US724370A - Electrical traction-way for canal towage. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTBD MAR. 31, 1903.

s. W. 001 ELECTRICAL TRACTION WAY FOR CANAL TOWAGE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1902.

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No. 724.370. v PATE'NTED MAR. 31, 190s.-

' s.-W. WOOD. I ELECTRICAL TRACTION WAY FOR CANAL TOWAGE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY l2 1902.

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UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN W. WOOD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL TRACTION-WAY FOR CANAL TOVl/AG E.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 724,370, dated March 31, 1903.

Application filed .l'uly12,1902.

Serial No. 115,285- (No model.

To all whom it may concern.- 7

Be it known that I, STEPHEN W. WOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New- York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Traction- Ways for Canal Towage, of which the follow ing is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical tractionways especially designed for canal towage, but capable of use for carrying parcels, &c.

The objectof the invention is to produce a traction-Way which will occupy only a narrow space on the tow-path, so as not to interfere with traction by animals, also to provide a plurality of superposed tracks on each of which independent tractors may travel in either direction without interfering with each other, also to so construct the way and tractors that the way may be erected on either side of the canal or a part on one and a part on the other side of the canal and the tractors conveniently operated on anysection and on either track.

The invention consists in certain constructions and combinations of mechanical elements, as hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure l is a diagram or plan representing a portion of a canal with tow-path and traction-way sometimes on one bank and sometimes on the other bank. Fig. 2 is a crosssection of canal, showing towage-tracks on both banks. Fig. 3 is a broken cross-section of the traction-way, showing tractors in elevation and generally indicating relation 'of parts or elements. Fig. 4 is a broken section showing a modification wherein a trolley at the side of the tractor-frame is used to make contact with a trolley-wire correspondingly arranged. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic detail of a switch.

It often occurs on a canal that a tow-path is on one bank for a distance andthen on the, other bank, and it is seldom that both banks are available for towagepurposes for any? long distance. As a rule one bank only is leveled and used for a lJOW-Ptfilh'ftlld the other bank may be irregular, obstructed by buildings, hills, ponds, or what not. The animals which tow the boats travel on-the tow-path and cross the canal when the path is on the other side, usually by bridge, but sometimes by a viaduct or ferry.

side of the canal to the other.

. My traction-way is designed to interfere very little or not at all with the regular towage by animal power. The way is set back from the bank at the side of the tow-path and has tracks or rails for two tractors to pass, one above another.

e In Fig. 1, Aris supposed to represent a canal, and B to indicate a bridge over the same. 0 0 denote sections of the tow-path alongside the canal, and D D sections of my towage or traction way along the tow-path. The way will be provided with switches by which the tractors can pass across the bridges from one Such a switch, forexample, is illustrated in Fig. 5, and the electrical conductors will be insulated and supplied in usual manner.

. Referring now to Fig. 3, the numeral 1 represents a post or support forming one of a series of supports for the way D. Theposts are high enough to support two towage-rails, andas the'towage-way must pass under the highway bridges along the tow-path the limit of height of the towage-way is usually about nine feet. From each post 1 brackets 2 3 project toward the tow-path and canal. These brackets may be of any suitable form and should project so far thata rail attached to the bracket will be far enough from the post topermitfthe projection of one-half the width of a motor or tractor toward the post without.

contact therewith. As illustrated, the brackets 2 3 are alike; but this is not essential. To each series of brackets there is connected a rail or track 4 or 5. This rail or track is intended to be a complete traction way and guide, for the tractors which run on the same. Preferably the rail is a flanged rail, and such is illustrated; but this is not always essential, as other forms of rail may be used. The

flanged rail is a specificimprovement. The tractor or towing-motor runs on either way Apr 5. This tractor has a frame 11, in which the traction a wheel 12 is supported. Trac-z "tion-wheel 12 is shown as resting on top of one of the rails 4 or 5, while frame llhas flanges extending behind the edges of said rail, so that the tractor-frame when applied to a rail cannot be removed therefrom save at a switch or opening. The traction-wheel 12 is driven by an electric engine or motor 13, which engine is connected either directly or indirectly to the axle 14. In other applii the engine and traction-wheel, and I do not,

I frame.

posts and the tractor-frame.

therefore, describe or claim such construction herein, although I desire it understood that I am not herein limited to any particular construction of engine or driving gear. Guide wheels 15 15, arranged on vertical axles or pintles, bear on the inner and outer faces of the rail, and if the railbe flanged, as illustrated, these guide-wheels preferablyrun 'just below the top flange of the rail.' Gripper-wheels 16 16 run against the outer and inner faces of the rail, and these gripperwheels may be provided with mechanism for pressing them to the track, as shown in my application,Serial No. 113,177, filed June 24, 1902. Electrical energy to drive the engines is conveyed through trolley 17 from trolleywire 18. I have shown a trolley-wire 18 as supported byseparate brackets over the centerof the tractor-frame, so that the tractors are reversible and may run in either direction on either track 4 or 5, and with a towline connected at the side of the tractor toward the water of the canal. The tractorframe is constructed with means, as 20,'for attaching a tow-line at either face of the The traction-rail 4 or 5 is an electrical conductor, so that the driving or the return circuit may be through said rail or track, the trolley-wire completing the circuit either way.

In Fig. 4 I show a modification wherein the trolley-wire 28 is suspended between the The trolley 25 projects at the side of the tractor-frame 31 in position to engage the trolley-wire.

The tractor is held to the rail 4 or 5 by the guide and gripper wheels bearing on the rail, so that the side draft of the tow will not pull the tractor from its rail. The engines are reversible, as usual on trolley ways, and move'independently and at such speed as the necessities of the case require. To prevent washing of the canal banks, this speed is usually less than six miles per hour.

When a boat or tow of boats meets another on a canal, the boat to which the lower tractor is connected takes that side of the canal farthest from the tow-path, stops, and lets the slack tow-line sink to the bottom of the canal,

. when the other tow passes over it precisely as when boats towed by animals pass each other. Usually the tractors on the upper rail or way 5 move in one direction, while those on the other rail 4 move in the opposite direction but the capability of reversal on either Way follows from the use of motors or engines similar to such as are in common use for railway traction.

What I claim is- 1. A series of posts for a traction-way alon'g a canal-bank,two traction-railssupported thereon at different heights, and tractors supported and having guide-wheels on said ways, said I tractors arranged so that each shall be supported and entirely guided by its own supporting-rail, and in position to pass the tractor on the other rail without inteference.

2. A series of supports for a traction-way, a plurality of tracks arranged at difierent heights on said supports, an electricallydriven tractor on each track supported and entirely guided thereby, and constructed to pass similar tractors on other tracks without interference, and a trolley-wire for completing the electric circuit with all the tractors on each one of said tracks.

3. The combination with supports along a canal, of a double series of brackets extending from said supports, two rails supported on the brackets at different elevations, electrically-operated tractors on said rails, each tractor supported and guided on a single rail, electrical conductors to the tractors, and means for completing the electric circuit through the tractors.

4. The combination with a series of supporting-posts, brackets extending therefrom, a plurality of traction-rails supported at different heights therefrom, each rail having upper and lower flanges projecting above and below the faces of the brackets, and a plurality of motors on the rails, each motor having guide or grip wheels bearing on the outer and inner faces of its rail within the flanges thereof.

5. The combination with a series of supports along one bank, of a continuation of the series along the other bank, a plurality of tracks on said series arranged at different heights, and tractors each having a tractionwheel and guide-wheels to bear on a single rail of the ways, and constructed to move on either rail and at either side of the canal, and having a towing device toward the canal in either position.

6. The combination with a series of posts having brackets at the sides thereof, of a plurality of traction-rails attached to said brackets at different heights, tractors constructed to run on and be guided by either one of said rails, separate trolley connections by which the electric circuit can be supplied to all the tractors on each rail, and electric engines on each tractor.

7. A series of supporting-posts, two trac-

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