US662921A - Apparatus for electric traction. - Google Patents

Description

No. 662,92I. Patentqd Dec. 4, |900. H. DDLTER.

APPARATUS FR ELECTRIC TRACTION.

- (Application led July 6, 1899.) (lo Modal.) 3 Sheets--Sheet I.

z Ml @a H. DLTER.

APPARATUS FUR ELECTRIC TRMITION.'`

Patented Dec. 4, |900.

(Application led July -8, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(lo llodel.)

no. 652,92: Patented nec. 4, |900.

A H. nomen.

APPARATUS FDR AElfiltl'lltA TBACTION.

(Application led Ji\x1y'& 1899J ,a sheets-sheet s.

(In Rudel.)

+R: norms PETERS 00,. Fumo-umol. wAsmNoroN. n. c.

Nrrnn HENRI DOL'FER, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC TRACTION.

SECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,921, dated December 4, 1900.

Application filed July 6, 1899. Serial Nol 722,913. (No rhodel.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRI DOLTER, engineer, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at No. 4l Rue Taitbout, Paris, France,

have invented certain new and useful Improvenients in Apparatus for Electric 'lraction, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to a new mode of supplying, in underground conduits, current 1o for electric traction. This system is characterized principally by the four following arrangements: rst, a series of similar contacts each formed of two magnetic parts separated bya non-magnetic piece; second, a balanced contact supported by magnetic pieces, which permits ofarc ruptures of any required length being obtained; third, a special means for connecting with the underground conductor at each contact, and, fourth, a suspended brush beneath the vehicle, consisting of two exible longitudinal bars provided with crosspieccs and electromagnets, which induce in each of these bars a different polarity, each bar touching one of the two magnetic parts in such a manner as to close the magnetic circuit through the soft iron of the balance, and this with a minimum of gap.

My invention, stated in general terms, consists of an apparatus for electric traction when constructed and arranged in substantially the manner hereinafter described and claimed.

My invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a section on the center of a contact, taken perpendicularly to the track. Fig. 2 is a section at right angles to the preceding, and consequently parallel to the rails. Fig. 3 -is a diagram showing the path of current in the electric circuit. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of certain parts illustrated in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged rear elevational and sectional View of certain parts illustrated in Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, A A are the two magnetic parts, each semicircular, as shown; but they may be of any other shape.

B is the non -rnagnetic piece separating parts A and A. Beneath these parts A and A is fixed, by means of a screw or otherwise, 5o a cylindrical box C, ot porcelain or other insulating material. Between the parts A A and the box C is placed an elastic washer D,

of leather, lead, or other substance, to make a tight joint. The bottom of the box C is centrally pierced with ahole and is provided with concentric rings c, as in bell-insulators. Beneath the parts A and A is a carbon support E, on which the balance F oscillates. The long arm of the balance is bent and is provided at the bottom with a highly-conducting carbon bob f. This long arm consists of a crystal tube f', inside of which is a fusible wire f2 and talc or insulating powder. One end of the short arm carries a cylinder G, of soft iron, which when attracted by the magnetic parts A and A lodges in a cavity formed in these parts, as is illustrated in Fig. 2. The two trunnions fgof the balance F, which enter holes in the support E, are also of carbon. In the box C is arranged a suitably-bent conductor H, provided with a threaded end h, passing through the hole at the bottom of the box C. Upon the thread h is secured a screw-cap I, separatedfrom the bottom of the box C by means of an elastic washer t', so as to make a joint. At the other end of the conductor I-I a carbon block J is located, having a cavity in which the bob f lodges. The bottom of the boxis coated with a layer K of resin or other analogous material. The parts A A' are pierced with holes for receiving screws for fixing the box C to the parts A A', and these parts and box are supported upon a non-magnetic ring L,which is embedded in the asphalt or concrete cylin- .der M. This cylinder is supported on a cement tube m, and the tube m is provided with alateral slot m for the passage of a wire o to an electric main P by means of a junctionbox p, containing a fuse, and the other end `oi" the derived circuit O is provided with a grease.

Under the vehicle to be propelled is suspended a brush insulated from the vehicle. This brush is composed of two iron bars T T', connected together by cross-pieces t, upon IOO Awhich an insulated copper wire is wound to same letters designate the like parts as in Figs. l and 2. N and S indicate, respectively, north and south polarities. In order l to explain the action of the system,-I make mention of certain parts and arrangements forming no part of this invention and which arendesignated by the figures in the description. A vehicle equipped to be propelled on the trolley system carries brushes T T and a small battery of accumulators l, the positive pole of which is connected to one of the bars of the brush and the negative to a contact 2 of the regulator in such manner that the battery l is in circuit with the electromagnets U by short-circuiting the contact 2 with the contact 3 only when the vehicle is in motion and is thrown out of circuit when it is desired to stop the vehicle or to put on the brake by transforming the motors 4 into the generators. The contact 3 corresponds to the terminals of the regulators ot' the trolley of an aerial line. The number of elements is calculated in such a manner as to obtain in the winding of the electromagnets exciting the bars T T' a number of ampereturns suicient to attract the armature G at any speed. The resistance of the winding is also calculated in such manner that in daily work the power absorbed by the batteryis in excess of that required to be given out, so that no thought need be taken to always have an excess. This arrangement also allows a very small difference of potential to be maintained between the bars and the otherend of theexciting-wire. At both ends of the vehicle are two metallic brushes 5 5, electrically connected to the wheels in such manner as to short-circuit the pieces A A' of the box C when the part G does not fall back. This short-circuiting causes fusion of the wire f2 in the tube f', the rupture of the crystal cylinder F thereby breaking the derived circuit. The return of the current to the generator takes place by the rail 6. Thefore, the vehicle equipped as described is placed on a track having the magnetic contacts A A', arranged at suitable distances apart, less than the length of the bars placed beneath the vehicle, and one of the handles of one of the regulators is turned, the accumulators l are placed in series with the windings U, and the two bars T T each acquire throughout their length a different polarityT being of north polarity and T of south, and communicate such excitation to the two pieces A A', which attract the armature G, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The bob f becomes lodged in the cavity of the block J, the pressure on these two parts being regulated by the distance between the armature G and the parts AA of the box C. At this moment the current is closed to the motors 4 and these are put into action. The bars T T are soon brought by the motion of the vehicle to the next metallic contact, at which the same operation of closing the metallic circuit takes place. As the vehicle advances the bars leave the preceding metallic contact, the soft-iron piece G of which is no longer attracted by the pieces A A', falls, causing the bob F to assume a vertical position, such as illustrated in full lines in Figs. 2 and 4c, The contact is therefore again insulated from the electric main. If from any cause the piece G does notfall, the brush 5 will close a short circuit through the contact which will cause the fusible wire to fuse, the rupture of the tube f', and the fall of the bob f. The length ot' the long arm or glass tube f is calculated in such a manner as to obtain a rupture sufficient to insure that there will be no arc no matter what the quantity and tensionof the current' may be.

Of course as to details of construction and the arrangement of the apparatus hel-einbefore explained modifications may be made, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to any particular form or shape of contact.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a system of electric traction, a source of electric energy, a conduit wherein the source is located, a box of insulating substance located in said conduit, two magnetic contactpieces supporting said box, a non-magnetic piece separating the magnetic pieces from each other, a conductor located in the insulating-box and normally in electric connection with the source of energy, and a pendulum adapted to be elevated when the magnetic pieces are magnetized to thereby colnplete the circuit from the conductor through said magnetic pieces, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereoi1 I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRI DOLTER.

Witnesses:

EDWARD P. MACLEAN, G. DE MEsTRAL.

IOO

Images