Improvements in or relating to Electrically Actuated Mechanism.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 31st Mar., 1896-Accepted, 6th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Electrically Actuated Mechanism.
I, SEPTIMUS FELIX BEEVOR, of 25 Leinster Square, W., in the County of
London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
"
My invention relates to electrically actuated mechanism or driving gear, of that
class in which an epicyclic train of three or more wheels are used, by means of
which differential motion is obtained. Such driving gear or mechanism is some-
times known as " Jacks or "Jack in the box," or balance gear; and is employed
upon traction engines, tramway vehicles, in slubbing and roving frames, upon the
axles of some forms of velocipedes, and generally for transmitting motion from one
rotating body to another having the same axes of rotation. The said mechanism
is usually actuated by ordinary mechanical means, and in some cases by an electro
motor, but my invention especially relates to the employment of two electro motors
in combination with the aforesaid class of mechanism, one of the electro motors
being placed upon what may be called the driving shaft portion of the mechanism,
and the other motor upon what may be termed the driven shaft of the mechanism,
but I may vary this arrangement, as stated hereinafter. According to the
direction of motion the terms driving and driven shafts are reversible, and both
motors may be actuating their respective shafts at the same time.
In carrying out my invention I mount two electric motors upon their respective
portions of the mechanism as aforesaid, so that each motor is adapted to actuate
its own shaft, or I may mount them upon counter shafts. The two motors may
be adapted to work at the same or different voltages, but suitable means are
provided by which a differential condition may be brought about in the electric
or magnetic functions of the motors. For example, resistances may be interposed
in or cut out of the electrical circuit, or some of the coils of the field magnets
cut out or put in, of either motor; and with suitable means for reversing the
direction of their motion, in cases where it is required. By this means I am
enabled to apply the power of either or both motors for the transmission of power,
or to use one of them as a brake; while the condition known as a "rush of
current" which takes place where a single motor is employed, is practically
avoided by the combination of the two motors; with scarcely any waste of electric
energy owing to the driven motor becoming a generator, and under certain,
conditions feeding back to the mains.
Dated this 16th dox of July 1805
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433 Strand, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Electrically Actuated Mechanism.
I, SEPTIMUS FELIX BEEVOR, of 25, Leinster Square, W., in the County of
London, Electrical 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 :—
My invention relates to electrically actuated mechanism or driving gear of that

page_text: 66
class in which an epicyclic train of three or more wheels is used, by means of
which differential motion-is obtained. Such driving gear or mechanism (irrespec-
tive of the means whereby it is actuated) is known as Jacks," or "Jack in the
box," or balance gear; and is sometimes employed upon traction engines, tramway
vehicles, in slubbing or roving frames, upon the axles of some forms of velocipedes,
and generally for transmitting motion from one rotating body to another having
the-same axes of rotation. The said mechanism is usually actuated by ordinary
mechanical means, and it may be in some cases by an electro motor, but my
invention especially relates to the employment of two electro motors in combination
with the aforesaid mechanism-or-balance-gear; one of the electro motors being
placed upon what may be called the driving shaft portion of the mechanism, and
the other electro motor upon what may be termed the driven shaft of the mechanism.
According to the direction of motion the terms driving and driven shafts are
reversible, and both motors may be actuating their respective shafts at the same
time.
In the further description of my invention, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are diagrammatic representations of two motors with balance
gear between them, a controlling switch, and electrical connections which vary in
each case;
Fig. 4 is a partial end elevation, and Fig. 5 a section (at a right angle to Fig. 4)
of the balance gear, and
Fig. 6 is an elevation in detail of one of the bearings of the intermediate wheels.
In the diagram Fig. 1, the motor A is mounted upon a shaft a carrying its
armature and commutator a¹, upon one side of the balance gear mechanism C ;
while upon the other side is similarly mounted the motor B, on its shaft b, together
with the corresponding armature and commutator b¹. A toothed driving wheel c
surrounds the balance gear C, which is driven by the relative motion of the two
motor wheels a², 2, through the intervention of the intermediate wheels c¹, c².
A suitable switch d, with resistances between the contacts d', is provided to
regulate the current energy supplied to the field magnet windings of the motors A
and B, which are placed in parallel; and the said motors are arranged to simul-
taneously rotate their respective shafts a and b in opposite directions. If the two
shafts a and b are thus oppositely driven at equal speed, there will be no motion of
the driving wheel c, because the motions of the two motor wheels a² and 2 are
entirely taken up by the two intermediate wheels c¹, c', and balance or neutralize
each other, and this is the condition indicated by the position of the switch d, in
the diagram Fig. 1. But when the switch arm d is moved in either direction, it
cuts out some of the electrical resistance in the field magnet circuit of one of the
motors, and increases the resistance in the field magnet circuit of the other motor,
so that a differential condition is brought about in the field magnets, one having
more intense field than the other. Consequently the speed of the motor having
the weaker field is increased, while that having the stronger is decreased, and
motion is imparted to the driving wheel c in the direction corresponding to that
of the greatest relative speed of the balance gearing. The electrical conducting
mains are e and el, and current is supplied from any convenient source of
electricity.
a
Instead of thus varying the strength of the two magnetic fields simultaneously,
either motor field may be regulated separately; and this is indicated in the
diagram Fig. 1 by the dotted lines showing a switch d with its connections inter-
posed in the field circuit of each motor.
In the diagram Fig. 2, a similar arrangement is shown, but in this case the
current in the two armatures is regulated by the switch mechanism d, and the
contact resistances d'; while the fields are allowed to remain of uniform strength.
In this case also, an alternative means of separately regulating the current to
each motor is indicated by the dotted lines, instead of simultaneously as shown by
the continuous lines.

page_text: In the diagram Fig. 3, the switch mechanism d is intended to regulate the
motors A and B by putting one or more of their field magnet windings d' into or
iustead
out of circuit, thus varying the magnetic intensity of their fields directly,
of by using resistances, as in Fig. 1. In this case also, separate switch
mechanisms are indicated by the dotted lines as alternative means for regulating
each motor.
C,
In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, details are given of a suitable form of balance gear C for
general use. In these figures, a is one motor shaft carrying its motor wheel a³,
b is the other motor shaft carrying its motor wheel 63, both gearing into the two
intermediate wheels c¹, c'. These are arranged and adapted to work on suitable
axles in bearings c², c², which are secured to the centrally mounted gear wheel
which is used to drive any required mechanism; or it may be a counter shaft. In
some cases I form the driving wheel c as a pulley or grooved drum, so that it may
be used for belt or rope driving; but usually the toothed form, as shown, is the
most convenient. My improvements are applicable for driving electrical tramway
vehicles, electrical cranes, electrical launches or torpedo vessels, and for other
useful purposes. It will be seen that without stopping the current, or using
clutch gear, I am enabled to stop the driving mechanism by establishing an
equitable, or by a differential condition of the electric or magnetic functions of the
two motors, to slow or increase the speed of the driving mechanism at will..
Owing to the range of differential conditions available, I can increase either the
speed or the power of the driving mechanism gradually in accordance with the
work to be done without any change of gearing, and therefore my improvements
are especially valuable for the variable work of the tramway vehicles, cranes, and
vessels aforesaid, where weight, space and complexity are objectionable. The
"rush of current" consequent on switching on a single motor is avoided; the use
of one of the motors as a brake or generator when stopping, or in lowering
weights when employed for cranes, or in running down hill when used on tramway
vehicles, conduces to economical working; and this, with its ease of reversing the
motion, gives complete control of the apparatus to its driver.
It is to be understood that I make no claim to either electro motor, balance
gear, or electric circuit connections separately; but
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. The herein described improvements in electrically actuated mechanism,
consisting of the combination of two electro motors with a balance gear, and
circuit regulating mechanism, whereby the said balance gear may be stopped,
started, or operated in opposite directions by regulating the relative electrical or
magnetic conditions of the said motors, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
2. The herein described improvements in electrically actuated mechanism con-
sisting of the combination of two electro motors arranged and operating two
shafts upon the same axial line in opposite directions, a balance gear connected to
the said two shafts arranged and operating to transmit their said opposite motions
in synchronous or differential relation through the intervention of intermediate or
balance wheels, circuit connections between a source of electricity and the said
motors, and regulating switch mechanism arranged and adapted to vary the
electrical or magnetic function of the said motors, substantially as and for the
purpose specified and shown in the drawings Figs. 1 to 3.
ד
Mauch 1906
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433 Strand, London, Agents for the Applicant.