Improved Means for Carrying Electro Motors on Electrically Propelled Cars or Vehicles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1892-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by Messrs. SIEMENS & HALSKE, of Berlin,
Electrical Engineers.]
Improved Means for Carrying Electro Motors on Electrically
Propelled Cars or Vehicles.
We, SIEMENS BROTHERS & CO. LIMITED, of 12 Queen Anne's Gate,
Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Electrical Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to means for effecting the elastic suspension of electro
motors mounted concentrically to one of the wheel axles of electrically propelled
cars or vehicles, the suspension being so arranged that the transmission of power
from the electro motor to the axle continues uninterruptedly notwithstanding the
occurrence of a certain relative displacement between the two due to concussions.
For this purpose, according to one arrangement the framing of the electro motor,
which carries the field magnets and armature axis, is supported by springs upon á
transverse frame situated below the underframing of the carriage and fixed to the
axle boxes, the bearing springs of the carriage being connected to the transverse
frame.
The armature, which may either be of the drum or cylinder kind or of any other
suitable construction is mounted upon a tubular axis, through which the wheel axle
passes, the tubular axis being carried in bearings on the motor frame. Thus any
concussions or vertical vibrations to which the wheels and wheel axle are subject
are only transmitted in a greatly reduced degree to the motor frame and armature
axis through the said spring supports, so that there is a certain amount of relative
vertical displacement between the wheel axle and the tubular armature axis, the
latter being made of a sufficiently large diameter to allow of such play. In order
to insure the proper continuous transmission of the rotary motion of the latter to
the former, notwithstanding such relative displacement, the armature axis is
extended at one end beyond the motor frame and carries on such extension a spur
pinion gearing on either side with two spur wheels fixed on shafts placed parallel to
the armature axis and carried by the motor frame.
These shafts pass through the motor to beyond the other end thereof, where
they carry spur pinions which gear with each side of a spur wheel fixed on the
wheel axle. From this arrangement it will be seen that the rotation of the armature
spindle will first be transmitted by its pinion to the two side shafts, and these in
their turn will transmit their motion through the last described gearing to the
wheel axle, the slight extent to which the centre of the axle may rise or fall above
or below the horizontal line passing through the centres of the axle and the two
side shafts being insufficient to interfere with the proper continuous transmission of
motion.
Instead of two side shafts only a single one may be employed.
According to another modification of the above described arrangement, instead of
transmitting the motion of the armature axis to two side shafts, the pinion on the
former gears with two side pinions running loose on studs on the end of the motor
frame, and these side pinions gear on their outer sides with an internally toothed
wheel fixed on the wheel axle.
For insuring the correct guiding of the axle boxes and transverse framing carried
thereby in their vertical oscillations, the axle boxes may either be constructed
with side grooves for sliding between horn plates on the carriage framing in the
usual manner, the transverse frame being suspended from the underside of the
axle box by looped strap-bolts passing round circular grooves on the axle box.

page_text: Or the axle box may have a circular grooved neck formed on its inner end, in
which is fitted a loose collar having side grooves with which it can slide vertically
between the horn plates; the outer end of the axle box is widened sufficiently
for two screw-bolts to pass vertically. through it, by which the transverse framing
is rigidly fixed to its underside. With this arrangement the axle box is free to
turn somewhat in either direction in the horn plates m following oscillations to
which the transverse frame may be subject, in the first arrangement the frame
can turn with its looped suspension bolts upon the axle box.
According to another modification, there is interposed between the hollow
armature axis and wheel axle. a concentric hollow shaft which extends to the
running wheels; these are formed on their inner sides with hollow rims, and
between the cylindrically enlarged ends of the hollow shaft and these hollow rims
are interposed friction wheels, so that the hollow shaft rests upon the hollow rims
of the wheels through the medium of the friction wheels, and any rotary motion
imparted to the former will be transmitted in a reduced degree through the friction
wheels to the running wheels.
The transverse frame carrying the electro motor and its hollow armature axis as
before.described, is in this case, not fixed to the axle boxes, but is provided' with
bearings. through, which, the hollow shaft passes, so that the frame is supported by
the latter.
The said bearings also have arms projecting downward, which carry pins on
which, the before mentioned, friction wheels run.
The rotary motion of the armature axis is imparted to the hollow shaft by
any, suitable coupling that will allow of a certain amount of relative displacement
between the two, such as the couplings described in our prior application No. 4395
of 1891, in which each part has fixed to it two opposite arms, those of the one part
being, placed at right angles to the other, and these arms are connected by more or
less tangentially placed links to different points of an intermediate ring, so that
the armature axis drags.or pushes the ring round by means. of its arms and links,
and the ring transmits this motion to the tubular shaft through the other links
and, arms.
The ends of the transverse frame are guided by sliding with eyes upon vertical
rods suitably stayed from the carriage frame; the axle boxes also have lateral
eyes, with which they slide up and down on vertical rods serving in lieu of
horn plates..
Dated this 12th day of May 1891.
ABEL, & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improved Means for Carrying Electro Motors on Electrically
Propelled Cars or Vehicles:
We, SIEMENS BROTHERS & CO. LIMITED, of 12 Queen Anne's Gate,
Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Electrical Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to bé.
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by. the following
statement:-
This invention relates to means for effecting the elastic suspension of electro
motors, mounted concentrically to one of the wheel axles of electrically propelled
cars or vehicles, the suspension being so.arranged that, the transmission. of power
from the electro motor to the axle, continues uninterruptedly notwithstanding the
occurrence of a certain relative displacement between the two due to concussions.
We will proceed to describe the invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figures 1 and 1 shew respectively a vertical section and a sectional' plan of an
+1 4

page_text: arrangement in which the armature of the electromotor, which in this case is of
the drum form, is mounted on a hollow axis b which is concentric with the wheel
axle c, and is mounted with its ends in bearings on a frame d. This frame is
situated below the under framing of the carriage e and above another frame f
between which and the frame d are caoutchouc springs h, while between the under
frame e and the frame fare springs g. The frame carries the bearings of the
axle C,
such bearings being arranged to slide vertically in the usual manner in the
horn plates of the carriage.
The concussions to which the road wheels of the axle c, and consequently the
latter itself are subjected arc, in consequence of the above described arrangement
only transmitted to the frame f. As the field magnets of the motor are also fixed
to the framed they cannot alter their position relatively to the armature a but both
parts can alter their position relatively to the axle c. The inner diameter of the
hollow axis is of such a size that even when the axle is subject to the strongest
possible concussions, the two shall not come in contact.
The transmission of power from the hollow axis b of the motor to the axle c is
effected by means of a spur wheel n fixed on the hollow axis, which gears with
spur wheels o' o' fixed on two shafts o o situated on each side of axis band carried
by frame d. On the other ends of these shafts are fixed other spur wheels o² o³
It will be seen
which in their turn gear with a spur wheel p fixed on the axle c.
from this arrangement that, assumning sufficient play to be allowed between the
teeth of the several spur wheels, no relative motion between the hollow axis band
the shafts o to which these parts are liable to be subjected will affect the proper
transmission of power from the motor to the axle c.
Instead of transmitting the motion through two shafts o only a single one could
be employed, no side pressure being produced by this means on the horn plates.
The above described construction allows of a considerable reduction of speed in
the transmission of the power from the motor to the running wheels. Figs. 2
and 2 shew respectively an end elevation and sectional plan of a modification with
internal gearing, in which a less reduction of speed is effected.
In this case a toothed pinion a' fixed on the hollow axis b, gears with two planet
wheels oo, revolving on pins d' on the frame d and gearing with an internal
toothed wheel of fixed on the axle c.
In the arrangements at Figures 1 to 24, it was assumed that the axle boxes i were
rigidly guided in the horn plates and were fixed to the frames. Fig. 3 shews
a modification in which the frame is free to swing in a vertical plane.
In this arrangement the axle boxes fixed to the frame are formed with a
neck into which takes a collar 7 that is guided by the horn plates k, so that
the axle boxes, while guided vertically by the collar and horn plates, is free to
swing with the frame. The same object is attained by the arrangement shown
in side view and front view at Figs. 4 and 44, by causing the axle boxes to
slide in the usual manner between the horn plates k, while the frame f is hung
by means of looped straps rin necks 2 formed on the axle box.
.:
In the arrangement shewn in sectional elevation, sectional plan, and part cross
section at Figs. 5, 5 and 5", the armature a', which in this case is of a ring
form, imparts its motion at a suitably reduced rate of speed by frictional gearing
directly to the rim of the running wheel by the following arrangement.
The armature together with the field magnets are, as before,, supported in the
frame between which and the frame fare placed caoutchouc springs h. The
frame is however not connected with the axle boxes of the axle but with
the bearings s of a hollow axis which is driven from the motor shaft in a manner
to be presently described. The axis is situated between the hollow axis band
the wheel axle c, and has at each end a frictional ring o³, supported by a friction
wheel o' that rolls upon the inner flange of of the running wheel 1, and that is.
carried loose on a pin s¹ of the bearings. The weight of the carriage body and its
load consequently keeps the frictional rings and wheels in close contact, even

page_text: though the running wheels are subject to concussions, because even supposing these
to drop into a depression and that the carriage body owing to its inertia does not
follow with sufficient rapidity, the springs, will in that case come into action.
The wheel axle is in this case guided by horn plates formed by vertical rods t
fixed to the under framing e, parallel with which are other rods also fixed to the
under framing, and passing through holes in the frame so as to serve as guides for
this. The rods are stayed at their lower ends by the bent stay bars, the ends
of which are also fixed to the under framing.
The transmission of the motive power from the hollow axis of the motor to the
axis is in this case effected by the coupling shewn in side view and front view at
Figures 6 and 6 the construction of which is described in our application No. 4395
of 1891 and which consists of two sets of crank arms 1, 1, one set of which is fixed
on the axis b, while the other set is fixed, to the axis in a position at right angles
to the first set. Between these two sets of arms is a ring 2, to the opposite corners
of which the arms are connected by pivotted links 3 in the manner shewn. By
this construction of coupling the motion of will always be correctly transmitted
to notwithstanding any variations in their relative positions. Any other
known forms of coupling that will fulfil the above conditions may be employed in
lieu of that shewn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. Effecting the elastic suspension of electromotors on electrically propelled
vehicles by constructing the armature axis of the motor hollow with the axle of the
running wheel passing through it with a certain amount of play, and carrying the
motor on a frame that is elastically supported by a second frame carried by the axle
boxes of the running wheel axle, the armature axis being connected to the wheel
axle through suitable gearing in such manner, that while the wheel axle is caused
by concussions to change its position relatively to the armature .axis, the motion
of the latter will always be correctly transmitted to the former, substantially as
described.
2. In electrically propelled vehicles with elastically suspended electromotors
arranged as described in the preceding claim, providing an articulated connection
between the frame that supports the motor and the vertically sliding part of the
axle boxes either by providing the latter when fixed rigidly to such frame with a
neck free to turn in a collar that slides between the horn plates, or by arranging
the axle boxes to slide directly in the horn plates as usual and suspending the said
frame from them by looped straps that hang in circular grooves in the axle boxes
substantially as described.
3. In electrically propelled vehicles with elastically suspended electromotors
arranged as described in the first claim, transmitting the motion of the armature
axis to the wheel axle by connecting the latter by gearing to one end of a shaft
or shafts running parallel therewith, the other ends of which are connected by
other spur gearing to the wheel axle, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 1 and 1 of the drawings.
4. In electrically propelled vehicles with elastically suspended electro motors,
arranged as set forth in the first claim, transmitting the motion of the armature
axis to the wheel axle by means of a toothed wheel on the armature axis gearing
with planet wheels carried by the frame and gearing with an internally toothed
wheel on the wheel axle, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 2
and 2 of the drawings.
5. In electrically propelled vehicles with elastically suspended electro motors as
set forth in the first claim, transmitting the motion of the armature axis to the
running wheels by means of an intermediate tubular shaft fitted with a certain
amount of play concentrically between the wheel axle and the tubular armature

page_text: axis, such intermediate shaft being connected firstly to the armature axis by a
suitable coupling that will allow of a relative motion between the two, and secondly
by frictional gearing to internal rims on the running wheels, substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 5, 5 and 5 of the drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1802
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.