Patent GB-660596-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to the suspension of axle hung electric traction motors
Inventor: BINNEY ERIC ALTON
IPC: B61C9/48
Filed: 1948-10-18
Abstract: 660,596. Electric motor mountings. ENGLISH ELECTRIC CO., Ltd. Oct. 18, 1949 [Oct. 18, 1948], No. 27034/48. Class 79 (ii) and 79(iii) [Also in Group XXXII] In a suspension system for the axle-hung driving motor of an electrically propelled vehicle in which the motor is resiliently supported on the vehicle axle by means of resilient units interconnecting the motor and a suspension bearing housing surrounding the axle, each unit comprises inner and outer tubes one of which is attached to the motor and the other to the bearing housing, the tubes being coupled by bonded rubber so that relative vertical movement of the motor and axle stresses the rubber in shear. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3. the nose 7 of the motor 1 is resiliently mounted on a transom 2 of the vehicle undercarriage by means of rubber layers interposed with plates bonded thereto. The motor carries arms 16 which are resiliently connected to the bearing housing 12. The resilient connections are each formed by conical shaped inner and outer tubes 8, 9 rigidly connected to a stud 11 on the housing 12 and one arm 16 respectively. The members 8, 9 are interconnected by diametrically arranged rubber sectors 10 so that relative movement between the motor 1 and the bearing 12 transversely of the vehicle cause the sectors 10 to be stressed in shear, such movement longitudinally of the vehicle stresses in tension and compression and vertical movement therebetween stresses the sectors in compression and shear, rubber pads 19 limiting such vertical movement. The tubes 8. 9 may alternatively be straight cylindrical form and the units may be provided with one or more intermediate concentrically spaced rigid tubes. The bearing housing 12 is mounted on the axle 3 by bearings of the non-friction type or journal bearings 14 adjacent the ends thereof and arrange to prevent any substantial axial movement of the axle relative to the housing. The motor 1 drives the axle 3 by means of a pinion 26 and a resilient gear wheel which is formed of a hub member 21 connected to a rim member 22 by resilient units 27 allowing limited universal movement. The gearing is enclosed in a casing 24 rigid with the motor 1 and supports by bearings 23 the rim member 22. In a modified arrangement, in which limited axial movement of the bearings 14 relative to the vehicle wheels is permitted, this movement is resiliently restrained by a centralizing unit. Figs. 4. 5 connecting an arm 30, bolted to the motor, and a bracket 31 bolted to the vehicle undercarriage. The unit comprises inner and outer box-section frames 32, 33 coupled by means of rubber 34 bonded to opposing faces of the tubes. The inner frame 32 is secured to the arm 30 by a clamping plate 35 and the outer frame 33 is connected to plates 36 on the bracket 31 by rubber 37. The unit is arranged so that relative vertical movement of the arm 30 and the bracket 31 stresses the rubber 34, 37 in shear, and relative movement of the motor and the undercarriage transversely initially stresses the rubber 34 in shear and movement above a predetermined amount additionallly stresses the rubber 37 in compression and tension. With this unit the rubber 10 may be formed as a complete ring instead of segments. In a further modification the resilient gear wheel is replaced by a non-resilient gear wheel journalled on a quill surrounding the axle and supported rigid with the motor. The quill is connected with one of the track wheels by resilient driving units each comprising inner and outer tubes bonded together by rubber. The gearing may be fitted at each end of the motor. Specifications 578,061, 660,556, 660,560, [Group XXXII], 660,569 and 660,574, [Group XXXII], are referred to.