US587594A - Arthur j - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

A. J. MOXHAM. ELEOTRIG CONTACT.

No. 587,594. Patented Aug. 3,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J. MOXIIAM, OF LORAIN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JOHNSON COMPANY, OF

SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC CONTACT.

SPECIFIGATION fOrming part of Letters Patent No. 587,594, dated August 3, 1897.

Application filed January 28, 1897. Serial No. 621,035. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. MoxHAu, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Lorain, Lorain county, Ohio, have invented'certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Contacts, of which the following is a specification.

In many systems of electricpropulsion contact-boxes or non-continuous rails have their contact portions exposed, but not electrically live, except when the moving vehicle is over the exposed contact.

In case of failure of any of the apparatus intended to render the contact no longer electrically live after the passage of the vehicle the exposed contact would become a source of danger, as a man or beast stepping thereon would receive an electric shock of more or less intensity.

The object of my invention is to remove as much as possible of this danger; and to this end the invention consists in the provision of contacts insulated from other exposed metallic portions of the operating devices and the provision of surfaces adapted to prevent the passer from stepping upon the contacts.

In the drawings my invention is shown in use upon a particular type of contact-box adapted for use with electric railways.

Referring to said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the contact-box, and Fig. 2 is a crosssection thereof with the lower portion broken away.

The sealed vessel A contains the switching mechanism. The top of this vessel is made of conducting material and is electrically connected to the exposed contact B.

0 represents suitable insulation, as molded mica, which I place between B and the member D, which in this type ofbox is made of a material, such as manganese steel, having high electrical conductivity but low magnetioal conductivity.

E and E are the sides of the box and are made of material having high magnetical conductivity.

(Z and d are projections cast upon the member D and rising above the top of the contact B, and serve to protect the foot of the passer from touching the said contact.

Obviously the design or construction here shown may be varied in many ways to suit the particular electric system with which my invention may be used. I do not, therefore, limit myself to these exact details.

What I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electric contact-box, a metallic cover-plate having a perforation and upward projections on each side thereof, in combination with the contact secured in said perforation but insulated from said projections.

2. In'an electric contact-box cover, in combination, magnetizable side members, a nonmagnetizable member securing said sides together and having upward projections, and a contact portion between, but insulated from, said upward projections.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. ARTHUR J. MOXHAM.

WVitnesses:

A. J. BRYAN, D. BRYAN.

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