No. 678,559. Patented July 16, 1901. W. GRUNOW, A. OR TROLLEY FOR ELECTRIC RALWAYS. (Application filed Apr. 32, 190.) (No Model.) 2. Sheets-Sheet .

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No. 678,559. Patented July 16, 1901. W. GRUNOW, R. cuRRENT COLLECTOR OR TROLLEY FOR ELECTRIC RALWAYS. (Application filed Apr. 22, 190l.) (No Model.) 2. Sheets-Sheet 2.

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The NCRRS PETeRS Co., PHOTO-L-ko. YWASHMGTON, d. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM GRUNOW, JR., OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO McELROY-GRUNOW ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM, OF SAME PLACE. CURRENT a CO LECTOR OR TRO LEY FOR ELECTRIC RAWAYS

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters eatent No. 678,559, dated July 16, 1901. Application filed April 22, 1901, Serial No. 56,994, (No model.) So all tufion it may concer'7. 3 is a detail sectional view of a part of the Beit known that I, WILLIAM GRUNOW, Jr., platform of a car and that part of the appa a citizen of the United States, residing at ratus carried immediately thereby, said view Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, and State of being similar in all respects to the correspond 5 Connecticut, have made a new and useful In ing part shown on the extreme right of Fig. 55 vention in Current-Collectors or Trolleys for 1, but illustrating the location of the appa Electric Railways, of which the following is ratus in a different position. Fig. 4 is a de a specification. tail sectional view taken on the broken line My invention is directed particularly to im BB, Fig. 1, and as seen looking thereat from IO provements in current-collectors or trolleys right to left in the direction of the arrows, for use in connection with sectional third the Supporting-frame of the apparatus and rail systems of electric railways; and it has the operating-link therefor not being shown for its objects, first, to devise such a current in this view. Fig. 5 is a plan view of two in Collector or trolley as will maintain electrical tersecting or merging lines of railways pro contact with the rails or contacting conductor vided each with an electrical sectional third under all conditions of usage; second, to de rail system of rails, said lines and rails run vise a current-collector or trolley adapted ning into each other at an acute angle, this particularly for use with systems of electric figure of the drawings being on a diminished railways where tracks cross or merge into scale as compared with the other figures for 2C) each other at acute angles and in which the the purpose of illustrating the especial ap adjoining ends of the two sets of sectional plication of my novel form of compound cur third rails are therefore necessarily separated rent-collector or trolley. from each other by considerable spaces, for In many third-rail systems of electric rail this reason necessitating at such points the ways in which the sectional third rails or con use of an abnormally long current-collector ductors are automatically connected to and or shoe, and, third, to provide a current-col disconnected from the currentfeeder or main lector or trolley in the nature of a shoe with by electromagnetic switching devices and in means intermediate its ends for effecting the which the closure of Said circuits is effected removal of any obstruction which may pass by a continuous flow of current through 30 between it and the rail, no matter in which the switching-electromagnets in sequence as direction the shoe may be moving. a car passes thereover it is absolutely neces My invention will be fully understood by sary that the current be not disrupted be referring to the accompanying drawings, in tween the current-collector or shoe and the which-- third rails in passing from one to another 35 Figure I is a longitudinal sectional view this for the reason that any rupture of the thereof, taken through Fig. 2 on the line AA circuit at this point demagnetizes the and as seen looking thereat from the bottom ing-magnets, and consequently permanently toward the top of the drawings in the direc ruptures the circuit, thereby “losing,” so to tion of the arrows, the essential parts of the speak, the working current to the motor on 90 40 device being shown in elevational view. Fig. board the car. 1* is a plan view of that part of the trolley In the construction of third-rail systems of shoe which normally rests upon the third rails electric railways where two lines of rails cross when in operation under ordinary conditions each other or where a second line of rails of usage and as seen looking at Fig. 1 from merges into a main line at a very acute angle 95 45 the bottom toward the top of the drawings, it is necessary in order to properly preserve all of the other parts of the structure being the insulation to separate the ends of the omitted. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the inven lines of third rails from each other by con tion as seen looking at Fig. 1 from the top siderable distances, dependent upon the an toward the bottom of the drawings, the car gle at which the two lines of -rails inter- Ioo So Wheels, axles, platform, and adjacent parts, sect. It is therefore found that this space however, not being shown in this view. Fig. cannot be properly bridged by an ordinary

2 678,559 form of current-collector or trolley-shoe, and nected in turn to the opposite ends of a sec it was with this especial object in view that ond cross-pin adapted to move in slots n in the present invention was devised. I have the central duplex trolley-shoe SS, the other also found that with well-known forms of arms of the aforesaid bell-crank levers being sliding trolley-shoes or current-collectors the connected by wooden or other insulating circuit is often interrupted between the trol links h. h. to additional bell-crank levers g g, ley-shoe and the by the presence pivoted below the platforms C C at the Oppo of an obstruction upon the rail. For the pur site ends of the car, the second arms of Said 75 pose of overcoming this objectionable fea bell-crank levers g g being connected each to O ture I have so constructed my novel form of an operating-treadlet, adapted to move ver sliding trolley-shoe that when any such ob tically through a sleeve secured in the plat ject passes between the shoe and the rail it form and accessible to the motorman. will be ejected at some point intermediate 2 is a locking-catch, and p a locking-pin, the ends of the shoe, and this without effect the function of which parts will be described ing any actual rupture of the circuit. later on. For a full and clear understanding of the O O, Fig. 1, are inclined notches cut in the invention, such as will enable others skilled under faces of the duplex trolley-shoess S, in the art to construct and use the same, ref in the manner shown, said notches constitut erence is now had to the drawings in detail, ing means for the purpose of effecting the and first to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, in which ejection or removal of any obstruction-Such at uy represent the wheels of a tram-car, as a nail, small stone, or the like-which and a a the axles thereof, f f being the side might pass under the ends of either of the bars of a trolley-supporting frame secured trolley-shoes, no matter in which direction to the axles a Cl, as shown, and e e support the same might be moving, said notches be ing cross bars or rods firmly secured at their ing so constructed, as will be apparent, as to opposite ends to the side bars ff. throw the obstruction out sidewise when it b b constitute the direct supports of the reaches the middle of the shoe by reason of trolley-shoe, said supports being secured at the angular nature thereof. 95 their opposite ends by bolts and caps, as Referring now to Fig. 5, 22 22 represent 3O shown, in such manner as to grip them di two lines of tram-rails intersecting (or merg rectly to insulating-sleeves i around the ing into) each other at an acute angle, and CrOSS-bars e. 1 r * r the sectional third rails of the two SS represent the two parts of a duplex trol systems, said sectional third rails being pref Ido ley-shoe having each upwardly - extending erably of the twin-rail type, as illustrated in 35 arms provided with slots in in n, adapted to cross-section in Fig. 4, and insulated at their receive guiding Supporting-pins in n, secured ends from each other by blocks of insulating in the lower ends of lugs or extensions at the material 11 1 1. It will be seen that where ends of the supports b b. these lines of tram-rails intersect each other d is a long bar bent at two points above there is a comparatively long space, as shown the ends of the shoes SS, as shown in Fig. 1, by the paving-stones at 33, between the sec and provided with bolts at its opposite tional third rails r, so that a current-col ends, supporting additional pairs of trolley lector or shoe of the ordinary length would shoes s' s' in alinement with the shoess S, not bridge the space indicated. My inven IIC) f / being leaf-springs adapted to yieldingly tion is designed especially to accomplish this bear against these trolley-shoes, so that they result. will partake of slight vertical movement. I will now describe the operation of the ap The long supporting-bar d is sustained and paratus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, guided by sliding bolts i u and strong spiral particularly with reference to the feature illus IIS springs gg, secured directly to the insulating trated in Fig. 5. So sleeves i, the bolts it being adapted to slide Suppose a car to be proceeding over either vertically through inwardly-extending lugs of the lines of rails and in either direction. near the lower ends of the trolley-supports Under normal conditions the duplex trolley b b. These springs g g are sufficiently strong shoes SS are conveying the current from the to normally hold the bard and its supported Sectional conductor's r as it passes thereover 55 shoess's' in their upper positions, as shown through the motor on board the car and to in Fig. 1, with the upper surface of the bar the switch-controlling circuits, (not shown,) resting against the lower surfaces of the in so that just before the motor reaches the wardly-projecting lugs near the lower ends point 3 the motorman places his foot upon the I25 of the trolley-supports b b and the trolley treadle t and presses it downward, thereby shoes s' s' out of contact with the rails. causing the bell-crank lever q to impart mo l l l l are pairs of bell-crank levers secured tion through the linkh and second bell-crank to cross-shafts, journaled at their opposite lever l in such a direction as to cause the ends in the trolley-supports b, (see Fig. 2,) the cross-pin carried at the adjoining ends of the lower arms of the free ends of Said levers two bell-crank levers l (see Fig. 2) to bear being connected directly to a cross-pin bear down Wardly upon the long bar d against the ing upon the upper surface of the long bard stress of the springsg, thus causing said bar and also to a pair of linksii, which are con to move downward and to carry with it the e 678,559 S. guiding-bolts u, supported in the lugs near ed to rest normally upon the current-collect the lower ends of the trolley-supports b, until. ing surface or contacting conductor and the the two pairs of additional trolley-shoess's' other part thereof being normally held away are brought into contact with the two adjoin from said surface or conductor; in combina ing third rails on opposite sides of the point 3, tion with means for forcing it into contact thereby bridging the intervening space at that there with, substantially as described. point. It will be noticed that the pins m, n. 3. A compound current-collector or shoe for have sufficient play in the slots n n to permit an electric railway consisting of a sliding shoe of free movement. It will also be understood, adapted to rest normally upon the current 75 O of course, that the trolley-shoes S S and s's' collecting surface or contacting conductor; in are connected directly to the controller and combination with one or more additional cur to such other circuit connections as may be rent-collecting shoes located in a linement necessary. After the car has passed the point therewith and held normally out of contact 3 the motorman simply releases the treadlet, with the current-collecting surface or con when the springs g g cause the bar d to be tacting conductor; together with means for restored to its normal or upper position, the placing all of said shoes in contact with the duplex shoes S S then performing their usual current-collecting surface or conductor, sub function alone for ordinary usage. When it stantially as described. becomes necessary to lift both sets of shoes 4. A compound current-collector for an elec from contact with the third rails, the motor tric railway embracing two or more shoes lo man simply takes hold of the treadlet, using cated in alinement with each other; in com it as a handle, and lifts it bodily until the bination with means for placing any or all pin p is carried above the catch 3, where it of said shoes in contact with the current-cols Will be locked, as is apparent on inspection lecting surface or contacting conductor; to of Fig. 3, it being obvious that the links i, gether with means for holding all of said cur 9o carried by the free ends of the bell-crankle rent-collecting shoes out of contact with said vers l, will lift the duplex shoes SS under this surface or conductor, substantially as de condition of affairs. scribed. I do not limit my invention to the especial 5. A compound current-collector for an elec 3O details of construction herein shown and de tric railway embracing a single shoe and a 95 scribed. I believe it is broadly new with me pair of additional shoes located one on each to so construct a sliding current-collector or side of the first-named shoe and in a linement trolley-shoe that in the event of an obstruc there with; in combination with means for tion passing between it and the third rail on causing the central shoe to rest in contact OC) 35 which it slides said obstruction will be ejected with the contacting conductor and additional laterally at a point intermediate the ends of means for causing the other pair of shoes to the shoe. I believe it is also broadly new with rest also in contact there with, the arrange me to devise a compound current-collector or ment being such that all of said shoes may trolley-shoe of variable length-that is to say, be lifted out of contact with the conductor, a o5 40 a trolley-shoe which under normal conditions substantially as described. is of a definite length and which for another 6. A current-collector for a sectional third condition of affairs may be varied in length rail system of electric railways embracing a to suit the demands-as, for instance, at cross compound shoe composed of two or more ings or at points where the requirements parts so constructed and arranged that the O 45 make it necessary that said shoe shall be of contacting length of the shoe may be varied greater length than is ordinarily required so as to bridge the spaces between the sec and so constructed as to bridge definite spaces tional third rails at angular crossings with at Said crossings-and my claims are to be other tracks, substantially as described. construed as of the most generic nature and 7. A current-collector for a system of elec to a device of this nature which is applica tric railways embracing a single central shoe II5 ble generally in connection with electric rail and a pair of shoes located on opposite sides ways, whether of the third-rail type or other thereof and in a linement there with; in com wise, bination with means for causing the first Having thus described my invention, what named shoe to rest normally in contact with 55 I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat the contacting conductor and additional ent of the United States, is means for causing the second pair of shoes 1. A compound current-collector or shoe for to rest also in contact there with; together with an electric railway consisting of two or more means for holding andlocking all of said shoes parts located in alinement with each other; out of operative contact with the conductor, in combination with means for varying the substantially as described. I 25 Working contacting surface of said shoe at 8. A current-collector or shoe provided with will, substantially as described. means intermediate its ends for effecting the 2. A compound current-collector or shoe for removal of any obstruction which may pass an electric railway consisting of two or more between it and the third rail or contacting parts located in alinement with each other, conductor, substantially as described. one part of said compound shoe being adapt 9. A current-collector or shoe provided with

6. 678,559 a notch at a point intermediate its ends, ter in which direction the shoe may be mov. said notch being so constructed as to eject or ing, substantially as described. remove any obstruction which may pass be- In testimony whereof I have signed my tween it and the third rail or contacting con- name to this specification in the presence of 5 ductor, Substantially as described. two subscribing witnesses. 10. A current-collector or shoe provided with a double inclined notch intermediate its WILLIAM GRUNOW, JR. ends adapted to eject or remove any obstruc- Witnesses: tion which may pass between the shoe and C. J. KINTNER, Io the third rail or contacting conductor, no mat- M. F. KEATING.