US520938A - Closed conduit for electric railways - Google Patents

Description

[.NOMOde P. PL0DEoK,sr.

CLOSED CONDUIT ECR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS. No. 520,938.

Patented June 5, 1894.

vUNITED STATES PATENT OEELCE.

PAUL PLoDEoK, sR., oF CLEVELAND, 'oi-11o.

CLOSED CONDUIT FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,938, dated June 5, 1894. Application led February 21, 1894-.. Serial No.l 501,006. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

De it known that I, PAUL PLODEOK, Sr., a citlzen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Closed Conduits for Electric Street-Railways, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric street railways, and consists of an underground conduit for the electric conductors and the trolley arms, said conduit covered by a row of lids which are lifted bythe passing trolley arm connected to the truck of a car.

The object of my invention is to provide a means of completely closing the conduit, leav- 1ng no slot or open space inthe roadway, and completely covering up and inclosing the electric trolley and conductor mechanism.

The lnvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a cross-section of a conduit contaming the trolley and electric conductor mechanism, and the lids covering the conduit, showmg also an end view of a car truck havlng a hanger connecting with and carrying the trolley and the manner of operating the lids or covers. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view showing the appearance of the lids in the roadway. Fig. 4 is a top view of the hanger and trolley carrier. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the opening into conduit with a lid or cover closing the same.

A represents a conduit and B are yokes placed at suitableintervals in the conduit, which support the interior mechanism. In the top of the conduit and the yokes is made a longitudinal slot or opening, which may be from four to eight inches in width as desired. At each side of said opening are provided longitudinal iiat bars C, C, supported on the Vyokes B. D' D are lids for covering said slot or opening. These lids are made about square in form and have at the adjoining sides, rabbets, and E E are narrow plates fitted to lie in the rabbet's and cover the joints between said lids, thereby completely shutting the opening Vinto the conduit. The lids and plates are hinged independently to the bar C at one side of the opening by a hinge that will permit the lids to be turned upward to nearly a vertical position, but not clear over, neither can the lids be removed, except by first drawing the bolts or screws which secure the hingeof 5 5 of the lids have ribs e, e, between which are 6c provided anti-friction rollers e. F are brackets provided at suitable intervals in the conduit to which are attached bars, suitably insulated, which carry or sup port the electric conductors G, G, two of which are provided, one being for the return circuit. A suitable electric feed wire mayY also be contained within this conduit.

H is a hanger detachably fixed tothe rear` cross bar of the car-truck, to the lower end of 7o which is attached an arm I made of thin metal, and tri-angular in shape as seen in Fig. 4, the object of which is to provide diagonal sides on the arm I, which moves along over the bar C in close proximity thereto, and

would push outwardly any stone, dirt or other loose obstruction that might lie near the moving edges of the lids, and clear the way and prevent' anysuch obstacles getting in the way ofthe close shutting down of the lids after 8o the lifter had passed.

J is the lid lifter consisting of a bar attached at its middle part to the depending arm I. It

has a curved or arched top surface, capable of gradually lifting the lids D by the roller e of the lids rolling onthe said arched surface, and allowing the arm I to pass along under the raised edges of said lids. will lift the lids running in either direction.

The arched bar Y KK are trolley levers pivotally attached 9e toeach side of the bar J, and extend to the rear, having trolley wheels lo, lo, running on the conductors Cr, G.` To the under side of the bar J is provided a loop or eyebolt to which may be hooked a rod L for the convenience of dragging a brush M when desired, for sweeping the conduit of dirt that may accumulate in time, and depositing same in pits (not shown), atconvenient locations in the bottom of the conduit. n

Having described my invention,I claim- 1. In a conduit for underground electric railways the combination with a conduit of hinged lids D, D, E, E, lids D D provided on IOC vided with lids D, E, for covering the opening in the roadway, of a hanger ll attached to car-truck, arm I attached to hanger H, arched bar J attached to arm I adapted to lift the lids as described, of trolley levers K, attached to said bar J and arm I and trolley wheels 7a, 7c, adapted to run on the conductors G, G, substantially as described.

PAUL PLODECK, SR.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. TIBBITTs, M. G. NORTON.

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