Improvements in Electric Traction for Tramcars and the like with Accumulators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1899-Accepted, 6th Jan.,
1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Traction for Tramcars and the like
with Accumulators.
I, JOHN MILNES, of 85, Tithebarn Road, Southport, Commission Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a system of street electric tramways for the purpose
of preventing injury to pedestrians and animals when passing along or over a
tramway, and my invention consists in the making and utilizing of collecting
boxes at certain distances along the line of tramway for the car to stop and
collect when necessary the current for propelling the car on to the next collecting
box.
The current is collected into accumulators or storage batteries carried by the
car, and my invention consists in the method of making the street collecting
boxes and in combining the said collecting boxes with an underground con-
tinuous conductor.
In accordance with my invention I employ a closed underground conduit
which I place in the roadway, and in which rests an insulated continuous con-
ductor and at certain required stopping places or stations for passengers I make
a boxed shaped opening in the conduit, the sides of which box by preference
reach up to the surface of the roadway and I cover this box or casing with a
sliding lid or cover (or set of lids and covers sliding to-and-fro) and said lid or
cover is so arranged that it is on the level with the roadway and forms when closed
part of the roadway and I make the underside of this cover or lid insulated and
the conductor is placed some distance below the sliding cover and when the box or
casing is open the naked conductor is visible and the storage batteries are then
charged by means of a suitable collector directly from the conductor.
accumulators have been charged, the cover is then closed securely over the
opening.
After the
The cover is opened and closed either by manual, mechanical, electrical,
magnetic or by other suitable means, or if preferred I make the lids or
covers of the boxes (instead of sliding backwards and forwards or sideways) so
that they can be lowered and raised, and in the centre of the cover I affix an
insulated copper contact piece, and I arrange the sinking cover to be on a level
and forming part of the roadway. I make the copper contact piece to project
downwards a certain distance into the box or casing, but such copper contact
piece does not touch or rest upon the conductor until an attendant by means
of a lever or other mechanical arrangement sinks or depresses the contact piece
upon the naked conductor, when said contact is alive and the storage batteries
on the car can be charged with electricity by means of a suitable collector after
which the attendant raises the cover to its normal position on the roadway and
securely fastens the same
T: 001 f Walmary 1800

page_text: Improvements in Electric Traction for Tramcars and the like
with Accumulators.
I, JOHN MILNES, of 85, Tithebarn Road, Southport, in the County of Lancaster,
Commission Agent, 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:-
-
My invention relates to a system of electric traction for tramcars and consists
chiefly of collecting boxes placed at certain distances along the line of tramway
for the cars to stop and collect the current for propelling the cars on to the next
collecting box. The current is supplied by a continuous underground conductor
running through the said boxes and is collected into accumulators or storage
batteries carried by the car.
In acordance with my invention I employ a closed underground conduit which
I place in the roadway for the full length of the tram route. In such conduit
rests an insulated continuous conductor and at certain required stopping places or
stations for passengers I make a boxed shape opening in the conduit the sides
of which reach up by preference to the surface of the roadway.
This box or casing I cover with a sliding lid which whilst covering in the box
forms when closed part of the roadway. The underside of this cover or lid is
insulated. The conductor lies some distance below the sliding cover and when
the box or casing is open the naked conductor is visible. The storage batteries
on the car are charged by means of a suitable collector direct from the con-
ductor. After the accumulators have been charged the cover is closed securely
over the opening.
On the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents a plan of part of a tramway
and of one of the collecting or charging boxes with the lid slid back and ex-
posing the conductor ready for charging purposes.
Fig. 2 represents a transverse section of the said tramway and box and shewing
one way of effecting the connection between the car and the conductor.
Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section through the collecting box shewn in
Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a modified arrangement of collecting box and lid,
and Fig. 5 represents a modified arrangement for making and breaking contact
with the conductor.
According to my invention I lay along the line of route a continuous electric
conductor (A) supplied with current continuously from one or more main gener-
ating stations. This conductor I place in a suitable insulated conduit (B) below
the level of the roadway as shewn. At the usual stopping stations or at inter-
vals along the tramway route corresponding approximately to the distance which
the accumulators on the car will propel the car when fully charged, I arrange
boxes (C) through the walls of which the conductor (A) passes as illustrated.
These boxes are let into and lie flush with the roadway between the line of
rails (D). The upper part is provided with any suitable form of lid or cover
but preferably with a lid (E) which is adapted to slide to-and-fro in the
groove (F).
At a point within the said box the conductor (A) is stripped of its insulating
covering or laid bare as illustrated and upon such naked portion of the cable I
fit a collar (G). To this collar I apply a length of insulated flexible cable (H)
which until a car requires to be charged lies within the box as shewn by dotted
lines.
When the car reaches the box and requires to receive the current the lid (E)
which at all other times closes the opening (E) and forms part of and lies

page_text: practically level with the roadway, is moved to one side as shewn in Fig. 1
and 3, thus exposing the conductor (A) to view. The man in charge of the car
then takes hold of the flexible cable (H) and connects it up to the car in a
manner which at once causes it to convey the current from the conductor (A)
to the accumulators. When these latter are charged to a degree sufficient to
propel the car to the next collecting box the flexible cable (H) is disconnected
and again put back into the box and the lid (E) drawn over the opening. The
opening and closing of the boxes may be effected automatically by the car.
The collar (G) is or may be adapted to slide on to one or other of the insulated
portions (A) when the cable is disconnected from the car. In lieu of the
Hexible cable being attached to the conductor (A) it may be attached to the car,
and the connection or contact with the conductor (A) be effected by a channelled
shaped collector (G*), as shewn Fig. 5, or other suitable form of contact which is
simply lowered on to the naked part of the conductor in making the contact and
lifted off and carried on the car after charging the accumulators.
A further arrangement for effecting such connection and disconnection is
shewn in Fig. 4 consisting of a lid or cover (**) fitted with insulated contact
piece (I) and supported on screws (J) which on being rotated by a suitable key
are adapted to lower the cover (Ex) until the contact (1) meets the naked part
of the conductor (A) or raise the cover to the level of the roadway. The cover
may be mounted on levers and lowered by other suitable means.
By adopting my invention a small number of secondary batteries can be used'
consequently the weight on the car will be considerably lessened and the batteries
can be charged at any one of the boxes say in five minutes, and there will be
no necessity to unload the accumulators which will be a great saving of time
and labour and by placing the conductor some distance below the surface of the
roadway pedestrians and animals can receive no injury when passing along or
over the tramway. By adopting my system it will also be less expensive to make
and keep in order than the overhead or open conduit systems. The underground
continuous conductor can either be carried in lengths of metal piping, or that
portion of the conductor which is laid between the boxes can be lead or armour
covered and buried in the ground.
When bridges are on the line of route and there is not sufficient depth on the
bridge to bury the conductor the conductor may be carried under the bridge
until it reaches the roadway on the opposite side.
To allow for the boxes being kept dry I fit each box with a drain pipe (K).
To afford an easy movement to the lid (E) I may mount it on friction rollers or
wheels, or V slides.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
-
1-In électric traction for tram cars charging accumulators or secondary
batteries carried by the tram cars direct from portions of an underground con-
ductor arranged and mounted substantially as set forth.
2: In electric traction for tram cars with accumulators or storage batteries,
the use, in combination, of a continuous conductor, a series of current collecting
boxes placed at intervals along the tram car route through which the conductor
passes, and a flexible cable within each box for connecting the conductor to
accumulators or storage batteries carried by the cars, substantially as set forth.
3: In electric traction for tramcars with accumulators or storage batteries,
a box or casing with sliding lid, and openings to allow a conductor to pass
through, substantially as set forth.
4: In electric traction for tramcars with accumulators or storage batteries,
a length of flexible cable and a collar, ring or like and suitable collector adapted
to convey electric current to accumulators or storage batteries on the car from
a conductor below the road level, as set forth.

page_text: 5: In electric traction or tramcars with accumulators or storage batteries,
a length of flexible cable and a channel shape collector adapted to fit or make
contact with a conductor below the road level and convey electric current to
accumulators or storage batteries on the car, as set forth.
6 In electric traction for tramcars with accumulators or storage batteries,
a box or casing below the road level and fitted with a lid, which can be raised
and lowered and a contact piece in such lid adapted to make contact with a
continuous conducior, as set forth.
The combination and arrangement of parts herein described and shewn
in Fig. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
JOHN MILNES,
By John G. Wilson & Co., Fels. Inst., P.A.,
55, Market Street, Manchester, Agents for Applicant.