US611000A

US611000A - mcelroy

Info

Publication number: US611000A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1898-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 1915-09-20

Description

Patented-Sept. 20, I898.

J. F. MGELBOY.

ELECTRIC COUPLING.

(Application filed Jan 9 1898.)

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.1. F. McELROY.

ELECTRIC COUPLING. (Applichtion filed Jan. 9, 1896.)

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J. F. MCELHUY.

ELECTRIC COUPLING.

(Application filed Jan. 9, 1896.)

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\ ATENT JAMES F. MCELROY, OF ALBANY, NEYV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE CONSOLI- DATED CAR-HEATING COMPANY, OF SAME'PLACE.

ELECTRICPCOUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters me a 1\ o.6l1, OO, dated September 20, 1898.

Application filed January 9, 1896,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. MGELROY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Albany, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Device in Electric Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanism for connecting cables used for the transmission of electricity; and the object of my invent-ion is to provide a coupler peculiarly adapted for use in railway-trains for the purpose of coupling the electric cables supplying heat or light to a train when the cars are brought together to make up the train and to separate said cables by means of the coupler when the cars are separated.

I attain this object by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a section of two cars with parts broken away, showing my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section along the line 1 1 011 Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section along the line 2 2 on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the coupler-handles and connectingcable. Fig. 6 is a modificationof the finger to which the coupling is attached. Fig. 7 is a modified form of the coupling, shown partly in section, in which onefinger is used instead of two in the block. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of Fig. '7, and Figs. 9 and 10 are modified forms of the connecting-cylinder.

Similar letters and figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The block A, preferably of wood, is provided with two bored openings B G, extending therethrough, with a cap D placed in the rear of said openings, said cap provided with a metallic plate P, extending into said openings O and B, respectively, to each of which metallic plates is secured a compressible finger E, said finger preferably provided with two slots at right angles, or nearly so, to each other and extending well into the shank of the finger for the purpose of allowing the finger to contract toward its center upon pressure being applied to its sides. The head of said finger is bulb-shaped and provided with projecting sides 6. Through the cap D, Iarrange an opening for the passage of a cable Serial in. 574,903. on model.)

F, which cable is stationary within the car. I place a metallic block G within the opening through the cap D, through which the cable F passes and which block G is preferably arranged with threads along its side to mesh with threads along the sides of an opening in plate P, adjacent to the block G aforesaid, and the wires of which the cable is composed are usually drawn out and separated from each other in such a manner as to be brought into contact with the block G at vari ous points, as shown in Fig. 3. I arrange a similar construction upon each of the adjoining cars, and for the purpose of connecting them I attach to a short cable II at each end a handle J, said handle provided with ametallic cylinder or core K, secured within an opening in one end thereof,wl1ich cylinder is preferably provided with screw-threads along a portion of its side to engage with threads in the inner surface of said opening. The cable II passes through the handle J, connecting with the cylinder or core K, the cable being preferably separated -as the cable F in its connection with the block G. The cylinder K is adapted to fit over the finger E and by compressing said finger allow the finger to be inserted within the cylinder until it reaches a point at which a groove 76 is cut in the cylinder, allowing for the expansion of the finger, causing the side pieces e of the bulb at the end of the finger to fit within said groove 70, thus retaining the handle in position.

It is apparent that the electric current from the cable F, entering the block through the cap D, distributes its electricity through the plate B to the fingers E E, and when the handle J is in connection with one of these fingers the current passes therefrom to the metallic cylinder K, through the cable II, through the handle on the end of the cable to the cable in the adjoining car.

When it is desired to separate the cars, the handle .I may be drawn away from the finger E of the block on one car and placed upon the finger attached to the same block, as is shown in Fig. 1 in dotted lines.

I usually secure the blocks A to the hood L L of the car M M; but theymay be placed in any desired position for the purpose of performing the desired results.

I show modifications of the finger and cylinder by which the connections are made in Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10. Thus, as shown in Fig. 6, the projecting ring 3 on the finger may be near the base of the finger adapted to engage with a corresponding ring 4 on the cylinder, as shown in Fig. 10, or the device illustrated in Fig. 7 may be used in connection with the cylinder shown in Fig. 9. The blocks may be made with but one finger in each instead of two, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. It is apparent that other modifications may be suggested, which would not alter the invention.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An electric coupling device consisting of two members each of which is connected to a conductor, one of said members carrying a finger mounted in an opening formed in insulating material, said finger depressed below the ends of the insulating material said finger being electrically connected to the conductor, the opposite member being provided with the external insulating-wall and an internal metallic core electrically connected to the conductor, said insulating-wall extending beyond said core said core being adapted to engage with the finger of the opposite member, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electric coupling device, the combination of two members, each member being formed with an external insulating-wall, one of said members carrying an internal contactfinger electrically connected with the conductor, the end of said finger being below the mouth of the external wall, the opposite member being adapted to enter within the wall of the first-named member and carrying within and protected by its insulating-wall an internal metallic core electrically connected to the corresponding conductor and adapted to fit over and form an electric contact with the finger of the first-mentioned member,substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

8. In an electric coupling device, a coupling-section composed of a flexible insulated conducting-wire provided with an insulatinghandle at each end, a metallic core within the opening in said handle, each core being electrically connected with the insulating conducting wire and adapted to engage an electricallyinsulated companion member upon the fixed conducting-wire, substantially as set forth and for the purpose specified.

4:. An electric coupling device for railwaycars, consisting of terminal pieces 011 the ends of the electrical conductors of said cars to be connected, a flexible section to connect said terminal pieces, and insulated couplings upon either end of said flexible section, adapted to engage said terminal pieces, said couplings being constructed with external insulated walls and internal metallic contact parts, sub stantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an electric coupling, the combination of two companion terminals, one carrying an external insulating cup-shaped wall, having therein an internal contact-finger, the end of which is depressed below the mouth of the external wall, the companion coupler being composed of the external cup-shaped insulatin g wall, having therein an internal cupshaped metallic core, the end of which is depressed below the mouth of the external wall electrically connected to the conductor and adapted to elastically engage the finger in the opposite or companion coupler-section, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an electric coupler, a block provided with two openings, a metallic plate secured within each of said openings, a metallic finger secured to each of said plates, a means for connecting said plates with a stationary core, a connecting-cable provided with a handle containing a metallic cylinder adapted to fit upon said finger, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

7. An electric coupling device, consisting of two members, each of which is connected to a conductor, each of said members consisting of a cup-shaped insulating-handle of insulating material, an internal metallic core protected by said insulating material,so arranged that electrical connection cannot be made except through the opening in said cup-shaped insulating material, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES F. MCELROY.

Witnesses:

II. J. NoDINn, MARY AGNES BURKE.