An Improved Current-collector for Use in connection with Electrically-propelled Vehicles, and for like purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 13th Mar.. 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Current-collector for Use in connection with
Electrically-propelled Vehicles, and for like purposes.
We, ANTON HEUSCH, Gentleman, of 45 Mauerstrasse, and PAUL BRANDT, Engineer,
of 1 Hollmannstrasse, both in Berlin, in the German Empire, 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 :-
The current-collector which forms the subject of the present invention and which
is intended for use in connection with electric railways or tramways with overhead
conductors and for like purposes, is designed to prevent the previously unavoidable -
sparking and fluctuation of the current which takes place with the collectors
heretofore employed, for example, when passing over junctions and curves.
This
object is attained essentially by making the current-collector in the form of a disc
or plate which is jointed or flexibly connected to the contact rod or pole and is.
firmly and uniformly pressed by springs against the conducting wire. The pressure
of the springs is accordingly more uniform than with the "Siemens bow
collector," since the spring, pressure, in the latter, acts at the lower end only of
the contact frame or pole, so that a very long lever is introduced which permits
very perceptible oscillations to take place and to have their effect on the collection of
the current.
:-
The subject of our invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in vertical section,
Figure 2 a side elevation partly in vertical section, and
Figure 3 a plan of our current-collector.
A round metal plate a, Figure 3, rests, by means of its ball joint b, Figures 14.
and 2, in a bearing c on the contact rod or, pole d. Should the conducting wire e-
offer greater resistance to the movement of the current-collector, and consequently
the friction increase, the disc a will accommodate itself to all such impediments or
irregularities, that is to say, it will turn about its joint, at the same time securely
maintaining the contact. Sparking and fluctuations of the current are thereby
prevented.
Both in front of and behind the contact rod or pole d is provided a spring f;.
these springs press the contact disc a securely against the conducting wire e and
enable the disc a to move backwards and forwards in the longitudinal direction of
the conducting wire without breaking the contact or impairing the same, Figure 2.
These springs not only serve to ensure good contact and to enable the disc a to
yield to irregularities of or obstructions on the conducting wire e, but they also serve -
for the transfer of the current to the contact rod or pole d.
It is obviously not absolutely necessary that the disc a should be connected to the
contact rod or pole d by a ball-and-socket joint; any other suitable method of
connection can be employed. The only condition is that the above mentioned
freedom of motion of the disc a in the longitudinal direction of the wire e shall be-
ensured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what.
we claim is :-
1. A current-collector for use in connection with electrically-propelled vehicles and.

page_text: overhead conductors, and for like purposes, comprising a disc or plate movably
connected to the contact rod or pole and pressed against the conductor by means of
springs, substantially as hereinbefore described and for the purposes specified.
2. The improved current-collector constructed substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawing and operating as, and for the purposes,
specified.
Dated the 19th day of February 1897
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.