Improvements in Electro-magnetic Dispatch Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electro-magnetic Dispatch Apparatus.
I REGINALD HADDAN of the firm of Herbert & Co. Patent Agents of 18 Buckingham
Street Strand W.C. in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention, a communication to me from abroad by John Thomas
Williams, Electrician of New York in the United States of America 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 certain improvements in electro magnetic dispatch
apparatus as pointed out in the following specification and claims and illustrated in
the accompanying drawing, in which
Fig. 1 represents a sectional plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section of one of the helices in the plane x x Fig. 3 on a
larger scale than the previous figure.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section in the plane y-y Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a sectional side view of a detail part.
Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of a modification on the same scale as Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a pair of contact wheels detached, on a larger scale
than the previous figures. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of another modification on
the same scale as Fig. 1.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.
In these drawings the letters A, A1, A2, A3, designate helices which are wound upon
spools of wood or other suitable not conducting material. The several helices are
firmly mounted at suitable intervals apart upon a suitable bed and through the same
extends a track or guide B which is made of any suitable material such for instance as
brass.
In the example illustrated in the drawing the spools upon which the helices are
wound are rectangular in cross section and the track consists of two rails secured to
the inner bottom surfaces of the spools, however the helices can be made circular in
cross section, and the track made tubular or in the form of a trough or in any other
form suitable for the purpose. Through the spools of the helices extends an electric
conductor C which is insulated from the track B and from the helices and secured to
the latter by hangers or other suitable means as indicated in Fig. 2.
Each helix is likewise provided with a contact piece D, D', D², D³, respectively (see
Fig. 1) which may be in the form of cylindrical metallic rods or they may be flat or
in any other convenient form and secured to the spools by hangers or other suitable
means.
One end of the wire of each helix connects with the track B and the other end with
the contact piece of said helix and the track B is connected by a wire 10 with one
pole of a dynamo P or other source or generator of electricity while the conductor C
connects by a wire 11 with the opposite pole of the dynamo.
The carriage E fitted to the track and to which motion is to be imparted by the
axial magnetism of the successive helices is made of soft or laminated iron or steel
and is provided with contacts F F¹ for closing the circuits through the several helices,
one of said contacts engaging the conductor C and the other the several contact
pieces D, D', D³, D³.
In the example illustrated in the drawing (see particularly Fig. 6) each of the
contacts F F1 consists of two wheels a a which are continually pressed towards each
other by springs b b that are attached at one end to the bearings of the said wheels
and at their opposite ends to a base c on the top of the carriage. The faces of the
contact wheels are shaped to suit the contact pieces D D' etc. and the conductors C.
It is evident that one contact wheel running in contact with the contact pieces D D¹ etc.
D...A631

page_text: and one running in contact with the conductor C would under ordinary circumstances
suffice to make the contact but I prefer to use two wheels which are pressed against
the contact pieces or the conductor by the action of the springs b b in order to insure
a good contact at all times.
The springs bb are made as spring arms which are fixed at one end and free at
their opposite ends where they carry the contact wheels a a. The elasticity of the
spring arms bb is such that their free ends press the contact wheels towards each
other and in the example shown in the drawing the axes of the wheels are approximately
vertical and the wheels rotate in a horizontal plane or substantially so and thereby
grip the opposite surfaces of the conductors.
The contact wheels F and F are in metallic connection with each other by the top
of the carriage but they could be connected by a wire or a metal plate or else mounted
upon a common metallic base.
The contact pieces D D¹ D² D³ must be insulated from each other and this object
may be attained by inserting between them sections d d¹ d² etc. of a non conducting
material for the purpose of forming a continuous and even surface for the contact
wheels to run on.
The joints may be made by having a socket in one section and a
corresponding tongue in the other or by screw nipples and threaded sockets.
When the carriage E is caused to enter one of the helices in the direction indicated
by arrow 1 Fig. 1. say for instance the helix A¹ the contact wheel F¹ of the carriage
engages with the contact piece D' of the said helix and a circuit is closed through
wire 11, conductor C, contact wheel F through the helix A¹, track B and wire 10
back to the dynamo whereby the helix A' is vitalized and by the axial magnetism the
carriage E is moved forward on the track. As soon as the contact wheel F¹ goes out
of contact with the contact piece D¹ the circuit through helix A¹ is broken the length
of the contact piece being such that this takes place a trifle before the carriage reaches
a central position with regard to the helix but before the carriage reaches this position
the contact wheel F¹ engages the contact D2 of the next succeeding helix A2 and this
helix becomes vitalized and begins its propelling action upon the carriage before the
propelling action of the preceding helix A¹ has ceased which takes place as soon as
the carriage reaches a central position with regard to the helix.
By these means the propelling action of the successive helices upon the carriage
never stops and the carriage moves forward without interruption. If the centre of
the carriage passes the centre of the helix before the circuit through this helix is
opened such helix has a tendency to draw the carriage backwards.
In order to prevent the carriage from being heated by the friction on the track I
attach to the surfaces of the carriage, which come into contact with the track or guide,
plates e constructed of mica or other good non conductor of heat. This also serves
to insulate the carriage from the track.
To reduce the friction between the carriage and the track to a minimum I form
the end of the carriage with an inclined head f. The pressure of air on this head
tends to lift the carriage from the rail so that the full weight of the carriage does
not come to bear upon the same the angle of said incline being varied as required.
In the example shown in Fig. 5 I have shown two sets of detached
conductors D D1 D2 D3 and DD01 D02 D03 the continuous conductor C and
track B being the same as in the example shown in Fig. 1. The conductors D D° are
secured in the helix A, the conductors D¹ and D in the helix A¹ and so on, the
continuous conductor C is connected by wires 12 with the conductors D° Dº1 Doz D°³
while the ends of the successive belices connect with the track B and with the
successive conductors D D1 D2 D3 precisely in the same manner as in Fig. 1. The
contacts F F of the carriage E engage the detached conductors D D D D and so
In the position which the carriage occupies in Fig. 5 a circuit is closed from
the electric generator through wire 10, track B, helix A3 contact D³ contacts F F
conductor Do³ conductor C and wire 11 back to the battery.
on.
From this description it will be seen that in this electro magnetic transmitter all
the conductors required for the operation extend through the interior of the helices

page_text: so that they require comparatively little space and can be readily protected against
atmospheric influences.
Furthermore by the distribution of the various conductors in the manner herein-
before described 1. am enabled to vitalize the successive helices at the proper
moments so that the same never have a tendency to draw the carriage back or to
retard its forward motion.
In the modification shown in Fig. 7 each helix is in direct communication at one
end with the main conductor C and at the other end with its respective contact
piece D D1 D2 D³ etc. The one pole of the battery or generator of electricity P is
in connection with the conductor C the other pole with the track B but the track B
is here insulated from the helices A A' A² A³ etc. The car E runs on wheels F on
the track B and carries the contact wheel F¹ or its equivalent to run on the contact
pieces D D1 D2 D3 etc. so that the circuit of the electric current is completed through
the track B wheels F car body E contact wheel F1 respective contact piece D
respective helix A and main conductor () and generator P.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of tbis
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination of a series of helices A A¹ A² A³ a track or guide B which
extends through the helices and forms a continuous conductor, a core or carriage E
supported by and moving in said track or guide, of a continuous conductor, C, a
series of conductors D D1 D2 D3 which are insulated from each other and extend
through the successive helices, a contact F secured to the core or carriage and
engaging one of the conductors C or B, connections between the ends of the helices,
the other conductor B or C and the respective conductors D D1 D2 D3 etc., a
contact F¹ secured to the carriage in metallic connection with the contact F and
made to engage the successive conductors D D1 D2 D3 and connections between the
electric generator the track B and the conductor C substantially as described.
2. The combination with the helices, the track the conductors extending through
the helices, the electric generator and the connections between the helices, conductors
and electric generator of a carriage and pairs of spring arms, each pair secured at
one end to the carriage and pressing towards each other at their free ends the contact
wheels carried by the free ends of the springs and pressed towards each other
to grip the opposite sides of the conductors substantially as described.
3. A carriage having spring arms secured at one end and pressing towards each
other at their opposite free ends and provided at their free ends with contact wheels
mounted to grip the opposite sides of electrical conductors substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of January 1890.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.