Improvements in or Connected with Means for the Automatic Electrical Distribution and Charge of Secondary Batteries.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted. 19th Oct., 1888
Improvements in or Connected with Means for the Automatic
Electrical Distribution and Charge of Secondary Batteries.
I, FRANK KING, of 38 Chesilton Road, Fulham, in the County of Middlesex,
Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object to improve and simplify the means for charging and
discharging secondary batteries as described in the Specification of Letters Patent
No. 4662 granted to me as of the 2nd day of April 1886.
For the purposes of my present Invention I use switching apparains such as the
transposing or rocking switches referred to in my said Specification of my Patent
No. 4662 of 1886 for the transposition of the connections of the batteries from series to
parallel and vice versa and I employ the batteries in pairs and sets of pairs as described
in that Specification and I control the switching apparatus and the special parts herein-
after described by utilizing the pressure obtained from the hydrogen gas evolved from
one or more of the plates in each battery. I cause the Hydrogen gas which is evolved
under a normal constant current only when the battery has reached a condition of
full charge to be collected in a gasometer the gas generated in the respective
batteries being passed through a vessel containing liquid for the purpose of sealing the
aperture of the tube connecting the battery to such vessel and preventing the passage
of the gas from one battery to the other. The rise of the moveable portion of such
gasometer to a certain point corresponding with the production of a predetermined
amount of gas actuates a contact or contacts and completes a controlling or actuating
circuit or circuits through such contacts and others attached to the transposing switch
or switches. When the first battery is in the charging circuit the moveable portion
of one of the transposing switches will have partially completed (by means of a small
relay or other suitable electro-magnetic device) the actuating circuit for placing the
second transposing switch in position of charge. On evolution to the predetermined
limit of gas from the first battery it is collected and, as before described, the necessary
contacts are made and circuits are completed and the battery leaves the position of
charge and is placed on to the discharge circuit, the charging circuit being maintained
intact by the notion of the moveable portion of the transposing switch first through a

page_text: resistance which is placed in parallel with the battery and, when the battery is removed,
the resistance is short-circuited. During the period in which the charging current is
passing through the resistance and short circuit before mentioned, the charging
circuit at the batteries is broken and an electro-magnetic device in the battery
charging circuit and actuated thereby, which previously closed a relief valve of the
before mentioned gasometer is rendered inactive, the relief valve is opened either
by gravity or by a spring or weight and the collected gas is discharged. The
moveable portion of the gasometer accordingly falls or returns to its original position
and by means of such fall or return contacts are made which complete the necessary
circuits through similar contacts on the second transposing switch and its moveable
portion for placing the second battery into charge. The first battery having been
connected as described to the discharge circuits and the actuating connections of
the alternative or second battery being completed the latter is immediately discon-
nected from the discharge circuit and passes into communication with the charging
mains the short circuiting device and resistance which maintained the charging circuit
intact being removed in reverse order to that in which they were inserted by
the reverse operation of the actuating contacts and circuits on the moveable
portion of the Rocking switch the motion of the transposing arrangement breaking
the circuit which was partially completed by the movement into charging position of
the transposing arrangement of the first battery. When the charge to the second
battery is completed a repetition of the before-mentioned processes for removal from
circuit of charge to circuit of discharge takes place and the resistance is placed in
parallel with the second battery and on the battery being removed such resistance
is short circuited and the connection to the discharge mains is completed the
charging circuit being maintained as described through the short-circuited resistance.
Both batteries having been charged it is impossible for the first battery to be re-
charged until a circuit from the generating station which controls the movement
into charging position of the transposing arrangement of the first battery is com-
pleted my object for giving such control being to prevent a recurrence of charging
periods where such recurrence is unnecessary.
My Invention also relates to a method of regulating the electro-motive force at
the discharge circuit so that when the two batteries are placed in parallel the
charging of one by the other which would otherwise take place due to the fact
that the electromotive force of the last charged battery is or may be greater than
the electromotive force of the first charged battery does not occur. I accomplish this
part of my Invention by means of a solenoid coil and core or other electro inagnetic
device the coil being maintained in parallel connection with the distributing mains.
Any rise or fall in electro-motive-force of the distributing main will have a corre-
sponding effect upon the core or armature or the solenoid coil or like electromagnetic
device and I make this movement of the coil or armature actuate contacts which
complete circuits alternatively around two relay solenoids or electromagnets so that
when the electromotive force in the discharge circuit has risen the core or armature
of one of the relay magnets will be attracted and make contacts and complete circuits
of an apparatus for inserting into the discharge circuit a counter electromotive
force by first inserting a resistance and immediately afterwards a cell containing lead
plates or such other convenient Counter electromotive force arrangements. Whenever
a battery is being charged the moveable portion of the transposing switch will make a
contact or contacts and complete the circuit of that relay solenoid or such like device
which causes the introduction of the counter electro motive force as described and will
break the circuit of the alternative relay and the return of the battery to the circuit
of discharge will by the necessary motion of the moveable portion of the transposing
switch restore the original connections so that the electro motive force at the
discharge circuit may be kept nearly normal leaving the regulator in position for
work.
The cycle of operations is then as follows:-
Both batteries may be considered as having been in the circuit of discharge and it is
now desired to commence the charging of the first Battery. For this purpose a switch

page_text: controlled by hand but breaking contact when released and fixed at the generating
station is moved and completes the circuits which actuate the moveable portion of the
transposing arrangements of the first battery removing it as described from the position
of discharge to that of charge. The moveable portion of the transposing switch in
its motion removes the short circuiting arrangement of the resistance in the charging
circuit leaving the resistance through which the charging circuit is passing in
its place then places the battery in parallel with the resistance and when this
operation is completed and just previous to the motion ceasing removes the resistance
from the circuit. The charging then proceeds and on its completion gas is evolved
and is collected and passed on through the sealing vessel to the gasometer the vent
to which is closed by the valve attached to an armature which is pulled into position
by a solenoid coil or electromagnetic device forming part of the charging circuit.
When the gas evolved is sufficient in amount the moveable portion of the gasometer
rises to a certain point and then contacts are made and circuits will be completed so
that operations which were performed while moving the moveable portion of the
transposing switch from the position of charge to discharge are reversed. The current
to the Battery having ceased the valve like armature of the before mentioned relay is
removed the gas in the gasometer is discharged the moveable portion of the gasometer
falls, and remakes the contacts and completes the circuits which existed before the
first charging except that the motion of the first transposing switch which made a
circuit to a relay partially completed the controlling circuit of the second battery. The
switch at the generating station which controls the transposing switch of the first
battery not being again moved a current passes to the actuating circuits of the second
transposing switch moving the rocking lever from the position of discharge to that of
charge and when the operations of removing the short circuit and resistance from
connection with the charging circuit and closing the battery charging circuit are com-
pleted the movement of the transposing switch at the end of its stroke breaks the
circuit of the controlling apparatus of the second battery which was brought into
action by the insertion of the first battery into charge so that until the first battery
has again been charged the second cannot re-enter the charging circuit.
On completion of the charge to the second set of batteries gas is evolved as before
the gasometer is raised the circuits of the controlling magnets are again made and
the rocking lever places the second set of batteries in the discharge circuit in parallel
with the first set the current ceasing in the charging circuit releases the valve, allows
gas to escape and both batteries having been fully charged are ready to supply their
maximum power.
Dated this 7th day of December 1887
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agents.

page_text: Improvements in or Connected with Means for the Automatic
Electrical Distribution and Charge of Secondary Batteries.
I FRANK KING of 38 Chesilton Road Fulham in the County of Middlesex
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 has for its object to improve and simplify the means for charging
and discharging secondary batteries as described in the Specification of Letters
Patent No. 4662 granted to me as of the 2nd day of April 1886.
For the purposes of my present invention 1 use switching apparatus such as the
transposing or rocking switches referred to in my said Specification of my Patent
No. 4662 of 1886 for the transposition of the connections of the batteries from
series to parallel and vice versa and I employ the batteries in pairs and sets of
pairs as described in that Specification and I operate the switching apparatus and
the special parts herein after described by utilizing the pressure obtained from the
hydrogen gas evolved from one or more of the plates in each battery.
I will describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 of which is a plan illustrating the general combination of the parts and
the direction of the various currents. Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of one of
the transposing switches. Figure 3 is a plan showing the connections of batteries
with the rocking or transposing switch and Figures 4 and 5 are sections at right
angles to each other of one of the resistance switches hereinafter referred to.
Referring to Figure 1 A B are rocking switches each electrically connected as
shown in Figure 3 to a separate battery or set of batteries A' partly shown in
vertical section at A* B*. G G₁ are the charging mains leading from the
generator and H H are discharging mains for supplying lamps or other source of
consumption.
The hydrogen gas which is evolved in the battery under a normal constant
current, only when the battery has reached a condition of full charge, is conducted
by the pipe D into a gasometer C, the gas generated in the respective batteries
being passed through a vessel E containing liquid for the purpose of scaling the
apertures of the tubes A2, B2, connecting the batteries to the said vessel, and
preventing the passage of the gas from one battery to the other. The moveable
portion or bell c of the gasometer C when raised to a certain predetermined point
by the gas evolved, causes the lever of the rocking switch F to turn over and
make contacts so as to complete circuits through such contacts and others carried
by or attached to the transposing switches A or B to place the batteries A¹ in
connection therewith in the charging or discharging circuit as the case may be.
When one of the batteries or sets of batteries, for example the set of batteries A¹,
is in the charging circuit the rocking lever a of the transposing switches A (a
sectional elevation of which is shown in Figure 2) will, by moving the sliding

page_text: switch e into position of contact, complete the circuit of a small relay K (or other
suitable electro magnetic device) which in its turn partially completes at the
mercury cups S, S, or other convenient switching arrangement the actuating circuit
for placing the transposing switch B in position of charge. The solenoid of the
relay K being excited by a current from the regulating cells R1, R2, R3, a circuit
will be completed (as indicated by arrows 1) from the regulating cell R³ to the
junction point e thence as indicated by arrows 5 to the coil of the relay K
whence it passes to the sliding contact e to the junction point e and thence as shown
by arrows 1 to the regulating cell R' to complete the circuit.
On the evolution of gas from the battery A¹ to the predetermined limit as herein
before described the said gas passes into the vessel and thence by the pipe D into
the gasometer C thereby raising the belle of the said gasometer which is connected
by the chain or cord c¹ and counter-weights to a bar or rod c³ attached to the
rocking lever of the transposing switch so that as the bell crises the rocking
lever is caused to turn on its centres and bring the contacts g g into the
mercury cups or connecting points of the sail switch thereby completing a
circuit as shown by arrows 1 from the mercury cup or connecting point / to
junction point et whence it passes to the regulator cells R, R, R³, to the junction
point and thence through the solenoid coils of the switch A to the mercury
cups or connecting point and on to the mercury cup or point to complete the
circuit. The solenoid i is thus excited and attracts an armature attached to the
rocking lever a causing the lever to rock on its centres, so as to raise the contacts on
the end a of the said lever out of the mercury cups which connect the battery A¹
with the charging mains and cause the contacts on the opposite end as of the rocking
lever a to descend into the mercury cups or connecting points a which connect the
said battery with the discharging mains. The charging circuit is maintained
unbroken, when the lever is thus moved, by contacts on the end of the lever
entering mercury cups or connecting points m thereby establishing the circuit indi-
cated by arrows 2 from the charging main G to the mercury cup m on the switch A
and thence through a resistance I (which latter is thus placed in parallel with the
battery before the complete separation of the battery from the charging circuit); to
mercury cups or connectors on the switch B and thence to the charging main G'.
When the battery has been removed from the charging circuit the resistance I is
short circuited as shown by arrows 3 through the mercury cups or connectors o and n
on the switches A and B respectively.
During the period in which the charging current is passing through the resistance I
and short circuit 3 the charging circuit through the batteries is broken and an
electro magnetic device K2 in the charging circuit (and actuated thereby) which
previously closed (by the attraction of its armature due to the passage of a current
through its coils) à relief valve d in a pipe D2 communicating with the pipe D through
which the gas enters the gasometer C, is rendered inactive, so that the relief valve d
will then open either by gravity or by the pull of a spring or weight, and allow the
collected gas in the gasometer C to escape through the pipe D2. The moveable
portion or bell c of the gasometer C will accordingly fall or return to its original
position and in so doing raise the contacts g g on the rocking switch F out of the
mercury cups or connectors and lower contacts into the mercury cups or
connectors thereby completing a circuit as shown by arrows 4 from the mercury
cup or connector to the junction point and through the regulator cells R*, R³,
and junction point e to the mercury cups or connectors S of the relay K whence it
passes to the solenoid coil or coils of the switch B and through the mercury cups
or connectors u of the said switch B to the mercury cups or connectors of the
switch A thence to the second contact at gr of the switch F to complete the circuit
and thus place the battery A¹ in the discharging main.
Ro
The battery A having been connected as described to the discharging circuits and
the actuating connections of the battery in connection with the switch B being
completed, the latter is immediately disconnected from the discharge circuit and passes
into communication with the charging mains, the short circuiting device and

page_text: resistance I which maintained the charging circuit intact being removed in
reverse order to that in which they were inserted by the reverse operation of the
actuating contacis at w and n of the switch B, and the circuits shown by arrows 2
and 3.
While the rocking lever of the switch B is moving over to place the battery thereof
in the charging circuit a projection on the said lever strikes the arm or lever k²
of the relay K so as to raise the contacts of the said relay out of the mercury cups S,
and thereby break the circuit which had been partially completed by the actuation of
its controlling device.
When the battery or set of batteries in connection with the switch B has become
fully charged the gas evolved therefrom passes through the pipe B2 into the vessel E
thence through the pipe 1) and is collected in the gasometer C thereby raising the
bell e so as to cause the lever of the switch to rock on its centres and bring the
contact prongs 9g into their corresponding mercury cups or connectors ¹.
A current will then pass in the direction indicated by arrows 6 from the junction
point of the regulating cells R R R to the coils Lof the switch B thence to the
mercury cups or connectors y and their contact prongs on the end of the lever b to
the mercury cups or connectors ZZ' of the rocking switch thence taking the course
indicated by arrows 4 to the junction point e of the regulating cells R³ R³ Rº thus
completing the circuit. The lever of the switch B which carries an armature will,
by the excitation of the coils L, be drawn over, thereby removing the contacts on the
end of the said lever out of their mercury cups or connectors 63 and consequently
removing the battery of the switch B from the charging circuit and placing it in the
discharging circuit which latter is completed by the contact prongs on the end
the lever entering the mercury cups or connectors 7. The charging circuit is
maintained by the insertion of the resistance I through circuit shown by arrows 2 and
short circuit shown by arrows 3 in the manner described with reference to the
battery A¹.
of
The charging current to the batteries being broken by the movement as before
described of the lever of the rocking switch B the valve d of the electro magnetic
device is released in like manner to that described with reference to the movement
of the lever a of the rocking switch A, and the gas contained in the gasometer is thus
allowed to escape, causing the bell c of the gasometer (to fall and bring the lever f
of the rocking switch F again to the position shewn in the drawing in which the
contact prongs q g' are inserted in the mercury cups or connectors 7. The apparatus
is then in readiness for a repetition of the processes as described, but both batteries
having been fully charged, it is now impossible for the battery A' attached to the
rocking switch A to be recharged until a circuit as indicated by arrows 7 has been
completed from the generating station, and which, by energizing a small relay, local
battery or other source of electricity as at M, controls the movement of the rocking
switch A into the charging position by making the contact at S², thereby completing
a circuit as indicated by arrows 8, through the solenoid coil of the magnet of the
rocking switch A, to mercury cups 2 and thence to mercury cups on the switch B,
whence it passes to mercury cups 24 on the switch F and through contact
prongs it follows the course indicated by arrows 8 and 1 to the junction-point e¹ and
thence to the regulator cells R R2 R3 from the opposite poles of which regulator cells it
passes to the junction point e and back to the contact S as shewn by arrows i*. The
completion of the circuit through arrows 8 as just described, not only brings the contact
prongs on the end a¹ of the lever a of the rocking switch A into the contacts a³, but
such movement of the said lever causes the completion of the circuit indicated by
arrows 5 through the coils of the relay K on the rocking switch B, thus preparing
for the completion of the circuits enabling rocking switch B to come into action at
its proper time as before described.
It will be seen that the object of the relay S is to prevent the return into the charging
circuit of the battery A¹ attached to the rocking switch A when such return is
undesirable or unnecessary.
Z represents an apparatus in connection with the distributing mains for the purpose

page_text: of regulating the electromotive force at the discharge circuit so that when the tw
sets of batteries are placed in parallel the charging of one by the other shall not take
place, and that the two sets of batteries shall divide between them equally or nearly
so, the total discharge required. and also that the overdraft of one of the sets of
batteries be prevented. This apparatus may consist of a solenoid coil and core, as
illustrated, the coil being maintained in parallel or compound connection (the latter being
used when it is desired to maintain the electro motive force constant at an electrically
distant point) with the distributing mains at any desired points such as ZZ, but any
form of instrument acting the part of a voltmeter or pressure gauge or indicator and
capable of making contacts with its movable portion may be used.
It must however
25
be provided with two sets of contacts as at y, y' for the purpose of actuating other
apparatus by the movement of its core or other movable portion making or breaking
either or both of the circuits controlled by such contacts. Any rise or fall in electro
motive force at or in the distributing mains will have a corresponding effect upon the
core or armature Z³ of the solenoid coil, or like electro-magnetic device. This move-
ment of the core or armature is made to actuate contacts as at y, y' which complete
circuits through two solenoids or electro-magnets Y Y so that when the electro-motive
force in the discharge circuit of one of the batteries has risen or fallen, the core or
armature of the relay magnets Y or Ya will be moved in directions corresponding
respectively to the rise or fall, and will make contacts at points shown by Y Y Y³ or
Y Y Y and complete circuits of an apparatus R or R for inserting into or
removing from the discharge circuits of either battery a counter electromotive
force;
this latter operation being performed by first inserting or removing a
resistance or and immediately afterwards a convenient number of cells such
as R1 R2 R3 or R R R containing separate leaden plates suspended in an electrolyte,
or such other convenient means of obtaining electromotive force. The apparatus
may consist of any arrangement of solenoid core or electro-magnets with armatures,
and arranged so that a current in opposite halves of the coil produce opposite
movements of a set of contacts, the current in one half of the coil tending to move
the armatures or core or cores so as to complete such contacts, the current through
the other half tending to move the armature so as to break the said contacts. The
apparatus as illustrated is a convenient form, but it will be readily seen that other
electro-magnetic devices may be made to answer the purpose.
Whenever battery A¹
attached to rocking switch A is being charged, the movable portion or lever"
of the said transposing or rocking switch will make a sliding or other suitable
contact or contacts as at W and complete that circuit of the relay solenoid Yor
such like device, which causes the solenoid core or armature to move or make the
contacts at Y Y Y or any of them which were previously broken thus causing
the insertion of the whole of the counter electromotive force into the discharge
line this will be accomplished by a current as shown by arrows 10 from the
regulator cell R³ through the lower coil of the relay Y, thence to the contacts on
the rocking switch A at W₁ to the junction point et and thence to the opposite
pole of the regulator cells at R¹. At the same moment the circuit shewn by
arrows 11 through contact y' and solenoid core Z³ to the junction of arrows 11 with
arrows 1, and the regulator cells at R R2 R3 of the alternative end of the relay Y at
the contacts X on the rocking switch A will be broken by the upward movement of
the end a of the lever "a" raising the connecting prongs out of the contacts at X.
The return of the battery A¹ to the circuit of discharge will by the necessary motion
of the lever "a" of the rocking switch A restore the original connections so that the
electromotive force existing at the discharge circuit of the battery A¹ shall be kept
nearly normal by the regulator Y being completely under the control of the solenoid
coil and its core Z³. The object of the above described operation is to ensure that
at the moment when the battery A' is placed on the discharge circuit in parallel with
the battery in connection with the switch B the maximum counter electromotive force
shall be present in the discharge circuit of battery A¹ so that its electromotive force-
which may be greater than that of battery of switch B--sball not be able to overcome
the electromotive force developed by the latter battery at the distributing mains.
a

page_text: The apparatus R R consists of a set of contacts arranged in connection with a
suitable galvanic couple for the purpose of constituting a counter electromotive force
that a comparatively sparkless bye-pass is obtained. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate on
an enlarged scale a convenient form of one of these apparatus; it is provided with a
rocking lever A4 which is moved by the completion of an electric circuit shown by
arrows 12-13 and 14, Figure 1, actuating the core around the solenoid or armature A5
of an electro magnet Ral. This apparatus has five mercury cups H Ha² Ha³ H² H²
or other convenient form of contacts and the oscillation of the lever A is controlled
by a dashpot B containing glycerine or other suitable fluid. Between the mercury
cups or contacts H H at one end of the lever A¹ is placed a resistance (see Figure 1)
and the contact prongs or bridge which completes the circuit of the resistance with
the counter electromotive force cell H2 are made somewhat longer than the other
at Has (see Figure 5) so that when the lever A is rocking in the direction to make
the contact H³ the counter electromotive force cell E2 will be circuited through this
resistance before the said cell is cut out of circuit by the rising of the opposite end of
the lever carrying the contacts at H². The instant after the resistance is cut out of
the circuit by the further motion of the lever A it is short circuited by the completion
of the stroke of the said lever bringing the shorter prong at H3 into its mercury cup
or other contact.
The cycle of operations above described, which relate to the insertion or removal of
a counter electromotive force into or from the circuit of discharge is repeated for the
battery in connection with the switch B the apparatus Z having its contacts y y made
so as to be applicable to the working of the relay Ya in the same manner as with the
working of the relay Y already described and the circuits being similar to those
existing for the working of the relay Y no further description is necessary.
The path of the discharging current from battery A¹ at the points a from H,-is
similar to the arrangements for the discharge circuit of battery in connection with the
switch B from the point when the counter electromotive force cells R R R³ are
in action the course of the current from the point as is along the dark line H to the
mercury cup or contact H and as shown by arrows His through contacts and bridge H2
to the cell R¹ thence as shown by arrows 1 and H¹ª to the discharging circuit of lamps
or other devices.
The operation of inserting these counter electromotive force cells in the circuit com-
mences with the insertion of R³, then the insertion of R2 and finally R¹ by the operation of
the contacts YY2 and 3 following each other in rotation and it will be clear that R³ may
be in the circuit alone or in series with R2, and in the latter case the discharge current
will pass, as before described, from the point and of course similarly with regard to
rocking switch B and its like attachments from the point H through the circuit as
shewn by the dark line to the mercury cups or connectors Ha, thence across the
bridge B to the mercury cups or connectors Ha2 & H3, thence by the dark line H
to the mercury cup or connector H1 and along the line H2 to the mercury cup or
connector H2 and the bridge or connector to the cell R², thence by arrows 1 and Ha
through R³ the position of the contacts y¹ y2 on the relay Y being such as to com-
plete the circuits around R2 and Ras and so by the energizing of the controlling
device to draw the bridge pieces into the contacis at H2 and H3.
:
The description above given is the same for the insertion of any or all of the counter
electromotive force cells and does not therefore require repetition for the apparatus R
which is in connection with the discharging circuit of battery attached to rocking
switch B.
In
To render the current in the discharge circuit of each of the batteries equal or
nearly so when together in parallel, a current balance as shewn at Q is provided. This
balance may consist of a pair of coils and core wound similarly to those of the
apparatus Y Y to carry the discharge current or a suitable proportion thereof.
the drawing I have shewn this apparatus in the form of a scale beam. The discharge
current from each battery or equal proportion thereof must pass round coils whose
effect is to oppose each other and it is evident that when the currents from each of
the two batteries are equal the beam q* of the balance will be held in a mean or

page_text: or
omar position, the corrects at 7:9:9:9 and 9 being broken. 10 prevent
"hunting" or undue oscillations of the beam q* springs or dashpots or both are pro-
vided tending to hold the beam in a mean position. Immediately however on an
increased current passing from either of the batteries the core or its equivalent
around which such increased current is passing will be drawn into its coil or equiva-
lent so that circuits through 3 will be completed by the contact prongs
through by the contact prongs 6. On such completion of the circuits at ga
current will pass to the relay Y causing the insertion into the discharge circuit of the
battery which at the moment is yielding more than its proper proportion of one or
more of the counter electromotive force cells, until equality is again restored in the
discharging currents, when the beam q* of the apparatus Q will again occupy an
intermediate position, removing both sets of prongs q, q* out of action. The apparatus
performs its work of equalizing the discharge current from the batteries indepen-
dently of the movement of the apparatus Z, which latter is intended only to regulate
the electromotive force of the discharge mains.
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. In or connected with means for the automatic electrical distribution and charge
of secondary batteries the combination of a set or pair of switching apparatus for
transposing the connection of a battery or set of batteries from series to parallel and
vice versa and a resistance and short circuit or equivalent means controlled by such
transposing apparatus for the maintenance of the continuity of the charging circuit
substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination of switching apparatus A and B batteries A and B' gas pipe
scaling apparatus E gasometer and switch F with their connecting circuits
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with the switching apparatus A and B batteries A' B¹ gas
collecting chambers, pipe sealing apparatus E and gasometer C, of the switch F and
valve apparatus K2 and their connecting circuits substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. In or connected with a system of electrical distribution the apparatus Zin com-
bination with counter electromotive force cells and controlling apparatus Y or Ya or
both and R or R or both for effecting the automatic regulation of the electromotive
force in the discharge circuit substantially as herein before described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination with the switching apparatus A B for transposing the con-
nections of a battery from parallel to series and vice versa of connections and circuits
controlled directly by the movement of the said switches for actuating apparatus for
regulating the electromotive force in the discharging circuit of said batteries
substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
6. In a system of electrical distribution means for ensuring equality of discharge
current from two sources of electricity by the insertion in the respective circuits of a
sufficient counter electromotive force the said means consisting of the current balance
apparatus in combination with the apparatus R and Rb and cells attached thereto
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
7. The combination with one or more pairs of batteries and one or more pairs of
switches for transposing the connections of the said batteries from series to parallel
and vice versa of a gasometer C gas seal E switch Felectro magnetic valvular device K²
regulating apparatus Z counter electro motive force cells R R R R R* R' and
current balance Q with their connecting circuits substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
R

page_text: 8. In a system of electrical distribution the combination with a set or sets of
batteries provided with apparatus for automatically charging and discharging the
said batteries of cells used as counter electromotive force for the regulation of the
electro motive force in the discharge circuit of the said batteries substantially as
herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
9. The general combination and arrangement of apparatus constituting means for
the automatic electrical distribution and charge of secondary batteries substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.