Improvements in Trolley Mechanism for Electric Tramways.
Year: 1896

page_text: We, CIE DE L'INDUSTRIE ELECTRIQUE, of Sécheron, Geneva, in the Republic of
Switzerland, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to an improved connector or trolley arm intended to establish
A contact between an aerial electrical line and the circuit of a motor fixed to a car
of an electrical tramway.
The said connector is of great flexibility combined with the utmost security as
regards the continuity of the contact. It can be reversed automatically when the
car turus back.
Secured to the roof of the car is a frame carrying two brackets between which a
fork provided with a pulley is pivoted. The latter is actuated by means of two ropes
or chains one end of which is connected with one end of a spiral spring the other
end of which spring is secured to the frame. The other end of the ropes or chaius
being fixed to the pulley the rotation of the latter in either direction causes the
spring to be stretched and therefore the spring always restores the fork to the vertical
position when it has been depressed, which occurs only under exceptional
circumstances when the electrical line falls in an abnormal way for instance in order
to pass under a bridge.
The upper part of the fork bears a contact-piece or bow pivoted to a transverse
bar. Springs tend to restore the bow to its vertical position and thus cause it to rub
against the aerial line or trolley wire placed in a suitable manner.
When the car goes backward the bow presses against the electrical or trolley wire,
the fork gives way and the said bow jumps automatically into position.
Dated this 16th day of November 1896.
Improvements in Trolley Mechanism for Electric Tramways.
We, CIE DE L'INDUSTRIE ELECTRIQUE, of Sécheron, Geneva, in the Republic of
Switzerland, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
[Price 8d.]

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:=
This invention relates to an improved connector or trolly arm intended to establish
a contact between an aerial electrical line and the circuit of a motor fixed to the
vehicle of an electrical tramway.
The said connector is of great flexibility combined with the utmost security as
regards the continuity of the contact. It can be reversed automatically when the
vehicle turns back.
In the accompanying drawing is shown by way of example how the said invention
may be carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the connector bearing against an aerial wire and
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same.
Secured to the roof of the vehicle is a frame A carrying two brackets B between
which a fork C C provided with a pulley D is pivoted. The latter is actuated by
means of two ropes or chains d which are both attached to one end of a spiral
spring E secured at its opposite end, to the frame A.
The other ends of the ropes or chains d being fixed to the pulley D the rotation
of the latter in either direction causes the spring E to be stretched and therefore
the spring E always restores the fork CC to the vertical position when it has been
depressed, which occurs only under exceptional circumstances when the electrical
line falls in an abnormal way for instance in order to pass under a bridge.
The upper part of the fork C C bears a contact-piece or bow F pivoted to a
transverso bar G. Springs H tend to restore the bow F to its vertical position and
thus cause it to rub against the aerial line or trolly wire J as seen in Figure 1.
When the car goes backward the bow F presses against the electrical line or trolly
wire J, the fork CC gives way and the said bow automatically assumes the position
as in Figure 1.
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. An improved connector or trolley arm for electrical tramways formed of a rigid
frame pivotally connected to the roof of the tramway car and normally maintained
in its vertical position by means of a suitable spring fixed to the car the said rigid
frame having hinged to it a connecting piece combined with suitable springs fixed
to the said rigid frame and acting upon the said connecting piece so as to press the
same against the aerial electric line in either direction, substantially as shown and
described.
2. In connectors or trolley arms for electrical tramways the combination of a
fork CC with a pulley D, ropes or chains d fixed to the said pulley D and to one
end of the spiral spring E, the other end of the spiral spring E being fixed to a
frame on the roof of the vehicle, substantially as shown and described.
3. In Connectors or trolley arms for electrical tramways the combination of a
fork CC with a bow F hinged to said fork C C and acted upon by suitable
springs H so as to have the tendency to restore the said bow F in the plane of the
fork CC, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 9th day of July 1807
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.