Improvements in or connected with Electrically Driven Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Electrically Driven Vehicles.
We, CHARLES JEANTAUD and WENCESLAS CAMILLE RECINIEWSKI, both of 51, Rue
de Ponthieu, Paris, in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to electro-mechanical apparatus for electrically driven
vehicles for the combined purposes of starting the vehicle either forwards or back-
wards, varying its speed, slowing down, applying the brake, and stopping.
The motor employed is of the compound type, but possesses the features of con-
stant derived ("parallel" or "multiple arc") excitation for all positions occurring
during the motion and slowing down of the vehicle or during the application of
the brake; and variable "series" excitation enabling the speed to be varied in
degree by varying the field.
The working machinery comprises
(1) Coupling apparatus for starting either backwards or forwards, varying
the speed or dead stoppages;
(2) Speed reducing or brake-applying apparatus enabling the motion to be
retarded whatever the position of the coupling apparatus may happen to be and
permitting such carriage to be stopped or a brake-action to be exercised upon
it as it descends a declivity, with an energy or power variable at will; the action
of the apparatus upon the motor being both electric and mechanical; and
(3) A mechanical safety-brake with an instantaneous cut-out adapted to act
upon the carriage wheels.
COUPLING APPARATUS.
This apparatus is operated or controlled by means of a lever placed within
reach of the driver and is capable of assuming the following positions:
"
The 0" or stopping position, wherein the current is cut off;
The "1" or slow-speed position brought about by the coupling of half-batteries
in multiple arc and by maximum compound excitation.
The "2" or medium speed position, with the battery connected in series, the
excitation being the same as for the No. 1 position. This position is convenient for
inclines.
The "3" position for normal axle-bearing speed, with compound excitation,
though with reduced "series" excitation (shuntage of thick wire).
The "4" or increased speed position, with the "series" excitation still further
reduced or discontinued altogether; and
The slow-speed position for rearward or reversed motion being the same as No. 1
position, but with the current inverted in the armature.
The coupling apparatus may consist, say, of a cylinder of insulating material
firmly secured upon a vertical shaft and made moveable by means of an operating
lever. The said cylinder carries metal contacts which come in contact with
stationary contact tongues so as to effect the necessary couplings or connections.

page_text: (3) That the interruption of the circuit by the contact breaker does not interfere
with the electric brake action of the brake applying apparatus, and
(4) That the electric brake may be made to act also in the "O" positions of the
coupling apparatus by short circuiting the motor on gradually diminishing
resistances, the excitation being effected by the thick wire and the current being
reversed in the armature.
SAFETY CONTACT-BREAKER AND CHARGING APPARATUS.
A double contact breaking plate switch is provided for the purpose of interrupt-
ing the main circuit while the vehicle is stationary whatever may be the position
of the coupler or the other parts. It is combined with charging posts so as not
to admit of any charge unless the circuit has first been opened on the motor side.
An additional contact block placed upon the coupler in the “0” position enables
the charge to be effected in this position.
Dated this 31st day of May 1898
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in or connected with Electrically Driven Vehicles.
We, CHARLES JEANTAUD and WENCESLAS CAMILLE RECHNIEWSKI, both of 51, Rue
de Ponthieu, Paris, in the Republic of France, 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 relates to electro-mechanical apparatus for electrically driven
vehicles for the combined purposes of starting the vehicle either forwards or back-
wards, varying its speed, slowing down, applying the brake, and stopping.
We will describe our invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
premising that we do not limit ourselves to the precise details.
Figure 1 is a diagram of the electro-mechanical apparatus.
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a vertical section and a plan of an arrange-
ment by which the said invention may be carried out in practice; and
Figure 4 is a diagram of the connections.
A vehicle is, according to our invention, fitted with two accumulator batteries A.¹
and A2 (Fig. 4) supplying current to a motor B which is of a compound type having
armature coils C1 and C2 in series, and arranged to receive a variable current, thus
permitting of a graduation of speeds being obtained by the increase or the diminu-
tion of the magnetic field of the motor. Coils D and D2 are arranged in shunt
for dissipating a portion of the current when starting the vehicle, the current,
traversing the said coils being invariable during the normal running, slowing
down, and the braking of the vehicle, the current being interrupted only during the
stoppage of the vehicle. E and E2 are shunt coils or resistances adapted to be
introduced into the arimature circuit.
The working mechanism comprises three distinct apparatus mounted one above
the other upon one and the same vertical shaft b, and enclosed in one and the same
box or casing. These apparatus are:-
1. A coupling device F for starting in forward and backward direction, varying
the speed, and for stopping the vehicle.
2. A braking apparatus G, enabling the speed to be slowed down, the brake
to be applied when the vehicle is descending an incline, or to stop the vehicle with
an energy or power, variable at will, by acting upon the motor electrically and upon
the axles or wheels of the vehicle mechanically.

page_text: gradual resistance and to cut off the current from the batteries after all resistances
have been inserted.
2. To brake by electrical means when the current coming from the accumulators
is cut off, by placing the field B of the motor in circuit with a gradually decreasing
resistance until a short circuit as efficient as required, is obtained.
3. To combine with the resistance brake described in the 2nd Clause, a brake
apparatus to act on the motor shaft or on an intermediate shaft, or on the
peripheries of the wheels and to consequently obtain their combined actions in the
stopping of the vehicle.
4. To set the vehicle again gradually in motion by successively removing the
mechanically operated brake then the electric brake and finally restoring the
current by gradually removing or cutting out all the resistances.
The resistance brake G may for instance be arranged as shown in Fig. 2
in which f is the insulated cylinder carrying the pieces or blocks g and h (Fig. 4)
which group or connect the contact pieces i for the distribution of current; This
cylinder is loosely mounted upon the shaft and is actuated in one direction by
means of the pedal k by the intermediary of a connecting rod m; and it is returned
to its normal position by a spring n, the resistances are represented at o. A "dash-
potpiston is connected to the pedal movement device to counteract abrupt
return of the device, thus preventing the vehicle from restarting too rapidly.
g
With the parts in the position represented in Fig. 4 the current coming from the
interruptor H passes through the first contact piece or touch into the conducting
piece which conveys it to the last touch from whence it passes to the contact d
of the coupling apparatus F. The effect of the rotation of the cylinder f is to
diminish the number of contact pieces or touches i between the two arms of the
conducting piece g; whatever position this conducting piece may occupy, the
current will pass in the following manner from H, g, i, and through the resist-
ances o to 12. After all the resistances o have been gradually inserted into the
circuit, the circuit will be broken, by reason of the contact piece or touch 3 coming
between the two conducting pieces g and h. From this moment the accumulator
batteries A¹ A2 act only upon the shunt coils D1 and D2 whatever may be the
position of the coupling apparatus F excepting the position 1 which corresponds
to the stoppage of the vehicle.
As the vehicle continues to run after the circuit is broken, the motor is short
circuited by a further movement of the cylinder f so as to absorb a portion of the
power of the vehicle and so produce a braking effect. This short circuit is
established the moment the conducting piece meets the touches i¹. The current
generated by the field 1 then circulates in the following manner; B d 10, e 18,
d9, i, h, i, a variable number of resistances o, 12, e19, 11 and B. The
resistance of the circuit of the field will now gradually diminish as the cylinder f.
is turned under the action of the pedal k which pedal also actuates by means of a
chain q, any suitable brake, arranged on the motor shaft or upon an intermediate
shaft when the pedal is released, the spring n forces the respective parts back
in the inverse order; the mechanical brake operated through the chain q will first
cease to act, and the conducting piece 9 will restore the current from the accumu-
lators, by first inserting in the circuit all the resistances o and then by gradually
diminishing them.
Below the two apparatus F and G are arranged the interruptor H and a
mechanical safety brake. The interruptor H may for example comprise an insulat-
ing disc r (Fig. 2) loosely mounted on the shaft b and provided with a conducting
piece (Fig. 1) establishing electrical connection between the two contacts or
touches s 1, & 2. A spring constantly tends to break the contact between the
conducting piece t and the contacts or touches s1 and 2, but a pawl V prevents
the movement of the disc r. This pawl is connected to the pedal W that controls
by a chain X the mechanical safety brake acting upon the wheels or axles of the
vehicle. The application of the brake to the wheels or axles thus can only be
effected after the current has been interrupted.

page_text: the preceding claim of the coupling apparatus for starting, regulating the speed of
and stopping the vehicle, and means for preventing abrupt change of the speed
for instance by the pawl L of the coupling apparatus, and the cam N of the
resistance braking apparatus substantially as herein described and represented in
the accompanying drawings.
3. The device herein before described for preventing the vehicle from starting
abruptly after a stoppage effected by the safety brake, the said device consisting
of means whereby the engagement of the interruptor of this brake, is effected by
the resistance braking apparatus, or its equivalent, substantially as herein described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination in an electrically driven vehicle of the coupling apparatus,
the resistance brake mechanism, the interruptor, the resistances, and the mechanical
actuated brakes, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of February 1899
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Field's, London, W.C., Agents.