Improvements in Traction Motors.
Year: 1890

page_text: Complete Specification Lent, 14411 Aug,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Traction Motors.
I, JAMES STEVENS BALDWIN, of Newark, County of Essex, and State of New
Jersey, United States of America, my Post Office address is 120 Belleville Ave.,
Newark, New Jersey, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION MOTORS 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 that class of traction-motors in which power or energy
supplied from a stationary source is stored up in a suitably arranged and constructed
vehicle, transmitted to and applied by the running-gear of said vehicle, and employed
to effect the movement thereof over a railway or other suitable road, and also, when
desired, to effect the movement over said road of other and attached vehicles.
My system differs from others having a like object; and its novelty chiefly consists
in the storage of power or energy supplied from a stationary source, in a revolving
body carried by a vehicle and having preferably the form of a disk or fly-wheel
revolving in a substantially horizontal plane, protected from the retarding influence
of atmospheric contact, and connected with the running-gear of said vehicle, by
mechanism adapted, under the control of an operator, to convert the power or
energy of said revolving body, irrespective of the momentary speed thereof, into
a movement of said vehicle adapted in speed and direction to the requirements of
practical work.
My invention is embodied in certain mechanism and processes, all of which will be
hereinafter more fully described, and finally pointed out in the clauses of the claim.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, embraced in three sheets, in which
like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, shows inside elevation a traction-motor ready to move, a. band-
wheel of a steam-engine or other stationary motor, and the outline of a belt employed
to connect said band-wheel and motor.
Fig. 2 shows in end elevation, and Fig. 3 in partial section on line Y, Fig. 2; a
clutch;
and Fig. 4 shows in plan a portion of the frame-work of the motor, a yoke,
and a portion of the casing of a fly-wheel.
Fig. 5, Sheet 2, shows in plan the above traction-motor, (a portion of the floor
being broken away to show a flexible tube,) a belt connecting the same with the
band-wheel of a stationary engine or other like source of power, and the outline of a
fly-wheel casing.
Fig. 6 shows an alternate or reversed position of a lever and disks pertaining to.
Figure 5.
Fig. 7 shows a transverse section of a telescopic shaft on line Z, Figure 8.
Fig. 8 shows in side elevation a portion of a bracket carrying a telescopic shaft.
Fig. 9, Sheet 3, shows a vertical transverse section of a motor on line X, Fig. 1;
with two disks and a portion of a bracket in elevation, the interior of a vacuum-
casing for a fly-wheel, a fly-wheel and universal joint, and adjustable hanger for said
casing

page_text: In Figs. 4, 5, and 9 certain details elsewhere fully shown have been omitted to
secure clearness of representation in the parts specifically referred to in connection
with said figures...
The general frame-work of the motor, as shown in Figs. 1, 5, and 9, consists of
iron or steel channel-bars A and a deck or flooring A¹ of similar material. Any
other approved frame-work may be employed in lieu of that shown.
C, C³, C, and C are flanger wheels of the ordinary construction. The wheel C
has securely attached thereto a sprocket-wheel C, adapted to receive the chain I.
C³ in like manner is provided with a sprocket-wheel 02, adapted to receive the
chain I. The wheels C and C³ having a common axle u, Figs. 1 and 9, any
movement imparted to one will cause the movement of the other, and they will act
in unison as driving-wheels for the vehicle.
N, Figs. 1 and 5, is a brake-lever, and N¹ a brake of ordinary construction.
V, Fig. 9, is a fly-wheel having a shaft n, terminating at its upper extremity in a
fork, forming part of a universal joint. Said shaft revolves in boxes V1 V2,
attached to the casing W, Figs. 1, 4, and 9. This casing is preferably of air-tight
construction, and the upper box V2 is provided with a cup-leather t, adapted to
embrace an adjacent portion of the shaft n and prevent the entrance of air, while
at the same time permitting the free revolution of said shaft. The box V2 also has
two projecting studs O, Fig. 4, which engage with and move freely in the yoke U,
Figs. 4, 5, and 9, said yoke being hung by the studs U¹, one of which is also shown
in Fig. 1 and is free to move thereon. As thus arranged, the fly-wheel V is free
within certain limits to maintain its plane of revolution without other resistance
than that imposed by the slight inertia and friction of the above-named attached
parts.
W, Figs. 1 and 5, is an air-pump; W2, a vacuum-gauge; W³, a flexible tube
connecting said pump with the. interior of the casing W, and W is a valve for
admitting air to the said casing. By the use of this pump air may be exhausted
from said casing W and a vacuum formed therein, thus excluding the fly-wheel V
from the retarding influence of atmospheric contact.
kk, Figs. 7, 8, and 9, is a telescopic shaft of ordinary construction connected at
its lower extremity with the fork N. Fig. 9, and forming therewith a universal joint.
The shell or sleeve k of said shaft is carried by a box 13, Figs. 8 and 9, which in turn
is attached to the bracket 6, supported by a stand H, Figs. 1 and 5, and raised and
lowered by a screw S and hand-wheel T. The upper end of the shaft is provided
with a disk d, formed of compressed wood or other suitable material, preferably semi-
elastic and firmly attached to said shaft. It is apparent that the said disk may be
actuated by power furnished from the fly-wheel V through the said shaft and universal
joint, irrespective of the relative positions of said wheel and disk.
G, Figs. 1, 5, 6, and 9, is a circular plate or flange securely attached to one end
of the shaft E, running in boxes supported by the stands D. The other end of said
shaft has secured thereto a sprocket-wheel F, adapted to receive the chain I, and
through the same to drive or be driven by the driving-wheel C and its sprocket-
wheel C.
G', Figs. 5, 6, and 9, is a flange similar to, parallel with, and facing the flange G.
It is secured to and carried by a shaft E¹, running in boxes on stands D'. The outer
end of said shaft is provided with a flange P, securely attached thereto by a key.
By the side of said flange is a sprocket-wheel F1, adapted to receive the chain I' and
to discharge the functions assigned to F. It is not secured to the shaft E', but may
be secured to or released from the flange P by inserting or removing the bolts P1,
as will be seen upon reference to Figs. 2 and 3. As thus arranged, the sprocket-
wheel F may be either free or may, when the bolts P' are inserted, either drive or be
driven by the shaft E.
E3, Figs. 5 and 9, is a flanged pulley secured to the shaft E', and is adapted to
receive a belt J. (Shown in plan, Fig. 5, and in outline in Fig. 1.)
K is a clasp or shackle adapted to permit the easy connection or removal of said
belt. L, Figs. 1 and 5, represents the band-wheel of a steam-engine or of any

page_text: equivalent stationary source of power. The belt J is adapted to transmit power from
said band-wheel to the pulley E, and thence to the flange G¹.
c, Figs. 1, 5, 8, and 9, is an idler-disk, of compressed wood or other suitable
material, carried by a lever Q, which is pivoted to the bracket, and which, being
operated by an attendant, will force said disk either against the flange G, as shown
in Fig. 5, or against flange G₁, as in Fig. 6. In either of these positions it may
be secured by the entrance of a stud at its extremity into a recess, as 1, Figs. 1 and 5.
When placed in an intermediate position, the disks c and d will not press upon either
of the Hanges G G₁; but when disk c is pressed against the flange G, as in Fig. 5,
it will force the bracket in the opposite direction and the disk d against the
flange G. The slight movement required for this purpose is permitted by the
springing of said bracket. A reverse movement of said lever and the disk c will
force the disk d against the flange G, as shown in Fig. 6. In either case said disk d,
being in frictional contact with the face of one of said flanges, is adapted either to
drive or be driven, as the case may be.
The operation of the invention is as follows: The motor and its parts and the
belt J being in the position shown in Fig. 5, the fly-wheel V at rest and the
bolts removed, then the band-wheel L being caused to revolve and drive the belt J
in the direction indicated by the arrow, said belt will in turn drive the pulley E³,
shalt E, and flange G¹, which by frictional contact with the disk d will impart to said
disk, its attached shaft kk, universal joint h, Fig. 9, and fly-wheel V a rotary
motion. By raising the disk d, through the action of the screw S and hand-wheel T,
a gradually increasing speed may be imparted to said fly-wheel V. During this
operation the sprocket-wheel F1 is stationary, the shaft revolving freely therein.
The flange G is also stationary, serving merely as a rest for the idler-disk c. By
operating the pump W₁ a vacuum is formed in the casing W. When the above
operations are completed, the fly-wheel should be revolving at a very high velocity
in a vacuum as perfect as can be practically obtained. The lever Q is then moved
until the disks c and d are free from the flanges G G. The band-wheel L may then
be stopped, the belt J unshackled and removed, and the sprocket-wheel F¹ made fast
to the flange P, as already described. The motor will then be in the general position
shown in Fig. 1 and free to move. The lever Q being now thrown in the position
shown in Fig. 5, the disk d will with a little slipping actuate, through the flange G¹
and attached parts, the driving-wheels of the motor, which will then move from left
to right at a speed easily controlled by raising or lowering the bracket by the
means already described. It is apparent that this movement may be reversed by
reversing the position of the lever and disks c and d, as shown in Fig. 6. During
the above operations the flanges G G always revolve in the same direction as related
to each other, but are simultaneously reversed with each reversal of the movement
of the vehicle. The idler disk c discharges in each case simply the office of fulcrum.
I am aware that by well-known mechanical means either flange G or G' could, when
not employed to transmit power, remain at rest; but in the hands of comparatively
unskilled operators such as are usually employed on tramways a multiplicity of
levers is to be avoided, and simplicity is cheaply purchased at the cost of a little
extra friction, as involved in the arrangement above described. To stop the vehicle
the lever is placed in an intermediate position, disengaging both disks c and d,
and the brake is applied in the usual manner. In view of the high speed necessary
to store up in a revolving body a sufficient amount of energy for practical purposes,
it is apparent that no sudden change in the plane of revolution could take place.
The rotation of the above-described fly-wheel about a substantially vertical axis,
while not absolutely essential, is a very desirable feature, as it permits the turning
of curves with little or no motion of the wheel and casing on the hangers, whereas
if the axis were horizontal such an operation would often call for a change of
position so great and abrupt as to be inconvenient and in some cases dangerous.
In describing my invention as applied to a vehicle having flanged driving-wheels
adapted to run upon a railway I do not limit myself to that specific form of running-
gear.

page_text: It is obvious that a drum could be substituted for said driving-wheels, and I
employ the term "driving-wheel" as the representative of any well-known form of
running-gear now generally known and used in such vehicles, and capable of being
substituted for that shown by the mere exercise of skill. It is also apparent that
the fly-wheel shown and described could have a different form without changing its
functions. I employ the term "fly-wheel as a representative of any convenient
revolving body. It is not absolutely essential in all cases that said fly-wheel shall
have a vacuum-casing; but such protection against the retarding influence of
atmospheric contact is very desirable, especially where a vehicle is liable to long-
continued absence from a charging-station, as in case of street blockades, &c.
"
The cup-leather described could, if desired, be replaced by a stuffing-box.
I am aware that other mechanism than that described could be used for transmitting
power from the fly-wheel to the running-gear of the above-described motor. Such
devices are in common use by dentists and machinists. I regard the substitution
of any such device for that described and shown as a mere operation of skill.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what 1
claim is
1. In a traction-motor system, the combination, in a vehicle, of a driving-wheel and
frame-work, with a revolving fly-wheel arranged and adapted to actuate said driving-
wheel, and a vacuum-casing for said fly-wheel, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
2. In a traction-motor system, the combination, in a vehicle, of a driving-wheel
and frame-work, with a revolving fly-wheel arranged and adapted to actuate said
driving-wheel, a vacuum-casing, and a self-adjustable support for said fly-wheel
arranged and adapted to permit said fly-wheel to freely maintain its plane of rotation
irrespective of the varying position of said vehicle, substantially, as and for the
purposes set forth.
3. In a traction-motor system, the combination, in a vehicle, of a driving-wheel
and frame-work, with a fly-wheel arranged and adapted to revolve about a sub-
stantially vertical axis, a self-adjusting hanger therefor, and a self-adjusting apparatus
arranged and adapted to transmit power from said fly-wheel to said driving-wheel,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In a traction-motor system, the combination, in a vehicle, of a fly-wheel, an
extensible and flexible shaft connected therewith, a disk operated thereby, a plate or
flange arranged and adapted to be rotated at different speeds by said disk, a driving-
wheel, and a chain or equivalent connecting mechanism arranged and adapted for
transmitting motion from said plate to said driving-wheel, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
5. In a traction-motor system, the combination, in a vehicle, of a driving-wheel-
and frame-work, with a revolving fly-wheel arranged and adapted to actuate said.
driving-wheel, and a self-adjustable support for said fly-wheel arranged and adapted
to permit the same to freely maintain its plane of rotation irrespective of the varying
position of said vehicle, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
1000
JAMES STEVENS BALDWIN.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.