File:Modern mechanism, exhibiting the latest progress in machines, motors, and the transmission of power, being a supplementary volume to Appletons' cyclopaedia of applied mechanics (1892) (14583733280).jpg

Identifier: modernmechanisme00benj (find matches)
Title: Modern mechanism, exhibiting the latest progress in machines, motors, and the transmission of power, being a supplementary volume to Appletons' cyclopaedia of applied mechanics
Year: 1892 (1890s)
Authors: Benjamin, Park, 1849-1922
Subjects: Mechanical engineering
Publisher: New York, D. Appleton
Contributing Library: Mugar Memorial Library, Boston University
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston University

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tric conductor supports. first railway operated under the Charles J. Van Depoele system was laid in Chicago in thewinter of 1882-3. The Bentley-Knight Electric Railway Co. made an experimental installa-tion of their conduit system on the tracks of the East Cleveland Horse Railway Co. for adistance of two miles, in 1884, which was in operation for one year. RAILROAD, ELECTRIC. 721 General Method of Operation.—The general principle upon which the modern electricrailway is operated is shown in Fig. 2. The current starts from the positive brush of thegenerator, G, passes out to the main conductor, C, suspended over the middle of the track,and along this conductor, as shown by the arrows, until it reaches the point, T, where the•trolley of one of the motor cars is in contact with the main conductor. Here it divides,and a portion passes down through the trolley, T, to the motors, MM, as shown by thedotted lines. After passing through the motors it reaches the rails through the wheels. m
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and passes along through the rails and through tlie return wire, W, back to llie nega-tive brush of the generator. In other words, it is a parallel, or multiple circuit. Themain portion of the current which divided at Tpasses on to feed other cars upon the line mthe same manner, the entire current being carried by the rails, each car taking from theoverhead conductor exactly the amount of current which is needed to develop the requiredpower. The rails are connected at each joint, /, by a copper or iron tie wire riveted to eachrail, which makes a perfect electrical connection. The rails are usually grounded. Theelectric current is developed at the power station usually by a compound-wound generator. 46 722 RAILROAD, ELECTRIC. driven by a steam-engine or water-wheel. This generator maintains a constant electro-motiveforce, or difference of potential between the overhead conductor and the rails, the currentvarying according to the requirements of the service, as determined by the number

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