some
cases the rails of the track form one side of the working circuit.
The two sets of conductors are normally connected together at intervals by
means of branch conductors.
In some cases when the working conductors are above ground, I provide a shield
above them to protect them from the weather.
By this invention is provided a path of low resistance for the main current and
a conductor therefor which is not subject to the wear and tear of the moving
contact with the motors, on which owing to the low resistance there will be little
loss from leakage and which, if the working conductor is damaged or broken at any
point, still maintains an unbroken circuit to the rest of the line. Further the
amount of the working conductor's resistance in circuit at any time is never more
than that of one of its sections, the circuit of the section being closed simply by
the passage of the motor upon it, the working conductors being normally connected
with the main conductors by the branch conductors. Safety-catches and hand
switches may be placed in the branch conductors if desired.
To supply the main conductors with current, my said foreign correspondent
prefers to connect several generators or several series of generators at different
points along the line so as to maintain an equality of load and the same potential
at all the generator terminals wherever the motors may be on the line, by which
arrangement the most efficient work is obtained.
For each section of the working conductor, an electrically operated signalling
device is provided, placed preferably in the branch which connects such section

page_text: with the main conductors. When circuit is closed in a section by the entrance
upon it of a motor, such signalling device is put in operation. A visual signal is
preferred though a continuously ringing bell may be employed. The signal
indicates to a following or oppositely approaching train that the section is already
occupied.
If wires are used for the working conductors, means are provided for maintaining
a normal degree of mechanical tension upon such conductors. For this purpose
adjustable springs or equivalent devices are connected with the working conductor
at different points, such springs being placed out of the line of continuity of the
conductor. If from heat or other causes the wire tends to become slack, the springs.
automatically tighten it. The connections of the branch conductors to the working
conductors are made in such manner as not to interfere with the motor contacts
taking current therefrom.
In taking the current from the working conductors, it is best to use two or more
current collectors such as rollers, springs or brushes, placed one behind another and
connected with the same terminal of the motor so as to afford continuous contact
in passing over a break or depression in a working conductor or, in the rails when
they are used as the return circuit. My said foreign correspondent provides in
connection with a motor suitable regulating and circuit controlling devices.
And in order that the said Invention may be perfectly understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the accompanying sheets of drawings the same letters of
reference indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a partial plan view and partial
diagram representing an electric railway system embodying the principal features
of the said invention.
Figure 2 represents a cross section of the track with the motor and signal device
in elevation.
Figures 3 and
are diagrams illustrating other arrangements of the circuits.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 represent different modes of connecting and supporting
working conductors.
Figure 10 illustrates an arrangement of the current collecting rollers which may
be employed.
Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 illustrate partly in diagram different arrangements of
the main and working conductors; and
Figures 15, 16, and 17 are sections of working conductors which may be used.
Referring first to figures 1 and 2, A, A¹ are the rails of one track and B, B¹, those
of the other in a double track railway system. Each track has two central rails, in
one case C and C¹, in the other D and D¹.
E, E represent main conductors placed in a tube F which is preferably buried in
the ground, between the tracks as shown, or in any other convenient situation.
G and G¹ represent each a generator or a series or group of generators, connected
at different points to the main conductors by conductors H, H¹.
I and I are the motors which travel upon the rails.
In the two tracks of figure 1, somewhat different arrangements of circuits are
shown.
The track A, A¹ will be first described.
The central rails C, C¹ each form one of the working conductors, and they are
divided into sections 1, 2 and 3 of suitable length by interposed insulation a a.
From the main conductor E a branch conductor b (or b³ etcetera) extends to each
section of the working conductor C¹; and from main conductor E¹ a similar branch
conductor b (or b³ etcetera) extends to each section of working conductor C. While
the branches b b¹ etcetera are connected to the working conductors preferably at or
near the ends of the sections, they are preferably taken from the main conductor at
points somewhat distant and at such points are located signalling devices K or K¹
which are arbitrarily represented in figure 1 but will be presently described in
detail. The signals K are set, while signals K' are down.

page_text: The motor I is mounted upon a car having wheels c c and its armature d is placed
directly upon the driving axle 4.
Frames e, el extending from either end of the motor carry rollers f, f, and f¹ƒ'
which run on the working conductors C, C¹. Rollers ff are separated by
insulation g. Rollers fƒ form one terminal and are so far apart that any break in
the working conductors is bridged by them and f.f¹ similarly form the other
terminal. Flat springs h h or other suitable tension devices may be employed to
maintain the contact of the rollers with the working conductors.
The motor is preferably a shunt-wound electro-dynamic motor, the armaturo
circuit terminals being at m m¹ and the field circuit terminals at n n A circuit
breaker and reverser o is in the armature circuit and an adjustable resistance pin
the field circuit. Or other suitable field regulating means may be substituted for
the resistance.
The motor being on section 1, as shown, the circuits to and through it are as
follows:-
From generators G and G¹ by wires H to main conductor E; thence by branch
wire through a signal. K to working conductor C₁; from which the current is
taken by rollers f¹, f¹; from the axles of the rollers to wire 7, which is connected
to stationary split collars s s on the axles; thence through the field and armature
of the motor to wire r, rollers ff and working conductor C; branch conductor 6¹
and through another signal K back to conductor E¹, (this connection not being
shown in the drawing) thence by H, H, to the generators. Signals are thus set
midway or at other convenient points of the adjacent sections showing the presence
of a motor on section 1. If the train is on section 2, branch conductors b² and b³
are in circuit and other signals are set as will be well understood.
The branch conductors may include safety-catches or fusible lengths of wire, to
guard the system in case of a short-circuit occurring; and if desired hand-switches
may also be placed in such conductors, so that a section may at any time be cut out
of circuit if necessary.
In the arrangement of track B, B1, the two central rails D, D¹ form together a
single working conductor, the main or traffic rails forming the other side of the
working circuits, and being connected to the main by branch conductors. In the
motor, rollers t t form one terminal and rollers t¹, t¹ the other, there being no
insulating sections in the axles.
The single working conductor is divided into sections as before. It is evident
that a single line of rails may be used as this working conductor, but two rails give
lower resistance and better contact for the motor and enable better signalling to be
done than if one is used.
The motor being on section 2 the circuit is as follows from the main conductors.
By branches bb from main conductor E' to the working conductor, setting the
signals in those branches; thence to the field and armature of the motor, thence by
wire 4 to the axles; thence to the rails and by branch conductor 63 to main
conductor E.
The track B, B¹, is shown in section in figure 2. L is a signal pole. A con-
ductor 6', shown in dotted lines, extends to the said signal pole and to the magnet
coils of the small electro-magnetic device M, placed in a suitable box at the top of
the pole. The polarized armature of this apparatus carries a signal arm w.
When the magnets of M are energized by the passage of a train upon the section
adjacent to that upon which the signal is placed-for, as seen in figure 1, the
branch conductors extend a suitable distance along the section-the signal arm is
raised and in day-time indicates the presence of the train.
At night the lamp N is used, the signal arm having a square of suitably colored
glass y which when the arm is raised comes before the lamp, while when the arm
is lowered a white light or one of another color is shown. This signalling device
is shown as a typical form. It is evident that any electrically operated signalling
apparatus may be used.

page_text: If wires are used as the working conductors, the signalling devices may be placed
directly therein, instead of in the branches. In any case however the signals are
placed in the working circuits which consist of the working conductors and the
branch conductors. Or they may be placed in a shunt from one of the said
conductors, which is of course equivalent to placing them directly therein.
In some cases, on short lines for instance, it may be desirable to employ
continuous or undivided working conductors connected at intervals with the main
conductors.
'In figure 3 such an arrangement is shown in diagram where there is a single
main conductor E placed in a pipe F, and a single working conductor C and branch
conductors bb connecting them; the main rails or the earth or both are used for
the return circuit in this arrangement as will be readily understood.
In figure 4 there are complete metallic circuits, there being two working
conductors C, C¹, and two main conductors E, E'.
It is evident that the working conductor or conductors in both these instances
may be a central rail or rails or may be otherwise constructed and situated, as have
been set forth.
It is desired to support and connect the working conductors, in such manner that
the connecting and supporting devices will not interfere with the contact of
the motor.
Figures 5 and 6 are opposite vertical sections of an arrangement for this purpose
which may be employed, when wire is used for the conductors. E is a main
conductor in tube F. O is a cross-tie or sleeper; P a block of glass or other
insulating material supported thereon, and having a depression in its top in which
the working conductor C is bent down. Branch conductor b terminates in a
hook Z which passes over conductor C and holds it, making good connection
between the conductors; Z₁ is an outlet for water which may gather in the
depression.
Figure 7 is a vertical transverse section of another arrangement, in which the
working conductor C, bent down within P, is held by a clamp y' with which
branch b is connected.
It is evident that with any of these arrangements two working conductors may
be in the same way connected with two main conductors.
Figures 8 and 9 illustrate adjustable tension devices for a working conductor.
In figure 8, w¹ is an elastic cushion or buffer placed on a rod 1 which forms a
part of the branch conductor. The rod passes through the working conductors and
has upon it nuts u, u, so that the conductor is constantly under tension from the
elastic cushion and the slack is constantly taken up. The small spring v³ permits
the movement of the rod in adjusting it.
In figure 9, t2 is a spring forming part of the working conductor in the
depression of block P; 82, 82 are pins for holding the conductor in the depression,
the spring keeps the conductor under tension and may be adjusted by turning
the nut
As I employ two or more current collectors in line for taking off the current the
depressions in the working conductor do not interfere with the connection. This
is illustrated in figure 10 which shows a different arrangement of the current
collectors from that shown in figure 1. Rollers f. f, suitably attached to the inotor
through pivoted arms p¹ p², travel on the working conductor C. By means of
adjustable spring o¹, their pressure on the conductor is maintained.
Figure 11 illustrates another mode of supporting and connecting a working
conductor. Conductor C is placed in grooves in insulating supporting blocks P¹, or
this may be a continuous string-piece, and the said conductor is connected with the
main conductor in any suitable manner such as have been already described.
Diagrammatic connections are shown to a motor I. In this case the rails are the
return circuit.
Figure 12 shows a similar arrangement of two conductors forming a complete
circuit.

page_text: In this arrangement the current is preferably taken from the working conductors
by the device shown in figure 10 or one similar thereto.
Figure 13 shows the working conductors placed inside grooves in a block P
for better protection from the weather. Current may be taken from them by
horizontally placed rollers as will be well understood.
In figure 14 all the conductors are placed in a channel or trench S between the
rails. The mains E, E¹, are connected at convenient points with the working
conductors C, C, which are here shown of bar form and placed upon an insulating
support R. Figures 15, 16 and 17 illustrate different forms of such bar conductors.
When the working conductors are beneath the ground the arms which carry the
current collectors are of course extended to a sufficient length to reach the same.
My said Foreign correspondent is aware that electric railway systems have been
proposed in which continuous main conductors are connected to conductors from
which the motor derives current by the passage of the motor upon the different
sections of such conductors. In the system berein described, however, the main
conductors are normally connected with the working conductors whereby the
complicated apparatus employed for closing circuit on the passage of a train is
dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1st An electric railway system having in combination, one or more continuous
main conductors, one or more working conductors either continuous or divided
into sections, and branch conductors normally connecting the said main conductor
or conductors at intervals with the said working conductor or conductors, and with
or without electrically operated signalling devices in the circuit of each working
conductor section, if the working conductors are sectioned, substantially as herein-
before described.
2nd The tension maintaining devices for the working conductors situated outside
of the line of continuity of the conductor, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3rd The construction shown in figure 13 for protecting the working conductors
from the weather.