US595008A

US595008A - And william

Info

Publication number: US595008A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 1914-12-07

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. WESTINGHOUSE 8a W. CHAPMAN. ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

No. 595,008. Patented Dec. 7,1897.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets--Sheet 2.

G. WESTINGHOUSE & W. CHAPMAN.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

PatentediDec. 7,1897.

( No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. WESTINGHOUSE 8: W. CHAPMAN. ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

No. 595,008. Patented Dec. 7, 1897.

ATTORNEY.

n: uonms versus co, worou'mo WASNINGYON o c UNiTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE \VESTINGIIOUSE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, AND WILLIAM CHAPMAN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE ELECTItO-MAGNETIC TRACTION COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DIS- TRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,008, dated December 7, 1897. Application filed October 31, 1896. Serial No 610,750. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE WEsrINe- HOUSE, residing at Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and WVILLIAM CHAP- MAN, residing at \Vashington, District of Columbia, citizens of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Railways, (Case No. 716,) of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to electric railways, and has particular reference to that class of railways in which the current for operating the car-motors is transmitted thereto from a buried or insulated supply-conductor through sectional or isolated working conductors which are connected in circuit only during the time that the car is passing over them, as distinguished from those systems in which the operating-current is supplied to the carnlotors directly from a live supply-conductor through traveling contact devices making engagement therewith.

The object of our invention is to provide a simple, efiioient, and comparatively inexpensive means whereby a system like that above indicated may be adapted to conditions of operation which are involved in the movement of heavy loads at high rates of speed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse section, and Fig. 2 a diagrammatical plan view, of a railway constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 3 is a view, partiallyin end elevation and partially in section, of two contact-rails and the supporting devices therefor. Fig. 4 is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in section, of a portion of a contact-rail and its supporting means. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of a contact-rail and its supporting devices, parts being broken away. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a portion of a contact-rail, one of its supporting devices, and a fastening device of modified construction. Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken on line x 00 of Fig. 6. Figs. 8 and 9 are views corresponding to Figs. 6 and 7 and showing a further modification of rail-fastening device. Figs. 10 and 11 are corresponding views showing a modified form of contact-rail.

Reference being now had to the details of construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, 1 are the track-rails, and 2 the ties upon which the rails are supported.

3 is a switch-box preferably located at one side of the track, as indicated in Fig. 1, and 4. designates the switch-pan and cover located in the said box.

The parts thus far described are of usual construction.

The switches 5, which are located in the boxes 3, are provided with coils 5 and 5 the latter being traversed by current transmitted from the generator 6 through the supply-conductor 6 when the circuit is closed by means of current transmitted through the coil 5, as is usual in this class of railways.

7 are the contact-rails, each of which is formed of angle-iron so placed that it has downwardly-sloping sides, making approximately the same angle with the horizontal. 7o

This general form is employed in order that the rail may readily shed rain, snow, dirt, &c., and it is obvious that the angle between the two sides may be different from that shown, if desired. '75

The rails 7 are made in sections, which are preferably separated by suitable insulating material 7, as indicated in Fig. 2, and the coils 5 and 5 of the switches 5 are connected to said sections by means of conductors '7 and 7, the ends of which may be bolted to said rail-sections, as indicated in Fig. 1, or otherwise fastened thereto. The length of these rail-sections may be varied to suit different working conditions, and if a greater length of section is desired than can be procured in the market the rails may be welded together electrically or otherwise after being placed in position, as will be readily understood. In order to provide firm supports for 0 these contact-rails and at the same time permit of such longitudinal movement thereof as is caused by expansion and contraction under varying temperatures, we mount them upon contact-blocks 8 of insulating material, 5 terra-cotta being suitable for this purpose. The upper sides of the blocks 8 conform in shape to the inner or lower side of the rails 7, and their bases are preferably extended somewhat laterally, as indicated in Fig. 3. I00

A metal base plate or frame 8 is provided with chambers of suitable size to receive the enlarged bases of the blocks 8, said blocks projecting through suitable openings in the tops of such chambers. These plates or bases 8 are designed to be bolted to the ties 2, a sufficient number being employed to afford a stable support for the contact-rails 7. In order that the rails may be securely clamped to the supporting-blocks 8 in such manner as to prevent any lateral displacement and at the same time permit of such longitudinal movement as is caused by expansion and contraction of the metal, we provide each block with a rod or bolt 9, which extends longitudinally through it and is provided at its ends with suitable means for clamping the lower edges of the rail to the block.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings two clamping-dogslO of like form are employed at each end of each block 8. Each of these dogs 10 is provided at its inner end with an approximately pearshaped eye 11, materially larger than the cross-sectional area of the rod 9. The outer end of each dog 10 is provided with a lateral projection 12, which engages the lower edge of the rail 7. A pair of wedges 13 are inserted between the rod 9 and the inner peripheries of the eyes 11 at opposite sides of said rod and are preferably connected to or formed integral with a head 14. The ends of the rod 9 are screw-threaded, and nuts 15 are screwed thereon against the head 15 to force the wedges inward and thus draw the outer ends of the dogs 10 inward toward each other and clamp the rail 7 firmly in position upon the supporting-block 8.

In the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the rail 7 and block 8 are the same as those hereinbefore described and are fastened together by means of a rod 16, which extends through the block 8 and has upwardly-bent ends which are formed to fit the under side of the contact-rail and are fastened tothe rail by means of rivets, as shown. If desired, the rod may be riveted to the rail at only one end and may extend only partially through the block 8, or two bent rods may be employed in lieu of one.

In Figs. 8 and 9 the rail 7 is shown as fastened to the block 8 by means of a clamp comprising two blocks 17, a bolt 9, extending through them, and a nut 15. The rail 7 is drilled to receive the ends of the pins 17, with which the blocks 17 are provided, and the ends of the pins are beveled, so as to be flush with the outer surfaces of the rails.

In Figs. 10 and 11 we have shown a contactrail 7, formed of channel-iron, and a supporting-block 8 so formed at its top as to fit the under surface of the rail. The clamping means is the same as that shown in Figs. 8 and 9, except that the blocks 17 and pins 17 c are modified in form sufficiently to fit the rail 7 The construction illustrated and described is intended for systems in which the trackrails are utilized as the return. It will be understood, however, that either a direct or an alternating current system in which three contact-rails are employed is within our invention. It will also be understood that clamping devices for holding the contact-rails in position upon their supporting-blocks different from those shown may be employed and that other details of construction may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim as our invention- 1. In an electric railway, a contact-rail formed of channel or angle iron, in combination with insulating supporting-blocks and longitudinally-extending rods or bolts, one for each block, provided with laterally-extending clamping devices, whereby the rail is held against lateral movement.

2. An electric railway provided with a plurality of lines of sectional, inverted, troughshaped contact-rails, the sections of which are insulated from each other, stationary, insulatin g supporting-blocks for said rail-sections and clamps for holding said sections against lateral displacement.

3. In an electric railway, a contact-rail formed of channel or angle iron and insulating supports therefor each of which has a bolt or rod extending longitudinally through it, in combination with clamping devices connecting the ends of said bolt or rod with the sides or edges of said contact-rail.

4:. In an electric railway, a contactrail formed of angle-iron in combination with insulating supporting-blocks therefor each of which is provided with a rod or bolt projecting from its ends, a pair of clamping-dogs connecting each end of said rod or bolt with the respective lower edges of the contact-rail and wedges interposed between the inner ends of said dogs and said rod.

5. In an electric railway, a contact-rail formed of angle-iron in combination with supporting-blocks each of which is provided with a screw-threaded rod projecting from its ends, a pair of clamping-dogs at each end of each supporting-block the inner ends of which are provided with elongated eyes for the reception of said rod and the outer ends of which grip the respective lower edges of the contactrail, wedges inserted in said eyes and nuts on said rod for forcing said wedges inward.

6. A clamping-dog provided with an approximately pear-shaped eye at one end and with a gripping projection at its other end.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names this 23d day of October, A. D. 1896.

GEO. WESTINGHOUSE. WILLIAM CHAPMAN. Witnesses:

WESLEY G. CARR,- HUBERT C. TENER.