Improvements in Systems of Train Control for Electric Motors.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Systems of Train Control for Electric Motors.
I, FRANK E. CASE, of Schenectady, in the County of Schenectady, State of New
York, United States of America, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates particularly to systems of train control for electric motors,
in which a number of motor cars are united to form a train or portion of a
train, each motor car being, itself, a complete unit, that is to say, provided with
a motor or motors and a controller for regulating their operation.
In systems of this kind it is preferable to control all the motors from a single
point, so that changes in all the motor circuits may be made simultaneously and
correspondingly. It has been proposed to provide each controller with a small
pilot motor, or other electrically controlled device, and to control the action of
such device by means of a master controller, from a selected point on the train,
the controlling current being derived from the main source of supply. This
arrangement is not entirely satisfactory, for, if the source of supply fails from
any cause, the controllers are left in their last running position, and when the
circuit is again established, the motors now at a standstill or running slowly,
are subjected to a potential depending upon the position which the controller last
occupied; this may be very injurious to the motors, as well as disagreeable to
the passengers.
My invention has for one of its objects to provide in a train system of control
where all the motors are controlled from a selected point, a source of energy, so
arranged that upon any failure of the current supplied to the motors, it will
be operatively connected to the system in such manner that the motor controllers
may be returned to the zero position or moved to any desired position.
ferably supply a storage battery as my separate source of supply, and a further
object of my invention is to provide means for regulating the charging of the
storage battery.
I pre-
In the adcompanying drawings, which show various embodiments of my in-
vention, Fig. 1 is a diagram of a three-car train; Fig. 2 is a diagram of the
circuit connections; Fig. 3 is a detail view of the means employed to close the
battery circuit; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view illustrating a slight modifica-

page_text: tion; Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrams of motor and battery combinations, Figs. 7
and 8 show modifications of the battery connections.
Since
In Fig. 1 are shown three vehicles, A, B and C, mechanically united to form
a train, each vehicle being provided with motors D, a controller E, a contact
device F, a master controller G, and a storage battery K. In the particular form
illustrated, pilot motors H, controlled by means of master switches G, are
mechanically connected to the controllers, but my invention is equally applic-
able to other master controller systems. In order to simplify the arrangement of
wiring and to avoid passing heavy currents through the train, the motors of each
car are supplied with current by the contact device mounted on that car.
the source of supply of an electric railway system is liable to interruption from
various causes, and since it is injurious to the propelling motors to subject them
to the full or partial line potential when they are at a standstill or slowly moving,
it is necessary to return the motor controllers to their off position as soon as
the source of supply fails. To accomplish this, I propose to operate the pilot
motors by means of current received from the main source of supply,
together with current received from a separate source of energy, as al
storage battery, for example. By this arrangement, the controllers may be
actuated in any desired manner, irrespective of the condition of the main source
of supply.
In Fig. 2 the circuits are illustrated in detail.
As this invention does not relate to the particular kind of controller employed
for regulating the motors, the controller has been illustrated in a conventional
manner only, as shown at E. The master switch G is provided with a single
row of brushes G arranged to engage with the contacts situated on each side
thereof. For simplicity, only a single set of contacts is shown on each side of
the brushes, but it is to be understood that any number of contacts, resistance
or otherwise, may be employed. The support for the contacts is in dotted lines.
The contacts on switch G are so arranged that when the vertical row of brushes
Grest on the contacts situated at the left, current is, supplied to the pilot
motors Hin a manner to cause them to rotate in one direction, and when brushes G¹
rest on the contacts at the right, in a manner to cause them to rotate in the
opposite direction. The pilot motors are shown in this case as being series
wound, but any other kind of winding may be employed if desired.
In circuit between the source of supply and the storage battery K, is an auto-
matic circuit-breaker I, comprising fixed and moving contacts, the moving
contact I being secure to the upper end of a toggle I. A spring 13 employed
to open the circuit as soon as the locking detent 1 is released by the armature J.
The armature Jis controlled by a magnet j¹ which is connected in shunt around
the storage battery K. As long as the charge in the battery is below normal,
the magnet J will not effect the armature, but as soon as the charge in the
battery becomes such as to cause the voltage to rise to a predetermined amount,
the armature will be attracted and unlock the circuit breaker which will be
opened by the spring I³.
One terminal of the battery is connected to the source of supply through
a resistance R, which is employed to reduce the potential of the charging circuit,
and the other terminal is grounded by wire 5°. All the pilot motors and master
switches on the train are connected to cable L, and are in multiple with each
other, so that when the circuits of one motor are completed in a particular
manner, the circuits of the other motors are correspondingly affected; this con-
trolling may be accomplished by any one of the master switches. All the master
switches are shown as being mounted on motor cars, but if the train is made
up of motor and trail cars, which are arranged in any desired relation, the trail
cars may be provided with master switches, and the controlling accomplished
from any one of these switches.
Assuming that it is desired to drive the pilot motors in a forward direction,
the contacts on the left of the master switch are moved into engagement with the

page_text: stationary row of brushes G¹ and the circuit is as follows: --From contact F through
the circuit breaker I, resistance R., to brush 1, to contact 1, to wire 1°, through
the armatures of the pilot motors on the train in multiple, to wire 2º, to brush 2b,
to contact 2, to brush 3, to wire 3º, through the field magnet coils of the pilot
motors to wire 4° and to ground by wire 5°. If the potential of the supply circuit
is normal, a certain amount of current will pass from contact shoe F through
circuit breaker I, resistance R, storage battery K, wire 5°, to ground, and charge
the battery. If the number of pilot motors or other electrically actuated devices,
on the train is sufficient to cause a drop in the line potential, the battery K will
assist the line current to operate them. The circuits are arranged as shown in
Fig. 5.
The pilot motors being mechanically connected to the motor controllers, the
latter will change the circuit of the motors in any desired manner. To stop the
pilot moters, the contacts are returned to the position shown, and to reverse the
motors, in order to return the controllers E to their off position, the contacts on
the right are brought into engagement with the brushes. If, for any reason,
the supply of current from contact F fails, the battery K will be in operative
connection with the circuit, and by moving the master switch G, the action of
the pilot motors may be controlled in the manner above described. It will be
seen that the pilot motors are controlled by switch G whether the current is
supplied by contact F or battery K.
In order to maintain the storage battery charged to a predetermined degree,
and this without requiring attention on the part of the motor man, the circuit
breaker I is so arranged with respect to the master switch, that each time the
latter is closed, the battery charging circuit is also closed.
Mounted on shaft G of the switch G is a cam G2 so arranged that when switch
handle G3 is moved to either side of a central position, it will move lever I5 and
close the circuit between the main source of supply and the battery K. If, when
this action takes place, the battery is not charged to its normal capacity, the
armature J will be in position to engage the latch It, and hold the circuit breaker
closed; but if the battery is charged to its normal degree, the coil J¹ will attract
the armature and prevent it from locking the circuit breaker in place when
the switch handle G³ is returned to the off position. This arrangement is par-
ticularly desirable where the strength of the storage battery has been somewhat
decreased by use, and the car upon which it is located is returned to the car
barn. With the arrangement shown, if the charge in the battery is below
normal, the circuit will remain closed until the battery has been charged to
its proper degree, after which the circuit will be automatically interrupted. This
arrangement largely decreases the amount of care necessary for the charging
of the batteries is automatically accomplished.
In Fig. 4 I have shown a slight modification of my invention, in which the
current for driving the pilot motors is normally obtained entirely from the main
source of supply. A battery K is provided which is connected in scries with
the main circuit through the pilot motors, and in this capacity acts as an ad-
ditional resistance to the passage of current. In series with the lead from the
contact shoe F is a magnet J¹ which, under normal conditions, attracts the
switch arm of circuit breaker I and keeps open the circuit between battery K
and the ground wire 5°. A spring I is provided for closing the circuit breaker
when for any reason the current from the main source of supply fails. A re-
sistance R is emploved to cut down the current which passes through the pilot
motors. For convenience of illustration, I have only shown one pilot motor,
which is geared to a motor controller E in any desired manner, but it is to be
understood that there are or may be, a number of these motor controllers, each
provided with a pilot motor. In the normal operation of the system, current
enters from contact F. The main current passes from the motor controller E
and the propelling motors by wire 5, but a portion flows to the pilot motors by
the following path:-Through magnet coil J₁, resistance R, storage battery K, to
}

page_text: brush 1; and if the brushes be in engagement with contacts now situated on the
right, to contact 1d, by cross connection to contact 3d, brush 2b, wire 4º, through
the armatures of all the pilot motors in multiple, wire 3º, to brush 1b, to contact 2d,
by cross connection to contact 4d, to brush 3, wire 2°, and through the fields of the
pilot motors to wire 1° and wire 5 to ground. The arrangement of circuits just
described is the same as that shown in Fig. 6. For convenience only one motor
is shown, but it is to be understood that the other motors may be connected in
multiple therewith.
Assuming that, for any reason, the source of supply from the contact F fails,
coil J¹ will be de-energized and the circuit breaker I closed by means of spring B³,
and the circuit will be from the positive side of the battery to circuit breaker I,
wire I through the fields of the pilot motors in multiple to wire 2, to brush 3;
and if it is desired to reverse the direction of the motors from that previously
described, to contact 2", to brush 2b, thence through the armatures of the pilot
motors in multiple to wire 3°, to brush 1b, to contact 1", to brush 1, to the nega-
tive side of the battery. It will be seen that the current passes through the
field and armatures of the pilot motors in an opposite direction to that previously
described, and as the direction of current through both field and armatures is
reversed, it does not affect the direction of rotation, that being governed entirely
by the contacts on the master switch G.
In Fig. 6 is shown a diagram of the battery and motor circuits, and I have
indicated in dotted lines the circuit breaker I in the position which it occupies
when the battery K is employed for driving the pilot motors.
The invention has been shown and described in connection with pilot motors
which are arranged to operate the controllers for the propelling motors, but
it is evident that other forms of electrical devices may be employed to actuate
the controllers, and I aim to embrace such an arrangement in the claims. In
Fig. 7 and 8 I have shown improved arrangements for charging and connecting
the storage batteries K.
Referring more particularly to Fig. 7 the battery K is connected across the
circuit from the trolley F to the ground wire 5°, and in series with the battery
is a resistance R which regulates the current flowing therein. This resistance
also acts under normal conditions to cut down the voltage of the current supplied
to the storage battery. For example, with a 500 volt railroad circuit, I may
use a storage battery K of 125 volts. At a point between the battery and resis-
tance is connected a wire 6, which supplies current to the translating device 7,
in multiple with the storage battery K. This translating device may be of any
desired character, but will in particular, comprise two pilot motors or other
controller actuating means, whatever they may be.
When only a small current is being taken by the translating devices 7, current
will flow through the resistance R through the wire F1 and will charge the
battery K. Whatever current may be needed by the translating devices, it will
be supplied in multiple with the battery.
If now, the translating devices 7, begin to take a large amount of current,
it is obvious that the storage battery will begin to discharge, and will thus take
its share of the load. At the same time a considerable amount of current will
flow through the resistance R to these translating devices. It will
be obvious that when a large current flows through the resistance R
to the translating device 7, the drop in the resistance will become excessive,
so that in practice all, or nearly all, of the current supplied will be supplied
from the storage battery K. In order to avoid this I arrange other re-
sistances R¹, R³. SO that when the translating devices. 7 begin to
take any considerable load, these resistances are cut in, in multiple with the
resistance R.
I accomplish this result by placing a solenoid 9 in series with the wire 6, and
causing this solenoid to attract the armature 10 of the switch 8 against the
action of the spring 11. With this arrangement when the current in the wire
6 rises to a certain predetermined amount, resistance R¹ will be cut in, in multiple

page_text: with resistance R, so that energy can be supplied to the translating device with
considerable economy. One or more additional resistances as R2, may also be
provided with switches, so proportioned and adjusted that the more current is
taken on the wire 6, the greater will be the number of resistances cut in, in
multiple with the resistance R; or in other words, the. greater will be the con-
ductivity of the circuit from the trolley F to the wire 6. For the sake of sim-
plicity, only three sections of resistance have been shown, but it is obvious that
any number of sections may be employed, each with an automatic switch for
cutting them into and out of circuit, and that the springs for the switches may
have the same or different adjustments.
In order to protect the battery against accidental discharge through the pro-
pelling motors, etc., in case the main line current is interrupted for any reason,
a circuit breaker 14 is provided for controlling the circuit through the resistance
and battery. The circuit breaker is provided with a shunt coil which is con-
nected across the mains, and will, when the main line voltage is above a certain
point, hold the switch closed; but as soon as the voltage decreases, the spring
opens the switch and interrupts the circuit at this point.
By this arrangement it will be seen that the battery K, on account of its
only being called upon to perform a certain amount of work, may be of small
capacity but, at the same time, in the event of the trolley circuit being inter-
rupted, a supply of energy is always at hand and in operative condition to perform
any useful work, as, for example, for actuating the motor controller or controllers.
In Fig. 8 is shown a slight modification of the arrangement shown in Fig. 7
the essential difference being that two separate circuits 12 and 13 are provided,
each having an electro-magnetic switch 8 for cutting in into and out of circuit.
A single circuit breaker 14 controlled by the coil in shunt to the line serves
for both of these circuits. This circuit breaker is similar to the circuit breaker 14,
of Fig. 7. In multiple with the battery K are a set of translating devices 12,
supplied from the wire 6. In series with this wire 6 is a solenoid 9, acting on
a switch 8, which switch controls the resistance R¹, as in the form hereinbefore
described.
But in addition to the wire G there is a second wire 61 in series with which
there is placed a solenoid 9' of a second switch 81, controlling the resistance R³.
This wire 6 supplies a number of translating devices 13, in the same manner
that the wire 6 supplies the translating devices 12. The arrangement is ob-
viously such, that if any one of the sets of translating devices begins to take
a considerable current, the resistance corresponding to that particular set of
translating devices is cut in, in multiple with the resistance R. Circuit 13
is represented as working under full load conditions, the switch 8 is closed and
the sections of resistance R and R³ are connected in parallel relation. Circuit 12
is only partially loaded, the black circles indicating that certain of the translating
devices 7 are cut out of circuit.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a system of control for electric motors, the combination of main and
separate sources of current supply, and a switch for operatively connecting the
separate source of supply with the motors, upon the partial or total failure of
the main current source.
2. In a system of control for electric motors, the combination of a main source
of supply, a switch for connecting the source of supply with the motors, and
a separate source of supply connected in circuit in such manner that upon the
partial or total failure of the main source of supply, it will supply current to
the motors.
3. In a system of control for electric motors, the combination of a switch
or switches for changing the circuit connections of the motors, electric means

page_text: for actuating the switch or switches, a source of supply for the motors and for
said means, and a separate source of supply for actuating said means upon the
failure of the main source of supply.
4. In a system of control for electric motors mounted on separate vehicles,
the combination of a plurality of electrically actuated devices mounted on each
vehicle, a source of current supply, a switch for controlling said devices located
at a selected point, and a separate source of supply connected in circuit with the
main source of supply and the electrically actuated-devices in such manner that
upon the partial or total failure of the main current source, it will supply current
to the electrical devices.
5. In a system of control for a plurality of separate electrically actuated
devices, the combination of a main source of supply, a switch for regulating
the action of said devices, and a storage battery connected to the circuit in such
manner that it is being charged from the main source during the normal opera-
tion of the devices, but as soon as the source of supply wholly or partially fails,
will supply current for operating the said devices.
6. In a train system having a number of motor cars, the combination of a
plurality of pilot motors mounted on separate cars and mechanically coupled to
controllers for the motors, and a main source of supply, and storage batteries
mounted on separate cars so connected in circuit that they are normally being a
charged by the main source of supply but upon the partial or total failure of
the main source of supply, are operatively connected in circuit in a manner
to drive the pilot motors.
7. In a system of control for an electric motor the combination of a motor
for propelling the vehicle, a controller for regulating the propelling motor, a
pilot motor mechanically connected to the controller, a main source of supply
for the pilot and propelling motors, a storage battery, and a master switch for
regulating the current from the main source of supply and the battery when
they are supplying current to the pilot motors.
8. In an electric railway, the combination of a motor controller, a storage
battery which receives its charging current from the line, and means actuated
by the controller when it is moved to a certain position, for closing the charging.
circuit of the battery.
9.In an electric railway, the combination of a motor controller, a storage
battery which receives its charging current from the line, means actuated by
by the controller, when it is moved to a certain position, for closing the charging
circuit of the battery, and means for maintaining the charging circuit closed
until the battery has been charged to a predetermined amount.
10. In an electric railway, the combination of a motor controller, a storage.
battery which receives its charging current from the line, means actuated by.
the controller when it is moved from the off position, for closing the charging
circuit of the battery, and means controlled by the battery for interrupting the
charging circuit when it has been charged to its normal degree.
11. In an electric railway, the combination of a motor controller, a storage
battery which receives its charging current from the line, a circuit breaker
actuated by the controller, for closing the charging circuit of the battery, a
lock for holding the circuit breaker closed when the charge on the battery is
below normal, and a magnet connected to the battery in such manner that when
the charge on the battery reaches a certain amount, it will release the lock.
12. In a system of train control, the combination of a plurality of pilot motors,
a main and separate source of supply uniting to furnish current to drive the
motors, and a switch for regulating the operation of the motors.
13. In a system of control for electric motors, the combination of two sources
of current supply, translating devices arranged to receive energy from one or
both of the sources of supply, and means for automatically decreasing the resist-
ance of the circuit.
14.—In a system of control for electric motors, the combination of a main and

page_text: a secondary source of current supply, translating devices arranged to receive
energy from one or both of the sources of supply, and means for decreasing the
resistance in circuit with one of the sources of supply.
15. In a system of control for electric motors, the combination of a main
source of current supply, a storage battery, translating devices arranged to receive
energy from one or both of the sources of supply, and an automatic switch for
decreasing the resistance in circuit with the main source of supply.
16. In a system of control for electric motors, the combination of a main
source of current supply, a storage battery arranged to be charged from said
source, translating devices connected to the battery and the main source of supply,
a resistance in series with said source, and an automatic switch for varying said
resistance.
17. In a system of control for electric motors, the combination of a main
source of current supply, a storage battery arranged to be charged from said
source, a circuit main which is connected to the circuit at a point between the
battery and the main source of supply translating devices connected between
the main circuit and the negative side of the battery, and automatic means
for increasing the current which is supplied to the circuit main from the main
source of supply at the time the load on the circuit increases.
18. In a system of control, the combination of a main and a separate source
of energy, translating devices supplied with current from one or both of said
sources, and a plurality of automatic switches for successively decreasing and
increasing the resistance in circuit with the translating devices.
19. In a system of control, the combination of a main and a separate source
of energy, a plurality of separate circuits, each supplied from one or both of
said sources, and automatic means for varying the resistance in each of the
separate circuits.
20. In a system of control, the combination of a storage battery, a main
source of supply arranged to charge the battery resistances in series with the
battery, translating devices receiving current from the battery or main source
of supply or both, a circuit breaker for controlling the charging circuit, and
a shunt coil for normally holding the breaker closed.
21. In a system of motor control, the combination of a master controller, a
metor controller regulated by the master controller for regulating the motors,
a source of supply for the motors, an additional source of supply for supplying
current for controlling the motor controller, and means for supplying the master
controller with current at a lower voltage than that supplied to the motors.
22. In an electrically propelled vehicle, a storage battery connected across
the mains, in series with a resistance, with auxiliary devices in multiple with the
battery.
23. In an electrically propelled vehicle, a storage battery connected across
the mains, in series with a resistance, with auxiliary devices in multiple with
the battery, and means for reducing the resistance upon the consumption of a
predetermined amount of current by the auxiliary devices.
Dated this 15th day of October 1898
A. R. MONKS,
Agent for Applicant.