Improved Automatic Switch for Charging Electric Accumulators and like Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left. 14th Jan.. 1890-Accepted. 5th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Automatic Switch for Charging Electric Accumulators and
like Purposes.
I, MAX EMIL UNger of Wilhelmstrasse, Berlin, in the German Empiro, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus of this invention is mainly for the purpose of switching electric
currents in charging secondary batteries in series in such manner that when the
electric current has been cut off from one series the next series is placed in communi-
cation with the corresponding poles of the source of electricity without any short
circuiting between the successive series. To this end a disc of insulating material is
mounted on a shaft revolving in bearings.. Around the disc are a set of metallic
coatings corresponding to the number of contact connections to be made. The
coatings are insulated from one another step like on the disc, their number being one
more than the number of the series. On the disc there are also places not coated with
metal which correspond to the several segments of the contacts. The contact surfaces
are passed over and alternately rubbed by springs in communication with the source of
electricity and which conduct the current to the metallic coatings from which proceed
short metal strips, and from these latter short wire connections to contact rollers fixed
insulatedly on the same revolving shaft as the disc. The rollers rotate in quicksilver
vessels insulated from one another, and in which dip springs that are in connection
with the corresponding poles of the series. The uncoated parts of the dise serve upon
the sliding off therefrom of the springs to interrupt the current from the contact
surface in connection with the last negative pole of the series, until upon the further
turning of the disc a spring once more comes in contact with a contact surface in
connection with the negative pole of the corresponding series so that by this means short
circuiting between the poles of the secondary batteries is prevented.
Datoil this th day of May 1880
CAPITAINE & VON HERTLING,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Automatic Switch for Charging Electric Accumulators and
like Purposes.
I, MAX EMIL UNGER of Wilhelmstrasse, Berlin, in the German Empire, Merchant,
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:-
This invention has reference to an automatically acting switch by which electric
currents are equally carried over and distributed to accumulators in connection with
a battery, in the manner that when the electric current is switched from one scries,
the next series is automatically placed in communication with the corresponding poles
of the source of electricity, without in the switching operation any short circuiting
between the successive series.
Referring to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is an elevation and Fig. 2
a plan of the apparatus of this invention:
A disc S of insulating material is mounted on shaft a revolving in bearings L.
Around the disc are a set of metallic coatings C, C1, C2, C3 corresponding to the
number of contact connections to be made. The coatings are insulated from one
another step like on the disc, their number being one more than the number of the
series. On the disc S there are also places not coated with metal which correspond in
size to the segments of the contacts. These contact surfaces are alternately slid

page_text: against by springs F+, F, in communication with the source of electricity and
which conduct the current to the metallic coatings of the disc S. From these proceed
short conducting wires c, e¹, c², c³, and from these latter short wire connections to
contact rollers RR, fixed insulated on the same revolving shaft a. The rollers
rotate in quicksilver vessels insulated from one another and into which dip
springs ff, that are in connection with the corresponding poles of the series. The
uncoated parts of the disc S serve upon the sliding off of the spring F, from contact
surface C³ in communication with the last pole of the series to interrupt the current
until upon the further turning of the disc S, the spring F, once more comes in
contact with contact surface (in connection with the negative pole of the first series
so that by this means, short circuiting between the poles of the secondary battery is
-prevented.
The way in which the apparatus operates is shewn in the drawing. In the position
shewn of the springs F+, F, the positive current of the source of electricity passes
through spring F+ to contact surface C, thence through conducting wire c to the
positive pole of the first series, and through spring F, to contact surface (, thence
through conducting wire c¹ to the negative pole of the same series. Supposing the
dise S to be now turned round to the extent of 72°, the positive current will pass
through spring F+ to contact surface thence through conducting wire c¹ to the
positive pole of the second series, and the negative current through spring F-to
contact surface thence through conducting wire c² to the negative pole of the second
series. Upon a further part revolution of the disc.S to the same extent as before the
positive current passes through spring F+, to contact surface C², thence through
conducting wire to the positive pole of the third series, whilst the negative current
passes from F- to contact surface C³ thence through conducting wire to the
negative pole of the third series. Upon a further part revolution of the disc S the
positive current passes through F+ to C³ and c³ into communication with the negative
pole of the secondary battery. If it is desired now to connect also the negative current
of the source of electricity with the secondary battery, it would appear that short
circuiting would take place, but this is not so as the spring F slides over the
From the preceding description it follows that by means of the apparatus of this
invention secondary batteries are charged or fed serieswise as soon as the disc is set
in motion by a motor-clockwork-for instance.
insulated surfaces.
Instead of one contact dise S several may be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
An apparatus for switching electric currents comprising:
a) one or more revolving contact discs or surfaces on which are arranged insulatedly a
number of conducting contact areas corresponding to the number of the current
connections to be made in the manner that every two adjacent contact areas enter
in turn into connection alternately with the positive and negative poles of the
conductor from the source of electricity and pass the current to the conductors to be
connected, by means of contact rollers insulated from one another and in eléctric
communication with and carried on the same shaft as the contact areas.
b) the arrangement of the conducting areas on the contact disc or surface in the manner
that the adjacent and insulated areas are located step wise to each other so that upon the
revolving contact areas moving away from the positive or negative conductor of the
source of electricity, these conductors at once connect with the next following
connection without any short circuiting taking place between the adjacent contact
areas in the said switching operation, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 14th day of January 1889.
CAPITAINE & VON HERTLING,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
CAPITAINE & VON HERTLING,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.