Year: 1889

page_text: 1, WILLIAM PRESCOTT KOOKOGEY, of the City of Brooklyn in the County of
Kings and State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of the said 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 the connection of a battery of Storage Cells with the line
which it is to supply (called herein the working line), and also with the primary
battery from which the storage battery is to be charged, and its main object is to
provide means by which the change from one connection to the other may be
automatic, so that the storage battery. is thrown into the position of discharge merely.
by the closing of the working circuit, and is thrown into the position of charging by
the opening of that circuit. There are various other subsidiary objects more fully
set forth in the description and claims. The main advantages attained by it are that
no manual control is needed and hence no constant attention. The circuit is always
ready for use; and every moment during which it is not in use is utilized in restoring
the charge to the.batteries. Thus if it be an electric light circuit, the storage battery
automatically begins to charge as soon as the last light is extinguished, and the turning
on of a single lamp automatically changes it back to the discharging position.
My invention in general consists of a commutating device capable of taking two
positions, in one of which the several storage cells are connected together and with
the working circuit in tension series, and in the other of which they are connected in
parallel in the primary or charging circuit; also of such a commutating mechanism
in combination with an electro-magnet in the working circuit, which is energized by
the closing of the working circuit, and when energized draws the commutating device
into the first position, viz. that of discharge; also the combination of such a commu-
tating device and magnet in the working circuit with another electro-magnet energized

page_text: by a local battery, such second magnet also acting upon the commutating device, and
being energized by the closing of the working circuit; and of various connected
devices more particularly set forth in the claims.
It may be said that I contemplate using this invention chiefly in connection with
smaller electric lighting systems, and chiefly also in connection with storage batteries
to be charged from primary galvanic cells rather than from a dynamo machine, and
also that I contemplate charging the storage cells in parallel or multiple are and dis-
charging them in series; but it is evident that the principles of the invention extend
beyond these uses, and I do not intend to limit myself either as to the character of the
use to which the circuit is to be put, nor as to the primary means of supplying electric
energy, nor as to the particular methods of connecting the cells when charging or
discharging.
In the accompanying drawings, in which the same characters indicate analogous
parts:
Fig. 1, is a top diagrammatic view of the commutating device and the single
magnet.
Figs. 2 and 3 are end views (from the left of fig. 1) of the commutating device,
showing respectively its two positions.
Fig. 4 is a top diagramatic view of the invention showing the additional magnet
and local battery.
Fig. 5 is an end view (from the left of fig. 4) of the same.
Fig. 6 is a view of the two magnets and lever in the alternate position from that
of fig. 5.
Fig 7 shows another application of the principle involved, where the local battery
is used; and
.
Fig. 8 is an end view of the commutating mechanism when controlled by hand
instead of by the electro-magnet in the working circuit.
In the various figures A represents the primary cells and B, B1, B2 and B³ the
storage cells. G represents a piece of insulating material, and D and E two strips
of conducting material firmly attached to it. The insulating piece G is pivoted at
its ends upon a suitable standard. Stout wires or other conducting strips, ce
and care firmly attached to the insulating piece G, each of them branching into
two branches on their outer ends; and two series of like wires or conductors, but
not branching into two, viz. d d¹ and d² and eel and e³, are firmly attached respectively
to the conductors D and E. A series of stationary cups containing mercury, viz. f, f,
,, are arranged on one side of the device and upon the other side are two series
of like stationary mercury cups, viz. g, g', g² and h, h, h. For the conductors upon
the upper side (cc) are provided two mercury cups, one for each branch.
For those
upon the lower side (d, e, etc.) there is a cup for each conductor. These mercury
cups are placed in such position that by the rocking of the insulating piece G and
the parts attached to it, upon the pivots c', the conductors upon the two sides will
alternately dip into the mercury of their respective mercury cups, those on one side
being entirely out of the mercury when those on the other are immersed. The
mercury cups are to be of conducting material, or at least the mercury within them
is designed to he electrically connected with the wires leading from them. Other
contact devices may be substituted for them, but there is a distinct advantage in the
use of mercury in this position.
The different series of mercury cups are connected by wires, with the primary
battery A and the storage cells B, B¹ etc.
Wires a and a¹ lead from the negative and the following principles:
positive poles of the primary battery A
to the negative conducting strip D and the positive strip E respectively; wires b, b1, b2
lead from the several negative mercury cups 9, g, g to the negative poles of the
several storage cells respectively; wires i, and lead from the positive cups h, h²,
through cups, and wires j, j², to the positive poles of the storage batteries
respectively; wires j, j, j, j³ connect the several poles of the storage cells with the
upper series of cups. Thus when the mechanism is in the position shown in fig. 2
each of the storage cells, B, B1, B2 has a separate conducting connection with the

page_text: >
negative and positive conducting pieces D and E, and hence the primary battery, or
in other words, they are in parallel in the primary or charging circuit; and when in
the position of fig. 3, the storage cells are connected with each other and with the
working circuit in series. Fig. 2, shows the position taken when the storage cells are
being charged from the primary; fig. 3, the position when discharging into the
working circuit. In charging (the arms d, e, etc. being in circuit and the arms c, not
in circuit) the current will pass (fig. 1) from battory A, as follows: wire a¹, positive
conducting strip E, where it is distributed to the mercury cups h, h, h²; from thence
in separate currents through wires i, and i², cups ff, wires, to the positive
poles of the storage cells B, B1, B2, through them, and by wires b, j, j³, to the
negative cups g, 9, 9, from which the several parallel currents are collected in the
negative conducting strip D, and pass from thence through wire a, back to the
battery A. In discharging from the storage battery upon the working circuit (the
arms c being in circuit, and the arms d, e, etc. out of circuit, the charging circuit being
thereby open) the current will pass as follows: from cell B, through wire j, cup f
conductor c, cup f¹, wire j¹, cell B¹, wire 2, .cup f2, conductor c¹, cup f³, wire j³,
cell B, and thence through wires and k, magnet F, the working circuit, and
wires and b, back to the storage battery. It is evident that the wires 6, 62, i and i¹, may-
be led directly to the respective poles of the storage cells instead of to the cups ff,
, and See also, other cups may be added on the upper side and thus allow the
currents to be broken at both poles.
.
Coming now to the means of controlling the change from discharging to charging
or vice versa, this is done. automatically by merely closing or opening the working
circuit, and the means is an electro-magnet forming part of the working circuit and
operating the commutating device. F represents the magnet connected by wires k, k²,
to the storage batterics and the working line respectively. The magnet F attracts an
armature upon a lever m, which lever is pivoted to some stationary part at m¹; the lever m
bears against a pin n, which is attached to the under side of the insulating piece G.
The insulating piece G and its attached parts take the position of fig. 2 when the
magnet Fis not energized. This is accomplished, by so pivoting the piece G that
gravity will do it. When a current is passing through the magnet F, they are
retained in the position of fig. 3. Thus, when the working circuit is opened (as by
the extinguishing of the last lamp) the parts automatically fall into the position of
fig. 2, and the storage batteries are thereby thrown out of series and into parallel in
the charging circuit, and the operation of charge commences; but as soon as the
working circuit is closed (as by the turning on of a single lamp) the magnet F is
energized; it attracts the lever m, which by rocking the commutating device dis-
connects the storage cells from the primary and throws them into series with each
other and with the working circuit. The course of the current when the working
circuit is first closed may be either from the primaries, or from the storage cells in
parallel, or from both; depending upon relative resistances and potentials. If from,
the primary its course will be from battery A, through strip E, cup h², wires and k,
magnet F, the working circuit, wire b, cup g, strip D, to battery A ; if from the
storage cells its course will be (taking cell B2 as an example) from 132, through
wires and k, magnet F, the working circuit, wires b, cup g, strip D, cup g³, wire b²,
back to the cell B2. Thus the entire connection of the storage battery with the
charging battery and with the circuit over which the work is to be done is automatic,
and no care or oversight is required, except such as is necessary to keep the primaries
or other generator in working order. The principle is of course applicable to systems.
of batteries as well as to a single one.
In Figs. 4 and 5, all the parts already described exist, together with the addition of
a local battery L and in circuit with a second electro-magnet J, preferably of higher
resistance than the magnet F. In some situations as, e.g. where a very large plant
is used, the current started through the magnet. F when the working circuit is first
closed will not be strong enough to energize the magnet. The magnet J,
energized by the current coming from the local battery L, is arranged to throw
over the cominutating device, and on doing so cuts itself and its battery out of

page_text: the circuit. The action of this second magnet also is automatic, being operated by
the closing of the working circuit. The working circuit forms a part of the local
circuit. The advantage of the form which contains the local circuit and second
magnet is that the second magnet may be made of any resistance, but with only
one magnet it must be made with reference to the fact that all the working current
passes through it continuously during the period of discharge, and hence its resistance
must be low.
Referring to fig. 5, the magnet J is arranged to attract a second armature upon
the lever m, but the other side of the pivot m¹. Another difference between the form
of fig. 4 and fig. 1 is that there is another couple of mercury cups (5) upon the
upper side of the insulating piece G, and that the last storage cell 133 instead of
being connected with the magnet F is connected with a mercury cup, and the
magnet F is connected with the other one. This occasion however no difference in
principle. When the working circuit is open the parts assume the position of fig. 5;
immediately upon its being closed a current is established through the magnet J;
the lever m, is attracted; the conductors c, c¹, c² place the storage cells into series
with the working line, and the strong current from the storage cells onergizes the
magnet F, and this retains the lever in the position shown in fig. 6.
The course of the current from the local battery on the first closing of the working
circuit is from battery L, (fig. 5) through wire 2, magnet J, wire r, contact-spring P,
lever m, wire s, working circuit, wire t, back to battery L; by this operation the local
battery L and the magnet J have been cut out of the circuit by the separation of
the contact-spring p and the lever m (fig. 6).
Fig. 7 represents a variation by which the same magnet is made to carry both the
local and the working current, and thus take the place of the two magnets F and J.
The wire (corresponding to k, in fig. 1) leads from the primary, the storage and
the local batteries to the magnet M, and the wire (corresponding to k¹, in fig. 1)
leads from the lever m, to the working circuit, and thus around to the other poles
of the batteries. The wire on leaving the magnet M branches, one branch leading
to the insulated stationary contact-spring p, and the other to the insulated stationary
contact-spring p². When the working circuit is open, the local circuit is also open,
the storage battery is charging, and the parts are in the position of fig. 7.
As soon
as the working circuit is closed, the local circuit is also closed thereby, and a
current is established from the local circuit through wire.k, magnet M, wire k,
spring p, lever m, and wire 4, the magnet M, being thereby energized, and caused
to attract the armature upon the lever . This action breaks the local circuit at
the spring p, and establishes the current from the storage battery through the
spring p. In this case the magnet M must be made of very low resistance, since
the working current passes through it and the necessary power to move the lever
must be given it by increasing the power of the local battery. The magnet M may
be doubly wound with a fine wire for the local current, and a heavier one for the
working current.
;
In Fig. 8, the commutating device is shown as adapted to control by hand, and also
having contact springs and blocks, to take the place of the mercury cups and the
conductors which dip into them. A rod u is attached to the insulating piece G, to be
operated by hand, as e.g. by cords u', u', running from a cellar to an upper floor.
The contact-springs W take the place of the mercury cups, and the blocks take the
place of the conductors, c, d, e, etc.
I know that devices have heretofore been known, arranged to change the connec-
tions of a number of cells from parallel to series, by a single movement; and I there-
fore, do not claim that broadly; but I do not know of any prior device arranged to
change the connections of a number of storage cells with a working and a charging
circuit, by a single movement, from a connection in parallel in a charging circuit
ready to charge, to a connection in series with a working circuit; nor of any prior
use of an electro-magnet introduced as a part of the working circuit to accomplish
these objects;
nor of any prior device by which objects are accomplished
automatically, upon the mere closing and opening of the working circuit.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of iny said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination of the following elements; an electric generator and charging
circuit; a storage cell or battery; a working circuit; an electro-magnet forming
part of such working circuit; and commutating mechanism controlled by such electro-
magnet and operating a series of circuit closers and breakers, whereby the storage
cell or battery is alternately connected in circuit with the charging circuit, and
with the working circuit; substantially as described.
2. The combination of the following elements; an electric generator and charging
circuit; a storage cell or battery; a working circuit; an electro-magnet forming
part of the working circuit; a local battery and circuit of which the working circuit
forms a part; and commutating mechanism controlled. by such electro-magnet and
operating a series of circuit closers and breakers, whereby the storage cell or battery
is alternately connected in circuit with the charging circuit, and with the working
circuit; substantially as described.
3. The combination of the following elements; an electric generator and charging
circuit; a storage cell or battery; a working circuit; an electro-magnet forming part
of such working circuit; commutating mechanism controlled by such electro-magnet
during the period of discharge and operating a series of circuit closers and breakers.
whereby the storage cell or battery is alternately connected in circuit with the
charging circuit and with the working circuit; a local battery and circuit of which
the working circuit forms a part; and a second electro-magnet in the local circuit
controlling the change of the commutating mechanism from the position of charge to
that of discharge, and thereby also breaking the local circuit; substantially as described.
4. The combination of the following elements; an electric generator and charging
circuit; a storage battery consisting of a number of cells; a working circuit; and
commutating mechanism operating a series of circuit closers and breakers, whereby
the storage battery may be alternately connected in parallel in the charging circuit
and in tension series with the working circuit; substantially as described.
5. The combination of the following elements: a primary galvanic battery and
charging circuit; a storage battery consisting of a number of cells; a working
circuit; and commutating mechanism operating a series of circuit closers and
breakers, whereby the storage battery may be alternately connected in parallel in the
charging circuit and in tension series in the working circuit; substantially as described.
6. The combination of the following elements: an electric generator and charging
circuit; a storage battery consisting of a number of cells; a working circuit; an
electro-magnet forming part of such working circuit; commutating mechanism con-
trolled by such electro-magnet and operating a series of circuit closers and breakers;
and circuit connections between the various cells, whereby the storage battery is
alternately connected in parallel with the charging circuit and in tension series with
the working circuit substantially as described.
7. The combination of the following elements: an electric generator and charging
circuit; a storage battery consisting of a number of cells; a working circuit; an
electro-magnet forming part of such working circuit; a local battery and circuit of
which the working circuit forms a part; commutating mechanism controlled by such
electro-magnet and operating a series of circuit closers and breakers; and circuit
connections between the various cells, whereby the storage battery is alternately
connected in parallel in the charging circuit and in tension series with the working
circuit; substantially as described.
S. The combination of the following elements; an electric generator and charging
circuit; a storage battery consisting of a number of cells; a working circuit; an
electro-magnet forming part of such working circuit; commutating mechanism
controlled by such electro-magnet during the period of discharge and operating a
series of circuit closers and breakers, with circuit connections between the various
cells whereby the storage battery may be alternately connected in parallel in the

page_text: charging circuit and in tension series with the working circuit; a local battery and
circuit of which the working circuit forms a part; and a second electro-magnet in the
local circuit controlling the change of the commutating mechanism from the position
of charge to that of discharge, and thereby also breaking the local circuit ;
substantially as described.
9. The combination of insulating piece G having attached to it conducting strips D
and E, and conducting arms c, d, e, etc., and pivoted at its ends at such a point that
gravity will hold the arms d, e, etc., within their respective cups; with the lever m
carrying an armature, and the electro-magnet F forming part of the working circuit,
substantially as and for the purpose described..
Dated the 31st day of October 1888.