Improvements in Electric Railways.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1890-Accepted, 3rd May, 1890
:.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Railways.
I, JAMES BOYD MCGREW, of 510 Ward Street, Pittsburgh in the County of
Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, 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:-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view on a vertical plane, of my improved
electric railway, showing a car upon the track;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the under-ground conduit with its appurtenances,
Figure 3 is a perspective detail view of one of the conduit-boxes and apparatus
for automatically breaking and closing the electric circuit over a given distance or
portion of the conduit.
Figure is a side view of the same device or apparatus, with one side of the
enclosing box broken away;
Figure 5 is a similar view of the same apparatus but at right angles to the view
shown in fig. 4;
Figure 6 is a bottom plan of the same;
Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view through the vertical plane indicated by
the broken line marked x-x in Figure 2;
Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view on a vertical plane through line y-y in
Figure 2;
Figure 9 is a detail view of the circuit closing and breaking device which forms
a part of the apparatus ; and
Figure 10 is a detail view of the device for revolving the movable bearings for
the circuit closing and breaking device shown in Figure 9.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.
My invention relates to electric railways of the type in which the conduit and
electric cables are located under-ground, the working current being conveyed to the
electric-motor in the car by means of contact brushes at the lower ends of the arnis
affixed to the car, and projecting down into the conduit-trough through a narrow
slit in the covering plate. In this type of conduit, it has been found extremely
difficult to prevent great waste by leakage, so that a current of high potentiality
has to be maintained to obtain enough surplus power to run the cars, especially
during the wet seasons of the year, when the conduit trough is apt to be more or
less filled with half-melted snow or water. The object of my invention is to overcome
this serious draw-back which attaches to that class of electric roads, and I accomplish
this in a simple and effective manner by rendering the conducting-strips, from which
the car takes its power "dead" or inactive throughout the entire length of the
route, except for a short distance corresponding, approximately to the length of the
car, which, (the car) as it advances over the track, gradually and automatically
shifts the active portions of the conducting strips from one of the same to another,
from the beginning to the end of the track, and in advance of the line of travel.
This progressive "rendering active," by sections, of the conducting strips which
supply the car with power for its propulsion, is accomplished automatically and
mechanically by the car itself, substantially, as will be hereinafter more fully
described.
Reference being had to the accompanying three sheets of drawings, the letter A
designates the under-ground trough or conduit, in the metal of the track, shown at B.
At a suitable distance apart, which should correspond to the length of the cars used

page_text: on the line (say about 16 feet, more or less), are located boxes, C, which contain the
mechanism for shifting the active sections on the conducting strips as the car
progresses over the line. Running through these boxes, as well as through the
intermediate trough section A, are the insulated line cables D and D', suspended
from or supported upon suitable hangers or brackets E, on opposite sides of the
troughs A and boxes (). Passing longitudinally through the metal of the trough
and boxes, are the un-insulated or naked conducting strips F and F', which aro
simply flat strips or bars of suitable metal, also carried by, but insulated from, the
cable supports E, said strips F and F running through the entire line of conduit and
boxes, parallel to and between the line cables D and D¹.
In the space between the insulated cable D and its corresponding naked strip E,
is located, in each of the boxes C, a vertical fixed upright or standard G, the upper
end of which forms journals, H, for the horizontal bearing, 1, of a hollow cylinder or
cylindrical box, J, closed at both ends and containing a ball or sphere, K; of metal.
The free end of the cylinder J is supported movably in the bifurcated head L of
another standard, M, which is, however, movable around its own axis, its lower end
being stepped loosely into a bearing, N, in the bottom of the box, while its upper
end is inserted loosely through a guide bracket or bearing, O, projecting inwardly
from the adjacent side of the box, so that said standard M with its forked head L,
is free to revolvo in its bearings, N and O.
This movable or revolving standard L, M, forming, as we have seen, a bearing or
support for the outer end of the movable cylinder, is provided near its lower end
with four arms or projections, P, arranged in horizontal plano at right angles to
one another. Each of these arms consist, in the present illustration of this part of
my invention, of two plates or strips of steel, or other tough and elastic metal,
(see Figs. 6 and 10), a and b, the inner ends of which are fastened in the revolving
standard M, while their flaring or diverging outer ends are bent towards and overlap
each other end wise, and are connected, inovably, by a headed bolt, c, fastened to one
of the arms (a), and projecting through a slot, d, in the other arm (6). The arms a
and have placed between them, at their widest part, or point of greatest divergence,
a stout spiral spring, e, which acts as a buffer or cushion, as will be hereinafter
described.
The upper ends of the forked head L, are rounded, as shown at I, and are also
rounded or bevelled on their inner sides as shown at m, so that when the standard M
with its forked head or saddle L is given a quarter of a turn, it will lift the free end
of the cylinder up into an inclined position, as shown by the dotted lines i.e., inclined
from the saddle L, towards the fixed bearing G.
When, on the other hand, the apparatus is in its normal position, the cylinder J
will be inclined in the opposite direction, viz. the end resting in the saddle L, is then
the lowest point, and its hinged end the highest, which position is illustrated in full
line on the drawings.
When the cylinder is in the latter or normal position, the interior ball or sphere K,
will, of course, rest in the lowest part of the cylinder, just above the saddle. But
when the cylinder is tilted into the other position, shown in dotted lines, by a one-
quarter revolution of the saddle, then the ball will, by its own gravity, roll down into
the other end, which is then the lowest as shown at fig. 8.
Within this end of the cylinder, are placed two insulated metallic contact
plates, Q, R, one of which (Q) is connected by an insulated wire, q, with the line-wire
within the insulated cablo D, while the other (R) is similarly connected by an insu-
lated wire, ?, with the appropriate naked contact strip F. Under normal conditions,
therefore, the current cannot pass from cable D into strip F; but when the cylinder
is raised or tilted, the ball rolling down into that end, will rest or bear against an
established metallic connection between the two contact plates Q and R, thus per-
mitting the current to flow from cable D, 'through the wire 7, contact plato Q, ball K,
plate R, wire r, to the naked strip F. The current is again broken or shut off the

page_text: moment the free end of the cylinder is lowered back into its normal position, by the
ball leaving the contact-plates Q and R, and thus breaking connection between
them.
On the opposite side of each of the boxes, between the other cable D¹, and its
appropriate conducting strip F' appertaining to that side of the box, is located a
precisely similar device, comprising a fixed standard, said standard adapted to revolve
around its axis, and provided with projecting arms or wings at its lower end, con-
structed as described; a bifurcated head or saddle, and a pivotod cylinder adapted to
be moved or tilted in a vertical plane parallel to the sides of the box, and provided
with its appropriate contact ball, contact plates, and insulated wires connecting said
plates with, respectively, the line cable or naked conducting strip. The only difference
is, that the position of this second cylinder with its appurtenances is reversed, i.e., both
cylinders, while parallel to each other, tilt or swing in opposite directions when
actuated or operated by their revolving standards M and saddles L.
Having in the foregoing, described the constructions of my apparatus, I shall now
proceed to explain its operation which is as follows:
Each car is provided at opposite ends with a downwardly projecting arm or bar, S,
of such dimensions that it will enter and run freely in the slit in the plate, covering
the conduit trough and boxes, in substantially the same manner as the grip levers used
on cable cars. As the car is started along the track, the forward arm S will strike the
arms or wings P of the two revolving standards M, M, in the first box, and thereby
give to each of these a one-quarter turn, which tilts their respective cylinders into the
position shown in the dotted lines, thereby closing the circuit on both sides between
the pair of strips F F appertaining to the first box and its appropriate conduit-
section. As these conducting strips F and F are not continuous, but broken into
lengths of appropriate size, corresponding to the length or distance between the two
depending arins of the cars, which are arranged endwise, in close proximity to one
another, as shown in Fig. 1, it follows that only that particular length of section of
strips F and F1, which pertains to that particular box, is rendered active by the
closing of the circuit between it and the line cables, the connected-strips over the
remainder of the line being "dead" or inactive. The motor within the car is supplied
with power from this active section, just underneath the car, by contact brushes, in
the usual way, brushing against the strips, and as the car leaves the portion of the
track over this active section, the rear arm S will, in its turn, strike the wings P, and
thereby tilt the circuit-closing cylinders back into their normal position, thus shutting
off the current from the line-cables to the conducting strips. At the same moment,
the forward arm of the car will have reached and operated the apparatus in the next
box, thereby rendering the next section of conducting strips F F active; and so on,
over the entire length of the line, the forward arm S opening and the rearward arm
closing the circuit which renders' active the appropriate pair of conducting
strips F and F, pertaining to the particular length or section of track over which the
car is moving, and from which it is to take its power.
'
By constructing the operating wings or arms P, as described, with the buffer
springs e, they will receive the blows of the depending armis S without injury, and
will also cause the standards M to revolve smoothly and easily, and without jarring.
By using four of these wings upon the revolving standards, instead of two, cars may
be run forward or back upon the same track, as the apparatus may be operated from
either side with equal facility and certainty of operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of iny said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In an electric railway, the combination with two insulated conductors forming
the electric circuit of a series of conducting strips, a cylinder connected with said
strips and conductors and journalled at one end in a fixed support, and its other

page_text: =
and resting in a rotating support by which it is raised and lowered, a hall or
sphere in said cylinder actuated by gravity to make electrical connection between
the conductors and strips, and means by which the cylinder is rotated automatically,
substantially as described.
2. In an electric railway the combination with a continuous cable and a series of
broken conducting strips a cylinder journalled at one end in a standard and its other
end resting in a rotating or revoluble support, insulated plates in the end of the
cylinder in proximity to the journals, wires connected with said plates, and with the
cables and conducting strips respectively, a ball or sphere located in said cylinder and
actuated by gravity to make electrical connection between the plates in the cylinder,
and means substantially as described for revolving the cylinder support automatically
by a moving car, substantially as set forth.
3. In an electric railway the combination with a continuous cable and broken
strips, of a cylinder journalled at one end in bearings in a fixed support, a revoluble
support having a bifurcated bead in which the outer end of the cylinder rests,
insulated plates in the interior of the cylinder, wires connecting the plates with the
cable and strips respectively, a ball or sphere in said cylinder actuated by gravity to
be brought into and out of contact with the plates to make and break electrical con-
nection therewith, and means whereby said support is automatically rotated by the
moving car, substantially as described.
4. In an electric railway, the combination with a continuous cable and broken
strips, of a cylinder journalled at one end in a fixed support, a revoluble support
having a bifurcated head in which the other end of the cylinder rests, conducting
plates in the interior of the cylinder insulated therefrom and from each other, wires
connecting said plates with the cable and strips respectively, a ball or sphere in said
cylinder actuated by gravity to make and break electric contact with said plates,
and projecting arms secured to revoluble support against which a depending rod or
bearing on a moving car is adapted to strike and rotate the support, substantially as
described.
5. In an electric railway, the combination with a continuous cable a series of
conducting strips with which the brushes of a car are adapted to engage, an upright
having a bifurcated end, a cylinder having journals working in bearings in said
bifurcated end, a revoluble support having a saddle at its upper end in which the
other end of the cylinder rests, metallic insulated plates in the cylinder, wires con-
necting said plates respectively with the cable and conducting strips, a gravity sphere
in the cylinder, a series of spring arms on the revoluble support against which a
depending bar or arm from a car is adapted to strike, substantially as described.
6. In an electric railway, the combination with a continuous cable and a series of
conducting strips, of a fixed support G, a cylinder J, journalled in the upper end
of said support, the plates Q, R, in said cylinder insulated thorefrom, and from each
other, wires y,, connecting said plates respectively with the cable and the strips, a
sphere K, in said cylinder actuated by gravity to make and break connection with
plates Q, R, and revoluble support, M; having a saddle L in which the free end of
the cylinder rests, a series of arms secured to support M, each consisting of two strips
of metal a and b, the inner ends of which are fastened to the support M, while their
flaring or diverging ends are bent towards and over-lapping each other end wise,
and connected by a bolt c, and a spiral spring e interposed between the strips a and b,
substantially as described.
7. The combination in an electric railway, of a track, a car adapted to run on
said track and underground trough situated between the rails of said track, and
having a narrow slit or opening and a series of equi-distant boxes, depending arms
extending from the car through said slit into the trough, an insulated cable, naked
separated strips arranged in pairs at each of said boxes, cylinders journalled at one
end in fixed supports, and at their outer ends resting in revoluble supports,
having saddles by which said ends are raised and lowered by the rotation

page_text: of the support, insulated plates in the cylinders, wires connecting said plates with
the cable and with the naked strips, spheres located in the cylinders and actuated by
gravity to make and break electrical contact with the plates, springs arms on the
revoluble supports by which they are rotated by the depending arms on the car, an
electrical connection between the naked strips and the motor on the car, substantially
as described.
nd this 20th day of March 1800
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.