Improvements in and connected with Railway and Tramway Vehicles and with their Propulsion by Means of Electricity.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 26th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 27th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Railway and Tramway Vehicles
and with their Propulsion by Means of Electricity.
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 railway and tramway vehicles designed to be propelled by
electricity.
According to these improvements the body of each vehicle is carried on two bogies
one at each end of the vehicle but instead of the bogies being entirely below the
under-framing as in ordinary cases it is arranged that the ends only of the vehicles
shall rest upon and be carried by less than one half of each bogie. When the
vehicles are employed singly and in the case of a train of vehicles, the unoccupied
parts of the bogies will serve as platforms at each end of the vehicle or train. In
a train of vehicles made up in this manner there will be as many bogies as vehicles
plus one instead of twice as many and the wheel base will be perfectly flexible.
I arrange the electro-motors on any or all of the bogies as may be desirable or
convenient, and I may obtain the necessary current from secondary batteries carried
with the vehicles or from external conductors.
If the electric current for the motors is derived from secondary batteries carried
on or with the vehicles, I prefer to carry the batteries under the body or under
framing of each vehicle. In this case I arrange the battery in a carrier preferably
constructed as described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me
No. 18331 dated the 15th day of December A.D. 1888. The battery carrier is secured
below the vehicles by means of suitable hangers and lock bolts or equivalent devices
in such a manner that it may be readily secured to and released from the under-
framing or bottom of the vehicle as required.
The hangers or equivalent securing devices are of metal and are constructed and
arranged to make contact with the terminals of the battery; they are also electrically
connected with the switch controlling the motor circuit so that when the battery is
secured in its position the circuits from the battery to the switch are automatically
completed. The battery may have as many terminals as may be desired, each
terminal corresponding with and being electrically connected to a separate hanger
or equivalent device so that the battery may be used in series or in parallel as is well
understood.
The battery contained within the carrier may be run under and removed from the
vehicle by means of a trolley or truck which may travel on cross rails from either
side, there being sufficient space between the bogies for it to pass laterally. The
battery may be raised from the trolley into the proper position to be secured under
the vehicle by means of screws, inclined planes, or by hydraulic presses or by similar
suitable means, and it may be lowered upon the trolley for removal when it is
required to be recharged by the same means.
In some cases, instead of having the cross rails and the transverser carrying the
battery on the sail or ground level, I may have them in a subway opening into a
pit or shaft between the tramway or railway rails. In this pit or shaft I arrange a
lift upon which the battery may be run and by means of which it may be lifted into
its position for being secured beneath the vehicle or be removed therefrom as herein-
before described. When the pit or shaft is not in use, the lift platform may be
lifted and secured flush with the ground or rail level. The subway may com-
municate with a charging station situated on a less expensive site than would be
required if the batteries had to be charged and adapted to the vehicles in the usual
manner.

page_text: When the rods and other members of the trusses which are sometimes used under
railway and tramway vehicles would be in the way of the insertion and removal of
the battery, I may remove them and give the necessary stiffness to the longitudinal
beams by a lattice girder arranged above or connected to each beam or by employing
an additional horizontal trussed member, above and parallel with each longitudinal
beam, or by other similar and suitable means. This girder, trussed framing, or its
equivalent may be placed in the space between the seats and the floor or framing of
the vehicle.
Dated November 23rd An 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Railway and Tramway Vehicles
and with their Propulsion by Means of Electricity.
I, HENRY PERCY 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 railway and tramway vehicles designed to be propelled by
electricity.
According to these improvements the body of each vehicle is constructed and
arranged to be carried on two bogie trucks, one at each end of each vehicle, but
instead of each bogie truck being arranged entirely below the under-framing as in
other cases, I so arrange that each end of the vehicle shall be carried upon about one-
half of a bogie truck. In the case of a train of vehicles, each end of each vehicle
except the outer ends of the end vehicles, will occupy something less than one-half of
the length of the truck so that the contiguous ends of two vehicles are carried upon a
single truck. In the case of a single vehicle or in that of the outer ends of the two
end vehicles of a train, the vehicle should occupy something more than half the length
of the truck, and the unoccupied length of the trucks may be employed as or covered
with, platforms. In a train of vehicles made up in the manner hereinbefore described,
there will be as many bogie trucks as vehicles, plus one, instead of twice as many,
and the wheel base of the train will be perfectly flexible.
The vehicle or train of vehicles is arranged to be propelled by electro-motors
which may be arranged upon any or all of the bogic trucks as may be found suitable
and convenient in practice, and I may obtain the necessary current from secondary
batteries carried with the vehicle or vehicles, or from external conductors.
If the electric current for the motors is derived from secondary batteries, carried
on or with the vehicle or vehicles, I prefer to carry the batteries under the body or under
framing of the vehicle or vehicles. In this case I arrange the battery in a carrier
preferably constructed as described and illustrated in the Specification of Letters
Patent granted to me and numbered 18,331 dated the 15th day of December
A.D. 1888. The battery carrier is secured below the vehicle or vehicles by means
of suitable hangers and lock bolts or equivalent devices in such a manner that it
may be readily secured to and released from the under framing or bottom of the
vehicle as may be required.
The device which may be employed for securing the battery carrier below the
vehicle is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a partial
transverse section, and Figure 2 a partial elevation.
In each of these Figures A is the battery carrier; B a strap firmly secured to the
carrier and having a returned part or flange (at its upper end; D) a longitudinal
beam of the vehicle; E a plate secured to the beam D and carrying the stud or
bolt F G a clamp mounted on F; H a slot in the lower part of G; I a catch
engaging in the slot H; J a terminal to which some of the battery plates
are connected; K a terminal to which the electro-motor circuit is connected;

page_text: and La spiral spring around the shank of the catch I and tending to keep the catch
in engagement with the clamp G. The under side of the flange C is inclined as
indicated in the Figures, and the part of the clamp G which engages therewith is
correspondingly inclined, also as indicated.
There are preferably, three or more sets of the suspending and connecting devices
on each side of the battery carrier and vehicle, and the positive plates of the battery
sections are connected to the terminals J on one side, and the negative plates to the
corresponding terminals on the other side. The battery connections may be made
with the terminals in such a manner that the whole battery may be used in series,
that some of the cells may be used in series, or that all or some of the cells may be
used in parallel or in parallel groups of cells. On each side of the vehicle the circuit
is completed through the terminal J, the strap B, the clamp G, the plate E and
stud F, and the terminal K. The battery carrier with the battery therein having
been placed under the vehicle, the clamps G are turned by means of a suitable wrench
or spanner until they have engaged with the flanges C and are held by the catch I or
an equivalent device. The inclined parts of the clamp and flange tend to secure a
better contact between the two parts. By means of such an arrangement the act of
securing the battery in its position, automatically closes the electric circuit between
the battery and the switch or switches.
The battery contained within the carrier A may be run under and removed from
the vehicle by means of a trolley or truck which may travel on cross rails on either
side, there being sufficient space between the bogie trucks to enable it to pass
laterally. The battery may be raised from the trolley by means of screws, inclined
planes, hydraulic presses, or any other suitable and convenient means for the purpose
of securing it in its position under the vehicle, and it may be lowered upon the
trolley for removal when it is required to be recharged or for any other purpose, by
the same or by similar means.
In some cases, instead of having the cross rails and a trolley or traverser carrying
the battery on the ground level, I may have the rails in a sub-way opening into a pit
or shaft between the railway or tramway lines. In this pit or shaft I may arrange a
lift upon which the battery in its carrier may be run, and by means of which it may be
lifted into its position for being secured beneath the vehicle, and by means of which it
may be lowered from the vehicle on removal therefrom. When the pit or shaft is not
in use, the lift platform may be raised and secured flush with the ground level. The
sub-way may communicate with a charging station situated on a less expensive site
than would be required if the batteries had to be charged and adapted to the vehicles
in the usual manner.
When the tie rods and other members of the trusses which are sometimes used
under the tramway or railway vehicles, would be in the way of the insertion and
removal of the battery as herein before described, I may remove them and give the
necessary stiffness to the longitudinal beams by means of a lattice girder arranged
above or connected to each beam or I may obtain that stiffness by employing an
additional horizontal trussed member above and parallel with each longitudinal beam,
or by other similar and suitable ineans. This girder, trussed framing, or its
equivalent, may be placed in the space between the seats and the floor or framing
of the vehicle.
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 train of two or more railway or tramway vehicles to be electrically
propelled, constructing and arranging the several vehicles in such a manner that
each end of each vehicle rests upon about one half of a bogie truck and so that
the total number of bogie trucks equals the number of vehicles plus one, substantially
as and for the purpose herein before described.
(2) In a train of two or more railway or tramway vehicles to be electrically
propelled, constructing and arranging the train in such a manner that each end of

page_text: each vehicle rests upon about one half of a bogie truck, the total number of the bogie
trucks being equal to the number of vehicles plus one, and that each truck is driven
by an electro-motor or electro-motors, substantially as herein before described.
(3) In combination with a railway or tramway vehicle, arranged to be electrically
propelled and in which the electric current is derived from a secondary battery,
arranging the battery in a battery carrier suspended below the vehicle, substantially
as herein before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
(4) In a railway or tramway vehicle arranged to be electrically propelled and in
which the electric current is derived from a secondary battery suspended below
the vehicle, the hereinbefore described means for suspending the battery and
for automatically connecting the battery with the electro-motor circuit or
circuits, substantially as set forth and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
(5) In a system of electrically propelled railway or tramway vehicles in which
the electric current is derived from a secondary battery suspended below the vehicle
or vehicles, the arrangement for running the battery below the vehicle and for
fitting it into and lowering it from the position in which the battery carrier is secured
in its running position, substantially as herein before described.
(6) In combination with a railway or tramway in which the vehicles are electrically
propelled, and upon which the electric current is derived from batteries suspended
below the vehicles, a sub-way and lift constructed and arranged as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described.
Dated this 23rd day of August AD 1800
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.