Improved Means for Driving Railway or Tramway Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Dute of Application, 24th May, 1892-Accepted, 2nd July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE PATTON MOTOR COMPANY, of the City
of Pueblo, County of Pueblo and State of Colorado, United States of
America, a Corporation existing under the laws of the said State of
Colorado.]
Improved Means for Driving Railway or Tramway Vehicles.
I, GEORGE MACAULAY-CRUIKSHANK, C.E. of 62 Saint Vincent Street,
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Patent
Agents do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to means for propelling cars for street railway and
analogous service, and consists first, in providing a car or truck with a suitable
engine or motor as a primary source of power, a dynamo electric machine operated
by the said engine or motor, an electric motor supplied from the dynamo and
employed for operating the running gear of the car or truck, and a storage battery
in multiple circuit with the dynamo and electric motor so as to derive its supply
from the dynamo and stand in readiness for supplying the motor at times when its
service is needed.
The electric motor can be connected with the running gear or wheels of the car
in any suitable way, and the storage battery can be connected with the dynamo
and electric motor through the medium of any suitably arranged multiple circuit
permitting the dynamo to supply the storage battery and allowing the storage
battery to supply the electric motor, and thus arranged, the storage battery affords
a ready and efficient means for the economical and advantageous conservation and
utilization of surplus electric energy as a source of supply which is in constant
readiness for automatically supplying the electric motor at such times as the
service of such supply may be needed. Where for example the car is running
along a dowa grade, and less work is required on the part of the dynamo as a means
for operating the electric motor, the surplus electrical energy developed by the
dynamo will be stored up in the storage battery and there held in readiness as a
source of supply auxiliary to the dynamo should the voltage of the latter drop to
the voltage of the storage battery by reason of the opposition to the movement
of the car along a curve or up-grade or when starting, and in this way, power from
the dynamo, can be economically and conveniently stored up and then used at
times when it is needed as an adjunct to the dynamo in supplying the electric
motor. This conservation or storing up of extra or surplus energy can also be
attained, when for example, the car is running along a perfectly level, easy track,
or running along a comparatively easy track with a light load, it being apparent
that under such circumstances the dynamo can be economically driven so as to
supply the electric motor in accordance with the requirements of the latter, and
also supply the storage battery so as to provide therein a supply ready for demands
upon its service. The cngine or motor which serves to drive the dynamo, can also
be permitted to run continuously during the trip or any desired period of service
on the part of the car, and hence, during the stops made by the car, the electrical
energy developed in the dynamo can be economically utilized to supply the storage
battery wherein it will be held in readiness for active service.
In addition to the provision of a simple, practical and efficient mode or system-of
propulsion ensuring the steady running of the car and involving the economical
generation and utilization on a car of electrical energy sufficient to meet all
demands, it is also rendered practical to operate the dynamo by a comparatively
small gas-engine or gas motor for which fuel supply in compact form such as

page_text: gasoline, can be conveniently carried by the car, and while the invention is not
limited to the employment of a gas-engine or gas-motor, the use of a motor of such
class is preferable.
A gas engine thus employed is provided with one or more comparatively heavy
balance wheels and is desirably arranged low down to ensure general steadiness,
and to turn the balance wheel by hand until a start of the engine is attained is
tiresome and inconvenient.
A further object therefore of the invention is to overcome such disadvantages,
and to such end the dynamo is also temporarily used as a motor for starting up
the gas or analogous engine or motor until the speed thereof is such as to drive the
dynamo at a rate of speed sufficient to convert it into a generator. The dynamo is
primarily supplied from a storage battery, and as a convenient, and economical
arrangement the dynamo is thus temporarily supplied from the storage battery
which in running the car is employed as an auxiliary and adjunct to the dynamo.
When the dynamo and electric motor circuits are open and the engine is at rest,
the dynamo can be started up as a motor by placing the storage battery in circuit
with the dynamo, whereupon the dynamo will at once run as a motor and start up
the engine. As soon however as the engine attains a proper rate of speed, the
speed of the dynamo will be such as to convert it into a generator, whereupon
the dynamo will supply back the storage battery and the two will be in readiness
for supplying the electric motor.
In the accompanying drawings,—
Figure 1 represents in side elevation a motor car embodying the invention.
Figure 2 represents the motor car partly in side elevation and partly in vertical,
longitudinal section.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on line - in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the floor or platform of the car, and illustrates the
dynamo and motor circuits.
The car is provided with a centrally arranged cab or room A for a gas-engine B
which extends above the floor or platform C of the body of the car.
The car
being centrally located permits the arrangement of seats D upon the forward and
rear portions of the car platform, and also permits the arrangement of the gas
engine at a point midway between the front and rear axles E, so as to ensure proper
balance and steady running.
The car body is supported upon the axles, which latter also support a frame F
arranged independent of and as far below the car platform as practicable.
The gas engine is supported upon frame F, and the car platform is provided
with a centrally arranged opening c through which the gas-engine rises. The gas
engine rises centrally within the cab A, with its balance wheels b, b', in planes at
right angles to the length of the car and the dynamo is arranged between the gas
engine and one side of the car, so as to leave room within the cab for an attendant,
without so exceeding the length of the cab or room A toward the ends of the car
as to encroach upon the spaces allotted to the front and rear seats. By arranging
the gas engine as low down as possible, space is also provided for the muffler B
Also the water tanks B2 for cooling purposes, and a supply tank B³ (containing for
example a supply of gasoline) can be properly arranged at a desirable height above
the engine.
The dynamo G, and electric motor H are desirably supported upon frame F, and
as a preferred arrangement, the dynamo is driven from the gas-engine by friction
gearing, the armature shaft of the dynamo being provided with a friction wheel or
pulley g engaging a balance wheel of the gas engine. By thus connecting the
dynamo with the gas engine, the two can be arranged close together, and a steady
and reliable driving connection ensured.
The storage battery I can be arranged either upon the frame F or upon the car
floor or other portion of the car, but is shown.upon the car floor within the cab.
The dynamo, storage battery and electric motor are in multiple circuit so as to
permit the dynamo to supply both the electric motor and the storage battery, and

page_text: also permit the storage battery to supply the electric motor as an auxiliary and
adjunct to the dynamo, and the electric motor is applied for operating the running
gear of the car so as to propel the same. The electric motor serves therefore to
operate the wheels or running gear of the car through the medium of any suitable
driving connection, and hence serves to convert the energy of the electric currents
from the dynamo, and from the storage battery as an auxiliary to the dynamo
when such auxiliary supply becomes necessary, into the energy of mechanical
motion which is utilized as a power for directly operating the running gear of the
car through such gearing or power transmitting connecting as may be selected to
connect the running gear of the car with the electric motor.
The gas engine or other primary motive power employed, the dynamo, the
storage battery, and the electric motor, may be arranged in any suitable way, and
the storage battery, dynamo and electric motor can be connected by any suitable
multiple or equivalent circuit permitting the storage battery to derive its supply
from the dynamo and supply the motor as an auxiliary and adjunct to the dynamo
for the purpose hereinbefore set forth. The gas engine or motive power may be
run at a high speed and continuously, and the surplus electrical energy developed
by the dynamo-during stops of the car, and other occasions hereinbefore
described will be stored up in the storage battery for service when needed. The
dynamo can also be run at a high rate of speed, and the electricity generated can be
used as required by the electric motor which can be supplied from the storage
battery as well as from the dynamo, and hence the speed of the gas-engine or other
motive power can be regulated to suit its requirement without regard to the speed
required for the driving gear of the car, that is to say the gas engine or gas
motor can be operated with reference to the action of the dynamo as a source both
for directly supplying the electric motor and for charging the storage battery as an
auxiliary source of supply for the electric motor.
The gas engine may thus run continuously without loss of power in stopping and
starting the car, as the electricity generated by the dynamo while the car is not
moving, and all electricity in excess of that required to run the electric motor
when the car is moving under ordinary conditions or circumstances, is stored in the
storage battery.
The dynamo, storage battery and electric motor are also in circuit arranged
to permit. the storage battery to temporarily supply the dynamo so as to run the
latter as a motor for the purpose of starting up the gas engine or equivalent
primary power.
Figure 4 illustrates the dynamo, electric motor and storage battery in multiple
circuit, arranged to permit the dynamo to supply both the storage battery and
electric motor, and also permit the storage battery not only to supply the electric
motor, but also supply the dynamo when it is desired to temporarily run the same
as a motor.
Let it be first assumed that the engine is at rest, and that switches K and L,
indicated in dotted lines and respectively in the dynamo and electric motor circuit
are open.
If now switch K in the dynamo circuit be closed, the storage battery
(assumed to have been previously charged from the dynamo) will supply the
dynamo since the latter will have been placed in closed circuit with the storage
battery through connections 1, 2, 3, 4. The dynamo will thereupon run as a motor
and start up the engine, which latter upon attaining suitable speed will run the
dynamo at a rate of speed to convert the dynamo into a generator and thus supply
back the storage battery. To start the car, the attendant will close switch Lin
the motor circuit, whereupon the electric inotor will be in closed circuit with the
dynamo through the medium of connections 2, 5, 6, 7, 3, and also be in closed
circuit with the storage battery through connections 1, 5, 6, 7, 4. When the
switches are thus closed, the electric motor can be supplied by the dynamo and
storage battery according to requirements, and also, where there is an excess
of power generated by the dynamo, the same will be supplied to and stored up
within the storage battery. When switch L is opened for the purpose of opening

page_text: the motor circuit and stopping the car, the dynamo circuit which includes the
storage battery can be left closed so as to utilize the dynamo during the stop of
the car as a means for charging the storage battery.
As a means for operating the switches, a chain or cable M shown in dotted lines
is arranged to pass about rolls N, on the platform, and connected with the switches.
This chain or cable can be controlled by a winding drum or pulley P, on a rotary
shaft, Q, which can in turn be operated by a crank lever, R, at one end of the car,
.it being observed that in practice like means for a similar purpose can be used at
the opposite end of the car, in which way, a drum or pulley can be operated by an
attendant at the forward end of the car in accordance with the direction in which
the car is to run.
A rheostat S is indicated in dotted lines in the motor circuit, but neither the
rheostat nor the switches need be herein described in detail, since any known or
suitable construction can be employed.
The dynamo should be of the kind which can be run as a motor without
reversing the direction in which it is to run as a generator, and the electric motor
and storage battery can be of any suitable type. The electric motor can be of any
suitable type or construction and connected with one of the axles by any suitable
power transmitting connection.
In the system for car propulsion herein involved the dynamo can however be
connected with the gas engine or primary motive power in any suitable way, since
as a matter of course the general operation is not dependant upon the particular
construction herein shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
I declare that what I claim is :-
:-
1. A motor system for car propulsion comprising a dynamo operated by a
suitable engine, an electric motor, and a storage battery, in multiple circuit, so as
to permit the dynamo to supply both the electric motor and the storage battery
and also permit the storage battery to supply the electric motor as auxiliary
and an adjunct to the dynamo, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. A motor system for car propulsion comprising a gas engine or analogons
primary source of power, a dynamo operated by the engine, an electric motor
supplied by the dynamo, and a storage battery supplied from the dynamo and
connected therewith in circuit so that it can be employed as a source of supply for
temporarily running the dynamo as a motor operating to start up the engine,
substantially as set forth.
3. A motor system for car propulsion comprising a dynamo, a storage battery in
circuit with the dynamo, an electric motor in circuit with both the dynamo and the
storage battery and applied for driving the running gear of the car, a gas engine or
analogous primary driving power for operating the dynamo, and suitable means for
opening and closing the dynamio and electric motor circuits so that as a means
for starting up the gas engine or analogous primary driving power the dynamo
can be supplied from the storage battery and temporarily used as a motor for
operating said gas engine or analogous primary driving power substantially as
.set forth.
4. A motor car provided with a gas engine or analogous motive power, a dynamo
connected with and driven from a balance wheel of said engine by friction gearing
a storage battery supplied from the dynamo, an electric motor supplied from the
dynamo and storage battery and applied for operating the running gear of the
car, and circuit connection permitting the dynamo to be temporarily supplied from
the storage battery and run as a motor for starting up the engine, substantially as
described.
5. A motor car comprising a centrally arranged cab A. a gas engine supported
upon a frame below the car platform and arranged to rise within the centrally
located cab, a dynamo arranged alongside the gas engine and operated from the

page_text: same, a storage battery supplied by the dynamo, and an electric motor for the
purpose set forth supported on said frame and supplied from the dynamo and storage
battery, substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1892.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.