Improvements in or connected with Conduits for Electric Railways and Tramways.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Conduits for Electric Railways
and Tramways.
I WILLIAM COPE of 127 Bristol Road Birmingham Journalist 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 chief object of this invention is to secure a perfectly safe use of the under-
ground system of electric traction protected from wet & laid so that the conduit rail
shall be within fifteen inches of the surface easy of access for examination & repair
though inaccessible to any person not running cars on the system.
Figure 1 shows transverse & longitudinal sections of round seated channel of
stoneware or other material with insulator.
Figure 2 shows transverse & longitudinal sections of brick formed channel with
insulator.
A slot rail (E Figs. 1 & 2) which need not be more than half an inch in the
opening is provided between the rails on which the cars are to run. Beneath the
slot is a channel (G Figs. 1 & 2) with drain pipes (G¹ Figs. 1 & 2) for storm water.
The channel which is to receive the insulator may be constructed in one piece or in
two halves (F F Fig. 1) of stoneware earthenware or iron pipe with one side extended
all joints socketted the upper edge being rebated to receive the lower part of the slot
rail (E Fig. 1). Or it may be constructed as shown in Figure 2 of blue bricks
arranged as shown in drawing or otherwise to secure the insulator in position. In
Figure 2 the water channel is formed in concrete or blue bricks. Within the channel
(FF Figs. 1 & 2) is placed the insulator (A Figs. 1 & 2) made of stoneware pottery
terra cotta or other non-conducting material. The insulator is shaped so as to receive
two conduit rails (B B¹ Figs. 1 & 2) & is made with rounded seating (Fig. 1) or with
flat seating (Fig. 2) so as to suit the form of channel & with ridged or sloping top
immediately under the open slot so as to convey away on the side opposite to the
conduit rail any water or matter coming through the slot. Weep holes are provided
for condensed moisture. The slot rail may be hinged at intervals so as to allow easy
access to the channel for cleaning or other purposes. The insulator is fitted with
two copper rails (B B¹ Figs. 1 & 2) in grooves shaped for that purpose. Between
these rails a wheel (D Figs. 1 & 2) with a grooved tyre made of non-conducting
material runs to which is attached two brushes or rubbers one for each of the rails
(H J Figs. 1 & 2) the upper one being balance weighted for picking up the current
& conveying it to the car. The rails are made in sbort lengths with jointed ends.
The electric connection between the conduit rails & the car is by means of a conductor
(C Figs. 1 & 2) shaped to bend round the top of the insulator. The conductor is
formed of copper tape stiffened with casing of steel or other metal of channel section
& is covered with non-conducting material.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
In or connected with conduits for electric railways & tramways.
1. A new form of insulator for two conduit rails with a top shaped so as to protect
the conduit rails by throwing off moisture or dirt on the opposite side of the

page_text: 2. A new form of underground channel for holding & supporting the insulator
substantially as shown in the drawing.
3. A new form of conductor with brushes or rubbers balance weighted for picking
up & transmitting the current from the conduit rails to the car or carriage substan-
tially as shown in the drawing.
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WILLIAM COPE.