Improvements in the Mode of Storing and Renewing the Secondary Batteries of Electric Tram-cars.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1890-Accented, 15th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Mode of Storing and Renewing the Secondary
Batteries of Electric Tram-cars.
I ALFRED DICKINSON of Tramway Depot Darlaston in the County of Stafford
Tramway Manager do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object Improvements in the mode of storing and renewing
the secondary batteries of Electric tram cars by which a great economy of space is
effected as well as a large amount of time and labour saved in the removal of the
secondary batteries which require renewing and the substitution of fresh ones in
their place.
In carrying out my invention I provide upon each side of the tramway a frame
containing a number of compartiments which contain the batteries and which are side
by side and one above the other to the extent of say six each way although at the
same time I may use any desired number. These frames are mounted so as to have
a vertical sliding movement and are so connected together as to balanco each other so
that when arranged for storing the cars the top row of the compartments on one side
are on a line with the particular level of the tram car at which the batteries have to
be transferred and the bottom row of compartiments on the other side are on a similar
level thus these two rows of compartments would be in a position to receive the six
secondary batteries from each side of the tram car which require renewing after
which it is simply necessary to raise the frame on the one side to a line in which the
next row of compartments are level with the places in the tramcar from whence the
batteries have been taken which would at the same time lower the other side until
the next row of compartments were in a similar position on that side and as these
particular rows of compartments on each side are provided with batteries charged
ready for use it is simply necessary to slide or roll these batteries into their places in
the car, the remaining rows of the frame being used alternately in the same way.
The batteries taken from the car are when transferred to the frame automatically
connected with the permanent batteries so that they are immediately under the
process of being recharged. Pits are formed for the purpose of allowing the frames
to fall sufficiently for the top row of compartments to be on a level with the level of
the car battery compartments and the movement of the sliding frame may be
effected by hydraulic electric steam or vacuum power but 1 prefer to do it by
means of hydraulic power.
It will then be seen that I am enabled to remove the discharged batteries or
accumulators from the cars and substitute fresh ones in their place without
requiring the space which was necessary when they were taken away and replaced
separately by means of trollies, and with a minimum of labour and time as
compared with any such means.
Dated this 25th day of September 1889.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Mode of Storing and Renewing the Secondary
Batteries of Electric Tram-cars.
I, ALFRED DICKINSON of Tramway Depot Darlaston in the County of Stafford
Tramway Manager do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what
[P1
++

page_text: manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object Improvements in the mode of storing and
renewing the secondary batteries of Electric tram cars by which a great economy
of space is effected as well as a large, amount of time and labour saved in the
removal of the secondary batteries which require renewing & the substitution of fresh
ones in their place.
In carrying out my invention I provide upon, each side of the tramway a frame
containing a number of compartments which contain the batteries and which are
ranged side by side and one above the other to the extent of say six oach way
although at the same time I may use any desired number. These frames are
mounted so as to have a vertical sliding movement and are connected together so
as to balance each other so that when arranged for storing the cars and the top
row of the compartments on one side are on a line with the particular level of
the tram car at which the batteries have to be transferred the bottom row of
compartments on the other sido are on a similar level-thus these two rows
of compartments would be in a position to receive the six secondary batteries from
each side of the tram car which require renewing after which it is simply
neccessary to raise the frame on the one side to a line in which the next row of
compartments are level with the places in the tram car from whence the batteries
have been taken which would at the same time lower the other side until the
next row of compartments were in a similar position on that side & as these
particular rows of compartiments on each side are provided with batterics charged
ready for use it is simply neccessary to slide or roll them into their places in the
car, the remaining rows of the frame being used alternately in the same way. The
batteries taken from the car are when transferred to the frame automatically connected
with the permanent batteries so that they are immediately under the process of being
recharged. Pits are formed for the purpose of allowing the frames to fall sufficiently
for the top row of compartments to be on a lovel with the level of the car battery
compartments and the movement of the sliding frame may be effected by hydraulic.
electric steam or vacuum power but I prefer to do it by means of hydraulic power.
It will then be seen that I am enabled to remove the discharged batteries or
accumulators from the car and substitute fresh ones in their place without requiring
the space which was neccessary when they were taken away and replaced separately
by means of trollies and with a mimium of labour & time as compared with any such
means.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood & more easily carried into
practice I have appended hereunto three double sized sheets of drawings upon which
I have fully illustrated my improvements together with a modification of the means
of carrying the same into effect.
Upon sheet. 1
Figure 1 is a plan of an electric tramway station with three lines of tramways B
having on each side the sliding frames A for the supply of the secondary batteries to
the cars..
Figure 2 is an enlarged broken off plan of the sliding frame A showing the
arrangement of contacts with same.
On sheet 2
Figuro 3 is a cross vertical section through two of the lines of tramways B
tramcars D & the sliding frames. A the one end support or guide E being shewn in
elevation.
Figure 4 is a front elevation of the sliding frame A & its supports.
On sheet 3
Figure 5 is an end elevation of the frame supports shewing a modification in the
means of raising & lowering the frames A.
Figure 6 is a front elevation of figure 5.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide in the station upon each side of the
tramway B the frame A containing any number of compartments a' for the purpose

page_text: of containing the secondary batteries & which are arranged in the case under
illustration side by side and one above the other to the number of six in each
direction but at the same time I do not confine myself to this quantity as I may use
any desired number. These frames A are mounted at each end in the supports or
guides E & walls E' which are tied together by the girders L so that the frames may
have a vertical sliding movement those on each side of each car being connected
together in any suitable manner to or as hereafter described balance each other so
that when one side of the car D the top row of the compartments a' are on a level
with that portion d' of the car to which the secondary batteries have to be transferred
the bottom row of compartments al of the frame A on the other side are on'a similar
level with regard to the same car thus when empty these two rows of compartments
would be in a position to receive the two rows of secondary batteries from the car D
for the purpose of being renewed after which it is simply neccessary to raise the lower
frame A on the one side to a level in which the second row of compartments a¹ are on
a line with the compartments d' in the tramcar from whence the secondary batteries
have been removed which action at the same time lowers the frame A. on the other side
of the car until the second row of compartments are in a similar position on that side
& as these particular rows of compartments a¹ on each side contain batteries which are
charged ready for use it is simply necessary to slide or roll them into the compart-
ments d' of the car D thus creating vacant compartments in the frame A for the
secondary batteries of the next car which require renewing & thus the discharged
batteries can be removed & replenished without the batteries having to be lifted
The batteries taken from the car
or carried in any way whatever.
are when
placed in the compartments of the frame A automatically connected by means of
contact being formed between the contact pieces f' on the cells. and the spring contact
pieces a³ on the frame A are in turn connected with the brushes a' which travel with
the frame A and form contact with the copper leads ein whatever position the frame A
may be this being effected by means of the leads running the whole length of the
travel of the frame and the leads are governed by a switch from the dynamo and
thus the secondary batteries F are immediately under the process of being recharged.
The pits Hare provided so as to allow the frames A to fall sufficiently for the
top row of the compartments a¹ to be on a level with the compartments i' of the
car D.
The movement of the sliding frames A may be effected by means of hydraulic
electric steam or vacuum power or by manual power as shewn by Figure 5 & 6 in
which case the frames A would be connected together by the chains K running over
the top pullies and ² at each ends of the frames A which pullies are fixed upon the
shafts & and supportod at the one end by the bridges & above the supports E &
at the other by the bearing boxes e in the wall E. At the ends of the shafts &³ I
mount the bevil wheel & which gears with & is operated by the bevil wheel mounted
upon the shaft ' & in turn operated by the bevil wheels & & & handle 10. In this
manner the frames A may be raised or lowered by manual power.
I do not confine myself to the exact mode here shewn of connecting the frames
together or to the mode of forming automatic connection with the secondary batteries
as it will be obvious that these can be accomplished in a variety of ways.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
invention & in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that
what I claim is :-
The improvements in the mode of storing & renewing the secondary batteries of
electric batteries of electric tram cars consisting of the balancing & charging arrange-
ments substantially as herein set forth & shewn upon the drawings.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.