US784038A - Automatic self-dropping trolley-pole. - Google Patents

Description

No. 7 4, PATENTED MAR. 7, 1905.

' J. DELANE.

AUTOMATIC SELF DROPPING TROLLEY POLE.

APPLICATION FILED BEPT.5, 1aos.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J Witnesses: @flufw H Invenior A701 P?'/ AS g fl 'ey inFac.

PATENTED MAR. '7, 1905.

J. DELANE.

AUTOMATIC SELF DROPPING TROLLEY POLE.

APPLIUATION FILED $BPT.5,-1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. I

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ITE u STATES Patented March 7, 1905..

PATENT rrrnn.

AUTOMATIC SELF-DROPPING TROLILEY POLE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,038, dated March '7, 1905.

Application filed September 5, 1903- Serial No. 172,125.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN DELANE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Automatic Self-Dropping Trolley-Pole; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invent-ion relates to improvements in trolley-poles and to that class of trolley-poles used upon electric cars, and particularly to irm'n'ovements in types; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a trolley-pole which will drop itself automatically immediately upon the trolley-wheel becoming disengaged from the su iply-wire; second, to provide a trolley-pole which will automatically drop itself when disengaged from the supply- Wire to a horizontal position or other desired position and which will check itself in its fall before striking the roof of the car upon which it is mounted; third, to provide a trolley-pole which by reason of its automatic drop will be much less liableto injury in case of accidents than other trolley poles used heretofore; fourth, toprovide a trolley-pole which will not spring upward and catch upon cross-wires and other overhead mechanism, thereby greatly lessening the danger from broken live wires; lifth, to provide a trolley-pole which can be used upon cars which are run under low bridges, through tunnels, and other like places where supply-wires must of necessity be placed a minimum distance above the car-top, and, sixth, to provide such a trolley-pole which can be more easily, quickly, and safely re placed when accidentally disengaged from the supply wire than other trolley-poles used prior to my invention. These objects I attain by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates my trolley-pole when depressed or disengaged. Fig. 2 illustrates my trolley-pole when elevated and engaging a supply-wire. Fig. 3 is an end view of the stand when the pole is horizontal. Fig. t is a detail plan of a portion of the trolley-pole when depressed and showing by dotted lines the position of the lever-arms when the pole is elevated. Fig. 5 is a detail of the hinged lever b. Fig. 6 is a view of the plate Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The letter (1, indicates the arm or pole proper, which is constructed of wood, iron, or other suitable material. The letter 6 indicates a lever which, as shown in Fig. 5, consists of a cylindrical portion 7/, adapted to receive any form of trolley-wheel harp h, a projecting boss I)", the two sides of which are adapted to support the shaft of a pulley c, and the portion (1, which is open upon the lower side for the purpose of fitting around the extreme end of the arm a and the opposite sides of which are perforated for the purpose of receiving the pinion ,1), whereby the lever I; is

movably attached to the ferrule (W upon theextreme end of the arm a, making a hingelike connection therewitl'l. Aloopois attached to the boss I) for the purpose of guiding the hereinafter-mentioned cable 11)..

The ferrule d is provided with a bifurcated boss 0, adapted to support the shaft of a pulley 0 similar, in size and immediately behind the pulley c; When the lever is in normal position, itisinline with the arm of the pole, and the two pulleys c and 0 lie so close to one another that a ball At, attached to the cable m, cannot pass between said pulleys, but will be held between them in a vise-like manner as long as the lever is in line with the arm a.

The letter (2 indicates a socket in which the arm of the pole is mounted and which consists of a hollow portion 0, provided with any convenient form of clamp for the purpose of clamping the arm (t in the socket, and the solid portion 1/, adapted to lit into the stand S, wherein it is held by the shaft s.

The stand S consists of the circular base t and the housing 6. The housing t, as shown, consists of two standard-like sides adapted to serve as a support for the socket c, which is mounted therein upon the shaft The housing t is closed in front,and the front wall projects upward above the side walls and is curved backward for the purpose of forming a butting-block for the pole, whereby the pole will be prevented from ever raising to quite a perpendicular position.

The shaft 8 is supported by the side walls of the housing 6 and protrudes upon either side thereof for the purpose of supporting'two pulleys a, one upon each side of the housing 6, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

The letter 2' indicates a clamp which is mounted upon the arm (t, as shown in Fig. 4:, and which is provided with two lugs 11, one upon either side of the pole, for the purpose of supportingtwo levers a. The levers "a are strong metallic arms, fulcrumed, by means of the clamp 71, to opposite sides ofthe arm a and projecting forward upon either side of the stand S. The free or outer ends of the levers a are provided with small pulleys q for the purpose of guiding the hereinafter-mentioned cables in.

The letter j indicates a double sheave which is attached to the arm a of the trolley-pole at a correctly-proportioned distance from the clamp and which isprovided with two pulleys g, which guide the two cables m,which pass between said two pulleys.

The letter j indicates a bolt or other convenient fastening which is attached to the under side of the arm a at a position correctly proportioned between the sheave 7' and the clamp 17 and to which the ends'of two cables m are attached. The cables m pass from the bolt 1', to which they are attached, to and outwardly around the pulleys (1 at the end of the levers u, thence to the pulleys 9, around which, respectively, the cables pass upon the inner side thereof, and then to a common point, where they are attached. to a single cable on, which passes to and over the pulley a at the end of the arm a, thence under the pulley c and through the guiding-loop 0 of the lever b, and thence to the rear platform of the car, whereby in the hands of the conductor the trolley-pole may be controlled, as described hereinafter.

The letter /1 indicates a strong metallic spring-bar which consists of a heavy head portion, which is fastened firmly within the housing 6 just above the base t, and a threaded spring-rod, which projects backward from the upper portion of the head portion for the purpose of controlling a strong spiral spring 0;. A strong plate ;2 perforated at its center for the purpose of receiving the outer end of the spring-rod, upon which it is movably confined by the nut .2 upon the extreme threaded end of said spring-rod. The opposite sides of the plate 3 are perforated for the purpose of receiving and supporting the threaded ends of two tension-rods 1*, which project forward from said plate parallel to the aXis of the spring a" and are correctly proportioned in length in relation to the length of the spring a. Two strong chains or cables f are attached, respectively, to the free ends of the tension-rods 9', whence they pass to the under side of the two pulleys a upon the stand S, thence around and over said pulleys and to bolts a. mounted upon the levers u, whereby the chains or cables f are attached to the said levers, as shown. hen my trolley-pole is free from all tension and the pole is in normal position, the arm lies horizontal with the levers a projecting forward upon each side of the stand, and the spring a? is normal. To raise the arm a and engage the overhead suppl y-wire w with the trolley-wheel w, it is only necessary for the conductor to pull upon the cable m until the ball it passes between the pulleys c and 0', whereby the levers a will be pulled backward and reversed, thereby throi ing tension through the chains or cables f upon the spring 0:. bearing upon the pulleys 11, attached to the shaft .9, which supports the arm a, will then pull the arm a upward until the trolley-wheel w upon the end of the lever b will engage the supply-wire w. The downward pressure of the supply-wire w will hold the lever 7) in line with the aXis of the arm a, and thereby force and hold the two pulleys c and 0" close together, thus preventing the ball 71' upon the cable at from passing backward between the said pulleys. In this manner the ball is is firmly held by the two pulleys cand c", and the cable m, to which the ball is attached, sustains the tension upon the spring (1/, and the trolley-pole is held firmly against the supply-wire.

hnmediately upon the trolley-wheel 20 becoming disengaged from the wire 10, either purposely or accidentally, the downward pressure upon the lever b is removed and the clamping efiect upon the ball it between the pulleys c and c is removed, allowing the ball to pass over the pulley 0, thereby releasing the pressure upon the spring a." and incidentally all support of the arm a, which will immediately fall of its own weight to normal or horizontal position.

The tension of the spring 00' will prevent the arm a from falling below a horizontal position and striking the top of the car, and the pole may be checked in its fall at any desired position by adjusting the spring 0/ by means of the nut upon the end of the spring-bar T. \Vhen the trolley-wheel upon my trolley-pole strikes a hanger or other slight obstacle, the entire pole is depressed slightly; but the hingelike connection of the lever 7) permits the wheel to cling close to the obstacle and to again engage the wire without springing clear away and becoming disengaged. In such event the pulleys 0 and 6 separate slightly, admitting the ball 7'; farther between them, but immediately close again,and by reason of the spherical contour of the ball 7v it is forced back into proper position without danger of releasing the pole.

l 111 attaching my trolley-pole to the various The chains or cables f,

forms of trolley-stands now on the market it will be necessary to make alterations in the method of attachment of the actuating members of my trolley-pole, and I. therefore reserve the right to make such minor alterations without departing from the general principle of my invention as may be necessary to adapt the same to different forms of stands.

The ad vantages of my invention over other like trolley-poles used prior hereto are, first, my trolley-pole when accidentally disengaged from the supply-wire immediately drops of its own weight without danger of catching upon overhead cross-wires, bridgework, or other fixtures and without the assistance of the conductor; second, by reason of the self-action of my trolley-pole when accidentally disengaged the danger of damage to the trolley-pole is obviated, and the checking of the trolley-pole when falling in a horizontal or other convenient position prevents the pole from striking and injuring the top of the car, thereby obviating a large expense due to repairs necessary when other forms of trolley-poles are used; third, the peculiar structure and position of the different actuating members of my invention enable the trolley-pole to be de-' pressed parallel and close to the top of the car and without any upward projections, thereby adapting it to use in tunnels and under low bridgework and in other similar places, where a minimum headway is possible and other types of trolley-poles impracticable.

l am aware that the use of a trolley'pole as a means of conducting power from supplywires to cars is not new, and my trolley-pole is adapted to carry any form of trolley-harp and to be mounted upon any of the well-known forms of trolley-stands, and 1 therefore make no broad claims upon such appliances.

In applying my trolley-pole to stands of the various well-known forms it is necessary to make minor alterations in the same, which may be done without departing from the gen eral principle of the invention, and I reserve the right to make such alterations as may be necessary.

llaving described my invention, its objects, and ()IJGI'itlilOl'l,Wli2tli I claim as new and useful, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a trolley-pole, the combination of a trolley-arm a, which is free to fall of its own weight, when disengaged, with a lever I), mounted uponsaid arm a, and adapted to carry atrolley-wheel, the socket 0 adapted to [it into the housing of the stand S and to support the arm a, the stand S adapted to support the trolleypole upon the top of a car, the shaft a, supported by the stand S and, adapted to support the socket c and the two pulleys a, the two pulleys it upon either end of the shaft 8, the two levers a movably attached to the arm a by means of the clamp vi and provided at their outer ends with the pulleys r the clamp c', the spring-bar c attached to the stand S and adapted to support the spring :r', the plate and the tension-rods r and the nuts 2', the spring :1 the plate 1 the nut and the tension-rods 1', the chains or cables f, one end of each of which is attached to the corresponding tOnSlOIi-POLlS r and the other to the levers a, the cables m attached to the bolt j, acting over the pulleys q and 1 and connected with the cable m, the cable m adapted to pass from the cables m to and over the pulley c and to the car-platform, the ball l: attached to the cable-m and adapted to engage the pulleys c and c, and the pulley c", the sheave j provided with the two pulleys 1', all substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a trolley-pole, the combination of a trolley-arm (1/, the lever b movably mounted upon said trolley-arm and adapted to be drawn into and out of line with the axis of the trolley-arm a, and to support a trolley harp and wheel upon the outer end thereof and the pulley c pendent from b, with the socket c adapted to support the trolley-arm 1/, the stand S adapted to support the socket i, the shaft s and the two pulleys a, the shaft s and pulleys a, the spring-bar :11, mounted within the stand S and bearing the adjustable spring 41 the tension-rods 0' attached to the plate 1 mounted upon the tension-bar, the nut .2 adapted to adjust the spring w, the bolt j and illey-bean ing sheavej, mounted upon the arm a and the cables m and m, attached to the boltj', the chains or cablesf, attached to the tension-rods 1' and the lovers a, respectively, the levers a attached to the arm (t provided with the pulleys 11 adapted to guide and be controlled by the cables 11/ in conjunction with the chains or eablesf, the ferrule (1 mounted upon the end of the arm (I/ and provided with the pulley c and the ball Z attached to the cable m, adapted to lock the trolley-pole in an upright position, all substantially as described and shown and for the purpose set forth.

3. .In a trolley-pole, the combination of a trolley-arm (1, adapted to fall when disengaged of its own weight, and provided at its upper end with a lever 71, which is in hinge-like connection therewith, and which is provided with a pendent boss 7) adapted to support a pulley c and provided with a guide-1001M), said lever I) being adapted to support a trolley-wheel 0/), with a socket 0 adapted to support the trolleyarm (a, mounted upon the stand S, the stand S provided with a shaft s and two pulleys w, the spring-bar m and spring :0, plate ;1 and tension-rods a, movably attached to the springbar at, the cables or chains f, the levers a attached to the arm a, and provided with the pulleys r the cables m and m attached to said arm (t and adapted to control the actuating mechanism thereof, and the ball 1 upon the cable an adapted to lock the pole or arm in an upright position, all substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

t. In a trolley-pole, the combination of a ITO provided with a ferrule (Z and lever L in hingeupright position, all substantially as shown IO and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN DELANE.

trolley-arm a, free to fall of its own Weight,

Witnesses:

SYD B. DAvIs, JOHN S. JORDAN.

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