Improvements in Masts and Trolleys for the Overhead System of Electric Traction.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 21st Dec., 1891-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Masts and Trolleys for the Overhead System of
Electric Traction.
ALFRED DICKINSON Civil Engineer and Tramway Manager Tramway Villa
Darlaston South Staffordshire do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
A mast formed of metal or other approved material, attached, near the heel, to
a car, duminy or motor, by means of a ball and socket joint so as to allow the mast
to radiate in any direction, the radiation being controlled and adjusted by means
of springs attached near to the heel of the miast, the springs 'being secured to a
loose collar working on the pedestal of the ball and socket, or in other suitable
manner. The radiation of the mast is further controlled by means of adjustable
buffer springs which are secured, in any desired' position, to à frame attached to
the before mentioned pedestal of the ball and socket, or other suitable means.
To the point or head of the mast is fitted a trolley, or collector, hinged so as to
give it lateral play in any direction, the wheels of the trolley or collector, which
are intended to work under the wire conveying the electricity are protected and
kept in position by means of guides which extend above the said wire conveying
the electricity, the guides work upon a pivot or hinge, and are kept in position by
means of a spring or springs which permit of the guides opening to pass any
obstructions.
Dated this 96th dor of Movah 1201
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Masts and Trolleys for the 'Overhead System of
Electric Traction.
I, ALFRED DICKINSON of Tramway Depôt. Darlaston in the County of Stafford,
Engineer do thereby declare the nature of my,said 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 has for its, object improvements in masts and trolleys for the over-
head system of electric traction by which I obviate the necessity for centre poles
or span wires when running the track down the centre of the street and. by which
means I obviate the necessity of the mass of overhead wires which has hitherto
been necessary in the case of curves-with a curved feed wire overhead.
In the case of my improvements side poles are placed at each side of the street
supporting the feed wire which runs in a position. about halfway between the
outside of the track and the footpath, a mast being attached to the side of the car,
dummy or,motor which mast is so formed as to radiate in any direction. by which
means the head of the mast is brought over to meet the feed wire and in any case
of any deviation of the wire from the track as in the case of a curve where the
head of the mast follows the course of the wire in an easy manner the head of
the mast-being kept to the wire both in a lateral and vertical direction by suitable
springs and by these means I am enabled to run.the.feed wire. at a direct tangent
to a curve in the track without any fear. of an uneven feed.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice I have appended hereunto four double sized sheets of drawings upon
which I have fully illustrated the, nature of my said improvements.
T:
Figure 1. is a diagram plan of the track shewing a curve.

page_text: Figure 2. is an elevation shewing the connection between the side poles, feed
wire and car.
Figure 3. is a sectional side elevation through the mast.
Figure 4. is a front elevation of the mast.
Figure 5. is an enlarged side view of the trolley shewing its connection with the
feed wire and supporting pole.
Figure 6. is a front view of the trolley.
Figure 7. is a similar elevation to Figure 6 but shewing a modification in the
trolley.
In carrying my invention into effect the mast F which may be formed of metal
or other approved material is attached near the heel a to the car dummy or
motor Z and is provided with a ball and socket joint or its equivalent so as to allow
the head of the mast to radiate in any direction this being effected in the
present illustration by means of the fixed socketed heel A having the internal
revolving rod B with the tail which passes down and enters the socket / the tail
having a stud working in the slot of the socket the radiation of the head of
the mast being controlled and adjusted by means of springs attached to the
hooks near the heel of the mast. By this means the heel A of the mast is made
collapsible so as to enable the cars to more readily enter the sheds the slot a³ being
formed in the outer casing A in which the stud works, the slot being provided
with the locking head for supporting the stud when the mast is up the stud
falling to the bottom a of the slot when the mast is down. The means for
allowing the radiation of the mast in any direction may be varied as I may effect
it by means of a ball and socket joint the radiation being controlled and adjusted
by means of springs attached to and near the heel of the mast the springs being
secured to a loose collar working on the pedestal of the ball socket or in other
suitable manner. The radiation of the mast may be further controlled by means of
adjustable buffer springs which may be secured in any desired position to a frame
attached to the pedestal of the ball socket. The mast is pivotted to the heel at ³
and controlled vertically by the springs E of which there may be any number the
one end of the springs being attached to the cross bar on the mast while the
other end e³ is attached to the cross bar which is operated in the bracket by
the nut el so as to adjust the strength of the springs E. To the point or head f
of the mast F the trolley or collector H is hinged or pivotted as at h' so as to
have lateral play in any direction and the wheel of the trolley which work
under the wire K and convey the electricity to the mast may be protected and
kept in position by means of guides working upon a pivot or hinge and kept in
position by means of a spring or springs which would permit of the guides opening
to pass any obstruction. I may have two trolley wheels h² and has shewn by
Figure 7 and one wheel may be smaller than the other if so desired.
It will thus be seen that I can place my feed wire K some distance from the
track N as shewn by Fig. 1 in which the feed wires are also shewn at a tangent k
to the curve with a car Z going in each direction to shew the operation of the
mast F in conjunction with the side poles M which support the feed wire K.
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 :-
The improvements in masts and trolleys for the overhead system of electric
traction consisting of the radiating mast in combination with the side poles and
feed wires arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and shewn
upon the accompanying four sheets of drawings.
Dated this 19th day of December 1891.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent.