US728823A - Electric canal system. - Google Patents

Description

- PATENTED MAY'26, 1903.

F-ADAMS- ELECTRIC CANAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29.1902.

I0 MODEL 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. v

PATENTED MAY 26, 1903.

F. ADAMS. ELECTRIC CANAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION rum) JULY 29, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I0 IODEL.

51 1 1 0e," l'oz F u dahz/S UNITED STATES Patented. May 26, 1903.

PATENT EFIoE.

ELECTRIC CANAL SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 728,823, dated May 26, 1903:

Application filed July 29,1902.

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Adams, in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Electric Canal System, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an electric propulsion system for the purpose of propelling canal-boats by utilizing the current carried by the trolley-wire arranged upon the bank of' the canal.

One object of the invention is to provide a cheap, simple, and efficient construction of trolley-wire support capable of withstanding a considerable lateral and downward strain; and another object is to provide an improved construction of trolley for traveling upon the said trolley-wire upon the upper side thereof in contradistinction of running out upon the under side.

Another object of the invention is to provide guards at each trolley-wire support for the purpose of guiding the trolley over the said support; and a still further object is to provide an improved take-up and let-out mechanism, whereby the conductor-wire can be fed out and taken up as the boat moves away from or toward the bank of the canal.

Another object of the invention is to utilize the water of the canalas the conductor for the return-cu rrent, though special conductors may be employed, if found desirable.

l/Vith these and certain other objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction,combination,orarrangewent, all of which will be fully set forth in the specification and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forininga part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view showing the practical application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the trolley-support and guard arranged at the support. Fig. 3 is a side view ofthe same, the trolley-wire being shown in section and likewise the guidewires of the guard. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the trolley proper. Fig. 5

is a sectional view showing the position of the trolley upon the wire when passing the support.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view Serial No. 117,545. (No model.)

of the take-up mechanism. Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in section; and Fig. 8 is a. top plan view of the sleeve carrying the pulley over which the wire passes.

In carrying out my invention-I employ a trolley-pole A, having a horizontal arm A' projecting therefrom toward the canal, said arm being braced by a timber A A bracket B is arranged upon the end of the arm A, said bracket being angular in shape, the supporting member being arranged at an acute angle to the base, and the trolley-wire O is rigidly secured to the upper end of the said supporting member, and it will of course be understood that suitable insulation B is arranged between the base of the bracket and the arm A. This method of supporting the trolley-wire is very effective, as the weight of the wire between the poles is a direct upward support.

The trolley comprises grooved rollers D, which are journaled in the bracket E, the side members of said bracket projecting a considerable distance below the rollers, as most clearly shown, and projecting from the inner side of the bracket is the pole or stick E, carrying the wire E The rollers D are intended to travel upon the trolley-wire C, and in order to prevent the bracket carrying the rollers coming in contact with the supporting-bracketl employ aguard at each pole, said guard comprising the upper and lower guiding-wires F and F, which extend in substantially parallel and horizontal positions upon both sides of the bracket-support, the ends of said Wires beingcurved away from each other, as most clearly shown at F in order to enlarge the entrance to the said wires.

The upper wire F is supported by curved arms F connected to the upper side of the arm A and straddling the trolley-wire C, and the lower wire F is supported by the arms F which are connected to the under side of the arm A.

The pole or stick E has a roller or sleeve G, of non-conducting material, arranged thereon and which is adapted to contact with the guidewires F and F, thus preventing any possible short-circuiting.

It will be seen that as the trolley is carried ICCI along the wire it is guided over each and every supportingbracket by means of the guard arranged at that point.

The wire E is led to the Vessel or boat and connected to the motor, and in order to compensate for the movement of the boat toward or away from the bank of the canal and in order to avoid lateral strain upon the trolleywire I provide an improved let-out and takeup mechanism, which I arrange upon the boat and inlerpose between the trolley and the motor, such construction of take-up and let-out mechanism being most clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, in which I have illus trated all the essential elements of the said mechanism and which comprises the supporting-frame H, in which is journaled a drum I, having a pinion K upon one end of its shaft, which pinion meshes with a gear L, mounted upon a shaft M, around which is arranged a spiral spring N, the tendency of which is to rotate the shaft and its gear in such direction that motion will be imparted to the gear K, thereby placing a constant winding tension upon the drum 1.

The wire E leading from the trolley, is wound several times around the drum I and is then passed out through the shaft of the same to the motor. The conductor-wire E as it passes to the drum I is carried over a guidepulley O, mounted upon the upper endot' a sleeve 0, which projects down through an opening produced in the top of the frame,

said sleeve having an annular flange 0 be-.

neath which are arranged the antifrictionballs 0 and the flanged collar 0 is secured upon the lower end of the sleeve, and antifriction-balls O are adapted to cooperate with the said flanged collar 0 it being understood the bearing-plates are connected to the upper and lower sides of the top or frame and upon which the antifriction-balls travel. This construction reduces the friction and permits a limited lateral movement of the conductor-wire E 7 The operation of my invention will be readily understood by every one skilled in the art to which it pertains, it being obvious that the trolley will travel upon the trolley-wire, and at each and every support the guide-wires will serve to guide the trolley-bracket over the wire-supporting bracket, and it is also obvious that the automatic spring-actuated take-up and 1et-out mechanism will automatically operate and take up the slack in'the conductor-wire whenever the boat approaches the bank of the canal and willoperate in the reverse manner to feed out the conductorwire as the boat moves away from the bank of the canal.

In case it should be found inconvenient to use the water as a return-conductor any suitable construction of conductor could be employed and arranged upon the bottom of the canal, if'so desired. It will thus be seen that I provide an exceedingly cheap, simple, and efiicient system of propelling canal-boats and similar vessels by means of electric power.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1; A device of the kind described, com prising a trolley, a trolley-wire, a bracket adapted to support said wire, guards arranged above and below the bracket and adapted to guide the trolley over same, a flexible conductorwire, adapted to extend to a boat and means located on'the boat for taking up slack in said conductor-wire.

2. The combination with a trolley, of a trolley-wi re the bracketfor supporting said wire, and theguards arranged adjacent to said bracket for the purpose of guiding the trolley over the said bracket, as specified.

3. The combination with a trolley, of the trolley-wire, the angular bracket supporting said wire, the guard comprising the guidewires, and the arms supporting the said guidewires, the pole or stick extending from the trolley-bracket, and the insulated roller carried by the said pole or stick, for the purpose specified.

4. The combination with the trolley-wire, of the angular brackets supporting the same, guards comprising the guide-wires and supporting-arms, the trolley-wheels mounted in

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