Improvements in Electric Propulsion on Railways.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 1889-Accepted, 29th June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Propulsion on Railways.
I, SEBASTIAN ZIANI DE FERRANTI of 120 Fellows Road, Hampstead, in the
County of Middlesex, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in electric propulsion on railways.
I supply the propelling current to the motor on the train for the most part by
means of insulated conductors laid along the line; but to enable the train to pass
over spaces where the insulated conductors are not laid or where from any cause they
are not supplied with current I carry also secondary batteries on the train. I feed
Where these
these secondary batteries from the insulated conductors on the line.
conductors are supplied with continuous current the secondary batteries are either fed
from them directly or through a converter which suitably adjusts the electro motive
force.
Where the line conductors are supplied with alternating current I apply the same
to drive synchronously a motor on the train and the motor works a dynamo which
supplies continuous current to the secondary battery. The dynamo may also supply
current to energise the field magnets of the propelling synchronous motor. The
propelling motor on the train is such as to work efficiently either with the
line current or with the current drawn from the secondary battery. When the
line conductor is supplied with alternating current I employ the current from
the secondary battery to start the train and bring it to a proper running speed
and then I supply the motor with the alternating current from the line conductors.
I arrange the propelling motor to drive an horizontal longitudinal axis which I
couple by worm or other gear with the axles of the wheels. Other carriages besides
that which carries the motor are provided with such longitudinal axis and gear, and
the axes are coupled between the carriages by flexible connections. The thrust of these
axles may be supported on rollers. The bearings for the axle and gear may be on the
frame of the carriage and to allow the play of the springs, the axle may pass through the
centre of the gear wheel by an opening of sufficient dimensions whilst the gear wheel and
axle are connected by links so that the gear wheel in rotating carries the axle
round with it. The connection between the gear wheel and the axle may be by
means of springs. The hollow axis of the gear wheel may be supported by friction
rollers.
Where the line conductors are supplied with alternating currents I sometimes
make the motor on the train in such manner that both the armature and the field
magnets are able to revolve but in opposite directions. I gear these parts together
and both with the axles of the train by variable gear.
This arrangement allows of the train being gradually started by a motor running
synchronously with alternating currents by which it is driven. The arrangement
involves no waste of power such as attaches to other methods of starting a load into
motion by means of a synchronously running motor.
Dated this 25th day of August 1888.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Propulsion on Railways.
I, SEBASTIAN ZIANI DE FERRANTI of 120 Fellows Road, Hampstead, in the
County of Middlesex, Electrician, 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 :-
This invention has for its object improvements in electric propulsion on railways.
I supply the propelling current to the motor on the train for the most part by
means of insulated conductors laid along the line; but to enable the train to pass
over spaces where the insulated conductors are not laid or where from any cause
they are not supplied with current I carry also secondary batteries on the train as
described and claimed in the Specification of a Patent granted to me No. 1241987.
I feed these secondary batteries from the insulated conductors on the line. Where
these conductors are supplied with continuous current the secondary batteries are either
fed from them directly or through a converter which suitably adjusts the electro
motive force.
Where the line conductors are supplied with alternating current I apply the same
to drive synchronously a motor on the train and the motor works a dynamo which
supplies continuous current to the secondary battery. The dynamo may also
supply current to energise the field magnets of the propelling synchronous
motor. The propelling motor on the train is such as to work efficiently either
with the line current or with the current drawn from the secondary battery.
When the line conductor is supplied with alternating current I employ the
current from the secondary battery to start the train and bring it to a proper
running speed and then I supply the motor with the alternating current from the
line conductors.
I arrange the propelling motor to drive an horizontal longitudinal axis which I
couple by worm or other gear with the axles of the wheels. Other carriages besides
that which carries the motor are provided with such longitudinal axis and gear, and
the cars are coupled between the carriages by flexible connections. The thrust of
these axles may be supported on rollers. "The bearings for the axlo and gear may be
on the frame of the carriage and to allow the play of the springs, the axle may pass
through the centre of the gear wheel by an opening of sufficient dimensions whilst
the gear wheel and axle are connected by links so that the gear wheel in rotating
carries the axle round with it. The connection between the gear wheel and the axle
may be by means of springs. The hollow axis of the gear wheel may be supported by
friction rollers.
A diagram view of carriages having their wheels driven in the above manner is
shown at Figure 1.
In this figure A is an axis running lengthwise of each carriage preferably along the
centre of the carriage. B are flexible telescopic connections between the ends of the
axis of one carriage and the ends of the axes on the next carriages. is the pro-
pelling motor the armature of which is fast on the axis A.
A are quick threaded worms on the axis A they gear with corresponding quick
threaded worm wheels D which surround the axle and are concentric with it. E are
coiled springs connecting the worm wheels D and the axles F of the wheels. G G are
friction rollers supporting the hollow axis of the wheel D.
Where the line conductors are supplied with alternating currents I sometimes
mako. the motor on the train in such manner that both the armature and the field
magnets are able to revolve but in opposite directions as described in the specification
of a former Patent granted to me No. 124188. I gear these parts together and both
with the axles of the train by variable gear.
This arrangement allows of the train being gradually started by a motor running
synchronously with alternating currents by which it is driven. The arrangement
involves no waste of power such as attaches to other methods of starting a load into
motion by means of a synchronously running motor.
:

page_text: One way of driving the axles of a train in the above manner is shewn in the
diagrams figures 2 and 3.
In these diagrams A is a cone geared to revolve with the field magnets of the
C is a cone
motor. B is a cone on the armature axle or geared to revolve with it.
on the axle of the carriage wheels. D, E, are straps one running over the cone A
and one half of B the other over the other half of B and over C.
With the straps in the position indicated in diagram 1 the axles revolve very slowly
the armature more rapidly and the field magnets most rapidly. The relation between
A and B being such as synchronism requires. With the straps in the position
indicated in diagram 2 the axles revolve very fast the armature more slowly and the
field magnets most slowly. The relation between A and B is still that which
synchronism requires.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Electric railways in which the propelling current is for the most part supplied
to the motors upon the carriages or trains from insulated conductors laid along the
line and in which secondary batteries are carried on the carriages or trains to supply
current to the motors when current from the insulated conductors cannot be utilised
and in which provision is made for feeding these secondary batteries with current
from the insulated conductors.
2. Electric railways in which the insulated conductors are supplied with alternating
current and in which this current is applied to drive synchronously a motor on the
train and in which this motor is employed to drive a dynamo for producing con-
tinuous current and in which the continuous current so obtained is employed for
feeding the secondary battery.
3. The combination of a carriage an electric motor driving a horizontal longitudinal
axis on such carriage and worm or other gear transmitting motion from it to the
axles of the wheels.
4 The combination of a train of carriages an electric motor on one of these
carriages driving a horizontal longitudinal axis carried along the train with flexible
couplings between the carriages, and worm or other gear transmitting motion from
the axis to the axles of the carriage wheels.
5. The combination of a railway carriage an electric motor driving a horizontal
longitudinal axis on such carriage, wheels with hollow axes surrounding the axles of
the carriage wheels and driven by worm or other gear from the longitudinal
axis and spring or other connections coupling the axles with the wheels that
so surround them so as to allow the wheels to play up and down relatively to
the axles.
6. The combination of a carriage an electric motor in which both the armature
and field magnets are able to revolve but in opposite directions and variable gear
coupling these parts and the axles of the carriage wheels.
3711
"
A 1000
S. Z. DE FERRANTI.