Patent GB-660556-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the suspension of axle-hung electric traction motors
Inventor: BINNEY ERIC ALTON
IPC: B61C9/48
Filed: 1946-05-21
Abstract: 660,556. Mounting electric motors. ENGLISH ELECTIC CO., Ltd. May 21, 1947 [May 21, 1946; Jan. 31, 1947], No.15310/46 and 3023/47. Class 79(iii) An axle-hung electric traction motor is resiliently supported from a suspension bearing journalled on the axle through the medium of rubber, so arranged that relative vertical movement and also axial movement between the axle and motor stresses the rubber primarily in shear. The resilient supports preferably comprises rubber bonded to two plates, one of which is attached to the motor frame and the other to the suspension bearing housing surrounding the axle so that the opposing faces of the plates are in a vertical plane extending along and parallel to the axle. The motor 1, Fig. 3, is supported resiliently on one sid resiliently on one side from the frame cross member 2 and on the other by two arms 20 above the axle and one arm 20 below the axle, to each of which are attached plates 10 to which are bonded layers 8 of rubber whose other faces are bonded to plates 9 secured by a cap 22 to the lug 19 formed on ing 16. The plates 9, 10 when bonded to the rubber are preferably offset, so that under load they are opposite one another as shown. When bolted in position the layers 8 of rubber are preferably somewhat compressed. Vertical movement may be limited by providing resilient pads 28 on the bearing housing and opposed abutment faces on the arms 20. Shims may be fitted between the plates 9 and lug 19 and between the plates 10 and arms 20 to ensure correct meshing of the motor pinion 13 with gear 12. The motor may be provided with a pinion 13 and driving gear at each end to prevent a tendency for the motor to twist, and such pinions and gears may be of the helical type with their helices in opposite senses. Alternatively, the gears may be of the resilient type, e.g. the gear 12 may have its rim resiliently attached to its hub by a number of circumferentially spaced resilient units each comprising inner and outer tubular members bonded together by rubber, all the inner tubular members being attached to the rim portion and all the outer tubular members to the hub portion, (as described in Specification 660,560, [Group XXXIV]. In a modification, Fig. 6, instead of the motor pinion engaging a gear mounted directly on the axle, the gear 32 is mounted on a quill shaft 34 carried by a bracket 35 integral with the motor frame; the gear 32 is rigid, and carries a ring 36 to which are attached the inner members 38 of a number of resilient units as described above, the outer members 39 thereof being attached to the wheel 41. In a further modification, Fig. 7, the motor 1 is disposed vertically above the axle 3 and is supported by two downwardly extending lugs 42 to which the inner plates of the resilient elements are secured, the outer plates thereof being attached to the split suspension bearing housing 45. The motor may have two axially spaced lugs 51 which are provided with resilient pads 53 and which engage in guides 52 on the vehicle frame or undercarriage; alternatively, the pads 53 may be attached to the arms 51 and the guides 52 whereby they support part of the weight of the motor.