Improvements in Electrical Devices for Increasing Wheel Adhesion on Railways.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 31st Jan., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Devices for Increasing Wheel Adhesion
on Railways.
I, MARK WESLEY DEWEY, of the City of Syracuse, in the County of Onondaga,
in the State of New York, United States of America, Electrician, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL DEVICES FOR
INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION ON RAILWAYS, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:―
My invention relates to a new and improved method of and apparatus for
electrically increasing the traction of vehicles or cars moving upon a metallic track.
The object of my invention is to provide a method of and means for electrically
supplying increased traction to vehicles when they are upon grades or curves or other
portions of the railway where an adhesive effect is necessary or desired between
the track and wheels, and without supplying and carrying upon each and every
vehicle moving on the railway, extra, heavy and expensive apparatus for this
purpose. Usually the greater portion of a railway is level or substantially so, and
vehicles or cars travelling thereon do not need increased traction, but when they
are upon the steep grades of the railway, such as those met with on opposite sides
of canal bridges, etc., increased traction is necessary and to supply railways having
such grades with increased traction is the purpose of my invention.
To this end my invention consists in the method of electrically increasing the
traction of a wheeled vehicle, moving upon a metallic track, consisting in passing a
heavy current from a stationary source of electricity to the rails of the track, and
between the rails through two or more wheels and one or more axles or other low
resistance electric conductors extending between the wheels, and the apparatus
therefor consists in the combination with a wheeled vehicle and a metallic track for
the vehicle to move upon, of a stationary source of heavy current or currents
connected to the rails of the track, and two or more wheels of the vehicle and one
or more axles or other low resistance conductor extending between the wheels to
electrically connect said rails together or complete the circuit between the rails.
My invention consists also in certain other combinations in the method and in the
means for practising my method hereinafter described and specifically set forth in
the claims.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 indicates a side clevation of a railway at a grade supplied with apparatus
for accomplishing my method.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 3 is another plan view of a railway grade showing different apparatus for
the same purpose.
Fig. 4 is another plan view of a railway grade showing other means for
accomplishing my invention, and
Fig. 5 shows a modified arrangement for conducting the current between the
wheels when the axle is not used as the conductor.
Referring specifically to the drawings, A represents the metal track of the
railway and A is a grade thereof upon which an electrically propelled car B
is shown. CC are suspended line working conductors arranged along the
railway to supply current to the electric motor D on the car through the
movable contacts cc and the electric connections c¹ c¹ carried
the car.
upon
C is the source of electricity connected to the line conductors. The line con-
ductors are shown or arranged overhead but it will be obvious that they may
be arranged in a conduit or other suitable position along the railway. "indicates
CD 077

page_text: b
a current regulator in one of the connections c¹ to control the current flowing
through the motor D. The rails of the grade portion A¹ of the railway, are
insulated from the rails of the other or more level portion by insulation e e etc.,
and the rails of one side of the track are insulated in any suitable manner
from the rails on the other side of the track, that is, when there is no car on
the said rails. The terminals d d of a suitable source of heavy current or
currents are continually connected to the rails on the grade, one terminal to
the rails of one side of the track and the other terminal to the rails of the
other side. The apparatus for accomplishing my method may be greatly varied
in form, and for this reason I have shown several forms that may be employed
with advantage. I prefer, however, to equip the grade or other portion of the
railway where increased traction is desired with the apparatus shown in Figures 1
and 2, which consists of a direct or continuous current transformer having its
primary circuit b connected to the line conductors and its secondary circuit d
of low resistance connected to the rails of the grade as hereinbefore described.
The said direct current transformer is shown as a motor and dynamo mechanically
connected together so that the dynamo will be operated by the motor. The
motor is in the circuit including an adjustable resistance 61 to regulate the
current therein and the dynamo is in the circuit d which may be formed of a
copper rod
or cable. d is a circuit breaker in the latter circuit. The
unfeathered arrows in Figure 2 show the direction and path of the current
through the circuit when it is completed through the driving axles and
wheels of a vehicle. It will be observed that the secondary or traction
circuit d is normally open and is not closed except when the car is upon the
grade and is so arranged that no energy will be consumed when said traction
circuit is open.
When the car approaches or moves on to the grade the
circuit d is automatically closed and when the car leaves or moves off of the grade
the circuit is automatically opened. The apparatus requires no attention and is
always ready to operate at the proper time and place.
.
If an alternating current flows in the lines CC, a suitable inductional transformer
may be used similar to F in Figure 3, but if it is desired to transform the currents
with such a transformer when a direct continuous current flows in the lines it will
be necessary to pulsate or alternate the current in the primary coil of the said
transformer. This is effected as shown clearly in Fig. 3 by placing a suitable
electric alternator G in the circuit b. In this case heavy alternating currents
flow through the traction circuit d.
Fig. 4 shows a railway grade supplied from a stationary secondary battery H
located at the grade and having its cells connected in the circuit d in parallel. The
said battery may be kept charged by an electric generator I in the vicinity of the
battery, or from the line working conductors, when it is an electric railway, as
indicated by dotted lines in said figure.
I do not limit myself to applying my invention to electric railways as said
invention may be advantageously applied to steam or other railways, and, the
traction circuit may be independent of the motive power whether electric or not.
When the wheels on an axle are insulated from each other, as, for instance, as
shown at fin Figure 5 so that the current cannot be passed between the wheels
through the axle, a low resistance conductor 9 may be provided having flexible
contact brushes attached to its ends and bearing against the inner sides of the
wheels. The conductor g is suitably supported upon the gear of the car.
If it is
desired to pass the traction current only through the driving wheels of the car or
cars on the insulated portion or grade of the railway all other wheels may be
insulated in any suitable manner, but preferably as shown at f in Fig. 5.
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.-The method of electrically increasing the traction of a wheeled vehicle moving

page_text: upon a metallic track, consisting in passing a heavy current from a stationary.
source of electricity to the rails of the track, and between the rails through two or
more wheels and one or more axles or other low resistance electric conductors
extending between the wheels, substantially as described.
2.The method of electrically increasing the traction of an electrically propelled
wheeled vehicle moving upon a metallic track and supplied with current from a line
working conductor extending along the track, consisting in supplying a stationary
transformer with current from the line, and passing the transformed current to the
rails of the track, and between the rails through two or more wheels and one or
more axles or other low-resistance electric conductors extending between the wheels,
substantially as described.
3. The method of electrically increasing the traction of an electrically propelled
wheeled vehicle moving upon a metallic track, consisting in passing a heavy current
from an auxiliary stationary source of electricity to the rails of the track, and
between the rails through two or more wheels and one or more axles or other low
resistance electric conductors extending between the wheels, substantially as
described.
་
4. The method of electrically increasing the traction of an electrically propelled
wheeled vehicle moving upon a metallic track, consisting in passing a heavy
alternating current from an auxiliary stationary source of electricity to the rails of
the track, and between the rails through two or more wheels and one or more axles
or other low resistance electric conductors extending between the wheels, substan-
tially as described.
5. The method of electrically increasing the traction of a wheeled vehicle
moving upon a metallic track, consisting in passing a heavy current from a
stationary source of electricity to the rails of a portion of the track insulated
from the other portion, and between the rails through two or more wheels and
one or more axles or other low resistance electric conductors extending between
the wheels, substantially as described.
6. The method of electrically increasing the traction of a wheeled vehicle
moving upon a metallic track, consisting in establishing a traction circuit
including the rails, two or more wheels and one or more axles or other conductors
extending between the wheels, automatically closing said circuit when approaching
a grade portion of the railway and automatically opening said circuit when
leaving said grade portion.
7. The method of electrically increasing the traction of a wheeled vehicle
moving upon a metallic track, consisting in establishing a traction, circuit
including the rails, two or more wheels and one or more axles or other conductors
extending between the wheels, automatically closing said circuit when approaching
a portion of the railway and automatically opening said circuit when leaving
said portion.
8. The method of electrically increasing the traction of a wheeled vehicle
moving upon a metallic track, having an upgrade, consisting in supplying the
rails on the upgrade, with a heavy current from a stationary source of electricity
located at the grade, and passing said current between the rails through the
driving wheels and one or more axles of the vehicle.
9. The method of increasing the traction of a wheeled vehicle moving upon
a metallic track, consisting in establishing a traction circuit including the rails
and wheels, and the axles between the wheels in parallel, and supplying said
circuit with a heavy current or currents.
10. The combination with a wheeled vehicle and a metallic track for the
vehicle to move upon, of a stationary source of heavy current or currents
connected to the rails of the track, and two or more wheels of the vehicle and
one or more axles or other low resistance conductor extending between the
wheels to electrically connect said rails together or complete the circuit between
the rails for the purpose described.
11. The combination with an electrically propelled wheeled vehicle, a metallic

page_text: track for the vehicle to move upon, and a line working conductor arranged
along the track to supply current to the motor on the vehicle, of a stationary
transformer connected to the line, a secondary circuit of said transformer with
its terminals connected to the rails of the track, and two or more wheels of
the vehicle and one or more axles or other low resistance conductor extending
between the wheels to electrically connect said rails together or complete the
circuit between the rails for the purpose described.
12. The combination with an electrically propelled wheeled vehicle, a metallic
track for the vehicle to move upon, and a source of electricity to supply the
motor on the vehicle, of an auxiliary stationary source of electricity, electric
connections leading from the latter source and connected to the rails of the
track, and two or more wheels of the vehicle and one or more axles or other
low resistance conductor extending between the wheels to electrically connect
said rails together or complete the circuit between the rails for the purpose
described.
13. The combination with an electrically propelled wheeled vehicle, a metallic
track for the vehicle to move upon, and a line working conductor arranged along
the track to supply current to the motor on the vehicle, of a stationary electric
motor connected to the line, a dynamo mechanically connected to the motor,
electric connections leading from the dynamo to the rails of the track, and two
or more wheels of the vehicle and one or more axles or other low resistance
conductor extending between the wheels to electrically connect said rails together
or complete the circuit between the rails for the purpose described.
14. The combination with a wheeled vehicle and a metallic track for the
vehicle to move upon, of a stationary source of heavy current or currents
connected to the rails of a portion of the track, insulation between said portion
and the other portion of the track, and two or more wheels and one or more
axles or other low resistance conductor extending between the wheels to electrically
connect said rails together or to complete the circuit between them for the
purpose described.
15. The combination with a wheeled vehicle and a metallic track having a
grade portion for the vehicle to move upon, of a normally open electric traction
circuit connected to the rails on the grade portion, and means to automatically
close said circuit through two or more wheels of the vehicle and one or more
axles or other low resistance conductor extending between the wheels when
approaching the grade portion, and to open said circuit when leaving said grade
portion.
16. The combination with a wheeled vehicle and a metallic track having a
portion thereof insulated from the other portion, and for the vehicle to move
upon, of a normally open electric traction circuit including, when completed, the
rails of the insulated portion of the track and two or more wheels and one or
more axles or other low resistance conductor extending between the wheels, and
means to automatically close the circuit when approaching said insulated portion
of the track and to open said circuit when leaving said portion.
17 The combination with a wheeled vehicle and a metallic track having an
upgrade for the vehicle to move upon, of a stationary source of heavy current
or currents connected to the rails on the upgrade, insulation between the rails
of the upgrade and between said rails and the other portion of the track, and
two or more wheels of the vehicle and one or more axles or other low resistance
conductor extending between the wheels to electrically connect said rails together
or complete the circuit between the rails for the purpose described.
18. In a traction increasing system for a railway, the combination with the
rails insulated from each other, of a stationary source of electricity having its
terminals connected to the rails, and a vehicle to travel on said rails adapted
to electrically connect the rails together through the wheels and one or more
axles for the purpose described.
19. In a traction increasing system for railways, a track having suitably

page_text: insulated conducting rails for a vehicle to move upon, a stationary source of
electricity, electric connections between the source and the rails, conducting
wheels for the vehicle, and one or more conducting axles or other low resistance
conductor or conductors between the said wheels as and for the purpose described.
20.--In a traction increasing system for railways, a track having suitably
insulated conducting rails for a vehicle to move upon, a permanently stationary
source of electricity, electric connections between the source and the rails,
conducting wheels for the vehicle, and one or more conducting axles or other
low resistance conductor or conductors between the said wheels as and for the
purpose described.
21. In a traction increasing system for railways, a track having suitably
insulated conducting rails for a vehicle to move upon, a stationary source of
alternating currents, electric connections between the source and the rails,
conducting wheels for the vehicle, and one or more conducting axles or other
low resistance conductor or conductors between the said wheels as and for the
purpose described.
1000
MARK WESLEY DEWEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.