Improvements in Electrically Transmitting Power, or Signals, or the like to or from Moving Vehicles or other Objects.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1895-Accepted, 6th July, 1895
Improvements in Electrically Transmitting Power, or Signals, or the
like to or from Moving Vehicles or other Objects.
I, JOSEPH YOUNG PORTER, of 190 Lake Street, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.
Superintendent, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in communicating, signaling, etc., to or
from moving objects, and it consists of the features pointed out in the annexed
claims.
I design to communicate signals, power, or the like, from or to moving objects
in an electrical manner, substantially as herein set forth. Of course, it being
understood that I do not limit myself to any of the specific means shown for
carrying my design into effect.
In order that the following description may be clear and easy of understanding,
I would at this point assume certain conditions existing viz., a moving object, a
path for the communicating agent to traverse, located adjacent to such moving
object wherever desired, and suitable means either upon the moving object, or
located away from, and separated from the same, which is adapted to direct the
communicating agent into whatever channels are desired for the conveying of
signals, the transmission of power, of the medium of intelligences of whatever
kind that may be desired.
In the accompanying drawings I illustrate the principles of my devices as
follows: viz.,
Figure 1 being a diagramatic plan view of the connections;
Figure 2 is a diagramatic end elevation of the connections in operative position,
showing the same as an instance of adaptation only to the intelligible interpretation
of the description contained herein;
Figure 3 is a diagramatic elevation of Figure 2 with the parts inoperative;'
Figure 4 is a diagramatic view partly in elevation of Figure 1, illustrating the
means of controlling the communicating agent when located upon the moving
object;
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing the means of controlling the
communicating agent when located outside of and separate from the moving
object.
Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged detailed perspective and plan views of the pivoted
hangers.
The different circuit connections may be briefly described as follows: In the
case of Figure 4 the current passes from the trolley-wire A to the trolley wheel a
and the trolley pole, then to the switch D, and from there to the insulated sleeve a'
thence to the hanger B and electro magnetic device (which may be any suitable
signal or motor mechanism) inclosed in box C and then to the ground: (See also
Figure 7.)
In the case of Figure 5, the current passes down the trolley pole, to the electro-
magnetic signal or motor device, inclosed within the box C placed upon the car."
From here the current passes to the sleeve a¹, thence to the hanger B and then to'
the switch D and to the ground.
The supplemental conductor B is pivoted so as to swing across the path of a
trolley pole or current collector, and thus engage the insulated sleeve a¹.

page_text: My invention substantially comprises suitable means through which I am enabled
to convey communications, power, signals, or the like, from moving objects to a
stationary location, or vice versa; and in it are embodied as substantial equivalents
the following detailed instances of adaptation. First, I utilize, as shown in
Figure 1, an existing trolley-wire A, and adjacent to it I place a second depending
path for current to travel B, which has no connection whatever with such trolley-
wire, and a collector a, which moves along the trolley-wire and which is attached
to the moving object, passes the depending conductor or B, a portion of the current
in the trolley-wire A is shunted into the depending conductor B from where a
path is provided to a suitable signal or motor mechanism in box C located at any
suitable point in the vicinity of the trolley-wire, and from there to the ground.
The trolley-wire A is supported in the usual manner by the insulators e which
are held by the span wires f and the supplemented hanger B is pivotally
supported by its depending arms, d from the supports e' to which they are pivoted
at d².
The parts are shown larger than their proper proportion in Figure 7, so that
their relative position would be defined.
In the perspective view, Figure 6, the switch is shown at D and the electro
magnetic signal or motor device C' may be placed at any place on the car.
same is connected diagramatically with the trolley-wire a2 and the sleeve a¹.
The
It will now be seen that as the collector a and the moving object, (which may be
a car, vehicle, or any kind of conveyance) passes along the trolley-wire A. The
circuit connection through the motor mechanism C₁ is complete as long as an
insulated sleeve a' of the collector a is in contact with the depending conductor
referred to, and if a controlling mechanism D, as shown in Figure 4, be placed on
the moving object, the motor mechanism C₁ can be stopped or started at will
while the collector or sleeve a' is in contact with the depending conductor B; or
on the other hand, if the controlling device D, as in Figure 5, is located outside
of the moving object and the motor or signaling mechanism C¹ located upon the
moving object it can be operated as desired during the time that the collector
sleeve a¹ or any projecting portion of the moving object is in contact with the
depending conductor B. Thus it will be seen that so long as the depending
conductor is in circuit with the moving object, or is placed in an active circuit
through any means carried by the moving object, signals, etc., may be transmitted
either from the vehicle or to it, as may be desired.
I would, at this point, note that I do not limit myself to the number of locations
or points contiguous to any path which the vehicle might traverse, where I locate
my arrangement of conductors so as to enable me to carry on communications to
or from such vehicle while it is stationary or in a moving condition. Nor do I
limit myself to the specific means employed in the arrangement in the conductors
which enable me to carry out these features. Neither to the length of the
supplemental conductor B, referred to as a depending conductor and shown as such
in the figures of the drawings.
It is obvious that instead of using a ground return to the circuit connections
through the object C which is capable of being moved, I could with equal facility
arrange my circuit connections entirely independent of such vehicle which would
control my circuit connections equally well.
It is also apparent that I could dispense with the trolley-wire shown in drawings,.
and carry my source of current upon the moving vehicle, or retain the same at
pre-determined locations separate from such vehicle.
The depending conductor B has its ends slightly beveled as shown in Figure 1,
so that the collector sleeve a¹ will readily pass along the same without liability to
injure the collector and the conductor. This depending conductor may ride in
contact with the sleeve a¹ in any suitable manner by gravity or otherwise. From
the sleeve a¹ on the collector a wire leads to the circuit controller D or the signal
or motor devices C as desired. (See Figures 4 and 5.) It is immaterial whether
I first lead my circuit connections so as to bring the current over the depending.

page_text: conductor B from the trolley-wire A, then to sleeve a¹ and wire to controller or
the devices C and then to ground through the movable vehicles, or make them as
shown.
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. A trolley or current supply wire, parallel conductors and insulated supports
therefor, pivoted connections between such supports and the conductors, and a
current collector engaging the trolley-wire; the said conductors being free to
move across the path of travel of the collector, substantially as set forth.
2. A trolley-wire, a parallel pivoted conductor and a depending portion thereof
extending below such wire the same being free to swing across the vertical plane
of the trolley-wire without engagement therewith, substantially as set forth.
3. A supplemental conductor depending beneath a trolley-wire pivoted fastenings
therefor and beveled portions at the ends of the said conductor, and a current collector
engaging the trolley-wire, said beveled ends facilitating the easy engagement of the
collector with the supplemental conductor, substantially as set forth.
4. A trolley-wire, a current collector projecting against the same from a car, a
supplemental conductor insulated from the trolley-wire, pivoted hangers therefor
and an insulated sleeve or contact upon the current collector against which the
supplemental conductor may rest and electro-magnetic or circuit controlling
devices in circuit with the supplemental conductor, and the sleeve, substantially as
set forth.
Dahi 10th 1 M 1005
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.