US729826A - Overhead structure for electric railways. - Google Patents

Description

7N0. 729,826 PATENTED JUNEZ, 1903.

B. WILLARDL OVERHEAD STRUCTURE FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS. APPL-IOATION'EILED FEB. 25. 1899.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESE E5. INVENTEIR- Q-W%% fl- BM -Lumen.

Fatented June 2, 1903.-

FFTQE.

PATENT BEN WILLARD, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

OVERHEADSTRUCTURE oe ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,826, dated June 2, 1903.

Application filed February 25, 1899. Serial No- 706.778. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BEN WILLARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Overhead Structures for Electrio Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to the overhead structures of electric railways, and is useful more particularly in that class of roads which utilize large currents for the operation of electric locomotives or motor-cars. Difficulty has arisen with such roads because the ordinary trolley-wire is insufficient to carry the required current. Some forms of overhead structure have been used in which a sliding shoe has been employed as the trolley, running in a box-like structure of iron.

This, however, is costly and unsightly. I.

propose to replace such devices by utilizing a number of ordinary trolley-wires connected in multiple with a trolley which will always make contact with all of the wires. Inasmuch as it is difficult to stringthe wires so that the catenaries are identical even with the utmost care, and as under service conditions wires stretch to different degrees, I have provided a certain amount of flexibility in both the supportingstructure and the trolley.

My invention consists in providing ears for the wires, which are connected to their supports by loose ball-and-socket or equivalent joints, whereby each wire is free to move sidewise or vertically for a limited distance at the points of suspension.

The drawings show a convenient application of the invention, Figure 1 being an elevation of a post with two sets of trolley-wires connected according to the invention, showing a trolley running upon one of them. Fig.

2 is an enlar ed view artl in section of.

one of the sets of trolley-wires.

In Fig. 1, A is a post, of which B is the cross arm. O O are the sets of trolley-wires supported by sleeve 0, adjustable to a proper position upon the cross-arm. D is the trolley. The construction will be better understood from Fig. 2. In this figure,O O are the sleeves 0 the latter being of the well-known capand-eoneconstruction, in accordance with 'the patent to Thomson, No. 435,870. The

bolt 0 supports a thimble O.

The lower part of this is compressed in a cup around the shank of a mechanical ear F, which supports one of the trolley-wires E E E while the shank of the ear is formed at F into a hemisphere, so that with the cup-shaped portion of the thimble C it forms a ball-and-socket joint. A little space 0 is left above the ear,

so that the joint may have not only a rocking motion in any direction necessary, but may lift slightly, if desired. In thisway the three wires, being supported so thattheymay either move slightly sidewise or lift under the pres sure of the trolley, will practically be all in contact at all times in spite of inequalities of tension or of the shape of the catenaries or of unequal wear in the trolley-wheels.

It will be observed in Fig. 1 that the trolley-wheels have some horizontal play along their axes, and this gives increased flexibility, by which the following ofthe wireis greatly facilitated. 8 5

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 'is- 1. A conductor-supporiywhich comprises a suitably supported and insulated thimble, 0 having a contracted opening, and an ear having an enlarged portion mounted within the thimble for free lateral and vertical move between the two adapted to permit relative ment, and adapted to receive the conductor. vertical movement. 1o

2. The combination with a, supporting-ear In witness whereof I have hereunto set my for the conducting-wire, of a fixed insulator, hand this 20th day of February, 1899.

5 and a ba11-and-socket joint between the ear BEN WILLARD.

and the insulator. Vitnesses:

3. The combination With a supporting-ear, W. H. KECK,

of a, fixedinsu1ator,and a baH-and-sooket joint LOUIS EBERT.

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