Improved Means for Effecting the Breaking, Retarding, or Stopping the Progress of Vehicles, and of Rotating Mechanisms, by the Aid of Electricity.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improved Means for Effecting the Breaking, Retarding, or
Stopping the Progress of Vehicles, and of Rotating
Mechanisms, by the Aid of Electricity.
1 ANTHONY RECKENZAUN of 8 Osborn Road, Forest Gate, London, E. in the
County of Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
IMPROVED MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE BREAKING, RETARDING, Okt STOPPING,
THE PROGRESS OF VEHICLES AND UF ROTATING MECHANISMS, BY THE AID
ELECTRICITY, to be as follows :-
OF
The object of my invention is to utilise the momentum stored up or accumulated
in a travelling vehicle or in a motor or other mechanism, as a means of retarding,
or stopping, motion.
My said invention is especially applicable in cases where Electro-Motors are
employed to give motion to a vehicle or to a macbine. Such Motors when driven
by any external source of power are capable of generating electric currents; and,
the momentum of the armature employed, and the object connected therewith, can
be utilised for generating more or less powerful currents of electricity, in exact
proportion to the energy stored up. As soon as the circuit from whence the energy
is derived is interrupted, and whilst the apparatus moves by its momentum,
insert,automatically or otherwise,-a conductor between the terminals of the
Electro-Motor. The current thas produced by the motion of the armature will be
absorbed by the said conductor, and the motor will he speedily brought to rest;
the momentuin, or the work stored up or accumulated is thus rapidly absorbed.
The conductor above referred to and interposed as aforesaid, may be in the form
of a wire coil or coils, exciting a mass of iron, or a secondary battery; or, it may
be any Electro-Magnetic contrivance capable of furnishing the requisite break
power. For instance, in the case of a tram car or other vehicle, the break blocks
may be of iron, supplied with an iron stem which is covered with wire. The
current flowing from the notor, whilst acting as a generator by momentum, will
magnetise the iron break blocks which will then adhere to the rims of the wheels
and assist in retarding, or stopping the motion.

page_text: In the case of any rotating machine, or mechanism, the fly wheel or other rotating
part or member thereof, may, be-in like manner as described above-provided
with break power generated by its own momentum.
When motors are employed having field magnets connected in series" with the
armature, reverse or shift the brushes on the commutator at the instant when it
is desired to use the Electro-Magnetic break; and, which latter may be made to
work automatically; that is to say, the break circuit may be closed by the
movement of the main switch bandle or lever when it is in its "off" position, or
by other suitable means; sometimes, in combination with a hand or foot power
break as used on vehicles, or for machines.

page_text: Improved Means for Effecting the Breaking, Retarding, or
Stopping the Progress of Vehicles, and of Rotating
Mechanisms, by the Aid of Electricity.
I, ANTHONY RECKENZAUN of 8 Osborne Road, Forest Gate, London, E. in the
County of Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVED MEANS FOR EFFECTING THE BREAKING, RETARDING, OR STOPPING,
THE PROGRESS OF VEHICLES AND OF ROTATING MECHANISMS, BY THE AID OF
ELECTRICITY," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying
sheet of drawings:
--
The object of my Invention is to utilise the momentum stored up or accumulated
in a travelling vehicle or in a motor or other mechanism as a means of retarding or
breaking and for stopping, motion. My Invention being especially applicable in
cases where electro-motors are employed to give motion to a vehicle or to a
machine.
Electro-motors when driven by any external source of power, are capable of
generating electric currents; and, they act then, for the time-being, as Dynamo-
Electric Machines.
I am aware that Electric Breaks have been devised wherein the current from
dynamo-electric machines or from batteries has been utilised to produce the desired
effect; but, I am not aware of any method having been devised whereby the
electro-motor and the momentum of the apparatus connected therewith has been
employed as a means of retarding or breaking, or of stopping, the motion of said
apparatus.
If in a well constructed electro-motor the armature is made to revolve rapidly by
means of an electric current passing through the machine, and if after the lapse of
a few moments the flow of said current, is interrupted, the armature will continue
to revolve for a considerable time by its own momentum; but, if immediately after
the interruption of the supply current the terminals of the notor are connected by
a piece of copper wire or other conductor, the armature will stop almost instantly.
The machine will then act as a Dynamo, currents will be generated which have the
effect of heating the conductor above referred to, and thus the momentum is
destroyed by the electric work it has to perform. The heavier the armature or the
masses of material connected therewith, the greater will be the intensity of the
current generated at the same velocity; and therefore, the retarding effect will be
proportional to the momentum of the moving object.
In order that the current produced should not be so great as to injure the
machine, I make, in accordance with Invention, the conductor above referred to, of
a certain resistance; this resistance may be in the form of a coil or of coils. Said
coils may be wound upon iron cores, whereby a magnetic effect may be obtained;
and, such magnetic contrivance will tend towards still further increasing the
momentary break power. The interruption of the supply circuit and the making

page_text: of the break circuit may either be done by the will and effort of an attendant, or it
may be effected automatically.
Referring to the accompanying drawing, Fig 1, 2 and 3 will serve to explain
clearly the method which I adopt in carrying out my said Invention. In Fig: 1.
the motor is represented by the letter M. P and N are the terminals of the
machine. S the shaft, to which may be connected, for instance, the driving gear of
a tram car or other vehicle; or, any description of mechanism or machine actuated
by this motor. B is the generator supplying the electric energy which causes the
armature to revolve. The small figures 1 and 2, and 3 and 4, represent metal
blocks forming part of a switch or commutator; and, R, is a conductor of a certain
resistance. Now so long as the blocks 1 and 2 are connected by any suitable
conducting medium, the motor will do work in rotating the shaft S and with it any
machine connected thereto. When the blocks 1 and 2 are separated, the supply
from B will stop, but the shaft 3 may continue to revolve by momentum; as soon.
however, as blocks 3 and 4 are connected, a current of electricity will be flowing
through R and the momentum will be destroyed speedily.
In the case of road-vehicles, it is desirable that a break should act automatically
when the vehicle attains a certain maximum speed. This may be effected by
connecting the switch lever to a suitable arrangement of governor mechanism or
contrivance. Figure 2 shews a simple method of operating the switch lever L by
means of a ball governor. In this case blocks 1 and 2 are connected by a metal
piece at the end of the lever L.. When the governor assumes its position for
maximum speed, the main circuit is broken and the break circuit closed; and, if it
be considered desirable to prevent the main circuit being closed automatically as
soon as the speed drops, then, with such object in view any convenient catch
arrangement may be adopted and placed so as to hold the lever L over the
blocks 3 and 4,
Figure 3 shews the break circuit wire wound upon a hinged horse shoe
electro-magnet (though any other form of electro-magnet may be adopted) which
latter when the break current is generated will grip or tend to grip some revolving
portion of the mechanism connected to the motor shaft.
The switch handle or lever may be connected to the handle or shaft of a hand
break; and, thereby the electric break may be made to work in combination with
a hand or foot power break.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be
'understood that I do not confine myself to any nere details of construction. I
declare that what I claim is
The method of utilising the momentum of an object to produce the break power
by causing the motor to act as a generator of electricity immediately after the
supply current is interrupted, substantially as herein described and set forth.
Dated this Eleventh day of June 1885.
5.
JAMES STEVENSON,
26, Paternoster Square, London, E.C.,.
Agent for Applicant.