DC Traction motors are pretty much the same internally, the difference is in how they are mounted. The most common is the nose-mounted (wheelbarrow) type, part of the motor's weight is borne directly by the axle, the rest by the truck frame. PCC streetcars and rapid transit equipment had the motor mounted on the frame with a lengthwise drive shaft connected to the axle by hypoid gearing, similar to the differential on an automobile. There are also side-rod drives, gearless drives (bi-polars and S-motors), and various quill drives.
Most of Frank Sprague's work was involved in the electrical designs, primarily on street railways and elevated railroads. We must also give a lot of credit to Hermann Lemp, who devised the single control system which co-ordinated engine speed and generator output.
In my misspent youth, I volunteered time as a trolley museum (the Branford Electric Railway Association, which is in East Haven, Connecticut- shameless plug there) and found out that power was delivered to axles by a traction motor (invented by a guy named Sprague). I wonder what the difference is between the traction motors of a trolley car (or subway car, for that matter) and a standard diesel freight locomotive? Besides horsepower....that's a given.
Should we credit Frank Sprague as well as Rudolf Diesel? I mean... they are Diesel electrics, after all...
My vote is to change the terminology to Diesel Sprague engines and confuse the entire world.
Thanks!
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.