US640753A - Device for indicating condition of storage batteries. - Google Patents

Description

No 640,753. Patented Jan. 9, I900. H. F. CUNTZ.

DEVICE FOR INDICATING CONDITION OF STORAGE BATTERIES.

(Application filed Oct. 27, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN F. OUNTZ, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE COLUMBIA AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE AND JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

bEvicE FOR INDICATING CONDITION OF STORAGE BAT-reams.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,753, dated January 9, 1906.

Application filed October 27,1899.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMANN F. CUNTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Hartford, county of Hartford, State, of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Indicating the Condition of Storage Batteries, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

In the application of H. P. Maxim for Letters Patent of the United States, bearing even date herewith, there is disclosed an invention which has for its object to provide means for warning an inexpert operator, and in particular the driver of a motor road-vehicle, of the approaching exhaustion of the storage batteries, which furnish power, to a degree which would be injurious to the batteries, and various embodiments of the invention are shown. The general object of the present invention is the same; but it is sought herein to cover an embodiment of the invention in a form which differs from the particular forms illustrated and described in the aforesaid application and which possesses certain characteristics which commend it, particularly under some conditions of use.

The device in which this invention is embodied has but one needle or indicator, which is in view only at such times as the conditions of discharge of the batteries make it desirable that the signaling device should be observed, whereby there is no opportunity for even the most unpracticed observer to be misled.

Other features of the invention will be referred to hereinafter and explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in elevation of a motor-vehicle which is equipped with the improved signaling device, the dashboard being partly broken out to show the signaling device, while the battery and its connections are represented by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the signaling device with part of the top plate removed.

In Fig. l of the drawings the bodyA of the vehicle is represented as adapted to receive Serial No. 734,925. (No model.)

the storage battery 13., while the signaling as: vice is conveniently located, as at C, at the forward end of the foot-board. A suitable casing C incloses and supports the several parts of the signaling device, its top having a slot 0, through which the'indicating-needle may be seen. The indicating-scale 0' may be formed upon the glass, which closes the slot, and a portion of the scale, as at 0 may be colored or otherwise distinguished from the rest for the purpose of indicating more clearly and unmistakably the danger position of the needle. At D is represented a solenoid which is so wound as to respond to differences in voltage or potential, its curved core 01 being carried by an arm D, which is suitably pivoted at d and carries the volt meter-needle E. A second solenoid F, wound with heavy wire, so that its operation is determined by the amperage of the current which passes through it,likewise has its curved core f carried by an arm F, which is pivoted atf'. Both of the solenoids are suitably connected with the battery, the volt solenoid being connected through the contacts of a circuit-breaker G, the movable arm G of which is carried with the arm F, above referred to; The arm G is preferably not fixed rigidly to the arm F, but is connected therewith by an adj usting-screw g, which permits the relative position of the arm G to be varied as the conditions of use may require. So long as the amperage is normal the circuit through the volt solenoid is closed and the voltmeterneedle E will stand at some point on the scale 0, informing the operator as to the condition of the batteries; but when the amperage is abnormal the voltmeter circuit will be broken at G and the voltmeter-needle will pass out of sight at the end of the scale. Thus, whenever the needle is out of sight the operator need not concern himself as to the condition of the batteries; but when it appears upon the scale and approaches the danger point the operator will understand that the batteries are being exhausted to a dangerous degree. If it is desired at any time to make the voltmeter independent of the abnormal amperage cut-out, this can be effected by closing a switch H, which is included in a shunt around the circuit breaker or cut-out G.

It will be understood that the details of construction and arrangement can be varied and that the invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described herein.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a device for indicating the condition of storage batteries, the combination of a volt meter and an electromagnetic device wound to respond to differences in the amperage and operatively connected with the voltmeter to control its operation, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a device for indicating the condition of storage batteries, the combination of a voltmeter, a cut-out in circuit with said voltmeter, and an electromagnetic device wound to respond to differences in amperage and operatively connected with said cut-out to control the operation of the voltmeter, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a device for indicating the condition of storage batteries, the combination of a volt solenoid, a voltage-indicator carried with the core of said solenoid, an ampere solenoid, and a cut-out in the circuit of the volt solenoid operatively connected with the core of the ampere solenoid, substantiallyas shown and described. 7

4:. In a device for indicating the condition of storage batteries, the combination of a voltmeter, a cut-out in the circuit of said voltmeter, an electromagnetic device wound to respond to difierences in amperage and opera tivelyconnected with the cut-out, and a switch included in a shunt-circuit of the voltmeter around said cut-out, substantially as shown and described,

This specification signed and witnessed this 25th day of October, A. D. 1899.

HERMANN F. CUNTZ. In presence of- H. E. HART, M. L. CLARK.

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