Year: 1899

page_text: I, GEORGE HERBERT CONDICT, of 1684, Broadway, New York, U.S.A., Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
-
My invention relates to improvements in the means and apparatus for facilitating
the charging of storage batteries, and it consists, generally speaking, in a stand
or table for receiving a group or tray of storage batteries, a group for example of
which many duplicates may be employed for the operation of similar motors, as
for propelling vehicles such as cabs. The trays are desirably of substantially
uniform size and construction and are each provided with stationary contact plates
securely fixed to their sides, from which contact plates extend connections attached
to the terminals of the cells. The table or stand is provided with a number of
rocking contact levers which have two arms, one of which carries a yielding or
elastic contact at its outer end, the end of the other one being upturned and ex-
tended above the top of the table. The levers are arranged so that when no tray
is upon the table, they automatically move away from their operative positions,
with a portion extending into the path of the next descending tray of batteries to
be charged so that when it is lowered into position upon the table, it first strikes
the projecting parts, the upturned arms of the rocking levers, and as it reaches its
final position, resting upon the table, those ends of the levers have been so much
depressed that their outer ends are brought inward into firm, good electrical con-
tact with the plates upon the tables, closing the charging circuit and making the
arrangement automatic.
The contact pieces of the outer ends of the rocking levers are also in electrical
connection with a suitable source of current so that when the tray is placed upon
the table and the contacts become engaged, the work of charging the storage cells
immediately begins.
A spring may be used to pull the contacts away from the table, but gravity action
is preferred.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a view in elevation showing a table
supporting a tray of storage batteries to be charged together with the movable

page_text: contacts for making connection therewith, and in dotted lines the positions when
the tray is lifted.
Fig. 2 is an end view Showing the table and automatic contact arms of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a separate detailed view of one of the yielding contact pieces.
In the drawings, A indicates a strong stand or table, a, being the upper portion
thereof. B is a tray or other container within which is arranged a group of storage
batteries C, which are in this instance firmly secured therein and permanently
connected together electrically in any desired relation.
DE are fixed contact plates attached to the tray in predetermined positions.
The table is provided with a number of rocking levers F. In this instance four
are shown; their construction being similar, description of one will suffice.
The contact levers F are preferably in the general form of a hook, that is to say,
having two upright arms f f of different lengths. These arms are pivotally sup-
ported by pins f passing through about midway between them, and when so con-
structed, the outer arms fl, of the rocking lever F, being the longest will, when
the inner shorter arm fis free, swing outward and away from the table. The short
or inner arms are preferably expanded or formed with heads G, at their upper
ends, while the outer or longer arms f¹ are provided with electrical contacts H.
When nothing is upon the table A, the arms fl swing outward and the arms fa
rise upward, as indicated in the dotted lines, Fig. 1. But when the tray is lowered
into position upon the table, it presses upon the ends G which project up above
the level of the top a of the table forcing them down and at the same time bringing
the outer ends of the arms f¹ with contacts H against the contact plates and holding
them firmly in position. Obviously, with the construction shown, the levers F
will rock and their arms f¹ will swing outward automatically and without any
attention whatever by gravity when the tray B is removed, and this action I find
very satisfactory, but in the event that it might be found necessary to so vary the
construction of the swinging arms that the force of gravity could not always be
relied upon to move them as described, I may attach a retracting spring I thereto,"
as indicated by way of illustration.
In order to prevent undesirable swinging of the arms F, I provide stops in
the path of the short arms f2 and other stops h in the path of the arms f¹.
To provide for elasticity in the contact between the upper part of the arm fl
and the contact plate upon the tray, said arm is bifurcated at its outer extremity,
and the plate J, which is insulated from the arm f¹, or made of insulating material
is attached to its ends and upon the inner side of said plate J, I attach a leaf, or
other spring contact H which is secured at one end by a bolt passing through the
turned-over portion thereof and secured at its outer end by passing under the
clip j.
An electrical conductor L, connected with the charging circuit is provided, this
conductor moves with the arm and is secured preferably to the spring H, which
is insulated from the arm as indicated.
It will be obvious in view of the foregoing explanation that the form of the
invention as described may be modified in minor respects without departing from
the invention. I therefore do not limit myself to the exact construction set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;
1. The combination with a tray adapted to contain storage batteries to be charged
and provided with fixed contact plates, of a support therefor, a rocking contact
carrying lever attached thereto and having a part arranged in the path of the tray,
and adapted when engaged thereby to be brought into contact with the contact
pieces upon the tray.
2: The combination with a suitable support, of moving contact carrying levers
connected to a charging circuit and normally out of operative position, a tray
adapted to contain storage batteries to be charged and provided with fixed contact

page_text: pieces in the path of the moving contacts and means operated by the weight of the
tray for moving the said levers and bringing their contact pieces against the contact
plates on the tray and for releasing the same when the tray is removed.
3. The combination with a suitable support of rocking contact carrying levers
attached thereto, connections from a charging circuit to the contacts carried by the
levers, a tray containing storage batteries to be charged, stationary contact plates
upon the tray adapted to register with those carried by the levers, extensions con-
nected with the rocking levers and adapted to be engaged by the tray when in
position upon the table and to rock the levers and bring their contacts into
electrical connection with the plates upon the tray by the weight of the tray,
thereby closing the charging circuit.
4. In combination with a table or support, a tray adapted to contain storage
batteries to be charged and provided with fixed contact plates, a double arm contact
carrying lever pivotally attached to the support, an insulated contact device
attached to one of the arms of the lever, the other arm thereof being arranged
to project above the top of the support and to be depressed by the weight of the tray
of batteries when placed upon the support, thereby rocking the lever and forcing
the contact device carried by the other arm into engagement with the contact
plates upon the tray.
5. In combination with a support or table adapted to receive storage batteries
to be charged, a pivotally mounted contact carrying lever one extremity of which
normally extends above the top of the table and its other extremity provided
with a contact device adapted to normally extend away from the table.
6. The combination with a table or support of a double arm carrying lever
having one arm longer than the other, an insulated contact device attached to the
longer arm and a weight, as a tray of batteries to be charged, adapted to engage
the shorter arm and force the said longer arm into operative position.
Dated this 13th day of Wobu 1900
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY.
Chartered Patent Agents, 60, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.