Improvements in Electric and Elevated Railways.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1890-Accepted, 21st June, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric and Elevated Railways.
I, Honorable EBEN MOODY BOYNTON, of West Newbury, Massachusetts, United
States of America, Civil 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 :--
The object of this invention is to provide an elevated structure for bicycle trains
designed more especially for electric propulsion, but also adapted for trains operated
by other motive power.
The invention consists chiefly of a skeleton tube or tubes supported on suitable
columns and strengthoned by circumferential bands and, when olectricity is used
as a motive power, it embraces a novel device for supporting and protecting the
electric conductors.
In the drawings forming part of this specification, in which like letters indicate
corresponding parts;
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved single tube structure, for a
single track, and also shows in position a car adapted to be run by electricity.
Figure 2 is a plan of the tubular portion of the same.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation on line x, x, Figure 1 looking in the direction of
the arrow.
Figure 4 is a cross section on line y, y, Figure 1.
Figure 5 represents a column with superimposed frames designed for supporting
three single track tubes.
Figure 6 represents a side elevation of my improved double-decked tubular structure
and supporting column for four tracks.
Figure 7 is an end elevation of the same.
Figure 8 is an elevation of a column with end view of tubes for the tracks.
Figure 9 represents an enlarged transverse section of one form of guide rail serving
as a conductor support and protector with an electric conductor in place.
Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17 represent, respectively, transverse sections of
other forms thereof with electric conductor in position, and
Figure 1 represents an inverted plan of the same.
In the drawings A represents a single track, skeleton, metal tube, preferably of
elliptical cross section, composed of longitudinal girders or sleepers A¹, opposite side
bars A, overhead guide rail A³, and track rail A, the latter being properly secured
on the sloeper A'. All these parts are parallel with each other and designed to be
rigidly secured, in the positions best shown in Figures 1 and 2, to the inner peripheries
of the bands (f), that are preferably made of T-iron for the sake of combined
strength and lightness. The strengthening bands (f) may entirely encircle the group
of parallel bars, rails and sleepers, but, preferably, are not so arranged in a single
track tube, but their ends are brought down and firmly secured to the opposite sides of
the sleepers or girders as indicated in Figures 1 and 4. The methods of fastening
together these bands and the other named parts of the tube being matters of simple
mechanical construction are not herein shown or described.
This structure also embraces suitable diagonal tie rods (g) provided, preferably,
with turn-buckles indicated at (g) Figure 1, and also suitable cross-bracing rods (h)
that are secured to the structure in the usnal manner to sustain it against vertical or
lateral stress.
To support this tubular structure I set up in single line a series of columns, B, at
suitable distances apart. The columns shown in Figures 3 and 5 are designed for
supporting a single skeleton tube for one track, and are surmounted by integral
strong open frames, C, of the same internal shape and dimensions as is the said tube
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page_text: in cross section, as best shown in Figure 3. These frames all serve, as will readily be
seen, as auxiliary circumferential strengthening bands, and the sleepers A', bars A³,
and guide rails Aª, are designed to be suitably secured to them, and said frames are
provided with suitable perforated lugs (4) for holding the tie and brace rods of the
structure.
A frame, C, may be surmounted with a staff, D, supporting signal lanterns, 11, as
shown in Figure 3. A column, B, for supporting three independent single
tracks with skeleton tubes of elliptical cross section, like that heroinbefore shown
and described, is shown in Figure 5, while two open elliptical tubes, supporting
frame are set side by side, while a third frame is located contrally above
them. This upper frame will be dispensed with when but two independent single
tracks are required.
In Figure 8 is shown another style of supporting column, B, for a single tubular
structure designed for two tracks. In this case both the column and the frame sur-
mounting it are of lattice work and the opening of the frame is a parallologram with
rounded upper corners, and the skeleton tubo supported by these columns will, in
cross section, be exactly of the shape and dimensions of the frame opening.
In Figures 6 and 7 it will be seen that my improved double-decked, tubular,
skeleton structure for four tracks (two on each floor or deck) is constructed essentially
after the same plan as are the single and double track tubes hereinbefore shown and
described, with the exceptions that this skeleton tube is a parallelogram with rounded
corners, as indicated in Figure 7; that the circumferential bands (f) go entirely
around the tubes; that the tube has a lower and a central longitudinal girder (m) of
Inttice work across which are fixed cross tios (m') upon which the track rails A are
secured; and the tie rods (g) in this form of structure are shown differently arranged
or located, though I do not confine myself to this special arrangement of them,
designing always to apply tie and brace rods in the most effective manner.
The car, E, shown in position in Figure 1, with its supporting wheels, F, on the
track rail, A, and its guide wheels, G, bearing against the guide rail, A', is designed
to have pointed ends, as shown, to diminish its resistance to the atmosphere when it is
running at high speed.
This guide rail, A³, may be of iron or wood, as may be considered most convenient
or desirable, when the structure is built for trains to be run by other than electric
power, but when the structure is built for trains propelled by electricity the guide
rail is preferably of wood, strengthened with iron, if desirable. Being made of wood-
an elastic material-it is made to serve also as a support and protector for the
electric conductor by having a longitudinal slot or groove cut through its inferior
face, into which slot the conductor is forced and in which it is retained by constant
lateral pressure exerted by the elasticity of the wood, the insulating material or both.
This combined guide rail and electric conductor support and protector is preferably
constructed of squared joists or timbers and in its inferior face a vertical slot or
groove (0), preferably extending in to about the contre of the support, is made for
receiving the electric conductor H; that may be a wire or rod of any desired
figure in cross section.
In Figure 9 the slot or groove (o) is slightly contracted just above the mouth
thereof and then enlarged and is lined throughout with a sheet rubber lining, I, or
other suitable insulating material, which practically reduces the width of the
groove (o) to less than the diameter of the conductor that, in this case, is a naked
wire. Then the conductor, EL, is forced by a travelling disk or wheel or other suit-
able tool, into the top of the said lined groove, whore it is securely held by the
continuous lateral compression of the insulator, I, and there it is absolutely protected
from rain, snow and ico.
In Figures 10 and 17 other forms of this device are shown, wherein the combined
guide rail and conductor support and protector is composed of two rails or joists
bolted together face to face with bolts (p), and, being cut away on their opposing
fucos, the grooves (o) are formed when they are brought in contact, as shown, and
by turning the nuts (p') on the bolts the parts of the rail are brought together to

page_text: laterally compress the conductor and hold it in place. In these instances as in
Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14, the elastic conductor may be a wire covered with an
elastic or compressible insulating substance, such as rubber, fibrous material or lead,
and, when the conductor is in place in the groove, an abrading disk or a plane is
designed to be applied to remove the insulating substance from the wire along its
inferior face to expose it for the contact of the transmitters (not shown).
In Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 the same construction of support is shown as in
Figure 9, but with other, though equivalent, forms of grooves or slots. In Figure 14
the groove (o) is rectangular, and a longitudinal side groove (o) connecting therewith
is made, in which is entered lengthwise a composite strip (g) of wood and rubber or
other elastic material that projects into the groove (o) and thereby contracts it.
Hence, when the conductor H is entered into the said groove (o) and up into the
contracted portion thereof, it is held in place by the lateral compression of the said
strips (9) as indicated. With a current of low tension a naked wire conductor may
be used, and in Figure 15 one is shown held in the slot or groove of the support and
protector by the elasticity of the latter.
I do not confine myself to any particular cross section shape of support or of the groove
therein, as the lines of both are capable of many variations within the scope of my
invention, which essentially is to provide a device that shall hold and support an over-
head olastic conductor by continuous lateral compression and at the same time protect
it absolutely from the interference of rain, snow and ice.
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 :-
--
First. A tubular structure for elevated bicycle railways constructed substantially
as herein shown and described, consisting of a skeleton tube composed of lower
longitudinal girders or sleepers, track rails, opposite side bars and overhead guide
rails, all parallel with each other and secured together in position with circumferential
strengthening bands; the said tube being strengthened by braces and tie rods and
supported by suitable columns that are surmounted with frames which embrace said
tube as set forth.
Second. The combination with a skeleton, tubular structure for elevated bicycle
railways; of supporting columns surmounted with open frames substantially as herein
shown and described, said frames being made so as to correspond in interior shape
and dimensions with the outside of said tube, as set forth.
Third. The combination with an overhead electric conductor, of a support and
protector, consisting of a rail having a longitudinal groove cut through its interior
face, in which groove the said conductor is held by continuons lateral pressure,
substantially as berein shown and described.
Fourth. In a skeleton, tubular structure for bicycle railways operated by electricity,
the combination with the overhead guide rail having a longitudinal groove cut through
its inferior face, of an electric conductor held in said groove with its lower surface
exposed for contact, of an electric transmitter, substantially as herein shown and
described.
Fifth. The combination with an electric conductor of a rail having a longitudinal
groove lined with an elastic or compressible insulating substance whereby the conductor
is held in the groove by the lateral compression of said insulator, substantially as
herein shown and described.
Sixth. The combination with an electric conductor having an insulating covering,
of a rail having a longitudinal groove wherein the conductor is held by the lateral
pressure upon it of the walls of the said groove substantially as herein shown and
described.
300
2
3 1000