Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 19th July, 1887
I, NATHAN HUNTLEY EDGERTON, residing at the corner of 13th and Market Streets,
Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, United States
of America, Electrician 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 :—
Figure, 1, is an elevation of a railway car embodying my improvements.
Figure, 2, is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation drawn to an enlarged scale,
showing an axle and wheels, electric motor mounted on said axle, and truck frame to
which the axle and motor is pivoted.
Figure, 3, is a sectional detail view of modified form of pivotal connection between
the electric motor and truck frames.
Figure, 4, is a cross section of axle bearings or bushings in the end frame for the
field magnets of the electric motor.
Figure, 5, is a section on the line, 1-1, figure, 2.
Figure, 6, is a section on the line, 2-2, figure, 2.
Figure, 7, is a like view on the line, 3-3, figure, 2.
Figure, 8, is a transverse section of part of the car, showing construction of truck
frame and spring supports between it and the car.
Figure, 9, is a plan, broken away, showing the ends of the field magnet frame
connected to the usual or other form of axle boxes on the outside of the wheels.
My invention has relation to street or railway cars which are propelled by electric
motors, and it has for its object to so locate the motors and support the running gear

page_text: of the car that the power of the motor is applied directly to the axles of the car to
reduce the friction and traction between the motors and the running gear and admit
of the efficiency of the notors being expended mainly in propelling the car and its
load and not being unduly wasted in overcoming the traction and friction between
the motors and the running gear especially so when the cars are propelled or are
travelling around curves or other like sections of the road whereat the friction
between the tracks and the running gear is usually considerable.
My invention has for its further object to elastically support the cars independently
of the motors and the axles. My invention accordingly consists of the combination,
construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and claimed, having
reference particularly to a car having a truck frame between which and the car are
located the springs for supporting the car, and to which truck frame are pivotally or
otherwise connected, the frames or supports for the field-magnets of the electric
motors, said field magnet frames having boxes or bearings for the car axles upon
which are mounted the armatures for the motors and the brush frames or holders.
In the drawing, A, represents a street or other car of any desired construction,
B', the axles and, C, the wheels. Suitably mounted upon the axles are armatures, d,
for the field magnets, d', of electric motors, D, of any suitable form. In the drawing
I have shown that form of motor, the field magnets of which are each composed of a
series of radially converging magnets, d', secured within the bore of a tubular casing, d,
and each series of magnets, d¹, being connected by a common pole piece, d³,
between which pole pieces the armature, d, revolves and the armature composed of a
series of radially arranged separate magnets one set of the ends of which of one
polarity are coupled or connected to an insulated ring, d', upon the axles and the
other set of ends of one but opposite polarity coupled or connected to segments of a
commutator, d, located upon but. suitably insulated from the axles. The tubular
casing, d², of the motor, D, has end caps, de, provided with end bearings, d, for the
axles; these bearings, d', being located as shown between the wheels, C, but they
may be otherwise arranged as desired.
The bore, de, of the bearings, d', is indicated tapering from the outer to the inner
ends thereof for the reception of correspondingly shaped brasses, f, which as
illustrated are preferably composed of segmental sections having straight or
cylindrical inner ends, fr, seen more plainly in figs. 2, & 4. They are made
tapering to admit of adjustment for taking up their wear and that of the bearings, d',
These brasses, f, are held in place by a nut, f, engaging with a screw threads, fi
upon the axles which nut also serves for an adjusting nut for the brasses.
The end caps, d, have suitable side openings, do, covered by a removable door, d
as shown by dotted lines, x, in figure, 2 for obtaining access to adjusting nuts, f, and
to other parts within the casing, d², requiring handling or adjustment from time to
time. The tubular casing, d, and its end caps are preferably flange bolted or they
may be otherwise secured together and they not only form the frame work or support
for the field magnets of the motor but also support the axles; each axle passing
through or being supported by an electro-motor casing or frame work.
The wheels, C, may be keyed or otherwise secured to the axle and if desired, jam
nuts, c, may be employed to prevent loosening of the keys by the hammering of the
wheels upon the rails. Any suitable form of brush holder, G, for the commutator may
be used, the form shown comprises a ring or frame, g, loosely mounted upon the
cylindrical part or end, f, of brasses f, adjacent to the commutator, d³, above and
below the axle and at right angles to the ring or frame, g, are swiveled rods, g',
upon the outer ends of which are bars, g³, located at right angles to the rods. Each
end of these bars is provided with a brush holder, g, and the brushes, g*, on each
end of each bar, 92, are so directed or have an angular inclination that the end of one
contacts with the commutator slightly in advance of the other as more plainly shown
in fig. 6, and this described construction is employed i to prevent undue sparking at
the commutator under all conditions of service.
The tubular casing, d², is suitably pivoted as indicated either in figs. 2, or 3, to the

page_text: truck frame, B, so that the axle, and wheels and motor mounted on the axle will turn
or yield to conform to the tracks in going around curves or other sections of the line
of way and thereby avoid undue friction or traction of travel at these parts of the
line.
The frame, B, is composed mainly of a longitudinal centre bar, b, and corresponding
side bars 6', the former of which is preferably in a plane above the latter so as to be
above the top of the electro motors, while the side bars, b¹, are located as near to the
axles as desired in order to obtain space between them and the car body for the inser-
tion of springs as shown in figure 1, and as hereinafter more fully set forth.
The bars, b, b', ', of frame, B, are connected by intermediate transverse beams or
bars, 62, having strengthening braces or trusses, 6, and by end bars, 64, the extremities
of which are provided with anti-friction rollers, 66, riding upon ways or ledges, m,
upon the upper sides or surfaces of the ends of the casing caps, do, as shown more
plainly in figs. 1, and, 7, so as to support the frame, B, at its four corners as well as
at the centres of its end bars, 6*.
The weight of the car is therefore, supported both centrally and at or near the
ends of an axle to admit of maintaining the wheels upon the tracks under all
conditions of service, that is to say, that part of the weight of the car falling upon
the axles at or near their ends the wheels are less liable to jump the tracks, more
particularly so in passing around curves, and at the same time the axle and wheels
together with the motor are free to turn on the pivot or ring bolt connections, n, to
accommodate themselves to the travel on the curved parts of the road.
The springs, N, between the side bars, b¹, of frame, B, and the cars may be spiral
as shown or any other suitable form of spring may be used. If spiral springs are
employed suitable end cups, n', are respectively attached to bars, 61, and the car sills
for the reception of the springs, and suitable sliding bolts, 6°, connect the car body
and frame to maintain them relatively to one another. If desired suitable longitudinal
truss rods, 67, are placed beneath or connected to bars, 61, for strengthening purposes,
see more plainly, figure, 1. Any desired number of springs, N, may be used on each
side of the car. It will be noted from the foregoing, 1st. That the armature of the
motor is secured directly to the axles, or the axles form the armature shafts, the
power of the motors is therefore applied directly to the axles and the use of counter-
shaft and intermediate gearing and their consequent friction is avoided which admits
of the full power of the motors, being exerted to carry or propel the car and its load;
2nd. That the field magnet frame of the motor is supported or mounted upon the
axles and the latter have their bearings in the said frame; the motor or its parts and
the axle therefore duly maintain their relative position in respect to one another, that
is to say they do not get out of alignment under varying conditions of service and
the motor or its parts are not subject to the vertical vibration of the car body.
3rd. That the motor casing protects its operative parts from dust and dirt; 4th. That
the motors being applied to the axles give a greater traction to the wheels to keep
them upon the tracks, and, 5th. That the car body elastically supported upon the
frame, B, and not upon the axles as heretofore.
In the drawing I have illustrated a street car having a motor mounted upon each
axle and each motor casing pivoted to frame, B, where more than two axles are used
upon a car as in steam cars the construction herein shown is duplicated, that is to
say, the axles of each truck frame are provided with motors, or if desired only one
axle of each truck frame is supplied with motors.
The motors may be coupled together in series or otherwise connected to a battery
located upon the car, which battery may be a primary or secondary one as desired, or
the battery may be in circuit with conductors located adjacent to the tracks either
upon poles or in conduits and the current be taken from the conductors by a suitable
collector travelling with the car. As it is obvious that the detail construction of the
parts of my invention may be greatly varied without deviating from the spirit of the
same I do not limit myself to the particular construction of details as shown.
If desired the armature and field magnets instead of being used as a motor may be
employed as a generator. So too, the ends of the field magnet frame may be continued

page_text: around the wheels and connected to the axle boxes as shown in figure, 9, or they
may be otherwise suitably arranged to accomplish the purposes of my invention, as
desired.
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. A street or other car, having axle bearings in the frame of an electric motor
which is secured to a truck frame supporting the car body, substantially as set forth.
2. In a street or other car the combination with one of its axles of an armature and a
field magnet frame or support of an electric motor mounted on said axle and a truck,
or other frame to which the motor casing is attached, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of a car body, a truck frame, an electric motor casing secured
to said frame and having boxes or bearings for one of the axles of the car body and
an armature mounted on said axle substantially as set forth.
4. A car axle having an attached armature for the field magnets of an electric
motor the casing of which is provided with boxes or bearings for the axle, substantially
as set forth.
5. The combination of a car axle, having an armature, d, field magnet casing, d³,
having journal boxes for said axle, a car body and connection between the car body
and casing, d³, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination of a car axle having the armature and field magnet casing of
an electric motor mounted thereon, a truck frame supported by said casing and a car
body supported by the truck frame, substantially as set forth.
7. In combination with a car axle of the tapering brasses, f, adjusting nut, ƒ³,
electric motor, D, the casing, d², of which is provided with boxes or bearings, d', for
brasses,, substantially as set forth.
8. A car body elastically supported upon a truck frame which is connected to and
supported by the casings of electric motors mounted upon the axles for the car bodies,
substantially as set forth.
9. The combination of an electric motor armature shaft a casing for the motor
having end boxes for said shaft, ways or tracks, m, on the casingiends and frame, B,
having anti-friction rollers, 66, adapted to said guide or ways, substantially as set forth.
10. A car axle having mounted thereon the armature and field magnets of an electro-
motor, having a closed casing to exclude dust and dirt from the working parts of the
motor and removable doors or covers upon said casing as and for the purpose set
forth.
11. The combination with a car of tubular casing, d³, having field magnets secured
thereto and mounted upon one of the axles of the car, an armature 'commutator and
brush holder for the commutator mounted upon said axle, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
12. In combination with a car, an axle, a tubular casing provided with magnets and
having end caps mounted on said axle, an armature secured to the axle and brushes
and commutator for the armature located within said tubular casing, substantially as
set forth.
13. In combination with a car and its axles, armatures affixed to the axles, field
magnet casings mounted upon the axles, and secured to a truck frame, and springs
between the truck frame and car body, substantially as set forth.
14. In combination with a car body, of a frame, B, having spring bars, 61, end cross
bars, 64, having rollers, 6º, axles, B₁, having electro-motors mounted thereon and
attached to frame, B, and having ways or rails for rollers, 65, substantially as set
forth.
15. The combination of a car body truck frame, B, composed of central and outside
longitudinal bars, b, and 61, 61, truss or brace rods, 67, for bars, b, intermediate and
end transverse bars or beams, 62, 64, rollers, 68, on the ends of bars, 64, axles, B¹,
armatures, d, secured to said axles, field magnet casings, d³, mounted upon axles, B¹
secured to frame, B, and having ways or guides for rollers, 6', substantially as set
forth.

page_text: 16. The combination with a car, an axle, an armature, d, and field magnet frame or
casing, d, on said axle, commutator and a brush holder having brushes each composed
of two separate plates inclined at different angles to place the end of one plate in
advance of the other upon the commutators, substantially as set forth.
17. A car axle having adjustable tapering brasses, f, a tubular casing mounted on
the car axle and having boxes, d', for said brasses, in combination with a frame, B,
and car body, substantially as set forth.
18. A car body having a truck frame, springs between the body and truck frame,
a field magnet frame or casing secured to said truck frame and affording bearings for
a car axle upon which axle is mounted an armature, substantially as set forth.
19. A car axle having affixed thereto a series of radially arranged magnets, a
tubular casing mounted upon said axle and having two series of radially converging
magnets each series having a common pole piece, commutator brushes, and couplings
within said casing in combination with a truck frame B, supported by said casing
and a car body upon said truck frame, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 24th day of May 1887.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents.