Street Railways.
Year: 1889

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Street Railways.
I, WHITCOMB LEONARD JUDSON, Mechanic, of the City of Minneapolis, County of
Hennepin, State of Minnesota, United States of America, 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 :-
My Invention relates to street, suburban and other railways. It was designed
more particularly as a substitute for the cable system; and it has for its object to
provide a simple and efficient construction, which shall at the same time be economical
in first cost and in running expenses.
It consists in the construction or constructions fully disclosed in the following
description and claims.
In a general way, it may be outlined as consisting of a revoluble drum or shaft
mounted in suitable bearings and extending along the entire line of the cars travel,
and a car provided with one or more sets of friction wheels adapted to be brought into
contact with the revolving drum or shaft, at an angle to its axis. These friction
wheels are so mounted as to be capable of swinging on their supports through about
half a circle. In virtue of this fact, the friction wheels may be placed at different
angles to the axis of the drum.
When the friction wheels are at right angles to the driving drum, the car stands still.
When at an acute angle to the axis of the drum forward of a right angle, the car will
move in one direction, and when rearward of a right angle, the car will move in the
other direction. Practically, this converting mechanism is a threadless screw with
variable pitch lines, according to the angle of the friction wheels, frictional contact
taking the place of a screw thread or flange. The drum may be conceived as the
screw stem and the friction wheels, as travelling nuts traversing imaginary thread
lines on the periphery of the screw at a definite pitch, variable at the will of the
operator. The result is a variable speed and a variable power. In other words, the
speed and power are introconvertible, at will. If the wheels approximate a right angle
to the axis of the shaft, there is obtained the equivalent of a fine threaded screw with
corresponding great power. If they are set at an acute angle approximately parallel
with the shaft, there is obtained high speed, but with less power. This especially adapts
the construction to street car propulsion. In starting the load, great power and slow
speed is desirable. After the car is started, less power is required and more speed is
desired. The drum is driven by a series of stationary motors of any suitable kind
(not shown) arranged along the line of travel. I preferably use for the purpose
compressed air motors or electric motors, but steam, water or other motors will also
answer the purpose.
The friction wheels are so mounted as to be adjustable to and from the car, for
throwing them into and out of engagement with the drum. As shown, I connect
the friction wheels to the cars by vertically movable supporting frames or spiders,
adapted to overhang or straddle the drum. The friction wheels are mounted in these
spiders in couples, so as to engage opposite sides of the driving drum, at like angles to
ts axis, thereby affording a wedging or crowding action between the wheels and the

page_text: drum. Preferably, there are used two or more sets of these spider or friction wheel
supporting frames connected to different points on the car longitudinally, and on each
spider is mounted one or more couples of, the friction wheels. This insures traction
at all times between some one or another of the set of wheels and the driving drum.
The spiders are all coupled together longitudinally by pivotal connections, allowing
free movements in reference to each other in the horizontal plane for the better
traversing of curves. When the drum is mounted in a slotted conduit, as is the case
when applied to a surface road, the friction wheel supporting frame or spiders, are
connected to the car by vertical bars or standards, having a swiveled connection with
both for the same purpose of adapting the construction to traversing curves.
Provision is made for varying the amount of traction on the friction wheels in
accordance with the load of the car.
The system is equally well adapted both to surface and elevating roads of all kinds.
Herein, I show it as applied to a surface road. When so applied, I use, as before
stated, an underground slotted conduit, somewhat similar to the cable system.
I will now describe the construction shown, in detail.
Referring to the drawings, therein like letters referring to like parts throughout,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the driving drum and car, a part of the conduit having
been removed. Figure 2 is a cross section of the conduit showing end elevation of
the car and driving drum. Figure 3 is a plan of Figure 1. the car and part of the
road bed being removed. Figure 4 is a plan view of part of the frame, in which the
friction wheels are mounted. Figure 5 is a cross section on the line v v² of figure 4,
one of the wheels being removed.
A is the conduit which is formed of a series of V shaped yokes A¹. These yokes
are backed by masonry or concrete in the customary way.
These yokes have a clear central space in their cap plates of sufficient width to
permit the passage of the driving drum into the conduit and to give ready access to
the same.
On their edges the caps of the yokes are provided with small vertical
flanges a, and near the central spaces they are provided with vertical flanges a¹ of a
height equal to the depth of the road bed.
B are the rails mounted on the outer edges of the cap pieces of the yokes. Care
the side sections of the road bed, supported by the yokes and held in place laterally
by the rails on the outside and the vertical flanges on the inside. D Dare the right
and left pieces of the central section of the road bed. This central section of the
road bed is so constructed as to be readily removable from any part, or the whole of
the line. To this end, the pieces D D are made in short sections and are supported
and held in place from the interior edges of the yokes and the tops of the vertical
flanges a¹. A construction adapted to the purpose is obtained by the angle irons d. d',
the outer of which is provided with a hook d on its upper edge, adapted to overhang
and engage with the top of the vertical flange a'. The two angle irons are bolted
together at their bases and the inner one projects upward and inward, at an angle to
the outer and is provided with a pair of lateral flanges did on its upper edges
with a clear space between the two. The inner angle iron d' of the right- and left
pieces D D are so set as to leave a clear space between the flanges d' of the proper
width to form the slot for the passage of the bar connecting the friction wheel
supporting frames with the car.
E are bearing brackets formed integral with the yokes A¹ projecting from one side
thereof to the vertical centre of the conduit and provided with suitable bearings e.
F is the main driving drum or shaft journalled in the bearing e. This shaft is made
in sections coupled together in any suitable way, which will permit curvature. It
revolves continuously in one direction and may be driven from a source of power in
any suitable way. In my preferred construction, I drive it as before stated by a
series of stationary motors arranged at intervals of about one thousand feet.
G is the car. On its front and rear truck frames are swiveled vertical bars H,
which pass downward through the slot into the interior of the conduit. These bars
are preferably cylindrical at their extremities and flattened into a thin blade, where
they pass through the slot. On the lower ends of these swiveled bars H are mounted,

page_text: a friction wheel supporting framework K, which for convenience will be referred to
as a spider. These spiders as shown consist of a pair of arms K' crossing each other
at an angle and provided at their outer extremities with circular rims K", all
preferably cast integral with each other. These circular rims K are provided with
inwardly projecting flanges h, on their upper edges.
Lare revoluble heads mounted in the rims K and provided with journal bearings 1,
and overlapping plates resting upon the top surface of the rims . M are the
friction wheels mounted in the bearing l. 1
It will thus be seen that the heads L will freely turn within the rims K" and are
held from vertical displacement therein by the inwardly projecting flange h, and the
overlapping plate l¹.
N. N' are rigid bars or rods connecting the revoluble heads of the front and rear
spiders. P is a brace bar connecting. the two spiders or frames which is preferably
formed in two pieces having a pivotal connection.
Qis a transverse rockshaft mounted in bearings q cast integral with one of the
spiders, and provided with cranks pp' pl. RR are connecting rods or links connecting
the cranks p p with the rods N. N₁ respectively.
S is a bell crank lever mounted on the rear axle of the car. Sis a link connecting
the same with the crank p¹¹ of the rock shaft Q. T T are bell crank levers mounted
respectively on the rear and front axles of the car. U U are links connecting the
same with the front and rear spiders. V is a rod connecting T and T. Ware springs
mounted on the swiveled bars H, intermediate the spiders and the flat portions of the
bars. The spiders K are freely movable up and down on the swiveled bars H against
the resistance or traction springs W. The two sections of the brace bar Pare
pivotedly connected by a clevis joint P¹, so as to allow movement in the horizontal,
but not in the vertical plane.
The operation is evident. The driving drum or shaft F being in motion, the
spiders K are lowered until the friction wheels M. are in contact therewith. If
the friction wheels are at an angle to the driving drum the car will be propelled in
one direction, or the other, according to the angle of the friction wheels. If the
friction wheels are at right angles to the driving drum the car will stand still; if
inclined forward of a right angle, the car will move forward; if they are set rearward
of a right angle, the car will move backward.
The speed may be varied by simply changing the acuteness of the angle. The
more nearly the friction wheels approach positions parallel to the driving drum, the
more rapidly the car will move, the wheels are varied in this respect, and from the
forward to the backward motion by the lever S and its connections at the will of the
operator. The traction of the friction wheels on the driving drum is varied to suit
the requirement of the load by the lever T and its connections U U¹.
By this lever the friction wheels may be lifted entirely away from the driving
drum or be made to bear upon the same with any desired pressure.
This is one
important advantage of the construction. The traction may be increased by will to
start the car and its train and then reduced to an amount simply sufficient to carry the
car forward under its initial momentum.
It will be readily understood that instead of a double set of friction wheels
attached respectively to the front and rear frames of the car truck, a single set
might be used attached to the centre of the car. This however would not work so
well. The advantage of two or more sets of friction wheels connected to different
points of the car longitudinally is that when anyone of the sets of wheels, are at the
point of connection of the sections of the drum, some of the other sets will be in
engagement with the drum. Traction is therefore never lost. It is equally evident
that instead of four friction wheels in each spider that two would answer the purpose.
It is also evident that it is immaterial what form of connections are used to swing
the friction wheels in their supporting frames.
It should be noted that all the friction wheels always stand at like angles to the
driving shaft. This is only another way of saying that if the driving drum be treated
as a screw and the friction wheels as nuts, that all the nuts follow the same thread.

page_text: They all have a common pitch line.
This likeness of angularity or sameness of
pitch among all the friction wheels is preserved in varying their angularity to the
driving shaft, through the lever S and its connections from the fact that the cranks p
and pare opposite to each other on the rock shaft Q. Hence, all the wheels will be
turned through equal arcs in opposite directions, by the movement of the lever S.
These friction wheels, in a broad point of view, constitute a form of variable speed
gearing between the driving drum and the car.
Instead of one driving drum and two travelling friction wheels, at like angles
thereto two parallel and adjacent driving drums revolving in the same direction
and a single travelling_friction wheel at an angle to both driving drums may be
employed, as shown in Fig. 7.
In the space between the flanges d and d" of the central section D D₁ of the
road bed, on the opposite sides and interlacing across the slot, I support a
continuous stationary brush Z, for the purpose of excluding dust and snow from the
conduit.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to he performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a moveable car or carriage of one or more revoluble
driving drums or shafts extending along the line of travel and one or more friction
wheels adjustable to different angles with respect to the axis of said drum, and adapted
to engage therewith, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a moveable car or carriage of one or more revoluble
driving drums or shafts extending along the line of travel and one or more friction
wheels connected with said car mounted in bearings both vertically and angularly
adjustable in respect to said drum or drums adapted to engage therewith, substantially
as described.
3. The combination with a movable car or carriage of one
or more revoluble
driving drums or shafts extending along the line of travel and one or more friction
wheels connected with the car mounted in bearings revoluble in the planes of their
axes, substantially as described.
4. The combination with a moveable car of one or more revoluble driving drums or
shafts extending along the line of travel, a friction wheel supporting frame connected
to said car and one or more friction wheels on said frame mounted in bearings
revoluble in the planes of their axes, substantially as described.
5. The combination with a moveable car of friction wheels connected therewith and
driving drums extending along the line of travel, there being of said drums and
friction wheels one device of one kind opposed to and engaging two of the other
kind, whereby a wedging or crowding action is secured between them, substantially
as described.
6. The combination with a moveable car of a revoluble driving drum or shaft,
extending along the line of travel, one or more friction wheels adjustable in the planes
of their axes adapted to engage with said drum at different angles to its axis and
connections extending from said wheels to the car for changing the angle of the
friction wheels to the driving drum, substantially as described.
7. The combination with a moveable car of a revoluble driving drum or shaft
extending along the line of travel, a vertically moveable friction wheel supporting
frame connected with said car, one or more friction wheels mounted on- said frame
and adapted to engage said driving drum at different angles, a connection from the
car to said frame for raising and lowering the same, and a connection from the car
to the friction wheels for varying their angle to the driving drum, substantially as
described.
8. The combination with a moveable car or carriage, of a revoluble sectional drum
or shaft extending along the line of travel, and two or more friction wheels connected
with the car at different points of the same longitudinally, each adapted to engage
said drum at an angle to its axis, whereby there will be engagement of one or more

page_text: wheels with the drum while one of the wheels is at the point of connection of the
sections, substantially as described.
9. The combination with a moveable car of a revoluble drum or shaft extending
along the line of travel, a truck frame or spider having friction wheels therein
engaging the said shaft or drum at an angle to its axis, a bar or standard connecting
the car with said truck frame having a sliding and a swiveled enagement therewith,
substantially as described.
10. The combination with a movable car of a revoluble drum or shaft extending
along the line of travel, a truck or spider having friction wheels therein engaging
the said shaft or drum at an angle to its axis and a bar connecting the car with said
truck, the said bar having a sliding and swiveled engagement with said truck and
a spring interposed between the truck and bar, substantially as described.
11. The combination with a movable car of a revoluble drum or shaft extending
along the line of travel two or more friction wheels connected to different parts of
the car longitudinally adapted to engage said drum at an angle to its axis and a
laterally yielding connection between said wheels, substantially as described.
12. The combination with a movable car of a slotted conduit, along the line of
travel a revoluble drum mounted in said conduit, and one or more friction wheels
connected to the car through the slot in the conduit adapted to engage said drum
at an angle to its axis, substantially as described.
13. The combination with a movable car of a slotted conduit extending along the
line of travel, a revoluble drum or shaft within said conduit, a truck within said
conduit provided with friction wheels adapted to engage said drum at an angle to its
axis and a bar or standard extending from the car to the truck through the slot in
the conduit and having swiveled connections with both, substantially as described.
14. The combination with a revoluble car of a revoluble drum or shaft extending
along the line of travel, and one or more sets of friction wheels in couples connected
to the car adapted to engage opposite sides of the drum at like angles to its axis
substantially as described.
,
15. The combination with a movable car of a revoluble drum or shaft extending
along the line of travel, and one or more sets of friction wheels in couples connected
to the car mounted in bearings revoluble in the planes of their axes, adapted to
engage opposite sides of said drums at any desired like angles to its axis, substantially
as described.
16. The combination with a movable car of a revoluble drum or shaft extending
along the line of travel, one or more sets of friction wheels in couples connected to
the car mounted in bearings revoluble in the planes of their axes adapted to engage
the opposite sides of said drum at any desired like angles to its axis and a
connection from said wheels to within reach of the operator adapted to turn the
wheel of each couple in opposite directions for effecting their adjustment to different
like angles to the drum substantially as described.
17. The combination with a movable car of a revoluble drum or shaft extending
along the line of 'travel two or more sets of friction wheels in couples connected to
the car mounted in bearings revoluble in the planes of their axes adapted to engage
opposite sides of the drum at any desired like angles and a common connection from.
all of said wheels to within reach of the car operator for effecting like angular
adjustment thereof substantially as described.
18. The combination with a movable car of a revoluble drum extending along the
line of travel two or more friction wheels supporting frames or spiders connected to
different parts of the car longitudinally friction wheels mounted on said frames
adapted to engage the drum at like angles to its axis and pivotal connections coupling
together said frames substantially as described.
19. The combination with a movable car of a slotted conduit extending along the
line of travel, a revoluble drum mounted in said conduit, sets of friction wheels
supporting spiders or frames, bars or standards connecting said frames with the car
through the slot in the conduit having a swiveled connection with each, friction wheels

page_text: mounted on said frames in couples adapted to engage opposite sides of said drum at
like angles to its axis and pivotal connections coupling together said frames, substantially
as described.
20. The combination with a movable car or carriage of a driving drum or shaft
extending along the line of travel and variable speed gearing between the drum or
shaft and the car, substantially as described.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.