Improvements in Electro-dynamic Engines for Hauling or Propelling Vehicles on Railways and Tramways.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 16th Sept., 1889--Accepted, 7th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electro-dynamic Engines for Hauling or Propelling
Vehicles on Railways and Tramways.
I HENRY PERCY HOLT of the Cedars, Didsbury in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to electro-dynamic engines to be used for hauling or pro-
pelling vehicles on tramways or railways.
These Improvements consist in the construction and arrangement of apparatus
and devices for safely and conveniently carrying the batteries and for transmitting
the motion of the armature to the wheels of the engine. They also relate to the
general construction and arrangement of the engine.
The cells of the battery (which are preferably but not necessarily of glass) are
carried within a comparatively long cage or carrier. This cage has a rectangular
cross section, and at each of its angles it has a horizontal member preferably of
angle iron. The vertical members are respectively tied in pairs by diagonal braces;
the horizontal members are preferably tied by rods perpendicular to the mombers.
A light flooring may be placed in the cage or longitudinal bearers may be used to
carry the battery, but in either case indiarubber cushions are employed as the direct
supports for the cells. These cushions are shaped to fit the bottoms of the cells
and are constructed in short lengths so that one half of each cushion is below part
of each of two contiguous cells. It is preferred to make the cushions comparatively
narrow and to employ them in two rows respectively near to opposito sides of the
cells. The cells are provided with light covers which are held down by vertical bolts
passing between the cells and fitted with a cross pieco which rests upon two light
bows. Each of the bows has one of its ends fitting into a recess formed in the
cover of the cell upon one side, and its other end fitting into a similar recess in the
cover of the cell on the other side. Under the covers and between them and
the top edges of the cell there are placed strips of indiarubber or other suitable soft
packing material. This holding down arrangement not only secures the covers but
through them the cells also so that they are incapable of independent movement
relatively to each other. Suitable pipes are connected to the cells for the purpose of
permitting the escape of the gases generated therein.
The driving wheels of the engine are connected by radius bars to a shaft equi-
distant from the axles of the drivers so that the distance between the centres of the
shaft and of the axles is kept the same under all conditions. Upon the shaft there is
fixed a spur wheel into which a pinion on the shaft of the armature gears. Motion
is communicated from the intermediate shaft to the driving wheels by means of cranks
at right angles and side connecting rods.
The axle boxes are rigidly secured together by cross stays and have lugs formed
upon them which engage with horns fixed to the engine framing. By this arrange-
nient end and lateral motions of the axles are prevented.
As the bearings of the crank pins of the driving wheels are very near to the
ground they are liable to become choked with dust especially when the engine is used
or tramway work. To prevent this, a portion of the crank pin is reduced in
linmeter a sleeve or bush is then fitted upon the reduced part of the pin so as
o form an enlarged journal; a hole is drilled endwise so as to be formed partly
n the substance of the crank pin and partly in that of the sleeve and this hole is
apped and fitted with a set-screw so that the sleeve is fixed to the crank pin. The
connecting rod bushes are formed with return ends which bear upon and engage with

page_text: the end of the sleeve and thus cover the oil space at that end of the bearing and
secure the connecting rod bushes; the other end of the bearing is protected by a
closed cap secured to the connecting rod bushes.
DL: 19th of Douchen AD 1940
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electro-dynamic Engines for Hauling or Propelling
Vehicles on Railways and Tramways.
I, HENRY PEROY HOLT of the Cedars Didsbury in the County of Lancaster,
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:
This Invention relates to electro-dynamic engines to be employed for hauling or
propelling vehicles on tramways and railways.
These Improvements consist in the construction and arrangement of apparatus
and devices for safely and conveniently carrying the batteries and for transmitting
the motion of the armature of the electro-motor to the wheels of the engine.
I will proceed to describe my Invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
The cells of the battery which are preferably, but not necessarily, constructed
of glass, are carried in a comparatively long cage or carrier. This cage has a
rectangular cross section and is illustrated with a portion of a battery arranged
therein, in Figs. 1 and 2, of which Fig. 1 is a partial longitudinal section and Fig. 2
a cross section. The cage has at each of its horizontal angles a member A A
which may be constructed of wood as represented in the Figures or which may
sometimes advantageously be constructed of angle iron. The horizontal members
are connected by the vertical members B B which may consist of strips or rods of
wood, iron, or other similar and suitable material, or these vertical members may be
omitted when diagonal tios are used. The cage may be strengthened by diagonal
braces CC if desired. A light flooring may be placed in the cage and be supported
by the lower horizontal members, or, longitudinal bearers in lieu of the flooring,
may be employed to carry the battery, but in either case india-rubber or other
similar soft elastic cushions D D are employed as the direct supports for the cells.
Those cushions are shaped to fit the bottoms of the cells as indicated in Fig. 1 and
they are preferably constructed in short lengths so that one half of each cushion is
below a part of each of two contiguous cells. It is also preferred to make the
cushions comparatively narrow and to employ them in two rows respectively near
to opposite sides of the cells. Each cell is provided with a light cover E and the
covers are held down upon the cells by vertical bolts F F passing between the cells
and fitted each with a cross piece G which rests upon two light bows H H. Each
of the bows has one of its ends fitting into a small recess formed in the cover of the
cell upon ono side, and its other end fitting into a similar recess in the cover of the
cell on the other side. Under the covers and between them and the top edges of
the cell there are placed sheets of indiarubber or other suitable soft packing
material. This holding down arrangement not only secures the covers but also
through them, the colls, so that they are incapable of movement relatively to each
other. Suitable pipes or perforations through the covers may be provided for the
purpose of permitting the escape of the gases which may be generated therein.
The driving arrangements are shewn in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of which Fig. 3 is a
side view, Fig. 4 a transverse section, and Fig. 5 a half plan.
As represented in these Figures, the axle boxes of the driving wheels of the
engine are connected by radius bars I I on each side to an intermediate shaft J

page_text: equidistant from the axles of the drivers K K so that the distance between the
centres of the shaft J and of the axles of the drivers is kept the same under all
conditions. Upon the shaft J there is mounted a toothed wheel L into which gears
a pinion M on the armature shaft N. Motion is communicated from the intermediate
shaft J to the driving wheels by means of cranks OO and outside connecting
rods PP.. The cranks on opposite sides of the engine are set at right angles so as
to avoid dead centres on starting.
The axle boxes QQ are rigidly secured together by cross stays R R and have
lugs SS formed upon them which engage with horns T T fixed to the engine
framing U. By this arrangement end and lateral motions of the axles are prevented.
Since the bearings of the crank pins are very near to the ground, they are liable
to become choked with dust, especially when used for tramway work, unless some
precaution is taken to prevent it. To provide against this defect, a portion of each
crank pin O is reduced in diameter as shewn in Fig. 6; a sleeve or bush V is
fitted upon the reduced part of the pin so as to form an enlarged journal; one or
more holes are then drilled end-wise in such a manner that they are formed partly
in the substance of the crank pin and partly in that of the sleeve, and each hole is
then tapped and fitted with a set screw W which thus secures the sleeve to the
crank pin.
The connecting rod bushes are preferably formed with return ends Y which
bear upon and engage with the end of the sleeve V and so cover the oil space at
that end of the bearing and secure the_connecting rod bushes. The other end of
the bearing is protected by a closed cap X secured to the connecting rod bushes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) In an electro-dynamic engine for hauling and propelling vehicles on railways
and tramways; the construction combination and arrangement of a cage in which
the cells of the battery are secured and carried, a toothed wheel and intermediate
shaft driven by a pinion on the motor shaft, side connecting rods and cranks for
transmitting the motion of the intermediate shaft to the driving wheels, axle boxes
secured together by cross stays and provided with lugs engaging with horns on
the framing, radius bars connecting the intermediate shaft and axle boxes, and
devices for preventing access of dust to the crank bearings; substantially as herein-
before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
(2) In an electro-dynamic engine for hauling and propelling vehicles on railways
and tramways; a cage or carrier for the cells of the battery, constructed and arranged
substantially as hereinbofore described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
(3) In an electro-dynamic engine for hauling and propelling vehicles on railways
and tramways; devices for holding and securing the cells of the battery and con-
sisting of indiarubber or soft elastic bearers, holding down bolts, covers for the cells,
and bows fitting upon the covers and secured by the holding down bolts; substan-
tially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
(4) In an electro-dynamic engine for hauling and propelling vehicles on railways
and tramways; soft clastic cushions or bearers for the cells of the battery, constructed
and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2
of the accompanying drawings.
(5) In an electro-dynamic engine for hauling and propelling vehicles on railways
and tramways; the combination construction and arrangement of a toothed wheel and
intermediate shaft driven by a pinion on the motor shaft, side connecting rods and
cranks for transmitting the motion of the intermediate shaft to the driving wheels,
radius bars connecting the intermediate shaft with the axle boxes, and axle boxes
secured together by cross stays and provided with lugs engaging with horns on the

page_text: framing; substantially as heroinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of
the accompanying drawings.
(6) In electro-dynamic engines for-hauling and propelling vehicles on railways and
tramways; the construction and arrangement of the axle boxes substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3, 4, and 5 of the
accompanying drawings.
(7) In an electro-dynamic engine for hauling and propelling vehicles on railways
and tramways; an intermediate or dummy shaft above the plane of the axles of the
driving wheels and connected to the driving axles or wheels by diagonal connecting
rods and cranks; substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by Figs. 3,
4, and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
(8) In an electro-dynamic engine for bauling and propelling vehicles on railways
and tramways; radius bars connecting the intermediate shaft with the axle boxes,
constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein before described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(9) In an electro-dynamic engine for hauling and propelling vehicles on railways
and tramways; devicos for preventing the access of dust to the crank bearings, con-
structed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 6
of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of Sentember & D 1880.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.