Improvements in and relating to Motor Vehicles for Electric Railways.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1897--Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898
CUM LEIE DI ECITTA
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM ALPHONSUS MCGUIRE, of 309, Webster
Avenue, Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, United States of
America, Manufacturer.]
"
Improvements in and relating to Motor Vehicles for Electric
Railways.
•
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 trucks used for motor cars or vehicles such as are
commonly employed in elevated and suburban railway service. The requirements
of trucks of this character differ from those of ordinary passenger coach or car trucks
principally in the fact that while both must be so built that the car will be properly:
supported and will ride easily, a motor truck must draw the car after the manner of,
a locomotive, while the ordinary passenger-car truck must simply support the car;
and to provide a motor truck which will not only properly support the car, but will
also be well adapted for drawing a single car or a train, is the principal object of
this invention. This invention further contemplates providing improved brake
mechanism, improved mechanism for supporting the car body upon the truck, and,
means for supporting the motor in case of accidental breakage of the car axle or,
other motor supports; improved means whereby the lateral movement of the car;
body is elastically resisted and the car body returned to its normal position when
the extraordinary strain causing such lateral movement ceases; also improved.
devices for carrying the contact shoes; as will be more specifically hereinafter
pointed out.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan view of a truck embodying my said invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;
Figure 3 is an end view, partly in section;
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a slightly modified form of truck;
Figure 5 is a partial cross section on line 5-5 Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a section of the upper member of the pedestal on line 6--6 Figure 8;
Figure 7 is a vertical section of line 7-7 Figure 6;
.
Figure 8 is a bottom view of the upper member of the pedestal ;
Figure 9 is a cross section of the upper rocker plate;
17
Figure 10 is a side elevation of a portion thereof;
Figure 11 is a section of the lower member of the pedestal on line 11-11;
Figure 13;
:
Figure 12 is a cross section of line 12-12 Figure 11;.
Figure 13 is a bottom view of the lower member of the pedestal;
Figure 14 is a section, of the lower rocker plate on line 14-14 Figure 15; and
Figure 15 is a section on line 15-15 Figure 14.

page_text: Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
This improved truck is composed of four principal parts, to wit, the wheels and
axles, an equalizer frame mounted upon the axle journal boxes, a car-body supporting-
frame supported upon the equalizer frame and the axle journal-boxes, and brake
mechanism carried by the equalizer frame. The equalizer frame as here shown
consists of double or bifurcated side members or equalizers 4-5 connected at their
ends by end sills 6-7, as shown in Figure 1, forming a substantially rectangular
frame, which, in the construction illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, is supported by
the axle journal-boxes upon spring-seats 9 over springs 10. In Figure 4 I have
shown a modified arrangement of the springs which support the rectangular frame,
in the modified construction Figure 4 the springs 10 being carried in seats 91 at the
opposite sides of the journal boxes, caps 10¹ being provided to receive the upper ends
of said springs. By thus supporting the equalizer frame upon the springs the car
is made to ride more easily, but the special advantage of such construction is that
the parts of the frame are thereby cushioned and are prevented from jarring loose,
and the dead weight or non-elastic parts of the truck are thereby reduced to a
minimum, diminishing the pounding upon the rails. The brake shoes 11 are carried
by links 12 which are suspended from the equalizer frame, as shown in Figure 2,
opposite the wheels 13, so that the brake shoes are practically unaffected by the
movement of the car body, and do not transmit noise and jar to the car body
when the brake is applied. The motor 14 is also supported from the equalizer
frame, so that while it is independent of the movement of the car body it is
spring-supported and is sleeved on the axle 41. For this purpose the motor is
provided with a trunnion or pin 2 which connects with a cross bar 3 of the equalizer
frame, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.
The car-body supporting frame is composed of two side members 15-16 Figures 1
and 3 connected by a bolster 17 extending tranversely of the truck. The side members
15-16 in the construction herein shown are provided with bifurcations near their
ends, so that they fit over the axle journal-boxes, as shown in Figure 2, resting upon
the spring seats 9, as shown. Such side members 15-16 at their ends. are made
sufficiently narrow so that they may move laterally between ribs 18-19 formed on
the sides of the journal boxes 8, as shown at the right in Figure 3, the members of
the equalizers 4-5 being far enough apart to permit of independent lateral motion
of the side members 15-16 of the car-body supporting frame, as shown in Figures 1
and 3. 20-21 indicate spiral springs between the side members 15-16 and their
respective equalizers 4--5, as shown in Figure 2, suitable spring seats being provided
for such springs. By this construction the side members 15-16 and the bolster 17
are elastically supported upon the equalizers. The bolster 17 is pivotally connected
with the car body in the usual manner.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the car-body supporting frame
is laterally-movable independently of the wheel and axle journal-boxes to the extent
of the space between the ribs 18-19, but there is a rigid connection longitudinally
between the axle journal-boxes and the centre-plate on the car-body; so that the
points of draft correspond to those which have been found most efficient for loco-
motive service. The tendency of the car-body and car-body supporting frame to
move laterally on curves is elastically resisted and overcome and the car-body sup-
porting frame returned to its normal position by means of elliptic springs 22 arranged
between upper and lower pedestal members 23-24, as shown at the left in Figure 3.
and more particularly illustrated in Figure 5, which pedestal members telescope one
within the other, as shown in said Figure 5, the upper member preferably being
arranged to fit into the lower member. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the side
members 15-16 are provided on their under sides with rocker bearings 44 which
mesh with corresponding rocker bearings 45 upon the upper side of the pedestal
member 24. Similarly the lower pedestal member 23 is provided on its under surface
with a rocker bearing 46 which meshes with a rocker bearing 47 on the upper surface
of the lower-rocker plate 48, which is secured to the equalizer frame. In the drawings
the side members of the equalizer frame are shown as being made in two parts 49–50,

page_text: so that the lower rocker plate 48 fits between said members and is secured in place by
a bolt 51, as shown in Figure 5.
By this construction above described, when the bolster is moved laterally under
the inertia of the car body the side member 15 will cause the upper pedestal
member 24 to rock, which motion will be transmitted through the pedestal legs and
the springs 22 to the lower pedestal member 23; so that if the bolster were to move
in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 5 the pedestal as a whole, there
shown, would rock on the inner edge of the upper bearing and the outer edge of the
lower bearing: Such rocking of the pedestal would result either in the raising of the
load or the compression of the springs 22, and consequently the tendency to rock is
resisted by the springs. When the inertia of the car body is overcome the springs by
their resilience act to return it to its normal position.
Instead of using elliptical springs, as shown, springs of other suitable forms may
be used, such as spiral springs, either singly or in groups; or where elliptical springs
are used, instead of locating them longitudinally of the truck they may be located..
transversely thereof, provided they are so arranged as to be compressed under lateral
movement of the car body.
It will be seen that the upper and lower pedestal members respectively form a
spring cap and spring seat, and that they are constructed to move independently of
each other in a vertical direction, but to move together in a lateral direction.
The brake shoes 11 are operated by levers 25-26-27-28 respectively; which are
pivoted to the brake-shoe backs 29, preferably to ears formed on such backs, and
extend toward the centre of the truck sufficiently to give the necessary leverage. At
or near their inner ends the levers 25-26 are connected by links 30-31 through
a curved equalizer bar 32 Figure 1, and the levers 27-28 are connected by
links 33-34 respectively to the end sills 6. The levers 26, 27 are connected by a
connecting rod 35, and the levers 25, 28 by a connecting rod 36, as shown in
Figure 1. When the inner ends of the levers 25-26 are moved outward-that is,
away from the centre of the truck-the ends of the connecting rods 36-35 respec-
tively, act as fulcrums about which said levers rock, the outer ends of said
; levers 25-26 being thereby moved toward the adjacent wheels, setting the brakes at
that end of the truck; at the same time this operation exerts a pulling effect upon
the rods 35 and 36, and as the opposite ends of said rods are connected to the
levers 27-28 respectively, between their fulcrums-the links 33-34-and the
brakes shoes carried by such levers, the free ends of the levers 27-28 are moved
inward toward the adjacent wheels, setting the brakes at that end of the truck also.
37 indicates a brake rod which is provided with a bifurcated end in which is
mounted a roller 38 adapted to move on the concave surface of the equalizer 32.
The
rod 37 is connected with the source of power, so that by applying power to the rod 37
all the brakes may be operated. By providing the equalizer bar 32 and loosely con-
necting the rod 37. to it, as above described, the free radial movement of the truck
on curves is permitted without lengthening or shortening the brakes, thus forming a
cheap and efficient brake mechanism which surrounds the motor and does not inter-
fere with it, and is not affected by the movement of the car body. If preferred,
brake beams may be used to connect the brake shoes, the levers 25-26-27-28
being connected to said brake beams, or various other modifications may be made, but
the construction herein illustrated is considered the best form.
The motor truck herein illustrated is designed particularly for use where the
electric current is derived from a third rail; and to properly carry the mechanism
for connecting with such third rail, and to insulate it from the truck frame, a
beam, 39, of wood or other high electrical resistance material, is provided, which is
attached to the axle journal boxes 8; and in order that the beam 39 may not
interfere with the proper action of the journal boxes said beam is loosely connected to
the journal boxes by pins 43 passing through slots 44 in the beam 39, as shown in
Figure 2. The beam 39 carries the usual shoe 40.
In trucks of this character it sometimes happens that the motor axle 41 is

page_text: broken, and it has heretofore been considered impossible to provide for supporting
the axle in case of breakage and thereby avoid the serious delays and accidents
which result from such breakage. We avoid the objections incident to prior con-
structions by providing means for utilizing the journals of the motors upon the axle
for supporting the axle in case of breakage, such means consisting of supports
designed to support the motor. As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, such
supports consist of bars 42, preferably two in number, which are connected at their i
ends to the end sills of the equalizer frame and extend under the motor at a short.
distance therefrom. By this construction, should the axle: break the motor would.'
be supported by the bars 42 and the axle held up in position so that the car be 1
removed without fear of further. accident.
This invention has been described in detail, but it is to be understööd -that
various modifications may be made without departing from it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me 1
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
1. In a pivotal car truck, the combination of á frame spring-supported upon the
axle journal-boxes, springs mounted upon said frame, and a car-body supporting
frame mounted upon said latter springs; substantially as described. .
2. In a pivotal car truck, a laterally-swinging bolster frame, in combination with a
frame upon which said bolster frame is supported, substantially as and for the purpose.
specified.
..
3. In a pivotal car truck, the combination with a car-body supporting frame, of a
second frame, said car-body supporting frame being spring-supported upon the latter
frame and having a vertical and lateral movement independently of said frame sub- 2
stantially as described:
.4. In a-pivotal car truck, the combination of a car-body supporting frame consisting
of side members and a bolster rigidly attaclied.thereto, said car-body supporting frame
being connected to the axle journal-boxes and being substantially immovable
longitudinally of the truck, and means for supporting said car-body supporting frame a
and permitting vertical and: lateral movement of said frame independently of the axle
journal-boxes, substantially as described..
5. In a pivotal. motor truck; a laterally-swinging spring-supported bolster, in
combination with longitudinally-rigid draft-connections between said bolster and the
axle journal-boxes, substantially as described.
6. In a pivotal car truck, the combination of a frame spring-supported upon the
axle journal-boxes, a holster supported upon springs mounted on said frame and
located between the wheels of the truck, and a system of wheel-brakes having shoes
which are hung from said frame, substantially as described.
3
7. In a pivotal motor truck, a spring-supported laterally-swinging bolster, and a 4
pair of side members. rigidly attached thereto and constructed to embrace the axle
journal-boxes, substantially as described.
8. In a car truck, the combination of a plurality of brake shoes, a brake lever
pivotally connected with each brake shoe, rods pivotally connected to the two levers on
the same side of the truck, and means for connecting the free ends of said levers with a 4
source of power so that all the shoes will be operated simultaneously, substantially as
described.
9. In a car truck, the combination of brake shoes, a lever for each shoe pivotally
connected therewith, connecting rods connecting the two levers on the same side of
the truck, means for connecting the free ends of a pair of levers at one end of the
truck with a source of power, and means for tying the free ends of the levers at the
opposite end of the truck, substantially as described.
10. In a motor truck, the combination with the axle journal-boxes, of a contact-shoe
carrying device of high-electrical resistance secured to the axle journal-boxes,
substantially as described.
:
i
11. In a motor truck, the combination with the axle journal-boxes, of a beam of

page_text: high-electrical resistance material having its ends loosely connected to the axle
journal-boxes, and a contact-shoe carried by said beam, substantially as described.
12. In a car truck, a brake shoe located at each wheel, a lever pivotally connected
with each shoe, and means connecting said levers so that the movement of the
levers at one end of the truck will set all the brake shoes against the wheels,
substantially as described.
13. In a motor car truck, the combination of a truck frame and axle, a motor
'sleeved on the axle, and longitudinal bars attached to the truck frame for supporting
motor and axle in case of an axle breaking, substantially- as and for the purpose
specified.
·
14. In a motor car truck, two or more safety supports, consisting of longitudinal
bars attached to the truck frame and extending under the motors and axles,
constructed to catch and support said motor and axle, in case the axle breaks,
substantially as specified.
15. In a truck, the combination with a frame supported on the journal boxes, of a.
car-body supporting frame spring-supported on said frame and the journal boxes,
substantially as described.
16. In a truck, the combination with a frame spring-supported on the journal boxes,
of a car-body-supporting frame spring-supported on said frame and the journal boxes,
substantially as described.
17. In a truck, the combination with a frame spring-supported on the journal
boxes, of a car-body supporting frame spring-supported on said frame and the
journal boxes, and brake mechanism carried by said first mentioned frame,
substantially as described.
18. In a truck, the combination with a frame supported on the journal boxes, of
brake shoes suspended from said frame, levers for operating said brake shoes, a curved
equalizer 32 connected to said levers, and a brake rod connected to and travelling
upon said curved equalizer, substantially as described.
19. In a truck, the combination with a frame supported on the journal boxes, and
brake shoes suspended from said frame, of brake levers 27-28 tied at one end to
said frame and connected at their other ends; to brake shoes, levers 25-26. at the
other end of the truck connected to brake shoes, an equalizer 32 connected to the
free ends of said levers 25-26, connecting rods 35-36 connecting respectively
the levers, 25-28 and 26-27, and a brake rod.37 connected to said equalizer 32,
substantially as described.
20. In a car truck, a spring seat and spring cap constructed to move independently
of each other in a vertical direction but to move together in a lateral direction, in
combination with a spring, and with upper and lower bearings for said seat and cap
constructed to cause the spring to be compressed or the load raised when said
upper and lower bearings are moved laterally with relation to each other, substantially
as described.
21. In a car truck, the combination of springs for supporting the car, and
mechanism preventing lateral movement of said car in relation to the wheels except
by increasing the compression of said springs or raising the car body, or both,
substantially as described.
22. In a car truck, the combination with a spring-supported laterally-movable
bolster, and mechanism for controlling said lateral movement and returning said
bolster to its normal position by the action of the springs, of springs upon which
said bolster is supported, substantially as described.
23. In a truck, a spring seat and spring cap, and one or more springs, said seat
and cap each having a pair of rocker bearings constructed to compress said springs
or raise the load when said bearings are moved laterally with reference to each other,
substantially as described.
24. In a car truck, the combination with a laterally-movable car-body support, of
spring-supporting mechanism which resists lateral movement of said support,
substantially as described.
25. In a car truck, the combination with a laterally-movable car-body support, of

page_text: rocking spring mechanisin which resists lateral movement of said support, substantially
as described.
26. In a car truck, the combination with a laterally-movable car-body supporting
frame, of rocking spring supports for said car-body supporting frame, the springs of
said.supports being put under increased tension by the rocking thereof, and means
for rocking said supports when the car-body supporting frame moves latérally,
substantially as described.
27. In a car truck, the combination with a laterally-movable car-body support,
of upper and lower pedestal members telescopically arranged, rocker bearings
therefor, and one or more springs between said pedestal members, substantially as
.described.
28. In a car-truck, the combination with a laterally-movable car-body supporting-
frame, of upper and lower pedestal members, upper and lower plates engaging said
upper and lower pedestal members respectively, said upper rocker plate being
_connected to the car-body supporting-frame, and means independent of the car-body
supporting-frame for supporting said lower rocker plate, substantially as
*described.
29. In a car truck, the combination with a laterally-movable car-body supporting-
'frame, of upper and lower pedestal members telescopically arranged, upper and lower
'rocker plates engaging said upper and lower pedestal members respectively, said upper
rocker plate being connected to the car-body supporting-frame, and means
independent of the car-body supporting-frame for supporting said lower rocker plate,
substantially as described.
30. In a car truck, the combination with a laterally-movable car-body supporting-
frame, and an. equalizer frame upon which said car-body supporting-frame is
mounted, of upper and lower pedestal members telescopically arranged, and upper
and lower rocker plates engaging said upper and lower pedestal members respectively,
said upper rocker plate being connected to the car-body supporting-frame, and
said lower rocker plate being supported by said equalizer frame, substantially as
described.
Deted this and dan of T11007
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant..