US451696A

US451696A - John kuehnle

Info

Publication number: US451696A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1891-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 1908-05-05

Description

(No Model.) I

J. KUEHNLE.

SWITCH FOR OVERHEAD ELECTRIC GONDUGTORS. No. 451,696. Patented May5, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.IOIIN KUEI'INLE, OF'DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTII TO EDWARD MARTYN, OF SAME PLACE.

SWITCH FOR OVEFHEAD ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent'No. 451,696, dated May 5, 1891.

Application filed December 18, 189i). Serial No. 375,154. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JOHN KUEHNLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit,

in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches for Overhead Electrio Conductors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in switches for trolley-wires of electric railways; and the object of my invention is to.form an unbroken electric path or rail for the trolley in passing, all as, more fully hereinafter described, and shown in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a detached perspective view of my switch. Fig. 2 is an under side plan thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on line 0cm in Fig. 2. Fig. 4c is across-section on line y yin Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on line 0 r, Fig. 2. Fig.

6 is a detached perspective view of the switchrails.

A A are the main rails or conductors, and B. is the switch-rail or switch-conductor, all three preferably formed in one integral piece of brass or other cast metal. Each of the rails or conductors are united at the inner end by a plate 0, and at their outer ends they are hollowed out on the upper side and form wire-guides D, and upwardly-projecting ears E are provided on the sides of these wire-passages for the purpose of securing the trolleywires by clinching the ears over the wires, or in any other suitable manner.

In cross-section each conductor or rail is suitably formed to engage freely between the flanges of the trolley, and to give the proper lightness, strength, and contact I form the cross-section somewhat in the shape of the T-rail, as shown in cross-section in Fig. 5. The inner ends of the conductors are turned up to a height sufficient to bring the under side of the plate 0 about on a level with the normal height of the upper edges of the trolley-flanges.

F is a flanged metallic plate or cover secured above the conductor-rails at a distance equal to the width of the flanges of the trolley, so that in passing the trolley will easily transfer its contact from the conductors to the inside of the said plate by means of the flanges of the trolley. The plate extends some distance over the inner end of each 0011- ductor sufficient to insure the safe passage of the trolley underneath, and the outer edges of these flanges may be either turned up or the conductors on their under side may be slightly curved down to permit the safe entrance of the trolley under the plate before making the contact.

A suitable recess is formed in the plate or cover to receive the plate 0 to bring the under side of both plates on a level or flush with each other.

A suitable screw G or other means are employed to screw the parts in fixed relation to I each other.

I have preferably provided the plates at the opposite ends which face the wires with braces I-I, extending down upon the respective conductors, and such braces I preferably cast integral with the plate and grooved to form wire-passages to receive the trolleywires. The lower ends of the braces 11 communicate into the wire-passages in the conductors and are securedto such conductors in any suitable manner, as by brazing or by means of screws.

On the upper side the plate is preferably provided with hooks or lugs 1, adapted to secure the trolley-wires thereto or engage with the trolley-wires to firmly connect the switch therewith. At or near the corners other hooks or eyes J may be formed for securing thereto lateral stay-wires.

. The sides of the plate F are provided with downwardly-projecting guide-flanges K for guiding the trolleys in their respective passage over the switch, the ends of the flanges and plate being suitably flared or spread to permit easy entrance of the trolley on either conductor.

In practice, the parts being arranged and constructed substantially as described, the switch is secured to the trolley-wires by pass ing the main wire unbroken over the top of the plate F, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and securing the switch-wires to the respective hooks I, the portions of the wires passing beyond the edges of the plate being engaged in the wire-passages formed by the brace II and the ends of the conductors, and firmly held in the latter by clinching the ears E or by putting suitable screws through those ears or soldering them thereto, as may be deemed best. \Vith the switch thus secured it is evident that the trolleys can freely pass over the switch on the conductors connecting with the main line or from the main line to the conductor connecting. The inner ends are suitably supported and set at easy angles to form clear passages for the flanges of the trolley, and in such passages it will be seen that, provided the conductors are suitably curved, the metallic contact of the body of the trolley with the conductors will be transferred without the slightest shock or disturbance of the direction of the trolley to the contact between the flange and the under sides of the plates F and C until the trolley passes into contact with the conductor on the opposite side of the switch and from there onto the trolley-wire.

My plate F has not only the advantage of forming an electric bridge between the points where the trolley leaves the conductors, but it also serves as an effective safeguard to prevent any climatic or atmospheric disturbances, securing the switch against the accumulation of snow or ice, and, without making the switch unduly heavy, it makes it of such strength to permit the trolley-wires to be stretched and tightened, as may be deemed necessary.

The construction of the plate F as the supporting portion of the switch is more for the purpose of convenience in manufacturing than from necessity, as it will be seen that the main functions of the plate F could be as well obtained by projecting the plate 0 over the conductors.

\Vhat I claim as 111 y invention is- 1. In a switch for overhead trolleywvires, the combination, with three conductors adapted to be connected, respectively, with the main and switch wires and having their inner ends separated for the passage of the flanges of the trolley, ot a flanged metallic cover to which the separated ends of the conductors are connected, forming an electric bridge for the flanges of the trolley, substantially as (10- 5o scribed.

2. In a switch for trolley-wires, the combination, with three conductors adapted to be connected, respectively, with the main and switch wires and having their inner ends separated for the passage of the flanges of the trolley, of a flanged metallic cover to which the separated ends of the conductor are connected, forming an electric bridge for the flanges of the trolley, substantially as described.

3. In a switch for overhead trolley-wires, the combination of three conductors adapted to be connected, respectively, to the main and switch wires, having their inner ends separated for the passage of the flanges of the trolley, a flanged metallic cover to which the separated ends of the conductor are connected, forming an electric bridge for the flange ot the trolley, and braces connecting the cover with the ends of the conductors, substantially as described.

t. In a switch for overhead trolley-wires, the combination, with three conductors adapted to connect, respectively, with the main and switch wires, having their inner ends separated for the passage of the flanges of the trolley, of a metallic cover to which the separated ends of the conductor are connected, forming an electric bridge for the flanges 0f the trolley, braces connecting the cover with the ends of the conductors, and a wire-passage formed in said braces, substantially as described.

5. In a switch for overhead trolley-wires, the combination, with three conductors A, A, and B, of the plates Cand F, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the conductors, to which the trolley-wires are respectively sccnred,of the plate F and ears Lsubstantially go as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signatn re in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN KUEIINLE. Witnesses:

M. B. ODoennnrr, P. M. IIULBERT.