Abstract: A hanger wire for contact wires of railway electrical lines may include: first wires including copper or a first alloy of copper; and second wires including a steel core coupled with a layer of copper or a second alloy of copper. An overhead contact line suitable to transmit electric power to a locomotive may include: at least one conductor element connected to a high voltage electric energy distribution network; at least one suspension wire fastened to a series of supporting poles arranged along the overhead contact line; and a plurality of hanger wires connecting the at least one conductor element to the at least one suspension wire. The hanger wires may include: first wires including copper or a first alloy of copper; and second wires including a steel core coupled with a layer of copper or a second alloy of copper.

Abstract: A self-propelled trolley and supporting track structure, the trolley forming a housing for a four wheel drive mechanism which is coupled to a driving motor attached to the housing and to a pair of axles each equipped with a pair of driving and supporting wheels adapted to engage transversely spaced track surfaces of the track structure. The track structure comprises a pair of transversely spaced channel section track members, each having upper and lower flanges terminating in guide surfaces and connected by a vertical web, the guide surfaces of one track member facing the guide surfaces of the other. The track surface are formed by the upper flanges of the track members and the guide surfaces are engageable by pairs of guide wheels appended to the trolley below the housing. A conductor bar assembly enclosed within the track members is engaged by collector shoes attached to the trolley.

Abstract: An overhead conveyor comprising a monorail and a carrier supported on the monorail. In the illustrated embodiment, the monorail is generally I-shaped in cross section and the carrier comprises two carriages spaced apart along the monorail having a roller adapted to ride on the top of the monorail and guide rollers adapted to engage the sides of the monorail to provide lateral stability. The two carriages are interconnected by a load beam pivotally mounted on vertical pins in each of the carriages. One of the carriages carries a drive motor for advancing the carrier along the rail and the other of the carriages provides an electrical pick-up device for taking power from trolley lines mounted on the monorail and supplying power to the drive motor.

Abstract: An overhead metal trolley rail has a head for supporting it, separated by a vertical web from a foot that projects from opposite sides of the web and has flat upper contact surfaces. Slidable along the rail is a trolley shoe formed from a block of electrical conducting material, the upper portion of which has a longitudinal trough in it receiving the foot of the rail. The lower portion of the trough is spaced from the rail, but the upper portion of the trough has longitudinal flanges projecting inwardly toward each other above the foot of the rail. The flanges have flat lower contact surfaces engaging flat against the flat contact surfaces of the rail and supporting the shoe, from which a power take-off wire extends.

Abstract: A transit system for urban and inter-urban use is provided which comprises a plurality of electrically energized helicopters which are tethered to and powered from a pair of rails. The rails are supported in a track structure which is constructed to extend above the normal traffic on the streets and roadways. Power is supplied to each helicopter through a flexible cable which also serves to tether the helicopter to the track and which allows the helicopter a measure of vertical and horizontal movement. The cable is supported on a trolley which moves along the track, and the cable is retractable, so that it moves in and out of the helicopter, or trolley, as the helicopter is maneuvered.