Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Wilcox

Thomas W. Wilcox has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4567334
    Abstract: A track for a suspended combined electric current collection and traction system including a base (22) and a resilient shield (26, 28) together defining an elongate space divided into two halves by a resilient beam (32), each of which contains a conductor (33). Spaced contact members in the form of bars (34) forming a rack on each side of the track or two rows of Z shaped contacts (82) extend through the shield and are normally spaced from the conductors. Embedded in the base are two parallel flexible metallic cables (40; 70) connected together by connectors (42; 74) by which the track may be suspended. In use, the reaction wheels (60) of a locomotive engage the tops of the cables (40; 70) thus drawing a current pick-up member (52; 86) into contact with the contact segments pressing them against the conductors (33) to pass electric current to an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Inventor: Thomas W. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 4168769
    Abstract: An electric current collection system comprises a continuously live conductor, a shield enclosing the continuously live conductor, and contact segments extending through the shield in a row extending along the length of the continuously live conductor and resiliently mounted so as normally to be electrically isolated from the continuously live conductor and from each other but adapted to co-operate with a current collecting device running along the row to make electrical contact with an external contact surface of each segment in succession and displace the segment to bring an internal contact surface afforded by it into electrical connection with an internal contact surface afforded by the continuous live conductor. Each segment includes a bar portion affording an internal contact surface and extending through the shield in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the live conductor and to the direction of displacement of the segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1979
    Inventor: Thomas W. Wilcox