US791816A

US791816A - Current-collecting device for electric cars.

Info

Publication number: US791816A
Application number: US21698304A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leon W Pullen
Original assignee: WIRELESS RAILWAY Co
Current assignee: WIRELESS RAILWAY Co
Priority date: 1904-07-18
Filing date: 1904-07-18
Publication date: 1905-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1922-06-06

Description

PATENTED JUNE 6, 1905.

-L w. PULLBN.

CURRENT COLLECTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC GARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18,1904.

* PATENTED JUNE 6, 1905.

L. w. PULLBN. CURRENT COLLECTING DEVICE FOR ELEGTRIG CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1904.

3 BHEETSSHEET 8.

i n E J I i m UUH,,H r- E wc w .u @415? 1J1 XX a L pt No. 791,816. PATENTED JUNE 6,1905.

,L. w. PULLEN. v

CURRENT COLLECTING DEVICE FORELBCTRIG CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 181904. v

I 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

, UNITED STATES Patented June 6, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEON W. PULLEN, OF PHILADELPHIA,

WIRELESS RAILWAY OOMPAN Y,

TRIOT OF COLUMBIA.

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN OR TO A CORPORATION OF THE DIS- SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,816, dated June 6, 1905.

Application filed July 18, 1904:- Serial No. 216,983. i

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEON W. PULLEN, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Current-Collecting Devices for Eleotric Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to current-collecting devices for electric cars; and it consists of certain improvements, which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a current-collecting device for electrically-propelled cars which shall be adapted to receive current from contacts arranged along the railway at intervals and supplied with current from a supply-conductor through magnetic switchessuch, for example, as set out in Letters Patent N o. 7 49,401, granted to me on January 12, 1904.

In carrying out my invention I employtwo longitudinal pole-pieces extending almost the length of the car and separated a short distance and magnetized by electro or other magnets, preferably of the horseshoe type, connecting them at intervals, whereby one polepiece is of north polarity and the other of south polarity, and combine therewith one or more flexibly-supported collector-bars suspended between the pole-pieces and insulated therefrom, and suspension means for said devices, whereby they move as a unit with the carbody in a horizontal direction, but are sustained vertically upon the axles independently of the vertical movements of the car-body, so that the collector-bars are supported at a fixed distance from the ground. 4

My invention also comprehends many details of construction, which, together with the above features, will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved current-collecting device with the oar-track axles indicated in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the collecting device. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of Fig. 1 on line 3 3. Fig. 4 is of collector-bar.

a perspective view of the suspension construction for the ends of the current-collector bars. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of my preferred shape Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the motor-circuits in their relation to the collector-magnets, and Fig. 7 is a crosss'ection showing the use of permanent magnetic cores for the collector-magnets.

' A is the outline of the bottom of the carbody. B B are the car-trucks and may be of any suitable construction, and C is my improved current-collector device. The rearmost axle b of the forward truck and the for ward axleof the'rear truck are each provided with a box D between the wheels and held against lateral movement by collars d on the axles.

E represents box-frames surrounding the axles and boxes and are provided with internal upper and lower steel plates 0 e, insulated from the box-frames byinsulation Fandforming elongated spaces betweenthem. The up per of these plates 6 rests upon the boxes D' with freedom of movement thereon, whereas the lower plates 0 are below the axles and act to take any upward thrust of the collector should such occur from any cause. To these box-frames E are securedinsulated depending brackets Gr, to which are attached the two longitudinal pole-pieces G G, which are parallel to each other and separated a few inches. In addition to being secured together by the brackets these pole-pieces are further attached together by the U-shaped cores I of electromagnets, which are arranged at intervals to produce in the pole-pieces strong magnetic fields of north and south polarity. These cores are provided with coils J, designed to be energized in series in a shunt-circuit U around the motors T when the car is in operation or temporarily at rest. In addition to these coils there are coils J on the cores, which may be coupled in multiple or multiple by circuit 1' and energized by a current from a battery U, controlled by a switch W, and also by the current in the motor-circuit 25 during the normal operation of the car under the regulation of the controller '1". The battery is employed for producinga magnetic field in the pole-pieces for the inltial closing of the switch in the railway-circuit of the road-bed after the current has been put into the line from the power-station or after it has been momentarily interrupted from any cause. In this manner the magnetic strength of the pole-pieces increases with the load on the motor, so that when the motor requires the greatest current the field of force of the polepieces is strongest to insure the required contact in the switch-boxes to insure the flow of current without heating. As this application does not claim these circuits, no illustration of the particular circuits and switches is shown.

H H are two longitudinal boards secured at their lower parts to the inner sides of the pole-pieces G, as shown in Fig. 3, said boards acting as insulators to the current-collecting bars O O, which are suspended slightly below the lower edges of said boards and pole-pieces. These current-collecting bars are suspended by chains S and a screw and nut S passing through a cross-bar S, secured to the top of the boards S These chain connections extend from the center of the cross-bars S laterally to the collector-bars, and the successive chains are respectively connected alternately with the two collector-bars O O, so that the tendency is to cause said bars to swing toward each other and take a normally central position in the space between the insulatingboardsSS. The ends of the collector-bars are turned upward into goosenecks O and are secured to heads P, which are supported upon upwardly-extending pins R from cross-bars R, insulated from and secured to the pole-pieces. Nuts r on said pinsR maybe employed to limit the downward movement of the collector-bars and yet offer no obstruction to the rising of the collector-bars and the heads P when said collector-bars are pushed upward in riding over the contacts in the railway. It will be observed that in this method of suspension of the collector-bars they have every freedom of adjustment, and consequently will under no conditions bind or create excessive friction in passing over and in contact with the successive contacts arranged along the roadway and from which they collect the current. In this application no claim is made to the contactblocks nor to the electromagnetic switch devices which are designed to be operated by the pole-pieces Gr, as such boxes are illustrated in my patent before referred to.

The boxframes E E each have three upwardly-extended pins K immediately above the axles b, and these pins pass through holes in a brace-frame L, secured to the under side of the car-body A, so that the said brace-frame and the car-body may rise and fall vertically relatively to the pins K. The upper end of each of the middle pins is secured to a tensionrod M, the lower ends of which tension-rods being hooked into a plate M, secured to the core of the central electromagnet, so as to support the pole-pieces and other parts of the collector device in a horizontal position. A turnbuckle m is provided in each of the tension rods to lengthen or shorten them for proper adjustment. Each of the side pins K is connected by tension-rodsN with the polepieees intermediate of the center and axles, so as to provide further support to sustain the said pole-pieces in a horizontal plane. Turnbuckles a may also be employed in these tension-rods N for proper adjustment.

By adjusting the pole-pieces G into a horizontal position by the tie-rods M and N, I also secure a corresponding adjustment of the insulating-boards H and the collector-bars O, which are hung from said boards.

The collector-bars O are preferably formed of tubular metal, usually of copper, so as to embody lightness and flexibility. In the preferred form of such tubular bars I make them somewhat pear-shaped, with the greatest mass of metal at the lower and large part, as indicated in Fig. 5. In this manner the bars may have great durability and longer life before requiring to be replaced. The current may be collected from the collector-bars directly or through the heads R and supplied to the motors through the usual controllers.

The tension on the upper parts of the pins K of the tension-rods is counteracted by the frame L, which sustains the said pins in a vertical position without interfering with the vertical movements of the car-body.

It will be observed that the swivel of the trucks will in no wise interfere with the suspension of the current-collecting device, as the said current-collector device is substantially connected with the car-body, while giving said car-body provision for vertical movement independent of the collector device, whose position relatively to the roadway is defined by the axles 6, upon which it is sus tained through the boxes D. The trucks may swivel or turn freely, as the elongated space in the box-frames E between the plates 0 0 permits the free swinging of the box I) without interference with the said box-frames.

While I have shown the current-collecting device in connection with two swivel-trucks, it is evident that it is equally applicable to a four-wheeled car structure in which only two axles are employed such, for example, as the two axles M. In such a case, however, there would not be the same necessity for making the box-frame E so elongated, as the box I) would not have to slide against the under surface of the plate a.

As shown, the pole-pieces G are insulated from the ground, collector-bars, and the mo tor-circuit, so that they are not liable from any cause, such as picking up a piece of iron, to short-circuit the line or motors. They may be insulated in any other manner desired.

\Nhile I prefer the pole-pieces to be encrgized by electromagnets with soft-iron cores, the cores Imay, if desired, be permanent magnets and used with or Without the coils J J or either of them. as shown in Fig. 7

Any other method of insulating the collector from the axles of the truck maybe used in lieu of that shown.

While I prefer the construction shown, I do not limit myself to the minor details, as they may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-' 1. In an electrically-propelled vehicle the combination of the axles, with a current-collecting device extending .from axle to axle close to the road-bed, insulated supports for sustaining the collecting device from the axles with freedom of lateral movement thereon;

and connecting means between the collecting device and vehicle-body whereby the body is free for vertical movement but not lateral movement relatively to the collecting device. 1 2. In an electrically-propelled vehicle the combination of two pivoted trucks provided with axles, with a current-collecting device extending from axle to axle close to the roadbed provided with flexible contact-bars and rigid pole-pieces upon opposite sides of the contact-bars, insulated supports for sustaining the collecting device from the adjacent axles of the two trucks with freedom of'lateral movement thereon, and connecting means between the collecting device and vehicle-body whereby the body is free for vertical movement but not lateral movement relatively to thesupporting devices to the pole-pieces in termediate of the axles.

5. In a current-collecting device for electric vehicles, two longitudinal pole-pieces connected at intervals by electromagnets, in combination with insulating-walls between them,

two flexible collector-bars suspended between the insulating walls, suspension chains between each of the bars and the insulating-walls for causing the two bars'to normally move toward each other, and supporting devices for sustaining the collecting device upon the axles.

6. In an electrical vehicle, a. current-collecting device consisting of longitudinal polesulated from them, and heads guided upon said guides and secured to the gooseneck ends of the collector-bars.

8. In an electric vehicle, a current-collecting device consisting of longitudinal polepieces provided with electromagnets for energizingthem, a collector-bar suspended and insulated from the said pole-pieces and located between them, upwardly-extending means at each end of the pole-pieces for supporting them upon the axles, and tension-rods con necting th eupwardly-extending. means at each end of the pole-pieces with the said pole-pieces at intervals intermediate of the ends.

9. In an electric vehicle, a current-collecting device consisting of longitudinal polee pieces provided with electromagnets for energizing them, a collector-bar suspended and insulated from the said pole-pieces and located between them, upwardly-extending means at each end of the pole-pieces for supporting them upon the axles, tension-rods connecting the upwardly-extending means at each end of the pole-pieces with the said pole-pieces at intervals intermediate of the ends, and meansfor.1 adjusting the length of the several tensionro s. I

10. In'a current-collecting device for a car, the combination of two longitudinal polepieces connected at intervals by horseshoeelectromagnets, insulatingboards secured upon the inner faces of the pole-pieces, and collecting-bars suspended between said insulating-boards and extending slightly below the pole-pieces.

11. A vehicle having two pivoted trucks, combined with boxes supported upon the adjacent axles of the two trucks, box-frames resting upon the boxes and extending below the axles and having upright pins, a current-collecting device extending between the two trucks and supported by the two box-frames, and brace-frames secured to the under part of the vehicle-body and having apertures for the upright pins.

12. A vehicle having two pivoted trucks,

combined with boxes supported upon the adjacent axles of the two trucks, box-frames resting upon the boxes and extending below the axles and having upright pins, a current-collecting device extending between the two trucks and supported by the box frames, brace-frames secured to the under part of the vehicle-body and having apertures for the upright pins and tie-rods extending from the tops of the pins to the collector device intermediate of the axles of the two trucks.

13. A vehicle having two pivoted trucks,- and boxes supported upon the adjacent axles of the trucks, combined with two box-frames resting upon the boxes and extending below the axles and each provided with plates 6 e secured within the box frame and insulated therefrom said plates 6 6 receiving the wear,

and a current-collecting device extending from truck to truck and supported by the boxframes.

14. In a current-collecting device the combination of the two pole-pieces connected at intervals by the cores I of inverted-U shape, coils J J upon the upright legs and coils J upon the upper or cross portion of the cores, and a collector-bar suspended between the pole-pieces and extending below the bottom of the pole-pieces.

15. The collector device consisting of iongitudinal pole-pieces forming a longitudinal insulated space between the pole-pieces open at the bottom, a collector-bar suspended in the insulated space, and suspension-chains sustaining the collector-bar and provided with means for adjustment.

16. The collector device consisting of longitudinal pole-pieces, forming a longitudinal insulated space between them open at the bottom, two collector-bars flexibly suspended in the insulated space, and means for causing the bars to normally rest against each other and in the middle of the space.

17. The collector device consisting of longitudinal pole-pieces, forming a longitudinal insulated space between them open at the bottom, two collector-bars flexibly suspended in the insulated space, means for causing the bars to normally rest against each other and in the middle of the space, and means for adjusting the bars vertically.

18. A current-collecting bar for electricrailway cars, consisting of a tubular bar having the lower portion of greatlyincreased thickness and weight.

19. A current-collecting bar for electricrailway cars, consisting of a tubular bar having the lower portion of greatly-increased thickness and weight, combined with flexible supports therefor connected with its upper or thinner portion.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

LEON PULLEN.

Witnesses:

R. M. KELLY, WM. ROONEY.