Improvements in Electric Motors for Street Cars.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Motors for Street Cars.
I, WILBER S. SALISBURY of 943 W Van Buren Street, Chicago, Illinois, United
States of America, Gentleman, 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 improvements in electric motors for street cars, and the
attachment of the boxes containing the batteries to the body of the car, in which the
power of the secondary batteries carried upon the car is transmitted by means of
suitable gear connections between the motors and the car axles.
The prime object of this invention is to have the battery boxes detachably suspended
from the body of the car in such manner that they may be readily removed from the
side of the car for recharging, and the substitution of other batteries, and to have the
boxes containing the batteries suspended in such manner that they will remain
unaffected by the vibrations or teetering of the car occasioned either by unevenness in
the track, or in the ascending or descending of a hill so that the battery boxes
will remain at all times in a substantially horizontal position, whereby the spilling of
the battery fluid is avoided.
Another object is to have the motors attached to the car axle, but supported from
the car body in such manner that they will also remain unaffected by the movements
of the car body relative to the axle, being free to oscillate thereon without interference
with the transmission of their power.
Another object is to have the motors transmit their power to the axle either by direct
gear therewith or through intermediate gear of a character best adapted for the trans-
mission of power.
These objects are attained by the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
in which,
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a street car, showing battery boxes and
motors attached thereto embodying my invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the bottom frame and trucks of the car, showing the
body removed therefrom.
Figure 3 is an enlarged detail section through the car frame, more clearly showing
the manner of removably supporting the battery boxes.
Figure 4 is an end elevation of the parts represented in Figure 3.
Figures 5 to 11 inclusive show enlarged detail views of one of the car axles, and a
portion of the frame, showing several different ways of mounting the motors on the
axle and transmitting the power thereof to the axle.
Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of the
drawing.
Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, A indicates the frame of the car
body of any desirable construction, the side timbers of which on the end surface
thereof are provided with a series of boxes or bearings B in each pair of which is
hung a transverse shaft C from which is pivotally suspended a swinging frame D,
composed of cross bars E, journalled on the shaft, hangers F attached to and suspended
from said cross bars, and longitudinal bars G secured to said hangers at opposite sides
in which latter are loosely journalled at intervals a series of anti-friction rollers H.
Between the longitudinal bars G, fits the battery boxes I containing the storage
batteries of any desired construction, provided with projecting side rails J, adapted
and arranged to rest and slide upon the anti-friction roller H, of said bars, so that the
boxes may be quickly and readily slided into position upon the hanging frame or as
readily removed therefrom.
At each end of the hanging frame there is a hasp K pivotally secured to the end of

page_text: one of the bars G, and a staple L, secured to the other bar over which the hasp fits,
and is secured by means of an ordinary padlock M or any other suitable locking device
by means of which the hasp may be released and the battery box removed from or
inserted into position on the swinging frame. By this arrangement it will be
observed the battery box may be inserted in position or removed from either side of
the car, and when once interposed, suspended upon the frame transversely of the car,
will remain in substantially a horizontal position at all times notwithstanding any
vertical or teetering movement of the car body, duo either io unevenness in the track
or when the car is ascending or descending an incline.
In practice a series of these battery boxes are suspended beneath the car body
between the trucks thereof, lying side by side, and by reason of their pivotal suspension,
maintaining at all times a fixed relation thereto between, without being connected
together, but if desired, each swinging frame might be connected with the adjacent
frames uniting all in a single gang, and compelling a uniform action although such
link connection which is so obvious as not to require illustration, is not believed to be
necessary in the practical operation of the car.
The wireing from these battery boxes to the motors, and also to the switch boards
at the ends of the cars, for controlling the same, as is commonly employed, may be of
any desirable character or construction, as it forms no part of this particular invention,
and for that reason is not illustrated in the drawing.
The transmission of power from the motors to the axle of the car may be success-
fully accomplished in various ways, but in all of these forms there exist features
common to all, namely, the supporting of the motors and the gears connecting them
upon the axle by means of a frame having a loose bearing upon the axle with an anti-
friction bearing interposed between the casing and axle, the balancing of the casing
upon the axle, suspending springs by means of which the frame is yieldingly supported
from the body of the car so as to remain unaffected by the movements thereof, whereby
the car axle is partially relieved of the weight and friction of the frame, and its
connections and the employment of draft springs against which the power of the
motor is exerted in starting and stopping the car to avoid the jarring or jerking which
would otherwise occur, and the consequent breaking of the gear teeth.
In referring to these forms of gearing I will describe them separately for greater
clearness. Referring now to Figs. 5, 9 and 10 in which the construction is very
similar, the frame a, is shown journalled upon the axle, and having casings b, at each
end thereof, formed in sections, and adapted and arranged to house in, so as to
protect from dust and dirt the gear wheels c, mounted upon the axle, as well as the
pinions d, meshing with said gear wheels, in Figs. and 11, but with an intermediate
gear wheel e, mounted upon a counter-shaft in Fig. 5 the said pinions being keyed
to, and having a rotary motion imparted thereto by the armature shaft
9, upon which
the armature, of the motor is mounted between the casings b, b in which latter the
said shaft is journalled.
To the frame a, is also secured the fields i, of the motor and, the field magnet cores
or spools, thereof the frame being arranged above and below, and partially
surrounding the armature shaft, while the latter are arranged to straddle the axle,
which is in the same plane with the armature shaft, both the fields and spools being
secured to and supported upon the transverse bars of the frame a, which is so
constructed as to constitute a part of the fields.
The armature shaft is preferably composed of a middle and two end sections, the
armature being mounted upon the middle section, and the pinions upon the end sections
in order that the gears may be adjusted so as to properly mesh to which end the
sections are united by coupling plates k (see Figures 5 and 9) secured to the opposing
ends of the shaft sections, and fastened together by adjustable bolts L.
The two poles of the field magnet lie one above and one below the armature, and
are supported upon one transverse bar of the frame a, by extensions or brackets,
composed of non-magnetic metal, or may be insulated from the frame by rubber
washers or in any other suitable manner.
The spools of wire wound close, and the field magnet are attached at one end to the

page_text: pole pieces of the magnet, and lie in a horizontal plane, one above and one below the
axle, straddling the same, the yoke or back piece n thereof, being attached to, insulated
from, and preferably constituting a bar of the opposite transverse part of the frame a,
so that the weight of the field armature and magnet are not only substantially
balanced upon the axle, but are equally divided above and below the axle so as to
economize space. It will be observed that in Figure 5, an intermediate gear e, is
employed mounted upon a counter-shaft, and interposed between the pinion on the
armature shaft, and the axle gear for reducing the speed of the motor as transmitted
to the axle, and consequently increasing the power thereof, but as illustrated in Figs. 9
and 11 the pinion on the armature shaft may, if desired, mesh directly with the axle
gear, although the intermediate gearing is preferred for the reason stated.
In Figure 6, the construction is substantially the same as that already described,
the only difference being in the gear connection between the motor and axle ; the
counter shaft f in this case being locked upon the opposite side of the axle from the
armature shaft, and having a gear and a pinion mounted thereon, the former of
which e meshes with a double gear wheel o, loosoly mounted upon the elongated hub
of the axle gear c, which in turn meshes with the pinion upon the armature shaft,
while the pinion f', meshes with the axle gear c.
This construction is more compact than that illustrated in Figure, serves to reduce
the speed of the motors in a more advantageous form, enables a more equal distribution
of the weight to each side of the axle, and besides furnishes an opportunity for the
attachment of another motor of different construction to the counter-shaft.
In Figures 7 and 8, still another form of gearing is shown, in which there are two
motors employed, one at each side of and exactly balanced upon the axle, said motors
being directly supported upon a supplemental frame having a flexible connection with
the main supporting frame, which, as in the other construction, is loosely journalled
upon the axle, but of different form, and bas a movement independent of the main
supporting frame, and its yielding connection with the car superstructure, whereby
the power of the motors will more nearly simulate the action of draft animals, than
with the yielding connection alone, and the strain of stopping and starting the car will
be better distributed.
In these views are represented the preferred construction of gearing, and I will
therefore describe the same more in detail. Let a¹, indicate the car axle, and 6',
a frame composed of two sections bolted together, and journalled upon the hub c¹,
of a large gear-wheel d', keyed upon the axle, for which the frame constitutes a
casing or covering. Between this frame and the hub of the gear-wheel which is
olongated or extended at each side of the wheel, is an anti friction bearing consisting
of a series of rollers g', having contracted journals h¹, at the centre of length
thereof, bearing in sockets i, arranged for their reception, in the inner and outer
peripheries of a ring composed of sections of any desired number.
These sections are of just sufficient width to fit within the contracted portion of
the rollers, which are thereby prevented from having an endwise movement, and are
held separate from each other by the socketing of their journals in the ring sections.
I prefer to arrange these rollers with two upon the inner, and one upon the outer
periphery of each section, and bearing upon the hub of the gear-wheel and wall of
the casing respectively, or, if desired, upon bushings ¹, i, interposed between the
rollers and their bearings to reduce the friction between the parts.
These rollers and the sectional rings dividing them are preferably confined within
the hub of the casing by removable caps or plates m³, which furnish a ready means
of access to the rollers, and enables the removal of any section of the ring and its accom-
panying rollers, without disturbing any other portion of the ring or sets of rollers.
The frame 6, is balanced upon the axle, and limited and opposed in its oscillations by
powerful coil springs p, attached at their ends respectively to the frame at the centre
above the gear-wheel and extending in opposite directions therefrom, with their
opposite ends attached to the car frame or superstructure.
These springs are supplemented by supporting springs 7, attached at their ends
respectively to the frame at each side of the axle, their opposite onds being connected

page_text: by a guy rope r, working over pulleys s, secured to the car superstructure, which
springs serve in a measure to relieve the car axle of the direct weight of the frame or
casing, and the parts supported thereby, while permitting a free oscillation of the
frame on the axle, and if desired, the guy ropes r, may be dispensed with, and the
ends of the springs attached directly to the car frame as illustrated in Figure 11.
аго
These draw and supporting springs, as well as the anti friction bearing before
referred to, are the preferred construction and may be employed in connection with
all of the forms of gearings and casings herein shown and described, although so far
as other features of the gear are concerned, the anti friction bearing may have a
different form, such as is illustrated in the drawing. Instead, however, of the electris
motors being mounted directly upon the frame 6 as previously described, they
supported upon supplemental frames t, one at each side of the axle, and having ณ
pivotal or hinge like connection with said frame, through the medium of the bearing
eyes u, thereof, through which work counter shafts loosely journalled in said
frame, and having gear wheels w, mounted upon the ends thereof both of the
former meshing with an axle gear wheel d, and the latter meshing respectively with
the pinions x, on the armature shafts y of the electric motors.
Such a construction permits of a vertical movement of the supplemental frames
carrying with them the electric motors independent of the main supporting or casing
frame, this movement however, being in a curved line struck on the arc of a circle
from the axis of the counter-shaft so that the portion of the driving gears will be in
no wise effected thereby. The weight of these supplemental frames and the bars
carried thereby, is indirectly supported upon the casing frame b¹ by coil springs n¹, o'
sleeved upon bars 1, depending from the supplemental frame, between which and
brackets, secured to the main frame, the springs n', are confined, while the
springs o, are confined betwen the underside of said brackets and screw washers or
equivalent devices on the lower ends of the bars p₁ all of which springs yieldingly
oppose the movement of the supplemental frames independent of the main frame,
but at the same time permit sufficient movement to compensate for any slight differ-
ence or irregularity in the speed of the motors, and serve to render the action of the
motor more nearly like that of draft animals.
The construction of the motors to be employed in connection with this invention
is immaterial, because if the opposing motors are alike, they will necessarily produce
an exact balance of the frame upon the axle, and the only feature to be observed
is that the field magnets, spools and armature thereon are supported upon the
supplemental frames.
In Figure 10, the same balance frame b', occurs loosely mounted upon the axle,
but the motors in this are wound for the use of the alternating current, while the
gear connection there-between differs somewhat, in that it illustrates the employment
of two electric motors in connection with exactly the same form of gearing shewn in
Figure 6, and in a word, too obvious to require detailed description.
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 :-
:-
First In a motor for street cars, the car frame, and a box for containing the
battery, in combination with a pivoted transverse frame suspended beneath the car
body, and a sliding anti-friction connection between said frame and the battery box,
substantially as described.
Second In a motor for street cars, the combination with the car body, pro-
vided with depending brackets, and the transverse frame pivoted thereto comprising
a pair of end cross bars, depending hangers therefrom; a number of longitudinal
bars supported by said hangers, and anti-friction rollers journalled therein, of the
battery boxes fitting between and supported upon the longitudinal bars of said
suspending frame, substantially as described.
--
Third In a motor for street cars the combination with the axle and a gear
wheel mounted thereon, of a casing balanced upon the axle, and constituting the

page_text: pport for electric motors operating said wheel and con springs
nds respectively, to said casing, and the car superstructure, extending in opposite
rections from the car superstructure, substantially as described.
Fourth In a motor for street cars the combination with the axle, and a gear
heel mounted thereon, of a casing balanced upon the axle and constituting a
apport for electric motors operating said wheel, anti friction bearings for said
asing, pulleys secured to the car superstructure, an elastic flexible stay attached
t its ends respectively to the casing on each side of the axle, and working over
aid pulleys, and springs attached at their ends respectively to the casing and the
ar superstructure, extending in opposite directions from said casing in a horizontal
lane, substantially as described.
Fifth In a notor for street cars, the combination with the axle, a frame
oosely mounted thereon, and an electric motor mounted upon said frame, of a
countershaft also mounted upon said frame, and a gear connection between the
armature shaft of said motor and the counter shaft, and between the countershaft
and the axle, substantially as described.
Sixth In a motor for street cars, the axle and the frame journalled thereon, in
combination with an electric motor supported in said frame, the field magnet, cores of
which straddle the axle, and a gear connection between said motor and axle, sub-
stantially as described.
Seventh-In a motor for street cars, the axle, a metallic frame journalled
thereon, and a shaft journalled in said frame extending parallel with the axle, in
combination with an electric motor, an amature on said shaft, and field magnet cores
attached to said frame, astride the axle, oxtending at an angle and in the same
direction from the armature, and a gear connection between said shaft and axle,
substantially as described.
Eighth In a motor for street cars, the axle, gears mounted theroon and a frame
journalled on said axle, in combination with an electric motor supported on said
frame, a three part shaft journalled in said frame extending parallel with, and in the
same plaue as the axle, the motor armature mounted on the central portion of said
shaft, gears mounted upon the end portions of the shaft, meshing with the gears on
the axle, and an adjustable coupling for uniting the parts of the shaft, substantially
as described.
Ninth In a motor for street cars, the axle, a frame journalled thereon, an electric
motor supported on said frame, the armature shaft of which extends parallel with,
and to one side of the axle, and the field magnet cores supported upon said frame, in
combination with pulleys attached to the car body, a flexible guide secured at its ends
respectively to said frame, on each side of the axle, and working over said pulleys,
and coil springs attached at their ends respectively to the casing, and the car super-
structure extending in an opposite direction from said casing, substantially as
described.
Tenth-In a motor for street cars, the axle, and gears mounted thereon, near the
ends thereof respectively, provided with elongated hubs in combination with a frame
supporting the electric motor for operating the axle, a ring, provided with bearing
sockets on the inner and outer peripheries thereof, and anti-friction rollers having
contracted central portions constituting journals therefor working in said sockets,
the inner and outer sets of rollers bearing respectively upon the hubs of the gears
and bearing walls of the frames, substantially as described.
Eleventh-In a motor for street cars, the combination with the axle, and a
gear-wheel mounted thereon, of a casing frame journalled on said axle, a supple-
mental frame yieldingly supported upon said casing frame, an electric motor mounted
on said supplemental frame, and a gear connection between said motor and the axle
gear-wheel, substantially as described.
Twelfth-In a motor for strect cars, the combination with the axle, and a gear
5 wheel mounted thereon, of a balanced casing frame journalled on said axle, a pair
of supplemental frames pivotally connected with said casing frame at each side of
the axle, a yielding connection between said frames, electric motors mounted on

page_text: said frames, and gear connection between both of said motors and the axle gear-
wheel, substantially as described.
Thirteenth-In a motor for street cars, the combination with the axle and a gear
wheel mounted thereon, of a casing frame journalled upon the axle, a countershaft
journaled in said frame, a supplemental frame journalled upon said shaft, an
electric motor mounted upon said frame, a gear connection between said shaft and
motor, and between said shaft and the axle gear-wheel, a bracket projecting from
the casing frame, a depending bar from the supplemental frame, working through
said bracket, and coiled springs sleeved on said bar and confined between the
supplemental frame and said bracket, on the upper side thereof, and between a
washer on the end of said bar and the bracket on the underside thereof, substantially
as described.
Fourteenth-In a motor for street cars, the combination with the axle, a gear-
wheel mounted thereon, a casing frame balanced upon the axle, and yielding cushions
connecting said frame with the car superstructure, and directly opposing the
oscillation of said casing on the axle, of supplemental frames yieldingly supported
upon said casing frame, electric motors mounted on said supplemental frames, gear
connections between said motors and the axle gear-wheel, and a yielding connection
between said supplemental and casing frames, substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of August 1889
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.