Improvements in Controlling Apparatus for Electrically Propelled Vehicles
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 29th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
"Improvements in Controlling Apparatus for Electrically Propelled
Vehicles."
We, The Honourable REGINALD THOMAS DUDLEY BROUGHAM, of 22" Dorset
Street, Portman Square, and WALTER CHARLES BERSEY, of 28 Victoria Street,
Westminster, both in the County of Middlesex, do 'hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
In order to control electrically propelled vehicles we provide a foot lever which
is connected both with an electrical switch and with a brake or brakes. The
arrangement is such that the first part of the movement of the foot lever wlien the
foot is applied produces a rapid and wide separation of the contact surfaces of
the switch; thus sparking at the contacts is minimised. The further movement of
the foot lever puts on the brake or brakes with more or less force and checks the
onward movement of the vehicle. As the pressure upon the foot lever is lessened
the brake is progressively relieved and when the foot lever is permitted to rise to
its original position the brake is first taken off and then by a rapid movement of
the contact maker the, electric circuit is again closed through the motor.
Dated this 28th day of December 1890.
REGINALD T. D. BROUGHAM.
WALTER C. BERSEY.
COMPLETE, SPECIFICATION.
"Improvements in Controlling Apparatus for Electrically Propelled
Vehicles."
We, The Honourable REGINALD THOMAS DUDLEY BROUGHAM, of 22* Dorset
Street, Portman Square, and WALTER CHARLES BERSEY, of 28 Victoria Street,
Westminster, both in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
In order to control electrically propelled vehicles we provide a foot lever which
is connected both with an electrical switch and with a brake or brakes. The
arrangement is such that the first part of the movement of the foot lever when the
foot is applied produces a rapid and wide separation of the contact surfaces of the
switch; thus sparking at the contacts is minimised. The further movement of
the foot lever puts on the brake or brakes with more or less force and checks the
onward movement of the vehicle. As the pressure upon the foot lever is lessened
the brake is progressively relieved and when the foot lever is permitted to rise to
D

page_text: its original position the brake is first taken off and then by a rapid movement of
the contact maker the electric circuit is again closed through the motor.
The annexed drawings show an apparatus. made in accordance with our
invention.
Figure 1 shows the apparatus applied to a vehicle.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, Figure 3a front elevation, and Figure 4 a plan, of
the switch with part of the foot lever shown to a larger scale.
The bell crank foot lever is pivotted, at a, the arm bis operated by the driver's
foot, whilst the arm e engages by means of a pin d with a cam slot e in a lever f.
The lever fis pivotted at one end g, and at the other carries a contact piece h. To
the arm of the bell crank 'lever is attached a chain i (Figure 4) connecting it to
a bell crank lever j pivotted to the vehicle, by means of which the brake is
actuated in the usual manner.
G
Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4 the contact piece-h, is secured to the lever f; by
screws, insulation & being placed between them. The lever f rests on a pad of
rubber, fixed to the upright 1, to which are also fixed contact pieces m m con-
nected to the circuit wires by screws n n. The lever f is held down against the
rubber pad by springs p p connected to it.by hooks q.q
When the driver presses down the foot lever he, by reason of the shape of the
cam slot e, at once produces a rapid and wide separation of the contact pieces h.
and m, the further movement of the foot lever gradually putting on the brake.
As the pressure on the foot lever is lessened the brake is progressively relieved
and when it is released altogether the springs p p compel, the lever f to resume
its former position and the pieces. h and m are again in contact.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:
.
1. In electrically propelled vehicles a foot lever which is connected both with
an electrical switch and with a brake substantially as described.
2. In electrically propelled vehicles a foot lever such that the first part of its
movement when the foot is applied produces a rapid and wide separation of the
contact pieces of an electrical switch and the further movement actuates the brake.
3. Improvements in controlling apparatus for electrically propelled vehicles
substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
Dated this 28th day of September 1897.
REGINALD THOMAS DUDLEY BROUGHAM.
WALTER CHARLES' BERSEY.