Patent GB-190308560-A (GB)
Title: Electrical Combined with Compressed Air or other Motive Fluid System of Driving, especially applicable to Locomotives and Motor Carriages of Electrical Railways
Inventor: SAHULKA JOHANN
Filed: 1903-04-15
Granted: 1904-04-15
Abstract: 8560. Sahulka, J. April 15. Electric railways and tramways; elec tric locomotives and motor vehicles.- Relates to a mixed electrical and pneu matic &c. systen of driving for power plants, especially appli cable for the loco motives and motor vehicles of electric railways. E a c h vehicle, or power plant, is fitted with a compressed - ai or other motor fo starting or auxiliary use, and with an electric motor for continuous working, which motor is generally thrown into operation when the requisite speed has been attained. By means of this arrangement on electric railways, the conductors may be dispensed with at stations or other inconvenient positions, the auxiliary motor being used. Groups of motors may be used, and railway vehicles may be arranged to be used on the multiple-unit system. When applied to mountain railways, energy is recovered, during the downhill trip, in the form of electrical energy and compressed air, the electric motor working as a generator. Fig. 1 shows one arrangement in which a compressed-air motor P, fed from a reservoir R, and an electric motor E, in a circuit 0, Z, transmit power to the car axle A. The reservoir is supplied with air by a compressor p, and, when the pressure has reached a certain limit, a cock h' is opened, through the action of a rack z, to stop the action of the compressor. The rack z is moved through the action of two spring pistons working in cylinders c<1>, c<2>. A valve controller H, shown in detail in Figs. 8<b>, 8<f>, and 9, controls the operation of the motors. This controller consists of a plug grooved at D', D<2>, a<1> and working in a casing connected at R<x>, P<x>, b<x> to the reservoir, motor, and brake respectively, contacts being also provided for making and breaking the motor circuit. The controller may be placed in position to admit air to drive the motor P, to disconnect the motor P and complete the circuit of electric motor E when the speed is high enough, to admit air to apply the brakes, to close all the pipes and break the electric circuit, and to place the brake pipe in connection with the atmosphere. A centrifugal governor c breaks the electric circuit when the speed falls below a certain limit. The compressor p may be allowed to run light, while the motor P is working, by means of a cock h', which is opened, through gearing, from the controller H. The motors may be differently arranged, and the cock h<2> may be dispensed with. The electric motor E may be mounted on the car axle, and the compressor p driven by a small explosion or other engine. Couplings or clutches may also be arranged to drive the compressor from the car axle. Fig. 4 shows an arrangement in which the motor E runs continuously and is connected to the axle by an electric or other coupling K actuated by means of the controller H. The motor P is used for starting, and, when a certain speed has been reached, the battery circuit B of the clutch K is completed by the action of the governor c to throw into action the electric motor E. The motor E has a starting-rheostat W, and the switch lever is moved, against the action of a spring or weight F, by a solenoid S in a shunt circuit. In a modification, the compressor p is driven by an electromotor, in a shunt circuit, which is fitted with a starting- device similar to that shown in Fig. 4 and acting in conjunction with the tap h<1>. When the rack Z opens the tap h', the switch is operated and the motor cut out of circuit. Fig. 6 shows a modification, in which the motor P drives the axle A through the medium of the electromotor E. In another modification, the motors are arranged so as to both act on the axle during a part of the starting period of the vehicle, the electromotor only continuing to act after a certain speed has been attained. The controller H may be connected with the starting-rheostat of the motor ; in the braking position, pneumatic and electric brakes come into action, the armature of the motor being short circuited. For trains on the multiple-unit system, the reservoirs, the compressed-air motors, and the brakes are connected to separate trainpipes, and the electromotors to through-conductors, the train being controlled by the controller on the leading car, and the current conveyed by the trolley of the leading car. The controllers on the other cars are set in the position, which closes all the pipes and breaks the electric circuit. A through-conductor may be provided to couple up all the trolleys. When polyphase currents are employed, the number of through-conductors is increased by one. Fig. 12 shows a diagrammatic arrangement for cars supplied with high tension current from the conductor 0, which is transformed by transformers T', T<2>; low tension conductors lead to the controllers H', H' and two through-conductors L', L<2> are used. The motors P may be connected to the car axle by clutches actuated by the controllers H.