The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-25
NOISE OF THE S7REET-CARS,
Report Of The Expert Electrician Before the
Committee.
MANY IMPROVEMENTS SUGGESTED.
Same Of the Machinery Badly Worn and Part
9TH. TraeI. in n Poor Condition.
To Print tho Statement


speoial meeting Of the Committee on
Streets was called for 7S0 last evening to be
reid in the chancery courtroom. The OBJ
sect 81 the meeting was 70 receive report
t,on Mr.. F. f. ldell, a mechanical engineer
from New York city. who had come TO this
citv AZ the instigation Of Colonel Cutshaw to
examine the machinery Of the electric cars
n the Richmand Railway and Elec-
,r.o Company and recommend II possible
some means by which the noise Of the cars
while IN motion could be lesseaed
Al a previous meeting of the committee a
resolution was ad pied requesting Colonel
Cpt>haw 90 secure the services OF an expert
40 make this examination. his expenses TO 10
r.d ly the railroad company I'm compi-
snco with the provisions of this resolution
Mr. Idel came Co Redmond few days ago
and made the desired inspection.
TIE committee met promptly with the
following membera present Chairman
ION. Thomas Turpn and B. White. The
residents CA west Main street were repre-
sentod by Alderman i. j.. Crenshaw, Jr..
Ct-Clerk b. n. August and Mr.. John
Ifuor Colonel CutsAaw oBd MI William
u Thompson, superintendent Of the fire.
alarm telegraph. were also ID attendance.
lie Richmond Railway and Electric Com
oanv Was represented by their attorney. Mr..
Wyniham r. Meredith and euperintendents
r T. Craiglo. Edward w. Traaord and John
" Wilbur.
THY EKrTRT.
MAJOR Capers stated that tho meeting had
tetu called az the request of Colonel Cut
rlav. IN order that the report from the me-
.fsrical expert might be received and con-
adhered he then introduced Mr.. j. T.. ldcl
i8he members Of the committee.
NJ ldeil stated that he had not yet been
allie o. make ont full report covering ali
,temnute details of the examination iust
conn ieted but IN order 20 give the memters
of the committee al idea of the existing de-
fcfs 40 this time bee proceeded 20 read what
fe called the crude form of lis report In
tins report Mr. Idell made tho following
81 visited the repair shops Of the company
and examined the cars and motors undergo
rr repairs also obtained such information as
..uld If their system OF detecting and cor
-e.tre the faults which developed IN the
rnrng of tho mOt0rs. ] also went along
f.rt oi tho line and examined the condition
i Ire rails.
.In ref nee 20 the rails ! viii state that
wfh the exception of certain sections on
" .rh repairs have recently been made and
lew rsls laid j found the entire line IN very
nINllIINMt LAH Mra.l "a many "a AaH
-s being lattened and the joints no differ
%. 'apels, the whole giving evidence OF cheap
Construction.
THE RAILS
The condition OF the rails is such as 10 in-
crease the noise of the cars and 10 increase
esry materially the wear II the rGnning parts.
AZ tile repair shops 7 learned that they now
bad iu nae two styles OF motors. tho Sprague
aul Westinghouse. the SpTagno motors being
fe older 0f the two styles IN use, have not
mo ~ tho latest improvements for lessen
.le the noise due % the gearing The COM
ranr now uses cut hide piDl0ns on these
OIL tors with q view Of lessening the noise
alen running. but nave not met with tie sue
cess anticipated.
.ln size Westinghouse motors steel piuions
Ne used and oh the gears covered by cast
.rou box. iu tho bottom of which - placed
enough off - reach tho teeth of the gears.
THIS insures the constant fabrication of the
gears and lessons the grinding wear on tho
same This constant fabrication aud the
covering of the gears lessons the amount OF
10-e transmitted 10 the outer ar.
BAD JOURNAL BOXES.
Especial attention was given 20 the
or unit Il wear Of journal boxes and gears
.wable before these parts are replaced by
pew oIes in the journal boxes it was found
On vary irOm l-l6 o. 1892 OF an mon. Just
rr>yiou, % the replacing OF the old box by
rev one any irregularities of tho rmi FONTS
were liable t. raise the armatures weighing
trm 2-0 to lOp0unds, and drop themth dis
paeo Tho elect would be the same as drop
Ping two and Il half pounds through DIS,
lance VI one foot II the DTake-rOds ana
-lel parts were loose tins succession of blows
FIldmaterlolly increase the noise and also
te wear Ot tie parts While this does not
happen when tho motors are new 70 rapidly
Increases as the car is kept p service until
ila part at fault is replaced by "a new one.
RAPID WEAR.
"a verv rauid wear Of the pnions and inter
geliate gears was noticeable. The top Of
&c teeth of the steel pinlons andcastlron gears
gers lr some cases worn down almost 10 e
knife edge. The result Of this cxces s.ye
We4r is chat there VIII be considerable
tscslash in tho GEARS, which viii be notice
s0e iu the starting and the stopping ~ the
cag whom 81 ls' unninF down grade with
brakes on This play VIII add rs part % the
multitude of noises Any failure ~ the on
reaching the bearing would cause the parts.
rar'her on tho motor OF the axle. to become
lif aud the condition would be known DY the
bearing squeaklng.
lu general the noise is caused by tho play
- l00seuess in the bearings and gears, by
Hy .o1seness ~ tie brakng device by
trsrroi touching rapidly revolving plhiOA
lnt ay tAe journal becoming dry, and these
Increased Dy the poor condition 0f he track
oae 10 all of these faults might appear IN
De GAYS SD service.
Il. huu of the rapidlylrevo lvug'armat
Hnlot very well De- lessenrd as 10 accom-
1n.es ll rapidly parts of machines.
81. long as gears are used % transmit the
power of the motor % tie car-aXlc, SD long
el there le Mo.o ~ less noise. due 10 the
ter and tear OF these parts. and means can
alF ha used o. reduce the noises o. mini
ugw.
20 rENFDv ~Hr NOISE
The sucee tons for remedyug as far as
possible the noise arc. Cover tho gears under
81. CATS. or On ,Iy using au inter ening gear
Nla wooden teeth laye tlt motors under
zach or cleaned and thoroughly inspected
after each day run have careful inspection
off m.t.. ani bearing az the end Of each trip,
ieI'.aes Iarts at once when the wear becomes
e4 .e-sNe. have enough OF new parts of those
h",t laI.e 200 wear and hreakage' constantly
0a hand aul give ample time o. make Che re-
Ntis ant provo that Che alignment VI parts Is
correct replace the present tracks by ono of
approved construction and keep al motors
All tracks always iu good repair
To ruNT THE REPORT
Al the close Of the reading Of the report
,Aptun ntfatt0n slggested Tat the same be
printed. H orior that 10 might be studied by
tN' mcmpere ot the committed and others in-
ttlrstnl ln tho matter From what le lad