US769094A

US769094A - Electric-lighting system for cars.

Info

Publication number: US769094A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herman Kreusler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1903-11-28
Filing date: 1903-11-28
Publication date: 1904-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 1921-08-30

Description

PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.

H. KREUSLER. ELECTRIC LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR GARS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES Patented August 30, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

ELECTRIC-LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR CARS..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,094, dated August 30, 1904.

Application tiled November 28, 1903. Serial No. 182,985. (No model.) i

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN KREUsLER, .a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric- Lighting Systems for Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an electric-lighting system for cars, and has particular reference to an arrangement for supplying current to the electric lamps even if the current-taking device, such as the customary trolley, should temporarily become disconnected from the source of electric current-as, for instance, the overhead wire.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple device of the above-indicated class in which one and the same set of lamps will be lighted either by the main current under normal conditions or by an auxiliary generator or current-supply in case the connection of the lamps with the main current or powercircuit is interrupted.

I will now describe my invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and will then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of my improved electric-lighting system, and Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the switches employed in said system.

A indicates the conductor from which the power-current is taken-as, for instance, an overhead wire or a third rail.

B indicates the return-conductor or ground connection formed, for instance, by the trackrails.

O is the current-taking device-for instance, a trolley mounted on a pole O'. The main portion of the current passes through the motors of the car in the usual way. A shuntwire D connects the current-taking device with lamps T, connected in series or in any other suitable manner. This wire D leads to a terminal D', adapted to be engaged by one arm E' of a switch E, which is pivoted to terminals E3 EL. The switch-arm E' when in engagement with the terminal D' also engages a terminal F', from which awire F leads to a E' E2 are adapted to swing.

coil or solenoid F2 and then to the return-conductor or ground connection B-for instance, by connecting said wire F with the car-wheel G. Thus when the lamps T are lighted by the current shunted fromv the power or motor circuit the solenoid F2 will be energized so as to pull its core H into the position shown in Fig. l. This core carries two circuit-closing plates H' and H2, which are insulated from each other. The circuit-closer H' is adapted for contact with terminals I and I', one of which is connected by a wire I2 to a brush I3 of a motor-generator J. The same terminal I' is connected by a wire I* with the shuntcoil K of the motor-generator, and the other terminal, I, is connected bya wire I5 with one pole of a storage battery L. From the other end of the shunt-coil K a wire K' leads to the brush J' of the motor-generator J. The other pole of the storage batteryL is connected by a wire M with the terminal E4. The switcharm E2 when in the position illustrated by Fig. l engages a terminal N', Afrom which a wire N leads to the series coil O of the motorgenerator, which series coil is also connected with the wire K'. From this wire K' a branch wire K2 leads to a terminal K3, adapted to be engaged by the switch-arm E2 when the switch is thrown into its upper position. In this position the switch-arm E' will engage a terminalP', from which a wire P leads to the ground or return wire-for instance, by connecting said wire P with the wire F at a point between the solenoid F2 and the conductor B.

The terminals D', F', N', K3, and I" may be of the usual kind, consisting of two elastic metallic blades between which the switch-arms As shown in Fig. 2, the terminal K3 is made longer than the terminal P', so that in throwing the switch E into the upper position contact willbc made between E2 and K3 before contact is made between E' and IJ'. The terminal E3 is connected by a wireQ with the brush J2 of the motor-generator J. The fourth brush J 3 of this motorgenerator is connectedby a wire R with a terminal R', adapted to be engaged by the circuit-closer H2. This circuit closer is also adapted to engage another terminal S', from which a wire S leads to the trolley-pole (.l'.

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A rheostat or starting resistance U may be inserted in the wire P.

2 conductor B. The armature H will therefore be attracted into the solenoid, so as to separate the circuit-closers H' H2 from the terminals which they are adapted to engage. In case the trolley C should slip off the wire or conductor A or if for any other reason the main current or power-current should cease to flow the core H will no longer be held up by the solenoid F2 and the circuit-closers H' H2 will drop on their respective terminals. The circuit-closer H' will then close the following circuit of the storage battery L: the battery L, wire M, terminal E', switch-arm E2, terminal N', wire N, series coil O, wire K', brush J', brush I3, wire I2, terminal I', circuitcloser H', terminal I, and Wires I2 I5. A portion'of the current will also flow through the shunt-coil K. That portion of the motorgenerator which is connected with the brushes J' I3 will now act as a motor for the other portion of the motor-generator connected with the brushes J2 J 3,'which other portion in this case is a generator. It will be understood that the motor-generator is so wound that the current delivered at the brushes J2 J 3 will in this case be practically of the same voltage as the current, which under normal conditions is furnished to the lamps T by the shunt from the power-circuit. The current from the generator will flow as follows: brush J2, wire Q, terminal E', switch-arm E', terminal D', wire D, lamps T, wire S, terminal S', circuit-closerl H2, terminal R', wire R, and brush J 3. Therefore as long as the power-current fails the storage battery L will drive the motor-generator to supply an auxiliary current to the lamps T, these lamps being the same as those which are normally lighted by the current shunted from the power-circuit. As soon as the power-current againiiows through the lamps T the solenoid F2 will be energized, causing the circuit-closers H' H2 to rise, so as to cut out the storage battery L. It will therefore be understood that under normal conditions the motor-generator J is inactive and stationary.

The connections for the upper position of the switch E have been provided for the purpose of charging the storage battery L in the following manner: Assuming the switch to be in its upper position, the solenoid F2 will of course be disconnected from the circuit, and the circuit-closers H' H2 will therefore rest on their terminals. The shunt-current from the power-circuit will therefore flow as follows: conductor A, trolley C, pole C', wire S, terminal S', circuit-closer H2, terminal R',

wire R, brush J2, brush J2, wire Q, terminal E3, switch-arm E', terminal P', wire P, and wire F, to return conductor B or ground. That portion of the motor-generator which is connected with the brushes J2 J 3 will therefore in this case act as a motor and drive the other portion which is connected with the brushes J' I3, which other portion in this case becomes a generator. The current supplied by this generator will flow as follows: brush J', wire K',wire K2, terminal K3, switcharm F12, terminal E2, wire IWI, storage battery L, wire I5, terminal I, circuit-closer H', terminal I', wire I2, and brush I3. A portion of the current will also pass through the shuntcoil K, keeping it energized. The remainder of the current will flow through the battery L and charge it. The initial energizing of the shunt-coil K is brought about by the current from the battery L as soon as the switcharm E2 touches the terminal K2. Since this contact loccurs before the switch arm E' touches the terminal P', it follows that the shunt-coil K will already be energized when the current shunted from the power-circuit begins to flow to the motor generator J through the brushes J2 J 3. 'However, it is not absolutely necessary that the contact at K3 be made before that at P'. The starting resistance or rheostat U may be dispensed with. Its purpose is to facilitate starting the motor-generator whenv it is `used for charging the battery L.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the nature of my invention.

Some features of my invention are not restricted to the inclusion of the same set of lamps both in the main circuit and in the auxiliary lighting-circuit.

While intended specially for lighting cars, my invention is applicable wherever it is desired to guard against darkness in case the main current fails.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In an electriclighting system, a main lighting-circuit, a lamp or lamps therein, an auxiliary lighting-circuit which also includes said lamp or lamps, a motor-generator, the generator-section of which is in said auxiliary circuit, a source of electricity in circuit with the motor-section of the motorgenerator, and a circuit-closer, controlled by the flow of the current through the main circuit, for completing the auxiliary lighting-circuit and the circuit of said motor-section when the current fails in the main circuit.

2. In an electric -lighting system, a main lighting-circuit, an auxiliary lighting-circuit, a motor-generator, the generator-section of which is in the auxiliary lighting circuit, a

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source of electricity in circuit with the motorthrough the main circuit, for completing the auxiliary lighting-circuit and the circuit of the said motor-section when the current'fails in the main circuit.

3. In an electric-lighting system, a main lighting-circuit, an auxiliary lighting-circuit, a motor-generator, one section of which is in said auxiliary lighting-circuit, a storage battery in circuit with the other section of the motor-generator, a circuit-closer, controlled by the flow of current through the main circuit, for completing the circuits through both sections of the motor-generator When vno current passes through the lighting-circuit, and a switch for reversing the functions of the sections so that the said motor generator may either be driven by said source of electricity and supply current to the auxiliary lightingcircuit, or be driven from the main circuit and supply current to charge the storage battery.

4. In an electric-lighting system, a mainv circuit for normally supplying light, amotor' generator for supplying light When the main circuit fails, astorage battery for driving said motor-generator, a circuit-closer, controlled by the flow of current through the main lightauxiliary lighting-circuit, a motor for said generator, a source of electricity in circuit with said motor, land means 'for closing the motorcircuit simultaneously with the auxiliary lighting-circuit.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HER-MAN KREUSLER.

Vitnesses:

JOHN Lorna, EUGENE EBLE.