improvements in ectric or other motor ITUOKS
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1896
improvements in ectric or other motor ITUOKS
We, THE BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON COMPANY, LIMITED, of 38, Parliament
Street, Westminster, in the County of London, Electrical Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention (which has been communicated to us from
abroad by Norman C. Bassett, of Lynn, in the County of Essex, State of
Massachusetts, United States of America), and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of our present invention is to secure a desirable construction of motor
truck in which a single electric or other motor is used, preferably connected and
geared to both axles so as to secure the maximum tractive effect. We will describe
our invention in reference to an electric motor truck, but as however certain
specific features claimed may be of service in other trucks we wish it to be
understood that we do not intend to limit our invention to such an one alone.
According to our invention we join the axles by a truck frame of somewhat peculiar
construction, and a counter-shaft arranged longitudinally on this frame is geared to
both axles and driven by a motor elastically supported from the frame, but so
connected with the counter-shaft that the play of the armature or equivalent part
is always concentric with the shaft.
All these features are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a
plan, Fig. 2 a sectional side view taken just inside the wheels, Fig. 3 an end
sectional view, and Fig. 4 a side view of the motor and motor-carrying bars.
In these views A² A represent the axles of a car truck which are joined by a
truck frame composed of side bars A', angle-shaped in cross section, cross bars C¹
rigidly attached to the side bars, and motor-carrying bars B'. The bars C¹ are
attached to A' by corner pieces H bolted or rivetted as seen in Fig. 3 to the
different bars. The frame may then be placed on a planer and surfaces planed off
true to receive the axle boxes B by which the frame is hung on the axles, and
boxes B³ on the cross bars in which is journaled a common shaft C extending
longitudinally of the truck and conuected by bevel gears as shown to both
axles. These gears will be enclosed by casings G₁ to keep out dust and to
retain oil.
☑The motor A is elastically supported on the truck frame, and to this end we place
cushions S S¹ between the bars B' and side bars A', and the motor is pivotted to
the cross bars B' by substantial pivots P' placed directly above or below the center
of the armature and vertically in line with the center of gravity of the machine.
Hence the entire weight of the motor will come upon these pivot pins and be
ultimately supported by the cushions from side bars A' and axles. This elastic
support allows the motor a slight play sufficient to relieve the shocks and pounding
actions to which the truck is subjected.
To maintain the armature pinion P, Fig. 1, in working relation with gear
wheel G upon the counter-shaft C, boxes F attached to the motor are given a
bearing on the counter-shaft. This keeps the armature and counter-shaft in
alignment maintaining an equal distance between their centers.
If
The form of truck frame indicated allows the ready removal of all the boxes or
brasses used for bearings and it has greater flexibility than a solid cast frame.
the track on which the wheels run is uneven, the frame will permit the axles to be

page_text: warped sufficient to accommodate them to the track, but at the same time it is very
rigid in a horizontal direction resisting the throwing of the axles out of parallel
fore and aft. The entire weight of the motor is supported on springs and very
little wear comes upon the counter-shaft. The play which the motor is permitted
cannot interfere with the working of the gears P G, and as the counter-shaft has
rigid bearings relatively to the axles there is no difficulty in maintaining the bevel
gears properly in mesh.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion as communicated to us from abroad, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, we declare that what we claim is:-
1. The combination in an electric or other motor truck with longitudinal side
bars forming part of a truck frame, of a longitudinal counter-shaft geared to
the car axles and mounted in bearings in fixed relation thereto, and a motor
elastically supported upon the side bars, having its axis parallel with the counter-
shaft and having bearings on said counter-shaft, whereby the armature or equivalent
gear is maintained in mesh with that on the shaft.
2. The combination of the longitudinal side bars forming part of the truck frame,
with the cross bars affording rigid bearings for a counter-shaft geared to both
axles, and the motor-carrying bars furnishing an elastic support for the propelling
motor.
3. An electric or other motor truck having elastically supported motor-carrying
bars, and an electric or other motor pivoted thereto in substantially the line
of the center of gravity of the machine and geared to the driven axle or axles, as
described.
4. The combination with a truck frame, of a longitudinally arranged shaft geared
to both axles by bevel wheels, and an electric or other motor pivotally supported
on transverse elastically supported bars and geared to the shaft, substantially as
described.
L