US839216A

US839216A - Circuit-closing mechanism.

Info

Publication number: US839216A
Application number: US26077305A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas W Small
Original assignee: GEORGE H WORTHINGTON
Current assignee: GEORGE H WORTHINGTON
Priority date: 1905-05-17
Filing date: 1905-05-17
Publication date: 1906-12-25
Anticipated expiration: 1923-12-25

Description

T. w; SMALL. 011101112: CLOSING MECHANISM. APiLIUATIOH FILED I AY 17.. 1905.

Warsaww.

@gfL/M insulating-spool O and hanger 0 THOMAS SM'ALL'OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIG'NORROFONE-H'AEF TO GEORGEH. WORTHINGTON AND "'OF OLEVELANDQOHIO.

ONE-HALF TO CHARLES W. JOHNSON,

CIRCUIT-CLOSING MECHANISM.

To d/M whomitmwy concern.

Be it-known that I,,'-THOMAS1W. SMALL, a citizen vof the .U-nited States, residing. ;at Cleveland, inthe county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio,"have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Circuit Olosing Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description; reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of the invention which forms the subject of this ap lication is to provide means for closing a ocal circuit automat- ,ically.

The mechanism shown is particularly ap plicable for closing local circuits on electric cars in which the closing is effected by means of attachments in the path of the trolley. A practical application of my device is that of closing local circuits in street-cars for the purpose of actuating street-indicating or sign mechanism, carried by the car.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in perspective a form of my device attached to the supporting crosswirein an overhead-trolley system, showing the position of the parts immediately after the trolley-wheel has passed the circuit-closer. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. I

In the various figures, A represents the current-wire supported by the transverse crosswire B and connected'therewith by the usual Embracing the neck of the spool O and beneath the transverse wire B is a yoke-shaped plate D. Above the plate D and the wire B and likewise engaging the neck of the spool C is a second yoke-shaped plateE, secured by suitable means, such as bolts F, to the plate D. The legs of these two plates D and E are projected in opposite directions, and'this arrangement produces a very firm and rigid attachment. I

The plate E is made of some suitable conducting material and has pivotally secured to its legs E E conducting contact-shoes E E These'cont'act-shoes are preferably provided near their free ends with guides E E, which play in suitable openings in the plates D and E and are rovided at their upper ends with stops E imiting their downward movement. About the guides E and between the shoes E and the plate D are I Specification of Iietters Patent. Application filed ,May 1'7. 1905. Serial N 0. 260,773.

- Patented De as, 1906.

compression-springs 'EPE for the purpose of pressing the shoesdownward, so as to effect a firm contact with the: terminal piecesof the local circuit, which arei-nthe instance shown supported by the trolley-harp, ;as will behereinafter described.- I

Referring"to"Figs.. -1 and 2, Hrepresents the ordinary trolley-pole, surmounted by the trolley-harp H H, carrying the usual trolley-wheel H At the tips of the harp-prongs and insulated therefrom by suitable insulation H are the terminal pieces H H of the wires J and J respectively, which lead to a local source within the car. These wires J and J 2 are suitably insulated and may be led down the interior of the trolley-pole or suitably secured about the same in any convenient manner. a

From the description above the operation of the device will be obvious. Whenever the car passes under the circuit-closing device the terminals H H will pass under the shoes E E and elevate them somewhat. During this period the shoes are kept in firm contact with the terminals by the pressure of the springs E While this contact is maintained the circuit from the source of the wires J J will be closed through the terminals H H, the shoes E E and the conducting-yoke E E E.

By the foregoing means it will be seen that I have provided a simple and practical device whereby mechanism, such as streetindicating devices, carried within. the car may be actuated automatically from the exterior. For this and many similar signaling purposes ,my structure is well adapted, as will be apparent on inspection.

It will be understood that many modifications of design and substitution of mechan ical equivalents may be made according to the particular necessities of the situation withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention or altering the character thereof.

- Having described my invention, I claim 1. In mechanism for establishing a local circuit through a moving vehicle, a circuitclosing device, attached near but insulated from the main-current wire, said device including a metallic frame and a pair of contact members in electrical contact therewith, and a trolley-pole carrying insulated terminals of the local circuit in such manner as to make contact with the circuit-closing device.

2. In mechanism for establishing a local circuit through a moving vehicle, a conducting-plate adapted to straddle the neck of an ordinary supporting-spool, a second plate adapted to likewise straddle said spool, and securing means adapted to hold these plates together when placed astride said spool in opposite directions.

3. In mechanism for establishing a local circuit through a moving vehicle, a circuitclosing plate provided with a yielding contact prong and a supporting-plate so constructed that the parts may be securely attached to the insulating-spool supporting a main-current wire.

4. In mechanism for establishing a local circuit through a moving vehicle, a circuitclosing strip attached to a suitable support in the path of a trolley-pole and carr 'ng contacts placed in the path of the tro leyharp, terminal ieces on the trolley-har adapted to brusl i against the contacts an ilzlvires attached to the terminals on the trolleyar 5? In a mechanism for establishin a local circuit through a moving vehicle, tie combination of a U-shaped plate, a pair of curved contact-bars pivoted to the plate at its rojectin ends, bolts loosely holding the ars near t eir free ends to said plate, and springs under compression surrounding said bolts.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

T. W. SMALL.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. BATES, W. L. MCGARRELL.