Positioning Apparatus for Motor Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Positioning Apparatus for Motor Vehicles.
I, GEORGE HERBERT CONDICT, of 1684, Broadway, New York, U.S.A., Electrical
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 whereby a motor vehicle carrying storage
batteries is directed into proper position with respect to mechanical loading and
unloading apparatus, so that a tray of exhausted batteries may be removed therefrom
and replaced by a tray which has been charged and is ready for use.
The details of the improvement will be fully hereinafter pointed out and referred
to in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is plan view of the loading table and
positioning apparatus, the wheels of the vehicle being indicated in dotted lines.
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional elevation on the line x x, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a detail view in elevation partly in section, on the line y, y, Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a detailed view in elevation on the line 2, 2, Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the arrangement when adapted to load the vehicle
horizontally instead of from below.
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a part of the loading platform on the line w, w,
Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is an inverted plan view of an end of one section of the loading plat-
form.
Similar numerals indicate like parts throughout.
In the drawings, 1 is an opening over a pit 2 into which is moved a truck 3 or other
suitable device for handling a tray 4 of storage batteries to be elevated into attach-
ment with the vehicle. 5 and 6 are guide bars, preferably of metal, supported at
about the height of hubs of the vehicles, one on each side of and parallel with the open-
ing 1. In front of the opening the bars 5, 6, curve outwardly increasing the space for
receiving and guiding the vehicles into position. Under the curved portions of the
bars is a laterally movable table which may be in any desired number of adjacent
sections, 7, 8.
The bar 5 is pivotally secured at its inner end in a stationary adjustable holder
carried by bracket 9 attached to the floor, the outer curved portion being pivotally
connected to a rod 16 which passes through the cylinder 17 sustained by bracket 15
and containing buffer spring 18 which acts against the rear end of the cylinder and a
collar 14 secured to rod 16. With this construction the curved end of the bar is
normally held in the desired position but will yield when struck by the wheel of the
vehicle moving into position, the spring 18 reacting to force the rod, bar and vehicle,
Price 8/1

page_text: which is then upon the lateral movable table, towards the center. The opposite
bar is supported at its inner end by pivotal connection with piston rod 11 of a
similar cylinder 12, mounted on bracket 15, Fig. 3, and containing a somewhat
shorter and stiffer spring 13 bearing against collar 14 of rod 11. The curved end
of the bar 6 is supported by a second piston rod 16ª, similar to that connected with
bar 5 on the opposite side of the table and just referred to. The rod 16 passes
through cylinder 17ª mounted upon bracket 15 and contains spring 18ª reacting
against collar 14% on said rod. The springs 18, 18* are buffers and of about even
strength and act as cushions when the wheels of the vehicles strike the bars 5, 6.
The table 7, 8, Fig. 1 is supported on the same level as the adjacent floor in a
pit 19 and comprises a number of endless belts extending between rollers on opposite
sides of the pit and outside of the guide bars. As indicated in Fig. 6, the rollers 20
are mounted upon a suitable shaft 21 and carry the belts 22 which are provided upon
their exterior with slats 23, to give the desired stability. Between the end.rollers 20
and extending across the pit are rails 24 which may be channelled on their upper
surfaces to carry a series of small rollers 25 upon which the ends of the slats 23 of
each belt are supported to prevent sagging. The rails 24 may however have flat
treads and the rollers 25 be attached individually to the under sides of the slats 23
beyond the edges of the belts, as shown in Fig. 7 which should then be narrower to
insure free passage to the rollers. The rails 24 are supported by girders 26.
In operation. Should either of the front wheels of the vehicle strike the outwardly
curved portion of the bars 5 or 6 as it is moving into position, they will easily be
deflected sideways by movement of the table 7, 8, upon which they then are. Any
excess of movement of the vehicle in the direction of the bars or 6 will be taken up
by the buffer springs which reacting will push the vehicle upon the table towards the
centre, and so direct it, while continuing to advance into loading position between
the parallel portions of the bars 5, 6.
The spring 13 is shorter or stiffer than the spring 18 holding the other end of the
bar 6. Consequently the piston rod 11 normally serves only as a pivotal support. But
should a vehicle be wider than the standard, the spring 13 will yield sufficiently to
allow it to pass from between from the bars 5, 6, thereby avoiding damage thereto, or
delay in the loading operation.
A lateral adjusting screw 5ª may also be provided between the bar 5 and its
supporting bracket 9.
In the use of the apparatus, Figs. 1 and 2, the vehicle after receiving attention,
may be backed out over the table 7, 8, or it may pass onward over the opening 1. As
a guide to the driver to stop the vehicle in proper position over pit 2, I provide a
movable stop 27 which may consist of a board of the necessary height mounted upon a
transverse shaft 23, formed with notch 29, which when the stop is in vertical position is
engaged by a detent 30 carried by spring 31. The axis 28 extends laterally out of the
path of the vehicle and is provided with a pulley 32 to the periphery of which is
connected a rope 33 that is carried up over suitable guides to a position within
reach of the driver on the vehicle.
When the vehicle comes over the pit 2, the driver pulls upon the cord 33 which
through pulley 32 rotates the axis 28 and turns the stop 27 to vertical position. The
stop 27 is not designated to physically arrest the movement of, but to indicate the
point at which the vehicle should be brought to a halt. If the vehicle leaves in
forward direction it pushes against the stop forcing out the detent 30; when the stop
falls to the floor out of the way.
In Fig. 5 the vehicle is arranged to be loaded horizontally instead of vertically. I
have therefore shown without claiming, the horizontally moving ram, a section of the
transfer table and the levelling rams as illustrated, described and claimed in my prior
patent applications Nos. 5838 and 5840 of March 17th 1899. With this arrangement
the vehicle is run on to the loading table 7, 8, and placed in position laterally. It is
then levelled by the vertically moving rams 45, 46, and the load (tray of batteries)
inserted or withdrawn in a horizontal plane by the loading ram 34, in connection with
the transfer table 35 which is provided with a number of carriers 36, each adapted to

page_text: receive between its arms 37, 38, a tray of storage battery 4, and which are then
moved laterally away from the vehicle so as to carry the exhausted battery away
in a lateral direction, at the same time bringing a freshly charged battery into the
loading position. The ram 34 then pushes the charged battery into the vehicle after
which it is backed off and away from the loading table.
With this arrangement the opening 1 is not needed and I prefer to make the entire
loading table of a series of endless belts 7, 8, 7, 8ª, although part of them may be
omitted, as in Fig. 1. The table moves laterally as the vehicle is directed by the
positioning bars 39, 40, at the sides which are substantially like those shown in
Fig. 1, but are stationary, as they may be in that instance also. Adjusting screws 41
are provided between bars 39, 40 and their supports 9, 10 to accommodate vehicles of
varying width.
The vehicle when moving on to the loading table is capable of moving laterally
with entire freedom together with the transverse endless belts, so that should it strike
the curved portions of the positioning bars, it will be deflected towards the center
until it runs in between the parallel portions thereof, when it will be laterally in
correct position.
A bridge attached to the transfer table acts as a stop for the vehicle and a set of
rollers 43 carried by the bridge, serves to sustain and guide the tray of batteries in
passing between the transfer table and the interior of the vehicle. Hinged hooked
arms 44 at the sides of the bridge engage and hold the end of the vehicle which is
raised up level with the loading apparatus by vertical ram 45. Another vertical
ram 46 rising between sections 7, 8 of the loading table raises the other end to
correspond.
While I have described the structure shown in the drawings, it will be apparent
that in view of the foregoing and of the nature and object of the invention that many
of the details may be varied without departing therefrom.
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. An automatic positioning apparatus for vehicles comprising a pair of guide bars
and a laterally movable floor or support between said bars, whereby the vehicle is
automatically carried laterally into position while passing longitudinally between the
guide bars.
2. The combination with a vehicle to be loaded, of a pair of guide bars one on each
side of the vehicle and between which the vehicle is guided into the desired position,
and a laterally movable sectional support between the bars and upon which the
vehicle is carried laterally into the desired position.
3. The combination with a vehicle to be placed in position of a pair of guide bars,
one on each side of the vehicle and between which it is positioned, of a movable
floor composed of a plurality of endless belts upon which the vehicle travels into
position between the bars, the belts supporting the vehicle moving with the vehicle
as the same is guided into position between the bars.
4. The combination with longitudinally disposed guide bars, of a table or platform
comprising a plurality of endless belts arranged transversely of the bars, end rollers
carrying said belts, and intermediate anti-frictional supports arranged to sustain the
upper part of the belt in horizontal position.
5. The combination with a vehicle to be loaded, of a pair of guide bars parallel
along a portion of their length and curving outwardly, laterally yielding spring
supports for the bars, and an end stop adjacent to the parallel portion of said
bars.
6. The combination with a loading pit, guide bars at each side thereof, a radially
movable stop and a spring detent for holding the same in operative position, and
means for moving said stop into operative position from a distance.
7. The combination with a vehicle to be loaded and an opening through which the
load is moved vertically, of a pair of guide bars arranged parallel to said opening on

page_text: either side thereof and flaring outwardly, laterally adjustable supports for the bars
and a laterally movable table under the flaring ends of the guide bars.
Dater tuuay
1000.
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
Chartered Patent Agents, 60, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.