New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-22
An ELLCTRIC RAILWAY MOTOR.
AN INVENTION MADE By W. NJ. THOMAS, OF GIN
CISNATI.
Try TELEGRAPH 10 THE TmBCNE.l

CINNATI.
fBY TELEGRAPH 10 The TRIBCSE.l
CINCINNATI, Aug. DIV NJ. Tho mas, young
electrician OF great promise. description OF whose
iridium tip to eectrc-hght carbons appeared III
Tur TRIBUNE some months ago, is now the inven-
for of q new electric railway and electro motor for
the same The electric current is supplied from
stationary generator to two copper wires laid be-
tween ordinary rails, few inches apart, and
tri1e higher than the rails. The wires
are protected by iron tube, to which
they will be attached by proper insu ators In this
tnhe or plpe is an upper and lower slot extending
its full length. the lower slot being the wider, 50
that dirt falling Oh tie wires may pass through and
the wires be kept clean and protected from inter-
ference.
The other DISTINGUISHING feature of Mr. ThOmas's
invention is the motor which has been constructed
especlally for railway purposes ana WhlcH thaDIeS
him 10 overcome the induced current usually pres
emf III such motors, and which has hitherto always
been found very troublesome to inventors Inc en-
zine or motor five Wheels the two forward ones
beng simply an ordinary truck, serving merely AS
sunnorts a. on an ,rdinary locomotive The rear
PAIR are larger, ordinary driving wheels ana
through them tho power is applied. pack Oh them
is the fifth wheel. somewhat wed9e-Shaped, ana d.
vded by an insuatOr of gutta percha 50 thai either
side touches the wires before described, through
which the current lows and swinging lightly both
laterally and perpendicuary IN order to turn
curves easily OF more easily 10 pass over possible
demessIOus or elevations III the conductors. Dl-
recty above this wheel j. the electric cutoff, moved
hack or forth Dy lever for the reversing of the cur
rent and consequent reversal of the OiiOn OF the
The details of taking up the current
from one conducting wire the passing II to
the motor and from that TO the other conductor
the power being III the meantime Transmitted to the
drivers by ordinary mechanism, are ingenious and
have my advantages over previous appliances.
The new points are the laying OF the conductors
and in the construction of the electro motor by
which the secondary current, which has always be-
fore seriously nterfcred with It's working, Is re-
duced 10 about one-eghth Of what II has heretofore
been.
The model was finished only on Saturday, and the
first pubuc view was gwen 10 "A TRIBUNE CORE
spondent this afternoon. when. being paced on the
model railway with tracks about six inches apart
1t worked beautifully and with the utmost pre-
oisOn, reversing IT'S motion with The reversal OF The
lever of The cul-of For On an existing track,
no change whatever would be- necessary 10 the ran
of either street or steam RAILWAYS the only addition
needed being the laying of the iron tubing contain
ing the conducting wires. The crossing OF tracks
aud the necessary changing If switches, which
have been found very serious obstacles by Slcmens
and Edison, are overcome by Mr. thomas
by the of flexible cables at those
points, which, passing under and over one another,
furnish the needed connections without the least
interference or difficulty
Beside the furnishing Of power to the motor, the
conducting wire may De at the same time used for
supplying electric lights, either 10 points along
road or to the train