Improvements in Devices for Transmitting Motion.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 28th May, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Transmitting Motion.
I, GEORGE SIMPson Strong, Engineer of No. 45 Broadway, New York City,
State of New York, United States of America, 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 devices for transmitting motion from one rotary body to
another moving about the same axes of rotation; and particularly to devices used
in connection with an electric motor. The object of my invention is to provide
what I may call a fluid clutch by which the motion of the one body is transmitted
to the other together with means for regulating the resistance of the said clutch so
that the driving body may rotate at a greater speed than the driven body the
ratio of relative rotation being within the control of the operator. My invention
will be best understood as described in connection with the drawings in which I
have illustrated it as applied to the axles of railway cars and in which,-
Figure 1 is a plan view showing two axes of a truck each equipped with one
modification of my invention and partly shown in section.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the parts shown in Figure 1, the mechanism connecting
with one axle being shown in section on the line of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line y y of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an end view of the car axle and the casing surrounding it with the
side plate of the casing removed and is shown partly in section as on the line z z
of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1-2 of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal central section taken as on the line 3-3 of Figure 7
and showing another modification of my invention.
Figure 7 is an end view taken on the section-line 4-4 of Figure but omitting
the magnetic field of the electro-magnet and the windings of the armature.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken as on the line 5-5 of Figure 9; and
Figure 9 a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 8.
Before describing the details shown in the drawings I may state that the two
rotating bodies which in my invention are coupled together consist of a shaft and a
casing surrounding and journaled upon the shaft and that I secure to the shaft and
within the casing projecting blades or teeth which operate in the casing like the
pistons of a rotary engine or rotary pump. The casing is filled with a fluid and
provided with a by-pass leading from what may be called its delivery port to its
admission port and this by-pass is controlled by a valve by which it can be opened
and closed and by which its opening can be regulated at will. When the by-pass
is closed the fluid in the casing effectually prevents any movement of the blades or
pistons with respect to the casing and therefore if either the casing or the shaft is
rotating the other member of what I may call the couple necessarily rotates with
it. By opening the by-pass the fluid is permitted to rotate in the casing against
more or less resistance and the driving member of the couple can then move with
respect to the driven member; the speed of the driving member being communicated
to the driven member to a degree depending on the opening of the by-pass or the
resistance offered to the passage of fluid through it. In the broad general features
above described I am informed and believe that the invention is not original with
me and therefore make no claim to it in this application except in combination with
the other features shown in the drawings which I am about to describe. Referring
now again to the drawings,
A indicates the axle of the car or, in the construction shown, the driven shaft ;
upon this axle or shaft is secured a casing made up of face-plates C** C** having

page_text: outwardly-extending sleeves CC with stuffing boxes C' making a close joint with
the shaft A and a casing centre C to which the face-plates are bolted, or the
casing centre may be, if desired, made integral with one of the face-plates; a
tightly enclosed cylindrical chamber C is this formed around the shaft or axle.
In the modification shown in the Figures 1 to 5 supplemental chambers C³ ³ also
cylindrical in shape, are formed in the casing on each side of the central
chamber C; and along the lines where the chamber C² connects with the
chambers C, ports C, and C are formed in the face-plate; the port C connects
with a passage C extending through the face-plate or one of them, and the port C
opens into the passage C³ at C (see Figure 5). Fitting neatly in the chamber C
is the gear-wheel 13 firmly secured to the shaft A and in engagement with said
gear-wheel are supplemental gear-wheels D D fitting neatly in the chamber C³ the
teeth of the engaged gear-wheels being formed so that as they roll to ether they
will cut off or segregate temporary chambers the area of which diminishes as they
move apart. This construction is well-known in certain types of engines and
pumps. The chambers C2 and C³ are filled with fluid (oil for instance) and it will
be seen that supposing the gear-wheels to be moving in the direction indicated by
arrows in Figure 4 the fluid will be forced out of the port C through the
passage C into the port C' from which it returns to the chambers; the same
action in the construction shown taking place on each side of the central chamber.
E E is a valve secured to a valve-stem E2 and by which the connection between
the ports C and C' is regulated at will. As shown in Figure 5 the valve is open
so that fluid can freely pass through the united ports. When it is desired to close
the connection the valve is moved forward to the portion C' of the passage C
completely closing the connection between the ports; or, if a partial connection is
desired, the valve is moved to an intermediate position. In the construction shown
each valve-stem E2 has attached to it two valves E each of which controls a by-
pass in one of the face-plates (see Fig. 1).
Supposing now that power is applied to rotate the casing. It will readily be
seen that when the by-pass connecting ports C and C are closed by their appro-
priate valves the fluid in the casing will effectually prevent the gear-wheels B
and D from rotating and therefore as the wheels D'are carried around by the
casing in which they are journaled they will carry the wheels B with them causing
it and the shaft to which it is attached to rotate. On the other hand when the
by-passes are opened the fluid can pass through the said by-passes and as the
casing rotates the wheels D are free to rotate in as well as with the casing and
to roll around the periphery of the wheel B which can thus remain stationary
or which is caused to rotate at à less speed than the casing after the by-pass is
contracted so as to let some but not all of the fluid escape through it.
It is important, especially in applying devices of the kind described to the
propulsion of cars, that means should be provided whereby the operator or driver
can control the flow of fluid through the by-pass at will; and this means I provide
by securing to the sleeve C of the casing an annular ring M which turns with
the casing but is free to move laterally with respect to it. To this ring I connect
the valve or valve-stems by means which will cause the valves to open or close
according as the ring is moved toward or away from the casing. In the device
already especially referred to the connection is made simply by continuing the
valve-stems E through the ring and connecting the stems therewith as indicated
at E (Figs. 1 and 3). Around the periphery of the ring M which is flanged 1
place a ring M3 which is free to turn on the ring M and to which the forked
arms L of a lever L* pivoted at L' are connected. In the plan shown the
link L to which lever L is pivoted is connected with a stud L attached to a
casing J hereafter to be described; and the end of lever L is connected by
link L with a lever-arm L² extending out from a shaft L journaled in
extensions J of the casing J and having an intermediate lever-arm L' which
is connected by convenient means to be actuated by the driver of the car.
Before describing the other mechanism shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive I
I

page_text: will describe the other modification of the device for transmitting motion from
one rotary body to the other shown in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, here stating
however that the device already described is not specifically claimed by me in
this application for the reason that it forms the subject-matter of another
application for Letters Patent which I am about to file.
Referring now to Figures 6 to 9 inclusive it will be seen that the casing
journaled on the shaft or axle A is made up in substantially the same way as
the one before described but that the chamber C formed in the casing is not
connected with the chambers C³ as shown in the other modification but is
provided with a bridge (10 between which and the outer wall of the chamber is
formed the by-pass the opening of which is controlled by a cock-valve E'.
Secured to the shaft and fitting in the casing is what I may call the piston
guide B in which are formed radial guide slots B and within which slots move
the piston plates B³; the position of these blades B³ is regulated by eccentric
grooves C formed in the side plates of the casing and in which move rollers B°
secured on projecting journals B attached to the piston blades B3; the shape
of the cams being such as will thrust the blades B out against the periphery
of the chamber during a portion of their rotary movement within the chamber
and draw them back into the guide slot B when they pass the bridge Co; the
ring or cylinder B in which the slots B2 are formed fits neatly against the inner
face of the bridge C as shown in Figure 9.
Supposing now that power is applied to rotate the casing and the valve E¹
open it will be seen that the casing can rotate freely without driving the
shaft A because the rotating cam groove C will draw the blades B3 in to
permit the fluid to pass around the periphery of the chamber C and through
the open by-pass from bridge (1⁰. If, however, the said by-pass be closed by
turning the valve E then the water can no longer rotate in the casing nor can
the casing rotate independently of the shaft for one or more of the blades B³
in addition to the cock E acts to close the communication from one by-pass of
the chamber to the other and the blades B³ are thus carried around with the
casing and in turn carry the shaft A with them.
The stem E of the cock-valve E is carried through the casing to one side
and has connected with it a gear segment E, a ring M constructed and operating
in the same way as I have fully described above is secured to turn with th
sleeve C and the ring or annulus P₁ surrounds the sleeve C between the ring M
and the face-plate of the casing ;. this annulus being secured so as to be lateraliy
fixed on the sleeve but be free to turn thereon for a certain distance; in the
plan shown a slot P³ is formed in the annulus into which projects a roller P
secured to the sleeve C. Extending up from the annulus P is a gear segment P
in engagement with the segment E; and in the annulus P1 is formed a cam
guide, here shown as a slot, which is engaged by the end of an arm Pe
extending out from the ring M; in the plan shown this engagement is made by
means of a roller P secured to arm P and resting in groove P². It will be
seen that any lateral movement of the ring M is, by the construction described,
made to effect a rotary movement of the annulus P, and whose rotary movement
communicated through the gear segment P and E' is made to rotate the cock-
valve E opening or closing it as the case may be.
An important feature of my invention consists in combining with that one of the
two rotary members of the device for communicating motion which is used as the
driving member the rotating member of an electric motor the said rotating member
being made of annular form and secured to and around the said driving member.
In connection with these devices the stationary member of the electric motor is
arranged around the rotating member in the usual way to drive it. In cases where
the device is used to drive the axle of a car in the drawings the rotating member
of the electric motor is secured to and around the periphery of the casing journaled
upon the axles as indicated at I in the drawings and the stationary member of the
electric motor secured in any convenient way around the rotating member.

page_text: Preferably this stationary member is secured to and inside of a casing J which
surrounds the casing containing the fluid and is journaled either on the sleeves C C
as shown at J2 of the first-mentioned casing or directly upon the axle A.
I have referred generally to the rotating and stationary members of an electric
motor because as is well known motors can be and have been constructed in which
the armature is stationary and the field revolves as well as in which the armature
revolves and the field is stationary. The last-mentioned construction is the best
understood and is the one illustrated in my drawings-I indicating the armature
made up of wire windings 1 passing through holes in the periphery of the
casing and holes 1' in an iron core 13 resting upon the casing. The field is made
up of a series of electro-magnets indicated at . secured to and around the inside
of the casing J and this casing is supported upon the axle A as already described
and prevented from turning by having another point of support or attachment as
for instance an iron brace N, Figures 1 and 2, connecting two casings J on adjacent
axles. G H indicates a commutator of ordinary construction secured to one of the
face plates of the interior casing and K is the brush support fastened to the
casing and extending out through an opening J in said casing. Another
opening J is formed for the valve-actuating lever L-both of these openings being
made as small as convenient and preferably constituting the only openings in the
casing J.
The compactness and simplicity of the device above described will be readily
appreciated as will be also the peculiar value of the device for communicating
motion from the armature to the shaft or axle in that the armature can be made to
run at any desired speed and that speed may remain at constant while the axle is
rotating at varying and different speeds. By proper manipulation of the valve
relative speed of the axle and armature can be varied at will and by the instru-
mentalities I have described these variations are under the control of the operator
and can be made without stopping the car.
Haring 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 The combination of a shaft, a casing journaled thereon and coupled
therewith through the medium of a body of fluid contained in the casing; a by-
pass in the casing through which, when open, the fluid can flow permitting the
shaft to turn independently of the casing; a valve controlling the opening of the
by-pass; a laterally-movable ring connected to the casing so as to turn with it and
around the shaft; means for operatively-connecting the valve and ring and means
for moving the ring laterally.
Second: The combination of a shaft, a casing journaled thereon and coupled
therewith through the medium of a body of fluid contained in the casing, a by-pass
in the casing through which, when open, the fluid can flow permitting the shaft to
turn independently of the casing; a cock valve controlling the opening of the by-
pass; a laterally-movable ring connected to the casing so as to turn with it and
around the shaft; means for operatively connecting the valve and ring and means
for moving the ring laterally.
Third: The combination of a shaft, a casing journaled on said shaft and having
a by-pass controlled by a cock-valve E'; cam-guides C" at the sides of the casing;
a piston-guide B₁ secured to the shaft; piston-blades B3 movable in guide B' and
adapted to operate in the casing, said piston-blades being moved to and from the
shaft centre by engagement in cam-guides C, a laterally-movable ring M turning
with the casing and means for operatively-connecting said ring and the valve E,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fourth The combination with the casing of the cock-valve controlling a by-
pass of the casing, the segment E on the valve-stem, a sleeve P' coupled to the
casing so as to be free to turn thereon but fixed laterally, said sleeve having a
segment arm P engaged with segment E and an oblique cam guide P', a laterally-

page_text: movable ring M coupled to turn with the casing and having an arm P³ engaged
with cam-guide 1" as described so as to turn sleeve P¹ when the ring has moved to.
or from it.
Fifth The combination of a shaft, a casing journaled thereon and coupled
therewith through the medium of a body of fluid contained in the casing; a by-pass
in the casing through which, when open, the fluid can flow permitting the shaft
to turn independently of the casing; a valve controlling the opening of the by-
pass; the movable member of an electric motor secured to and around the shaft
or casing, and the stationary member of said motor arranged annularly around said
movable member.
Sixth The combination of a shaft, a casing journaled thercon and coupled
therewith through the medium of a body of fluid contained in the casing; a
by-pass in the casing through which, when open, the fluid can flow permitting the
shaft to turu independently of the casing: a valve controlling the opening of the
by-pass; the movable member of an electric motor secured to and around
the casing, and the stationary member of said motor arranged annularly around
said movable member.
:
Seventh The combination of a shaft, a casing journaled thereon and coupled
therewith through the medium of a body of fluid contained in the casing, રી by-pass
in the casing through which, when open, the fluid can flow permitting the shaft to
turn independently of the casing; a valve controlling the opening of the by-pass;
an annular electric motor arinature secured to and around the casing and a
stationary field arranged to act upon and actuate the armature and casing.
Eighth The combination of a shaft, a casing journaled thereon and coupled
therewith through the medium of a body of fluid contained in the casing; a by-pass.
in the casing through which, when open, the fluid can flow permitting the shaft to
turn independently of the casing; a valve controlling the opening of the by-pass;
an annular electric motor armature secured to and around the casing, an exterior
casing journaled directly or indirectly on the shaft and surrounding the casing
coupled thereto; and an electric field supported in and on said casing so as to
embrace the armature, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Ninth The combination of a shaft, a casing journaled thercon and coupled
therewith through the medium of a body of fluid contained in the casing; a by-pass
in the casing through which, when open, the fluid can flow permitting the shaft to
turn independently of the casing; a valve controlling the opening of the by-pass;
a laterally-movable ring connected to the casing so as to turn with it and around
the shaft; means for operatively-connecting the valve and ring, and means for
moving the ring laterally; an annular electric motor armature secured to and
around the casing, and a stationary field arranged to act upon and actuate the
armature and casing.
Tenth The combination of a shaft, a casing journaled thereon and coupled
therewith through the medium of a body of fluid contained in the casing; a by-pass.
in the casing through which, when open, the fluid can flow permitting the shaft to
turn independently of the casing; a valve controlling the opening of the by-pass;
a laterally-movable ring connected to the casing so as to turn with it and around
the shaft; means for operatively-connecting the valve and ring, and means for
moving the ring laterally; an annular electric motor armature secured to and
around the casing; an exterior casing J journaled directly or indirectly on the
shaft and surrounding the casing coupled thereto; and an electric field supported
in and on said casing so as to embrace the armature, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
Eleventh The combination with the casing of the cock-valve controlling a
by-pass of the casing, the segment E' on the valve-stem, a sleeve P¹ coupled to the
casing so as to be free to turn thereon but fixed laterally, said sleeve having a
segment arm P engaged with segment E and an oblique cam-guide P, a laterally-
movable ring M coupled to turn with the casing and having an arm P engaged
with cam-guide P' as described so as to turn sleeve P¹ when the ring as moved to.

page_text: or from it; an annular electric motor armature secured to and around the casing ;
an exterior casing J journaled directly or indirectly on the shaft and surrounding
the casing coupled thereto; and an electric field supported in and on said
casing so as to embrace the armature, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 29th day of March 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.