Improvements in Apparatus for the Application of Electricity to Vehicles Driven by Mechanical Means.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left. 19th Feb. 1897-Accepted. 8th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Application of Electricity to
Vehicles Driven by Mechanical Means.
I, HERBERT JOHN DOWSING 24 Budge Row, London, E.C. Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for the production, storage and utilisation of
electricity in connection with vehicles driven by mechanical means, and it is
particularly applicable to motor cars or other vehicles in which petroleum benzine,
or other explosive vapours are used to drive the engine.
An electric generator or dynamo of the continuous current type is fixed on the
vehicle and properly geared to the engine, so that the surplus power given off from
the engine when driving the vehicle is utilised in driving the dynamo the current
so produced being stored in a secondary battery provided for the purpose. This
current may be utilised for firing the engine, or producing light or motive power.
The connections between the dynamo & battery can be so arranged that when the
speed of the machine falls below the normal and electricity is produced at a lower
pressure than that of the storage battery, the current from the battery flows
through the machine which then becomes an electro motor producing mechanical
power.
The power of the motor is transmitted by means of belting or other gearing to
the engine which it aids to overcome its load, or if the engine is at rest, the
power transmitted from the electro motor will start it. When the engine generates
sufficient power to drive the electro motor at its full speed electricity is again
generated, and the pressure being greater than that given off from the battery,
storage again takes place.
The connection between the dynamo or motor & battery can be varied, or
broken, either by hand or other means. Automatic contrivances can be employed
for making or breaking connection according to the varying speed or current and
these may be worked by electro magnetic or mechanical means.
The most suitable dynamo to use for the double purpose of dynamo & motor is a
machine of the shunt wound type, as the direction of rotation is the same when
generating or using the current.
Dated this 19th day of May 1896.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Application of Electricity to
Vehicles Driven by Mechanical Means.
I, HERBERT JOHN DOWSING, of 24 Budge Row, in the City of London,
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 apparatus for the production, storage, and utilization of

page_text: electricity in connection with vehicles driven by mechanical means; and it is
particularly applicable to motor cars or other vehicles in which petroleum, benzine,
or other explosive vapours or gases are used to drive the motive power engine.
And in order that the said invention may be fully understood I will now proceed
to describe the same with the aid of the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in
which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan of an apparatus arranged in accordance
with the invention, and Figures 2, 3 and 4 show devices for closing and opening
the electric connections.
An electric generator or dynamo A of the continuous current type is fixed on
the vehicle and geared to the petroleum or other engine B by means of a belt B
or otherwise in such manner that any surplus power given off from the engine B,
when the latter is driving the vehicle, or when the engine is running with the
vehicle at rest, is utilised in driving the said dynamo A. The electric current
thus produced is stored in a secondary battery C provided to receive it, and may
be utilised for firing the explosive mixture in the engine B or for producing light
or motive power. The cells of this secondary battery may be connected in series,
parallel, or in groups according to requirements.
The connections between the dynamo A and the battery C may be so arranged
that when the speed of the dynamo falls below a certain point in consequence of
the load on the engine B having been increased to such an extent as to reduce the
speed of the latter below the normal, and electricity is consequently produced by
the dynamo at a lower pressure than that prevailing in the secondary battery C,
the current may be caused to flow from the said battery through the dynamo,
which then becomes an electro-motor producing mechanical power which is trans-
mitted by the belting or other gearing to the engine B which it aids to overcome
its load; or if the engine be at rest the current from the battery C may be caused
to rotate the dynaino and the latter will then set the engine B in motion by means
of the belt or other driving gear.
When the engine B generates sufficient power to drive the dynamo A at full
speed electricity is again generated by the latter, and the pressure being then
greater than that which would he given off from the battery, storage again takes
place in the latter. The connection between the dynamo or motor A and the
battery C may be varied or broken, either by hand or otherwise.
When it is required to utilise the current of the battery to drive the dynamo it
can be effected by closing the circuit between the dynamo and battery by any
suitable connections for that purpose operated by hand, or otherwise.
When the current is not required to return to the dynamo to give mechanical
power automatic contrivances may be employed for making and breaking the
connections and these may be worked by electro-magnetic of mechanical means as
illustrated by way of example in Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings.
In Figure 2, D represents a solenoid through the coil of which the current from
the dynamo to the battery, or a shunt or derivation of that current, flows. Or the
solenoid may be put into circuit with the shunt of the dynamo and be operated
therefrom. When the speed of the engine B and consequently that of the dynamo A,
exceeds a certain limit the current passing through the coil of the solenoid is
sufficiently powerful to draw the core D' into the coil against the resistance of its
spring D2 and this movement of the core so closes the connections D3 between the
dynamo and battery that the current generated by the dynamo is delivered to and
stored in the battery.
In Figure 3, E represents the ordinary centrifugal governor driven by the
engine B, or by the dynamo A. When the speed exceeds a certain limit the
balls of the governor É diverge in the usual way, the sliding collar F is raised,
and closes an electric connection G which enables the dynamo A to send current
into the battery C.
In Figure 4, I represents a cylindrical vessel containing mercury and caused to
rotate at a speed proportionate to the speed of the engine B or dynamo A by

page_text: means of a band driving a pulley J on the axis of the vessel I. K is a metallic
disc mounted on the said axis and in electrical connection with the mercury in the
vessel I. L is a metallic disc also mounted on the axis of the vessel I but insulated
therefrom. M is a conductor, one end of which is connected with the disc L
and the other end enters the vessel I at a point O above the normal level of the
mercury in the said vessel. N and P are brushes bearing against the edges of the
discs K and L respectively and connected, one with the dynamo and the other
with the battery. When the speed of the engine B and dynamo A and consequently
that of the vessel I exceeds a certain limit the mercury in the said vessel will have
been carried up the side of the vessel I, by the centrifugal force generated, far
enough to come in contact with the upper end O of the conductor M whereby the
circuit between the dynamo and battery is closed to allow the current from the
former to pass into and be stored in the latter; then, when the speed is reduced so
that the mercury falls out of contact with the end O of the conductor M, the
circuit is broken.
In some cases I supplement my electrical power for driving the dynamo to give
motive power for starting the engine, by the employment of a primary battery,
which may be brought into action as required by any suitable a well known
means.
The most suitable dynamo for the double purpose of a dynamo for charging the
battery, and a motor for helping to drive the vehicle, is one of the shuut-wound
type because in dynamos of that type the direction of rotation is the same whether
generating or using the current.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. An apparatus for the application of electricity to vehicles driven by
mechanical means, which consists of a dynamo driven by the motive power engine
intended to propel the vehicle and a secondary or storage battery so connected
with the dynamo that surplus power given off by the engine is utilised for
generating current which is stored in the said secondary or storage battery which
current can afterwards he utilised for firing the explosive mixture in the engine,
producing electric light in the vehicle, or power to start the engine from rest or to
assist the same in overcoming its load, substantially as described.
Second. In apparatus forming the subject of the first claiming clause hereof the
device for closing the circuit between the dynamo and secondary or storage
battery automatically when the engine and dynamo exceed a certain speed and
there is consequently a surplus of power available, which consists of an electro-
magnet, such as a solenoid for example, adapted to close the circuit as the pressure
of the current traversing its coil increases, and to open the same as the pressure of
the said current decreases, substantially as described.
Third. In apparatus forming the subject of the first claiming clause hereof the
device for closing the circuit between the dyuamo and secondary or storage battery
automatically when the engine and dynamo exceed a certain speed and there is
consequently a surplus of power available, which consists of a centrifugal governor
driven at a speed proportionate to that of the engine and dynamo and adapted to close
the electric circuit as the speed of the engine and dynamo increases, and to open
the same as the said speed decreases, substantially as described.
Fourth. In apparatus forming the subject of the first claiming clause hereof the
device for closing the circuit between the dynamo and secondary or storage
battery automatically when the engine and dynamo exceed a certain speed and
there is consequently a surplus of power available, which consists of a vessel
containing mercury or other liquid conductor of electricity driven at a speed
proportionate to that of the engine and dynamo so as to cause the mercury or
other liquid contained therein to be raised by the centrifugal force generated and

page_text: to close the electric circuit through the mercury as the speed of the engine and
dynamo increases and to open the same as the said speed decreases, substantially
as described.
H. J. DOWSING,
Per W. H. Beck,
115 Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.