US606711A - Trolley-head - Google Patents

Description

No. 606,7". Patented July 5, I898.,

C. GRUVER.

TBOLLEY HEAD. (Application filed Nov 13, 1397.)

(No Model.)

mluummmmb U ITED .,.STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES GROVER, OFKANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

TRoLLEYeHEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,711, dated July 5, 1898.

i Application filed November 13, 1897. Serial No. 658,373. (No model.)

Missouri, have invented a new and useful Trolley-Head, of .which the following is a specification.-

This invention relates to trolley-heads.

The object of the invention is to provide a trolley-head of simple and improved construction and arrangement of parts wherein arcing between the contact-wheel audits supporting-axle is prevented, wherein the trolley-wheel is efficiently lubricated, wherein danger of the trolley-head engaging or catching the upper side of the trolley-wire is avoided, which is exceedingly simple, economical in construction, and cfiicient in operation.

- the 12ieqts.nf..me..inrenn on willapse pent ne- 5 fully. hereinafter.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination, location, and relative arrangement of parts,.all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the 2 5 accompanying drawings, and finally specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views and reference signs appearing thereon, Figure lis a view in side elevation of a trolley-head 'ernbodyingthe Fig. 2 is a plan principles of my invention. View of same. Fig. 3 is an end view of same, a part of one flange of the trolley-wheel being broken away. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal 3 5 .section through the trolley-head. Fig. 5 is a detached'detail view, in end elevation, of the axle or support for the trolley-wheel. Fig. 6 is a detached detail view and plan of the lubrieating-plunger.

in lubricating the trolley-head.

The same part is designated by the same reference sign wherever it occurs through-- out the several views.

5 In the drawings, reference sign A designates generallythe trolley-head, which is suitably mounted upon or attached or otherwise secured to the upper end of a trolley pogle or arm, a portion of which is designated by ref- Fig. 7 is a longitudinal cen-' 4o tral section of thecompression-cupemployed D, constituting the fork; These side pieces are provided with threaded sockets in the opposedfaces thereof, the-threaded socket in the threaded socket in the opposite piece.

"These threaded sockets are arranged to receive'the threaded ends of a supportingspindle E for the trolley or contact wheel F. The spindle E is preferably tubular and. is held against rotation by a screw G, ar-

ranged to be passed through the wall of one of the side pieces of the fork and into a seat or recess H, formed in the inner surface of wheel-F. The trolley-wheel F, I prefer to make of phosphor-bronze; but it is evident that other suitable material may be employedsuch, for instance, as copper-phosphor'- bronze being preferred because of its durability and strength. The hub of trolley-wheel F is truly and accurately bored to a diameter adapting it to snugly receive therethrough the supporting-spin dle E.

In order to avoid arcing between the contact-wheel and its supporting-spindle, I provide a suitable opening through the support,- ing-spindle, and through such opening 1 arrange a plug J, of suitable conducting materialsuch, for-instance, as copper-t0 proj ect from the interior of said spindle and into i effic-ient contact with the surface of the bore of'the trolley-Wheel, as clearly shown in Fig.

4. In order that this contact may be efiiciently maintained notwithstanding the natural and nsual wear of rubbing-surfaces, I provide means for maintaining the contact between plug J and the surface of the bore of wheel F yieldingly. To this end I suitably mount the contact-plug J upon a spring K, the tension of which is constantly exerted in a direction to project con tact plug J through the opening in spindle E and into contact with contact-wheel E. Thus I avoid the objections and evils resulting from arcing between the contact-wheel and its support- 50 erence sign B. In-the particular form shown I ing-spindle, and hence also provide a conthe trolley-head comprises the side pieces 0 struction which will not Wear out rapidly by 'reason of the friction of the trolley-wheel rotating upon a surface blistered orroughened by reason of such arcing. y

In order to efficiently lubricate the wheel, I provide another opening through the wall of spindle E and opening communication from the interior of said spindle to the bear ing-surface of the contact-wheel F. In this opening I arrange another plug L, having suitable passages M formed therein,as clearly indicated in Fig. 6, for the passage of the lubricant from the interior of the spindle to the bearing-surface of the wheel; This plug is preferably made of iron or othersuitable hard material, although I do not desire to be limited inthis respect. Iron is preferred, be-

cause if said plunger is made of a softer materi-al or metal than iron the constant rubbing of the internal surface ofthe bore of wheel F against such plug will cause the end thereof to wear and to fill up the passages M,-

thereby preventing a proper lubrication. In order to constantly and yieldiugly maintain the plunger or plug L projected into engagement with the inner wall of the bore of wheel F, said plunger is suitably engaged by spring K, the tension of which spring is exerted to normally project or press said plunger into 'efiicient contact with the wheel F.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a compression-cup,

for supplying lubricant to the interior of spindle E. This compression-cup.comprises an internally-threaded cy-linderA, open at one end and provided at the opposite end with-a conical spout B. An exteriorlythreaded plunger or piston 0'', having operating handle or stem D, is arranged to be screwed into the open end of cylinder A. The

extremity of spout B is of asize enabling thesanie to be inserted through the opening in the side piece 0 of the fork formed by removing the locking-plug G. \Vhen it is desired to supply thetrolley-head with a lubricant, the compression-cup cylinder A is filled with a lubricant of the desired composition, the

follower or piston-plunger-O is screwed into the open end thereof, the locking-plug G is removed, the end of spout B is then inserted through the opening formed by the removal of locking-plug G from the side piece 0 of the head, and the handle D of the compressioncup is rotated, thereby forcing the lubricating material out of cup A through the spout B and into the interior of spindle E until the by reason of the trolley-head catching on the top surface of the trolley-wire d'uringthe cfforts of the trainlnen to pull the trolley head down into underrunning contact with the wire, thereby. incurring the danger of detaching the trolley-wire'from its supports. In orderto avoid this objection, the side'pieces O of my invention.

D of the fork are provided on the-under edges thereof with flanges which are arranged to inclose the wheel on the under side thereof, as shownat N, and inorder to avoid the danger of the trolley-wire catching or engaging between the fork and the sides of the trolleywheel thewvheel is preferably formed with dish-shaped sides, the wheel-flanges flaring bing against the inside edges of the side" pieces 0 D. I

In order to avoid wearing between the revolving contact-wheel F and the side pieces 0 D of the fork and to suitably offset the side pieces of the fork from the trolley-wheel,-I interpose washers R, of brass or other suitable material, between the hub of the trolleywheel and the faces of side pieces 0 and D. These washers should be renewed when it is observed that the flanges-of the wheel rub against the sides of the fork-armsin order to prevent the wheel-flanges from damaging the fork.

' From the foregoing description it will be readilyseen that I provide a construction of trolley-head wherein is avoided the danger of the head catching in the overhead-trolleywire construction or becoming entangled with the wire or its hangers, and hence avoiding the dangerof pulling the-trolley-line down or injuring or destroying the same. It will also be seen that arcing 0f the current between the wheel and its supporting-spindle is overcome, anrhtherefore the contacting surfaces of the wheel or spindle are not roughened by blistering or arcing, and hence the wear on the parts is greatly reduced. It will also be seen that a perfect lubrication is provided. The expense of manufacturing is reduced to .a minimum, as no special bearings'or bushings are required, and the life of the fork, the wheel, and its spindle is greatly increased,

the only parts requiring renewal being the washers R, contact-plunger J, and lubricating-plunger L, and these are cheap and inexpensive.

While I have shown and described a specificconstruction and arrangement embodymg the principles of my invention, I desire it to be understood that many variations therefrom and changes therein will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the,

of my invention and aform of apparatus embodying thesame and having explained the construction, function, and mode of operation of such apparatus, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a trolley-head, the combination with a fork of a tubular spindle mounted therein, a trolley-wheel mounted to rotate upon said spindle, said spindle provided with an opening through the'wall thereof, and a. contactplug arranged within said tubular spindle and projecting through said opening and into contact with said wheel, as and for the purpose set forth. i I

2. In a trolley-head, the combination of a fork, a tubular spindle mounted therein,'a contact-wheel mounted to revolve on said spindle, said spindle provided with an opening through the wall thereof, a contact-plug arranged within said tubular spindle to project through'the opening therein and intoof said wheel, whereby a lubricant introduced to said tubular spindle may be supplied to said wheel, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a trolley-head, a fork, a tubular spindle mounted therein, a contact-wheel mount ed to rotate upon said spindle, said spindle provided with an opening through the wallthereof, a plunger having passages and arranged to project through said opening and into contact with the bearing-surface of said wheel, whereby a lubricant admitted tosaid to rotate upon said spindle, said spindle pro wheel, a spring arranged to press said plun vided with an opening through the wall thereof, a plunger provided with channels and arranged to project through said opening and into contact with the bearing-surface of said ger into contact with saidwheel, whereby a lubricant introduced into said spindle is applied to said wheel, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a trolley-head, a fork having juxtaposited screw-threaded recesses in the opposed faces of the arms thereof, a spindle having threaded ends arranged to he received in said threaded recesses, a contact-wheel mountedto rot-ate upon said spindle, and a plunger of conducting material arranged to projectthrough said spindle into contact with said wheel for preventing arcing between said wheel and spindle, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a trolley-head, a fork having juxtaposited screw-threaded sockets orrecesses in the opposed faces of the arms thereof, a tubular spindle having exterior screw threads upon the ends thereof arranged to be received in said sockets or recesses, a contactwheel mounted to revolve upon said. spindle, said spindle provided with an opening through the wall thereof, whereby a lubricant introduced to said tubular spindle may be applied to the bearing-surface of said wheel, and a conducting-plunger arranged to project through the wall of said spindle into contact with said Wheel for preventing arcing between said wheel and spindle, .as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a trolley-head, a fork comprising oppositely-arranged arms, a spindle mounted in said arms, a trolley-wheel mounted to rotate upon said spindle, said arms provided with converging flanges on the under side thereof, said flanges extending to a point opposite the axis of rotation of said wheel, whereby said trolley-wheel is inclosed on the under side thereof, as and for the purpose set forth.

' 9. In atrolley-head, a fork comprising arms having converging flanges on the under side thereof, a spindle mounted in said arms, a contact-wheel mounted to rotate upon said spindle, said flangeslextending to a point opposite the axis of rotation of said wheel, whereby the under side of said wheel is inclosed thereby, said contact-wheel provided with outwardly-flarin g flanges, thereby forming a dish in the faces of said wheel, the extremities of said fork-arms being curved inwardly into the dish of said faces, as and for the purpose set forth.

'10. In a trolley-head, a fork having screwthreaded socketsor recesses in the opposed faces of the arms thereof, a spindle having threaded ends arranged to be received in said threaded sockets or recesses, a trolley-wheel mounted to rotate upon said spindle, a contact plug or plunger projecting through said spindle into contact with said wheel, and washers interposed between said wheel and the arms of said fork to ofiset said wheel from said arms, as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 10th day of November, 1897, in the presence of the subscribigg witnesses.

CHARLES GROVER. Witnesses:

G. M. MACKENZIE, THos. WoRTHINoToN.

IOC

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