Improvements in or Appertaining to Electric or Cable-propelled Rail or Tramway Cars and to Brake Mechanism therefor, Partly Applicable to other Vehicles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th June, 1890-Accepted, 6th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Appertaining to Electric or Cable-propelled Rail
or Tramway Cars and to Brake Mechanism therefor, Partly
Applicable to other Vehicles.
A communication from abroad by SUMNER ALEXANDER BEMIS, of 227, Main Street,
Springfield, County of Hampden, State of Massachusetts, and LOUIS PFINGST, of
14, Akron Street, Boston, County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, United
States of America, Mechanical Engineers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to electric and cable cars and particularly relates to improved
means for mounting and spring supporting the car-body on the trucks, to improve-
ments in means for hanging the motor, when used in connection with the truck, from
what is termed the yoke-frame, whereby it may be advantageously supported for its
most efficient operation; it further relates to an improved construction of the yoke-
frame for the proper supporting of the brake mechanism, whereby said mechanism is
independent of the car-body and will not be affected by the bounding motion thereof,
it further relates to brake devices for the trucks of cars of the above mentioned
description having such a construction and arrangement that the space between the
car-wheel axles of the truck which is required for the electric motor or motors, or for
a grip mechanism in case the truck is used for a cable-car, is not encumbered incon-
veniently with any of the brake operating mechanism; the invention further relates
to an improved shoe and connection for the bracing or trussing parts between the
truck and the sill of the car.
In this improved truck a yoke-frame, so called, is employed, which consists of two
pairs of yokes having arched intermediate portions and inner and outer extensions,
longitudinal beams uniting said inner extensions of side pairs of the yokes, and the
compound and beam connected yokes for each side of the truck are united by one or
more suitable cross-beams.
In the truck, the car-wheels and their axles are as usual, as also the journal boxes
which are supported on the ends of the axles outside of the wheels.
On each axle-box is a removable step which comprises an intermediate part (to rest
on the top and embrace the sides of the journal-box) and the forward and rearward,
or as will be herein termed, "inner" and "outer" horizontal step extensions each
having a socket formed on its upper and lower sides, the base of each upper socket
supporting rubber cushions which in turn support the inner and outer yoke-extensions,
which are carried at the forward and rearward portion of the said yokes or arched
portions of the yoke-frame. Cushions are also preferably applied between the top of
each journal-box and the under surface of the arched part of each yoke of the yoke-
frame.
Hanger braces are supported from the sill of the car located one to the forward and
the other to the rearward of each journal, terminating at their lower ends in horizontal
extremities to which are connected the inner and outer extensions of a shoe and brace
connection, which comprises intermediately of said inner and outer extensions a pair
of vertical risers one in advance of the other, having a degree of separation between
their walls equal to the width of the journal-box, and through the engagement of the
risers of said shoe-connection with the journal-boxes and of the connection of the
braces with said shoe-connection, and with the sill of the car-body, endwise shifting
of the car-body on the truck is prevented.

page_text: In addition to said hanger braces other braces may be employed between said shoe
and brace connection and the sill for a still further bracing and trussing action.
On the under side of the car-sill are applied sill-plates, each of which consists of a
plate proper having bolt holes whereby it may be firmly bolted to the car-sill, and
pending therefrom through any suitable bracket or web construction is a supplemental
horizontal and integrally cast plate or shelf.
The car-supporting springs of the spiral form rest between the sockets on the yoke-
extensions, and the under side of said plates and the spring bolts pass vertically
through holes in the sill-plate, in the yoke-extensions, in the step-extensions and the
extensions of the shoe and brace connection, said spring bolts having nuts thereon,
above the sill-plate shelf and below the shoe and brace connection, and there is also a
nut on each spring bolt above and against the extension of the shoe and brace con-
nection, above which nut and the underside of the step-extension is a rubber cushion.
By providing the sill-plates having the supplemental depressed plates or shelves,
whereby the engagement of the spring bolts may be made as described, the necessity
of forming large holes through the sill for said spring bolts as heretofore, is avoided,
and furthermore, by unscrewing the nuts of the spring bolts, the car-body can be lifted
clear of the running gear.
One or more transverse beams are to be provided on the yoke-frame for the support
or partial support of the electric motor, and are to be of number and location to
accommodate the nature of the motor employed.
Connections are comprised in the truck between the longitudinal beams inter-
mediate of the yokes of the yoke-frame, and the said transverse motor-supporting
beams which permit of a swinging motion of said transverse beam or beams in the
direction of their lengths, and of course transversely of the car.
The yoke-frame outside of, that is forwardly and rearwardly of, the car wheels is
provided with hangers to support the beam carrying the brake shoes which in this
truck are located outside of the wheels, leaving all the space between the axles
unobstructed for the motor and supporting parts therefor. The hangers have hori-
zontal grooves or ways therein for the ends of the brake-beams, forming in addition to
supports, guides for said beams, springs being applied to force and normally maintain
the said brake-beams outwardly from the rims of the car-wheels. The said beams are
fitted in the hanger grooves so that their either end may move inwardly or outwardly,
the other end remaining substantially stationary, the beam not moving bodily as usual
in car-brakes.
From the end portion of one brake-beam near the brake-shoe at one side of the car,
a brake-operating rod extends to the other end of the car, connecting with a lever
pivotally supported on a suitable part of the brake-beam at the same side of the truck,
and to this lever a suitable operating lever is attached, by the movement of which in
the right direction, the ends of both beams at one side of the car will be simultaneously
moved towards each other to carry their brake-shoes onto the wheels. A similar
lever and connecting rod is applied in reversed arrangement with relation to and for
similar operation on the ends of the brake-beams at the other side of the truck.
Certain of the perts of the truck may be cushioned or bushed with rubber to avoid
shocks and jars as may appear necessary.
The truck, while designed with particular reference for use for electric railway cars,
is in many respects also designed for use as well for cable railway cars. And the
brake mechanism herein mentioned as forming a part of the truck is applicable in
trucks for tramway cars, the propulsion of which is effected otherwise than by electric
motors or cables.
Dated this 12th day of September 1889.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant,

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I
Improvements in or Appertaining to Electric or Cable-propelled Rail
or Tramway Cars and to Brake Mechanism therefor, Partly
Applicable to other Vehicles.
A communication from abroad by SUMNER ALEXANDER BEMIS, of 227, Main Street,
Springfield, County of Hampden, State of Massachusetts, and LOUIS PFINGST, of
14, Akron Street, Boston, County of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, United States
of America, Mechanical Engineers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool & 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster & 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, 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:-
11
This invention relates to electric and cable cars and particularly relates to improved
means for mounting and spring supporting the car-body on the trucks, to improve-
ments in means for hanging the motor, when used in connection with the truck, from
what is termed the yoke-frame whereby it may be advantageously supported for its
most efficient operation; it further relates to an improved construction of the yoke-
frame for the proper supporting of the brake mechanism, whereby said mechanism is
independent of the car-body and will not be affected by the bounding motion thereof.;
it further relates to brake devices for the trucks of cars of the above mentioned
description having such a construction and arrangement that the space between the
car-wheel axles of the truck which is required for the electric motor or motors, or for
a grip mechanism in case the truck is used for a cable-car, is not encumbered incon-
veniently with any of the brake operating mechanism; and the invention further
relates to an improved shoe and connection for the bracing or trussing parts between
the truck and the sill of the car.
In the drawings:-
Figure 1 is a plan view of the truck having the brake combined therewith.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same showing also the sill of the car, parts of
the truck being in section for better illustration.
"
Figure 3 is a perspective view in detail of a portion of an outer yoke extension, a
brake-beam hanger supported thereon and a portion of the brake-beam in place in
the hanger.
•
In this improved truck a yoke-frame, so called, is employed which consists of two
pairs of yokes B,baving arched intermediate portions and inner and outer extensions a a,
longitudinal beams A, uniting said inner extensions of side pairs of the yokes, and the
compound and beam connected yokes for each side of the truck are united by one or
more suitable cross-beans A¹.
In the truck, the car-wheels and their axles are as usual, as also the journal-
boxes b, which are supported on the ends of the axles outside of the wheels.
On each axle-box is a removable step C, which comprises an intermediate part, (to
rest on the top and closely embrace the sides of the journal-box) and the forward
and rearward, or as will be herein termed "inner" and " outer horizontal štep-
extensions d d, each having a socket formed on its upper and lower sides, the base of
each upper socket supporting rubber cushions f, which in turn support the inner and
outer yoke-extensions which are carried at the forward and rearward portion of the
said yokes or arched portions of the yoke-frame. Cushions fl are also preferably
applied between the top of each journal-box and the under surface of the arched part
of each yoke of the yoke-frame. The yokes fit over or upon the tops of the journal-
boxes or removable steps so that there is no endwise movement of the yoke frame.
Hanger braces 9 are supported from the sill of the car located outside of each
journal, terminating at their lower ends in horizontal extremities, to which are

page_text: connected the outer extensions of a shoe and brace connection D, which comprises, inter-
mediately of its inner and outer extensions h h, a pair of vertical risers i, one in advance
of the other, having a degree of separation between their walls equal to the width of
the journal-box, and through the engagement of the risers of said shoe-connection
with the journal-boxes and of the connection of the braces with said shoe-connection
and with the sill of the car-body, endwise shifting of the car-body on the truck is
prevented.
In addition to said hanger braces, other braces as the ones g¹ and j may be employed
between said shoe and brace connection and the sill for a still further bracing and
trussing action, and a brace beam, rod or tube k may be provided between and
connecting the side pairs of shoe and brace connections D.
On the under side of the car-sill are applied sill plates, each of which consists of a
plate proper l, having bolt-holes whereby it may be firmly bolted to the car-sill, and
pending therefrom through any suitable bracket or web construction is supplemental
horizontal and integrally cast plate or shelf P.
The car supporting springs m of spiral form, rest between the sockets on the yoke-
extensions, and the under side of said sill-plates and the spring bolts J pass vertically
through holes in the supplemental part of the sill-plate, in the yoke-extensions, in the
step-extensions and the extensions of the shoe and brace connection, said spring bolts
having nuts n and n¹, thereon, above the sill-plate shelf and below the shoe and brace
connection, and there is also a nut o, on each spring bolt above and against the exten-
sion of the shoe and brace connection, above which nut and the under side of the step-
extension is a rubber cushion p. By providing the sill-plates having the supplemental
depressed plates or shelves, whereby the engagement of the spring bolts may be
made as described, the necessity of forming large holes through the sill for said spring
bolts, as heretofore, is avoided, and furthermore, by unscrewing the nuts of the spring
bolts the car-body can be lifted clear of the truck; and again, by removing the nuts n¹
and disconnecting the hanger braces 9 9¹, and j, all the parts connected therewith
may be lifted bodily with the car-body from the journals.
One or more transverse beams, E, are to be provided on the yoke-frame for the
support, or partial support, of the electric motor, and are to be of number and location
to accommodate the nature of the motor employed.
Connections are comprised in the truck between the longitudinal beams inter-
mediate of the yokes of the yoke-frame and the said transverse motor supporting
beam or beams E, one beam only being here shown, which permit of a swinging
motion of said transverse beam or beams in the direction of their lengths, and of
course transversely of the car, and may consist of parts as follows:-
Frepresents a shackle-clevis which by its horizontal portion is confined longitudinally
in bearing grooves in a pair of clasp-blocks r, which are confined between the sides
of the double walled yoke-beam A and a bolt-rod s is passed through the eyes q¹ in
the legs of the clevis, its direction being longitudinally of the car, said bolt-rod also
passing through the flanges t, at each edge of the transverse beam E. An inter-
mediate portion of the horizontal transverse beam is vertically perforated, through
which is passed a bolt or pin u, having at its upper end a rounded head by which it
is prevented from falling through said beam and by which form of support it is
capable of slightly radial swinging movements, and from the lower portion of said pin
is supported one end or "toe" of the electric motor, such portion being indicated
at ✗.
The yoke-frame outside of, that is forwardly and rearwardly of, the car-wheels is
provided with hangers or brackets G to support the movable beam H, carrying the
brake-shoes H¹ which latter in this truck are located outside of the wheels, leaving all
the space between the axles unobstructed for the motor and supporting parts therefor.
The hangers have horizontal grooves or ways, w, therein for the ends of the brake-
beams, forming, in addition to supports, guides for said beams, springs x, being applied
between the hangers and the ends of the brake-beams to force and normally maintain
the said beams outwardly from the rims of the car-wheels. The said beams are fitted

page_text: in the hanger grooves so that their either end may move inwardly or outwardly, the
other end remaining substantially stationary, the beam not moving bodily as usual in
car-brakes.
From the end portion of one brake beam near the brake-shoe at one side of the
truck, a brake-operating rod K extends to the other end of the car connecting with
a lever L, pivotally supported on a suitable part of the brake-beam at the same
side of the truck, and to this lever a suitable operating lever, M, is attached, by
the movement of which in the right direction, the ends of both beams at one side
of the car will be simultaneously moved towards each other to carry their brake-
shoes onto the wheels. A similar lever and connecting rod is applied in reversed
arrangement with relation to and for similar operation on the ends of the brake-beams
at the other side of the truck. Certain of the parts of the truck and brake mechanism
other than as described may be cushioned or bushed with rubber to avoid shocks
and jars as may appear necessary.
The truck, while designed with particular reference for use for electric railway
cars, is in many respects also designed for use as well for cable railway cars, and
the brake mechanism herein mentioned as forming a part of the truck is applicable
in trucks for tramway cars, the propulsion of which is effected otherwise than by
electric motors or cables.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with the car-body and the journal-boxes for the car-wheel
axles, of braces secured to and pending from said car-body, and the shoe and brace
connections below the journal-boxes, comprising risers engaging said boxes, and
extensions to which said braces are connected, step-extensions for said journal-boxes,
beam connected yokes having extensions, cushions between said step and yoke
extensions, and springs between and supporting the car-body from the said yokes,
substantially as described.
2. The combination with the sill of a car-body, of a sill-plate comprising a main
plate adapted to be secured to the sill, and one or more supplemental plates supported
from and below said main plate and adapted to receive the connection therewith of
the upper ends of the spring bolts, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the journal-boxes for the car-wheel axles, the sill of
the car-body, and sill-plates, each comprising a main plate adapted to be secured to
the sill, and the supplemental perforated plates supported from and below said main
plate, of braces secured to and pending from the car-body and shoe and brace con-
nections, having risers engaging the journal-boxes; and the vertically perforated
extensions to which said braces are connected, the steps, supported from the journal-
boxes, having perforations, the beam-connected yokes comprising the extensions also
having vertical perforations, cushions between and supporting said yoke-extensions
from said steps, springs between and supporting said car-sills from said yoke-
extensions, and the spring bolts passing between and through and connected to said
supplemental portions of the sill-plates and said brace connections, passing through
the perforations of said yoke-extensions and steps, and through the said cushion and
springs, substantially as described.
4. In a truck, the combination with a longitudinal beam, as the yoke-beam, of
separable blocks having grooves therein, the clevis and means for confining the said
blocks together upon said beam and to embrace the middle portion of said clevis.
5. In a truck, the combination with the yoke-frame thereof, which is provided at
each side with transversely swinging clevis-shackles, of a motor-supporting beam
pivotally supported on the pending members of said clevis-shackles and adapted to
have an easy swinging movement transversely of the truck.
6. Hangers for the brake-beams of a car-truck attached to the inner opposite sides
of the yoke-frame, each having a groove therein to receive one end of the beams,
combined with brake-beams engaging in the grooves of said hangers, a brake lever

page_text: attached to each end of the car, and intermediate levers and brake-rod connections,
substantially as described, between said brake-levers and the ends of said beams,
substantially as set forth.
7. Hangers for the brake-beams of a car-truck attached to the inner opposite
sides of the truck-frame, each having a groove therein to receive one end of said
beams and a spring at the inner end of said groove, combined with brake-beams
engaging in the grooves of said hangers, a brake-lever attached to each end of
the car, and intermediate levers and brake-rod connections, substantially as described,
between said brake-levers and the ends of said beams, substantially as set forth.
8. Brake devices for cars consisting of two brake-beam hangers attached to the
inner opposite sides of the car-truck, each having a groove therein to receive the
end of said beam, combined with a brake-beam engaging in the grooves of said
hangers either end of which is movable therein independently of the opposite end
of the beam towards and from the car wheels of one side only of the truck,
substantially as set forth.
9. Brake devices for car-trucks consisting of the hangers attached to the inner
opposite sides of the truck-frame, each having a groove therein to receive one end
of said beams, combined with two brake-beams having a sliding motion in said
hanger-grooves, a lever pivotally connected to each of said beams at opposite sidės
of the truck, a rod connecting each of said levers with one end of a beam at the
opposite end of the truck, and a brake-operating lever connected with each of said
levers, substantially as set forth.
Tad this ech den of Iun 1900