Improvements in Systems of Train Control for Electrically Propelled Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1898—Accepted, 11th Feb., 1899
Improvements in Systems of Train Control for Electrically Propelled
Vehicles.
We, THE BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON COMPANY, LIMITED, of 83, Cannon Street,
in the City of London, Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention (which has been communicated to us from abroad by Frank F
Case, residing at Schenectady, in the County of Schenectady, State of New York,
United States of America, Electrical Engineer), and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement:-
The present invention relates to systems of control for electrically operated
trains; and has for ita object to provide a convenient method for equipping
such systems In many of the systems which have been proposed and are
now well known in this ait, each car is capable of operation as a separate unit,
being provided with its own motor or motors, controller, regulating resistances,
etc., and in general these cars are also provided with what are called " master
controllers," the office of the latter piece of apparatus being to regulate any
number of cars which may be conveniently brought together in a train by simul-
taneously moving the controller upon each of the cars, which thus in turn regu-
lates the motors upon that car The arrangement 18 euch that any one of the
master controllers may be selected as the operating point from which the entire
train is controlled It is the object of the present invention to substitute for
the master controllers in the systems above outlined certain connection boaida
with which a single separable controller may register and act upon the other
controllers and motors of the train, as already explained, it being designed to
have these connection boards interchangeable so that the controller may be taken
from one can to another as may be most convenient This arrangement enables
a part at least of the expensive apparatus required in the ordinary systems to
be dispensed with, and also prevents any trouble from interference of one master
controller with another which might occur with some systems which have been
proposed.
In the ordinary operation of the train, a single master controller would be
all that was needed, though if desired, duplicates could be carried upon the samo
train
While the invention has thus been described in its application to train systems
in which master controllers are employed, it is manifestly possible to apply
it to the ordinary conditions in which a motor controller regulates directly
the motors upon a particular car or upon more than one car This would
not ordinarily be so good a way of operating the invention as that described,
because controllers designed to work with such currents as are ordinarily sup-
plied to electric motors would be comparatively large and heavy, but neverthe-
less a feasible method under some circumstances, and it is proposed to include
it in the claims.
The invention also aims to provide for each car connection-boards of peculiar

page_text: construction, such that the cars may be coupled electrically and the controller
connected to the motor leads by the same connection-board. For this purpose
there is provided in each connection-board a peculiar form of socket for the
plug terminals which is preferably used, one of these sockets 18 connected to
each of the leads embraced in the cable ordinarily employed to carry the con-
necting wires
The accompanying diawings show the invention in one of its forms, Fig 1
is a plan view of the trucka of two cars, with the invention applied thereto;
Fig 2 is a side elevation partly in section, and partly broken away, showing
the platforms with one of the controlling devices in position, and, the coupling
between the cars, Fig 318 a side elevation, partly in section and bioken away,
of a connection-board showing the bottom of the controller and the connecting
cable, and Fig 4 18 a plan of the connecting cable and connection-board
In the drawings, A, B are the cars, each provided with the motor controllers
R, R, and the motors M, M³
A cable C leads through each car, which may carry the crdinary wires for
motor and controller connections, the cable is provided at each end with a con-
nection block G to be more fully descubed hereafter The cars are connected
by a short piece of cable E, provided on a coupling F with contacts registering
with sockets in the connection-board G The construction of this part of the
invention will be better understood from Figs 3 and 4 The connection-board
in Fig 4 is shown in plan, and is provided with sockets g, with each of which
a plug h of the controller H (see Fig 3) registers As shown, there are twelve
of these sockets and twelve plugs, although of course the number may vary,
each socket being attached to one of the leads c, embraced in the cable C, the
leads being shown separated in Fig. 4 for clearness of illustration. The form
of these sockets will best be seen from the section in Fig 3, where one of the
leads c is shown attached to it Here the socket g 18 shown as registering with
the left-hand one of the plugs 4, and an additional socket gl formed in one with each
of the sockets g registers with a plug f on the end of the connecting cable E
The end of the connecting cable is provided with one of the plugs for each
of the wires or leads composing the cable, as will be readily understood
will be seen that when the controller H is placed on the connection-board, each
of the leads c will be connected to a controller contact (which may be of any
desired system), and that as the cars are made up into the train, when the
connecting rod E is applied to the heads F thereof will connect the different
connection-boards G, G so that the cable will be electrically united throughout
the train; wires on the cable of one can being united to similar ones upon
another.
It
A further detail of Fig 3 shows how the cable E 18 kept in place by the
lug f passing over the rounded end of the spring If the train should break
apart for any reason this attachment would give way, and the cable E would pull
out.
In Fig 2 the controller H is shown in side elevation The controller being
placed upon the connection-board G, is kept in place by the links H', which
hook over studs on the side of the controller case. Hinged plates G¹ cover the
connection-boards when the controller is not placed over them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention (as communicated to us from abroad) and in what manner the same
is to be performed, we declare that what we claim 18
-
1 In a system of train control for electrically propelled vehicles, the com-
bination of a cable extending through the train, having connection-boards at
intervals, with a controlling device adapted to register with any one of the
connection-boards.
2 In a system of train control, the combination of a number of cars having
motors, and resistances with connecting leads, with a single controlling device

page_text: for all the motors, and means for connecting to the motors and resistances at
different points in the train
3-The combination with a controller with plug terminals upon its base and
a connection board provided with sockets with which the terminals register,
and leads extending from the sockets.
4-A connection-board for the cable of an electrically propelled train, provided
with contacts registering with terminals upon the controller, and other contacts
registering with an electrical connection between the cars.
5 In au electrically propelled train, the combination of a cable extending
through the train, with connection-boards situated at intervals, a controlling
device adapted to register with any of the connection-boards, and connecting
cables between the cars also registering with the different connection boards
6. In an electrically propelled train, the combination of a cable, a connection-
board upon each platform for the cable, and covering plates for the connection
boards.
7-The combination of a controlling device having exterior terminals, and a
connection board with which the terminals register_
8 The combination, in a train system, of a single movable controlling device,
with a number of similar connection devices in different locations, with any
one of which the controlling device may register to control the entire train
9 The combination, in a train system, of a single movable master controller
with a number of "unit" cars each provided with its own motor or motors and
controlling devices, and connection devices in one or more locations upon each
car with any one of which the master controller may register, and from which
when in position, it may control the entire train.
Dated this 31st day of December 1898
THE BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON Co. LTD.,
AR MONKS,
Director.
ALFRED CLEMENTS,
Assistant Secretary.