Improvements in Over Head Conductors for Electric Tramways.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 8th Mar., 1900—Accepted, 14th Apr.,
1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Over Head Conductors for Electric Tramways.
I, MICHAEL HOLROYD SMITH, of Albany Buildings, 47, Victoria Street, West-
minster, in the County of London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It sometimes occurs in practice that electric tramways are required to be run
along roads, crossings, thoroughfares, canals, rivers, fortifications, or the like
where the continuation of the over head conductor as a permanency is prohibited.
The object of this invention is to provide for such cases.
On either side of the thoroughfare or canal to be crossed I place a supporting
pole to which the main trolley wires are anchored, and these poles are provided
with long balanced cantilever arms so swung that they may be lifted to assume
a vertical position leaving the passage between them quite free, or lowered
until they meet in the centre; a familiar construction of their movement being
the centre way in the great Tower Bridge.
From the ends of these arms to the anchorage of the trolley wire of the poles
a subsidiary wire or band is attached. It is preferably so arranged that as the
arm's are lifted the wire shall slacken and as the arms are lowered the wire
shall tighten. These wires are preferably made in duplicate, that is to say, a
double arm from each pole having a wide base where it is hinged, or attached
to the upright pole and veeing in a point at the termination at the outer end.
These ends are also provided with an interlocking device, one having a tongue
and the other a "V" so as to ensure the ends of the two poles justly meeting
and fitting into each other when they are lowered to join up connection for the
passage to the car.
Suitable arrangements of gearing either rack and pinion wheel and pinion,
worm or worm wheel or chain and chain wheel or any suitable mechanism
may be employed for the elevation and extension of these cantilever arms.
An alternative plan for a like purpose is to construct the anchorage
poles at either side of the crossing, either duplicate poles connected by a yoke
or a strong pole with a strong "T" head to it. The ends of this yoke or
T" head being provided with a suitable socket or bearing through which a
long tube can slide, this tube having on its said end slide a thin rib extending
downwards (somewhat like the keel of a boat) the thickness of which should
correspond with the diameter of the trolley wire, these sliding tubes being
arranged to slide outwards until they meet and interlock in the centre, or with-
draw inwards leaving a clear passage between the two anchored poles.
Dated this 8th day of June 1899
F. W. GOLBY,
36, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Over Head Conductors for Electric Tramways.
I, MICHAEL HOLROYD SMITH, of Albany Buildings, 47, Victoria Street, West-
minster, Consulting 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:
It sometimes occurs in practice that electric tramways are required to be
run along roads that cross thoroughfares, canals, sewers, fortifications or the
like where the continuation of the overhead conductor as a permanency cannot
be allowed. The object of this invention is to provide for such cases, and the
manner of doing so will be more clearly understood by reference to the accom-
panying drawings in which like figures indicate like parts..
Fig.
bridge.
Sheet1 represents a side elevation of a tramway crossing a canal
Fig. 2 is an end elevation.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of same.
Figs. 4 & 5 Sheet 2 show details of arrangement on Sheet 1 on a larger
scale.
:
Fig. 6 Sheet 3 is an elevation of an alternative arrangement.
Fig. 7 is an end elevation.
Fig. 8 is a plan view of same.
Figs. 9, 10, 11, Sheet 4 show details on a larger scale, of arrangements on
Sheet 3.
Referring to Sheet 1'it will be seen that a double line of tramways is shown
and that where the line approaches the bridge two poles are erected in the
interspace, pole A acting as an anchorage pole having the trolley wires attached
to strong cross arms further strengthened by the ties a-a attached to the
pole B. Pole B is provided with a crosshead C...upon which swing the two
cantilevers D, D' which slant outwards and are kept apart by the stay E.
To the ends of these cantilevers is attached a flexible continuation of the
trolley wire, and the base is provided with balance weights F. The dotted lines
indicate how these cantilevers which are on either side of the canal, can be
raised, slackening the flexible portion K of the trolley wire, or lowered. until
they meet, tightening the wire.
The cantilevers can be raised or lowered by ropes, chains, worm and worm-
wheels or in any suitable manner.
Sheet 2, Figs. 4 and 5, show details of construction. Fig. 4 is a side eleva-
tion and Fig. 5 a part plan view. The stays E are curved at the ends G for
holding the insulators H which carry the studs J J brazed or otherwise suit-
ably attached to the flexible trolley wire K.
On Sheets 3 and 4 is represented an alternative arrangement; instead of
the cantilevers, bars L are arranged to slide to and fro within the channel M.
In order that these bars may be as light as possible they are strengthened with
a vertical strut N, and ties n, and cross trees O and ties o, o.
The sliding bars L can be drawn in or out by cords or chains passing over
two pulleys P on one spindle, as shown; or by rack and pinion and screw and
nut, or any suitable means.
A convenient method of constructing these channels and sliding bars is shown
on Sheet 4. Fig. 9 is a side elevation. Fig. 10 is an end view and Fig. 11 a plan
view looking at the lower or bottom side."
The channel M is formed of rolled metal and at either end a series of rollers R

page_text: are fixed by means of studs. The bars are also formed of rolled metal, L, and
are supported by and can roll upon the rollers R; the lips, s, s on the channel
bars L embracing the rollers and keeping the channel bars L in position. The
adoption of the channel bars as shown renders it easy to interlock them when
extended by means of the tongue T, fixed to the end of one channel bar and
entering the end of the opposing one. v, are the brackets attached to the
channels M and channel bars L for holding the insulators that carry by means
of suitable studs the rods or bars W which act as a continuation of the trolley
wire, against which the pulley or slider of the trolley bars can run and gather
the electricity.
In order to ensure complete continuity of circuit in the portions of the tram-
way on either side of the canal even when the gap is opened, insulated under-
ground supply or connecting cables would be employed.
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:-
1. In electric tramways with overhead conductors the employment of canti-
levers, sliding arms or the like for making when required temporary gaps or
breaks in the continuity of the conductors, substantially as, and for the purpose
described and illustrated.
1000