Improved Method of Propelling Cars and Trains which Slide along. Tracks, and Appliances therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 26th June, 1890-Accepted, 26th July, 1890
Improved Method of Propelling Cars and Trains which Slide along.
Tracks, and Appliances therefor.
MICHAEL RADCLIFFE WARD 9 Warwick Street, Regent Street, London W. Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is particularly to make the use of fluid between the rails
or track, and the carriages economical and convenient.
In proposing and constructing so-called sliding railways the carriages have been
propelled by jets of water ejected from nozzles operated by mechanism on the train.
This necessitates an expensive hydraulic plant; and a large number of valves, nozzles,
pressure equalisers &c., are required along the line of railway, and there are many
practical difficulties in the way. Instead of propelling the carriages by high pressure
jets of water, I apply electricity in such a way that it is practicable to use it as a
propelling power in conjunction with carriages sliding on a film of fluid, instead of
rolling on wheels in the ordinary way.
The electric energy may be obtained from any convenient source; for instance
accumulators, or conductors along the railway. Af the present time the latter will be
the usually preferable method.
A
I apply the power of the electric motor, or motors, by friction wheels against a rail
or rails, combined with the rail for the slides, or connected thereto, the wheels bearing
horizontally against the rail. For instance the rail for the wheels may be in such a
position that a friction wheel can be conveniently applied on each side of it. These
friction wheels can be kept together with a spring with just enough pressure to give
the necessary grip. Or electro magnetism may be used to give the pressure.
convenientway of applying the power to the two frictionwheels is by having a motor to
each so that gear is done away with. The motor or motors are supported in such a
way that the supporting attachment permits of their moving up against the rail, as
required. By applying the electric power in this way I can work without disturbing
the balance of the slides.
Or construct the rails so that the smooth surfaces of the rails for the slides are
combined with rails, which may form part of the rails for the slides, on which a
sufficient number of wheels to get grip may turn. The bulk of the weight however
being carried by the slides. The rail for the wheels may be a single rail or more,
stayed to the slide rails or otherwise fixed to the permanent way.
These friction or propelling wheels are kept on the track with the requisite pressure
ascertained by adjustment.
The pressure to keep the wheels on the rails may be obtained by springs, weights,
or electro magnetic appliances.
And the wheels are arranged in such a way & placed in such a position that they
will not disturb the balance of the carriage or carriages on the slides. In this case
the combination of springs. weights, or electro magnetic appliances to keep the
necessary grip with the wheels and rails, on which they work, are required.
Another way of applying the power of the electric motor, or motors, is to place them
in connection with an independent carriage, not on slides, or section of a carriage, so
that the adhesion will be obtained by the weight of the special motor carriage, or
section of a carriage, on which the motor or motors are. The rails used by the wheels
may be the same rails as the slides run on, or special portions thereof or independant
rail or rails suitable fixed to the slide rails or on the permanent way. The slide rails
might also be used for the wheels, in the case of keeping the wheels actuated by
electricity, in grip by springs, weights, or electro magnetic appliances. Practice will
determine the preferable method of construction.

page_text: Or I construct a rack in connection with the permanent way.and arrange an electric
motor or motors, on the train with spur wheels, to gear into such rack. The rack may
be in the same piece as the rails for the slides or may be attached thereto with suitable
stays, and the rack may be in any suitable position with relation to the carriages.
More than one rack may be used where necessary, corresponding spur wheels being
provided. The power of the motor will thus move the train along without disturbing
the balance of the slides or their successful action.
Any suitable general construction of permanent way may be used with my system
of working carriages.
My Invention permits of using very heavy gradients with great economy. In the
case of applying the electric power through horizontal wheels I may run the wheels
against the sides of the rails for the slides instead of arranging a special part or special
rails therefor. The side of the rails for the wheels to run against being suitably
made.
In the case of using a rack and spur wheel I may make the spur wheel considerably
wider across the teeth than the rack teeth are, and then when a gradient comes, the
rack may be increased in width, the object being to economize weight.
Economy and great speed of working will be obtained by applying electricity in
conjunction with slides with a film of liquid to support the carriages in the manner
herein described, and my Invention is likely to be of great utility.
My Invention is applicable with any system of conductors for electricity such for
instance as those in which sections of the conductor are switched in during the passage
of a train.
A
Improved Method of Propelling Cars and Trains which Slide along
Tracks, and Appliances therefor.
I MICHAEL RADCLIFFE WARD 9 Warwick Street Regent Street London, W.
Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and inwhat manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
The object of my invention is particularly to make the use of fluid between the rails
or tracks and the carriages economical and convenient. In proposing and constructing
so called sliding railways the carriages have been propelled by jets of water ejected
from nozzles operated by mechanism on the train. This necessitates an expensive
hydraulic plant and a large number of valves, nozzles, pressure equalizers etc. are
required along the line of railway and there are many practical difficulties in the way.
Instead of propelling the carriages by high pressure jets of water, I apply electricity
in such a way that it is practicable to use it as a propelling power in conjunction with
carriages sliding on a film of fluid, instead of rolling on wheels in the ordinary way,
The electric energy may be obtained from any convenient source: for instance,
accumulators, or conductors along the railway; at the present time the latter will be
the usually preferable method.
I apply the power of the electric motor or motors by friction wheels against a rail
or rails combined with the rail for the slides or connected thereto the wheels bearing
horizontally against the rail. For instance the rail for the wheels may be in such a
position, that a friction wheel can be conveniently applied on each side of it. These
friction wheels can be kept together with a spring with just enough pressure to give
the necessary grip. Or electric magnetism may be used to give the pressure.
convenient way of applying the power to the two friction wheels, is by having a motor
to each so that gear is done away with. The motor or motors are supported in such a
way, that the supporting attachment permits of their moving up against the rail as
required. By applying the electric power in this way, I can work without disturbing
the balance of the slides.
A

page_text: On sheet 1, Fig. 1. the car supported on its slides is shewn; the appliances for
propulsion are shewn by the rail Ragainst which the wheels W W connected with
electric motors M M press, by means of the spring S. This spring $ may be replaced
by an electro-magnetic appliance such as solenoid, rendered active by an electric
current. This electro magnetic appliance may be placed in series with the motors so
that when the speed is low, due to starting on a gradient, the appliance will give a
greater grip just at the time that it is wanted. A good automatic adjustment is thus
obtained. The electric motors are attached to the main frame supporting them by
attachments L. L. which permit of their being free to move in the necessary way to
allow of their springs or their equivalents acting.
Or I construct the rails so that the smooth surfaces of the rails, which may form
part of the rails for the slides on which a sufficient number of wheels to get grip may
turn. The bulk of the weight however being carried by the slides. The rail for the
wheels may be a single rail or more, stayed to the slide rails or otherwise fixed to the
permanent way. These friction or propelling wheels are kept on the track with
the requisite pressure ascertained by adjustment.
Fig. 1 sheet 2 shows a form of rail constructed in such a way that the slides through
which the water comes,--the substitutes for wheels.-slide on the flat portion E. and
the wheels for the propulsion or traction, work on the part lettered R in the figure.
The wheels are actuated by an electric motor or motors with sufficient weight thereon
to get the necessary grip.
The same construction of rail is applicable for other arrangements of electric motors
for instance the one described below in which the motors are in an independent
carriage, or section of a carriage.
The grip necessary for the wheels running on the friction rail may be obtained by
weighting the part carrying the motors and wheels artificially as it were by springs
between them and the other portion of the cars, or by weights. Or by using an
electro magnetic appliance such as a solenoid, so that the respective parts are in
connection with the car main frame and the wheels. At starting and hill climbing
when the greatest grip was required the solenoid pressure would be the greatest.
If accumulators are used the weight can be obtained by using them. In some cases
the weight of the wheels motors and connecting frames will be sufficient.
Another way of supplying the power of the electric motor or motors is to place them
in connection with an independent carriage not on slides, or section of a carriage, so
that the adhesion will be obtained by the weight of the special motor carriage or
section of a carriage on which the motor or motors are. The rails used by the wheels
may be the same rails as the slides run on or special portions thereof or independent
rail or rails suitably fixed to the slide rails or on the permanent way. The slide rails
might also be used for the wheels in the case of keeping the wheels actuated by
electricity, in grip by springs, weights or electro magnetic appliances. Practice will
determine the preferable method of construction.
Fig. 2 sheet 2 shews a construction of car with an independent section for carrying
the electric motor, or motors, such independent section being attached to the main
part of car by attachments with parts so as to allow of the necessary movement. I, is
the independent section, L L the attachments between the independent section and
the main part of car.
W Ware the wheels connected with the electric motors.
PPP are slides on which the main weight of the car is carried. The attachments LL
are arranged so that there may be a movement of one part of the car independently of
the other. In constructing the said car suitable guides to keep the independent
section in place will be provided if the wheel flanges are insufficient for the purpose.
Fig. 3 sheet 2 shews an independent carriage or locomotive on wheels actuated by
an electric motor, attached to a car or train running on slides.
The wheels of the locomotive may be on a combined slide and friction rail such as I
have described, or on an independent rail for friction or in the case of mountain or
incline railway a rack may be used for the wheels of the locomotive; or a rack and
spur wheel in connection with this electric motor may be used as an auxiliary to wheels
drawing the train by friction,

page_text: Or I construct a rack in connection with the permanent way and arrange an electric
motor or motors on the train with spur wheels to gear into such rack. The rack may
be in the same piece as the rails for the slides, or may be attached thereto with suitable
stays with relation to the carriages. More than one rack may be used where
necessary, corresponding spur wheels being provided. The power of the motor will
thus move the train along without disturbing the balance of the slides or their
successful action.
Fig. 2 Sheet 1 shews an electric motor operating a spur wheel gearing into a rack,
in combination with a carriage supported on slides. Q. is the rack, M. electric motor
communicating its power to the spur wheel.
The rack where any one is used is preferably placed centrally between the rails on
which the car slides,--although on the Fig. 2 it is not shewn so, F. is the main frame
of car f. frames holding the motor & spur wheel shaft to the main car frame.
The drawings shew diagrammatically the relationship of the various appliances.
Economy and great speed of working will be obtained by using electricity in the
manner I have described and my Invention is likely to be of great utility especially
for high speed passenger traffic, or parcel traffic.
My Invention is applicable with any system of supplying electricity to the motors.
Having now described the manner of carrying my Invention into effect I declare
that I claim―
The method and means of operating cars or trains ou sliding railways by menus of
electricity substantially as described and shewn.
The combination of the various appliances and parts as and for the purposes
described.
Tal 1...
B T1800