IMPROVEMENTS IN WORKING AND REGULATING SECONDARY BATTERIES AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR OR CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Scudamore Sellon of Hatton Garden in the County
of Middlesex-Gentleman-for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN WORKING
AND REGULATING SECONDARY BATTERIES AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
THEREFOR OR CONNECTED THEREWITH
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Scudamore Sellon at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th January 1883.
"
JOHN SCUDAMORE SELLON of Hatton Garden in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman IMPROVEMENTS IN WORKING AND REGULATING SECONDARY BATTERIES
AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR OR CONNECTED THEREWITH
"
The Invention firstly relates to Secondary Batteries or electrical accumulators
so constructed that the cells shall be practically or sufficiently gas or air tight that
the pressure of gas or gases resulting from full or overcharging can or may be
utilized to work a lever valve or pressure box or bag or compressible expansible or
moveable receptacle of any suitable kind or a receptacle containing any substance
or material which can be compressed moved or expanded by pressure or by the
action of the gases electrically chemically or mechanically or any suitable combi-
nation in such a manner that each cell to which such arrangement is attached or
each set or sets of cells in connection therewith which can or may be so controlled
may be cut out of circuit of the charging load or main and fall in again, as required,
by means of a contact shunt valve lever or suitable mechanism which can be
actuated by such pressure, whether brought about mechanically, electrically, or
chemically.
In batteries or electrical accumulators which may or may not be gas or air tight
I sometimes bring about the same result by compression or recession of a magnet
against a compressible receptacle valve box or bag containing air Buid gas or any
material or substance by the intervention of which motion may be imparted to the
contact piece or valve, the movement of such magnet being produced by the rise
and fall of the electro-motive force or of the potential of the cell.
My Invention relates further to the employment in connection with Secondary
Batteries of an electro-magnetic or suitably constructed switch which can bo
actuated by the outgoing current when such current falls below a given electro-
motive force so as to cause the magnet or magnets to switch in one or more
accumulators from time to time as may be required for the purpose of maintaining
a constant or practically constant electro-motive force.

page_text: The Invention further has for its object in charging Secondary Batteries or
electrical accumulators to prevent the return or reversal of the current by causing
such current to pass round an electro magnet between the poles of which a magnet
is so suspended or arranged as to be free to move the said magnet being placed in
such a manner that any reversal of current will cause it to make contact and
shunt or connect a portion of the current to an electro-magnet which magnet
allows or causes the switch constructed with a spring or other suitable arrangement
to shut off, thereby preventing the return of the current to the dynamo-I some-
times so arrange that simultaneously with this action the field circuit of the
inchino is either short circuited or interrupted at the same time an arrangement
can be attached by which when the switch is off a portion of the current passes
through an electric bell thereby giving an alarm and calling attention to the
irregularity of work. The switch is arranged with a spring so that it is always
off unless the current is going in the right direction thus avoiding all possible
inconvenience or danger which might be incurred by reversals in charging in the
ordinary way brought about by diminution in speed or stoppage of the engine,
irregular working of the dynamo or other causes. Instead of a switch arrangement
as described I sometimes prefer to use a mercury contact so arranged that in
breaking the contact of the prongs wires or studs of different lengths which I
employ in this arrangement or their equivalents the current is caused to pass
through an increasing resistance the said contact being arranged in the mercury so
that when the switch is closed the resistance is all cut out but by the time the
last or longest prong or piece of contact metal leaves the mercury a sufficiently
high resistance has been introduced so that a very small amount of current is
flowing at the time of contact ceasing and sparking is practically avoided―The
metal contacts can either be arranged to rise or fall from or into the mercury by
the action of the magnetic current or the mercury can be made to rise or fall by the
pressure or withdrawal of a magnet acting in proximity to or against an elastic or
other suitable receptacle or pocket in which any portion or the whole of the
mercury employed is held or by other mechanical device.
Sometimes instead of breaking the circuit entirely from the dynamo-machine I
prefer to make my reversing magnet break the circuit from the cells and complete
the circuit of the dynamo-machine through a fixed resistance-in such case I
employ two electro-motive-force measures preferably two fino wire coils which will
draw in an iron core or cores one of these solenoids is connected with the terminals
of the machine the other with the terminals of the batteries and when the reversing
magnet lifts the lever from the mercury contact or otherwise affects the interrup-
tion of the battery circuit by any other arrangements adopted the contact lever
moves under a catch connected to the core of the solenoids-Now if the electro-
motive-force of the cells is greater than the electro-motive force of the machine the
contact lever will remain suspended but when the electro motive force of the
machine running in, the closed circuit rises above the electro motive force of the
cells the solenoid connected to the machine draws in the core in opposition to the
Bolenoid connected with the cells, releases the contact lover and completes the circuit
from the machine to the cells and cuts out the fixed resistance.
My Invention further relates to the employment of " series " dynamo-machines
for charging accumulators.
To enable series machines to be employed for charging the cells I employ a
somewhat different form of circuit breaker. In this case I place an electro-magnet
in the circuit of the cells and machine and cause this magnet to attract a keeper or
armature which works the contact breaker. When the proper amount of current
is flowing from the machine to the cells the keeper is attracted by the magnets and
the circuit is completed through the cells. Should the machine slacken speed or
the current from any cause diminish, the keeper drops away from the magnets
before the current can reverso thereby breaking the circuit of the cells. At the
same time that it breaks the circuit of the cells it completes the machine circuit
through a fixed resistance and in circuit with this resistance is another small

page_text: electro-magnet which tends to lift the keeper up into position again and complete
the circuit of the cells but this is prevented from taking place by an arrangement
of electro-motive force measures-Thus the circuit through the cells is only
completed when the electro-motive force of the machine is sufficient to overcome
that of the cells.
My Invention has further for its object to enable the attendant to recognize at
once whether a cell is short circuited-In order to effect this I bring small wires
from the terminals of each cell to corresponding terminals on the switch board and
with a contact arrangement so that each cell can be presented in succession to a
voltameter or other electro-motive measurer one side of which is balanced by
another cell or any standard independent cell. If any of the cells show no electro-
motive force in the terminals when presented to this standard cell it is evidence
that the cell is defective. This checking of the electro motive force may be
performed automatically by means of a Clock and the mechanism can be. so
arranged that when a defective cell is checked against the standard, attention is
called to the defect by ringing a bell or the number of the defective cell may be
indicated.
A further portion of my invention relates to circuits in which there is a combi-
nation of arc or other lamps and accumulators
In circuits in which it is desirable to carry out the charging of Secondary
Batteries or electrical accumulators and the lighting of arc or other lamps alter-
nately or intermittently I make an arrangement of cut outs so actuated by tho
reversal of the current that all the arc or other lights worked direct from the
dynamo are cut out of circuit when the charging of accumulators is going on and
vice versa. 1 may sometimes employ an arrangement in which the currents for
charging batteries or working lamps may be passed in the same direction by the
switches in the batteries or the lamps being so constructed that they will respond
to the various strengths of current. For example the lamp switch would throw
the lamps in when a current of (say) ten ampères was passed and the batteries
would remain unaffected, but when the current was increased to say 20 ampères
the lamp switch would cut the lamps out and the batteries would be switched in.
Thus not only can these separate operations be respectively carried out from the
same machine and by the same main leads but also electrical currents of different
electro-motive forco and ampère power for the respective requirements of the lamps
and accumulators can be used as required and if needed off the same machine or
machines in which the electro-motive force or ampère current can be varied at will
by suitable changes or additions to their present construction such for example as
those hereinafter described.
My invention has further for its object to enable the same dynamo-machine to
supply various strengths of current-I prefer to effect this by so arranging or
attaching a switch that the bobbins or sections of wire on the armature can bo
placed in series or in parallel with one another or in any desirable combination of
the two and the same movement which actuates this switch may also be made to
move another switch to make the necessary change in the construction or arrange-
ment of the field magnets to suit the various requirements of strength of current-
thus a machine with a normal electro-motive force of say 800 volts and a current
of say 10 ampères may be changed so as to give an electro motive force say of 400
volts and a current of 20 ampères and the switch or switches may be arranged so
that one or more changes may be effected-To prevent accident occurring from
attempts being made to effect this change when the machine is running the levor
or bar which actuates these switches may be interlocked so that it cannot be moved
until the machine has ceased running and this may be effected in various ways,
either by mechanical arrangement such as a sinall centrifugal governor which locks
it when the machine attains a certain speed or preferably by a small electro-magnet
which locks it whilst any current is flowing in the circuit

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuanco of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Scudamore Sellon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th July 1883.
JOHN SCUDAMORE SELLON of Hatton Garden in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN WORKING AND REGULATING SECONDARY BATTERIES
AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR OR CONNECTED THEREWITH."
My Invention relates firstly to Secondary batteries or Electrical accumulators so
constructed that the cells shall be practically or sufficiently gas or air tight that
the pressure of gas or gases resulting from full or overcharging may be utilized to
work a lever valve or pressure box or bag or compressible expansible or moveable
receptacle of any suitable kind or a receptacle containing any substance or material
which can be compressed moved or expanded by pressure or by the action of the
Gases electrically or mechanically or any suitable combination in such a manner
that each cell to which such arrangement or each set or sets of cells in connection
therewith which can be so controlled may be cut out of circuit of the charging
lead or main and fall in again as required by means of a contact shunt valve lever
or other suitable mechanism which can be actuated by such pressure whether
brought about mechanically or electrically.
In batteries or electrical accumulators, which may or may not be air or gas tight,
I sometimes bring about the same result by compression or recession of a magnet
against a compressible receptacle valve box or bag containing fluid gas or any
material or substance by the intervention of which motion may be imparted to the
contact piece or valve, the movement of such magnet being produced by the rise
and fall of the Electro motive force or of the potential of the cell.
Figure 1 illustrates means which I may adopt to carry into effect the above
named object.
A is an inlet for the gas to a guage B containing mercury or other conducting
medium, C' and O2 contacts which complete a circuit for actuating the magnet D
when the conducting medium rises in the guage thereby short-circuiting the cell.
The magnet D when the current passes through the contacts C' and C' attracts the
lever E and opens the gas outlet F by raising the valve piece G. When the said
valve piece G is thus raised contact is made at K and the current through K
and K¹ actuates an Electro magnet which by attraction of its keeper works a catch
or stop which releases a spring switch thereby shutting off the charging current
and shunting it on to the main or other line as required. One kind of switch
which may be used is described with reference to Figure 4 but I do not limit
myself to this as any other suitable forms of switch Electro magnetic or otherwise
may be employed. It is obvious that the moment the gas cscapes at the outlet F
the pressure is removed from the guage B and the cell is in order for the next
operation. T T are the terminals of the cell Z. I do not claim the guage and
contact pieces alone but only in the combination substantially as described.
My Invention relates further to the employment in connection with secondary
batteries of an electro-magnetic or suitably constructed switch which can be
actuated by the outgoing current when such current falls below a given electro
motive force so as to cause the magnet or magnets to switch in one or more
accumulators from time to time as may be required for the purpose of maintaining
a constant or practically constant electro-motive force.
Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings represents an apparatus by which this
part of my Invention may be carried into effect C¹ to C represent contact pieces
like those of an ordinary battery switch to each of which, one or more cells aro

page_text: connected for example as shewn. S is an arm turning upon a centre at S³ and
having a ratchet wheel or part of a ratchet wheel formed or fixed at its base. A is
an armature lever with a bar or pawl B which on the armature being attracted by
the electro magnet M, M (wound as needed for the outgoing current) bears against
the ratchet teeth a' and works the arm S of the switch through a part of a
revolution so as to bring it from off one contact piece on to another. N N is a
magnet (wound for high resistance) which is also in the outgoing circuit the
keeper K of which is held in contact so long, as the electro-motive power is
constant.
When the electro motive force falls the keeper K is released thereby opening the
contacts D D thus forcing the current to pass round magnet M M which attracts A
thereby causing the pawl B to move the arm S forward from one contact pieco on
to the next thus bringing in an additional cell or additional cells The potential
or electro-motive force is thus raised and the magnet N N by attracting its
keeper K closes the contact 1) D and the current then passes through the keeper as
a bridge to the point P of normal circuit and the magnet M M being then short-
circuited the ratchet movement is released and in position for again moving the
arm S on the next occasion of fall of electro motive force. The said keeper K
may be adjusted to the required degree of potential by means of a spring or
weight or by other suitable device.
In order to prevent a powerful movement of the armature from sending the
arm S too far I provide the pawl B with a stop b which engages in a recess forined
in the back of each ratchet tooth so as to restrain the movement of the said arm S
and allow it to travel only through the space from one contact piece to the next.
If it be desired that the arm S should automatically work backwards when
recharging batteries (to avoid the trouble of removing it into its starting position
by hand) so that as the potential of the cells rises it will be actuated back and thus
maintain at all times a practically uniform current. I use a compound arrange-
ment of the magnets hereinbefore described and a double ratchet movement for
actuating the same. An arrangement for this purpose is shewn in Figure 3. The
parts which are like those herein before described and correspond with the
description herein before given are marked with the same letters of reference.
The parts are duplicated for the reverse movement or working backwards with
the rise of potential. The duplicate parts for this purpose are marked with the
same letters of reference as those used to indicate parts which correspond thereto in
the first described arrangement but in the said duplicate parts I have affixed the
numeral 2 to each letter as thus A B and so on.
My Invention further has for its object in charging Secondary Batteries or
Electrical accumulators to prevent the return or reversal of the current by causing
such current to pass round an electro-magnet between the poles of which a
permanent magnet is so suspended or arranged as to be free to move the said
magnet being placed in such a manner that any reversal of current will cause it to
make contact and shunt or connect a portion of the current to an electro-magnet
which magnet allows or causes the switch constructed with a spring or other
suitable arrangement to shut off thereby preventing the return of the current to
the Dynamo.
I sometimes so arrange that simultaneously with this action the field circuit of
the machine is either short-circuited or interrupted; at the same time an arrange-
ment can be attached, by which when the switch is off, a portion of the current
passes through an electric bell thereby giving an alarm and calling attention to the
irregularity of the work. The switch is arranged with a spring so that it is always
off unless the current is going in the right direction thus avoiding all possible
inconvenience or danger, which might be incurred by reversals in charging, in the
ordinary way brought about by diminution in speed or stoppage of the engine,
irregular working of the dynamo, or other causes. Instead of a switch arrangement
as described I sometimes prefer to use a mercury contact so arranged that in
breaking the contact of the proofs wires or studs of different lengths, which I may..

page_text: employ in this arrangement, or their equivalents the current is caused to pass
through an increasing resistance the said contact being arranged in the mercury so
that when the switch is closed, the resistance is all cut out, but by the time the
last or longest prong or piece of contact metal leaves the mercury, a sufficiently
high resistance has been introduced so that a very small amount of current is
flowing at the time of contact ceasing and sparking is practically avoided. The
metal contacts can either be arranged to rise or fall from or into the mercury by
the action of the magnetic current or the mercury can be made to rise or fall by the
pressure or withdrawal of a magnet acting in proximity to or against an elastic or
other suitable receptacle or pocket in which any portion or the whole of the
mercury employed is held or by other mechanical device.
Sometimes, instead of breaking the circuit entirely from the Dynamo machine,
1 may employ a somewhat different form of circuit breaker which has an automatic
action and is especially applicable when "series" machines are employed. In this
case I place an electro-magnet in the circuit of the cells and machine, and cause the
magnet to attract a keeper or armature which works the contact breaker. When
the proper strength of current is flowing froin the machine to the cells, the keeper
is attracted by the magnets and the circuit is completed through the cells. Should
the inachine slacken speed or the current from any cause diminish, the keeper drops
away from the magnets before the current can reverso thereby breaking the circuit
of the cells. At the same time that it breaks the circuit of the cells, it completes
the machine circuit through a fixed resistance, and in circuit with this resistance is
another small electro-magnet which tends to lift the keeper up into position again
and complete the circuit of the cells, but this is prevented by an arrangement of
electro motive force measurers, preferably two fine wire coils which will draw in an
iron core or cores. One of these solenoids is connected with the terminals of the
machine, the other with the terminals of the batteries, and when the reversing
magnet lifts the lever from the mercury contact or otherwise affects the interruption
of the battery circuit by any other arrangements adopted, the contact lever moves
under a catch connected to the core of the solenoids. Now if the electro-motive
force of the cells is greater than the electro-motive force of the machine, the contact
lever will remain suspended, but when the electro-motive force of the machine
running in the closed circuit rises above the electro-motive force of the cells, the
solenoid connected to the machine draws in the core in opposition to the solenoid
connected with the cells, releases the contact lever, and completes the circuit from
the machine to the cells, and cuts out the fixed resistance-Thus the circuit through
the cells is only completed when the electro-motive force of the machine is sufficient
to overcome that of the cells.
Figure 4 represents one arrangement according to this part of my Invention.
A A' is an electro-magnet round which the main charging current is made to
pass between its poles is a permanent steel magnet B suspended so that it can
Oscillate on the pin E-D D are screws against one or the other of which the
arm E on the brass end of the magnet B coines into contact on reversal of current ;
one only is required for contact; the two being arranged for connection, either to
positive or negative charging wire without other alteration than moving one of the
screws D. D.
The current entering electro magnet at A¹ will cause that pole to become South;
the steel magnet with its south pole downwards will be repelled and attracted to A;
this position remains constant so long as the current proceeds in the same direction.
Should the electro-motive force of accumulators exceed that of Dynamo or should
the engine slacken speed or other accident occur to cause the current to flow
in the reverse direction, videlicet;-from accumulators to Dynamo, the current
immediately enters the electro-magnet A A' in the contrary direction, reversing
the poles thereof and the permanent magnet B is repelled from A and attracted to
opposite pole A-in doing this, the arm E is brought into contact with screw D 5
which short-circuits three cells (more or less) round switch magnet K K. This
attracts the keeper H of the switch magnet and releases the switch P which was

page_text: previously held against the contact piece Q (to complete the circuit) by the
projection 2 of the keeper H. The switch P on being thus released is by the action
of the spring p' caused to turn upon its centre p* and come against the contact
piece to give the circuit through one cell and the bell which rings and draws the
attention of the attendant to the fact that the charging current has been shut off.
By moving switch P back to the catch 1 of the keeper H the bell circuit is opened
and the ringing stopped. Figure 5 shews an elevation of another device by means
of which I may accomplish the object of this part of my Invention. Figure 6 being
a diagrammatic view of the same in use in connection with a dynamo machine and
accumulators, shewing the connections between the above. In Figure 5 magneta M, M¹
are each wound with two different circuits of wire, as shewn in the magnet M¹
by W, W, one of such circuits on each solenoid being in the main circuit of the
Dynamo and cells or accumulators and the other circuit on each magnet being in
connection with the fixed resistance R. When the normal current is flowing from
the Dynamo through the coils of the magnets and the cells, the keeper K is
attracted to the magnet cores and thereby the moveable arm A is caused to dip
into the mercury trough T¹ and so establish the circuit of the cells. When however
the electro-motive force of the machine from any cause diminishes, the keeper K
drops away from the magnets M M' thereby drawing the arm A out of contact
with the mercury trough T' and breaking the circuit of the cells; but at the same
time causing the moveable ann B to drop into the mercury trough 1 and close the-
circuit of the dynamo, through the remaining coils of the magnets M M and the
fixed resistance R, such resistance being made preferably equal to the resistance of
the cells. The coils of the magnets M M thus thrown into circuit tend again to
attract the keeper K, but so long as the electro-motive force of the dynamo is below
the normal strength, this is prevented from taking place by means of the fino wire
coil or electro-motive force nieasurer, S³, which is on a shunt circuit with the above
fixed resistance R and the second circuit of the coils of the magnets, M M'-When
however the electro-motive force of the dynamo which is guaged by the fine wire
coil or electro-motive force, measurer S' rises to the norinal electro-motive force
requisite to overcome the opposing resistance of the cells, it releases the lever L by
sucking in the core D' thus withdrawing the catch C, from the arm L and enabling
the keeper to rise and re-establish the circuit of the cells.
My Invention has further for its object to enable the attendant to recognize
at once whether a cell is short-circuited. In order to effect this I bring small wires
from the terminals of each cell to corresponding terminals on the switch-board and
with a contact arrangement so that each cell can be presented in succession to a
voltameter or other electro-motive measurer, one side of which is balanced by
another cell or any standard independent cell. If any of the cells shew no electro-
motive force in the terminals when presented to this standard cell, it is evidence
that the cell is defective. This checking of the electro-motive force may be
performed automatically by means of a clock, and the mechanism can be so
arranged that when a defective cell is checked against the Standard, attention is
called to the defect by ringing a bell or the number of the defective cell or cells
may be indicated.
A further portion of my Invention relates to circuits in which there is a
combination of arc or other lamps and accumulators.
In circuits in which it is desirable to carry out the charging of the Secondary
batteries or electrical accumulators and the lighting of arc or other lamps alternately
or intermittently, I make an arrangement of cut-outs so actuated by the reversal
of the current that all the arc or other lights worked direct from the dynamo, can
be cut out of circuit when the charging of accumulators is going on and vice versa.
1 may sometimes employ an arrangement in which the currents for charging
batteries or working lamps may be passed in the same direction by the switches in
the batteries, or the lamps being so constructed that they will respond to the
various strengths of current. For example the lamp switch would throw the lamps
in when a current of (say) ten ampères was passed, and the batteries. would remain

page_text: unaffected, but when the current was increased to (say) twenty ampères, the lamp
switch would cut the lamps out and the batteries would be switched in. Thus
not only can these separate operations be respectively carried out from the same
machine and by the same main leads but also electrical currents of different electro
motive force and ampère power for the respective requirements of the lamps and
accumulators can be used as required, and if needed off the same machine or
machines in which the electro motive force or ampère current can be varied at will
by suitable changes or additions to their present construction such for example as
those hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings Figures 7 and 8, is illustrated a switch constructed
according to this part of my Invention, which switch is capable of responding to
various strengths of current in a circuit and thereforo adapted for use under many
circumstances, such as for instance when it may be desirable during the daytime
to obtain a current of (say) twenty ampères for battery charging or any other
purpose, while at night a current of ten ampères might be required for working
are lamps. Figure 7 is an elovation-Figure 8 a diagrammatic view showing
the switch in operation. M is a magnet wound with wire capable of carrying tho
strongest current it is intended to use. N is a wrought iron or steel core-K is
the armature or keeper also of Iron or steel-C and C are contact pieces insulated
from one another-D is also a contact piece fixed to the armature or keoper K
-which is mounted on a spring S as shewn and short-circuits the above contact
pieces C C when K is attracted to the core N.
When the required maximum or strong current (say one of 20 ampères) is
passed through the circuit it might be undesirable to pass the current through the
arc lamp (Figure 8) or other devices both on account of the waste and also
because it or they might be intended for a less current the magnet M and the
armature K would then be so adjusted that on the passage of the said strong or
maximum current the armature K would be attracted to the core N and thus
cause the contact piece D to establish a short circuit between the contact pieces
C C¹ and so cut out of circuit the arc lamp or other device at L-When howover
the minimum or weaker current (say one of 10 ampères) is passed through the
circuit.the magnet I would not be sufficiently powerful to attract the armature
and thus the contact piece D would not form a bridge across C C and the current
would be compelled to traverse the lamps or other device at L until such time as
the stronger current was reestablished.
My Invention has further for its object to enable the same Dynamo machines to
supply various strengths of current-for example I effect this by so arranging or
attaching a switch that the bobbins or sections of wire on the armature can bo
placed in series or in parallel circuit with one another or in any desired combi-
nation of the two and the same movement which actuates this switch may also be
made to move another switch to make the necessary change in the arrangement of
the field magnets to suit the various requirements of strength of current-Thus a
machine with a normal electro motive force of (say) 800 volts and a current of
(say) 10 ampères may be changed so as to give an electro motive force of (say)
400 volts and a current of 20 ampères and the switch or switches may be arranged
so that one or more changes may be effected-To prevent accidents occurring from
attempts being made to effect this change when the Machine is running, the lever
or bar by which the switches are actuated may be interlocked so that it cannot be
moved until the Machine has ceased running and this may be effected in various
ways either by mechanical arrangements such as a small centrifugal governor
which locks it when the machine attains a certain speed, or preferably by a small
electro magnet which locks it while any current is flowing in the circuit-Figs. 9,
10, 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings illustrate means by which this part
of my Invention may be carried into effect Figure 9 is a sectional elevation and
Figure 10 is a plan of the lower part of a brush dynamo machine illustrating one
method of effecting the purposes of my Invention-The shaft of the machine
carries a collar of. insulating material A upon which slides a clutch B formed of

page_text: insulating material at B'-The said insulating collar A and the insulating
portion B of the clutch are provided with contact pieces so that when the clutch
is in one position the parallel circuit for the wires of the armature is completed but
when the said clutch is shifted along the said collar piece the contact pieces leave
these which give the parallel circuit and come into contact with others which put
the armature coils in series-The clutch B is moved by a lever c which is con-
nected to the clutch shifter & through the arın d³ which latter is also connected to
a pivotted arm e so that this latter arm and the lever c turn upon their centres in
concert so as to come into contact with the buttons at ƒ for g g to change the
current through the field_magnet coils correspondingly to the change effected in
those of the armature. The electro magnet H is energised when the current is
passing and attracts a keeper i which causos a projecting pin to be retained at
the one side or the other of the lover c according to the position it is in so as to
prevent the switch being operated whilst the current is passing
Figures 11 and 12 ropresent views at right angles to each other of a modified
arrangement wherein the circuits are changed by means of arms ; connected by a
bar k to be moved in concert so that by moving the handle in one or the other
direction the circuit through both the armature coils and the field magnet coils are
changed from parallel circuit to series or vice versa. H is the electro-magnet
which attracts a keeper which has a projection thereon which comes before
one or other side of the prolongation of the arn to which the handle is affixed
and so prevents the handle being operated whilst the current is passing. Although
to explain my Invention I have shown arrangements for offecting two changes it
will be evident that upon the same principlo any desired number of changes may
be effected by obtaining contact pieces to which the wires are led and corresponding
contact pieces on the moveable switch to give the requisite circuits as the position
of the switch is altered.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may bo used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
First In combination with secondary batteries the employment of an electro
magnet and means for energising it through the pressure of the gas evolved when
charging the said battery the said magnet being so arranged and combined with
electrical and mechanical contrivances that the charging current can be cut off and
shunted for the purpose of preventing overcharging of the cell and so also that the
excess gas can escape and the cell be thus caused to return to its normal condition
all substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the
accompanying drawings.
Second-The apparatus constructed or arranged as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings for the purpose described
Third: The means for automatically switching in or for switching out
or for both switching in and switching out one or more cells as required
to sustain a required potential of the working current of secondary batterios
by the employment of a repeating switch actuated through electrical and
mechanical devices by variation in the strength of the electric current substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
Fourth-The apparatus hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 2 of the
accompanying drawings for the purpose described.
Fifth-The apparatus herein before described and illustrated in Figure 3 of the
accompanying drawings for the purposo described.
Sixth The employment of an electro magnet between the poles of which is
suspended a permanent magnet with free movement for the purpose of causing
contact upon reversal of current when charging secondary batteries thereby
actuating a switch or device for cutting off the current so reversed and preventing
.

page_text: any loss of current or injury to the charging dynamo machine substantially as
described with reference to Figure 4 and whether there be or be not used therewith
an alarm bell as described. Also:-
Seventh-In combination with secondary batteries the employment of an
apparatus for cutting off the current on its being reversed to prevent loss of current
or injury to the machine the said apparatus consisting of a switch capable of breaking
the main current leading to the nccumulators when the current falls below a
certain point and closing another circuit connected to the terminals of the machine
through a fixed resistance the switch being actuated by means of electro magnets
or solenoids wound in two sections one section being in circuit with the
accumulators the other being controlled by an electro motive force measurer which
prevents the battery circuit from being again closed until the electro motive force
at the terminals of the machine has risen above the electro motive forco at the
terminals of the accumulators substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Eighth-The apparatus herein before described and illustrated in Figure 4 of
the accompanying drawings for the purpose described.
Ninth The apparatus herein before described and illustrated in Figures 5 and 6
of the accompanying drawings for the purpose described.
Tenth: In combination with secondary batteries the use of an arrangement
acting as a defective cell detector by which it is at once ascertained whether any
and if any then which cell or cells in a series of cells is or are defective as
hereinbefore described.
Eleventh-In working secondary batteries and electric lamps or other devices
from one source or from the same mains providing a switch which when the
curront is of a strength suited for the purposes of the said lamps or other devices is
retained in a position to cause the current to pass through the said lamps or other
devices but which is automatically operated to carry the current past the said
lamps or devices when the current is suited for storing batteries substantially as
herein before described with reference to figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying
drawings.
Twelfth The automatic switch arranged as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
Thirteenth-Providing dynamo machines (which may be used for storing
batteries or the like) with contact pieces or devices in connection with the coils of
the armature and of the field magnets and a moveable switch with corresponding
contact pieces by means of which the same machine can be readily altered to give
different strengths of current as hereinbefore described.
Fourteenth-The combination with an arrangement such as is claimed by the
preceding claiming clause of a magnet which is energised when tho machine is in
operation and operates an obstruction to prevent the direction of the currents
being changed whilst the machine is running as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof 1 the said John Scudamore Sellon have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal this fourth day of July One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.