US265273A - Underground cable for street-car propulsion - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

L. MYERS.

UNDERGROUND CABLE FOR. STREET GAR PROPULSION. No. 265,273 Pe ltented 0015.3,1882.

N..PETER. Phalo-Uhclgnpher. Washington D. C.

ilNrTE TATES LAURENCE MYERS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,273, dated October a, 1882.

Application filed December 19, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be. it known that I, LAURENCE MYERS, oi the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improve.- ment in Underground Cables for Street-Oar Propulsion,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to underground cables adapted to propel street-cars and it consists in means whereby two of said cables may cross each other without interfering with the propulsion of the cars; further, in a double cable connected together by cross pieces forming spaces equivalent to links, and in many details of construction, which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form part therof.

In the drawings, Figure] is a plan view of a crossing, with the top broken away, embodying in it my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of same on linear m. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the two crossing-cables and the means by which acar is enabled to crossa cable without interruption. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of my method of turning a corner with the double cable, and Fig. 5 is a cross-section of same.

A are the ordinary tubes or conduits, in which the cables B are constantly traveling, being guided by rollers D; and E are the top plates or covers between which the longitudinal slot 0 is formed. At a crossing the tubes or conduits A open into each other, as shown in Fig. 1, and one cable is slightly depressed to pass below the other,as shown in Fig. 2. Thccables I prefer to use I make of two longitudinal wire cables, B,connected together every few inches by cross-harsh, woven into said cables, orothcrwise secured, and these cables run upon idler- Wheels D, which are provided on the sides with guiding-flanges d, and in the center with an annular groove, (1. I Upon each side of the cables B, and secured rigidly to the tubes A at the crossing, are inclined guideways (J, said guideways leaving a +-opening immediately over the place of crossing of the two cables B, and at this point the guideways are widened, so as to make the tracks as near a continuous track as possible. These guidewaysO begin below the cables and extend some distance above I them at the point of crossing, and then are curved down again below the cables on the other side. This is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The street-car tracks F are arranged upon either side of the conduits A, and the cars G are provided with a slidingrod or bar, H, which is guided by a support, I, secured to the car, and prevented from descending below a given point by a pin, *5, or other equivalent device, as a collar or enlargement. This rod H carries on the bottom a roller, J, to prevent it catching on projections and insure its being easily moved. Near the bottom, and rigidly secured to the rod H, is a casting, K, carrying upon either side a friction-wheel, L, which is adapted to run upon a guideway, 0, when passing over a crossing to move the end of the bar H'out of contact with either of the cables. In going around a corner the cable lies upon the flanges of vertical guide-wheels arranged upon either side of it, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

If desired, single wire or other cables may be used in place of my improved double cable, as my invention is adapted to all kinds ofcables.

In the bottom ot'the conduits A,I place pipes M, through which I pass hot air or gas to thaw out any frozen slush or snow or ice which may have been formed in it during the winter.

The operation of myimprovemen'ts is as follows: A car upon either track has its bar or rod H down, so that the end extends through the cable B and between the side strands and any two cross-bars, and is being propelled by the moving cable. ing the friction-rollers L run upon guideways O and lift the end of the bar or rod H out of the cable and clear of both cables at the point of crossing. The momentum of the car carries it sufficiently far to allow the bar H to descend through the agency of the other or descending guideway G, and causes it to enter the cable again and continue the propulsion of the car. if the bar H should descend upon one of the cross-bars b, the roller J on its end causes it to slip off between the next two cross-bars. By this means the device works automatically to enable a car to cross another cable, and overcomes one of the greatest objections heretofore raised against underground cables as propellers for cars.

\Vhen it reaches the cross-.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a system of underground cables for propelling streetcars, two cables crossing each other and traveling in different directions, in combination with a street-car, a verticallysliding bar to connect with said cables, and mechanism arranged at said crossing to automatically raise said bar up and clear of both of said cables upon passing the place of intersection and then allow said bar to fall into contact again with its cable, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a system of underground cables for propelling street-ca s, two cables crossing at an angle, in combination with inclined guideways, said guideways beginning below said cables and meeting at or near the point of crossing and at some distance above it, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In asystem for underground cables for propelling street-cars, two cables crossing each other, in combination with a streetcar provided with the vertically-sliding bar H, carrying on its bottom guide or friction-wheels L and inclined guideways G, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination ofan underground cableas a propeller for street-cars with a car, r, and a rod or bar, H, adapted to slide vertically, and provided on its bottom with a roller, J, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination of conduit A, covers E, having longitudinal slot 0, cable B, rollers l) D, car Gr, provided with vertically-sliding bar H, inclined guideways O, and heating-pipes M, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination of conduit A, curved to turn a corner, vertically-pivoted guide-rollers, provided with flanges upon which the cable rests, with cable 13, consisting of longitudinal strands B and cross-bars b, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

LAURENCE MYERS.

Vitncsscs:

R. M. HUNTER, R. S. UHILns, Jr.

Images