Patent GB-189811158-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and connected with the Control of Electrically Propelled Vehicles and Trains.
Inventor: LEIGH HENRY HARINGTON
Filed: 1898-05-16
Granted: 1899-08-16
Abstract: 11,158. Leigh, H. H., [Sprague, F. J.]. May 16. Electric locomotives and motor vehicles.-Relates to methods of controlling electrically-driven trains from any desired point on the train, which may be built up of vehicles arranged in any order and any or all of them carrying one or more driving-motors or none at all. In the simplest form, shown in Fig. 1, two wires a, b run the length of the train and have connected to them in parallel all the driver's controllers P, so that current can be sent from the main supply to either of the solenoids R', R<2>, whereby the circuits to the motors are made for forward or backward running. Instead of the simple make and break switches actuated by these solenoids, resistance switches may be used. In the form shown in Fig. 7, a pilot motor with magnetic brake operates the arm 30 of a resistance switch or rheostat, and this arm knocks over the reversing- switch 32 according to the direction of the pilot motor. This motor works in connection with three train heads a, b, c, and is arranged so that it reverses its own connections at the end of its stroke, so that the driver by manipulating any one of the controllers P can return the motor switch and reverser to the mid or other position. In the more complicated form shown in Fig. 11, the reversing-switch for the driving-motors M<1>, M<2> is operated by the plungers and solenoids a<2>, b<2> supplied from the two leads a, b running through the train. A switch of the series-multiple type for controlling the motors is driven by the pilot motor 31. On this last-named switch are a number of extra contacts, shown on the right hand, which control the current supply to the pilot motor, and these work in conjunction with the solenoidoperated switches 46, 35, 43, c<2>, s<2>, m<2> and the train leads c, s, m, which may be connected to the current supply by the same driver's switch P that works over the directional leads a, b. The arrangement of these various solenoids and other switches is such that the pilot motor is driven at a predetermined rate to put the motor switch into coast,' ' series,' or ' multiple positions practically with a step-by-step movement, as the solenoid 43 acts as a throttle cutting off the current to the motor if it runs too fast. The arrangements are described at length in the Specification, with the aid of a number of positional diagrams, and Fig. 45 is given to show the general arrangement on a single vehicle. In addition, numerous modifications of the details of the arrangements of these several switches and connections are indicated or described. Switches such as 10, 11, 12, 14 cut out any part of the devices or any particular controller &c. from the system. In order that similar movements to the right or left of any one of the driver's switches may produce corresponding results, the forward contact on one switch must be connected to the backward one on the other switch on the same car and all the forward contacts on the leading ends of the several cars must be connected, and similarly with the other contacts. For this purpose the train wires, whether two or more in number, are arranged in such positions or with such forms of couplings as that only the proper contacts can be connected whatever may be the position of the vehicle. A number of diagrams are given, of which Fig. 28 may be taken as an example.