Improvements in and in connection with Underground Conduit Electric Railways.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, Oth Mar 1908
Complete Specification Left, 9th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 9th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Underground Conduit
Electric Railways.
I, EDWARD HEYL-DIA, of 236, Great Clowes Street, Higher Broughton, Man-
chester, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention for improvements in and in connection with underground
conduit electric railways has for its object an improved construction of conduit
and mechanism connected therewith by which the connection is readily effected
between the live cable and the car and whereby the water is kept out of the
conduit in an effectual manner.
According to this invention spring contact pieces are arranged within the
conduit and connected with the live cable which is as usual covered with
insulating material, the said contact pieces being arranged about a car length
apart. Within the conduit a lever is arranged one arm of which is adapted in
one position to make contact with the above mentioned contact pieces but is
normally kept away there from by a spring or other suitable devices. The other
end of this lever is provided with a suitable projection or the like which comes
underneath the slot in the conduit and which when the slipper on the car comes
in contact therewith, is depressed, raising the other end against the action of
the spring so as to make contact with the contact piece and make the connection
between the live cable and the car.
It will thus be seen that as the car moves along contact is made so that cur-
rent is supplied to it through each of these devices only when the car is above
them and as the car leaves one the current ceases and connection is made
with the next of the series. Only that part of the mechanism is energised which
is under the car.
In order to keep the conduit water tight a rubber diaphragm or washer is
arranged in the conduit and the above mentioned lever passes through it in
such a manner that water cannot leak through it. It will be readily understood
that water and mud which accumulates in the conduit cannot get past the
diaphragm or washer and the mechanism is therefore protected from the effects
thereof. Instead of having the slipper upon the car to project straight down
into the conduit it is preferably arranged to turn over to some extent inside
the conduit so that its point of contact with the lever above described is not
directly below the slot but to one side thereof.
By this means the lever will not be affected by anything inserted down the
slot.

page_text: Improvements in and in connection with Underground Conduit
Electric Railways.
I, EDWARD HEYL-DLA, of 236, Gt. Clowes Street, Higher Broughton, Man-
chester, Electrical 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 for improvements in and in connection with underground
conduit electric railways has for its object an improved construction of conduit
and mechanism connected therewith by which the connection is readily effected
between the live cable and the car and whereby the water is kept out of the
conduit in an effectual manner.
According to this invention spring contact pieces are arranged within the
conduit and connected with the live cable which is as usual covered with
insulating material, the said contact pieces being arranged about a car length
apart. Within the conduit a lever is arranged one arm of which is adapted in
one position to make contact with the above mentioned contact pieces but is
normally kept away there from by a spring or other suitable devices.
The other end of this lever is provided with a suitable projection or the like
which comes underneath the slot in the conduit and which when the slipper on
the car comes in contact therewith is depressed raising the other end against
the action of the spring so as to make contact with the contact piece and make
the connection between the live cable and the car.
It will thus be seen that as the car moves along contact is made so that cur-
rent is supplied to it through each of these devices only when the car is above
them and as the car leaves one the current ceases and connection is made
with the next of the series. Only that part of the mechanism is energised which
is under the car.
In order to keep the conduit water tight a rubber diaphragm or washer is
arranged in the conduit and the above mentioned lever passes through it in
such a manner that water cannot leak through it. It will be readily understood
that water and mud which accumulates in the conduit cannot get past the
diaphragm or washer and the mechanism is therefore protected from the effects
thereof. Instead of having the slipper upon the car to project straight down
into the conduit it is preferably arranged to turn over to some extent inside
the conduit so that its point of contact with the lever above described is not
directly below the slot but to one side thereof.
By this means the lever will not be affected by anything inserted into the
slot.
And in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed two sheets of drawings
and will now proceed to describe the same with the aid of the various figures
and letters of reference marked thereon:
On Sheet One,
-
Fig. 1 is a transverse section of an underground conduit constructed in accord-
ance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan of that part represented in Fig. 1.
On Sheet Two,
"
Fig. 3 is a transverse section similar to Fig. 1 of the corresponding conduit
upon a slightly different plan. Fig. 4 is a plan. Fig. 5 illustrates the "slipper
on the car.
In accordance with my invention (1) is the conduit casing producing slot or
cavity (2) in which the slipper rail (3) travels.

page_text: Within the conduit I arrange the spring contacts (4) and (5), the former
connected with the live cable (6) as illustrated, and the latter carried by fulcrum
lever (7) with V centres (8) working on insulator bearing blocks (9), and the
contact (5) normally held out of contact with contact (4) by the spring blade (10)
as illustrated.
The opposite end of the lever (7) carries a contact block (II), adapted to extend
across the cavity (2), slightly above the lower edge of the "" slipper" rail (3),
so that as the slipper traverses the conduit it makes contact with such block (II),
and depressing it, brings contact (5) against contact (4), and thus makes the
connection between the cable and the car.
As aforesaid the contact pieces are arranged about a car length apart, so that
only when the car or slipper is above them is the current supplied to the car,
and as the slipper leaves one set of contacts, the current ceases and connection
is made with the next set of contacts.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the slipper is set to operate vertically upon the lever (7)
but in Figs. 3 and 4 the slipper engages with the lever horizontally and the
end of the lever is rounded off for the better movement of the slipper.
In this last named modification (Figs. 2 and 3) the lever (7) operates hori-
zontally and is normally held clear of contact (4) by spring (12).
To keep the conduit water tight I employ a rubber diaphragm or washer (13)
through which the lever (7), or (7) passes as illustrated, and which also serves
to prevent mud or dirt getting to the contacts.
The manner of constructing the conduit or box for holding the said contacts
and live cable may be varied to suit requirements.
Having thus 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: In underground conduit electric railways, a conduic with sets of con-
tact at almost a car length apart, one of each set in contact with the live cable,
and normally held apart from the other contact of the set by a spring or weight,
in combination with a slipper" on the car travelling in said conduit and extend-
ing from one set of contacts to the next of the series, substantially as set forth
and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
2: In underground conduit electric railways a conduit containing a set of
contacts (4) and (5), the latter connected to the live cable and the former to
the lever (7), fulcrumed on bearings (9), and carrying block (11), in combina-
tion with diaphragm (13), as and for the purposes set forth and illustrated on
the accompanying drawings.
3: In underground conduit electric railways, a "slipper" of the kind described
upon the car sustained in the conduit with its working edge slightly lower than
the contact (11) or lever (73) as set forth.
Dated this 8th day of December 1898
EDWARD HEYL-DIA,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents, 55, Market Street, Manchester.