Improvements in Devices for Unloading, Re-charging, and Re-loading Electric Car Storage Batteries.
Year: 1890

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Unloading, Re-charging, and
Re-loading Electric Car Storage Batteries.
I, JACOB CHESTER CHAMBERLAIN, Electrical Engineer, of 120 Broadway, New
York, in the County and State of New York, United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to those systems of electric traction in which the current is
derived from storage batteries, or accumulators, located upon the car itself, the
purpose of the invention being to enable the substitution of charged for exhausted
batteries in the most expeditious, economical and effective manner possible.
The spaces under the seats are utilized in the customary way as receptacles or
closets to receive and hold batteries which, when housed within said closets are coupled
up with each other and with the motor, in any approved way.
Hinged to the bed-sill on each side of the car, are my draw-bridges, of which each
consists of a panel (which when closed, constitutes a part of the car-side) and steel or
iron gangway tracks or skids (two to each battery) whose down-turned lips are, in the
open position of said bridge, supported by rests or stops, which project from that side
of my distributing carrier which is nearest the car. Latches serve to fasten the
bridges in the closed position at all times except during the shift of batteries. My
device in one form, has two recharging racks, each attended by a distributing
carrier.
Each distributing cage or carrier is guided vertically in stanchions, and each has,
preferably, two decks, or plat-forms, which extend the entire length of the recharging
racks. Each recharging rack comprises several tiers or ranks of charging benches,
of which each is long enough to contain the complete gang of batteries, (say six) for
one side of the car. The number of these benches is preferably as great as can con-
veniently be utilized in the allotted height. One pair of these benches is preferably
at the level of the car-floor, and the others are disposed either below or above that
level, or some below and some above said level.
The capacity of the charging racks must be such as to enable a constant reserve of
at least a full complement (say twelve) of charged batteries ready for instant
application on the entrance of a spent car into the "slip" or
"stall."
When the service is a very large one, the arrangement may include a group of
such stalls, each having its switch connections with the main track. Guard rails or
cleats, secured to the rack benches, serve to guide the batteries, and to keep them the
proper distance apart.
Horizontal shifting of the batteries is facilitated by rollers on the respective
floors. Stops pivotted to the carrier-platforms, capable of simultaneous depression, or
elevation, permit either removal of the batteries, or their retention. For reasons
hereinafter explained, the lower platforms have their stops located on the side remote
from the car; and the upper platforms have their stops located on the side nearest to
1

page_text: Each gang of stops is capable of simultaneous depression or elevation, by any
suitable means, such as a bar or rod connected to the respective stops by pivots.
Each rack bench has, on its side remote from the carrier, rigidly attached stops.
Both carriers are made capable of being simultaneously shifted vertically and retained
at any desired level by any suitable winch or raising and lowering mechanism, from
which such carrier is suspended by means of wire cables. The multiplicity of
batteries in various stages of shifting and charging, and consequently great extent of
charging space, is required by the necessity of retaining an ample reserve of fully
charged batteries, so that the time of detention of any car for battery replacement
may be reduced to a minimum, in view of the fact that more time is customarily
consumed in recharging a battery than is taken up in exhausting it by use on the
route.
Expeditious and practically automatic, recharge of the batteries the instant that
the last of the gang of (say twelve) batteries reaches its place on the rack-bench is
secured by any suitable arrangement of contact pieces, and circuit, for example;
there may be any suitable source of current, whose outgoing conductor branches
to as many rheostat switches as there are benches in a rack. Electrical com-
munication is made at the discretion of the intendant through one or more of these
switches to the first contact in a series of contact-plates on the corresponding bench
(or benches) and thence, serially, through the entire rank, or gang of batteries on
such bench to the terminal contact on that bench.
From thence the current proceeds by conductors to the first contact of the corre-
sponding bench of the other rack, and similarly, through the ranks of the batteries
thereon to its terminal and thence by a conductor to the home-going wire of the
current source.
The means of automatic coupling of the consecutive batteries while in place on the
charging rack are preferably as follows:
Each contact plate for the batteries, is normally up-pressed against the heads of
two guide bolts, by springs. The screwing down or up of said bolts determines the
normal level of the said contact plates. One such contact-plate is situated outside
cach outermost battery on each bench, and connects with the circuit-wires as already
explained. Two such plates are provided between each two consecutive batteries,
and are coupled by wires or strips. The lower ends of the springs occupy sockets
on the guide-cleats for the batteries. Each battery-tray has fastened to opposite
ends of it, metallic lugs which, when the battery is brought to its proper position
on the charging bench, come in contact with the crowns of the contact plates.
Each of these lugs has suitable electrical connection with the system of battery
electrodes. The described elastic support of the contact-plate, enables its automatic
adaptation to the opposed surface of the lug.
Eyes on the battery-trays receive hooks by which the operatives shift the batteries
as above stated. The intendant having examined the ammeters and the volt meter,
can, by throwing greater or less resistance into the rheostats, regulate the charging
current at discretion.
The slips being empty and in readiness for a spent car, the operation of my
distributing carriers is as follows:
The upper platforms being supplied with two entire gangs of charged batteries, and
the lower platforms being vacant, the carriers are lowered to a position which places
their lower platforms at the level of the car-floor. A spent car having been brought
to the proper place in the slip, its bridges are unlatched and let down upon the carrier
steps, and the spent batteries are run out on to the lower platforms of the carriers.
The bridges being then momentarily lifted, the carriers are dropped to position which
brings their upper platforms level with the car-floor and the bridges are then allowed
to rest upon the upper steps. The two gangs of charged batteries having been then.
loaded into the car and the bridges closed and locked, the car is again ready for duty
and is backed out of the slip. Meanwhile the two gangs of spent batteries are run
on to any pair of charging benches that may be at the time vacant. If they happen
to be the pair which is on a level with the lower platforms, the two gangs may be

page_text: simply shifted directly on to such vacant benches but for shifting on to any other pair,
the hoist is brought into requisition and the carriers are shifted vertically until the
proper level is reached and are then unloaded. The slip is then put in condition
of preparedness for the next car-entry by a repetition of the operations already
recited.
In these several shifts, the pivotted stops are always placed in the erect or effective
position for loading batteries on to their respective platforms and depressed so as to
be out of the way for unloading. Current being switched on to each charging bench
in advance of its reception of spent batteries, the charging process is automatically
initiated the instant all the batteries of the gang are in place, and continue to flow
without further attention until saturation is reached a condition which will be
indicated by the needle on its ainmeter pointing to zero. Saturation having been
reached that particular pair of henches may be cut out of circuit.
By the means and operation hereinabove recited, the time required for rendering a
spent-car fit for service, is reduced to its lowest terms.
The above described preferred form of my device is susceptible of various modi-
fications without departure from the essential principles of the invention, for example:
a single bar might be substituted for the separate pivotted stops.
Wheels on the battery-trays may be used instead of rollers on the several floors.
The draw-bridges may be self-supporting in the open position.
The panel and hinged gangway may be provided with a fastening latch consisting
of a latch-bolt (of which there are two or more to each gang-way) which is confined
in guides and is protracted to the normal or effective position which it occupies in the
drawing, by spring.
A rod extends across the gangway and has fingers which, being made to press upon
lugs on the latch-bolts, causes their simultaneous retraction, so as to enable the gang-
way to be opened.
Dated this 8th day of February 1890.
JACOB CHESTER CHAMBERLAIN.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.
Improvements in Devices for Unloading, Re-charging, and
Re-loading Electric Car Storage Batteries.
1, JACOB CHESTER CHAMBERLAIN, of 120 Broadway, New York, in the County
and State of New York, in the United States of America, Electrical Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN DEVICES FOR
UNLOADING, RE-CHARGING, AND RE-LOADING ELECTRIC CAR STORAGE BATTERIES,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention is for use with those electric cars whose current is derived from
storage-batteries ("secondary batteries" or "accumulators") located upon the car
itself, the purpose of the invention being to enable the substitution of charged for
exhausted batteries in the most expeditious, economical and effective manner possible.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this Specification:
Fig. 1, is a vertical, transverse section of an apparatus embodying my invention,
showing the means employed by me for unloading spent batteries, for distributing them
on my re-charging racks, for re-charging said batteries, and for loading them back
onto a car.
Fig. 2, is a side elevation of one of my re-charging racks, with the atten:lant
distributing hoist or carrier.
Fig. 3, shows the hoisting-winch in edge elevation.
Fig. 4. is a ton view of the hoisting-winch, and the distributing carrier,

page_text: Fig. 5, is a side elevation of a portion of one of my distributing carriers.
Fig. 6, is a plan of the same.".
Fig. 7, is a section of the same on the lines 7-7.
Fig. 8; shows two batteries in side elevation upon a charging benchor rack-shelf---
represented in section.
Fig. 9, is a section of the same on the line 9-9.
Fig. 10 is a plan view of portions of the car-floor, with its hinged bridges, and of
the distributing carrier and charging-bench.
Fig. 11, is a diagrammatic representation of the re-charging circuit.
Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15, represent modifications of certain details.
Each "slip
66
ог charging-stall," combines the following instrumentalities:
1, 1 represent a pair of rails of an ordinary street-car track, or a branch thereof.
2, represents part of the running gear of a street-car, and 21, 21 respectively
represent parts of the bed or body, and of a bed-sill. The spaces under the seats are.
utilized in the customary way, as receptacles or closets 3, to receive and hold batteries 4,
which, when housed within said. closets, are coupled up with each other and with the
motor in any approved way.
Hinged, as at 5, to the bed-sill on each side of the car are my " draw-bridges," of
which each consists of a panel 6 (which, when closed, constitutes a part of the car-side),
and steel or iron gang-way tracks or skids 7, (two to each battery) whose down-turned
lips 7 are, in the open position of said bridge-see Figs. 1 and 10, supported by rests
or steps 8, which project from that side of my distributing carrier which is nearest
the car: Latches 9, serve to fasten the bridges in the closed position at all times
except during the shift of batteries. My device, in its most complete form, has.
two re-charging racks, each attended by a distributing carrier. Each distributing
cage or carrier 10, is guided vertically in stanchions 11, and each has, preferably, two
decks of platforms, 12, 12' which extend the entire length of the re-charging racks 13.
Each re-charging rack comprises several tiers or racks of charging benches 14, of
which each is long enough to contain the complete gang of batteries (say, six)
for one side of the car. The number of these benches is preferably as great as can
be conveniently utilized in the alloted height. One pair of these benches is preferably
at the level of the car-floor, and the others are disposed either below or above
that level, or arranged, as in the present illustration, some below and some above
said level.
The capacity of the charging-racks must be such as to enable a constant reserve
of at least a full complement (say, twelve) of charged' batteries ready for instant
application on the entrance of a spent car into the slip or stall. When the service
is a very large one the arrangement may include a group of such stalls, each having
its switch-connections with the main-track. Guard-rails or cleats 14', secured to the
benches 14, serve to guide the batteries onto the benches and to keep them the
distance apart.
proper
Horizontal shifting of the batteries is facilitated by rollers 15, on the respective
floors. Stops 16, 16¹ pivoted to the carrier-platforms-capable of simultaneous
depression, as at x, or elevation as at y,-permit either removal of the batteries, as
at T, or their retention as at T¹. For reasons hereinafter explained, the lower
platforms 12, have their stops 16, located on the side remote from the car, and
the upper platforms 12' have their stops 16' located on the side nearest to the car.
Each gang of stops is capable of simultaneous depression or elevation-by any
suitable means, such as a bar or rod 17, connected to the respective stops by
pivots 171. Each rack-bench has, on its side remote from the carrier, rigidly
attached stops 16. Both carriers are made capable of being simultaneously shifted
vertically, and retained at any desired level by the represented or any suitable winch,
or raising and lowering mechanism 18, from which such carrier is suspended by
means of wire-cables 19. The multiplicity of batteries in various stages of shifting
and charging, and consequently great extent of charging space is required by the
necessity of maintaining an ample reserve of fully charged batteries so that the
time of detention of any car for battery-replenishment may be reduced to a minimu̟m

page_text: in view of the fact that more time is customarily consumed in re-charging a battery
than is taken up in exhausting it by use on the route. Expeditious and practically
automatic re-charge of the batteries the instant that the last of the gang of (say,
twelve) batteries reaches its place on the rack-bench, is secured by any suitable,,
arrangement of contact-pieces and circuit, for example: 20 may represent any
suitable source of current whose outgoing conductor, branches, as at 21, to as many
rheostat-switches 22, as there are benches in a rack. Electrical communication is
made at the discretion of the intendant through one (or more) of these switches to
the first contact (I) in a series of contact-plates 23, on the corresponding bench (or:
benches) and thence, serially, through the entire rank or gang of batteries on such;
bench to the terminal contact (II) on that bench. From thence the current passes.
by conductors 24, to the first contact (III) of the corresponding bench of the
cther rack, and, similarly, through the ranks of batteries thereon to its terminal,
(IV) and thence by conductor 25, to the home-going wire of the current-source.
In Fig. 11, the current-paths of the batteries are represented diagramatically by the.
loops 41.
The means of automatic coupling of the consecutive batteries while in place on the,
charging-rack are preferably as follows :
Each contact-plate 23, is normally up-pressed against the heads of two guide-bolts 26,
by springs 27. The screwing down or up of said bolts determines the normal level:
of the said contact-plate. One such contact-plate is situated outside each outer-
most battery on each bench, and connects with the circuit-wires, as already explained
and shown at I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Two such plates-see plates 23,
Figs. 8, 9, and 10-are provided between each two consecutive batteries, and. arei
coupled by wires or strips 28. The lower ends of the springs 27, occupy sockets 29,
in the cleats 14'. Each battery-tray 30, has, fastened to opposite ends of it, metallic
lugs 31, which, when the battery is brought to its proper position on the charging-.
bench, come in contact with the crowns of the contact-plates 23. Each of these lugs.
has suitable electrical connection 32, with the system of battery-electrodes: The
described elastic supports of the contact-plate 23, enable its automatic adaptation to
the opposed surface of the lug 31.
Eyes 33, on the battery-trays receive hooks 34, by which the operatives shift the
batteries as above stated. The intendant, having examined the ammeters 35, and the.
volt-meter 36, can, by, throwing greater or less resistance into the rheostats 22 or 37,
regulate the charging current at discretion.
The slip being empty and in readiness for a spent car, the operation of my.
distributing carriers is as follows:
The upper platforms being supplied with two entire gangs of charged batteries,
and the lower platforms being vacant, the carriers are lowered to a position which
places their lower platforms at the level of the car-floor. A spent car having been
brought to the proper place in the slip, its bridges are unlatched and let down upon the
carrier-steps, and the spent batteries are run out onto the platforms of the carriers.
The bridges being then momentarily lifted, the carriers are dropped to position, which
brings their upper platforms level with the car-floor, and the bridges are then allowed
to rest upon the upper steps. The two gangs of charged' batteries having been then
loaded into the car, and the bridges closed and locked, the car is again ready for
duty, and is backed out of the slip. Meanwhile the two gangs of spent batteries are
run onto any pair of charging benches that may be at the time vacant,
If they
happen to be the pair which is on a level with the lower platforms, the two gangs may
be simply shitted directly onto such vacant benches, but for shifting onto any other
pair, the hoist is brought into requisition, and the carriers are shifted vertically until
the proper level is reached, and are then unloaded. The slip is then put in
condition of preparedness for the next car-entry by a repetition of the operation
already recited.
In these several shifts, the stops 16, 16' are always placed in the erect or effective
position for loading batteries onto their respective platforms, and, depressed so as to
be out of the way for unloading. Current being switched onto each charging-bench.

page_text: in advance of its reception of spent batteries, the charging process is automatically
initiated the instant all the batteries of the gang are in place and continues to flow
without further attention until saturation is reached a condition which will be
indicated by the needle on its ammeter pointing to zero. Saturation having been reached,
that particular pair of benches may be cut out of circuit.
By the means and operation herein above recited, the time required for rendering a
spent car fit for service, is reduced to its lowest terms.
The above-described preferred form of my device is susceptible of various modifica-
tions without departure from the essential principles of the invention; for example, a
single bar 38, such as shown in Fig. 12, might be substituted for the separate
pivoted stops.
Wheels 29, on the battery-trays may be used instead of rollers on the several
floors see Fig. 13. The draw-bridges may be self-supporting in the open position,
as at 40, in Fig. 14. Fig. 15, represents a form of my hinged gang-way, and
fastening-latch. 6, represents the panel, which may be of wood. 7, is one of the
steel skids or racks. 91 is a latch-bolt (of which there are two or more to each gang-
way) which is confined in guides 9", and is protracted to the normal or effective
position which it occupies in the drawings, by spring 9111; 9tv is a rod which extends
across the gangway, and has fingers 9" which, being made to press upon lugs 9 on.
the latch-bolts, causes their simultaneous retraction so as to enable the gang-way to be
opened.
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 :-
1. In a device for unloading, re-charging and re-loading electric-car batteries, the
combination with a source of electricity and an electric circuit, of a rack having several
horizontal and superimposed charging benches, and a distributing hoist or carrier,
substantially as set forth.
2. In a device for unloading, re-charging and re-loading electric-car batteries; the
combination with a source of electricity, an electric circuit and a car-track; of a rack
having several horizontal superimposed charging benches, and an interposed distributing
hoist or carrier; all substantially as set forth.
3. In a device for unloading, re-charging and re-loading electric-car batteries; the
combination with a source of electricity and an electric circuit, of a pair of racks each
having several horizontal, superimposed charging benches, and a pair of distributing
hoists in connection with said racks, substantially as set forth.
4. In a device for unloading, re-charging and re-loading electric-car batteries; the
combination with a car-track and a charged circuit, of a pair of charging-racks which
flank such track, and a pair of distributing hoists or carriers interposed between such
track and said charging-racks; substantially as set forth.
5. In a device for unloading, re-charging and re-loading electric-car batteries; the
combination with a charging rack having several superimposed benches, and with a
car having a receptacle for batteries, of a double-decked distributing carrier or hoist,
arranged to operate in connection with the said rack and car; substantially as set
forth.
6. In a device for unloading, re-charging, and re-loading electric-car batteries, the
combination with a charging-rack having several superimposed benches and with a
car whose battery-closets can be opened on their outer sides; of a double-decked dis-
tributing carrier or hoist interposed between the car-track and the said rack; as and for
the purpose set forth.
7. In a device for unloading, re-charging and re-loading electric-car batteries; the
combination with the battery-closet of an electric car, of the skids or gang-way
tracks 7; for the purpose explained.
8. In a device for unloading, re-charging, and re-loading electric-car batteries; the
combination with the battery-closet of an electric car of the draw-bridge consisting of
hinged panel 6, and skids or gang-way-tṛacks 7.

page_text: 9. In a device for unloading, re-charging, and re-loading electric-car batteries; the
combination with the battery-closet of an electric car and with distributing-carrier or
platform, of a bridge or gang-way track whose lower edge is hinged to said closet-
floor, and whose upper edge when in the open condition, is capable of resting on the
carrier, and has a fastening device which secures it in the closed condition, in the
manner explained.
10. In a device for unloading, re-charging, and re-loading, the combination with an
electric car,
of a draw-bridge hinged to the bed-sill, and serving as a closed panel in
the fastened condition, and as a skid or gang-way track in the unfastened condition;
substantially as set forth.
11. In a device for unloading, re-charging, and re-loading electric-car batteries;
the combination with a charging-rack and with a skid or gang-way track hinged to
the car, of a distributing hoist or carrier having a step or rest for the outer edge of
said gang-way track; as set forth.
12. In a device for unloading, re-charging, and re-loading electric-car batteries;
the combination with a distributing hoist or carrier for secondary batteries of with-
drawable stops 16, 16¹; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
13. In a device for unloading, re-charging, and re-loading electric-car batteries;
the combination with a distributing hoist or carrier for secondary batteries, of a series
of stops 16, pivoted in the paths of the battery-trays, and all to a single handle, so
that the entire series can be projected above or retracted below the carrier-floor; for
the purposes designated.
14. In a device for unloading, re-charging, and re-loading electric-car batteries;
the double-decked distributing hoist or carrier, having withdrawable stops in rear
of its lower, and in front of its upper deck or platform; for the purposes
explained.
15. In a device for re-charging electric-car batteries; the combination of a pair
of charging-racks of which each has several superimposed charging benches, a series
of spring-contacts on each bench, contact-lugs on the batteries, electrical communication
with a current supply, and means for cutting any pair of such benches in or out of
circuit, substantially as set forth..
16. In a device for re-charging electric batteries; the combination with a lug that
projects from the battery, and is in electrical communication with the battery-cells
and with a rack or bench that receives and supports such battery; of a contact-plate
in the electric circuit supported by springs and held by bolts upon such rack, as and
for the purposes set forth.
17. The fastening for the hinged gang-way of an electric car, consisting of the
spring latches 91 and the releasing rod 9, substantially as set forth.
Deted this 1st
1800
J. C. CHAMBERLAIN.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.