US2026846A - Locomotive - Google Patents

Description

nanas im. 1, 193e UNITED STATES- .PATENT OFFICE LoooMo'rTvE Application February 1l, 1933,I Serial No. 656,304 In Germany February 27, 1932 2 Claims.

This invention relates to locomotives and more particularly to engine powered locomotives in which the transmission of power to the axles is cected through electrical apparatus.

5 One object of the invention is the provision of an engine powered locomotive embodying an internal combustion driving engine, an electrical generator operated thereby, and a plurality of electric motors energized by the generator and connected to the axles, the arrangement of the driving apparatus being such as to satisfy unusually large power requirements inthe limitations of overall height and length. A

Another object of the invention is the provision 5 of an engine powered locomotive in which the internal combustion engine is provided within the confines of the main engine frame, and vertical electric motors energized by an engine c driven generator are arranged laterally outside of go the confines of the engine frame in driving relation to the axles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying g5 drawing, in which- Fig. l is a side elevational view of an engine powered locomotive embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the locomotive; and

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the locomotive.

Referring more particularly to the drawing by reference letters, the main locomotive frame a, as herein shown. comprises two laterally spaced longitudinally extending frame members between which is arranged the internal combustion engine b, which may be of the diesel or other preferred type. The engine affords the power drive for an electrical generator c, the driving connection being made through the transmission e. 'I'he generator c is arranged longitudinally with regard to the engine b, and in locomotives of very large power the generator is of such size that it is preferably arranged above the engine frame so 4s that its armature shaft is considerably higher than the axis of the crank shaft of the engine as shown in Fig. l. I'he transmission e which places the engine shaft in driving connection with the amature shaft preferably comprises a plurality of cranks arranged on an extension of the engine shaft and on the extension :i of the generator shaft, the several cranks of both extensions being interconnected by tie means such as the connecting rods indicated by the letter i.

The locomotive is provided with a plurality of (Cl. 10S-35) driven axles m, four in number in the construction shown. These axles are arranged relatively close together, each axle being driven by means of two electric motors d which are located laterally or outside of the frame members a. These driving motors are of the vertical type, each being arranged above the end of a driven axle so that the space within the confines of the frame members is left entirely free for the disposal of the combustion engine b. lo

The electric motors d are' preferably supported by means of platforms f which extend longitudinally along opposite sides of the frame, outwardly of the frame members a. Preferably a bevel gear drive including bevel drive vpinion .n on the l motor and bevel gear o on the end of `the axle, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided between each motor and a driven axle. In order to provide for the proper attendance of the combustion engine in an expedient manner, a platform or walk q n is provided along opposite sides of the locomotive, the platform being preferably arranged somewhat below the upper ends of the motors d. The motor housings extend through the plat form for some little distance, but the attendant s can readily step `over the projecting portions.

The larrangement of the various power and driving elements of the locomotive. as above described, is particularly advantageous in locomo.- tives o f very high power. It has been the pracn tice in the past to locate electrical driving motors, operating the axles, within the locomotive frame between the axle locations. In high powered locomotives, however, such -motors would be sd large as to cause an unusually large distance be- 35 tween axles, or between successive wheels, and this would place a definite Vlimitation on the amount of track curvature that could be negotiated satisfactorily. When the successive wheels are spaced far apart a track curvature of small radius is impossible.

With applicants arrangement of driving motors provided abovel the axles and on the outer sides of the frame of the locomotive. these motors can be made very large, as there is no material limi- 5 tation to the motor lengths. The distance botween successive axles need be limited therefore only by the wheel diameters. The arrangement of the driving motors on the outside of the frame leaves the entire space within the connues of o the frame available for the internal combustion engine.

In the prior practice of arranging the driving electric motors between the axles and within the frame confines, there was a deilnite limitation on the sise oi.' the driving engine. The engine power could be increased by increasing the number of cylinders but this would increase the length of the engine, and the elect of each cylinder could be increased by increasing the engine strokeor by using a double acting cylinder. but in either case the engine height wouldv have to be increased and there is a definite limitation to which this could be extended, since there is a definite limi- `tation tothe total locomotive height. Increasing' the length of the engine would necessitate an increase in the length of the locomotive but that,- however, is limited -by the requirement of curve running ability. An increasev of the engine height, with the engine located above the motors the frame connues is available to it. The increase of engine power is also accomplished without increasing the total length of the locomotive; so

that track curvature of comparatively small ra dius can be satisfactorily negotiated. The Aextremely high power generated in such an engine can be eiiectively transmitted to the driving axles by high powered motors arranged in the manner .described without requiring the axles to be far apart. It isl therefore apparent that the arrangement of .the parts as herein set forth' permits the total power of the locomotive to be increased to a value far greater than the possible obtainable value of the prior arrangements, although within the limitations oi overall locomotive height `and length.

. While the form. of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment oi ,the invention, it is to be understood that thefi'nvention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus. and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope oi.' the invention which is denejd in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: g L'An engine powered locomotive comprising apair of spaced longitudinal side frame members, a plurality of driven axles supporting said frame members, each of said axles having a pair of driving wheels, an internal combustion engine 10 mounted on said frame members and positioned longitudinally therebetween and having its lower portion extending down between the frame members and between the upper portions of the driving wheels. said engine extending across said 15 said motora-'said generator being mounted on Y saidmemberslongitudinally of the engine,

2. An engine powered locomotive having an engine, generator and motors accommodated in a compaizatively.small space and comprising a 25 pair of spaced longitudinal side frame members, `a plurality ot driven axles supporting'said members and each having a pair of driving wheels, the driving wheels on a side of the locomotive being closely spaced apart, an internal combustion 30 engine positioned longitudinally between said frame members directly above and extending across a plurality ofk said driven axles and having its lower portion extending down between the frame members and between the upper portions of the 3 5 driving wheels, a pair o! vertical electric motors for each Vdriven axle provided above the ends of the axles at opposite sides oi the locomotive, and an electric generator driven bysaid engine for A energizing said motors, said generators being il() mounted on said -members longitudinally of the engine and having its shaft vertically spaced above the engine shaft and in driving connection therewith. v, f v

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