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

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Motor Vehicles for Electric
Railways and Tramways.
I, SIDNEY HOWE SHORT, of No. 1184 East Madison Avenue, Cleveland,
County of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, United states of America, 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:―
This invention relates to electric car equipments.
The object of the invention is to provide an improved method of mounting the
motors, and braking the same, and arrangement of resistance therefor.
Figure 1, sheet 1, is a vertical transverse section of a bearing for motors and
axles.
Figure 2, sheet 1, is a broken sectional view longitudinally of the motor shaft
bearing.
Figure 1, sheet 2, is a view in side elevation, parts broken away and parts in
central longitudinal section of a rheostat employed in electric car equipments.
Figure 2, sheet 3, is an end view of a rheostat section.
Figures 3 and 4, sheet 3, are respectively a side and a plan view of the rheostat
section terminal.
Figure 5, sheet 3, is a perspective of the terminal plate.
Figure 6, sheet is a broken detail in section on line 6, 6, Figure 2, sheet 3.
Figure 1, sheet 4, is a broken view partly in end elevation and partly in section
showing the application of an electric brake to the shaft of a motor geared to a
car axle.
Figure 2, sheet 4, is a view in front elevation, partly sectional of the constructions
shown in Figure 1, sheet 4.
Figure 3, sheet 5, is a view similar to Figure 1, sheet 4, showing the application
of the brake to a counter-shaft, which is geared to the car axle.
Figure 4, sheet 5, is a similar view showing the brake applied directly to the
car axle.
Figure 5, sheet 6, is a diagrammatic plan showing a slightly different application
of the brake.
In the operation of motors geared to driven axles, and particularly motors
employed for street car work, where the motor shaft is geared directly to the car
axle, an enormous pressure is exerted at the point where the gears mesh with each
other, and in a direction tending to force the axle and motor shaft away from each
other laterally, this pressure being exerted upon the shaft substantially in a line
intersecting the axis of rotation of said shaft and axle. Under this pressure the
sides of the bearings for said shaft and axle, opposite the side where the pressure
is exerted, are rapidly worn away, while the sides of the bearings which are adjacent
to each other are subjected to very little wear. In the economic and efficient
equipment of electric cars, it is important to provide against this lateral thrust or
pressure. In sheet 1, is shown an arrangement for accomplishing the desired

page_text: object. It is also important to provide means for lubricating the bearings. This
result is also attained in the construction illustrated in this sheet of the drawing,
wherein G, is a supporting girder. Suitably bolted by bolts R in a seat formed in
this girder is a box or casting U, cored out to permit it to be slipped over the end
of the armature shaft B. Bearing shells C, of soft metal or other suitable material,
and made in halves, the joining faces of which are in a diagonal line, are fitted in
the bore of casting U, and form the bearing surface for the motor shaft B. Thus,
no break occurs in the wall of the bearing at the point O, where the greatest thrust
occurs. Dowels V, prevent the shells C, from turning with the shaft. A well L is
formed in casting U, opposite the point O, and D is a covering therefor. The
bushings C, are cut away adjacent to well L, and hence the bearing surface of said
bushings and also of the shaft B is in communication with well L, which is designed
to carry a lubricant.
A piece of waste W is arranged to be pressed constantly
against the exposed surface of shaft B, by means of spring S. A similar bearing
to that above described is provided for the axle A, except that the box which
encloses the bearing bushings C, is made is separable sections T, T", the meeting.
faces of which lie in an horizontal plane as at E. Thus, the box may be removed
from the axle without removing the wheel. The meeting edges of the sections of
bearing bushings C of box T, T", is diagonal but at right angles to the plane con-
taining the meeting edges of the bushing sections of the other journal box, thereby
providing a continuous bearing surface at the point 01, where the greatest pressure
occurs. The grooves H, serve to return to the well L, any oil forced out of the
boxes by the shafts. Eye bolts F are provided whereby said boxes may be con-
veniently lifted out for removal, renewal or repair. The mouth J of box U, must
be sufficiently large to enable the bearing sleeves to be slipped into place within
said box.
In the electric equipment of cars, it is important and necessary to arrange
resistances in the motor circuit so that the full strength of the current carried by the
supply conductor will not pass through the individual motors of the cars. These
resistances in the form of rheostats are mounted on each car and constitute a part
of the permanent electrical equipment thereof. In the employment of these
rheostats it is important to provide for a desirable range of variation in the amount
of resistance included in the motor circuit in order to meet the exigences of service.
In sheets 2 and 3, is shown a construction and arrangement which is simple,
efficient and free from cost or complexity, and wherein the desired objects are
secured, and wherein the rheostat is formed of a number of sections, each of which
comprises a hub A having spokes B, radiating therefrom and carrying forked
arms C, the spokes and arms being connected, if desired, by rim D, the whole
forming a spider or reel. The rim D is formed to receive a strip E, of mica, or
other insulating material. The resistance material comprises a strip of iron, which
is wound upon the reel D. The inner end of such strip being bent or projected
outwardly from such coil, as at F, to form electrical connection with the next
adjacent reel. A strip or coil of asbestos is interposed between the coils or iron.
In order to thoroughly insulate the coils of resistance material from the hub upon
which it is wound, I arrange troughs G, of mica in the arms C, and these troughs
receive the windings of iron and asbestos. To form a terminal for the end of the
strip of iron, I provide a strap H having a slot J in one end thereof through which
is passed the end of the iron strip. Such end is then bent back upon itself and
around the periphery of the coil, and over the other end K of strap H, which is
provided with a side lugs L, and at the extreme end thereof with a hook M.
Before passing the resistance strip over the end K, the end of such strip is folded
around a securing plate N, which is then arranged upon the end K of strap H,
with its end abutting against hook M. The side lugs L are then bent tightly down
over and upon the plate N. The terminal strap H is provided with two sockets,
one of which receives and holds by means of binding screw O, or otherwise, the
end F, of the resistance strip, and the other receives and holds by means of binding
screw Q the terminal P of the motor circuit. The several connections, constructed

page_text: as above described are assembled upon a rod R supported at its ends upon
casings, S, S¹, bolted or otherwise secured upon the car or truck, the rod R being
held in place by nuts T mounted on the threaded ends thereof outside of the casings,
spring washers U being interposed between the nuts and casings. The several
resistance sections are placed on rod R before the end casings are placed thereon,
and by turning upon nuts T the several sections are clamped tightly together. Each
hub A has a projection V, on one side thereof adapted to enter a recess W in the
adjacent side of the next adjacent hub to prevent relative rotation of the sections,
and the last section at each end is similarly locked to the end casings. The end
casings are provided with grooves B', in the opposite faces thereof in which are
received the ends of a shield A', which encloses the entire rheostat, leaving only
the terminals projecting, thereby protecting the rheostat from dust and dirt. Thus,
is produced an exceedingly simple and efficient resist ince box, wherein any desired
variation in the motor circuit resistance may be speedily and readily secured, and
wherein ample ventilation is obtained.
In the electrical equipment of cars it is necessary to provide a braking apparatus.
An electrical braking apparatus is desirable for the reason that the case may be
operated from the saine source of current as the motors, and in the mounting of the
motors and the permanent resistance on the cars, the arrangement and application
of a braking system should be had in mind. In sheets 4, 5 and 6, is shown an
arrangement embodying an electric braking system in an electric car equipment
wherein the brake shoes are included in a magnetic circuit, the lines of force of
which are cut by means which generate a heavy alternating current A., designates
a brake wheel having a heavy peripheral rim of cast iron or steel, perforated at
equal spaces apart and parallel with the axis thereof, as at B. Insulating sleeves C
are arranged in these perforatious, through which sleeves pass heavy inducting
bars D of copper.
The projecting ends of these bars are in electrical connection
with each other, as by being secured to rings E of copper. F is an electro-magnet,
comprising a core G, suitably supported from the car body or truck by means of
hangers J. Over core G is slipped the coil Hof fine wire and many turns. K, are
the brake shoes, of suitable material say cast iron, having a large area of contact
surface with the periphery of wheel A. These shoes may be loosely hung upon
extensions of the magnet core G, and hence form parts of a magnet circuit, which
also includes the core G and wheel A, such circuit being closed by the contacting
of the shoes with the surface of the wheel A. It is important therefore that a
large area of contact be provided between these brake shoes and the core. There-
fore, the shoes are perforated to slip over the ends of the core, which are reduced
to a smaller diameter than the perforations, thereby securing ample area of bearing
surface for the shoes against the shoulders formed by reducing the ends of the
core, and permitting a desirable freedom of movement of the shoes upon the core.
Thus, it will be seen that by passing a current through the coils H, the electro-
magnet will be energized thereby creating a strong magnetic flux through the
closed magnetic circuit formed by core G, brake shoes K, and wheel A, and hence
causing the brake shoes to hug tightly the periphery of said wheel, and by
relatively proportioning the area of contact between the shoes and wheel any
desired braking effort will be secured. The brake wheel with the inductor
sections D mounted therein forms in effect an armature with the inductor sections
short circuited upon themselves. This armature revolves in a strong magnetic
field produced in the closed magnetic circuit, the brake shoes serving as pole
pieces. The result is to produce heavy alternating currents in the inductor
sections as they cut the lines of force in the magnetic circuit during the revolution
of the brake wheel, and which alternating currents are short circuited through the
end connections E. Not only, therefore, is a frictional braking effect secured by
the bearing of the shoes against the periphery of wheels A, but the induced
alternating currents tend to retard the revolutions of the brake wheel by consuming
energy the action being the same as in an alternating dynamo short circuited itself.
From this description it will be seen that when the brake is initially applied while

page_text: the car is under considerable speed, a braking effort is obtained which is the sum
of the frictional braking effort, which remains constant, and the electrical braking
effort, which diminishes as the speed diminishes, finally disappearing when the car
stops, and therefore since the electrical braking effort is directly proportional to the
speed, the advantage is realized of a small degree of frictional application of the
brake shoes. The brake wheel may be mounted directly upon the motor shaft L,
as in Figs. 1 and 2, sheet 4, and Fig. 5, sheet 6, and keyed to revolve therewith, or
it may be mounted on a counter-shaft N, as shown in Fig. 3, sheet 5, in either case
the shaft or counter-shaft being geared to the car axle M, the breaking effort being
thus multiplied to the axle through the reduction gearing. In Fig. 4, sheet 5, the
brake wheel is mounted directly upon the axle. In this case the wheel must be
increased in size in order to secure the desired degree of braking effort. The
peripheral surface of the brake wheel may be chilled to reduce the wear thereon, or
it may be provided with a removable encircling ring, which forms the surface against
which the brake shoes bear. When this ring becomes worn, it may be removed
and replaced by another. The current for energizing coils H may be derived
from any suitable sources, for instance, from the supply conductor S, through
trolley P, brake lever Q aud resistances R, coils H, and conductor T, to ground.
Thus the current supplied to coils H, may be regulated, thereby regulating
the degree of electrical braking effort developed in the apparatus. In Fig. 5,
sheet 6, is shown an arrangement wherein the motors may be placed in circuit with
the coil H, whereby by reversing the motor fields and cutting off the supply
thereto from the supply conductor, said motors are converted into generators under
the influence of the rotation thereof due to the momentuin of the car. The circuit
from the motors A' under these conditions through coil H, includes a regulating
lever Q, and resistance R'. The motors A¹, may be supported in any suitable
manner, as by connections B¹. If several cars, on each of which is a braking
system in accordance with the foregoing, are coupled up in a train, the brakes may
be arranged in series or in parallel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In electric railways and tramways a bearing box having a divided bushing
arranged therein to form the bearing surface for the shaft, the meeting edges of
the sections of the bushing lying in a diagonal plane, thereby presenting a
continuous unbroken surface on that side thereof opposite the point from which the
lateral thrust pressure proceeds.
2. In electric railways and tramways a bearing box having a divided bushing
the meeting edges of the sections of which lie in a diagonal plane, thereby presenting
an unbroken surface opposite the point from whence proceeds the lateral thrust,
and means for introducing a lubricant thereto from the side from which proceeds
said lateral thrust.
3. In electric railways and tramways a bearing box provided with an oil
chamber on the side thereof from which proceeds the lateral thrust, said chamber
communicating with the shaft bearing.
4. In electric railways and tramways a bearing box provided with an oil chamber
on the side thereof from which proceed the lateral thrust, said chamber commu-
nicating with the shaft bearing, and a spring arranged in said chamber and adapted
to constantly supply the shaft bearing with a lubricant.
5. In electric railways and tramways an axle, a motor having its shaft geared
to the axle, a supporting girder a solid bearing for the motor shaft, and a split
bearing for the axle, said bearings supported on the girder.
6. In electric railways and tramways a bearing box formed of a single piece
suitably cored and adapted to be slipped over the end of the shaft, said box
provided with an oil chamber in communication with the bearing surface of the
box.

page_text: 7. In electric railways and tramways a bearing box formed in a single piece
suitable cored to be slipped over the end of the shaft, and provided with an oil
chamber communicating with the bearing surface, and a groove for returning
expelled oil to said chamber.
8. In electric railways and tramways a fixed resistance for electric railway
equipments, comprising resistance material wound in spiral coils and having means
for receiving the motor terminal.
9. In electric railways and tramways a rheostat for electric car equipments
comprising a spider having arms adapted to receive the resistance material in
convolute layers, and means for attaching the motor circuit terminals thereto.
10. In electric railways and tramways a rheostat for electric car equipments
comprising a spider having a hub carrying forked arms, with insulating material
arranged therein, and a strip of resistance material spirally wound thereon, and
having means for securing the terminal of the motor circuit thereto.
11. In electric railways and tramways a rheostat for electric car equipments,
comprising resistance material wound in spiral coils, a strap to which the end of
said coils is secured and having means adapted to receive the terminal of the motor
circuit.
12. In electric railways and tramways a rheostat for electric car equipments,
comprising resistance material wound in spiral coils, a strap having a slot through
which the end of the coils is passed, such end then bent back upon itself, around
the coils and secured to the strap, said strap adapted to receive the terminal of the
motor circuit.
13. In electric railways and tramways a rheostat for electric car equipments,
comprising several sections, each section consisting of coils of resistance material,
the several coils in electrical connection with each other, and each section adapted
to receive the terminal of the motor circuit.
14. In electric railways and tramways a rheostat for electric car equipments,
comprising a supporting bar, a plurality of electrically connected resistance sections
mounted thereon, and each having means adapted to receive the terminal of the
motor circuit and means for preventing relative turning of said sections on the
bar.
15. In electrical railways and tramways, a rheostat for electric car equipments,
comprising a plurality of electrically connected resistance sections mounted thereon,
and means for clamping said sections together and between end casings, and with
or without an enclosing shield.
16. In a braking system for electric railway and tramway car equipments the
method which consists in inducing heavy currents in circuits closed upon themselves
in a closed magnetic circuit, either with or without the brakes forming part of such
circuit.
17. In a braking system for electric railway and tramway car equipments, the
method which consists in developing a constant frictional braking effort, and
simultaneously therewith developing an electrical braking effort, which is proportional
to the speed.
18. A braking system for electric railway and tramway car equipments,
comprising a brake wheel carrying inductor sections, brake shoes, and an electro-
magnet, said wheel and shoes and the core of said magnet forming a closed
magnetic circuit across which said inductor sections move.
19. A braking system for electric railway and tramway car equipments
comprising a brake wheel carrying inductors short circuited upon themselves, brake
shoes an electric magnet, said shoes bearing against said wheel and the core of said
magnet, and an energizing circuit, controllable, if desired, for said magnet.
20. A braking system for electric railway and tramway car equipments,
comprising a brake wheel having insulating seats longitudinally arranged therein,
and adapted to receive inductors, means for electrically connecting the ends of said
inductors, brake shoes, an electro-magnet, said shoes contacting respectively

page_text: with the wheel and the core of said magnet, and an energizing circuit for the
magnet.
21. A braking system for electric railway and tramway car equipments,
comprising a brake wheel, and brake shoes, means for magnetically applying said
brakes frictionally to said wheel, and means for coincidently therewith developing
an electrical braking effort.
22. In a braking system for electric railway and tramway car equipments, a
brake wheel, an electro-magnet and brake shoes loosely supported upon the core
of the magnet and arranged to bear against the wheel.
23. In electric railways and tramways an axle, a motor geared thereto, a brake
wheel mounted either on the axle or motor shaft, or a counter-shaft geared to the
axle, brake shoes, an electro-magnet and an energizing circuit for the magnet,
controllable, if desired.
24. In electric railways and tramways, an axle, a motor geared thereto, a brake
wheel carrying inductor sections, brake shoes, an electro-magnet, a circuit therefor,
and means for supplying current to said circuit either from the trolley wire or from
the motor with its field reversed and operating as a generator under the
influence of the momentum of the car.
Dated this 30th day of June 1897.
SIDNEY HOWE SHORT.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.