US396310A - Traveler for electric railways - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet. 1.

(No Model.)

0. J. VAN D EPOELE.

' TRAVELER FOR'ELEGTRIG RAILWAYS. No. 396,310. Q Patented Jan. 15, 1889.

XTwuawiJov Charles J Wmlkpoele 6:519, 1M0 lltto'oww N. PETERS. Pha\n-l.ilhognpher. Washin ton. D. C-

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0. J. VAN DEPOELE.

TRAVELER FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

(No Model.)

Patented Jan. 15

Fpg. 5.

w M MW nD an mm UJ W M C N. PEYERs. Plwwinhogmplmr, Washmglan. u, c.

UNITED STATES 'ATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TRAVELER FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,310, dated January 15, 1889.

Application filed Tune 5, 1888.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. VAN DE- POELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Travelers for Electric Railways, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to improvements in traveling contact devices for electric-railway supply-conductors of the type in which current is continuously supplied to a traveling motor by a device resting upon and moving along the said conductor and being in 0011- tinuous metallic contacttherewith.

The invention consists in the various novel features of construction and arrangement embodied in the moving contact device or carriage, hereinafter referred to as the traveler, the details relating to which will be fully set forth, and referred to in the appended claims.

In'the drawings illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is an end elevation showing the traveler in position upon the conductor and the relation between the traveler and the device by which the conductor is suspended. Fig. 2

is a side elevation showing the traveler in its.

operative position upon the conductor. Fig. 3 is an end view of the traveler, partly in section, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an end view of the traveler on the line 4: 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an end view showing another form of the traveler in position upon the conductor. Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof, and Fig. 7 is an end view on the'line 7 '7 of Fig. 6.

Similar letters denote like parts throughout.

As illustrated in the drawings, my improved traveler for electric railways comprises one or more metallic wheels, A. The wheels A are formed with deep peripheral grooves a, fit-' ting over the suspended line-conductor B, upon which said wheels travel and with which they remain in metallic contact. At the central portion of the traveler is secured adownwardly-depending arm or pendulum, C, provided at its lower extremity with a verticallyadjustable weight, C, from or below whichis connected a flexible conductor, C leading to the traveling motor. The contact wheel or Serial No. 276,257. (No model.)

wheels A are inclosed within or between a metallic frame consisting of side pieces or checks D, which project both in front and rear of the contactrwheels and depend downward on each side of the conductor some distance below the peripheries of the wheel or wheels. The downwardly-extending side plates D form guards, which, should the traveler tend to leave the conductor, will themselves come in contact therewith. The guards will also maintain the electrical. connection when the conductor is out of the groove a, and also prevent the device as a whole from leaving the conductor and guide it into proper position when the disturbing influence has ceased.

As shown in Fig. 2, my improved traveler is provided with a pair of grooved contactwheels, A, which are mounted upon spindles E, secured in the walls of the side plates D in any suitable manner.

As shown in Fig. 6, but a single contactwheel is employed, the spindle thereof being secured to side plates D, which depend below the conductor in the manner described, and may have the curved outline shown in the drawings, although it will be entirely obvious that the particular configuration of the side plates is immaterial, so long as they depend below the conductor to prevent lateral single contact-wheel is used, the pendulum should be secured rigidly to the axis thereof, the traveler rocking slightly forward or backward, according to the direction of movement. 'lhebrace-bolts (1 may carry small rollers or additional grooved contact-wheels; but I find in practice that a single wheel arranged and operated as described gives good results.

The axes of the contact-wheels A may be chambered to contain a lining or tillin g, G, of

any suitable or well-known anti-friction material. The lining G comes directly in contact with the spindle or spindles E, constituting a durable bearing, requiring neither oil nor attendance until worn out, when the lining or contact-wheel can be readily replaced, according to circumstances.

As shown in Fig. 2, the side plates D are united by a centrally-disposed yoke, H, which may be integral with and form a connection between said side pieces, or be subsequently attached thereto in addition to the end stays, h.

In operation the traveler is subjected to considerable jarring and vibration, often sufficient to slightly separate the wheels from their spindles and produce sparks, which, unless other connections existed, would soon burn and destroy the bearings, rei'idering the traveler practically useless. To prevent this I provide contact springs or fingers in direct metallic connection with the periphery or exterior surface of the contact wheel or wheels. \Vhere a plurality of contact-wheels are employetl, as in the "form shownin Fig. 2, a number of thin strips of copper or other suitable metal are assembled to form a contact-brush, I. The contact-brush I fits down into the upper portion of the grooves of the contactwheels A A, being secured in position and braced down \vardly ihereagainst by the screw J passing through the yoke II.

A convenient means of forming the brush is to unite the central portions of all the strips of which it is composed by soldering them together and then soldering a screw cap or nut, 2 thereon, said cap being adapted to engage the screw J. IV hen but a single contactwheel is employed, thin copper plates I, supported upon the central and formed with fingers j, extending into contact with the exterior surface of the contact-wheel, may be substituted for the yoke H, screw .I, and brush I.

\Vith either construction it will be understood that the current passes directly from the conductor to the contact brush or brushes, which, being in metallic connection with the side plates, will convey the current directly to said side plates, from which .it will flow without interruption to the upper extremity of the pendulum, and thence to the conductor 0 and to the motor, thus affording ample continuous conducting-surface for 'the current without necessitating its passage through the bearings of the contact-wheels.

The conductor l is supported from below by ears or bails Z), located at suitable intervals and secured to hangers K, supported in the desired positions in any of the several ways heretofore described by me.

It will be obvious that the advantages to be derived from the use of downwardly-depending side plates or guards does not depend upon the number or form of the contactwheels employed in connection therewith. It will also be apparent that the side plates may be of other construction than that herein shown. For example, the side plate next to the pendulum may be entirely dispensed with and the upper portion of the pendulum expanded to constitute a chc el; or guard piece answering a similar purpose, and also that said side plates may assume any convenient shape, their essential characteristics being retained.

Various modifications may also be made in the herein-described devices Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A traveler for electric railways, compris ing a metallic contact wheel or wheels arranged to travel upon the conductor, a metallic frame inclosing the wheel or wheels, and contact devices electrically connecting the exterior of the wheel or wheels and the frame, substantially as described.

2. A traveler for electric-railway conductors, comprising a contact wheel or wheels adapted to move upon the'eonductor, a metallic frame inclosing the contact-wheels, contact devices electrically connecting the exterior of said contact-wheels and the said frame, and a downwardly-extending electrical connection, substantially as described.

3. A traveler for electric-railway conductors, comprising met. llic contact wheel or wheels moving upon the conductor, and a downwardly-depending pendulum in electrical connection with the exterior of said contact-wheel, and provided with a weight at its lower extremity for retaining the cont-act devices in substantially perpendicular position, substantially as described.

4-. A traveler for electricrailways, comprising a metallic contact wheel or wheels arranged to move upon the conductor, a metallic frame inclosing the contact wheel or wheels and extending downwardly below the. periphery thereof on each side, contact devices electrically connecting the wheels and frame, and a dowliwardly-extending arm or pendulum provided with an adjustable weight at or near its lower extremity, substantially as described.

5. A traveler for electric-railway conductors, comprising one or more contact-wheels, an inclosing-frame extending downwardly below the contact wheel or wheels, and a metallic arm or pendulum pivotall y connected to and extending downwardly from the contact device, and adapted to maintain the same in a substantially perpemlicular position and to swing forward or backward without affecting the relation between the contact wheel or wheels and the conductor, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my sig nature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM A. STILEs, J OHN EASON.

Images