IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC RAILWAYS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt of Sutton in the County of Surrey for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC RAILWAYS Communicated to
"7
him from abroad by Leo Daft residing at Greeneville in the State of New
Jersey United States of America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st May 1883.
SYDNEY PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
RAILWAYS." Communicated to me from abroad by Leo Daft residing at Greeneville
in the State of New Jersey United States of America
This invention relates to an improved method of operating an electrical railway,
and an improved method of regulating the quantity of electricity which is sent out
upon the same..
The improvement in the system of operating electric railways consists in an
arrangement of mechanism whereby two engines may be operated simultaneously
by electricity drawn from the same conductors, which has hitherto not been
accomplished.
In the method shown the rails upon which the engines run are utilized as
conveyors of the electric current; but I do not limit myself to this method, as it
would be equally applicable to independent conductors. In order to carry out the
invention practically I provide a suitable generator of electricity and connect the
same with electrical conductors.
I then provide two engines having armatures of equal or substantially equal
resistance, and by operating with low tension currents of great quantity, I
am enabled to operate two or more moving dynamos upon the same track
simultaneously.
In order to do this, of course, sufficient electricity must be supplied to operate
all the engines simultaneously which would involve a quantity much greater than
is necessary in operating a single engine. This method of operating would occasion
a great loss of power at the generator, unless means are provided for decreasing
the quantity of electricity in proportion to the less amount needed upon
the rails.
A regulator has therefore been provided which will automatically control the

page_text: quantity of electricity sent to the rails without materially altering its intensity.
In carrying this out a new regulator has likewise been devised.
The improved electric railway system will be readily understood from the
accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 represents a general view of the system.
Figure 2 a detailed view of the regulator. Figure 3 a view at right angles to that
shown in Figure 2 of the regulator switch or cylinder. Figure 4 is a diagram
illustrating two locomotive engines upon one section of track, electrically
connected with a fixed dynamo. B represents the fixed dynamo properly connected
to the rails C C. Upon these rails a varying number of engines are to be
operated.
In Figure 4, two locomotive railway engines are shown upon the rails which
engines would have in their operation substantially equal internal resistance, but
it will be understood that a greater number of engines may run upon said rails
without interfering with the principle of the apparatus. These engines have
substantially the same resistance in their armatures, the dynamo B is arranged as
to supply a sufficient quantity of electricity to operate all the engines
simultaneously and by means of the low tension quantity current supplied thereby,
and equal resistance in the engines, I am enabled to operate in the manner
previously described. As shown the dynamo is operated by an independent
charging machine A A although this is not necessary in all cases as will be
hereafter explained. It will be obvious that the quantity of electricity passing
through the field magnets of B B will determine the quantity of electricity sent
out upon the rails. By varying the quantity passing through the field magnets BB
I vary therefore the quantity sent to the rails. I vary the quantity of electricity
passing through the field magnets B B by the regulator shown at D and in detail
at Figures 2 and 3 and by means of the peculiar winding of the charging
machine A. This machine is provided with a number of independent coils. As
shown, five are employed, but this number may be varied. These coils are united
at one end, and disconnected at the other, where they connect with five wires 1. 2.
3. 4 and 5 going to corresponding springs on the regulator cylinder. This
regulator cylinder or switch consists of a cylindrical brass plate having an
angular edge as shown in Figure 3, which is adjacent to an insulating surface.
The springs 1. 2. 3. 4 and 5 are so arranged that, as the cylinder is rotated
by the regulator magnet, they will successively ride upon or bear against the
insulating surface thereby throwing the coils connected therewith successively into
circuit.
The view shown in Figure 3 represents a view of this cylindrical switch from
the side of the regulator magnet D. As shown the spring 1, rests upon the
insulating material. As the cylinder is rotated, it is apparent that the springs 2.
3. 4 and 5, will be in succession brought upon the insulating material, these springs
being connected each with an independent coil surrounding the charging magnet.
The rotation of this cylindrical switch is accomplished by the axial magnet shown
in detail in Figure 2, the coil of this axial magnet D is in the circuit leading to
the rails. The axial core is shown at F, supported by a spring which may be
made adjustable if desired. The axial magnet Fis contained in the casing E which
limits its upward movement. The axial magnet F is connected with the lever
system b, a, c, d, and with the cylinder switch N.
Now it will be obvious that an increased quantity of electricity flowing through
the coil D will lower the lever a and rotate the switch N, thereby bringing the
springs 2, 3, 4 and 5 in succession upon the insulating surface. The circuits of the
charging machine are plainly shown-namely, through the charging machine A,
the field magnet cores B B the wire f, to the cylinder switch, thence by the wires 1,
2, 3, 4 and 5 to its own coils. A suitable spring or springs e, are provided for
maintaining a constant connection with the metallic surface of the cylinder switch.
The circuits of the dynamo pass from its armature through the coil D and the
rails.
The operation of the apparatus can now be readily understood.

page_text: The apparatus being in the position shown in the Drawings is adapted to supply
electricity suppose to one engine. If now an additional engine should run upon
the same section of track, the resistance between the rails would thereby be reduced
according to the well known law, thus decreasing the resistance of the circuit
passing through the coil D and increasing the flow of electricity there-through.
By this operation the magnetic field is intensified, and the axial armature F, drawn
down into the coil compressing the spring G. The amount which the axial
magnet F is drawn into the coil will be determined by the resistance upon the
track, the less the resistance the more will the core be drawn down, and the
drawing down of this core will continually increase the quantity of electricity
going to the track. It is obvious that the apparatus can be readily applied to a
self charging machine as well as to one having an independent charge. In this
case the coils of the magnets B should be wound separate as in the case of the
magnets A and these separate coils should be connected as before to the
springs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The rest of the connections will be apparent to any
electrician.
By this improvement I am enabled always to supply to the rails the exact
amount of electricity required and I am also enabled to operate a large number of
trains simultaneously without loss of power.
What I claim as the invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
First. The combination of a stationary dynamo constructed to supply sufficient
electricity to drive two or more motors at the desired speed, two rails or conductors
connected therewith, and conveying the electricity generated thereby and two or
more electric locomotive engines having substantially the same internal resistance
when in operation, and receiving the electricity to drive them from said rails or
conductors, in their passage over or past said rails or conductors; and regulating
mechanism which causes substantially the same energy to be developed in each
engine motor, whether one or more are running on the same section of track
substantially as described.
Second. The combination of a stationary dynamo, conveying rails or conductors,
two or more locomotive engines operated from said conductors or rails and adapted
to derive electricity from them in their passage over or past said conductors or
rails, and an automatic switch, said single switch being connected to two or more
sections of the exciting magnet of the dynamo and being constructed to vary the
quantity of electricity supplied to the rails in accordance with the demands
made therefrom, thereby enabling equality of energy to be maintained in two or
more electric railway motors without loss of energy by forcing the current through
an inoperative resistance substantially as described.
Third. The electric switch described which consists of the axial magnet F the
coil D and the rotating cylinder switch N having the diagonal contact plate F and
springs bearing thereupon, and the connections shown for operating the same,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Sydney Pitt have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty first day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
SYDNEY PITT (L.S.)