Improvements in Apparatus for Supplying Electricity to Electrically Propelled Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 29th June, 1893-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1395
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Supplying Electricity to Electrically
Propelled Vehicles.
I, EMILE CHABEAULT, of 15 Rue des Halles, Paris, France, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention there are arranged at intervals along the track upon
which an electrically propelled vehicle is to run, current supplying devices which,
on being placed in electric connection with corresponding devices upon the vehicle,
supply current from a main conductor of electricity direct to the motor which
drives the vehicle, or to a battery of accumulators which supply current as required
to such motor, or to both the motor and accumulators.
These current supplying devices are each connected to the main conductor which
may be aerial or underground. The arrangement is such that the current
supplying devices are electrically charged only during the passage of the vehicle
over them, at which time they supply current for operating the motor and for
maintaining or replenishing the charge in the accumulators, thereby enabling light
accumulators to be used.
The current supplying devices are located, either singly or in series, between the
carrying rails of the line and at intervals which will vary according to the special
requirements. When arranged in series, they form charging stations. Along the
whole extent of steep gradients the current supplying devices are arranged in series,
forming in effect charging stations; at these parts of the line they supply current
direct to the motor, and at the same time charge the accumulators which supply
current to the motor only at those parts of the journey which require the least
power.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example an arrange-
ment of current supply apparatus in which the main conductor is underground,
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation showing the general arrangement of the..
apparatus a vehicle being shewn over a current supplying device.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding diagrammatic plan.
AA are the ordinary carrying rails of the track; B' is an independent current
supplying device; CCC are current supplying devices connected in series and
constituting a charging station; D is the main conductor of electricity and E is
that part of the apparatus which is fixed to the vehicle and connects the motor and
accumulators with the current supplying devices in the track; y is the axis of the
track.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of one of the current supplying devices, and
Fig. 4 is a cross section of the same on the lines z z. The device comprises
an enclosing box or casing, a fixed contact and a movable conducting portion
which is normally insulated from the fixed conductor. The box or casing is
formed of two cast iron cylinders F and G which are connected by bolts and
strengthened by ribs a. The cylinder G which encloses the fixed conductor is
formed with a tubular part 1 through which the branch conductor L connecting
the main conductor with the fixed contact is led into the cylinder G.
The fixed contact is an annular spring metal contact of truncated conical form
secured to an insulating piece M by means of a conducting collar N that is provided
with ears between which the branch conductor L is clamped. The piece M is
fixed to the cylinder F and keeps the parts in place.
The inovable conducting portion consists of a part J of mild steel fixed by
means of a ring and a spherical head c to a conducting stem d which passes
through a tubular guide H and through the annular spring contact l. The stem d,

page_text: which terminates at its lower end in a contact piece e of gun-metal or carbon, rests
on a spring z located in the lower portion of the cylinder G. The stem d is
surrounded by an insulating tube g which is protected by a steel tube h.
An insulating piece of inverted cup shape secured to a sleeve of enamelled
sheet metal serves to protect the movable conductor when it is raised by the
device E during the passage of the car as will be hereinafter described.
A ring k of elastic material such as india rubber serves to maintain the part J'
in the position shown, whilst allowing it to move in certain directions about the
spherical bead c.
Upon the movable conductor d being raised the contact piece e comes into
contact with the spring contact the elasticity of which is increased by forming it
with longitudinal slits. Contact is made, and the current passes from the branch
conductor L through the spring contact l, the contact piece e, the stem d, and the
As the rear
part into the apparatus located beneath and carried by the car.
portion of the car passes over the current supplying devices it depresses the stem d,
thereby causing the contact piece e to leave the spring contact and fall upon the
spring which acts to reduce shock.
When the current supplying devices are arranged in series as shown at C' CC
in Fig. 1, they are connected together by metal bars m which form a kind of
central rail which may be extended both in front of and behind the charging
station, by bars n which terminate in blocks o that serve to ensure the proper
working of the apparatus fixed to the car, before it arrives over the first current
supplying device of the charging station.
When the track is intended to be traversed in one direction only, the last current
supplying device of the series is not provided with a block o.
The distance between any two current suppl. stations is regulated according to
the amount of power required to propel the vehicle over that particular section of
the track, that is to say, for ascending steep gradients the stations will be arranged
comparatively close together, whereas upon the level they will be arranged
comparatively far apart so that the accumulators will receive from each station a
quantity of electricity equal to that which they have expended in propelling the
vehicle between that station and the preceding one.
Fig. 5 is a part elevation and Fig. 6 a part plan showing the general arrangement
of the apparatus secured to the underside of the car for effecting the charging of
the accumulators contained therein.
This apparatus A. comprises a metal bar P connected to the frame P¹ of the car
by sleeves p p (Figs. 10 and that are morably jointed to each other and which
permit the bar bending slightly in a horizontal plane. To this bar are fixed at
intervals insulated dogs, shown in detail in Fig. 7, and formed by strips or plates Q
to which are fixed springs R extending almost the length of the car. Figs. 8
and 9 show the manner of fixing the springs.
The bar P is fixed at its forward and rearward ends in cross pieces S connected
to the frame of the car.
At each end the springs R are bent downwardly and terminate in cylindrical
portions R' and a circular blade T which comes very near to the ground.
Jointed to the bar P at the inner side of the cross piece S is a framework
carrying an electro-magnet U energised by current derived from the battery of
accumulators or from the motor. This clectro-magnet terminates in polar
extensions p' designed to serve as guides, and in a shoe g. A spring whose
tension is regulated by a screws maintains the jointed framework at a certain
distance above the ground.
During movement of the car under the action of gravity or of the accumulators
the free end of the frame is raised; but when the car arrives over a block o
(Fig. 2) one of which precedes each single current supplying device and also the
first one of a group of such devices, this end is depressed by the electro-magnet U
which is attracted by the block o. The shoe g which is magnetised by the electro
magnet U then rubs along the upper surface of the current supplying device and

page_text: attracts the part J¹ (Fig. 3) of the movable conductor, which adheres to the walls
of said shoe and slides up under the extension p¹ until it engages in the ring
formed by the blade T, and thence up onto the springs R.
The current from the generating station then passes from the said part J¹ to the
springs R, which act as conductors, and thence by a flexible cable t to the motor
and also to the accumulators. The current returns by the wheels of the car
through the carrying rails of the track.
If
The conductors R are formed as springs for the purpose of imparting to the
whole the flexibility necessary for passing around curved portions of the track.
the track be perfectly straight, then instead of springs, perfectly rigid conductors
could be employed.
When the movable conductor or part J¹ arrives at the end of the car, it is
depressed by the inclined part and is finally dropped from the rear shoe, after
which the whole of the rear portion of the framework rises under the action of the
spring r.
The operations of starting and stopping are effected by the usual means and
apparatus.
11.
اليوم
1
Pamban 1000
EMILE CHABEAULT,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Supplying Electricity to Electrically
Propelled Vehicles.
1, EMILE CHABEAULT, of 15 Rue des Halles, Paris, France, 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 :-
According to this invention there are arranged at intervals along the track upon
which an electrically propelled vehicle is to run, current supplying devices which,
on being placed in electric connection with corresponding devices upon the vehicle,
supply current from a main conductor of electricity direct to the motor which
drives the vehicle, or to a battery of accumulators which supply current as required
to such motor, or to both the motor and accumulators.
These current supplying devices are each connected to the main conductor which
may be aerial or underground. The arrangement is such that the current supplying
devices are electrically charged only during the passage of the vehicle over them,
at which time they supply current for operating the motor and for maintaining or
replenishing the charge in the accumulators, thereby enabling light accumulators
to be used.
The current supplying devices are located, either singly or in groups between
the carrying rails of the line and at intervals which will vary according to the
special requirements. When arranged in series, they form charging stations.
Along the whole extent of steep gradients the current supplying devices are
arranged in series, forming in effect charging stations. At these parts of the line
they supply current direct to the motor, and at the same time charge the accu-
mulators which supply current to the motor only at those parts of the journey
which require the least power.
In the drawings, filed with my Provisional Specification which illustrate an
arrangement of current supply apparatus in which the main conductor is under-
ground,
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation showing the general arrangement of the
apparatus a vehicle being shewn over a series of current supplying devices.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding diagrammatic plan.
A A¹ are the ordinary carrying rails of the track; B' is an independent current

page_text: supplying device; C C C represent a group of current supplying devices con-
stituting a charging station; D is the main conductor of electricity and E is that
part of the apparatus which is fixed to the vehicle and connects the motor and
accumulators with the current supplying devices in the track; y is the axis of
.the track.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of one of the current supplying devices and
Fig. 4 is a cross section of the same on the lines z
The device comprises an enclosing box or casing, a fixed contact and a movable
conducting portion which is normally insulated from the fixed conductor. The box
or casing is formed of two cast iron cylinders F and G which are connected by
bolts and strengthened by ribs a. The cylinder G which encloses the fixed
conductor is formed with a tubular part I through which the branch conductor L
connecting the main conductor with the fixed contact is led into the cylinder G.
The fixed contact is an annular spring metal contact of truncated conical form
secured to an insulating piece M by means of a conducting collar N that is pro-
vided with ears between which the branch conductor L is clamped. The piece M
is fixed to the cylinder F and keeps the parts in place.
The movable conducting portion consists of a part J1 of mild steel fixed by
means of a ring b and a spherical .head c to a conducting stem d which passes
through a tubular guide H and through the annular spring contact l. The stem d,
which terminates at its lower end in a contact piece e of gun-metal or carbon, rests
on a spring located in the lower portion of the cylinder G. The stem dis
surrounded by an insulating tube g which is protected by a steel tube h.
An insulating piece i of inverted cup shape secured to a sleeve of enamelled sheet
metal serves to protect the movable conductor when it is raised by the device E
during the passage of the car as will be hereinafter described.
A ring of elastic material such as india rubber serves to maintain the part J¹
in the position shown, whilst allowing it to move in certain directions about the
spherical head c.
Upon the movable conductor d being raised the contact piece e comes into
contact with the spring contact the elasticity of which is increased by forming it
with longitudinal slits. Contact is made, and the current passes from the branch
conductor L through the spring contact 1, the contact piece e the stem d, and the
part J into the apparatus located beneath and carried by the car.
As the rear
portion of the car passes over the current supplying devices it depresses the stem d,
thereby causing the contact piece e to leave the spring contact i and fall upon the
spring which acts to reduce shock.
When the current supplying devices are arranged in a group as shown at C, C, C
in Fig. 1, they are connected together by iron bars m which form a kind of central
rail which may be extended both in front of and behind the charging station, by
ars n which terminate in blocks o that serve to ensure the proper working of the
*pparatus fixed to the car, before it arrives over the first current supplying device
of the charging station.
1
When the track is intended to be traversed in one direction only, the last current
supplying device of the series is not provided with a block o.
The distance between any two current supply stations is regulated according to
the amount of power required to propel the vehicle over that particular section of
the track, that is to say for ascending steep gradients the stations will be arranged
comparatively close together, whereas upon the level they will be arranged com-
paratively far apart so that the accumulators will receive from each station a
quantity of electricity equal to that which they have expended in propelling the
vehicle between that station and the preceding one.
Fig. is a part elevation and Fig. 6 a part plan showing the general arrange-
ment of the apparatus secured to the underside of the car for connecting the
current supplying devices on the track with the motor or accumulator or both
on the car.
This apparatus comprises a metal bar P connected to the frame P¹ of the car

page_text: by sleeves pp (Figs. 10 and 11) that are movably jointed to each other and which
permit the bar to move slightly in a horizontal plane. To this bar are fixed at
intervals, insulated dogs, shown in detail in Fig. 7, and formed by strips or plates Q
to which are fixed springs R extending almost the length of the car. Figs. 8 and 9.
show the manner of fixing the springs.
The bar P is fixed at its forward and rearward ends in cross pieces S connected
to the framework of the car.
The forward and rearward ends of each spring R are bent downwardly and each
terminates in a cylindrical portion R¹ and a circularly bent portion T which comes
very near to the ground.
Jointed to the bar P at the inner side of the cross piece S is a framework
carrying an electro-magnet U energised by current derived from the battery of
accumulators or from the motor. This electro-magnet terminates in polar exten-
sions p¹ designed to serve as guides, and in a shoe.y located below the electro-
magnet. A spring r whose tension is regulated by a screw s maintains the jointed
framework at a certain distance above the ground.
During movement of the car under the action of gravity or of the accumulators,
the free end of the frame is raised by any convenient means; but when the car
arrives over a block o (Fig. 2) one of which precedes each single current supplying
device, and also the first one of a group of such devices, this end is depressed by
the electro-magnet U which is attracted by the block o. The shoe which is
9,
magnetised by the electro-magnet U, then rubs along the upper surface of the
current supplying device and attracts the part J¹ (Fig. 3) of the movable conducting
part thereof, which adheres to the walls of said shoe and slides up under the
extension p by the movement of the vehicle so as to be engaged by the bent lower
end portions T, R¹, and thence pass onto the springs R.
The current from the generating station then passes from the said part J' to the
springs R, which act as conductors, and thence by a flexible cable t to the motor
and also to the accumulators. The current returns by the wheels of the car
through the carrying rails of the track.
The conductors R are formed as springs for the purpose of imparting to the
whole the flexibility necessary for passing around curved portions of the track. If
the track be perfectly straight, then instead of springs, perfectly rigid conductors
could be employed.
When the movable conductor or part J₁ arrives at the end of the car, it is
depressed by the inclined part and is finally dropped from the rear shoe, after
which the whole of the rear portion of the framework rises under the action of
the spring r.
The operations of starting and stopping are effected by the usual means and
apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for supplying electricity to electrically propelled vehicles
provided with accumulators from which the car motor is normally supplied by
electricity the arrangement at long intervals along the track traversed by the
vehicle of points of current supply consisting of current supplying devices connected
to a main conductor of electricity by shunt or branch conductors and serving whilst
a vehicle is passing over them to supply for determined intervals, the electric
energy necessary for re-charging the accumulators on the vehicle and for supplying
the car motor during the re-charging period substantially as described and shewn.
2. In apparatus of the kind referred to in the preceding claim, the arrangement
of the said points of current supply in groups in such a manner as to increase on
gradients or other required parts of the track the amount of electric energy
transmitted to the accumulators and car motor according to the work to be done
as set forth.

page_text: 3. In apparatus of the kind referred to in the preceding claims a current
supplying device constructed with a movable conductor J' e normally insulated
from the main conductor but adapted to be raised and held, during the charging
period, against a fixed conductor formed by a metallic spring contact connected
to a conductor L in connection with the main conductor substantially as described.
4. The combination with current supplying devices of the kind herein referred
to, of a device located under the vehicle to be propelled and comprising an electro-
magnet formed with a polar extension in the form of a shoe q adapted when brought
over a current supplying device, to attract the movable conducting portion J¹ e
thereof in such a manner as to cause it to make contact with a fixed contact in
connection with the main conductor and also to guide it and bring it upon horizontal
springs R which serve as flexible conductors, and whence the current coming from
the point of current supply, passes through a conductor to the accumulators and
car motor on the vehicle substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 29th day of June 1893.
EMILE CHABEAULT,
By L. W., per F. B.