Improvements in and connected with Electro-locomotives.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 9th Feb., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by Jean Jacques HEILMANN, of 19, Rue Cambon,
Paris, in the French Republic, Electrical Engineer.]
Improvements in and connected with Electro-locomotives.
I, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of 70 Market Street, Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Patent Agent, 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 relates to that system of electro-locomotion on railways and
tramways in which the electromotors directly drive the axles of the vehicles. Its
object is to prevent the shocks and vibrations to which the axles may be subjected,
being transmitted to the motors and at the same time to provide for an elastic
connection between the armature of the motor and the axle which it drives.
The accompanying drawings illustrate in what manner this invention may be
carried into practical effect and will be hereinafter referred to.
Figure 1 is a transverse section,
Figure 2 an end elevation, and
Figure a sectional elevation.
The motor armature I, is mounted upon a hollow shaft T, which has an internal
diameter greater than that of the axle E, upon which it is free. This hollow
shaft rotates in the bearings C C³, fixed in or upon the field-magnets J, which
are themselves fixed to the framing K of the vehicle. This framing K is suspended
in the ordinary manner by means of the springs L, or by any suitable combination
of springs levers and the like commonly used. It follows that the entire motor
is suspended like the framing K, and practically forms one part with it, and that
it suffices to give the tube T, upon which the armature is mounted, an internal
diameter equal to the diameter of the axle plus the amount of yielding of the
springs L, in order to prevent any possibility of contact between the tube and
the axle.
One of the wheels R R' may be removable to permit the armature to be removed
and replaced, or both the wheels may be pressed upon the axle. In this latter
case, the field magnets may be made in halves to permit the armature to be
examined at will.
A certain number of arms B are fixed upon the hollow shaft T and serve to
communicate motion from the armature to the axle through the wheels. These
arms may have the shape indicated by Figures 2 and 3, that is to say, their
extremities enter between the spokes of the wheel R, where they come each between
two buffers t.
Each of these buffers is formed of a rod t, which traverses two spokes D E, and
which compresses a spring r, mounted between the two spokes.
The stretch of the spring r is sufficient to permit its yielding under the effort of
starting and of its movement under the influence of vibrations. That is to say, it
is equal to the stretch of the springs of the vehicle plus that which corresponds
with the effort of starting. The presence of the two buffers, each resembling the
other, permits the vehicle to be driven in either direction.
It is obvious that instead of employing three pairs of buffers in each wheel, any
convenient number whatever may be employed.
Also, the springs r, may have any suitable form other than that shewn by the
drawings.

page_text: Figures 2 and 3 shew, at b the bolts by means of which the motor field-magnets J
are fixed to the framing K of the vehicle.
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 hereinbefore described method of and means for communicating motion
⚫ from the armature of an electro-motor to the axle of a vehicle, substantially as set
forth with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. An electro-motor fixed to the framing of a vehicle and having its armature
mounted upon a hollow shaft traversed by the axle, the hollow shaft driving by a
suitable number of arms, spring buffers arranged between the spokes of the wheel,
and the buffers having a sufficient flexibility to permit at the same time the
displacement of the axle relatively to the motor and their yielding under the strain
of starting, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of December 1894.
WILLIAM E. HEYS.