AN ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
Year: 1884

page_text: JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN of 169 Fleet Street in the City of London Fellow of
the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
AN ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of an electric locomotive in such
manner as to effect the traction of ordinary railway trains on ordinary railways.
The locomotive can be actuated from any suitable source of electricity such as
batteries or accumulators carried by it or by a special tender; or it can receive the
current from a generating machine situated at a fixed point by means of contacts
which move along supply and return conductors arranged along the way, the rails
being capable of being utilized as return conductors.
In
The locomotive is composed of a dynamo electric machine of special construction
and hereinafter described. It actuates by the intermediation of cranks and con-
necting rods 2 or more pairs of wheels coupled together in the usual manner.
this way the driving wheels and the induced body of the dynamo electric machine
rotate with the same angular velocity. Two pairs of the wheels are of the special
construction hereinafter described; their tyres can be magnetized and thus provide
increased adhesion when necessary, especially when starting or when ascending
inclines. As these pairs of wheels should be placed near together. in order to
provide for a uniform distribution of the weight of the apparatus on the wheels
which support it, it is necessary that the different parts of the locomotive especially
the springs should be arranged accordingly.
The dynamo electric machine is arranged in such manner as to develop as great
a power as possible for a given weight which is necessary for obtaining a good
tractive force. It is also important that it should develop this power by turning
with a moderate angular velocity so as to be able to work the driving wheels by the
intermediation of cranks and connecting rods. It is composed of an iron ring of
large diameter affecting the form of a torus; the ring is covered with a set of very
thin circular bobbins placed against each other. The outlet wire of the coil of
each of these bobbins is in connection with the inlet wire of the following coil
and their point of junction communicates with one of the tongues or plates of
Price di

page_text: a collector; the plates of this collector are insulated from each other. The ring
covered with wire is carried by a wooden support which is itself supported by an
internal wheel or 2 circular cheeks of non-magnetic material. This wheel or these
cheeks are keyed on a shaft to which the collector is also fixed.
The inductor of this machine is formed of 2 open discs of iron; their width is
equal to the thickness of the covered ring; they carry at intervals projecting pieces
which embrace the ring; these pieces are of flat form and their mean plane passes
through the shaft. They are at equal distances from each other and of even
number.
▾
The best relative proportions for the several elements of this machine are as
follows: Let R be the mean radius of the ring and 2n the number of the
projecting pieces at one side of the machine. (1) The diameter of the iron core
will be given by the expression R. (2) The thickness of the layer of wire wound
on the iron core will have for value 0,3 *. (3) The thickness of the projecting
pieces will be 0,25 (4) The thickness of the open discs will be *
---
2 n.
* R
n
n
2 R
A wheel is attached to a helicoidal or screw wheel which is loose on the shaft
before named; an endless screw gears with this wheel and can be worked by
means of a rod and handle. The screw wheel and therefore the wheel attached to
it can thus be turned in either direction. The attached wheel carries a number of
brushes equal to the number of projecting pieces with which each of the discs is
provided. These brushes are therefore of even number and I will number them
1, 2, 3
All the brushes of even number are in direct relation and likewise
all those of odd number, but the even brushes are insulated from the odd brushes.
Suppose then that 'flexible conductors are attached to brushes 1 and 2 so as to
allow of movements of the brush wheel,-movements which are always slight. If
these 2 conductors are in connection with the poles of a generator the current will
enter through each of the brushes of even number for example and will bifurcate
between the coils the corresponding plates of the collector of which are comprised
between the preceding odd brush and the following odd brush. The current will
produce in the ring a series of consequent points equally distant from each other
and equal in number to the brushes. The poles thus developed will be alternately
positive and negative. They will tend to approach the projecting pieces before
described which form armatures; the ring will therefore be made to turn if the
poles are not in the plane of the armatures. If the brushes remain fixed the
position of the consequent points in the space will remain constant the ring will
therefore rotate in a continuous manner always seeking to arrive at a position of
equilibrium which the action of the collector modities every instant. If the
brushes be made to turn by working the handle above mentioned the respective
situations of the poles and the armatures will be changed; the force and the
direction of rotation of the ring can thus be varied.
Instead of causing the ring to rotate it can be fixed and the discs and projecting
pieces be made to rotate. For this purpose the ring is supported externally instead
of internally. The collector becomes fixed and the wheel which carries the brushes
is drawn into the movement of the armatures. The brushes therefore turn in a
continuous manner, and the conductors for introducing and carrying away the
current are replaced by 2 circular contacts provided with rubbers the same as those
which have hitherto been employed in alternating current machines. This mode of
working offers great advantages although it necessitates a special mechanical
movement for the brushes if it is wished to guard against the possibility of varying
the wedging of the brushes when in work. The principal advantages are as
follows: 1. The only pieces in movement are simple, continuous masses of iron
which are much less liable to suffer from the effects of the centrifugal force than
the parts covered by conductors. 2. The central core of iron which is fixed can be
in the form of a circular tube and a continuous current of water can then be made
to flow through it to prevent any injurious heating of the machine,

page_text: In order to vary the force and the direction of the rotation it is necessary to
give a movement to the brush wheel relatively to the armatures; this can be
effected in several ways. For example, the brush wheel and the screw wheel are not
directly fixed to each other; an additional wheel is keyed on the shaft while the screw
wheel remains loose on it; the inner faces of these 2 wheels form bevel wheels and
between them is another bevel wheel which I will call a satellito; its shaft is formed
by one of the spokes of the brush wheel. If the screw wheel is fixed, the angular
velocity of the brush wheel is half that of the additional wheel. Suppose w to be
the angular velocity of the additional wheel, w' that of the screw wheel, w³ that of
the satellite, w that of the brush wheel and r and 8 the radii of the additional
wheel and satellite we shall have supposing that the velocities are counted positively
in one direction :-
from which we deduce will =
21118 211 = w
2
111 8 11 = wr
By means of a pinion and a toothed wheel an angular velocity equal to 2 w¹¹¹ can
be communicated to the brush wheel.
The brushes will therefore be moved like the armature but they will have a
movement relatively to it every time that the screw wheel is acted upon.
The electric locomotive as already mentioned has 2 wheels of special construction,
the object being to allow of increasing the adhesion of the locomotive to the rails
when necessary. They are constructed as follows:-Two cylinders are arranged
horizontally on the axle; they are held at the wheel end by naves of wood, bronze
or other non-magnetic material; the tyres are placed when hot against the outer
edges of these cylinders; towards the middle of the axle the cylinders are supported
by iron blocks; they are covered with a conductor the inlet points of which are at
2 circular contacts at the middle of the axle. The current is brought and led
away by 2 fixed brushes which rub on these contacts. The tyres can thus be very
strongly magnetized and in a permanent manner; they therefore forcibly attract
the rail; the direction of the current should be arranged so that the 2 tyres which
rest on the same rail are of different polarities.

page_text: I JOHN CLAYTON MEWBORN, of 169 Fleet Street, in the City of London, Fellow
of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "AN ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE" and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the construction of an electric locomotive in such
manner as to effect the traction of ordinary railway trains on ordinary railways.
The locomotive can be actuated from any suitable source of electricity such as
batteries or accumulators carried by it or by a special tender; or it can receive the
current from a generating machine situated at a fixed point by means of contacts
which move along supply and return conductors arranged along the way, the rails
being capable of being utilized as return conductors.
The locomotive is composed of a dynamo electric machine of special construction
and hereinafter described with reference to the annexed drawings. It actuates by
the intermediation of cranks and connecting rods two or more pairs of wheels
coupled together in the usual manner (see Figure 1). In this way the driving
wheels and the induced body of the dynamo electric machine rotate with the same
angular velocity. Two pairs of the wheels (those at the left hand of Figure 1) are
of the special construction hereinafter described; their tyres can be magnetized
and thus provide increased adhesion when necessary, especially when starting or
when ascending inclines. As these pairs of wheels should be placed near together
in order to provide for a uniform distribution of the weight of the apparatus on
the wheels which support it, it is necessary that the different parts of the
locomotive especially the springs should be arranged accordingly (see Figure 1).
The dynamo electric machine is arranged in such manner as to develop as great
a power as possible for a given weight which is necessary for obtaining a good
tractive force. It is also important that it should develop this power by turning
with a moderate angular velocity so as to be able to work the driving wheels by
the intermediation of cranks and connecting rods. It is composed of an iron ring
of large diameter affecting the form of a torus; the ring is covered with a set of
very thin circular bobbins placed against each other. The outlet wire 8, 8' 8% (see
the diagram Figure 2) of the coil of each of these bobbins is in connection with the
inlet wire e, e¹e of the following coil and their point of junction communicates
with one of the tongues or plates of a collector C; the plates of this collector are
insulated from each other. The ring A, A (Figure 3) covered with wire is carried
by a wooden support b, b which is itself supported by an internal wheel or two
circular cheeks of non-magnetic material. This wheel or these cheeks are keyed
on a shaft G, G to which the collector C is also fixed.
The inductor of this machine is formed of two open dises of iron D, D (Figures 1
and 3); their width is equal to the thickness of the covered ring; they carry at
intervals projecting pieces J, J, J; J¹, J¹, J'; which embrace the ring (see
Figures 1 and 3); these pieces are of flat form and their mean plane passes through
the shaft G, G. They are at equal distances from each other and of even number.

page_text: follows:-
R
elements or tais machine are as
Let R be the mean radius of the ring and 2n the number of the projecting
pieces J, J at one side of the machine. (1) The diameter of the iron core will be
given by the expression *.*. (2) The thickness of the layer of wire wound on the
iron core will have for value 0; 3 (3) The thickness of the projecting
12
R
pieces JJ, J¹¹ will be 0,25 . (4) The thickness of the open discs will be
2 R
73
路
A wheel R, R is attached to a helicoidal or screw wheel H which is loose on the
shaft G; an endless screw V gears with this wheel and can be worked by
means of a rod t and handle m (Figure 1). The screw wheel H and therefore
the wheel R can thus be turned in either direction. The wheel R carries a number
of brushes equal to the number of projecting pieces with which each of the
discs D, D is provided. These brushes are therefore of even number and I will
number them 1, 2, 3. -- 2n (in the diagram, Figure 4, I have for convenionce
shown only four). All the brushes of even number are in direct relation and
likewise all those of odd number but the even brushes are insulated from the odd
brushes. Suppose then that two flexible conductors are attached to brushes 1 and 2
so as to allow of movements of the brush wheel R,-movements which are always
slight. If these two conductors are in connection with the poles of a generator
the current will enter through each of the brushes of even number for example
and will bifurcate between the coils the corresponding plates of the collector of
which are comprised between the preceding odd brush and the following odd
brush. By referring to Figure 4 it will be easily understood what will occur:-
The current will produce in the ring A a series of consequent points equally
distant from each other and equal in number to the brushes. The poles thus
developed will be alternately positive and negative. They will tend to approach
the projecting pieces J J J, J1 J1 J1 (Figure 3) which form armatures; the ring
will therefore be made to turn if the poles are not in the plane of the armatures.
If the brushes remain fixed the position of the consequent points in the space
will remain constant the ring will therefore rotate in continuous manner always
seeking to arrive at a position of equilibrium which the action of the collector
modifies every instant. If the brushes be made to turn by working the handle m
(Figure 1) the respective situations of the poles and the armatures will be changed;
the force and the direction of rotation of the ring can thus be varied.
Instead of causing the ring to rotate it can be fixed and the discs D, D and
projecting pieces J, J¹ (Figures 1 and 3) be made to rotate. For this purpose the
ring is supported externally instead of internally as is seen in Figure 3. The
collector becomes fixed and the wheel R is drawn into the movement of the
armatures. The brushes therefore turn in a continuous manner and the conductors
for introducing and carrying away the current are replaced by two circular contacts
provided with 'rubbers the same as those which have hitherto been employed in
alternating current machines. This mode of working offers great advantages
although it necessitates a special mechanical movement for the brushes if it is
wished to guard against the possibility of varying the wedging of the brushes
when in work. The principal advantages are as follows:-1. The only pieces in
movement are simple, continuous masses of iron which are much less liable to
suffer from the effects of the centrifugal force than the parts covered by conductors.
2. The central core of iron which is fixed can be in the form of a circular tube and
a continuous current of water can then be made to flow through it to prevent any
injurious heating of the machine.
In order to vary the force and the direction of the rotation it is necessary to give
a movement to the wheel R relatively to the armatures; this can be effected in

page_text: to each oULICE,
remains loose on it; the inner faces of these two wheels form bevel wheels and
between them is another bevel wheel S which I will call a satellite; its shaft O`is
formed by one of the spokes of the wheel R. If the wheel H is fixed, the angular
velocity of the wheel R is half that of the wheel T. Suppose w to be the angular
velocity of the wheel T, w¹ that of the wheel H, w that of the satellite S, w that
of the wheel R and rand 8 the radii of the wheel T and satellite S, we shall
have, supposing that the velocities are counted positively in the direction of the
arrow a B (Figure 5):-
from which we deduce w!!! =
W1118 11 = 80
201117 8 w" = wr
10² + 10
2
By means of a pinion and a toothed wheel an angular velocity equal to 2 wi
can be communicated to the brush wheel.
The brushes will therefore be moved like the armature but they will have a
movement relatively to it every time that the wheel H is acted upon.
The arrangement of gearing indicated in Figure 6 can also be used; it is the
arrangement which requires the smallest number of wheels.
Let G be the shaft or axis of the machine; it carries a wheel of the radius r
keyed to it and a loose wheel of the radius R. The fixed shaft or axis A carries
similar wheels. At O are mounted wheels of the same radii r and R but the two
wheels on this shaft or axis are fixed to each other and the shaft O is carried by
a lever A, B movable upon the point A. To find the relation of the velocity of the
wheels mounted on the shaft G let us call w the velocity of the wheel r movable
around the point G and x that of the wheel R movable around the same point;
w the angular velocity of the wheel R around the point A ; w³ the angular velocity
of the wheel r around the point A; w³ the common angular velocity of the
wheels R and r around the point O. O the angular velocity of the lever A, B
around the point A. We thus get the following relations:-
When the lever A, B is fixed the wheel R mounted on the shaft G will turn with
the same angular velocity as the shaft itself; it can therefore be made to command
the brushes. It is also clear that by working the lever A B by hand or by suitable
mechanism the wedging of the brushes can be modified as desired.
The electric locomotive as already mentioned has two wheels of special con-
struction the object being to allow of increasing the adhesion of the locomotive to
the rails when necessary. They are constructed as follows:-Two cylinders a, b, c, d
and a¹ b' c¹¹ (Figure 7) are arranged on the axle; they are held at the wheel end
by naves e, e, e el of wood, bronze or other non-magnetic material; the tyres B, B¹
are placed when hot upon the outer edges of these cylinders; towards the middle
of the axle the cylinders are supported by iron blocks f, f. f'f'; lastly they are
covered with a conductor the inlet points of which are at two circular contacts m
and m at the middle of the axle. The current is brought and led away by two
fixed brushes which rub on these contacts. The tyres can thus be very strongly
magnetized and in a permanent manner; they therefore forcibly attract the rail;
the direction of the current should be arranged so that the two tyres which rest on
the same rail are of different polarities.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me, I declare that what I claim is
1. The electric locomotive herein before described and represented in the annexed
drawings.
2. As distinctive or characteristic features in such electric locomotive :-
(a) Actuating the locomotive wheels by the dynamo electric machine through the
intermediation of cranks and connecting rods as described. (b) The use of electro
magnetic cylinders to increase the adhesion of the wheels to the rails as described.
(c) The dynamo electric machine as described and shown in the drawings. (d) The
modified construction of the dynamo electric machine described in which the iron
core of the ring is in the form of a circular tube so that water can be caused to flow
through it, the ring being fixed.