It is hardly necessary to say that the wheels and axles should be
perfectly aligned, and should run true.
[Illustration: Fig. 267.—The Motor.]
The motor used to drive the car will prove more satisfactory if
purchased ready made. A self-starting three-pole motor similar to that
shown in Figure 267 will serve very nicely. The wooden base should be
removed and the motor screwed down firmly to the floor of the car as in
Figure 268.
One terminal of the motor is connected to one of the bearings, and the
other terminal to the other bearing.
The motor is belted to a countershaft so that it will have sufficient
power to move the car. It cannot be directly connected or belted to the
axle, because the speed of a small motor is so high that it has
comparatively little turning power or _torque_. The speed must be
reduced and the torque increased before it will drive the car.
The countershaft consists of two grooved pulleys mounted upon an axle
running in two bearings mounted upon the floor of the car. The bearings
are made from a strip of heavy sheet-brass, bent at right angles and
fastened to the car floor with small screws. The large pulley, _A_, is
one inch and one half in diameter and the small pulley, _B_, is
five-sixteenths of an inch in diameter. The countershaft is mounted in
such a position that a belt may be run from the small pulley, _B_, to
the pulley mounted on the axle of one pair of wheels. A belt is also run
from the small pulley on the motor to the large pulley, _A_, on the
countershaft. The pulleys must all be carefully lined up so that the
belts will run in their grooves without danger of slipping out.
[Illustration: Fig. 268.—The Complete Truck of the Car without the
Body.]
The shield on the platform at each end of the car is made of sheet-iron
or tin. Two small projections on the bottom are bent over at right
angles and used to secure the shields in position by driving a small
tack through them into the floor of the car.
The steps on either side of each platform are also made by bending
strips of sheet-iron or tin and fastening them to the car with small
nails or tacks.
The coupler consists of a strip of tin having a small hook soldered to
the end so that a trail car may be attached if desirable.
[Illustration: Fig. 269.—Pattern for the Sides and Ends of the Car.]
The car is now ready for testing, and when held in the hand so that the
wheels are free to run, two cells of dry battery should be found all
that is necessary to drive them at a fair rate of speed. The two wires
leading from the battery should be connected to the bearings, one wire
leading to each bearing. It will require more than two cells, however,
to drive the wheels properly when the car is on the track, All moving
parts should run freely and smoothly. The car may be used just as it is,
but if fitted with a body and a top it will present a much more
realistic appearance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account