Improvements in and Connected with Means for Driving, Con- trolling, and Working Electrically Propelled Vehicles, Cranes, and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Means for Driving, Con-
trolling, and Working Electrically Propelled Vehicles, Cranes, and
the like.
I EDWARD HOPKINSON of Salford Iron Works Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to he as
follows:-
:-
The revolving axle or shaft of the motor dynamo of an electric locomotive tram-
car or other vehicle is generally independent of the axles of the vehicle the driving
connection being effected by gearing but it has been proposed that the revolving
armature of the motor should be built on one of the axles of the vehicle so as to
avoid all intermediate gearing-To facilitate the application of this method of driving
is the principal object of my Invention according to which I carry the magnets and
pole pieces of the motor dynamo between which the armature revolves wholly or in part
directly from the axle (and not from the framework of the car as is usual) supporting
their weight on sleeves or bearings in which the axle revolves-The said magnets
and pole pieces may be so constructed or arranged that their centre of gravity is
below the axis of the wheels of the vehicle in which case if they be vertically below
they require no further guide or support their entire weight being taken directly by
the axle or 1 may so construct thein that their centre of gravity is above the axle in
which case their possible motion round the axle is restricted by means of stops or
guides fixed to the framework of the vehicle.
The method of constructing or arranging the motor makes it possible to have two
wheels and a single axle only to the vehicle the carriage or framework being so
constructed that the centre of gravity of it and the magnets and pole pieces is below
the axle. My Invention is in this respect applicable more especially to overhead rail-
ways It is also capable of particularly convenient application to the overhead rail-
ways in warehouses and works intended for the transporting of goods or weights from
one part to another.
In this case the rails may be carried by hangers from the roof or ceiling or by
brackets from the walls. When applied to overhead travelling cranes instead of

page_text: permanently fixing the wheels on the axle I may connect them by a clutch or sliding
key or equivalent device and use the same motor and axle for both the lifting and
travelling motions. For the former purpose the clutches or keys will be thrown out
and the wheels form the journals or bearings for the axle upon which the lifting
barrel may be fixed or to which it may be geared by suitable gearing.
On such overhead railways constructed according to my Invention a number of
motor carriages would be employed and it is desirable to adopt a device by which one
carriage may not collide with or overtake another. This I effect by using two
parallel conductors for supplying the electrical current to the motors and dividing
these into sections. Each section is connected by a switch with the source of current
supply at either end. The motors are arranged alternately or in alternate groups so
that the leading motor or group draws its current from one conductor and the
following motor or group from the other conductor and so on. Initially one of the
parallel conductors is entirely disconnected but as the leading motor reaches the end
of the section it automatically actuates the switch so that the section it is just leaving
is cut out and the parallel and coterminus section is put in.
The second motor can then proceed along the section deriving the current from
that part of the conductor just put in-Similarly when. the second motor reaches the
end of the section it automatically cuts out the section it has travelled along and puts
in the parallel section allowing the third motor to proceed.
Although I have described this automatic system in particular in connection with
the application of my Invention to travelling cranes and overhead railways I do not
restrict it thereto as it is also applicable to any system of electrical railways or tram-
ways. It is convenient to shew that a motor has reached the end of its section and
that the line is clear for the following motor by a visual or audible signal. This is
easily effected by inserting a lamp, electrical operated signal, or bell between. the
beginning of each section and the return conductor.
When the section is charged as the leading motor leaves the parallel and coterminus
section the signal is operated and the line is shewn to be clear. The magnets and
pole pieces of the motor instead of being wholly carried from the sleeves or bearings
on the axle may be only partially so carried and partially by a link or flexible coupling
from the frame of the carriage arranged so that the rising and falling of the frame is
compensated for by the rotation of the magnets and pole pieces through a small angle
round the axle. I do not restrict the method of slinging the pole pieces and magnets
from the axle in the manner I have described exclusively to cases where the axle of
the carriage is also the axle of the armature. My Invention is also applicable to geared
motors but in such cases the entire motor dynamo including the armature is slung
from the axle and is free to move about it except in so far as its motion may be
restricted by guides or stops. The shaft of the armature is then geared to the axle by
any of the well known devices for example by a spur pinion and either external or
internal wheel upon which it is free to roll as the frame of the motor moves about the
axle or by a friction pinion or by chain gear.
Dated this 14th love of March 1000
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London,
Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Means for Driving, Con-
trolling, and Working Electrically Propelled Vehicles, Cranes, and
the like.
EDWARD HOPKINSON of Salford Iron Works Manchester in the County of
Lancaster 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 :-
The revolving axle or shaft of the motor dynamo of an electric locomotive tram
car or other vehicle is generally independent of the axles of the vehicle the driving
connection being effected by gearing but it has been proposed that the revolving
armature of the motor should be built on one of the axles of the vehicle so as to avoid
all intermediate gearing. To facilitate the application of this method I
carry the
magnets and pole pieces of the motor dynamo between which the armature revolves
wholly or in part directly from the axle (and not from the framework of the car as
is usual) supporting their weight on sleeves bearings or journals in which the axle
revolves. The centre of gravity of the magnets and pole pieces may be in any con-
venient position relative to the axle. If it be vertically above the axle the whole
weight will be carried on the axle and the motion of the inagnets and pole pieces will
require to be restricted by guides or stops attached to the framework. In such cases
it is convenient to insert a spring between the stops and the magnets or pole pieces
which may be either a spiral compression or extension spring or an India-rubber
spring or a laminated spring. In many cases the most convenient position for the
magnets is such that they are in the same horizontal plane as the axle or approximately
So. Their weight must then be supported in part from the framework of the vehicle
and a portion only of such weight will rest directly on the axle through the journals.
The support from the framework may in this case be conveniently effected by a spring
or link which will allow certain limited freedom of motion of the magnets and pole
pieces round the axle as an axis. Or the centre of gravity may be below the axle in
which case the weight will oppose the forces tending to cause the magnets to rotate
round the armature. Stops or guides connected with the framework may be made
use of in this case also, but this method of constructing or arranging the motor makes
it possible to have two wheels and a single axle only to the vehicle, the carriage or
framework being so constructed that the centre of gravity of it and the magnets and
pole pieces is below the axle. It will be observed that in each of these arrangements
the magnets and pole pieces may have limited freedom of motion through a small
angle round the axle but this motion being circular only the armature which revolves
with the axle must always remain central in the fields or pole pieces. By this means
any rising or falling of the frame is compensated for by the angular movement of the
magnets and pole pieces and the jar and vibration in starting is largely absorbed by
the spring stops or buffers. My invention is also applicable to geared motors but in
such cases the entire motor dynamo including the armature is slung from the axle

page_text: .
and is free to move about it except in so far as its motion may be restricted by guides
or stops. The shaft of the motor is then geared to the axle which may be done by
any of the well known devices for example by a spur pinion and either an external
or an internal wheel upon which it is free to roll as the frame of the motor moves about
the axle or by a friction pinion or by chain gear.
In the application of my invention to overhead railways such as are intended for
use in warehouses and works for the transporting of goods or weights from one part
to another I may carry the rails by hangers from the roof or ceiling or by brackets
from the walls and may arrange the carriage or framework entirely or in part
beneath the rails. When applied to overhead travelling cranes instead of permanently
fixing the wheels on the axle, I may connect them by a clutch or sliding key .or.
equivalent device and use the same motor and axle for both the lifting and travelling
motions. For the lifting motion the clutches or keys are thrown out and the wheels
form the journals or bearings for the axle upon which the lifting barrel may be fixed
or to which it may be geared by any suitable gearing.
On overhead railways or tramways constructed according to my invention a number
of motor carriages would generally be employed and in that case it is desirable to
adopt a device by which one carriage may not collide with or overtake another. This
I effect by using two parallel conductors for supplying the electric current to the
motors and dividing these into sections. Each section is connected by a switch with
'the source of current supply at either end. The motors are arranged alternately or in
alternate groups so that the leading motor or group draws its current from one con-
ductor and the following motor or group from the other conductor and so on. Initially
one of the parallel conductors is entirely disconnected but as the leading motor reaches
the end of the section it automatically actuates the switch so that the section it is
just leaving is cut out and the parallel and coterminus section is put in. The second
motor can then proceed along the section deriving the current from that part of the
conductor just put in. Similarly when the second motor reaches the end of the
section it automatically cuts out the section it has travelled along and puts in the
parallel section allowing the third motor to proceed. Although I have described this
automatic system in particular in connection with the application of my invention to
travelling cranes and overhead railways or tramways, I do not restrict it thereto as it
is also applicable to any system of electrical railways or tramways It is convenient
to show that a motor has reached the end of its section and that the line is clear for
the following motor by a visual or audible signal. This is effected by inserting between
- the beginning of each section and the return conductor a signalling device such as a
lamp or signal or bell electrically operated.
When the section is charged as the leading motor leaves the parallel and coterminus
section the signal is operated and the line is shown to be clear."
In order that my invention may be fully understood will now describe with
reference to the accompanying drawings and diagrams (in which like parts are
denoted by the same letters in all the figures) the manner in which the same may be
performed Figure 1 shows a side elevation and Figure 2 an end elevation of a motor
with its centre of gravity above the axle and arranged according to my invention for
propelling a vehicle car or locomotive carriage. In these figures the axle a of the
vehicle is also the axle or spindle of the armature the armature being built upon it
which may be done in the usual manner. The magnets and pole pieces care
supported by means of the brackets & from the axle a by journals. The magnets e
can turn on these journals with an angular movement round the axle by which any
unequal motion between the motor axle and the framework is compensated for―The
angular movement of the magnets c is restricted by the side struts s and springs p
the struts being rigidly attached to the framework of the car. In Figures 3 and 4
the same motor is shown but with the magnets suspended from the axle of the vehicle
and with their centre of gravity below the said axle. The arrangement is the same
as that described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 but inverted. In this case the
stops or guides may be omitted and the magnets be allowed to hang freely being
maintained in a vertical or approximately vertical position by their own weight.

page_text: Figures 5 and 6 show the magnets in a horizontal position with their weight only
partially carried from the journals a portion being taken by the spring or link R
attached to the framework-Figures 7 and 8 show the application of my invention to
cranes or hoists. Figure 7 being a side clevation and Figure 8 an end elevation of a
crane in which the same motor is used both for traversing and lifting. As already
described the armature is built on the axle and the magnets are suspended from it.
The chain barrel is carried in suitable bearings from the framework and is driven by
any convenient train of gearing from the motor axle. The traversing wheels it of
the crane are mounted loosely on the axle a but are connected to and disengaged
from it by clutches y or other equivalent device. The clutch connecting the driving
pinion to the motor axle may be combined with the clutch for throwing the traversing
wheels out of gear and be so arranged that when the traversing wheels are in gear the
driving pinion is out of gear with the lifting arrangement and vice versa. By this
means one clutch or its equivalent is only required but in some cases it will be found
most convenient to have a separate clutch as at g or other arrangement for putting
the lifting barrel in and out of gear with the motor. In Figures 7 and 8 the motor
axle runs in journals carried by the framework i i. When it is desired to traverse
the crane along the rails the motor is started and the clutches gy are thrown into
gear. The lifting barrel is shewn driven from the axle a by the pinion and the
wheel m.
The pinion is shewn in the drawing as riding loosely on the axle but is
fitted to a clutch (g) so that when this is in gear the barrel driven whilst in order
to stop the barrel the said clutch is thrown out of gear. By these means both the
traversing and the lifting operations may be performed at one time but if it be
necessary only for one operation to be performed at once the pinion may be fixed to
the clutch g so that when the clutch g is in gear the pinion is out of gear with the
wheel m and vice versa.
k
Figures 9 and 10 show in end and side elevation a motor in which the armature b
is independent of the axle a but is geared to it by spur gear a². In this case the
motor is entirely suspended by journalled suspenders from the axle and the
pinion of the motor is free to roll upon the spur wheel on the axle and the motion of
the motor round the axle is opposed by its weight only.
Figure 11 shows in diagramatic form the device for preventing the collision of one
electro motor with another when moving on the saine line of rails A a B b C. c
and ABC are the two parallel conductors (for supplying the electric
current to the motors) divided into sections A. a B b. Ce-A¹ a¹ B₁₁ C₁ c¹ which are
connected by switches at their ends to the source of current supply. The leading
motor can draw its current from A « only and not from A' a' which is disconnected
entirely from the source of current supply until the first motor reaches a. In passing
to B it actuates automatically a switch which connects the section A' a to the source
of current supply.
The second motor is arranged so that it can draw its current from A' a' only and
not from A. a. It therefore cannot proceed since it has no supply of current until the
first motor has passed a and operated the switch which connects A' a¹ to the source of
current supply. The first motor on leaving A. a automatically disconnects A. a from
the source of current supply so that the third motor which is arranged so that it can
draw its current from A. a only, cannot proceed until the second motor has reached a¹
and connected A. a with the source of current supply. Similarly for the succeeding
sections. By this means it is impossible for two independent motors to be on the
same section of the line simultaneously and a finite distance must always intervene
between the motors.
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 :-
1st. In electric vehicles, cranes and the like the combination of a motor in which
the axle of the motor forms the shaft of the armature with magnets and pole pieces
supported wholly or in part from the axle by journals which allow freedom of angular

page_text: motion round the axle and stops or guides fixed to the framework of the vehicle which
limit the angular motion substantially as herein beforo described.
2. In electric vehicles, cranes and the like in which the axle of the motor forms the
shaft of the armature the method of suspending the magnets and pole pieces from
journals on the axle substantially as herein before described.
3. The construction of electric travelling cranes or vehicles with one axle and one
pair of wheels only the framework of the vehicle and the magnets and pole pieces
being suspended below the axle from journals on the axle substantially as hereinbefore
described.
4. In electric travelling cranes or the line in which the shaft of the motor forms
one axle of the carriage the combination of clutches or equivalent devices by which
the said axle can be connected to or disconnected from the travelling wheels and be
connected to or disconnected from the lifting barrel thereby enabling the same motor
to be used both for travelling and lifting substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. In electric vehicles cranes or the like in which the axle of the motor forms the
shaft of the armature and in which the magnets and the pole pieces are partially
supported at one end by journals on the axle the method of suspending the other end
by a link or spring from the framework of the vehicle allowing the magnets and pole
pieces limited freedom of angular motion round the axle to compensate for change in
the relative position of the axle and the framework of the vehicle substantially as
hereinbefore described.
6. In an electric railway or tramway parallel conductors divided into sections which
are alternately automatically connected to the source of current supply substantially
as and for the purpose described.
7. The combination with the subject matter of the last preceding claiming clause
of a signal or signals substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Dated this 14th day of December 1888