IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS AND, CIRCUIT CONNECTIONS TO STORAGE OR SECONDARY BATTERIES FOR CHARGING AND DISCHARGING SUCH SECONDARY RATTERIES AND 11TUIZING THE BI FATD14 GILDDD
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hochhausen of the City and State of New York,
United States of America, Electrician, for an lnvention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS AND, CIRCUIT CONNECTIONS TO STORAGE OR
SECONDARY BATTERIES FOR CHARGING AND DISCHARGING SUCH SECONDARY
RATTERIES AND 11TUIZING THE BI FATD14
GILDDDYM
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hochhausen at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd June 1883.
WILLIAM HOCHHAUSEN of the City and State of New York United States of
America, Electrician "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS AND CIRCUIT
CONNECTIONS TO STORAGE OR SECONDARY BATTERIES FOR CHARGING AND DIS-
CHARGING SUCH SECONDARY BATTERIES AND UTILIZING THE ELECTRIC CURRENT."
The object of this invention is to provide for charging and discharging the
secondary or storage batteries, and to render the secondary battery available as
a means for changing the circuit connections automatically
In storage batteries when the charging has proceeded to a certain point the
electro-motive force is suddenly increased, and oxygen and hydrogen are set free.
While the battery is discharging, sulphate of lead forms at the expense of the
sulphuric acid in the cells and the specific gravity lessens. When the battery is
being charged sulphuric acid is set free and the liquid in the cell is replenished
with acid and the specific gravity is increased.
I avail myself of one or both of these conditions in the secondary battery for
automatically changing the circuit connections, so that the lamps or other working
devices may be supplied either by the secondary battery or by the current from a
dynamo electric machine.
At the main station it is presumed that there is a dynamo electric generator
driven by competent power to set up the current; that there are two line wires,
and that there is a switch that is changeable by hand so that the current can be
.

page_text: sent out on the wire which may be called N° 1, and return over the wire N° 2, or
it may be sent out over the wire N° 2, and return by the wire N° 1.
At each of the different buildings or stations there is a permanent horse-shoe
magnet and between it a hinged tongue forming the switch. The current passes
through a helix around the hinged tongue so as to change its polarity when the
direction of current is reversed. This polarized switch is primarily to bring into
circuit one or more arc lamps or other working devices or to cut them out so that
at the main station the circuits to the lamps can be turned on or off to illuminate
at night and to disconnect by day.
A similar permanent magnet and tongue with a polarizing helix is employed in
a circuit leading to secondary or storage batteries, and the connections are arranged
so that when the arc lamps are in operation the storage battery is out of circuit,
and when the arc lamps or other working devices are thrown out of circuit, the
current is passed through the secondary batteries to charge the same and when
these secondary batterics are charged and there is a sudden increase of the electro-
motive force, or when the fluid in the cells increases in gravity by the sulphuric
acid set free, the current is diverted from the one secondary battery and allowed
to continue its other work in the electric circuit, and the secondary battery
remains in a condition ready for use in running incandescent electric lamps or
performing other work.
The circuit at the secondary battery is switched off by the use of a magnet that
is out of action except when there is the sudden increase of the electro-motivo
force, or else the same thing is effected by the use of a float in the fluid. of the
secondary battery cells, which float rises and closes the switch when the gravity of
the fluid is increased as aforesaid. This float is similar to a hydrometer, the stein
acts upon the switch and the switch is supported by a float so that the adjustinent
is not varied by the variation of level caused by evaporation and replenishing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Hochhausen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd December 1883.
WILLIAM HOCHHAUSEN, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America, Electrician, IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS AND CIRCUIT
CONNECTIONS TO STORAGE OR SECONDARY BATTERIES FOR CHARGING AND DIS-
CHARGING SUCH SECONDARY BATTERIES AND UTILIZING THE ELECTRIC CURRENT,
The object of this invention is to provide for charging and discharging the
secondary or storage batteries and to render the secondary battery available as a
means for changing the circuit connections automatically
In storage batteries when the charging has proceeded to a certain point, the
electro-motive force is suddenly increased and oxygen and hydrogen are set free.
While the battery is discharging sulphate of lead forms at the expense of the
sulphuric acid in the cells and the specific gravity lessens. When the battery is
being charged sulphuric acid is set free and the liquid in the cell is replenished
with acid and the specific gravity is increased.
I avail of one or both of these conditions in the secondary battery for auto-
matically changing the circuit connections, so that the lamps or other working
devices may be supplied either by the secondary battery or by the current from a
dynamo electric machine.
At the main station it is presumed that there is a dynamo electric generator
driven by competent power to set up the current; that there are two line wires and
that there is a switch that is changeable by hand so that the current can be sont
out on the wire which may be called No. 1. and return over the wire No. 2. or it
may be sent out over the wire No. 2. and return by the wire No. 1.
At each of the different buildings or stations there is a permanent horse shoe
magnet and between it a hinged tongue forming the switch The current passes
through a helix around the hinged tongue so as to change its polarity when the
direction of current is reversed. This polarized switch is primarily to bring into
circuit one or more are lamps or other working devices or to cut them out, so that
at the main station the circuits to the lamps can be turned on or off to illuminate
at night and to disconnect by day.
A similar permanent magnet and tongue with a polarizing helix is employed in
a circuit leading to secondary or storage batteries and the connections are arranged
so that when the arc lamps are in operation the storage battery is out of circuit
and when the are lamps or other working devices are thrown out of circuit the
current is passed through the secondary batteries to charge the same, and when
these secondary batteries are charged and there is a sudden increase of the electro-
motive force, or when the fluid in the cells increases in gravity by the sulphuric
acid set free, the current is diverted from the one secondary battery and allowed
to continue its other work in the electric circuit and the secondary battery
remains in a condition ready for use in running incandescent electric lamps or
performing other work.
The circuit at the secondary battery is switched off by the use of a magnet that
is out of action except when there is the sudden increase of the clectro-motive
force, or else the same thing is effected by the use of a float in the fluid of the
secondary battery cells which float rises and closes the switch when the gravity of
the fluid is increased as aforesaid. This float is similar to a hydrometer, the stem

page_text: "
acts upon the switch, and the switch is supported by a float so that the adjustment
is not varied by the variation of level caused by evaporation and replenishing.
In the drawings
Fig. 1. is a diagram representing the apparatus in condition for the arc lamps to
be in use.
Fig. 2. is a similar view with the secondary batteries being charged
Fig. 3. represents the circuits and secondary battery with the hydrometer switch
when being charged and
Fig. 4. is the same with the current shunted from the secondary battery.
Let A. represent a dynamo electric machine, B. a two part switch to throw the
positive current upon line 1. Fig. 1. and the negative upon line 2. or the raverse as
in fig. 2.
D. D. are polarized switches in which N. S. is a permanent magnet, a is a
pivoted tongue-or switch of soft iron and b. is a helix around the tongue to
polarize it. C. is a contact lever for D. with insulating blocks 4. 5. and C. is a
similar lever for D¹. with contact blocks 6. 7. The lever C². and spring 8.
produce the required pressuro upon the contact blocks.
.
O. is a solenoid helix, the core of which is connected to the switch levers k. i.
When the current is passing through the helix O. tho switches are moved to
the positions shown at the left hand part of fig. 2. but when the current does not 2
pass through O. the spring 10. draws the switches into the position shown at the
right hand part of fig. 2. S. B. indicates a secondary battery and A. L. are lights
and I L. incandescent lights in multiple arc.
When the switch B. occupies the position shown in fig. 1. the current passes
through the line 1. and through any desired number of arc lamps A. L. by 4. a
and b. to the continuation of the line 1. and thence to the next group of lamps A. L.
and through the polarized switch D. and so on through whatever number of
switches and lamps there-may be in circuit.
The switches D. are represented as arranged with reference to the storage
batteries and are in the return line or wire 2. and the current in this condition
simply passes at each switch by 6. and a. through helix b. and so on by the line.
This is to be regarded as the ordinary condition at night when the arc lamps are
in operation.
It is now to be understood that in day time the switch B. is to be changed to
the position shown in fig. 2. and then the polarized switches D. D. will all be
changed and the contacts will be between a. and 5. of D. and a. and 7. of D. and
all the arc lamps A. L will be out of circuit but the current from A. will pass by 2.
through b. and by a. and 7. to the helix O. and move the switches h. i. k. L. thence
the circuit is through armature of magnet N. and Ly i to storage battery S B.
through the same and by 1. off to line 2. and to the switch D'. at the next building
and so on returning by line 1. and b. a. 5. of each polarized switch D.
When there is a sudden increase of electro-motive force in either storage
battery in consequence of the development of gases on the electrodes, the current
that passes through the high resistance helix M which is in a shunt around the
battery S B. is sufficient to set up magnetism enough to overcome the spring of the
armature of M. and close an electric circuit from 7. by the way of the helix N. of
coarse wire through back stop 11. armature 12. front stop 14. and arinature 13. of M.
and by through S. B. and . to line 2. and in so doing the helix O. is short
circuited and the spring 10. draws back the switches h. i. . l. into the position
shown at the right of fig. 2. but the magnet N. having closed a circuit through 16.
and 12. the current now passes by i. and . to line 2. independent of the magnet M.
which may after a while allow its armature to drop back.
The circuit being diverted from the secondary battery said battery remains in a
condition for use whenever required and the current will operate in finishing the
charging of other secondary batteries.

page_text: In this manner each secondary battery is charged to its ultimate capacity
regardless of size or previous condition.
By closing the switch 8. the current from the secondary battery may be used in
the local circuit containing incandescent lamps I L. in multiple arc or any other
electric device may bo operated.
The circuits shown in figs 3. and 4. are similar to those before described except
that the magnet M. is dispensed with and the circuit closer t. upon a float u. in the
liquid of the secondary battery is made use of, and w. is a float or hydrometer
which rises as the specific gravity of the acid increases as the battery is charged
and ultimately closes the circuit at t. and the current which had flowed by i. and L.
through the electrodes of the secondary battery S. B. fig. 3. is diverted from the
helix O. in consequence of a second route for the current being opened, such route
being from 7. through low resistance helix N. and by wire ¹. around to t. thence
through the stud on which the switch i. rests and through the secondary battery
and by . to the line.-The solenoid O. now demagnetizes and the spring 10.
instantly draws the core and switches into the position in fig. 4. and the magnet N.
having attracted its armature the current passes from 7. by N. 16. 12. to i. thence
to l. and to line.
Instead of the floating apparatus above described one or more of the plates of
the battery itself might be used for the purpose which I have in view, viz, to
render the said battery available as a means for changing the circuit connections
automatically, so as to connect the battery with the dynamo for charging or with
the lamp circuit for discharging. In this case I convert the plate or plates in the
liquid into a float by means of a disc or slab of some buoyant material, or by a
hollow air tight case or box secured to the said plate preferably at its upper end.
The plate thus supported in the liquid will tend to rise to the surface or to sink
as the density of the acid solution varies during the charging or discharging of the
battery, and the level of the surface of the buoyant material or hollow airtight
case in relation to the level of the liquid will be correspondingly affected.
The floating plate will be provided as in the previously described arrangement
with a stem adapted to make contact with and operate a switch.
The switch as in the former case would also be carried by a float so that the
relative position of the contact points would remain entirely unaffected by any
variations in the level of the liquid due to leakage, or replenishing or other causes.
This arrangement is illustrated in Fig: 5 of the Drawings.
I claim as my Invention
First. The combination with an electric generator and line wires to distant working
devices, of a switch to change the direction of current, a polarized switch at
one or more distant stations and circuit connections and storage battery
substantially as set forth to direct the current through such storage battery
or to disconnect the same from the electric circuit, substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination with a storage battery, of the magnets O. and N. switches
and circuit connections substantially as set forth for diverting the electric
current from the storage battery when the same is charged, substantially
as set forth.
Third. The combination with the storage battery of the magnet M. in a shunt of
said battery and a circuit changer operated by such magnet substantially
as set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the secondary battery and the main electric circuit
of the polarized switch, the magnet O. switches h. i. k. l. operated by the
same, the magnet M. of high resistance, the magnet N. of low resistance
and the circuit connections between the respective parts, substantially as
and for the purposes specified.
Fifth. The combination with a storage battery, of circuit connections a floating
switch and a floating device similar to a hydrometer to operate such floating

page_text: switch according to the strength of the liquid and irrespectivo of the level
thereof in such storage battery. substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof I, the said William Hochhausen have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 25-day of September A.D. 1883.