Improvements in Electric Railways.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Railways.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me
from abroad by The Waddell-Entz Electric Company, of 18, Columbia Heights,
Brooklyn, King's County, New York, United States of America, a Corporation
organized under the laws of the State of New York), 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 a new electric system of transportation, in other words
to a new mechanism for propelling vehicles with the aid of electricity, and consists
mainly in the employment in such a system of a continuous armature which
armature is stationary and which extends from end to end of the track to be
traversed by the vehicle. The armature exercises its force upon a field magnet
which is carried by the vehicle to be propelled with the aid of brushes or analogous
contact devices that also travel at the same rate as the vehicle and that convey the
current from mains or conductors which are laid along the route to that portion of the
armature which is under the influence of the field magnet. This system has many
advantages over the devices heretofore employed for utilizing electric currents in
the propulsion of vehicles, one advantage which may here be mentioned being that
the power applied is in the nature of a direct pull and does not depend upon the
weight of the car for its traction power. Another advantage which is very
important is that the armature winding can be regulated to suit the traffic as regards
speed and power along different parts of the same route. Thus, on a grade ascent,
the windings may be made closer together than on a level, thereby giving greater
power when the same is needed and giving a greater average efficiency by adapting
the winding to the work to be done. All conductors carrying dangerous currents
can be completely sealed in conduits which admit of no mechanical or electrical
communication between said conductors and the street or vehicle. This idea of seal-
ing the conductors also prevents danger of leakage due to moisture or otherwise and
allows of the use of higher potentials than would otherwise be possible and consequently
induces higher efficiency. The system is capable of propelling a car over the
same track in either direction, of changing the speed to any desired rate, and
obviates, therefore, the objections that can be urged against the cable system of
propulsion.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, in which
Figure 1 represents a side view of the mechanism used in the electric railway
within a conduit, the said conduit being represented in longitudinal section.
Figure 2 is a cross-section on line kk Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side view, similar to Figure 1, of a modification of the invention;
Figure 4 being a cross-section on line Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a side view of another modification of the invention.
Figure 6 is a top view of the same.
Figure 7 is a cross-section on line c* c² Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a side view, partly in section, of another modification of said
invention; and Figure 9 is a top view thereof.
Figure 10 is a cross-section on line Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a side view, partly in section, of still another modification of said
invention.
Figure 12 is a horizontal section on line * * Figure 13; and

page_text: Figure 13 is a cross-section on line Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a side view, partly broken away, of another modification of the
invention; and
Figure 15 is a cross-section on line cc Figure 14.
The letters N and S in the drawings indicate north and south poles.
Referring now to one form in which this invention may be employed, which is
represented in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the letter A there shews the
armature placed in a conduit B below the level of the street C. The armature is a
continuous coil extending from end to end of the track. D is the field magnet
which is suspended within the conduit B from the vehicle E and which embraces the
armature A, as appears clearly from Figure 2. F F are the mains or conductors
which are secured within the conduit B and extend from end to end of the road.
GG are contact pieces carried by the magnet D and bearing against the mains or
conductors F F. H H are the brushes which are carried by the field magnet D
and bear upon the outside of the coiled armature A. The magnet D is excited
with the aid of conductors II that lead from the car or vehicle E to and around
the spool J of the magnet D. The winding of the armature A is that of a continuous
coil upon an iron core and corresponds to a Gramme ring armature cut at one place
and laid out straight. The field magnet D has a single coil on its spool J and its
pole pieces from either end extend down and embrace the top and sides of the
armature A, the poles being of opposite polarity, as indicated by the letters NS, it
being necessary that the current should flow in opposite directions in that portion of
the armature which is enclosed by each set of pole-pieces. To this end the brushes
ate placed and connected as shewn, a brush of one sign (say +) being between two
poles and between two brushes of the opposite sign (say) of which there is one at
each end of the magnet. With the brushes connected in this way, the current will
enter at the middle + brush, divide, and flow in opposite directions under the
opposite poles to the outside brushes. The effect of the current flowing in the
armature upon the field magnet is to cause the one which is capable of moving, to
move in relation to the other, and as, in this instance, the armature winding is fixed
the magnet will tend to move and will carry with it the vehicle to which it is
secured and, as the current in the armature coil A is kept continually beneath the
magnet by means of the travelling brushes, the movement will be continuous and
this movement will be in either direction at will, according to the direction of the
current in the winding and the polarity of the magnet. Changing either and
keeping the other the same will reverse the direction of motion. The drawings
represent at a, brackets by which the armature coil A is stationarily supported
within the conduit. Lis an iron core placed within the tubular armature A
and of the same length as said armature. Its cross-section is clearly represented
in Figure 2.
In Figures 3 and 4, the parts as represented in Figures 1 and 2 are substantially
duplicated with the exception that instead of the continuous core L a travelling
core L is represented, this travelling core being only about as long as the field
magnet D and in fact of sufficient length only to complete the magnetic circuit
between the two magnet poles. This core L always moves with the magnet D
by reason of the magnetic attraction between them and carries the brushes H for
contact with the armature and the contact pieces for contact with the mains or
conductors F which, in this case are placed inside the armature coil. In this form
the wheels G² of the travelling core, which wheels rest on the mains F F, serve as
contact-pieces or current collectors, the said wheels G2 being insulated from the
frame that carries them at the hub. As, in this case, there is no mechanical or
electrical connection between the magnet D and the armature A, the armature is
enabled to be completely sealed in an air and water tight casing M, the advantages of
which have already been herein above referred to, in that it prevents all leakage
from the mains and all interference by moisture dust or other foreign matter which
in other structures would be liable to come into contact with the mains or with the
narts hat distribute the current therefrom. Inasmuch as this short travelling core

page_text: enables this casing M to be employed, the form represented in Figures 3 and 4 is
preferred as the best form in which this invention may be clothed.
In Figures 5, 6, and 7, a modification is shewn which represents the continuous
armature A as placed on ties N* on the same level as the road bed and the mains
or conductors F laid between the rails near to the armature A. The winding of
the armature A, as intended to be represented in Figure 6, produces a continuous
coil which encloses the stationary long core L, the same as in Figures 1 and 2, but
the coil A is wound diagonally on the core so that the sides of one turn are not
opposite one another but at such a distance from one another as equals the distance
between the brushes of opposite signs. With this method of winding, the current
flowing on opposite sides of the armature is always in the same direction instead of
in opposite directions, as in Figures 1 and 2. The object of this winding is to
have the lines of magnetic force traverse the winding at right angles to the core
instead of travelling through it from end to end. This allows the width or thickness
of the core to be reduced, which may with this winding be still further reduced, as
shewn in Figures 8, 9, and 10, where the two sides are only separated by an
insulating plate L' and no core proper is used. Referring once more to Figures 5,
6, and 7, the magnetic field is shewn produced by two magnets D with opposite
poles facing each other so that the magnetic circuit is through the core and pole
pieces of one magnet across the winding to the pole piece of the other magnet on
the opposite side through the second magnetic core and pole piece and across the
armature again to the pole piece of the first magnet. The brushes H are shewn
fastened to the magnets D on both sides of the armature A opposite brushes
being of opposite signs, the contact pieces G being also carried by the magnets, as
shewn.
In Figures 8, 9, and 10, is shewn the closely wound armature coil A in connection
with an elevated structure with a vehicle running on a raised track O. In this
case there is but one field magnet D having a spool J and carrying the brushes H
and the contact pieces G. The armature A is secured to the framing P of the
elevated structure.
In Figures 11, 12, and 13, a modification is shewn of the structure represented
in Figures 3 and 4, which modification consists in winding the inner travelling
core L with a magnetizing coil J², so that the inner travelling core L² becomes
the magnet while the outside magnet D performs the function merely of the core
in the former structure for the purpose of completing the magnetic circuit, motion
The brushes are
being imparted to it by the attraction between it and the core.
carried on the inner side of the armatures as before, that is as in Figures 3 and 4.
This arrangement also allows the armature to be surrounded by the casing M shewn
in Figures 11 and 12.
In Figures 14 and 15 is represented a modification of the device shewn
in Figures 8, 9, and 10, in which there is the flatly-wound core A which may
be seated in a casing and alongside of which a short travelling core L³ carrying
the brushes H is used. This core L³ may be enclosed in the casing M and
included in the magnetic circuit so that it will move with the magnet D outside.
The system may be further modified in many instances, but the salient features
of it are given, which, briefly stated, lie in the employment of the continuous
armature combined with a travelling magnet and with the other elements that
are in the following claims more fully specified.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is:-
1. In an electric system of transportation the stationary armature A combined
with the movable magnet D and with the vehicle E to which said magnet D is
connected, all so arranged as to permit said vehicle to travel along said armature.
2. The stationary armature A combined with the field magnet D and with the
vehicle E which carries said field magnet and with proper brushes or contact

page_text: picces and stationary conductors F, all arranged to permit said vehicle to travel
along the said armature, as specified.
3. The stationary continuous coiled armature A combined with the enclosing
conduit B, with the field magnet D, mains or conductors F, and proper contact
pieces for contacting with the armature A. and with the mains F and being
attached to the vehicle E, substantially as and for the purpose herein shewn and
described.
4. The vehicle E carrying conductors I and carrying likewise the field magnet D
having the spool J and contact pieces in combination with the mains or con-
ductors F and stationary armature A, substantially as herein shewn and described.
5. The vehicle E carrying conductors I and carrying likewise the field magnet D
having the spool J and contact pieces G and H in combination with the mains or
conductors stationary armature A and with the conduit B, substantially as
herein shewn and described.
6. In an electric system of transportation, the stationary armature A combined
with the movable magnet D with a supply of electric current, with a magnetic core
for said armature and with the vehicle E, substantially as shewn and described.
7. The vehicle E carrying conductors I and carrying likewise the field magnet D
having the spool J and contact pieces G H in combination with the mains or con-
ductors F and stationary armature A and with an inner core contained within the
armature, substantially as herein shewn and described.
8. The vehicle E carrying conductors I and carrying likewise the field magnet D
having the spool J and contact pieces G H in combination with the mains or
conductors and stationary armature A with an inner core contained within
the armature and with the conduit B, substantially as herein shewn and described.
9. The combination of the stationary continuous armature A with the travelling
magnet D carried by the vehicle E and with the inner travelling core L² and
mains or conductors F F placed within the armature A, substantially as described.
10. The combination of the hollow continuous stationary armature A with the
exterior magnet D connected with the vehicle E and adapted to be excited from
said vehicle and with the inner travelling core L² carrying brushes H and the
contact pieces G³ and with conductors or mains F contained within the armature A,
substantially as herein shewn and described.
11. The hollow continuous armature A combined with the magnet D carried by
the vehicle E and with the casing M placed around said continuous armature A,
substantially as herein shewn and described.
12. The hollow continuous armature A combined with the magnet D carried by
the vehicle E and adapted to be excited thereby, with the casing M placed around
said continuous armature A and with the travelling core L carrying brushes H
and contact pieces G2 and with the conductors F F, substantially as herein shewn
and described.
Dated this 17th day of March 1891