Improvements in Gas Apparatus for Tramway or similar Locomotion.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1898-Accepted, 20th Aug., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas Apparatus for Tramway or similar
Locomotion.
"
I, WILLIAM SNELGROVE, of Sheldon, near the City of Birmingham, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in gas apparatus whereby tramcars or
the like may be driven by gas engines in a better manner than at present.
Efforts have been made in this direction but the difficulties and even dangers
have been numerous by reason of the storage and carriage of compressed gas &c.
Now this my invention consists in supplying such engines, continuously or inter-
mittently, with the gas from a general main along the whole route of travel.
The precise means for carrying this into effect may be considerably varied, but
as will be readily seen, the principle and general feature is to provide means
whereby a pipe or the like may have continuous or sufficiently often repeated open
communication with the gas main, so that a constant required supply is given
to the engine.
At a suitable distance below the surface of the ground is the gas main, which
is carried the whole length of the travel route. Communication from the engine
(or from an intermediate gas holder or the like) is made to this main by means of a
pipe passing through a slot in the ground which is continuous with the said
main. Such pipe is carried in such a manner as to afford any necessary vertical
yielding movement during its travel to accommodate any irregular distance from
the car to the main. Referring to the main:-I make this of any suitable sec-
tional shape with a continuous longitudinal slot, which is walled up along each
side by inclined flanges. In this is laid one or more ropes of hemp or other suit-
able flexible material, which may be saturated with oil or other liquid so that as
it, or they, lie in such slot, a gas tight joint shall be made. Between such ropes,
or the rope and the side of the slot depends the supply pipe, whose sectional shape
is made long and narrow, and preferably tapered fore and aft or other desirable
shape so that the ropes may more readily close and fit about it, as it travels along,
and thus keep the joint good thereat. To further ensure the said rope or ropes
closing about the pipe and into the slot afterwards, rollers may be carried upon
or from the framework of the car, which shall press against such rope or ropes.
With a view to lessen the tendency from the pressure of the gas to blow out the
joint ropes and cause leakage, I may in some cases use the main already described,
as a supplemental or feeder pipe having intervening communicating pipes with a
main proper lying alongside. In these communication pipes are provided suitable
cocks having star wheel or other suitable handles, by which any suitable projec-
tion on the fore part of the car may open them to admit the gas, while a similar
projection at the rear of the car may again close them, thus admitting gas to the
supplemental pipes only during such intermittent spaces of travel, and thereby
keeping down the pressure in the said pipe.

page_text: In some cases I may further provide against leakage by carrying at the lower
end of the depending supply pipe, that is, within the main or the supplemental
pipe, a long hollow piston, whose interior communicates to the supply pipe. The
outer ends of this piston are sufficiently packed or otherwise made to fit the
interior of the pipe to ensure a good joint beyond any point of disturbance with
the ropes caused by the passage of the supply pipe.
I may also provide upon the car a small gas holder or gas governor into which
the gas is fed, and then from which the gas may be drawn as required for use.
This may serve as a regulator or to furnish a small storage for use where discon-
nection with the main may be necessary, or in the case of intermittent supply as
hereinafter described.
As hitherto described the rope making joint is external to the gas main, but this
may be varied by having such rope or ropes placed internally so that they may
fall of their own weight, or be pressed by springs &c. into the slot internally, in
which case the supply pipe is carried down below and then upwards through the
slot into the gas main pushing the ropes upwards or aside as it passes along. In
this case I may further provide that the said pipe may be raised and lowered at
the will of the attendant, so that ordinarily the nozzle of the said pipe travels along
below the slot, but upon its pipe being raised it is pushed through the slot into
the gas main, and may be maintained there as long as desired and again with-
drawn. In such cases I may further provide upon the pipe an inverted cap like
fitting which when the pipe is lifted through the slot fits against the exterior
surfaces of the main and thus makes an effective gas joint around the pipe during
its insertion.
If desired the lever or other mechanism by which the pipe is lifted, may be
operated by hand or may be automatically connected up to the starting lever by
which the vehicle &c. is put into motion, or to the brake lever, so as to act
simultaneously therewith, in which case it may be so arranged as to take in gas
only when the car &c. is stationary.
In another method of automatically making the connection between the pipe
and the main on every stoppage of the car, I effect the raising and lowering of
the pipe by the use a speed governor connected to the wheels of the car the drop
of the weighted arms of the governor causing the insertion of the pipe in the
main. In cases like this where the supply is intermittent I may use the inter-
mediate gas holder before described.
Dated this 15th day of October 1807
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas Apparatus for Tramway or similar
Locomotion.
I, WILLIAM SNELGROVE, of Sheldon, near the City of Birmingham, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in gas apparatus, whereby tramcars or
the like may be driven by gas engines in a better manner than at present.
Efforts have been made in this direction but the difficulties and even dangers
have been numerous by reason of the storage and carriage of compressed gas &c.

page_text: In such cases the gas for supply to the engine has been carried upon the moving
car, and there replenished from time to time as required.
Now this my invention consists in supplying such engines, continuously or inter-
mittently, with the gas from a general main along the whole route of travel.
The precise means for carrying this into effect may be considerably varied, but.
as will be readily seen, the principle and general feature is to provide means
whereby a pipe or the like may have continuous or sufficiently often repeated open
communication with the gas main, so that a constant required supply may be given
to the engine.
In order to more clearly explain this my invention I have appended hereunto
illustrative drawings upon which are figures and numbers of reference, and in.
which:-
Fig. 1, is an end view and Fig. 2, a plan view, showing one arrangement of
mechanism in which this my invention may be carried out. Fig 3, is a detailed
sectional view of the feed pipe on line A-B.
Fig. 4, is an end view and Fig. 5, a plan view showing a modified arrangement
of mechanism for carrying out this my invention, in which the feed main is used.
as a supplemental main &c.
Fig. 6, is a side view and Fig. 7, an end view showing a further modified manner
of applying this my invention by means of a piston like feed supply pipe.
Figs: 8 and 9 show further modifications in the construction and application
of the feed pipe and the feed main.
For description sake, I will first explain my invention as exemplified in Figs. 1
and 2, in which 12 represents the lower part of the travelling car, more of which
it is unnecessary to show. 13, represents the ground line in which is formed the
slot 14, which leads into the conduit 15. At a suitable distance below the surface
of the ground is the gas feed main 16, which is carried the whole length of the
travel route, in some cases continuously, but in others it may be intermittently.
A gas supply communication is made from the main by means of the pipe 17,
which is carried in a suspended fashion from the car 12. The upper end of this
pipe 17, communicates by means of a flexible or other suitable pipe 18, direct to
the motor engine 19, or to an intermediate gas holder 20, or the like, such for
instance as shown in Fig. 8. Such pipe 17, is carried in any suitable manner
as to afford any necessary vertical yielding movement during its travel to accommo-
date any irregular distance from the car to the main, as for instance in the case
illustrated the length of pipe within the said main permits of considerable vertical
movement which might arise from oscillation or other irregular action from the
car, without interference with the supply.
Referring to the main 16:-I make this of any suitable sectional shape with a
continuous longitudinal slot opening 21, which is walled up along each side by
inclined flanges 22. In the converging channel thus formed one or more ropes 23,
are laid, made of hemp or other suitable flexible material, which may be saturated
with oil or other liquids if desired, so that as it or they lie upon the slot 21, or
round about the pipe 17, a gas tight joint may be more or less perfectly made.
To assist in obtaining a good joint I make the sectional shape of the feed pipe 17,
at such locality, to be of a very flat and broad form, somewhat as seen in Fig. 3,
so that the rope or ropes may more readily close and fit about it as it travels along.
To further ensure the said rope or ropes closing about the pipe and into the slot
I employ rollers 24, carried upon bracket 25, which is supported from the car 12,
by the pipe 17 or other suitable means. Such rollers are pressed downwards
upon the rope or ropes by means of spring 26. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it will
be seen that instead of using the feed main 16, as the direct supply main, I may
use it as supplemental to a supply main 27, between which two mains I place inter-
mittent pipes 28, at given distances apart.
In these communication pipes are provided suitable cocks 29 having star wheel
or other suitable lever handles 30, by which any suitable projection from the fore
part of the car, such for instance as the pipe 17, itself--may in its travel come

page_text: in contact with one of the star arms and open the cock, while a similar projection
from the rear of the car shall follow and catch the next arm and in moving it
forward shall close the said cock, thus only intermittently admitting a supply of
gas from the supply main to the feed main. By these means there may be pre-
served a much higher pressure in the main 27 than in the feed main 16.
According to Figs. 6 and 7, I may modify the shape of the lower end of the feed
pipe by making it in the shape of a piston 31, whose ends may be suitably packed
at 32, to prevent escape of gas.
Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, as before intimated I may provide a gas holder or
governor 20, to which the supply gas is fed from the main and from which it may
be taken as required to the engine, or which may form as storage for use where
disconnection with the main may be necessary or in the case of intermittent supply.
As hitherto described the rope made joint is external to the gas feed main, but
I now show how they may be placed internally so that they may fall of their own
weight (assisted by the gas pressure) or be pressed by springs 33, into the slot.
In such cases the supply pipe 17ª, is carried down below and then upwards to the
slot 21, 21. In some cases the pipe 17ª, may always project upwards into the
main 16, in a similar manner to its downward projection as shown in Fig. 1, that
is, where a continuous take up is required, but an intermittent take up may
sometimes appear to be preferable, which may be carried out as follows:-Upon
the end of the pipe 17ª, is a telescopically fitted nozzle 34, which is held upwards
to a given point by spring 35. This nozzle in its cross section coincides with the
mouth of the slot 21%, but for reasons already explained as to joint making,
longitudinally it is made comparatively long. One or more penetrating hollow
ends 36 are carried upon the nozzle, which are perforated. Hence it will be seen
that when the pipe 17 is raised the ends 36, push through the rope 23, from the
slot and the gas enters the perforated ends 36, and thence to the pipe 17* &c.
Instead of having an outwardly opening mouth to the slot 21, I may dispense
with such and provide side extensions 37 (see Fig. 9) upon the pipe 17, which
shall embrace (capwise) the exterior of the main 10 when raised thereto, by
which means a good joint is more likely to be attained.
The raising and lowering of the pipe 17ª, may be effected in any suitable manner
so as to be operated by hand direct, or such mechanism may be readily connected
to the starting or the brake lever so that the act of stopping the car makes the
supply connection. 38, is a non return cock which may be used to prevent the
return of gas from the holder 20, when the pipe 17ª, is in its lower (disconnected)
position. This may be opened and closed as follows or by other equivalent
device: Upon the spindle 39, of the cock is a toothed wheel 40, gearing into
segmental toothed lever 41. The tail end of this lever is connected by link 42,
to the lever 43; hence upon the upward movement of the pipe 17ª, and with it
the lever 43, it will be seen that a sufficient rotative movement is given to the
cock to open it for a fresh supply, and of course the downward movement of
the pipe again closes the cock.
I may further provide a connection between the lever 43, and a speed governor
operated from the wheels of the car, or their shafts, so that upon the car stopping
the governor automatically raises the pipe 17%, and takes in a fresh supply.
44, is a shut off cock having an up and down sliding plug 45, operated by
rod 46. Upon the holder 20, is carried a projection 47, which as the holder reaches
its highest (or full) position comes in contact with peg 48, upon rod 46, and
lifts the said rod and thereby closes the cock to prevent over filling of holder.
The rod 46, may be returned by means of spring 49, or equivalent device.
Although I have shown several ways in which the gas may be communicated
from the main to the motor, still it will be clear that these may still be varied,
so long as they provide means for the conveyance of the gas from an underground
main to the travelling car or engine by means of a pipe passing through slot in
the ground.
The feed supply pipe may be so arranged as that it can be raised free of the

page_text: ground when desired, and also that it may be inserted therethrough at desired
intervals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In gas apparatus for tramway or similar locomotion the combination with
an underground gas supply main of a depending supply pipe from travelling car
or engine having communication with such main by passing through a longitudinal
slot in the road level.
2. In gas apparatus for tramway or similar locomotion the use and employment
of a gas feed main having a longitudinal feed slot through which a continuous
or intermittent supply may be taken as required, by means of a feed pipe sub-
stantially as set forth and illustrated.
3. In gas apparatus for tramway or similar locomotion the combination of a
gas feed main having a longitudinal feed slot, a feed supply pipe, a rope or ropes
for externally making the gas joint substantially as set forth and shown.
4. In gas apparatus for tramway or similar locomotion the combination of a
gas feed main having a longitudinal feed slot a feed supply pipe an external gas
joint making rope or ropes and pressure rollers upon such rope or ropes sub-
stantially as set forth and shown.
5. In gas apparatus for tramway or similar locomotion the combination with
gas feed main having feed slot, feed supply pipe, joint making rope or ropes, a
continuous supply main having intermittent conveyance pipes to feed main with
controlling cocks and star lever arm handles operated as described, all substantially
as set forth and shown.
6. In gas apparatus for tramways or similar locomotion the combination with
gas feed main having feed slot joint making rope or ropes with feed supply pipe
having a piston like termination within said gas feed main, substantially as set
forth and shown.
7. In gas apparatus for tramway or similar locomotion the combination with gas
feed main having longitudinal feed slot, and internal gas joint rope or ropes, with
feed supply pipe having perforated penetrating nozzle with means for raising and
lowering such feed pipe all substantially as set forth and shown and for the pur-
poses specified.
8. The combination with gas feed main 166 having feed slot, rope or ropes for
making joint of the external side extensions 37, with feed pipe substantially as
set forth and for the purposes specified.
9. The combination with feed supply pipe of controlling non-return cock 38,
with automatic opening and closing mechanism substantially as set forth and
shown in Fig. 8.
10. In gas apparatus for tramway or similar locomotion the combination with
gas feed main having longitudinal feed slot and feed supply pipe, of an interme-
diate gas holder 20, with their accessory parts, substantially as set forth and
shown and for the purposes specified.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent, 12, Cherry Street, Birmingham.