Improvements in Means for Making Electric Connection between Lengths of Rail and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1896-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Making Electric Connection between
Lengths of Rail and the like.
I HENRY EDMUNDS of 39 Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object to provide means for making electric connection
between lengths of rail and the like by which efficient contact is obtained in an
economical and efficient manner, the said contact being very secure against
becoming loosened during use.
According, to my invention the device by which contact is made between two
lengths of rail or the like consists of a conductor preferably consisting of a flexible
copper strip made of wires interwoven or otherwise combined and provided with
ends which are flattened or otherwise formed so as to give a good contact surface
with the sides of the rails or the like. Formed in one with each such end is a
transverse projection or transverse projections. The projection or projections at
the one end is or are introduced into a corresponding hole or into corresponding
holes formed through the web of the one rail or the like to be connected and the
projection or projections at the other end is or are in like manner passed through
a hole or through holes in the web of the other of the rails or the like to be
connected. The projecting ends of the said projections are then upset or turned
over or rivetted so that the conductor ends make close contact with the rails or the
like. The device is applicable in like manner to making electrical connection
between other articles than rails.
Did this 4th day of Catcher 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE DI MUL
Improvements in Means for Making Electric Connection between
Lengths of Rail and the like.
I, HENRY EDMUNDS of 39 Victoria Street in the City of Westminster
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 has for its object to provide means for making electric connection
between lengths of rail and the like by which efficient contact is obtained in an
economical and efficient manner, the said contact being very secure against
becoming loosened during use.
According to my invention, the device, by which contact is made between two
lengths of rail or the like, consists of a conductor preferably a flexible copper
strip made of wires interwoven or otherwise combined and provided with solid ends
which are flattened or otherwise formed so as to give a good contact surface with

page_text: the sides of the rails or the like and which may be applied as described in the
Specification of Letters Patent No. 3119 of 1893 granted to me. These ends may
be made or attached by any suitable means, such for example, as by electric or
other welding, brazing or the like.
Formed in one with each such end, is a projection or projections for passing
transversely through the webs of the rails or the like to be connected.
The projection or projections at the one end is or are introduced into a corre-
sponding hole or into corresponding holes formed through the web of the one rail
or the like to be connected and the projection or projectious at the other end is or
are in like manner passed through a hole or through holes in the web of the other
of the rails or the like to be connected. The projecting ends of the said projections
are then upset splayed out, turned over, or rivetted so that the conductor ends make
close contact with the rails or the like and the ends are firmly secured in position in
the holes. The device is applicable in like manner to making electrical connection
between other articles than rails.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing illustrates a connecting and conducting
device made in accordance with my invention a represents the conductive strand,
made of copper wires provided with solid ends b formed as herein before mentioned
to give good contact surfaces at 63 to bear against the sides of the webs of the rails
or the like. On each such end is a projection c of a length sufficient to pass
through, and project slightly from, a hole in the web of each of the rails or the like
to be electrically connected. When the said transverse projections are passed
through the said holes their projecting ends are rivetted over as shewn in sectional
plan in Figure 2.
In Figures 1 and 2 the part b is made continuous with the part a but it may be
otherwise disposed for example the part 6 which bears against the rail or the like
may be made transverse to the part a as shewn in Figure 3.
The flexible character of the connection will allow it to yield under vibrations
and prevent any tendency to loosening of the connection with the rails or the like
although the mode of connection by rivetting as described in itself affords a firm
and reliable attachment not liable to become loosened.
d is a tube or casing which surrounds the conductor and to allow it to yield
under vibrations even if it be covered with concrete or the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
An electrical connection for lengths of rails and the like the said connection being
formed and secured to the rails or the like substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 6th day of July 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.