Patent GB-190106617-A (GB)
Title: Means for Supplying Electric Energy at Stations, applicable for Charging Electromobiles.
Filed: 1901-03-29
Granted: 1902-01-16
Abstract: 6617. British Thomson-Houston Co., [Haskins, C. D.]. March 29. Electricity, supplying to.-Consists in providing a number of stations at which by the use of a key or by the introduction of a coin or token a supply of electricity can be obtained for charging the storage batteries of electrically-propelled vehicles or other apparatus involving the use of storage batteries. Fig. 1 shows a sectional elevation of a station adapted for use with a continuous current source of supply. The station consists of a hollow iron casting 1 in the form of a post and is divided by a partition 2 into two chambers. A coin 27 which is introduced into a slit 26 in the casing connects together two terminals 19, 19<a>, and completes the circuit through two electromagnets 6,16. The magnet 6 on being energized withdraws a stop 7<a> from an arm 7 and allows of a door 5 being opened, and access being obtained to a duplex flexible conductor 3 by which the batteries are charged. In opening the door, the arm 7 moves a spring-controlled switch blade 8 so that it is forced into a pair of spring clips 11, 11<a> and completes the main circuit at this part, the circuit being finally completely closed by moving the handle 4 so that the projecting piece 15 connects together the terminals 14, 14<a>. When the switch 15 is closed, the handle 4 projects outside the casing 1 so that the switch 15 is automatically opened when the door 5 is closed. The closing of the circuit through the magnet 16 raises the arm 17 so that it holds the switch lever 8 in position in the clips 11, 11<a>. On one of the service wires there is the series coil of a recording watt-meter 13, the rotary element of which carries an external shaft on which a worm 21 is mounted gearing into a wheel or wheel train which rotates a disc 22 which, in its normal position, obstructs the transit of the coin 27 to the cash-box. The disc 22 is provided with a cut-away part which allows the coin to fall, when the disc is turned sufficiently far. During this range of movement a brush 23, normally bearing on the insulating-spot 24, rides upon the conducting-face of the disc and establishes a cross connection with a brush 23<a>, thereby completing a circuit through the magnet 16 independently of the coin branch. The parts are so arranged that this circuit is completed before the coin falls, thereby holding the switch 8 closed by the locking-armature 17. The gearing between the worm 21 and the disc 22 is of such a ratio that the ring containing the insulating-spot 24 will have made one complete revolution and opened the locking circuit only after the value of the coin in electricity has been delivered, upon which the armature 17 is drawn back by its retractile spring and the switch 8 is drawn back by its spring. To provide for the cases in which the current is supplied at a cheaper rate during a certain portion of the day than during the other portion, two coin slits of different sizes are fitted in the casing 1, and one or other of the slits is automatically closed by a slide controlled by electromagnets which are brought into action by a circuit closer 28 controlled by a clock 30. When the apparatus is used with an alternating-current system of distribution, there is also employed a water-tight casing containing converting-apparatus for transforming the current, the converting-apparatus being automatically thrown into operation when the toll is paid.