Improvements in Means for Supplying Current for Driving Vehicles on Electric Railways or Tramways.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Supplying Current for Driving Vehicles
on Electric Railways or Tramways.
I, HENRI PIEPER Fils of No. 12 Rue des Bayards Liège, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this said invention to be as
follows:
The present invention relates to incans for conducting the electric current to the
motors on the vehicles of electric railways in which brushes or collectors arranged
underneath the vehicles rub against contact pieces consisting in short rails or plates
arranged at regular intervals along the track and forming branches from an under-
ground main or feeding conductor, each contact-piece being connected with the said
main by automatic apparatus acting only when the vehicle comes with its collector
upon or over the contact piece, and being again disconnected when the collector
leaves the latter so that the said contact-pieces are electrically connected with the
distant generator or source of current only at the time when they are touched by
the collector attached to the vehicle, the contact pieces in advance of and behind
the collector being all disconnected.
The ordinary arrangement of the said contact-pieces in the form of long plates
or rails is attended with several disadvantages and causes considerable waste of
current as notwithstanding that the contact pieces are made so that at least three
of them come within the length of the vehicle, this length, which is far greater
than is necessary to supply the current, is the cause of considerable waste of current
by leakage to earth.
It is the object of the present invention to reduce this waste of current to a
minimum and at the same time to simplify the entire construction or system, making
it automatic in such a manner that the connection of the forward contact piece
with the main is electrically effected from the rearward contact piece by means of
the collector, and enabling the line to be worked on an automatic block system
which is certain in its operation.
The contact pieces are made with such dimensions that the amount of surface
presented by them to the collector suffices for properly feeding the motor with
current and their number is limited to one for each length of vehicle, the vehicle
being provided with a collector extending from one end of the vehicle to the
other.
Each of the said contact pieces is composed of two individual pieces or parts
insulated from each other, let into the perinanent way or into the paving when the
invention is applied to a tramway, being carefully insulated from the ground and
arranged on such a level that the collector can come in contact with them. One
part is permanently in connection with the earth or with a return conductor to the
generator. This connection contains the coils of an electro magnet. The other
part of the contact piece is put into communication with the main underground
cable or feeding conductor through a switch which is controlled by the aforesaid
electro magnet (hereinafter referred to as the "electro magnetic switch"), and so
arranged that it does not establish the said communication until the switch electro
magnet is excited. Now the collector is of such length as to establish effectual
contact with the next forward contact piece before it leaves the contact piece
against which it is rubbing and at the same time is of sufficient width to bridge
over the space between the two parts of the contact pieces when the said parts are
arranged side by side.

page_text: men the collector arrives on the next contact piece it causes the current from
the rearward contact piece to pass through the switch electro magnet of the
forward contact piece. This switch electro magnet then attracts its armature and
connects the said forward piece with the main so that current passes from the
latter through the collector to the motor upon the vehicle. When hereafter the
collector leaves or passes out of contact with the rearward contact piece the current
is cut off from the electro magnet connected with the latter and this electro magnet
consequently releases its armature and breaks the connection between the rearward
contact piece and the distant generator.
Each electro magnet may be placed near to the respective contact piece or the
electro magnets of all the contact pieces in the line or the electro magnets of a
section or division of the line may be arranged in one common box or case well
protected from moisture and other disturbing influences. Such box or case may be
termed a "distribution box."
The collector, or contact making device carried by the vehicle is preferably
composed of one long metallic brush, or a series of separate metallic brushes, or
a length of wire rope with a loose end dragging under the vehicle, or an endless
wire rope the lower part of which makes contact with the stationary conductors.
In order to ensure effectual contact between the collector and the contact pieces
the former is made of magnetisable material and the two parts of the contact piece
are rendered magnetic by carrying or coiling the conductor, which connects the
coils of the corresponding electro magnet with the return conductor or carth,
several times around the parts of the contact piece, or the said parts may form the
cores of the electro maguet.
In order that the interruption of the communication between the contact piece
and the generator may take place with certainty when the collector leaves it an
electric circuit is branched off from the conductors leading to the two parts of the
contact pieces and is coiled around the electro magnet in a direction opposite to
that in which the coils of the electro magnet are wound. Now when the collector
leaves the contact piece the current flows through this short circuit around the
electro magnet, whereby the latter is demagnetised and is invariably compelled to
release its armature, so that the contact piece is immediately disconnected from
the main.
The invention can be employed with great advantage to form an automatic block
system for working the railway or tramway by employing one switch electro
magnet to control one after the other all the contact pieces of the line or all the
contact pieces of a division of the line.
With this object the electro magnet is placed at a central station having two
series preferably circular series of stationary contact pieces, one series being con-
nected with those parts of the contact pieces which are connected with the returu
conductor or the ground, and the other series being connected with the parts to be
connected with the main. A moveable contact piece is provided for each series
and these two moveable contact pieces are connected with a shaft driven by the
electro magnet through the medium of a ratchet wheel and pawl. One of the
moveable contact pieces is connected with the return conductor or earth through
the said electro magnet and the other with the main conductor.
Assuming that the two moveable contact pieces are standing on the first contact
pieces of the series and that the collector on the vehicle is passing over the
corresponding contact piece of the line. Under these conditions the current flows
in the electro magnet and the latter holds the pawl out of engagement with the
ratchet wheel. When the collector passes on to the next contact piece the current
does not pass through the latter of the motor until the collector has left the first
contact piece.
When the collector ceases to make contact with the first contact
piece, the electro magnet not receiving any current, releases its armature, which
in being drawn back by its spring, causes the ratchet wheel to rotate and to shift
the two moveable contacts on to the next contacts of the two series. By these
means the first contact piece of the line is switched out whilst the second contact

page_text: piece of the same is switched in. The current immediately passes again from the
main conductor over the collector to the electro magnet, which again draws back
the pawl so that the ratchet wheel and moveable contact pieces remain in the
new position until the collector passes on to another contact piece of the line
and so on.
With this arrangement it is evident that the first contact piece of the line cannot
be again switched in until the moveable contact pieces are returned to the first
stationary contact pieces of the central station and that consequently the section of
line corresponding to the said series is blocked for a second vehicle."
The electro magnet may be contained in a box placed in the side-walk and in
which is arranged a contact lever which can be actuated by hand in order to
establish connection with the main conductor in case the electro magnet should
fail to act properly.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Supplying Current for Driving Vehicles
on Electric Railways or Tramways.
I, HENRI PIEPER Fils of Liege in the Kingdom of Belgium, Electrician, 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 present invention relates to means for conducting the electric current to the
motors on the vehicles of electric railways in which brushes or collectors arranged
underneath the vehicles rub against contact-pieces or supply contacts consisting in
short rails or plates arranged at regular intervals along the track and forming
branches from an underground main or feeding conductor, each supply-contact
being connected with the said main by automatic apparatus acting only when the
vehicle comes with its collector upon the supply contact, and being again
disconnected when the collector leaves it so that the said supply-contacts are
electrically connected with the distant generator or source of current only at the
time when they are touched by the collector attached to the vehicle, the supply-
contacts in advance of and behind the collector being all disconnected.
The ordinary arrangement of the said supply-contacts in the form of compara-
tively long plates or rails is attended with several disadvantages and causes
considerable waste of current as notwithstanding that the supply-contacts are made
so that at least three of them come within the length of the vehicle, this length,
which is far greater than is necessary to supply the current, is the cause of
considerable waste of current by leakage to earth.
It is the object of the present invention to reduce this waste of current to a
minimum and at the same time to simplify the entire construction or system, making
it automatic in such a manner that the connection of the forward supply-contact
with the main is electrically effected from the rearward supply-contact by means
of the collector and enabling the line to be worked on an automatic block-systein
which is certain in its operation.
The supply-contacts are made with such dimensions that the amount of surface
presented by them to the collector suffices for properly feeding the motor with
current and their number is limited to one for each length of vehicle, the collector
extending from one end of the vehicle to the other.
Each of the said supply-contacts is composed of two individual pieces or parts
insulated from each other, let into the permanent way or into the paving when the
invention applied to a tramway, being carefully insulated from the ground and
arranged on such a level that the collector can come in contact with them. One

page_text: part or the "switch-piece," as it is called hereinafter, is permanently in connection
with the earth or with a return conductor to the generator. This connection
contains the coils of an electro-magnet. The other part of the supply-contact or
the "feeding-piece" is put into communication with the main underground cable
or feeding conductor through a switch or circuit-closer which is controlled by the
aforesaid electro magnet, hereinafter referred to as the "switch electro magnet,'
and so arranged that it does not establish effectual contact with the next
forward supply-contact before it leaves the supply-contact against which it is
rubbing and at the same time is of sufficient width to bridge over the space
between the two parts of the supply-contact when the said parts are arranged side
by side.
When the collector arrives on the next supply-contact it causes the current from
the rearward supply-contact to pass through the feeding-piece of the forward
supply-contact. The switch electro magnet, controlled by the said piece, then
attracts its armature and connects the feeding-piece of the said forward contact
with the main so that current passes from the latter through the collector to the
motor upon
the vehicle and from thence to ground. When hereafter the collector
leaves the rearward supply-contact the current is cut off from the electro magnet
connected with the latter and this electro magnet consequently releases its armature
and breaks the connection between the said rearward supply-contact and the distant
generator.
Each electro magnet may be placed near to the respective supply-contact or the
electro magnets of all the supply-contacts in the line or the electro magnets of a
section or division of the line may be arranged in one common box or case well
protected from moisture and other disturbing influences.
The collector or contact-making device carried by the vehicle is preferably
composed of one long metallic brush, or a series of separate metallic brushes, or a
length of wire rope with a loose end dragging under the vehicle, or an endless wire
rope the lower part of which makes contact with the stationary conductors.
In order to ensure effectual contact between the collector and the supply-contact
pieces the former is made of magnetizable material and the two pieces of the supply-
contact are rendered magnetic by carrying or coiling the conductor, which connects
the coils of the corresponding electro magnet with the return conductor or earth,
several times around the said pieces, or the said pieces may form the cores of the
electro magnet.
In order that the interruption of the communication between the supply-contact
and the generator may take place with certainty when the collector leaves it
an electric circuit is branched off from the conductors leading to the two pieces
of the supply-contact and is coiled around the electro magnet in a direction
opposite to that in which the coils of the same are wound. Now when the
collector leaves the supply-contact the current flows through this short circuit
around the electro magnet, whereby the latter is demagnetised and is invariably
compelled to release its armature, so that the feeding piece is immediately
disconnected from the main.
The invention can be employed with great advantage to form an automatic
block system for working the railway or tramway by employing one switch electro
magnet to control one after the other all the supply-contacts of the whole line or
of a division of the line.
With this object the electro-magnet is placed at a central station having two
series preferably circular series of stationary contacts; the contacts of one series
or the "switch-series" being connected with the switch-pieces of the supply-
contacts, and the contacts of the other series or the "feeding-series" being
connected with the feeding-pieces of the supply-contacts. A moveable contact is
provided for each series and these two moveable contacts are connected with a
shaft driven by the electro-magnet through the medium of a ratchet wheel and
pawl. One of the said moveable contacts is connected with the return conductor
or earth through the said electro-magnet and the other with the main conductor.

page_text: Assuming that the two moveable contacts are standing on the first contacts of
both the series and that the collector on the vehicle is passing over the corre-
sponding supply-contact of the line. Under these conditions the current flows
through the electro magnet and the latter holds the pawl out of engagement with
the ratchet wheel. When the collector passes on to the next supply-contact the
current does not pass through the latter to the motor until the collector has left
the first supply-contact. When the collector ceases to make contact with the first
supply-contact, the electro magnet not receiving any current, releases its armature
which in being drawn back by its spring, causes the ratchet wheel to rotate and to
shift the two moveable contacts on to the next contacts of the two series. By
these means the first supply-contact of the line is switched out whilst the second
contact piece of the same is switched in. The current immediately passes from the
main conductor through the feeding-piece of the reached supply-contact and over
the collector to the electro magnet which again draws back the pawl so that the
ratchet wheel and moveable contacts remain in the new position until the collector
passes on to another supply-contact of the line, and so on.
With this arrangement it is evident that the first contact piece of the line cannot
be again switched in until the moveable contacts are returned to the first stationary
contact of the central station and that consequently the section of line corresponding
to the said series is blocked for a second vehicle.
The pieces of the supply-contact may be arranged one behind the other, or by
the side of each other. It is evident that in the latter case the collector must be
inade large enough to bridge over the distance between the two pieces. In the case
of a collector composed of pencil-like separate brushes the supply-contact-pieces
must have a length exceeding the distance between two pencils.
For the purpose that my invention may be fully understood a detailed description
of the same will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a
part of this Specification, in which
Fig. 1 is a diagram of a portion of a line with the supply-contact pieces placed
one behind the other, the switch electromagnets arranged in a distant common box,
and the collector composed of one long brush, the vehicle being in elevation as also
the supply-contact pieces, and the rails omitted;
Fig. 2 shows a diagram of a portion of a line with the supply-contact pieces and
switch electromagnet arranged as in Fig. 1; the said pieces being provided with
magnetizing coils, and the collector consisting in an endless rope of magnetizable
material.
Fig. 3 is a diagram of a portion of a line in which the supply-contact pieces are
made the cores of the switch-electro-magnet, the collector consisting in ib
magnetizable loose rope end.
Fig. 4 shows in elevation a vehicle the collector of which is composed of a
number of pencil-like brushes.
Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical representation of a special form of collector.
Fig. 6 is a diagram of the demagnetizing arrangement for the switch electro-
magnets.
Fig. 7 shows a diagram of my improved automatic block-system.
Fig. 8 is a vertical section of one of the underground boxes containing the
supply contacts.
Referring now to the diagram Fig. 1, F is the vehicle moving on rails not shown
on the drawing, M the electromotor to be fed with current from the underground
conductor S, and S³ the collector hung from the underside of the vehicle and
permanently connected with one terminal of the motor M, of which the other
terminal is permanently connected to ground. The collector S² consists in a
continuous long metallic brush reaching from one end of the car to the other.
Ww, W', W³ 20² are the supply-contacts arranged along one of the inner-
sides of the track at distances from each other that are smaller than the length of the
collector. W, W¹, W'. are the feeding-pieces and w, w', w³ ... are the "switch-
pieces," each supply-contact comprising one switch-piece and one feeding-piece.

page_text: Each of the switch-pieces respectively wc, to', wo² is permanently connected to
ground through a wire E' which opposes a greater resistance to the electric
current than the motor M. This wire E' forms at the same time, or contains, the
coil of an electromagnet E, the electromagnets of the three supply-contacts
appearing on the figure being shown as arranged in a distant common box B: Each
of the feeding pieces, respectively W, W, W., is in permanent connection
through a wire S with a stationary contact s' co-operating with a moveable contact s
from which the wire S' continues to the underground conductor S. The contact s
is, attached to the armature s of the electromagnet E, and the length of wire S
connecting it with the underground conductor is flexible to allow it to follow the
-oscillations of armature s.
Assuming that the brush S2 is rubbing on supply-contact W w, and that the
electromagnet E of the latter has attracted its arinature. The contacts is closed
on the contacts and the current flows from the underground conductor S through
closed contacts and feeding-piece W into the brush S2. In the latter the
current is split up owing to the contact of the brush, on one hand, with the motor,
and, on the other hand, with the switch-piece w. The ground connection E' of the
latter having a greater resistance than the motor, the greater part of the current
passes from the brush into the motor and out of the same to earth, whilst the
remaining part flows from the brush into the switch-piece w from whence it passes
through conductor E' and electromagnet E to earth. The result of this is that
the electromagnet continues to attract its armatures and thereby maintains the
contacts sin closed condition as long as the brush continues to bridge over
the distance between the two pieces W and w. When in the progression of the
vehicle (see direction of arrow) the following supply-contact W, is met by
the brush, another part of the current flows from the brush in the switch-piece w
of supply-contact Ww and through the electromagnet E connected therewith
to ground with the effect of energizing the latter electromagnet which attracts its
armature and thereby closes the connections's between the feeding piece W' and
the underground conductor S. As long as the brush is rubbing on both the supply-
contacts Ww and W' ', which will take place but for a very short time owing to
the speed of the car, the brush receives current from both the feeding pieces W
and Wand simultaneously feeds the motor on one hand and both the switch
pieces wo wo on the other hand; but as soon as the brush leaves the switch piece w
the current is cut off' from the electro magnet connected with the latter, so that
the armature of the same is retracted by its spring E2 and the contact s separated
from the contact s with the effect of interrupting the electrical communication
between feeding piece W and underground conductor S, the latter remaining
connected to the feeding piece W only. When the third supply-contact W202
is arrived at by the brush, the same operations will take place relatively to
supply-contact Ww' as described with reference to supply-contact W w.
It will readily be understood from the preceding description that only that
supply-contact is connected with the underground conductor which is touched by
the brush or collector, whilst all the other supply-contacts in advance and in rear
of the vehicle are cut out.
For the purpose of securing intimacy of contact between the brush and supply-
contact pieces the former is constructed of a magnetizable material and the latter
are provided with magnetizing coils so arranged as to be fed with current from the
brush. When the said coils are traversed by current, they cause the pieces of the
supply-contact to be magnetized and the collector to be attracted by the latter.
Such an arrangement is diagrammatically represented in Fig. 2, where the
magnetizing coils are shown as being formed by the ground conductor E¹ of switch-
piece w, respectively w¹, w the said conductor, before reaching the ground,
being first coiled on the underground part of feeding-piece W and then on the
underground part of switch-piece w.
In Fig. 3 I have shown a somewhat modified arrangement serving the same
purpose, the coiled parts of the two supply-contact pieces W and w being at the

page_text: same time utilised to form the poles for attracting the armatures carrying the
contacts. As shown the ground wire E' of switch-piece w is connected to.
the head of the latter, then first coiled on the underground part of switch piece w
and hereafter on the underground part of feeding piece W, from whence it goes to.
ground (see also Figure 8). When the collector is rubbing on the supply-contact,.
the current passing over from the former in the switch-piece w is caused to circulate
round the two pieces w and W which, in being at the same time connected by the
brush, form the pole pieces of an electromagnet. In face of the lower extremities.
of the supply-contact pieces is arranged in horizontal position the armature s
carrying the contact 2 which is to co-operate with the stationary contact s' for
closing the connection between the feeding-piece and the underground conductor.
The armature s is fixed on a rod s* movable in vertical direction in guides s**.
When the supply-contact pieces are magnetized by the brush rubbing on them,
they attract the armature s, and the contact s² is thereby brought on the contact »
closing the communication from the underground conductor S to the feeding-
piece W.
In combination with the arrangement for magnetizing the supply-contact pieces
various forms of collectors may be used in order to cause the collector to follow
the attraction. For instance in Fig. 2 I have shown a collector consisting in a wire
rope S mounted on pulleys p, p, journalled in arms pl hung from the underside of
the vehicle. In Fig. 3 the collector consists in a length of wire rope S4 which is
suitably fastened at the outer end to an arm p² extending from the vehicle towards.
the ground and which with its loose inner end is dragging over the supply-contacts.
Instead of a continuous long collector as in the before described arrangements, I
can also use a brush composed of a number of separate brushes or wire pencils S³.
arranged one behind the other and electrically connected to each other through the
medium of a common stock, as represented in Fig. 4. In Fig. 5 I have
diagrammatically shown another form of collector brush S, which is composed of
two series of pencil-like brushes, one series for service in one direction, and the
other series for service in the opposite direction. For this purpose the pencils are
combined into pairs, and the pencils of each pair are arranged at an angle to each
other. Each pair is mounted on a pivot, and the pivots of all the pairs are.
combined with a driving chain G and handles H H by means of which they are
oscillated so as to bring the proper series in operative position. It is evident that
with the described pencil-collectors supply-contact pieces must be employed being
longer than the distance between two successive pencils.
As the frequently repeated use of the switch-electromagnet E could cause the
same to retain magnetism and consequently its armature to remain attracted after
the collector has passed the supply-contact, I provide for means by which any
remauent magnetism is at once and automatically destroyed. These means consist
in a demagnetizing coil i.e. a coil wound on the electromagnet in a direction
opposite to the windings of its magnetizing coil. And in order that the action of
this demagnetizing coil may take place automatically I connect one end of the
same with the ground conductor E' and the other end with the conductor $1
between the contact and the feeding piece W, as shown in the diagram.
represented in Fig. 6, in which U denotes the said demagnetizing coil. When the
collector leaves the supply-contact and the armature continues to be attached,
current will flow from the underground conductor S through the coil U in opposite.
direction aud demagnetize the electromagnet.
The automatic blocking arrangement will now be described with reference to
Fig. 7. W w, Ww', Ww2, W³ 203 are the supply-contacts for the
circulation in one direction, and. W× w*, W×¹ w×¹, W*w** W** *³, those for
the circulation in the opposite direction on a second track, the two tracks being
indicated by the letters R and R' respectively. As the arrangement for each
series of switches is identical it will be sufficient to describe the one serving the
track R. On a central station are arranged two circular series of stationary
contacts and respectively. The first contact of the series is permanently

page_text: connected by a wire E¹ with the "switch "-piece w of the first supply-contact, the
second of said contacts by a wire E' with the switch-piece w' of the second supply-
contact, and so on, the last contact piece of the series being connected with the
switch piece of the last supply-contact. On the other side the first contact of the
series is permanently connected by a wire S¹ with the "feeding "-piece W of
the first supply-contact, the second contact with the feeding-piece W₁ of the second
supply-contact, and so on, the last contact of the series being in connection with
the feeding-piece of the last supply contact. The two series and are
hereinafter referred to as the "switch "-series and the "feeding "-series
respectively.
With each of the said contact series is combined a movable contact, s³ and s
respectively. The contact 3 is in permanent connection with the ground through
a wire forming the continuation of the wires E' and which therefore is designated
by the same letter. The contacts is in permanent connection with the underground
conductor S through a wire which forms the continuation of the wires S and
therefore is marked with the same letter. The contacts and are attached to a
common shaft provided with a ratchet wheel r. The pawl for actuating the
latter is connected to the armature s of an electromagnet E so as to oscillate
with the former. The coil of the said electromagnet is formed by, or contained
in, the ground connection E' from movable contact s³, and the armature s is
provided with an antagonistic spring E. The parts are so arranged that the
pawl engages with the ratchet wheel upon the armature being retracted by the
power of its spring, whilst at the time of attraction the two parts are disengaged
from each other.
Suppose the contacts and to touch the first contacts of the series and so
and the collector of a vehicle to be rubbing on the first supply-contact W w.
With the position of the said parts, current is flowing from the underground
conductor through wire S', movable contacts, first contact of the feeding
series, wire S₁ and the feeding piece W of the supply-contact into the
collector, where it splits up the greater portion of the current passing through
the motor of the vehicle to ground, and the smaller portion through switch-
piece of the supply-contact, wire E', first contact of switch-series 36, movable
contacts, wire E' and electromagnet E to ground. Consequently the electro-
magnet by the attraction of its armature holds the pawl out of engagement
with the ratchet wheel r. The latter is thus stopped and the contacts and s
are retained on the contacts they occupy. Suppose the vehicle to move forward
(see direction of arrow).
When the collector reaches the following supply-
contact W, it will not immediately receive current from the underground
conductor S by the way of the feeding piece W₁, there being no connection
between the contacts and the second contact of the feeding-series s. But the
moment the collector leaves the switch-piece w, the electromagnet E ceases to be
fed with current from the underground conductor, and looses its attractive force,
so that the spring E2 is allowed to retract the armature s which, in its turn,
engages the pawl with the ratchet wheel r causing the shaft to be rotated and
the contacts and s to be shifted to the right upon the second contacts of the
series and . This shifting has the effect to first interrupt the connection
between the electromagnet and the switch-piece w, and that between the feeding-
piece W and the underground conductor S, when, as soon ass and s* reach the
second contacts of the series 8 and s, electrical communication is established, on
one side, between the underground conductor S and the feeding-piece W', and,
on the other side, between the switch-piece w and the electromagnet E. The
circuit will now be as follows: From the underground conductor S through wire S',
movable contact st, second contact of the feeding-series so, wire S' and feeding-
piece Winto the collector; from the latter, on the one side, through the motor on
the vehicle to ground, and, on the other side, through switch-piece w', wire E'
second contact of the switch-series s', movable contact s³, wire E¹ and electro-
magnet E to ground. Consequently the latter is again energized and its armature s

page_text: attracted against the resistance of its spring E2, so that the pawl is drawn back
from the ratchet wheel and the latter thereby stopped with the effect of causing
the contacts $3 $4 to remain of the second contacts of the series until the
collector reaches the third supply-contact when the described cycle of operations
is automatically repeated. And so on throughout the whole line or section
of line..
From the above description it will readily be understood that each of the
supply-contacts passed by the car is prevented from feeding with current any
vehicle that may have met them, until the ratchet wheel has made a full
revolution in respect to the said supply-contact, or, in other words, until the
movable contacts and s have arrived again on the corresponding contacts of the
"switch" and "feeding" series. Thus the line or section of line is effectually
blocked as long as it continues to be occupied by a vehicle.
The blocking of the return line takes place in identically the same manner.
The respective parts of the blocking arrangement for this line being denoted by
the same reference letters but distinguished by a little cross, it will suffice to
replace in the above description all letters, except S, by crossed letters, to have a
description of the blocking operations in the return line.
It is evident that in this blocking arrangement the switch- and feeding-pieces
can also be provided with magnetizing coils and the electromagnet with a
demagnetizing coil U as indicated by dotted lines.
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. In an electric railway the combination with a pair of rails, a vehicle moving
thereon, an electric motor placed on the vehicle for driving it, an underground
conductor arranged along the track, and a rubbing collector hung from the vehicle
for feeding the motor with current from the said underground conductor, of switch-
pieces arranged in regular intervals along the track within the reach of the
collector and being each permanently connected to ground, feeding-pieces placed
adjacent to the switch-pieces within the reach of the collector and being in con-
nection with the underground conductor, normally open contacts in the latter
connections, and electromagnets placed in the ground-connections of the switch-
pieces and having armatures for operating the contacts in the connections between
the feeding pieces and the underground conductor, substantially as and for the
purpose stated.
2. A supply-contact device for feeding the motors of electric railway vehicles
with current from an underground conductor through the medium of a collector
hung from the vehicle, composed of a switch-piece arranged in the reach of said
collector and permanently connected to ground, a feeding-piece normally in open
connection with the underground conductor and arranged in the reach of said
collector, a pair of normally open contacts in the latter connection, an electromagnet
in the ground connection of the switch-piece and an armature connected with one
of the said contacts, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the feeding-pieces and the switch-pieces, of magnetizing
coils arranged on the said pieces, and a collector_constructed with magnetizable
material substantially as and for the purpose stated.
4. The combination with the feeding-piece, the switch-piece and the electromagnet
connected with the latter, of a demagnetizing coil surrounding the electromagnet
and branched off from the circuit connections of the said pieces, substantially as
and for the purpose stated.
5. The combination of a pair of rails, a vehicle moving thereon, an electric
motor placed on the vehicle for driving the same, an underground conductor
arranged along the track, a rubbing collector hung from the vehicle for feeling
the notor with current from the underground conductor, switch-pieces arrange.i
along the track in regular intervals and within the reach of the collector, feeding-
B

page_text: pieces arranged adjacent to the switch-pieces and within the reach of the collector,
a series of stationary contacts of which each is permanently connected with one
of the switch-pieces, another series of stationary contacts of which each is per-
manently connected with one of the feeding-pieces, a movable contact for
co-operating with the contacts of the first series and permanently connected to
ground, a movable contact for co-operating with the contacts of the second series
and permanently connected to the underground conductor, an electromagnet
placed in the ground connection of the first named movable contact, and devices
actuated by the armature of said electromagnet for simultaneously shifting both
the movable contacts, with or without magnetizing coils on the switch- and feeding-
pieces, and with or without a demagnetizing coil for the electromagnet, substantially
as and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 16th day of February 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
Agents.