US434276A - Current-collecting device for electric cars - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

R. M. HUNTER.

CURRENT COLLECTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CARS.

Patented Au grl2, 1890.

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NITED STATES PATENT Oriana.

RUDOLPH M. I-IUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

CURRENT-COLLECTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 434,276, dated August 12, 1890.

Application filed December 17, 1853?. Serial No. 334,048. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, of thecity and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Current-Collecting Devices for: Electric Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to current-collecting devices for electric cars; and it consists of certain improvements, all of which are fully set out in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof.

The invention set out in this application (Case No. 124:) relates to improvements in ourrent-collecting devices set out in Letters Patent Nos. 398,402 and 400,916 granted to me.

In carrying out my invention I provide the car with an upwardly-extending current-collecting arm having a contact device at its upper or free end and pivot said arm to the car on a transverse axis, so that its free end may swing toward either end of the car. In connection with this construction I employ a bellcrank and a spring, the action of which is to induce the free end of the arm to rise vertically and maintain a contact with the under side of the conductor, which is suspended overhead, irrespective of whether the arm is trailing toward one or the other end of the car. Furthermore, the arm carrying the contact is secured to the frame, which is hinged to the car on a transverse axis by a joint or connection arranged in the plane of travel of the car and so as to permit the contact device to swing or move laterally to follow lateral irregularities in the conductor. \Vhen this connection is a hinge, springs are employed between the arm and the supporting-frame; but when no hinge is employed the connection may be the spring or springs themselves.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation illustrating a system of railway employing my improvement. Fig. 2 isaside elevation of my improved current-collecting device. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of same, and Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 of a modification of my invention.

A is the suspended or overhead conductor.

B are the rails, and C is the source of elec- 5o trical power.

D is an electrically-propelled car having the electric motor G, mechanically connected to rotate the axle to move the car.

E is the current-collecting device making a moving under contact with the conductor A.

F is the motor-circuit leading from the conductor E to the motor G, and is provided with a-regulator or current-controlling device H. The motor-circuit also leads from the motor to the axlesand wheels to return the current to the rails. It is evident that while the rails are shown as the return-conductors a separate return-conductor independent of the rails may be used, and in this case thecurrent-collector would be duplicated. The current-collector extends from the car to the conductor, and makes a traveling contact upon the side of the conductor adjacent to the car.

Referring now to the current collector shown in Figs. 2 and 3, I is a frame, which is bolted to the car,preferably at the center of its roof, and is provided with hearings it and an upright S. Pivoted between the bearings t' 1', so as to move on a transverse axis with reference to the travel of the car, is a frame J, having a bell-crank arm K, which is connected to one end of a spring R. The other end of the spring is secured to a screw T, passing through the upright S, and is held against longitudinal movement by a nut V. By adjusting the nut the spring may be put under more or less tension, as desired. Hinged to the frame J on an axis M in the plane of the travel of the car and at right angles, or substantially right angles, to the transverse axis is the socket-piece L, towhich the upwardly-exten ding arm P is secured, theupper end of which is provided with a contact-Wheel Q or equivalent contact-shoe. Thelateral 9o sides of the frame J are provided with projections 0, against which springs N press. These springs N are formed of leaves, which have their lower ends secured to the frame J. By this construction the arm P is caused to normally assume a position in a vertical plane through the axis M, and yet permit the free end of the arm P to be moved laterally to follow lateral variations in the conductor A. The arm P when not held down by the conductor is caused to rise and stand vertically by the action of the spring R. The crankarm K is at right angles to the red I, and hence when pulled by the spring said arm is caused to stand vertically. When the contact-arm P is moved to an oblique position toward either end of the car, the crank-arm K is moved above or below the line, joining the axis of the frame .I and the screw T, and the spring R is put under tension, and this tension increases proportionately to the leverage exerted by the arm I. The action of the spring R is such that in either direction of travel of the car the upward support of the arm P is maintained. Simultaneously with this movement of the arm I about the trans verse axis the free end of the arm is at liberty to move laterally upon the hinge M against the action of the springs N.

IV is a cord, chain, or light red extending from the arm P near the contact -wheel Q and reaching to the roof of the carer to Within reach of the conductor. By means of this cord, rod, or chain the operator or conductor may draw the contact-wheel away from the line-conductor in reversing the collector-arm for running the car in the opposite direction.

In place of using the hinge M and the lateral springs shown in Fig. 3 I may employ the central connectingrspring N, shown in Fig. 4. Both of these constructions I have found in practice operate admirably. In both cases they form a connection between the frame J and rod P, permitting of lateral motion of the contact. If desired, the spring R need not be put under sufficient tension to make the arm assume a vertical position when liberated from the do\vnward-restraining influence of the conductor A. In this case the arm I would stand slightly inclined when not in contact with the wire, and may by the cord, rod, or chain be thrown over to either side of the transverse axis.

I do not confine myself to the details herein shown, as they may bemodified in various ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1 1. The combination of an overhead conductor, a traveling car, an upwardly-extending collector-arm having a contact device at its upper end running against the under surface of the conductor and hinged at its lower end on a transverse axis permanently fixed to the car, and a spring to hold said upwardly extending arm in an inclined position so as to trail backward to the movement of the ear.

2. The combination of an overhead conductor, a traveling car, an upwardly-extending collector-arm having a contact device at its upper end running against the under sur face of the conductor and hinged at its lower end on a transverse axis permanently fixed to the car, a spring to hold said upwardly-extending arm in an inclined position so as to trailbackward to the movement of the car, and means to adjust the tension of the spring.

3. The combination of a suspended eonductor, a car, an upwardly and rearwardly extending collector-arm having a contact device moving in connection with the under part of the conductor and formed at the bottom with a bell-crank device hinged to the car on a transverse axis, and a spring acting upon said bell-crank whereby the upwardly-extending arm may be supported in an oblique direction toward either one or the other end of the car, as desired.

4. The combination of a suspended conductor, a car, an upwardly and rearwardly extending collector-arm having a contact device moving in connection with the under part of the conductor and formed at the bottom with abell-crank device hinged to the car on a transverse axis, a spring acting upon said bellcrank, whereby the upwardly-extending arm maybe supported in an oblique direction toward either one or the other end of the car, as desired, and an adjustable device for vary ing the tension of the spring.

5. The combination of a suspended conductor, a car, a frame supported upon the roof of the car, a bell-cranked arm hinged to the frame having both a short arm and a long upwardly-extending arm, the latter provided with a contact makinga traveling connection with the underside of the conductor, a screw carried by the frame and adjustable thereon by means of a nut, and a coil-spring arranged between the ends of the screw and the short arm. of the bell-cranked lever.

(i. The combination of a suspended conductor, a car, a frame supported upon the roof of the car, a bell-cranked arm hinged to the frame having both ashort arm and a long upwardly-extending arm provided with a contact making a traveling connection with the under side of the conductor and in which the upper end of the long arm is free to move both longitudinally and laterally with respect to the movement of the car, a screw carried by the frame and adj ustable thereon by means of a nut, and a coil-spring arranged between the ends of the screw and the short arm of the bell-cranked lever.

7. The combination of a suspended conductor, a car, a frame pivoted to the car on a transverse axis, a spring to hold the frame elastically against rotation, and an upwardlyext-ending arm connected to the frame with provision of lateral movement at its free end and provided with a contact device making a contact with the under side of the conductor.

8. The combination of a suspended conductor, a-car, a frame pivoted to the car on a transverse axis, a spring to hold the frame elastically against rotation, an upwardly-extending arm connected to the frame by a IIO hinged joint arranged substantially at right angles to the transverse axis, so as to make provision for lateral movement at its free end and provided with a contact device making contact with the under side of the conductor, and spring device between the frame and upwardly-extending arm.

9. The combination of a suspended conductor, a car, a frame pivoted to the car on a transverse axis, a spring to normally hold said frame elastically against rotation, and an upwardly-extending arm carried by said frame and provided with a contact device making an under connection with the suspended conductor and supported normally against lateral movement by means of springs arranged between the frame and upwardly-extending arm.

10. The combination of a suspended conductor with a car, a frame I, secured to the car, a frame J, pivoted to the frame I on a transverse axis and having an arm K, an upwardly-extending arm portion L P, pivoted to the frame J on an axis at right angles to the transverse axis and provided with a contact device making an under connection with the suspended conductor, springs ,N between the parts J L, and a spring R, connected at one end with the frame I and at the other end with the arm K of the frame J.

Intestimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

Witnesses:

S. T; YERKES, ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER.

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