The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-18
An ELECTRIC ROAD CARRIAGE.
New Application of EIocfrlciiy-The solu-
ton of a prohlo,,

ton of n Problem
henry +, Du. Ballet. United States
consul at Rheims, I'm his official report
recently published tells the following about
a new electric road carriage:
a new application Of electricity as mo-
tive power for carriages used on public
highways having been witnessed by me
IN the CITY OF hheims. L snail endeavOr to
describe the vehicle and its construction.
The first application Of electricity 10
this mode Of l0comotion dates back 10
1881, when the late Castor blanche. a
Frenchman, made the first experiments.
which. however, proved unsuccessful at
that time. principally on account Of the
imperfeciion of the sheets used which
were lacking in energy. strength, and
durability. In 1883 Mr. Immisch built I'm
London, for the Sultan Of Turkey, an
electric dOgcart resembling the dOgcart Of
Mr. Magnus Volt, Of Brighton. at a cost
Of 5000 francs. The battery used in this
dogcart was sufficient to propel it during
five hours at a speed Of IS kilometers per
hour @ miles liSi YARDS. The battery
weighed $50 Kilograms 90 pounds) and
the whole vehicle ready for the road, ex-
elusive Of passengers, weighed 575 kilo-
grams Q,2i3 pounds. The motor used
was the motor Immisch." Of one-horse
power. which. in its full capacity, abb
sOrbed from - to p amperes and IS volts,
or from 1909 to 100 electric watts.
The latest electric carriage is that OF
Mr. Paul Pouchain, of Armentieres. de-
pertinent Of Nord, France. and 1t is con-
sldered as the solution Of the problem
studied for many years by the French
electricians
This carriage is a six-place phaeton built
on four wheels. All it's upper part is
~
lion and care Of the cOndensers and cleo
trio motor The electric current IS furnish
ed by "a battery of condensers "Duiardin'
composed Of six boxes Of nine elements,
or altogether. nfty-four elements. Each
box is "a centimeters az inches in length,
90 centimoters Of inches in width, and
81 centimeters Q3.6 inches in height.
Each element contains one positive and
two negative sheets inclOsed i'm a box of
ebonite The nine elements are coupled
together i'm tension and always i'm the
same manner. The recipient containing
the elements is Theoretically closed with
n piece of ebonite, and the lower part of
the lid IS covered with a thin piece of
rubber one mnlimeter (three one-hun-
drcdths Of an inch) thick and extending
outside about one centimeter Ohree-tenths
Of an inch. When the lid is placed on
the box, the rubber is thrown up and
Theoretically closes the element. Thus each
element can be easily inspected. examined,
and kept I'm good condition. The nine
elements are inclOsed i'm a box made out
Of pitch pine. forming thus six batteries
entirely Independent and communicating
through twelve wires 1.-TWO in each box
10 the commutator. The commutator,
made out of bronze. is "a cylinder i'm the
shape of a dodecagon, on ten sides OF
which are placed pieces of copper electri-
cauv insulated from the body Of the
conmutator and connected together in
a permanent manner in using a lever the
commutator turns and can be placed in
five different positions establishing con-
facts between the pieces of copper and
fourteen elastic jaws communicating
through twelve wires to six batteries and
through two wires TO the motor. The fol-
lowing are the connections made by the
commutator in its five positions:
Position at rest.-All the condarsers,
circuit disconnected. Motor in short cir
cult putting on the brake for stoppage.
Position of first specialize SIX batter
ies placed in derivation on the motor Qf
volts.
Position Of second speed.-Three batter
les Of two elements on tension C3i volts.
Position OF third speed-Two batteries
Of three elements on tension 60 volts
Position Of fourth speed The SIX bat
teries on tension 900 volts.
The motor is Of the system "RechnieW-
sky" of n normal energy Of 1000 watts
able. when necessary. to develop as mucn
more. II is placed in the center OF the
carriage, and. by means of Naucanson
(endless) chain. puts in motion n smart
revolving on the system Of dinerental
motion.
over the back wheels are placed four
batteries Of accumulators or condensers'
the motor and the differential system CON
trolling the wheels. under the front seat
are the two other batteries, commutator
coupler. and a tool box. on the dash
board is an electrometer, a dlscon ct .,i
an interrupter OF the lights placed IN the
three lanterns. and an interverter 70 back
the carriage.
Under the vehicle are found soft wires
which can be connected with stationary
dynamo for the purpose Of reloadng the
batteries. The mechanism for guiding the
carriage IS applied 10 the fore part o.
the carriage. TO which is added a screw
wheel nut in motion by an endless screw
ending under the hand Of the driver ana
Of very easy management.
This carriage, all ready to work. weighs
$50 Kilograms, or 2,9IO pounds, ana car
ries six passengers. on pavement IN
an average condition 70 kilometers az IL
miles, can be covered at speed OF 10
llometers @ miles 1.4S4 yards per hour
without reloading the batteries. and the
carriage can be turned entirely around
on a street less than 4 meters u31 feeD
wide.
on a level and on an average pavement
the usual speed naturally depends on the
number Of accumulators, the greatest
speed-16 kilometers @ miles 1.iSi YARDS
per hour-being furnished by using six
batteries on tension.
Sweethearts Always.
Daniel O'Connell)
L. crr.ont hams Nrara Suali hna rte alNItaNe