Improvements relating to Electric Tramways and Tramcars.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Electric Tramways and Tramcars.
We ALEXANDER LOGIN LINEFF, of 88 High Road, Chiswick in the County of
Middlesex, Electrical Engineer and EDWARD HODSON BAYLEY of Eltham in the
County of Kent, Gentleman, 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 reference to improvements in or pertaining to an invention
for which Letters Patent were granted to us dated the 4th October 1887, No. 13447,
and the invention consists in reducing the width of the slot opening of the channel
in which the collector works; in making the contact for the return current independent
of the state of the road, and thus prevent any possibility of sparking at the wheels ;
in providing means for an extra return circuit to carry the return current independently
of the rails; in rendering the points or switches in the track more reliable, and better
adapted for the purpose; and in making the insulation of the main conductor more
permanent, and the conductor less accessible to mechanical or electrical derangements
than heretofore.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1, Sheet I, represents a cross section of a side channel with running and
check rails to form the slot opening of the same;
Figs. 1, 1, and 1 representing, on a larger scale, certain details which will be
hereafter more fully referred to.
Figs. 2 and 3 represent sections of modified arrangements of rails.
Fig. 4 represents a cross section, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section, of a
modification of the mode of carrying the conductor.
Fig. 4 is a cross section of another arrangement for the same purpose.
Figs. 6 and 7 are sections shewing the mode of connecting the positive rubbers
with the conductor.
Fig. 8, Sheet II, is a side elevation, partly in section, shewing the connection
of the trailing collector with the car, and
Fig. 9 is a plan of part of the underframe of electric car, with the trailing collector,
and shewing the mode of supporting the same.
Figs. 9 and 9b shew the means for attaching the trailing collector with the
supporting arms.
Figs. 10 and 11, Sheet III, represent, respectively, longitudinal section and plan
of a point or switch, arranged according to this invention; and
Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15 various cross sections of the same, shewing details of the
same.
A represents the roadway; B is the running rail, and B₁ the check rail, both of
which are carried by a chair C, which is sunk in a channel in the roadway in the
usual manner.
A great objection to electric traction has hitherto been the use of a slot in the
centre of the track in which the support for the trailing or other collector works,
and it has therefore been proposed to combine the flange groove & the slot.
But here, again, an objection is raised, because the slot has been the whole width
of the flange groove, and consequently light wheels have passed through, and accidents
have occurred.
To avoid both the above named objections, and to enable us to employ the side
D
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page_text: channel without fear of accidents, the check rail B' is placed a distance from the
running rail B only sufficient to permit of the passage of the supporting arm of the
collector, but this distance is not sufficient for the flange of the running wheel, when
the channel slot is also the flange groove. To provide the requisite width of groove,
while retaining the narrow slot, the inner edge of the check rail B' is rebated or
recessed, as shewn at Fig. 1. or the inner edges of both rails B & B' may be rebated
or recessed as shewn at Fig. 2. In Fig. 3, the flange groove is shewn separate from
the slot.
In our former patent, the return electric current goes through the wheels and
rails, but when the rails are covered with dirt or grit, or accidentally obstructed by
small stones, which cannot always be avoided where there is much traffic, sparking at
the wheels of the cars takes place, and it is of the utmost importance that this sparking
should be prevented.
For this purpose an arrangement such as shewn at Figs. 1, 1ª, 1, 1º, 3, 4. and 5,
is employed.
In the former patent, rubbing pieces are provided in connection with the conductor,
in which pieces the trailing collector works.
We now employ two sets of rubbers, one, D, for the positive current. in electrical
connection with the main conductor E; the other set, D1, is intended for the return or
negative current. The negative rubbers D' may be either cast with the chair, as shewn
in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, or formed of separate pieces bolted or otherwise attached to the
chair, as shewn in Figs. 1, 1, 1, and 1°, and, if necessary, insulated therefrom. In
the latter case, the return current will pass by a separate conductor E', as will be seen
in Figs. 1, 1, 1, 1°, which is carried in a notched portion of the rubber D', and
retained by a set screw or otherwise.
In an underground conductor exposed to the influence of weather, and all the dirt
and dust which may get access to the channel, it is very advisable to have the insulation
protected by metallic sheathing similar to conductors used for submarine cables, or
underground conductors used for telegraphic and other purposes.
In applying this principle to the underground conductor with projecting rubbing
pieces, we proceed as follows:-
The copper conductor E is placed in an iron tube or casing E², in the centre of
which it is retained (so as to be insulated therefrom) by a packing of suitable insulating
material. At each joint of the casing E2, which will correspond to each rubber D,
we apply a tee piece or connection G (see Figs. 6 and 7), which serves to connect the
two lengths of pipe. Into the stem of the T piece G, we fit an earthenware
insulator G', through which the stem of the rubber D passes. The foot of the stem
of the rubber D is threaded, and takes into another T piece G², which surrounds the
copper conductor E, and is insulated from the pipe E by an earthenware piece G³.
By screwing down the rubber D, contact is made with the copper conductor E. The
space round the stem is filled with some plastic insulating material.
In this arrange-
ment, the tube E2 becomes "earth," and may be fixed direct to the chair by means of
screw clips H, as shown at Figs. 4 and 5.
Or the conductor may be fixed, as shown in Fig. 4. The stem of the rubber 1)
passes through an earthenware insulator G', and the whole is placed in a pocket C¹,
cast with the chair C. The intervening space is filled with plastic insulating material
through an opening in the casting. The upper part of the rubber, on the side nearest
to the channel wall, has a notch in which the conductor E is securely held by a set
screw C. The conductor E may be only slightly insulated, or even a bare cable or
rod, as the main insulation is already provided for by the arrangement of rubbers.
This arrangement is similar to one shewn in respect to the former patent.
The collecting apparatus, as described in the former patent, requires modification to
adapt it to the new circumstances, and we therefore construct it of two contact
ropes J, J, covered with short ferrules as before. These ropes J, J' are fixed, by
means of metal clips J2, to a strip or strips of some sufficiently rigid isulating
material K, as shewn in Figs. 1ª, 3, 4, and 9", in section, and in Figs. 8 and 9 in
elevation. This collector J, J, K slides between the rubbers D D', arranged on the

page_text: hit and miss principle, the lower trailing rope J being in immediate contact with the
positive rubbers D, and the upper rope with the negative rubbers D'. The position
of the rubbers D D' will be so arranged, that the collector is tilted a little to one side,
so that the weight of the upper rope will ensure good contact with the upper rubber.
One rope J will be in electrical communication with one of the arms supporting the
collector; the other rope J¹ with the other arm.
This form of collector will be inter-
changeable, and in case the lower portion becomes worn, it will only be necessary to
turn the collector end for end, without changing the face of the same.
The arrange-
ment of the beams carrying the arins for supporting the collector, and the attachment
of the collector, to the arms, will now be described.
The electric car is constructed with six wheels, the axles of two pairs being attached
to a bogie truck L.
The bogie L is fitted with the motor driving gear, brake, and electric collector, (of
which only the latter is shewn in the drawing), and is thus self contained, and if any
accident happens to the driving or collecting mechanism, the bogie is taken bodily
from under the car and replaced by a spare ons. The third axle L' is attached in the
usual manner to the frame of the car, but while one of its wheels is fast on the axle,
the other is loose, thus providing for any difference between the outer and inner rails
on curves.
The car is thus eminently adapted to pass sharp curves, the friction and grinding
of the wheels against the rails being reduced to a minimum.
To the axle boxes L2 L³, on one side of the bogie L, is pivotted a trail beam,
in two parts (preferably of channel or girder iron), M, M', one part M being
pivotted to the axle box L2, and the other part M' to the axle box L³. The inuer
ends of these parts M, M', work against a wearing plate M2, rigidly attached to
the axle boxes, and the outer ends are provided with shoes M³, pivotted thereto, as
described in the former patent, so as to allow for a certain amount of swinging
movement when passing curves.
The arms carrying the collector consist of a strip of brass or other conducting
material N, thoroughly insulated, and furnished with a protecting casing N', and
securely clamped in the shoe M³. This arm passes downward through the channel
slot to the trailing collector, to which it is secured by a strap N2, in electrical
connection with one of the ropes J or J', by which the current is conveyed from
or to the conductor rubbers. The strip N is prevented from being drawn through
this strap N by being turned up slightly at the end, or by any other suitable
means.
On curves, the distance between the ends of the trailing collector which follows
the curve, will become shorter, and the distance between the arms is also at the same
time reduced, but not to so great an extent.-To counteract the effect of this differance,
the strap N2 is made somewhat longer than the width of the arm, so that a certain
amount of play in a horizontal direction is allowed for. A good contact between the
strap N2 and the metallic strip in the arm will be ensured by any suitable arrangement,
such as a spring, not shewn in the drawing.
In order to allow a certain play in a vertical direction, rendered necessary when an
obstruction on the running rails causes the wheels to jump, a space is left between the
bottom of the strap N2 and the turned-up edge of the metallic strip N. A further
degree of elasticity in this respect is afforded by making the shoe at each end of the
trailing beam rest on a spiral spring, instead of directly on the beam, so that any slight
movement of the latter, will expend itself in compressing the spring, and will not strain
the trailing collector.
The straps N2 are connected with the trailing ropes J, J', so that the current from
the positive pole of the dynamo will be conveyed from the lower rope J of the trailing
collector, through one arm, M, of the trail beam, to the motor on the car, and thence,
by the opposite arm M', to the upper rope J¹, back to the negative pole of the dynamo
at the generating station.
The arrangement of apparatus adopted for points and crossings, is shewn in
Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. As will be seen from the drawings, the original

page_text: running rail B, and guard or check rail B¹, diverge, whilst between them a fresh
running rail B, and guard or check rail B', are made to start, such fresh rails termi-
nating together on a single movable tongue 0. This tongue O is pivotted at its base
to a double chair C³, and furnished with a spring O', which keeps the tongue O, under
ordinary circumstances, to one side of the slot opening, for automatically guiding the
car wheel in the desired direction. The wheel of a car coming in the opposite
direction, will push the tongue over, and open a way for itself in the usual way.
In order to support the extremity of this movable tongue O, at a point as close to
its free end as may be found convenient, we pivot thereto, a plate (2, which is broad
enough, when in its normal position, to rest in recesses provided on each side between
the rails, and a chair specially constructed for the purpose, see Fig. 12.
The plate O2 is lozenge shaped, so that when a supporting arm of the collector
reaches the plate, it will, by sliding along the edge thereof, force the plate to one side,
and thus open for itself a path, without, however, leaving the moveable tongue
unsupported. Spiral springs 03 on either side will cause the plate O' to return to its
normal position (the central position in Fig. 11), whenever it has been displaced
therefrom, as soon as the supporting arm has cleared it.
Occasionally it may be necessary to use the point O as a facing point, in which case
the tongue and supporting plate 02 will be moved by hand, by means of a hinged
catch P, Fig. 14, pivotted to a rod P¹, attached to a hand lever P2, suitably arranged
by the side of the track, the said catch engaging with a slot P4 cut in the under-
surface of the supporting plate 02. The rod P₁ is surrounded by a spiral spring Q,
contained in a cylinder Q, against the edge of which the catch presses when the rod is
pulled in by the movement of the hand lever. The catch is thus caused to assume a
horizontal position in line with the rod, and thereby engage with the slot in the
supporting plate. The continued movement of the lever pulls over the plate 02 until
one of its obtuse angles reaches the back of the recess in which the plates slides.-As
the catch engages with the plate 02 at a point between the pivot and the point of the
obtuse angle, further movement of the lever will pull over the movable tongue O, the
point of the obtuse angle of the plate, O2, acting as the fulcrum.--One movement of
the hand lever P2, therefore, first causes the catch P to engage with the slot P* of the
supporting plate 02, and draw it over, and finally pulls over the movable tongue O,
and allows a clear passage both for the arms of the collector beam, and for the car
wheels. When the hand lever is released, the several springs act to return the parts
to their normal position, and cause the catch to drop clear of the slot in the supporting
plate, as shewn in the figure. This last movement is rendered more certain by a small
spiral spring R on the pivot pin of the catch (see Fig. 11), as it is important that the
catch shall be withdrawn clear of the arms of the collector.
Having now. particularly describe and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we would here remark that we
are aware of the two several Letters Patent granted to Joseph Kincaid and dated
respectively the 14th April 1887 No. 5427 and the 31st July 1888 No. 11100 and we
wish it to be understood that we do not claim anything that is described and claimed
in either of the Specifications of the two said Letters Patent but we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In electric tramways having an underground side channel with the slot opening
and rail groove combined, reducing the width of the slot opening, while at the same
time allowing the full width of rail groove, by the employment of a check rail, or both
running and check rails, with rebated or recessed heads, as herein shown and
described.
2. For electric traction purposes, the use of a double set of rubbers, one for the
positive current, the other for the negative; the negative rubbers being either
insulated from, or in metallic contact with, the rails, substantially as described and
illustrated.
.
3. For electric traction purposes, the use of a trailing collector consisting of two
flexible ropes insulated from each other,.as shown and described.

page_text: 4. For electric traction purposes, the combination with a double set of rubbers, one
for the positive, and the other for the negative current, of a trailing collector
consisting of two flexible ropes insulated from each other, and sliding between the
positive and negative rubbers, as and for the purpose set forth.
5. The means as herein shown and described for carrying the trailing collector,.
whereby difficulties in going round curves are overcome.
6. The mode of attaching the arms to the trailing collector, as shown and described,
so as to allow for slight vertical motion of the supporting beams, without interfering
with the sliding movement of the collector between the sets of positive and negative.
rubbers.
7. The mode of connecting the rubbers to the main conductor enclosed within and
insulated from a metal tube, and of insulating the rubbers from said enclosing tube, as
set forth.
8. In electrically propelled vehicles, the use of a two-axle bogie carrying all the
electrical and mechanical gear, in combination with an ordinary two-wheel
axle, one wheel of which is loose on the same, as and for the purpose described.
9. In electrical tramways, the use, in combination with a switch or point, of a
sliding lozenge-shaped plate pivotted to and underlying the switch, working in recesses
in the chair, and kept in position by springs pressing against the opposite edges of
said plate, as and for the purpose above described.
10. The means above described for actuating the said switch by hand, when used as
a facing point.
11. The improvements as herein shown and described, relating to electric tramways,
whereby the working of such tramways will be effected in a more efficient and
economical manner than heretofore.
Dated this 18th day of January 1890.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.