Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-11-20
Car That Recharges Self

An electric motorcar that makes
twenty-five miles an hour and even
more; car that can go anywhere
ing plant; car that generates cur
rent whenever it coasts down hill;
a car that carries improved storage
batteries, requiring the minimum of
care: a car wherein the motor and
transmission members forming one
unit, can be taken off in one block
for inspection, repair or even re-
placement. These features are all
to be found in the latest electric ear
one which seems likely to give the
electric car a new deal in the motor
car game.
Car in question has been develop
ed over a period of many years by
Harry E. Dey, of Jersey City, and
has the hearty Endorsement of DR..
Charles p. SteinmetZ, the widely
known electrical engineer.
The most revolutionary feature of
Mr.. Dey's car is the motor, in which
both armature and field magnet are
rotatable one element being con-
nected to one driving wheel by way
of u pair of reduction gears, while
the other element connects with the
other wheel in similar manner. 1t
is in this way that the designer dis
penses with different gears; the
motor with its independent rotation
of parts makes perfect substitute.
In the latest design the operation
of the control is similar to that met
on a gas car. For speed variation q
foot lever acts in the same way as
clutch. with the added feature that
pressure beyond that to cut the cur
rent off impels the motor to act as
a brake, while extreme use of the
foot power applies the mechanical
brake to the driving wheels. In ad-
dition there is an emergency brake.
An accelerator pedal raises the
speed to thirty miles by weakening
the field. A third pedal gives for
ward, reverse and neutral. This is
so interlocked with the speed pedal
that it can be moved only when the
latter stands in a high resistance or
the off position.
The steering wheel is hinged to
permit of fitting when entering the
car. The post is inclined to an angle
of 80 degrees from the horizontal,
giving the car Il racy appearance.
All this is mentioned here to convey
some llpEGSSlOll lIlc VI iiilS
car differing so materially from the
bulky effect of most electrics.
The battery is carried underneath
the floor and attached to the truss
rod posts. This leaves the body en-
tirely free of membranes and per-
mits it to be utilized entirely for
passengers and luggage. radical
departure has been made in the
spring suspension, as air springs
have been substituted for the ellipti-
cal type.
Mr.. Dey has largely increased the
scope of his car by designing Il por-
table charging plant, weighing APP
proximately 100 pounds, to be car
ried under the bonnet of the car. 1t
consists of. light three horsepower
air-cooled, gasoline engine, con-
nected to a special dynamo. 1t will
charge the battery at any time,
whether the car be running or
standing. at a rate equal to the nor
NAL consumption of the driving
motor, which experience has shown
to be two-horse power. This plant
causes u net saving in weight of the
car of more than 100 pounds, due
to the fact that one-half the battery
can be dispensed with, q fifty-mile
battery radius then being sufficient.
If desired, the plant may be re-
moved from the car, to be used as
a stationary unit for recharging, as
we'll as for charging, separate bat
terry for house lighting, etc. 1t is
simple matter to place the power
plant in the car against long trip;
The smaller battery required will
largely cancel the additional cost of
the charging plant.-Scientltlc