US556322A - Rudolph m - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. M. HUNTER. -ELEGTMG RAILWAY.

No. 556,322. Patented Mar. l0. 1896.

Witnesses. 'm l Inventor. @Q

AnUnEw s GRAHAM PHOTO umu WASHINGTON. DC

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(NoModel.)

R. M. HUNTER. ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

No. 556,322. Patented Mar. 10, 1896.

UNITED STATES P rvrnrrr OFFICE.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRIC CAR COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,322, dated March 10, 1896.

Application iled July 19,1886. Serial No. 208,418. (No model.)

.To @ZZ wwnt t may concern.' lar to the construction set out in my applica- Be it known that I, RUDOLPH INI. HUNTER, tion of lJuly 14, 1885, above referred to, but of the city and county of Philadelphia and embodies material improvements upon it. State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Im- The frame J has guides J 3 arranged trans- 55 5 provement in Electric Railways, of which the versely across its middle, between which a following is a specification. stationary roller J 4 is received, the said roller My invention has reference to the construcbeing supported by the frame J. This roller tion and operation of electric railways; and and guides prevent any longitudinal moveit consists of certain improvements which are ment of the collector-frames, but does not in 6o 1o fully set forth in the following specification the least interfere with the lateral movement and shown in the accompanying drawings, which is necessary for inequalities in the powhich form a part thereof. sition of the slot or conductors.

My invention comprehends certain im- Located below each axle and hinged at their provements fully set out hereinafter, and reends to the collector-frame J by vertical pins 6 5 late more particularly to the current-colleet- L2 Aare the collector-plates L, to which the ing devices and means generally for supplycollector Zis secured and from which they are ing electricity from a conductor within a insulated. f The collector-plates L have their slotted conduit to the motor on the car. free ends supported at j to the frame J and In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional eleare maintained normally with the slot by 7o zo vation of an electric car or motor and shows springsj'. Their upper portions are notched the arrangement of the various circuits, dac., and the body portions filled with insulating on the car. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the truck material L', through which vertical rods Z of same with the motor and all the upper porpass to operate the collectors Z. The upper tion removed, and Fig. 3 is a perspective parts of these rods Z pass above the connect- 75 view of my improved collector or apparatus ing and insulated plate Z5 and terminate in for collecting the electricity from the workcranks Z3, which are connected by links Z4. ing conductors and supplying it to the motor The object of this construction is that when on the car. j one collector is turned to make contact with B2 represents the car-body, which may be the working conductor the other collector of 8o 3o supported upon springs in the usual manner. the same collector-plate is turned out of con- The wheels are secured to axles I, which are tact or in a longitudinal line and points in suitably journaled in axle-boxes. Supported the direction of travel of the vehicle. By upon these axles are the two frames J J, made this means the collectors trail and a different vertically adjustable thereon by adjustable pair of collectors work when running back- 85 guides i. The motor K is supported upon ward than when running forward.

these frames and is geared to the axles I in l The collectors of a plate may always work any suitable manner, that method indicated in the same direction or may work upon opin ldotted lines being similar to the construcposite conductors, as shown, in which case tion shown in my application, filed July 14., the adjustment of the collectors also causes a 9o 4o 1885, Serial No. 171,625. The collector-frame reversal of current through the motor. The

J is swung upon suspended parallel links J 2, collectors on the two collector-plates are sipivoted to the frame J, whereby the collectormultaneously operated by the insulated conframe may swing laterally, but always renecting-rod M, the end of which is connected main horizontal. These links being secured by a slip-j oint with the lever M, but is caused 95 to the frames J, the vertical adjustment of to move with the movements of said lever by said frames will also adjust the collector dethe spring m, and these springs cause the col- 4 vices vertically in the slot G of the conduit lectors to press upon the working conductors H, contained therein. The form of the colwith more or less elastic pressure. From the lectors and-mode of support is more clearly construction here set out it will be seen that 10o 5o shown in Sheet 2 of the drawings in the perthe collectors may swing on roller J 4 as apivot spective view marked Fig. 3, and is very simiand may move laterally at both ends alike.

They may also swing upon pins L2 as an axis and may move about their own shafts or rods Z' as -an axis. The ends Z2 of the collectorplates are made with more or less knife edges and form protections for the insulation, located between the forward and rear ends of said plates, and this insulation may be still further protected by side plates L3, which may, if desirable, be made replaceable by repairs in case of wear.

It is immaterial what the specific shape or construction of the parts may be, as it is evident that they may be modified in various ways to suit the various conditions. It is also evidentthat the two collectors Z may simultaneously receive current from different working conductors, and said current so collected may be supplied to the motor for energizing it.

Located between the collector-plates L is the brush U5 for cleaning the conduit-walls and sweeping the refuse into the wells I1" of the conduit Il. This brush is pivoted at U on a vertical axis to a laterally-movable or hinged frame U2 pivoted at one end U3 to the frame J of the collectors. By this means the brush may rotate upon its vertical pivot U and may bodily swing laterally to follow all variations in the slot or conduit due to irregularities or in passing around curves. The brush is secured to a vertical rod U4, having a bearing u at the top and bottom. The upper end of the rod U4 passes through the upper bearing and rests against the plate U2, and if said plate be moved to one side the rod may be pushed up to disengage the lower part from its bearing and the brush may be removed from the conduit, being suiiiciently thin for that purpose. The shank of the brush or its frame U is made long and narrow or flat to run properly between the slotwalls. It is evident that the particular location of this brush and its appendages may be varied. It is also evident that the brush should be so constructed that parts brushing the conductors of opposite polarity may be insulated from each other to prevent sliertcircuiting of the currents.

O and O' are the two main conductors on the car which receive the current from the collectors and supply it to the motor, and hence may be considered the motor-circuit. This circuit is provided with a resistanceehanger UG located therein.

O2 is an armature-circuit, and maybe provided with a resistance-changer o and have its current reversed by reversing-switch O3 of any suitable construction.

The motor K is shown as having its iieldmagnets divided into sections 7c, which may be coupled up in various ways by the commutator-switch K, which commutates the current from the conductors O O' by coupling them up in different ways with the motorconductors c connecting with the sections 7c of the motor-magnets. I do not limit myself to the details of this commutator, as the same principle might be carried out on modified constructions of what is here shown.

The current passes from one of the collectors by circuit O through resistance-changer U6, thence to the field-magnets by a commutating device K', returning by circuit O to the other collector. The armature is not in series relation with the field-coils, but is included in a circuit O2, leading from the motoreircuits O O, and includes a current-reversing switch O3 and a resistance-changer o.

I do not confine myself to the details herein set out, as they may be modified in various ways without departing from my invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In an electricrailway, a slotted conduit, a bared working conductor contained therein, an electrically-propelled vehicle, an electric motor on said vehicle to propel it, a collectorframe suspended from the axles of the vehicle and adapted to have lateral movement, transverse guides to prevent said frame from having longitudinal movement, a collector suspended from said frame passing through the slot and making contact with the working conductor, and a conductor extending from the collector to the motor.

2. In an electric railway, a slotted conduit, a bared working conductor contained therein, an electrically-propelled vehicle, an electric motor 0n said vehicle to propel it, a collectorframe suspended from the axles of the vehicle and adapted to have lateral movement, transverse guides to prevent said frame from having longitudinal movement, a collector suspended from said frame passing through the slot and making contact with the work ing conductor, a conductor extending from the collector to the motor, and a hand-operated regulator for controlling the current passing through the motor. y

In an electric railway, a slotted conduit containing bared working conductors, an electrically-propelled vehicle, a motor on said vehicle receiving electricity from said conductors, a collector-frame suspended from the axles of the vehicle and adapted to have lat eral movement, transverse guides to prevent the said frame from having longitudinal movement, and collectors suspended from said frame passing through the slot and making Contact with the working conductors.

4. In an electric railway, a slotted conduit containing bared workin g conductors, an electrically-propelled vehicle, a motor on said vehicle receiving electricity from said con ductors, a collector-frame suspended at its ends from the axles of the vehicle and adapted to have lateral movement, transverse guides at or near its middle to prevent the said frame from having longitudinal movement but allow of lateral and horizontal oscillatory movements, and collectors sus- IOO IIO

pended from said frame near its ends passing through the slot and making contact with the working conductors.

5. In an electric railway, a slotted conduit containing bared working conductors, an electrically-propelled vehicle, a motor on said vehicle receiving electricity from said conductors, a collector-frame suspended from the axles of the vehicle and adapted to have lateral movement, transverse guides to prevent the said frame from having longitudinal movement, collectors suspended from said frame passing through the slot making contact with the working conductors, and adjusting devices to adj ust said collector-frame vertically.

6. In an electric railway, a slotted conduit containing bared working conductors, an electrically-propelled vehicle, a motor on said vehicle receiving electricity from said conductors, a collector-frame suspended from the axles of the vehicle and adapted to have lateral movement, transverse guides to prevent the said frame from having longitudinal movement, and pivoted collectors suspended from said frame passing through the slot and making contact with the working conductors.

7 In an electrical railway, a slotted conduit containing bared working conductors, an electrically-propelled vehicle, a motor on said vehicle receiving electricity from said conductors, a collector-frame suspended from the axles of the vehicle adapted to have lateral movement, transverse guides to prevent the said frame from having longitudinal movement, and pivoted collector plows or plates extending down through the slot, and pivoted Y collectors carried thereby and insulated therefrom to make contact with the working conductors.

8. In an electric railway, stationary bared working conductors, in combination with an electrically-propelled vehicle, a motor on said vehicle, two independently laterally movable collecting devices carried by the vehicle working in contact with said bared conductors, and a connection between said collecting devices to prevent their independent longitudinal movement, suspended from the axles independent of the vehicle-body.

9. In an electric railway, stationary bared working conductors, in combination with an electrically-propelled vehicle, a motor on said vehicle, two independently laterally movable collecting devices carried by the vehicle working in contact with said bared conductor, a connection between said collecting devices to prevent their independent longitudinal movement, and adjustable supports for the collecting devices to adjust them vertically, upon the vehicle relatively to the conductors.

10. In an electric railway, stationary bared working conductors, in combination with an electrically-propelled vehicle, a motor on said vehicle, two independently laterally movable collecting devices carried by the axles of the vehicle independently of the vehicle-body and working in contact with said bared c onductors, a connection between said collecting devices to prevent their independent longitudinal movement, and a support for said connection sustained by the axles to allow of lateral movement but prevent longitudinal movement.

11. In an electric railway, one or more stationary bared working conductors, in combination with an electrically-propelled vehicle, a horizontal floating collector-frame suspended from the vehicle-axles independently of the vertical movements of the vehicle-body and adapted to lateral movement at either or both ends simultaneously, guides to insure its always remaining horizontal, and one or more collectors suspended from said collectorframe.

l2. In an electric railway, stationary bared working conductors, in combination with an electrically-propelled vehicle, a horizontal floating collector-frame suspended from the vehicle-axles independently of the vertical movements of the vehicle-body and adapted to lateral and oscillatory movement at either end, guides to insure the frame always remaining horizontal, and one or more collectors suspended from said collector-frame.

13. An electrically-propelled vehicle, stationary bared working conductors arranged along the path of the vehicle, two independent pivoted collectors working in Contact with said conductors and carried by said vehicle, an operating-lever for moving said collectors into or out of contact with said conductors, and elastic connections between the lever and said collectors.

14:. In an electric railway, a stationary bared working conductor, an electrically-propelled vehicle, two collectors pointing in opposite directions, and connecting devices to throw either collector into contact with the working conductor but not both at the same time.

15. In an electric railway, the combination of a slotted conduit containing a bared conductor extending along the railway, an electrically-propelled vehicle having a motor adapted to rotate its axle, a collector-frame suspended from the axles independently of the vehicle-body with provision for lateral motion, a current-collecting device pivoted to said laterally-movable frame with provision for motion about a vertical axis and having a contact pressing against the bared conductor in the conduit, a circuit leading from the collector for supplying current to the motor, and a regulator for controlling the current passing to the motor.

16. In an electric railway, the combination of a slotted conduit containing a bared conductor extending along the railway, an electrically-propelled vehicle having a body supported upon the axles by springs, a motor adapted to rotate its axles, a collector-frame suspended from the axles of the vehicle with provision for lateral motion independent of the car-body, a current-collecting device piv- IOO IIO

oted to said laterally-movable frame with provision for motion about a vertical axis and having a contact pressing against the bared conductor in the conduit, a circuit leading from the collector for supplying current to the motor, a regulator for controlling the current passing to the motor, and a suitable transverse guide to prevent longitudinal movement of the collector-frame and yet permit lateral motion therein.

17. In an electric railway, a slotted conduit containing working conductors, a traveling electric motor or vehicle, a laterally-movable frame suspended from said .vehicle over the slot, and a cleaning-brush pivoted thereto on a vertical axis.

18. In an electric railway, a slotted conduit containing working conductors, a traveling electric motor or vehicle, a laterally-movable frame suspended from said vehicle over the slot, a cleaning-brush frame pivoted thereto, and a cleaning-brush pivoted to said cleaningbrush frame on a vertical axis.

19. In an electric railway, stationary bared working conductors, in combination with an electrically-propelled vehicle, a motor on said vehicle, two independently laterallyT movable collecting devices carried by the vehicle and working in contact with said bared conductor, a connection between said collecting devices to prevent their independent longitudinal movement, and a cleaning-brush carried by said connection.

20. In an electric railway, stationary bared working conductors, in combination with an electrically-propelled vehicle, a motor on said vehicle, two independently laterally movable collecting devices carried bythe vehicle and workin g in contact with said bared conductor, a connection between said collecting devices to prevent their independent longitudinal movement, a cleaning-brush carried by said connection and between the collectors.

2l. In an electric railway, the combination ot a slotted conduit arranged parallel to the railway, a bared conductor within and insulated from the conduit, an electricallypropelled car, a current collecting or contact device extending down through the slot of the conduit and making contact with the bared conductor and movable about a vertical axis, a support or frame loosely carried by the car-axles independently of the car-body, and capable of lateral movement and a vertical pivot connection between the contact or collecting device and the support or frame at a point above the slot of the conduit.

22. In an electrical railway, the combination of two working conductors arranged parallel to the track, slotted conduit inclosing the said conductors, an electrically-propelled car having a body supported on springs, two current-collectors one for each conductor arranged one in advance of the other and independently movable about a vertical axis, a common carrier above the conduit-slot supported by the axles of the ear independently of the car-body with provision for lateral movement to allow for irregularities in the slot of the conduit and independent connections between said carrier and collectors cxterior of the conduit whereby each has an i11- dependcnt lateral motion.

23. In an electric railway, a bai-ed iixed conductor arranged parallel with the track, and a slotted conduit in which said conductor is located, in combination with a trailing contact device extending through the slot of the conduit and guided thereby and adapted, to 1 ent lateral motion at each end relatively tol the latter, and laterally movable contactbrushes carried by said longitudinal frame.

25. The combination of a railway and slotted conduit extending along the railway inclosing two conductors for supplying electricity, an electrically-propelled vehicle, two brush -holders or collecting devices extending through the slot into the conduit and arranged in line and supported from the axles independently of the car-body for making connections with the electrical conductors within said conduit, and an intermediate support located wholly above the conduit having provision for lateral motion and to which the brush-holders or collectors are connected at a point above the conduit, so as to move about vertical axes.

26. The combination of a railway, a slotted conduit therefor, an electric locomotive, two current-collectin g devices extending downward below each of the axles of the locomotive, and a common longitudinal bar or l'ramc flexibly supported from the axles independently of the car-body and located above the conduit and to which the two current-collecting devices are movably connected above the slot of the conduit.

27. The combination of a stationary source of electric supply, the bared working conductors receiving electricity therefrom, a traveling electric motor, two collecting devices suspended from said motor and making contact with said conductors, and a cleaning-brush carried by the motor adapted to sweep said conductors and located between said collectors.

28. The combination of a traveling vehicle having a body supported on springs, a slotted conduit over which the vehicle travels, a power-supplying device suspended from the vehicle and passing through the slot into the IOO ITO

In testimony of which invention l hereunto set my hand.

RUDOLPH M. HNTER.

lVitnesses RICHD. S. CHILD, Jr., E. M. BRECKINREED.

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