Improvements in Electric Locomotives.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1891-Accepted. 29th Aug.. 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HENRI BONNEAU, Civil Engineer (Sous-Chef de
l'Exploitation des Chemins de Fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Mediterranée), of
Paris, France.]
Improvements in Electric Locomotives.
I, JASPER WETTER, Patent Agent, of 433, Strand, in the County of London,
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:
The arrangement forming the subject of the present application for a patent is
based on the following views of my foreign correspondent:
Electric locomotives the axles of which are driven directly by the dynamos,
work under the influence of force couples and can produce but relatively feeble
reactions on the rails.
With great speed, however, these reactions become considerable, and tend to
limit the practical success of such appliances.
If the dynamo is fixed to the axle, these reactions are transmitted to the
armature with injurious effect, because the armature is a comparatively delicate
organ, but they are transmitted also to the field magnets, the position of which in
relation to the armature should be exactly maintained.
If under the circumstances the entire weight of the locomotive is utilized for
producing useful adhesion, the reaction upon the rails will attain a maximum and
the speed must be kept within narrow limits.
To avoid these drawbacks, my correspondent has devised the arrangement shown
by Figs. 1, 2, & 3 of the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is partly a side view and partly a vertical section,
Fig. 2 partly a horizontal section and partly a plan, and
Fig. 3 a vertical transverse section along one of the driving axles.
In these drawings, the armature of the electro-motor has the shape of a disc, but
it may have various other shapes.
B, B, represent the field magnets,
D, the armature.
The electro-motor is preferably placed between the driving wheels. It is
supported by the locomotive frame by means of suspension springs R and held on
the sides by buffers T. The latter are connected with a platform P carrying the
field magnets, and with which are connected the bearings Q of the armature shaft.
The drawing shows only the side buffers.
Mounted in this fashion, the electro motor is capable of moving relatively to the
locomotive frame, which in its turn is connected with the axles by means of springs,
as usual.
The armature Dis fixed on a hollow axle A provided with end discs or flanges M
and placed concentrically to the driving axle.
The said flanges or discs M are provided with springs C which connect them
with the driving wheels S or with the driving axles E.
In the drawings the springs C are represented as indiarubber springs mounted
on studs or pins, placed obliquely to the middle planes of the driving wheels.
This oblique position is useful, to ensure the regular working of the springs in
the various positions which the dynamo and the driving axle may assume relatively
to each other during the motion of the locomotive.
The new arrangement thus has the double effect of diminishing within wide
limits the reactions of the vehicle upon the rails and those of the permanent way
Price 6d 1

page_text: upon the dynamo, while preserving the great advantage of running almost
exclusively under the influence of coupled forces.
This arrangement is not, however, the only one, which my correspondent proposes
to employ.
Figs. 4 & 5 represent the case, in which the electro motor B, B, is fixed
upon a tubular shaft A and adapted to set in motion a driving shaft E' in the
manner described above, by means of two discs M', M³, connected by springs C,
and in which the shaft E drives one or more driving axles K by means of con-
necting rods O.
In these drawings, the driving shaft E' is supposed to be situated above the
driving axle, but in reality the shaft E' may be placed in the same horizontal
plane or in any other convenient position, without departing from the present
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. 'An electric locomotive having a driving axle or driving axles E set in motion
directly by an electro-motor or electro-motors D B arranged concentrically to the
said driving axle or axles, the said electro motors being connected with the said
axles by means of springs Ċ and with the locomotive frame by means of suspension
springs R and buffer springs T, substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 1, 2, & 3.
2. An electric locomotive, having a driving shaft E¹ connected with a driving
axle K by means of connecting rods O, and a hollow armature shaft connected with
the driving shaft E¹ by means of springs C, substantially as described with
reference to Figs. 4 and 5. .