US557960A

US557960A - brintnell

Info

Publication number: US557960A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 1913-04-07

Description

3 'Sheets Sheet 1-.

(No Model.)

A. H. BRINTNELL. ELECTRIC PRoPULsIoN oF CARS.

Apr. '7, 1896.

Patenjged lizm.

3 Sheets Sheet 2.

(NOModel.)

A.. H. BRINTNELL ELECTRIC lPROPULSIQBI 0F GARS.

Patented Apr. .7, 18196.

Mbzesses.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.) lA. H. BRINTNELL.

ELECTRIC PROPULSION 0F GARS.

No. 557,960. Patented Apr. 7, 1896.

NrrED STATES ARCHIBALD H. BRINTNELL, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

ELECTRIC PROPULSION OF CARS..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,960, dated April 7, 1896.

Application filed May 1, 1895. Serial No. 547,774. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, ARCHIBALD H. BRINT- NELL, of the city of Toronto, in the county of Yorlnin the Province of Ontario, Canada,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Propulsion of Cars,of which the following is a specification.

My inventionrelates to improvements in electric propulsion of cars; and the object of the invention is to devise a simple, efficient, safe, and economical system in which there will be no ground-current, practically no magnetic leakage, no overhead poles with exposed wires, and consequently no short circuits, no possibility of burning out, and in which any desired voltage may be used without danger; and it consists, essentially, of a system in which the motor is composed of drum-armatures connected to the car-wheel axles andof field-magnets located at requisite distances apart between the rails of the track, the dr lim-armatures being desi gnedto be magnetically brought into rolling contact with the field-magnets successively, so as to draw the car forward or rearward, as desired, switch mechanism being also provided for throwing the current into and out of the iield-magnets and the parts being otherwise constructed as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure lis a longitudinal section through a car and portion of the road-bed on a muchreduced scale. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the major portion of the trucks andthe arrangement of the magnets and switch-boxes in the road-bed. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the line ef, Fig. 1": Fig. 4. is a longitudinal section of the switch-box through the line a b, Figs. 3 and 5. Fig. la is a perspective view of the yielding contact-plate chain operated by the travelers on the car. Fig. 4b is an end view of the plate chain. Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the chain, showing the manner of fastening on the leather wrapping. Fi g. 5 is a sectional plan through the line a b, Fig. 41.-. Fig. 6 is a detail of an alternative form of switch operating mechanism and travelers.

In the drawings like letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

A is thebody of the car; B, the crosstimbers g C, the lon gitudiual timbers; D, the fourwheel truck-frames; E, the outer twowheel truck-frames, and F the central two-wheel truck-frame. are pivoted on the cross-timbers B by the king-bolts B', and portion of the weight of the car is supported through them uponthe semielliptical springs B2. (See Figs. l and 2.) The trucks E E serve also to support portion of the weight of the car by means of the elliptical springs E', which have j ourn aled between them and on the top of them, on the cross-rods E2, the roller E3, upon which the end crossplates B3 rests. p The remaining portion of the weight of the car is supported upon the central truck F by the rollers F', which are secured on a spindle jou rnaled in bearings upon the top of the elliptical springs F2.

G are the drum armatures, which' are secured in pairs upon each of the axles l-l. Each pair of armatures is secured to each axle, one toward each end and equidistant from the ends of the axle. All the drum-armatures are of the same diameter and are equidistant from each other throughout the length of the car and approach in close proximity to the surface of the road-bed, so as to have a rolling contact upon the horseshoe field-magnets l, the ends of the cores of which are pref-V erably exactly the same width as the peripheral face of the drum and are arranged to come exactlyin the path of the same as the drums are attracted to the ends of the core, as hereinafter more particularly explained.

The end trucks E are connected by triangular plate J to the four -Wheel trucks, one apex of the .triangular plate being pivotally connected by a bolt j to the trucks D, and the other apexes being securely held to the cross-bar of the truck E by bolts j. As the trucks are at a short distance apart, this action permits of the free swing of the end trucks as they go around a curve, the rollerE3 serving still to partially support the car as it moves over the cross-plates B3.

The central truck F has two substantially triangular frames K, located opposite each other in the central portion of the frame.` The frames K consist of an upper and lower plate, in which are journaled the friction-rollers 7c. (Shown partially by dotted lilies and full lines in Fig. 2.) K is a rod which extendsthrough the rollers. The frames K are pivotally con- The four-wheel truck-frames IOO nected by bars K2 to the pivot-bolts Zo at the inner ends of the trucks D. The rod K is supported in eyebolts 7c3 within the openings of the frame K, as indicated. It will thus be seen that in going around a curve, as indicated in Fig. 3, the central portion of the frame-namely, the triangular frames K and connecting-bars K2-will be permitted a longitudinal extension through the frames K, being caused to move inwardly, the frictionrollers passing along the bar K. V'Vhen the car reaches a straight portion of the track, it will be readily seen that the frames K will move outwardly.

L is a metal rod extending from end to end of the car and connected by a universal joint Z at each end to a square bar-socket L@ (See Figs. l and 2.)

L2 is a rod which extends into the bar-socket L' and is connected by a universal joint Z/ to a spindle Z2, journaled in the bracket Z3, securedto the bottom of the car.

Z4 is a bevel-pinion secured in the outer end of the spindle Z2. The bevel-pinion ZLl meshes with the bevel-pinion Z5, secured on the lower end of the rod ZG, which is provided with a crank-handle Z7.

The rod L is universally jointed and is supported at intervals in bearings M, secured to the central portion of the truck-frame.

N are double-arm travelers pivoted on the rod n, journaled in the hanger-bearings n', secured to the bottom of the truck-frames. The rod a in each case comes directly underneath the center of the axles. The doublearm travelers are preferably provided with .friction-rollersV n2 and are connected at each end by chains n3 to the rod L. The doublearm travelers are placed in such position throughout the length fof the car that the chain attached at the same end of reach traveler throughout is partially wound upon the rod L, so that all the corresponding ends of the travelers are raised. The lower end of each traveler when in working posit-ion is alwaysin lclose proximity to the ground. The upper ends of the chain n3 are wound around in the reversedirectiou on the rod L, so that when the crank-handle Z' is turned one end of the pivoted traveler will -raise and the other lower. Zhen the traveler is horizontal, itis outvof the working position. By turning the crank-handle still more the opposite end of the traveler to that shown in the drawings would be thrown down in proximity to the ground.

The end of the traveler which is in close proximity to the ground operates to propel the car in the direction to which this end is downwardly inclined, as will be understood from what is hereinafter described.

The travelers operatel the switch mechanism contained in the box O, the peculiarity of construction ofwhich and the operation of the switch contained therein so as to throw the current into the field-magnets I shall now describe.

The upper part of the box O is comprised of two circular iianges O and O2, which are integrally formed, abut each other, and extend beyond the width ofthe rectangular lower portion of the box, as indicated by full lines in Figs. 3 and 5.

O3 is a circular metal plate which fits within the circular flange O and is provided with a downwardly-extending vertical ring-flange o, which fits within an annular recess o of a greater width than the flange. Between the inner and outer sides of the vertical flange o and the sides of the recess I insert a rubber or flexible tube-packing o2, which is pressed nearly flat when the vertical flange is inserted in the recess,and thus serves to form a springpacking which is perfectly water-tight. The plate O3, I fasten down by screws o3, which extend partially into the edges of the flange O! and partially into the circular plate O3. The circular flange O2 has a ring OY1 fitting within it, which has a downwardly-extendin g flange o4, fitting within a recess o5 in the flange O2. l o6 is a circular piece of leather or other flexible material formed u p, as indicated, and completely covering the circular opening within the ring O4. The recessed edges o7 are held within the recess o5by the downwardlyextending flange 04, forming part of the ring O4, so that the opening is perfectly watertight.

O5 is a cap-plate formed in two parts, the concentric edges of which extend over the circular flange O2. The straight passage-way O is formed between the two portions.

` OT is a circularplate with a convex top, which lits within a corresponding space formed underneath both portions ol the capplate O5.

P is a plate-chain bridge pivoted by the trunnions p at each end in elongated holes p', formed underneath the cap-plates at the edges of and toward the ends of the passage-way O. The chain P is comprised of several links Pl, which have upwardly-extending sides p2. Each plate isconnected to its adjacent one by trunnions p3, which tinto recesses p4 in the adjacent plate.

P2 is a iiexible yielding cover, of leather or other suitable material, which is brought underneath and up the sides of the chain P throughout its length and is fastened by means of teats p5, which when the leather is being put on are bent down in the position shown at the left-hand side of Fig. et and at the right-hand side of Fig. etc, the points of the teats p5 extending through the leather, which is forced over the teats. Vhen the leather has been placed in position over the teats from end to end, such teats are bent up into the position shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 4 and at the left-hand side of Fig. 4, so that the outer side of the teats are flush with the outer side of the leather. The leather covering P2, formed and secured in position as above described, is for the purpose of pre- IOO IIO

557,960 y i e venting any foreign matter getting down in the passage-way O6 and yet permitof the free upward and downward movement of the chain as caused by the traveler, as hereinafter described.

Q is a plate secured on the` top of the ver-- tically-moving block Q/ by means of abracket q, bolts q and q2, as shown. The block Q is pivotally connected by the links Q2 to the vertical block Q2, which is bolted to the side of the rectangular box or casing Q.

R is a spiral spring connected at the upper end to the hook q2, attached to the vertical block Q2, and at the lower endto the hook Q4, attached to the vertically-moving block Q'.

Q4 is a buier secured to the bottom of the casing, and is designed to lim it the downward throw of the block Q. There are two pairs of links Q2, one of each pair extending on each side of the blocks Q` and Q3. The lower pairs of links, or, more properly, levers Q2, extend beyond the pivotal connection to the block Q, the ends being pivotally connected by a pair ot links S to the short arm of the lever T, pivoted on the pin extending out from the bracket T. The lever T is of insulating material and has pivotcd on a pin t', extending through it, two carbon rollers t2, oneat each side.

U U are quadrantal contact-plates secured at the bottom by the screws u and u to insulating-plates u2 and a5, secured to the bottom of the box.

@t3 Vis an insulating-block secured by a screw a4 to the quadrantal strip U It will be noticed that the quadrantal strip U' is farther from the strip U at the lower portion and that in the dip, where it recedcs .from the strip U, I secure a bevel carbon contact-block U2.

Upon the end of the long arm of the lever II, I secure semiloop-shapcd metal. contactstrips T2, which are designed to be successively brought in contact from bottom to top with the commutator-sections V of the resistance-coil V', which are connected to them as shown. The commutator sections are in quadrantal form and are secured to the insulating standard-plates c.

c are horseshoe-magnets which bridge the two lower commutator-sections` on each side and have wires yr2 passing from the one section to theother around the horseshoe-magnets. These magnets c are designed to blow out the are formed by the loop-shaped metal contact-strips T2.between the two lower sections as they descend, as hereinafter explained.

The magnetic lines of force passing froml the positive to the negative pole of the magnet produce a rapid current in the atmosphere at right angles to the course the electric current would take between the two contactpoints and by this means blows out the arc. In other words, the electric current is broken from it-s point of contact and cannot act upon the particles of atmosphere, an d consequently cannot form an arc.

2 and `3 are the positive and negative wires of the main circuit, which pass through a eonand cross-bars together, so as to keep the casing close up to the core of the magnet.

Between the cross-bars I3 is an openspace above the core of the magnet, which I preferably ll with pitch or other insulating and waterproof material, so as to prevent the core from becoming rusted.

In Fig. 4 the negative wire 3 is shown in the broken section of the conduit 4 5. A branch wire 6 leads from the wire 3 to the binding-screw u, securing the bottom of the quadrantal plate U on this side ofthe leverT. i

A wire 7 leads from the binding-screw a at the bottom ofthe quadrantal plate Uf on this side through the tubular conduit 8, magnetcoil l2, back through the conduit 8 to and through the several commutator-plates V and resistance-coils V. Upon the opposite side the wiring leading from the positive wire 2 is exactly similar. (See Figs. 3, 4, and 5.)

It will now be seen that when the travelers` N are in the'position shown inFig. l, and when the friction-roller n2 of each traveler reaches the circular divided plate O5 and passes along the passage-way O6 it being inl close proximity to the ground will ride upon the chain bridge and press it downwardly, thereby throwing down the vertical block Q', tilting the double arm Q2 on its pivot, thereby throwingup the long end of the lever T over the commutator-sectionsand at the same time throwing the carbon contact-rollers t2 against the carbon contact-blocks U2, thus electrically bridging the quadrantal plates U and U from the period that the rollers t2 reach the carbon blocks U2 until the lever is thrown its full swing, thus gradually throwing in the current through the commutator-sections V. The current will pass during this period from the positive wire 2 through the wire 6, quadrantal plate U,contactroller t2, quadrantal plate U', wire 7, through the magnet-coils on the opposite side to that shown in Fig. 4, back to the commutator-sections and resistance-coils, thence by the loop-shaped strips1T2 to the positive commutator-sections and resistance-coils V and V', respectively, thence by the wire 7 through the other magnet-coil, then back to the other quadrantal plate Uf, carbon roller t2, and quadrantal plate U and wire 6, to the negative wire 3, as shown in Fig. 4. The effect of the current passing through in the course IOO above described is to magnetize the cores I and cause them to exert a magnetic pull upon the drum-armatures G in immediate proximity to the left of such magnet.- stance the acting magnets would be thev third from the left, as shown in Fig. l.

The operation of the successive-travelers that the operation of the switch mechanismv for inagnetizing the magnets will cause such magnets yto exert the saine pull in the opposite direction, and thus propel the car in such direction.

In Fig. G I exhibit an alternative form lof travelers, in which I provide horseshoe-magnets \Y,secured to the double-arm traveler. A perfectly-plain circular top OS, flush with the road-bed, is provided to fit within the circular flange O2.

Instead of the mechanism shown and described as to the former iigures used in connection with the rollers on the traveler I provide the following:

X is a hinged plate, preferably of soft iron, pivoted at one end at Qc and having a stop 0c' underneath the opposite end to prevent its falling too far.

ocis a rod connected to a lever x3, pivoted at x Y is a mercury-cup situated underneath lenoid Z, and passes out therefrom to the positive wire 2, as indicated by the partially-full lines and partially-dotted lines in this figure.

ys is a wire leading from the negative wire 3 to the end of the lever w3.

The plunger e of the solenoid is connected by a link z' to the lever T.

The operation of this magnetic form of switch mechanism is as follows: As the horseshoe-magnet comes into proximity with the circular plate Os above the hinged plate X the said hinged plate is caused to rise, thus throwing the end of the lever w3 into the mercury-cup Y and completing the circuit through the

wire

1,1/4, the solenoid Z, wire g/S, binding-post y', metal strip y, mercury-cup Y, lever 033, and wire gf to the negative wire 3, thus causing the plunger of the solenoid to move downwardly and throw the lever upwardly in the manner hereinb efore described, so as to throw the current into the horseshoemagnets I, which will operate in the manner set forth to attract the drum-armatures and In this inf cause them to have a rolling contact over the ends of the cores of the magnets.

VVhat I claim as my invention is l. A system for electrical propulsion of cars comprising a motor, the armatures of which consist of a series of pairs of drums connected with the axles of the car and the field-magnets of which are located in the road-bed and substantially flush therewith and are designed to exert a magnetic pull on the drum-armatures through the current successively switched into them, so that such drum-armatures will have a rolling contact over the magnets as and 'for the purpose speciiied.

2. A system for electrical propulsion of cars comprising a series offpairsof drum-armatures secured on the axles of the ear, which are located equidistant from each other, a sevries of held-magnets the tops of the cores of which are substantially iiushwith the roadbed in the paths of the drum-armatures and arei equidistant from eachother a series of travelers pivoted directly beneath the axles of the cars and designed to coact with a coinmutator-switch suitably inclosed and having the: top substantially iiush'with the road-bed to close the main circuit 'through each fieldmagnet as the drums approach the ends of thel cores as and for the purpose speciied.

3i The combination with the magnets situated in the road-bed and substantially iiush therewith and the armatures designed to have a rolling contact with the ends of the magnets as speeiiied, of pivoted travelers corresponding. in number to the drum-armatures, a switch-box and coacting mechanism in thc same operated by each successive traveler to throw in the switch and 'cause the current to travel from the main wire through the magnets as and for the purpose speciiied.

Ll. The combination with the magnets situated in the road-bed and substantially iiush therewith and the armatures designed to have a rolling contact with the ends of the cores of the magnets as specified, of pivoted travelers corresponding in number to the drumarmatures a switch-box provided with a ilexible chain bridge designed to be depressed by the traveler as it passes over it and means whereby the depression of such chain of each successive switch-box throws in the switch and causes the current to travel from the main wires through the magnets as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination with the magnets situated in the road-bed and substantially flush therewith and the armatures designed to have a rolling contact with the ends of the cores of the magnets as specified, of pivoted travelers corresponding in number to the drumarinatures, a switch-box and mechanism coacting with the travelers and means for holding the corresponding ends of the travelers at the same time in proximity to the ground as and for the purpose specified.

(i. rlhe combination with the magnets situ- IOC IIO

ated in the road-bed and 'Substantially flush therewith and the armatures designed to have a rolling contact with the ends of the cores lIO of the magnets as specified, of pivoted travelers corresponding in number to the drumarmatures, a switch-box and mechanism coacting with the travelers and a universallyjointed rod extending from end to end of the car and connected by chains to both ends of the travelers and means for turning such rod as and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination with the magnets situated in the road-bed and substantially flush therewith and the armatures designed to have a rolling contact with the ends of the cores of the magnets as specified, of pivoted travelers corresponding in number to the drumarmatures, a switch-box and mechanism coacting with the travelers and a universallyjointed rod extending from end to end of the car and connected by chains to both ends of the travelers and the square bar-socket, L', square rod, L2, universal joint, Z', spindle, Z2, bevel-pinions, Z, Z5, rod, Z6, crank-handle, Z7, all arranged as and for the purpose speciiied.

S. The combination with the car provided with armatures and the road-bed provided with magnets, the ends of the cores ofwhich are flush therewith, of the travelers, liexible chain bridge supported upon the spring-held block, Q, and connected by links, Q2, to the block, Q2, the links, S, lever, T, provided with carbon rollers, t2, at each side, the two pairs (of quadrantal plates, U, and, U', insulated from each other and electrical connections from the main-circuit wires to the quadrantal plates, U, and from the quadrantal plates, U', to and through the magnets as and for the purpose specified.

9. The combination with the car provided with armatures and the road-bed provided with magnets, the ends of the cores of which are liush therewith, of the travelers, flexible chain bridge supported upon the spring-held block, Q', connected by links, Q2, to the block, Q2, the links, S, lever, T, provided with carbon rollers, t2, at each side, the two pairs of quadrantal plates, U, and, U', insulatedfroni each other, the carbon blocks, U2, situated in the depressions ot the quadrantal plates, U', and electrical connections trom the main-circuit wires to the quadrantal plates, U, and from the quadrantal plates, U', to and through the magnets as and for the purpose speciiied.

lO. The combination with the car provided with armatures and the road-bed provided with magnets, the ends of the cores of which are lush therewith, of the travelers flexible chain bridge supported upon the spring-held block Q', connected by links, Q2, to the block, Q2, the links, S, lever, T, provided with carbon rollers, t2, at each side, the two pairs of quadrantal plates, U, and, U', insulated from each other, the metal loop-shaped contactstrips, T2, on the end of the lever, T, the cominutator-sections, V, and resistance-coils, V', and electrical connections from the main-circuit wires to the quadrantal plates, U, and f rom the quadrantal plates, U', to and through the magnets as and for the purpose specified.

ll. The combination with. the car provided with armatures and the road-bed provided with magnets, the ends of the cores of which are iiush therewith, of the travelers flexible chain bridge supported upon the spring-held block, Q', connected by links, Q2, to the block, Q3, the links, S, lever, T, provided with carbon rollers, t2, at each side, the two pairs of quadrantal plates, U, and, U', insulated from each other, the metal loop-shaped contactstrips, T2, on the end of the lever, T, the commutator-sections, V, and resistance-coils, V', and the horseshoe-magnets having the two poles opposite the two lower commutator-sections, and electrical connections from the main-circuit wires to the quadrantal plates, U, and from the quadrantal plates, U', to and through the magnets as and for the purpose specified.

l2. The combination with the car provided with armatures and the road-bed provided with magnets, the ends of the cores of which are flush therewith, of the travelers ilexible chain bridge supported upQn the spring-held block, Q', connected by links, Q2, to the block, Q2, the links, S, lever T, provided with carbon rollers, t2, at each side, the two pairsv ot' quadrantal plates, U, and, U', insulated from each other, the metal loop-shaped contactstrips, T2, on the end of the lever, T, the commutator-sections, V, and resistance-coils, V', and the horseshoe-magnets having the two poles opposite the two lower commutator-sections, the wires, 6, connecting the positive and negative wires of the main circuit to'their corresponding quadrantal plates, U, the wires, 7, leading from the quadrantal plates, U', to and through the coils of the horseshoe-magnet, I, and through the eommutator-sections, V, and resistance-coils, V', as an d for the purpose specified.

13. The combination with the armatures, magnets and travelers, ot'the divided capplate, O5, provided with a straight passageway, OG, and the flexible chain bridge, P, formed and held by trunnions at each end and switch mechanism operated therefrom as and for the purpose specilied.

14. In a system such as described the combination with the switch-box having the capplates, O5, and central passage-way, O", of the chain, P, each link of which has up- IOO IIO

wardly-extending sides and is connected to held in position thereto by the feats, p5, as and for the purpose specified.

16. In a system such as described the switchboX provided with the chain bridge located as specified, of' the circular flange, O2, circular ring, O4, With downwardly extending flange, 04, the circular leather and the springheld Vertical block, Q, and its connections all operating as and for the purpose specified.

17. A switch-box for the purpose described having two top annular fianges with a space or channel between, in combination with a top plate having a depending flange fitting Within said recess, and a yielding packing located upon each side of said depending flange, substantially as described.

1S. -The combination with the trucks, D, E,