Improvements in and connected with Electric Railway Motors.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1899-Accepted, 14th Apr., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Electric Railway Motors.
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 Edward
1). Priest, of Schenectady, 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 following
statement:
The present invention has for its object to improve the construction of rail-
way motors, and particularly those in which the armature is directly connected
to the axle of the truck.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a motor
embodying our invention; Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation of a truck showing
the motor mounted in position; Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the motor; Fig. 4
is a cross section of the motor on the line 44 of Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 are
respectively a side elevation and section of a modified form of this invention; and
Fig. 7 is a detail of a further modification.
We have shown our invention as applied to a gearless motor in which the field
magnet and armature are concentric with the car axle, but we do not limit our-
selves to this construction, for it can be applied to motors having gearing between
the armature and axle.
The armature A may be mounted on a sleeve, and the sleeve keyed or otherwise
secured to axle B, or the armature may be spring-supported, and flexible connec-
tions employed between the sleeve and axle. The armature shown is of the
ordinary laminae construction, and provided with the well known Eickemeyer
winding. On the left is a commutator C, the brushes having been removed for
the purpose of illustration.
Surrounding the armature and concentric with the axle, 'is a field maguet
divided on a diagonal plane into two parts D and D). The motor is preferably
provided with four or more poles, as shown in Fig. 4; these are provided with
detachable pole-pieces D2 having energizing coils D³. The ends of the armature
are protected from dust and moisture by sides D of the field magnet in the usual
manner, and between the magnet and the hubs of wheels E are felt washers D5
serving as additional protection against dust and moisture.
In addition to protecting the armature, the upper half of the field magnet is
provided with two extensions D, one on each end, which rests on the journal
boxes and support the field magnet at points outside the wheels. These exten-
sions when viewed from the end are curved on a diameter somewhat larger than
that of the wheel to allow for clearance and extend down over the outside of the
wheels forming shells similar to the ordinary gear case. Formed integral with
each shell is a support D curved concentric with the axle. These projections
rest directly on the journal boxes without the intervention of springs, and are
provided with strengthening ribs Dª.

page_text: By arranging each motor on a separate axle and independently sleeving their
field magnets on the journal boxes of the truck, we are enabled to provide a con-
struction which will permit the axle with its motor to move up and down as it
passes over inequalities in the track independent of the other motor or motors
on the truck, without straining the truck frame
A further advantage is derived by dispensing with the additional bearings
commonly employed to maintain the field magnet in alignment with the axle ;
this we accomplish by mounting the field magnet supports 17 on a non-rotating
part of the truck. It is true that there is a slight oscillating movement of
support D concentric with the axle, as the motor is started, but the movement is
very slight, and requires practically no lubrication.
The upper half of the field magnet is provided with lugs L which enter and
make a loose fit in holes in the transverse truck beam L, and prevent the field
magnet from rotating.
The two halves of the field-magnet are bolted together and the arrangement
is such that the lower portion can be swung downward around pin J as a centre.
The upper half of the magnet is provided with a removable cover K permitting
the inspection of the commutator and brushes.
On account of the enlarged pole faces and the restricted space on the truck,
which necessitates making the motor very compact, the pole pieces are chamfered
at d to permit the lower field magnet to be swung downward around pin J as a
centre.
The journal boxes I may be of any desired construction; those shown in the
drawings comprising a brass F which rests on axle B, and a cast metal box 12
arranged to work in guides on the jaws of the truck G. The upper part of each
box is curved concentrically with the axle, and resting on this curved portion
is the field magnet support D. Situated on the magnet supports are plates H;
the undersides of these plates are curved to conform with the upper surface of
the field magnet supports. The surfaces of the upper sides of the plates H are
flat for convenience in mounting saddles H' for leaf springs H²; the springs are
employed to support truck frame G by means of pairs of links H.
The body of the vehicle is carried by an auxiliary frame I, which is situated
above the wheels and rigidly secured to truck frame G.
Fig. 3 is a plan view showing one end of the motor, and it will be seen that
the shell or projection D extends across the entire end of the motor. The curved
projections are reinforced by horizontal and vertical ribs 18.
In Figs. 1 and 4 is illustrated what may be termed a safety device, to prevent
the field magnet from striking the armature in case one of its supports breaks
or becomes injured from any cause, as running off the track, for example. The
hub of wheel E is turned to a standard size, and the opening in the side 1*
of the field magnet frame is made slightly larger in diameter than the hub,
leaving, for example, an eighth of an inch clearance. The field magnets are
then bored, and a clearance of a quarter of an inch allowed between the armature
and pole face. If for any reason extension D6 is sprung, or support 17 broken,
the field magnet as soon as it has dropped an eighth of an inch, will rest on the
hub of the wheel and be no longer dependent upon its outside supports. This will
slightly decrease the air gap at the upper pole and slightly increase it at the lower
pole but this will not materially affect the operation of the motor. It is not,
of course, intended that the motor shall continue to run in this manner for any
length of time, but for the purpose of completing a trip, the arrangement serves
very well, and at times may prevent the blockading of the road.
In Figs. 5 and 6 we have shown a slight modification in which the field mag-
net support rests directly on the axle brass, instead of the journal box. The
axle brass is made in the form of a sleeve, and is slipped on the axle from the
end. The upper side of the brass is cut away at f to receive the field-magnet
support D. The under-side of the brass is provided with holes f¹ for lubricating
the axle, that portion of the journal box directly under the brass being provided

page_text: with a receptacle for oil and waste. The journal box is cut away on the upper
side to allow field magnet support D to enter and rest on the axle brass.
Support D is similar to the one shown in the previous figure, except that it is
made somewhat thicker so that it can project downward through the top of the
journal box.
In this modification we employ the same safety device for the field-magnet and
armature as described in connection with Figs. 1 and 4.
In Fig. we have shown a further modification, in which support D is bolted
to the journal box instead of resting thereon, as in the previous case. The truck
frame G is provided with a jaw of the usual construction, and mounted therein
is a journal box F, comprising a brass F adapted to be slipped endwise on the
axle, and is provided with an opening for receiving oil and waste. The upper
part of the brass is provided with an extension to which is bolted support 1 of
the field magnet frame. The sides of the brass are provided with cylindrical
surfaces which rest in the side pieces of the journal box. The side pieces
are connected by a bottom piece f³, and by a plate extending across the end of the
axle, but which has been removed for the purpose of illustration.
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 is :-
1-The combination of a motor truck with motors mounted thereon, com-
prising axially supported armatures, and field magnets mounted on non-rotating
parts of the truck so arranged that each field-magnet is free to move with its
axle independent of the frame.
2-The combination with a motor truck with motors mounted thereon for
movement independent of the truck and car body frames, comprising axially sup-
ported armatures, and field magnets supported by extensions thereon which rest
directly on the journals at points outside of the wheels, and permit the magnet
to have a slight movement concentric with the armature.
3-The combination with a car truck, a plurality of motors mounted thereon,
each on a separate axle, the axle and its motor being combined to form a single
unit which is free to move in its support independent of the truck frame so that
the car wheel and axle may follow all of the inequalities in the track without
straining the truck frame.
4-In an electric railway motor, the combination of an armature for driving
the car axle, with a field magnet frame having projections or extensions for sup-
porting and maintaining the motor in alignment with the car axle at points
outside of the wheels.
5-In an electric railway motor, the combination of an armature for driving
the car axle, with a field magnet frame having extensions which rest directly on
the journals of the truck and support the motor.
6 In an electric railway motor, the combination of an armature, a divided
field magnet frame having extensions formed integral with one part of the frame,
and arranged to extend over the truck wheel and rest on the journal boxes to
support the motor.
7-In an electric railway motor, the combination of an armature concentric-
ally mounted with respect to the car axle, a divided field magnet frame having
extensions formed integral with the upper part of the frame arranged to extend
over the car wheel and terminate in curved supports which rest on the journal
boxes of the truck.
8-In a gearless electric railway motor, the combination of an armature rigidly
secured to the car axle, a field magnet concentric therewith, and supports for the
field magnet which extend over the truck wheels and terminate in curved portions
concentric with the axles of the truck.
9 In a gearless electric railway motor, the combination of an armature rigidly
secured to the car axle, a field magnet frame divided on a diagonal plane into

page_text: two parts, projections integral with the top part of the field magnet frame form-
ing shells over the truck wheels and terminating in supports curved concentric
with the axle and arranged to rest on the journal boxes and support the motor
in place.
10 In an electric railway motor, the combination of an armature concentric
with the axle of the truck, a divided field magnet frame enclosing the armature
on all sides and occupying substantially all the space between the wheels of the
truck, extensions on the upper part of the frame surrounding a portion of the
truck wheels, and supports integral with the extensions extending parallel to
the axle of the truck.
11-In combination a truck frame provided with jaws for the reception of the
journal boxes, journal boxes mounted in the jaws and free to move in a vertical
direction, wheels for supporting the truck axles, a motor comprising an axially
mounted armature, and a field magnet provided with extensions which extend
over the wheels and rest on the journal boxes.
12 In combination, a truck frame provided with jaws, journal boxes mounted
in the jaws, an armature mounted concentrically with the truck axle, a field mag-
net provided with extensions which rest on the journal boxes at points outside
of the truck wheels, and spring saddles which support the truck frame, mounted
on the field magnet extensions.
13 In combination, a truck frame, provided with jaws for the journal boxes,
journal boxes mounted therein, a motor armature mounted concentric with a truck
axle, and a field magnet provided with extensions which project through the truck
jaws and rest on the journal boxes.
14 In combination, a truck frame provided with vertical jaws, journal boxes
mounted in the jaws, an armature mounted directly on the truck axles, a divided
field magnet supported by extensions which rest on the journal boxes, means pre-
venting the field magnet from rotating, spring saddles mounted on the magnet
extensions, leaf springs secured to the saddles, and links between the springs and
the truck frame.
15 In an electric railway motor, the combination with an armature of a field
magnet provided with extensions which extend over the wheels and rest on the
journals.
1000
Dated this 12th day
of December 1800.
THE BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON CO., LTD.
ALFRED CLEMENTS,
Assistant Secretary.
J. J. MANHEIM,
T. R. THOMPSON,
Directors.