Tramway and other Vehicles.
Year: 1888

page_text: Tramway and other Vehicles.
I, LEONARD PAGET of No. 7 Wall-street City and State of New York, United
States of America, Electrician and Chemist 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 :-
-
My invention relates to apparatus for drawing or driving tram cars and analagous
vehicles through the agency of electricity, and its objects, are, first, to make the
application of electrically controlled power to existing lines of tram cars and analogous
vehicles possible without any change in either the rolling stock or its appurtenances
and in such manner as to obtain great efficiency. Second to provide means for the
control of the said power which shall be simple, efficient and capable of use for other
purposes on the lines where used than the mere propulsion of the cars and the like,
as to clear the track of snow or dirt, and in short to utilize the applied power in
numerous ways apart from its mere application as a means of propulsion. Third, to
provide simple and efficient clutch and switch connections for connecting the pro-
pelling electrical motor to the motor which moves the car or cars and also to provide
additional means for increasing the security and efficiency of said electrical motor and
the source of electrical supply which gives it motion.
I accomplish these objects by the apparatus hereinafter described.
The invention will be fully understood by referring to the accompanying drawings
in which
Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved car propelling vehicle showing the trucks
and portions beneath it in dotted lines, a tram car being attached by the usual link
connection found on railway cars.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a detail and diagrammatic view of the clutch and switch mechanism
for connecting the electrical motor and battery to the axle or axles of the propelling
motor or car.
Figure 4 is a detail view showing the tension regulating apparatus for the rope or
cord belting.
Figure 5 is a detail elevational view of the portable circuit controlling apparatus..

page_text: Like letters of reference represent like parts in all the figures.
My invention is especially designed for the application of electricity as a motive
power in that class of inventions where the source of electrical generation is carried
on the engine which propels or draws the vehicle to be moved. I am aware that it is
old to generate electricity on a moving vehicle such as a railway car or to carry
storage or primary batteries upon such vehicle and to connect the same with the
propelling electrical motor also carried by the car; and that it is also old to utilize
such a source of power when carried by a dummy or independent engine and I do
not claim such features broadly, my invention being directed to the apparatus herein-
after described and claimed, in which I make provision for carrying the propelling
battery and motor on an engine or motor entirely independent of the load to be
transported.
By my improved apparatus I fix the electrical motor directly to the rigid frame of
the car which carries it and connect its pulley or pulleys by rope or cord belting with
tension regulating devices adapted to keep the cords always in secure frictional
contact with the pulleys of the motor and both axles of the truck between which it is
located. I also provide a cushioned or spring seated apartment for carrying the
battery entirely detached mechanically from the motor and its adjuncts.
I also provide simple and efficient switch and clutch mechanism, the latter located
on board the dummy or motor engine and all under the control of an engineer for
operating the apparatus.
Referring to the drawings
RR are the rails of an ordinary tram car track; TT the wheels, A A the axles of
a dummy or motor carrying car having a rigid frame E E carried directly by the
said wheels. Near the middle of this frame is a pair of strong floor timbers G G₁
extending from sleeper to sleeper upon which is firmly bolted an electrical motor M
of any preferred type, the pulleys P P on the motor shaft being located midway
between and above the axles A A of the truck wheels T T.
P1 and P are grooved pulleys adapted to run loosely on the axles A A and to receive
the ropes or cords K K'. This system of rope or cord belting with the accompanying
tension regulating apparatus is quite well known in the mechanical arts and need no
specific description here other than to say that in each instance the ropes or cords are
endless and the tension pulleys N N₁ are applied to the cross cords as shown in
Figures 2 and 4.
These tension pulleys N and N¹ are supported upon cross arms W W₁ attached to
the sleepers of the car frame, and are adapted to yield to the inequalities which take
place in the rope's action by spiral springs t, t, pressing against the heads of the
sliding sustaining arms D D1 and also having a lateral adjustment due to the
swivel connections as shown in Figure 4. Those parts are of course adjustably
attached so as to regulate the pressure of the pulleys upon the cords or ropes.
The pulleys P P are attached directly to the armature shaft while P₁ and P2 are
journalled loosely upon the axles A A of trucks T T.
These pulleys P P² are made of magnetic material, as iron, and are provided
with insulated wire bobbins Z Z so wound upon or about them as to magnetize them
when a current of electricity is passed through them.
CC are two similar magnetic masses similarly wound with insulated coils =¹¹
in such manner that they will become magnetic when said coils are electrically
charged.
Referring now to Figure 3 I will describe the electrical connections of the fixed
and loose clutching parts p¹, 01, P2, and C2, being duplicates thereof. The part (is
rigidly keyed to the axle A. The ends of coils z are connected respectively to the
metallic rings or bands e¹² insulated as shown, and these bands are connected in
turn through brushes 60, 64, to the wires w², w² leading to the pole changing
switch S, S, and they in turn are connected at points p, p², to the battery or
generator B preferably a storage battery. Similarly the ends of coil are con-
nected by insulated bands e², e³, brushes 63 63, and wires w² to the poles of the battery
or generator.

page_text: The poles of the motor M are connected by brushes b, 6' and wires w, w, through
switch S¹ to the poles of the same battery or generator.
All of these conductors are preferably enclosed in a flexible cable; H and
connected to a portable switch board. having hooks h, h, and carrying the usual
rheostat R, h, and switches S, S, and S₁ for manipulating the motor car.
The switches may be arranged in any desired manner and I may substitute a pole
switch in the well known manner for S¹ so as to be enabled to reverse the direction
of the motor and run the car in either direction.
The portable switch apparatus connected through a flexible cable H is hung as
shown by the hooks h, h, upon the dash board on the front platform of the first
car so that the attendant can stand on this platform and control its movements. Of
course this apparatus might be carried on board the motor or dummy and be in any
preferred position.
With this arrangement I am enabled to attach my dummy or motor to any existing
car by simply coupling the connecting links and placing the switch mechanism as
shown.
It may in like manner be attached in the rear of a snow plough or dirt sweep.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:
As shown in Figure 3, the motor M is out of circuit and the loose grip or clutch
pulley P held away from the face of its opposing fixed part by the repellant
action due to the like poles of the magnetic parts, the current through z
being in such direction as to create a north interior and a south exterior pole, while
the interior and exterior pole of Care always North and South respectively by
reason of the constant direction of current from battery B A.
Suppose now the switch S¹ to be closed, there results a multiple are branch of the
circuit from battery B A by wires w to the motor M and its armature commences to
rotate carrying with it the loose pulleys P1, P2, under stress of the cords or
ropes K K, see Figure 2. After the motor has attained a sufficient speed, switch S, S,
is reversed, thereby reversing the direction of the current through the coils z, 2, of
the loose magnetic pulleys P1, P2, causing then to slide longitudinally on the axles A A
in the direction of the fixed parts CC, thereby clutching the two parts firmly
together and imparting motion to said axles and trucks T, T, of the dummy or motor
car.
The speed can of course be regulated in any well known manner as by the
rheostat R, h, a feature familiar to those versed in the art. It will be noticed that by
locating the magnetic pulleys P¹ and C¹, P2 and C2 upon the axle shafts of magnetic
material as iron, the truck wheels being also of iron these parts become magnetized
thereby increasing the traction of the engine.
This is very valuable and important feature in connection with my improved form
of clutch. I find that with a secondary or storage battery located in the spring
sustained box B and this method of uniting the clutching apparatus and at the
same time increasing the traction I provide a simple and efficient motor for propelling
vehicles.
This box B is made with a bottom F F having an opening at one side and near the
centre to permit access to the motor as clearly shown in Figure 1. It is sustained
upon the frame E, E, against lateral longitudinal and vertical vibrations due to
inequalities in the road by strong springs s, s, s, at or near each corner thereby
permitting the battery to be carried with a minimum amount of disturbance.
The motor M projects above the car floor and through the battery box B, so that
all of its parts are accessible to the attendant and it is kept free from dirt or dust.
It will be understood that the motor may be utilized in the propulsion of all kinds
of vehicles ordinarily propelled or drawn by horse or steam and analogous powers
and I design to use it in that generic sense.
I am aware that it is old in the art to actuate clutches electromagnetically and I
make no claim to such feature broadly.
I am also aware that it is old to fix an electric motor rigidly to the floor beams of a
car and to connect its armature pulley with pulleys on the car axles located on either
side and by belting, and I do not claim that generic feature.

page_text: 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 car or motor for propelling cars or analogous vehicles a fixed electric
motor rigidly secured to the car frame, two loose magnetic pulleys journalled on
independent car axles, two fixed magnetic pulleys fixed rigidly to said car axles, pulleys
on the armature shaft of the motor, said pulleys being joined by rope or cord belting
to the loose pulleys as described and electrical connections for causing the loose
pulleys to adhere to the fixed pulleys and thereby transmit power to the car axles
when the motor is energized electrically, substantially as described.
Second. A motor car for propelling cars or analogous vehicles consisting of a rigid
frame carried by trucks, an electric motor secured to said frame, pulleys attached to
the armature shaft of the motor, fixed and loose magnetic pulleys carried by the axles
of the car, rope belting joining said pulleys, and electrical connections for megnetizing
and demagnetizing said pulleys and tension regulation devices for keeping the rope
belting taut, substantially as described.
Third. In a clutch for use in electrically propelled cars, the combination of a fixed
and a loose magnetic pulley located on the axle of the vehicle with electrical connec-
tions as described for causing the pulleys to adhere together and the truck wheels to
maintain increased traction for the rails, substantially as described.
Fourth. An improved means for gearing the axle of a car to be propelled to an
electric motor located on board said car, and at the same time giving increased traction
between the rails and the wheels of the car, said means consisting of fixed and
movable magnetic pulleys both located on the car axle and each provided with an
electrical circuit and connections for magnetizing and demagnetizing it, the car axle
constituting a magnetic core to both pulleys, substantially as described.
Fifth. In a car or motor for propelling cars or analogous vehicles by electricity,
a clutch for gearing a motor carried by the car to the axle thereof, said clutch
being carried by an axle of the car and consisting of a fixed and a loose pulley
both of magnetic material, and having each an insulated coil of wire wound cou-
concentric with its axis and the axle of the car, said insulated wires being connected
to a battery through insulated conducting bands, brushes and switches as described
whereby the loose pulley is adapted to run free under the influence of the propelling
motor or be connected mechanically to the fixed pulley dependent upon the position of
the switch mechanism, substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination of an electric motor for propelling cars by electricity and
a battery all carried by the car, with switches and multiple are connections from the
battery to the motor, and magnetic clutch mechanism for connecting the motor to the
axle of the car, substantially as described.
Seventh. A detachable or portable switch board provided with hooks or sustaining
devices and switches connected through conductors running to a battery and
electric motor located on a car or dummy engine propelled by said motor, sub-
stantially as described.
Eighth. A detachable switch board having sustaining devices for attaching it to
the dash board of a tram car, in combination with switches and circuit connections
extending through a flexible cable to a separate motor car, substantially as described.
Dated this 27th day of Navambar 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.