GB414532A - Improved cable-handling means for electrically driven tractors - Google Patents

Abstract

414,532. Connecting cables to vehicles. KEMP, H. G., Cox Street, Allenton, Ashburton, New Zealand. Sept. 6, 1933, No. 24675. [Class 36.] Power for an electrically driven tractor is supplied from a stationary position by a cable 7 adapted to be wound on a drum 8 mounted on the tractor by a support capable of swinging about a vertical axis, the cable being held clear of the tractor by an elevated arm 18 secured to the pivotally mounted support 9 carrying the drum. This support is secured to a spindle 10, Fig. 4, passing through a collar 11 mounted on the tractor frame and supported thereon by a roller bearing 13, and additional support is provided by rollers 16, 17 on the support 9 engaging a flanged supporting member 15. The end of the cable 7 is connected to slip rings 23, Fig. 3, from which the current passes through brushes 24 and conductors 22 to further slip rings 26 secured to the lower part of the spindle 10, the connection with the motor 2 being completed through brushes 27. To provide for automatic winding in and paying out of the cable in accordance with the movements of the tractor, the drum 8 is mounted on a cranked shaft 31 secured to an arm 32 connected through linkwork 33, 34, 28 to a jockey pulley 271 which rides on the cable 7 between the supporting pulleys 20, 21 ; when the movement of the tractor is such that the cable is being unwound, the latter is taut, as shown by the full lines, and the drum is in such a position that a wheel 37 secured thereto is held in contact with a brake 30, but when the tractor moves in the opposite direction the cable becomes slack, as shown by the dotted lines, and the drum is moved over bodily so that the wheel 37 contacts with a friction wheel 38 driven by a continuously running auxiliary motor 29, Fig. 3, to wind in the cable. Alternatively, the motor may be moved, or may be permanently coupled with the drum to wind in or pay out. The cable is wound evenly on the drum by a reciprocating arm mechanism 40, 44 of conventional design..