Improvements connected with the Control of Electrically Propelled Trains.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements connected with the Control of Electrically
Propelled Trains.
I, WILLIAM B. POTTER, of Schenectady, in the County of Schenectady, State of
New York, United States of America, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
-
My present invention relates to electric trains containing a plurality of motor-
cars, of which two or more are provided with one or more circuit-breakers each,
preferably of the automatic type and set to operate on a definite overload. It
is advantageous in electric train systems to control all of the motors of the train
from a single point, and various arrangements have been devised by which this
may be accomplished, without the necessity of carrying all of the current flowing
through the fields and armatures of the motors back and forth from the controlling
point. For example, it is possible to have a number of motor controllers on the
separate cars, and one or more master controllers, each master controller being
arranged to regulate simultaneously the action of all of the motor controllers, and
cach motor controller being supplied with current from a separate contact-shoe
carried by its own particular car. In such a system the circuit of the various
motors is opened merely by the operation of the controllers under the control of
the master controller.
My invention aims to provide, in addition to this arrangement, a device whereby
when, for any reason, it becomes necessary, the circuit may be instantaneously
interrupted in all of the cars of the train, by means controlled from a single
point.
In the accompanying drawing, which shows several embodiments of my inven-
tion, Fig. 1 represents a three-car train equipped with means for carrying out my
invention, while Figs. 2 and 3 represent respectively various modifications.
In order to illustate my invention more clearly, I have omitted everything
which is not essential to the operation of my invention, but it is to be understood
that each motor-car on the train is equipped with its own apparatus in the usual
manner, and may, and preferably will, be equipped with a master controller also,
as above described.
The train shown consists exclusively of motor-cars, lettered respectively A, B, C,

page_text: cach provided with its own motor controller 1. Extending parallel to the traffic
rails E is a third rail, or other conductor, F', which supplies current to the various
cars through the contact-shoes G. Extending through the train is a train-wire H,
to which all the contact-shoes are connected in multiple. An auxiliary train
wire H also extends through the train and is connected, preferably through the
automatic circuit breakers I, to the motor controllers D, and thence to the motors
and to ground.
It will thus be seen that all of the electrical apparatus on the various cars is
connected in multiple from this auxiliary train wire. A number of switches or
circuit controllers N, are provided at different parts of the train, so arranged that
any one of them connects the train wire H to the auxiliary train-wire H. For
example, suppose that it is desired to control the train from its left-hand end. The
left-hand switch N, Fig. 1 will then be closed, and current will be supplied to the
train-wire H through all the contact-shoes D, G upon the train, thence through
the switch N, to the auxiliary train-wire H', thence to the translating devices. It
results from this arrangement that the man in charge of the train is able to
instantaneously cut off current from all the translating devices of the train by the
movement of a single switch N, while, at the same time, the accidental jumping of
one contact-shoe, the presence of a short unconnected section of the third rail, a
piece of paper upon the track, or other momentary interruption of contact, affecting
only one or two contact-shoes, will not interrupt the supply of current to the train
or to any part thereof.
The circuit-breakers I are similar in construction to that shown in Fig. 2,
and consists of a pair of contacts I, and a moving contact 13 carried upon the upper
end of the toggle I, normally retained in position by a lock I controlled by the
solenoid H2, shown in Fig. 1. This solenoid is in series with the contacts T2, 1
and with the translating device. When any overload occurs on a particular car
the coil H will pull the armature and release the toggle I, whereupon the
contact I will be drawn by the action of the spring Is and the translating devices
of that particular car will be cut out.
It thus appears that when a short circuit appears upon any particular car I
am able to protect the apparatus of that car by the special circuit-breaker I, and
at the same time, I am able to cut off current from the whole train instantaneously
by the action of the switch N.
I have shown in Fig. 2 a modification of my invention, in which the auxiliary
train wire H¹ is omitted, and the motor controllers are connected directly
to the train wire H through the circuit-breaker I as before, I provide, however,
a control wire K extending through the train, grounded at one end and containing
a number of tripping coils J, J, J. Switches N are provided by which the auxiliary
wire K may be connected with the train-wire H, when desired. The coils Jare
wound on the same core with the same overload coils H2 of the circuit-breakers I,
and are so arranged that when any considerable amount of current passes through
the coils J, the circuit-breakers will be opened irrespective of the amount of
current passing in the coils H2. The operation of this form will be obvious from
what has already been stated.
to
as
When the apparatus has been running in its normal position, the switch N is kept
open, and no current passes in the wire K or in the coils J. If the motor of any
particular car became short-circuited, or grounded
in any way SO
cause an excessive flow of current in any particular car, the
coil H of the corresponding circuit breaker I attracts the armature
and cuts off current from that particular car.
If, on the other hand,
it becomes necessary to open circuit all of the cars of the train simultaneously, as,
for example, where the master controller refuses to work on a down grade, it is
simply necessary to close the switch N upon the contact N', when current will pass
from the third rail F, through the shoes G, to the wires H, thence by switch N,
to the point N, through the various tripping coils J, to ground at M, thus actuat-
ing all of the circuit-breakers immediately, and cutting off current from all of the

page_text: apparatus. I prefer to introduce resistances R, R, R, in series with the control-
wire K, to reduce the amount of current flowing therein.
In Fig. 3 I have shown one of the circuit breakers I of Fig. 2, but arranged to
work automatically upon an underload as well as upon an overload. It will be
seen that the lock I of the toggle It is under normal conditions retained in place
against the action of the spring I by the shunt underload magnet P, whose
circuit is closed from trolley to ground through the switch Q, held in place by the
spring Q, and through a suitable resistance R¹.
The overload magnet H2 is placed in series with the contacts 12, 13, and with the
motor controller D, as before, but acts upon the pivoted armature H³, which is
normally held against the stop H by the adjustable tension-spring H
For convenience, only one circuit-breaker is shown, but it is to be understood
that each car of a train may be provided with such circuit-breakers and connected
in the manner shown in Figs. 1 or 2.
Assuming that an overload occurs on the car, the magnet He will become highly
energized, and attract its armature H³, which will engage with the lock I and
release the toggle, and the circuit will be opened by the action of the spring 16.
If, for any reason, the potential of the supply system falls below a certain amount,
the magnet P will become weakened and release the locking device, and the main
circuit will be interrupted at the circuit-breaker I by means of the spring 16.
If it is desired to open all the breakers on the train simultaneously, the switch N
is moved into engagement with the terminal N¹, and current will flow from the
train-wire H, through all the tripping coils J on the train, and to ground at M.
This will cause the coils J to open the switches Q against the action of the
spring Q, which will interrupt the circuit of the shunt magnets P. This in turn
will allow the spring I to trip the circuit-breakers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1 The combination with a plurality of motor-cars united to form a train, or
portion of a train, of contact devices, and a train-wire to which said contact devices
are connected in multiple, circuits from said train-wire to a plurality of translating
devices, and means controlled from a single point for simultaneously interrupting
the supply of current to all of the said circuits.
2-The combination with a plurality of motor-cars united to form a train, or
portion of a train, of contact devices, and a train-wire to which said contact devices
are connected in multiple, circuits from said train wire to a plurality of translating
devices, automatic circuit-breakers in such circuits, and means controlled from a
single point for instantaneously interrupting the supply of current to all of the
said circuits.
3 The combination of a plurality of motor-cars united in a manner to form a
train or portion of a train, a circuit-breaker on each car for protecting the electrical
apparatus thereon, and means located at a selected point for controlling the action
of all the circuit-breakers.
4 The combination of a plurality of motor-cars united in a manner to form a
train or portion of a train, a circuit-breaker on each car for protecting the electrical
apparatus thereon, a tripping coil on each breaker and a switch located on one of
the cars, for energizing all of the tripping coils.
5 The combination of a plurality of motor-cars united to form a train or
portion of a train, a circuit-breaker on each car for protecting the electrical
apparatus thereon, a control-wire extending through the train, tripping coils
mounted on the breakers and connected to said wire, and a switch located at any
convenient point for closing the circuit of the tripping coils.
6-The combination of a plurality of motor-cars united to form a train or portion
of a train, a circuit-breaker on each car for protecting the electrical apparatus
thereon, a train-wire which is connected to the source of supply, a wire extending

page_text: from the train-wire to each of the motor controllers, a tripping coil mounted on
each breaker, a control wire to which all of the tripping coils are connected in series,
and a switch for closing the circuit of the control-wire.
7-The combination of a plurality of motor-cars united to form a train or portion
of a train, a circuit-breaker on each car for protecting the electrical apparatus
thereon, a train-wire which is connected to the source of supply, a wire extending
from the train-wire to each of the motor controllers an overload coil on each
breaker in circuit with said wire, a tripping coil mounted on each breaker, a
control-wire to which all the tripping coils are connected in series, and a switch for
closing the circuit of the control wire.
8 The combination of a plurality of motor-cars united to form a train or portion
of a train, a circuit-breaker on each car for protecting the electric apparatus
thereon, a train-wire which is connected to the source of supply, a wire extending
from the train-wire to each of the motor controllers and an overload coil on each
breaker which is in circuit with said wire.
9-The combination of a plurality of motor-cars united to form a train or portion
of a train, a train-wire extending through all the motor-cars, with which the
contact's devices of all the motor cars are connected in multiple, a wire on each
motor-car leading from the train-wire to the controller and motors, and an
automatic circuit-breaker in each of said wires between the train-wire and the
controller.
10 The combination of a plurality of motor-cars united to form a train, a
train-wire extending through all the motor cars to which the contact devices
of all the cars are connected, a wire on each motor-car leading from the train-wire
to the controller and motors, and a circuit-interrupter in each of said wires.
11 The combination of a plurality of motor-cars united to form a train or
portion of a train, a circuit-breaker on each car for protecting the electrical
apparatus thereon, a coil arranged to trip the breaker at overload, a second coil
arranged to trip the breaker when the line voltage falls a predetermined amount,
and means situated on one of the cars, for controlling the operation of all the
breakers on the train.
12 The combination of a plurality of motor-cars united to form a train or
portion of a train, a circuit-breaker on each car for protecting the electrical
apparatus thereon, a coil arranged to trip the breaker at overload, a second coil
arranged to trip the breaker when the line voltage falls to a predetermined amount,
and a switch located at or near the circuit-breaker for interrupting the circuit of
the underload coil when it is desired to trip the breaker.
13 The combination in a circuit-breaker, of a coil arranged to trip the breaker
on overload, a coil arranged to trip the breaker when the potential of the line
decreases to a certain point, and a switch for interrupting the circuit of the
underload coil when it is desired to control the operation independent of circuit
changes.
14 The combination in a circuit breaker of a coil arranged to trip the breaker
on overload, a coil arranged to trip the breaker when the potential of the line
decreases to a certain point, a switch for interrupting the circuit of the
underload coil, and means located at a distance for electrically controlling said
switch.
75 L 1 1
1500
1
1
1909
A. R. MONKS,
Agent for Applicant.