Device for Charging Electrical Vehicles in 1901 — Barber Ten Cent Coin

Today, the Barber Ten Cent Coin remembers when Mr. Hermann Lemp filed his request to patent his invention to charge electrical vehicles on July 20, 1901.

An excerpt from his filed patent request:

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United States Patent Office.

Hermann Lemp, of Lynn, Massachusetts, Assignor to General Electric Company, A Corporation of New York.

Charging Device for Storage Batteries.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,548, dated April 28, 1903.

Application filed July 20, 1901, Serial No. 69,071, (No model.)

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hermann Lemp,  a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Charging Devices for Storage Batteries, (Case No. 1,633,) of which the following is a specification.

To facilitate the charging of storage batteries mounted on electrically-propelled vehicles, it is desirable to provide along the public highways or at points convenient of access for such vehicles means for charging the storage batteries. Public stations of this kind for the supply of electric energy are known as “electrants.” Several arrangements have been proposed for governing the electric connection between the service-mains of the supply system and the battery carried by the vehicle.

It is the object of my invention to provide a simple and effective means guarding against the unauthorized use or purloining of current and still permitting a cabman to obtain a Supply of current by the deposit of a coin or token or by the use of an authorized key furnished by the supply company.

In carrying out my invention I provide a housing or cover for circuiting devices by which electrical connections may be established with a storage-battery vehicle normally sealed against access, so as to prevent the unauthorized delivery of energy, but adapted to be opened by a cabman carrying a special key or to be rendered accessible by the deposit of a coin or token.

My invention contemplates the delivery of current to two classes of vehicles. The first class embodies vehicles in which prepayment mechanism is installed within the vehicle, and my invention contemplates the supply to vehicles of this kind of a special key by which direct access may be gained to the electrant, the prepayment or coin-control mechanism being within a locked box on the vehicle itself.

Such a kind of service is desirable, as it will permit a cabman to detach his plug at any time from the electrant irrespective of the amount of current he has taken, and at his leisure he may again effect the connection with another electrant until the full amount of the charge for which he has paid through the prepayment apparatus on his vehicle shall have been delivered.

The other class of vehicles may gain access to prepayment devices in the electrant by use of a connecting-plug by means of which the outer door may be released, exposing the prepayment apparatus, after which by deposit of a coin connection may be automatically established.

I provide a locked door which none but a cabman may open, in which are mounted insulated studs or contacts connecting with a release-magnet for a lock, which may be energized by the residual charge of the battery on a visiting vehicle, the magnet, being wound so as to require approximately eighty volts to release the lock.

In order to prevent the fraudulent use of current after the current has been rendered accessible, I provide devices insuring the locking of the door before a vehicle can leave the electrant, thereby preventing any but pay customers gaining access to the device.

The amount of current delivered may be controlled in any suitable manner by means of a meter or other similar device, the key customers having a prepayment device mounted on their vehicles by which connection may be made with any number of plugs or electrants until the value of the deposited coin has been delivered in current, thus permitting them to take a limited supply and quickly disconnect their attachment from the electrant to answer the call of a fare, if necessary.

My invention therefore comprises a current-delivering apparatus for battery-operated vehicles provided with means normally rendering the current inaccessible, but adapted to be rendered so by the residual charge of the battery carried by the vehicle.

It comprises also a cover guarding the apparatus against tampering on the part of outsiders, but permitting access to cabmen and means for forcing the cabmen to restore the exposed parts to a protected condition before leaving the electrant.

It embodies also structural features which will be more particularly hereinafter described, and definitely indicated in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is —

1. A charging-station for electrically-propelled vehicles provided with terminal contacts connected with an electromagnetic control device adapted for actuation by a residual battery charge in said vehicle.

2. A charging-station for electrically-propelled vehicles provided with a locked door barring access to the current-supply, and means responsive to a residual battery-current in said vehicle permitting release of the door.

3. A charging-station for electrically-propelled vehicles having prepayment devices controlling access to the supply-current, a door or cover over the same, contacts accessible to a cabman, adapted for the application of a source of electric potential and an electromagnetic device for the door controlled by said contacts.

4. A charging-station for electrically-propelled vehicles comprising a casing over the current-supply devices, a locked door for the same, and means enforcing the locking of the door before a cabman can withdraw his vehicle.

5. A charging-station for electrically-propelled vehicles comprising a casing over the current-supply apparatus, a locked door controlling access to said apparatus adapted to accommodate an unlocking device on the cabman’s connecting-cable, and means for locking said devices against withdrawal until the door is again fastened.

6. A charging-station for electrically-propelled vehicles comprising a casing over the current-supply apparatus, a locked door controlling access to said apparatus adapted to accommodate an unlocking device on the cabman’s connecting-cable, means for locking said device against withdrawal when the door is opened, and releasing means for the device actuated when the door is again fastened.

7. A charging-station for electrically-propelled vehicles comprising a casing over the current-supply apparatus, a magnetically locked door controlling access to said apparatus, means controlled by the cabman’s battery for releasing the magnetic lock, detaining devices for the cabman’s connecting-cable, and means for permitting withdrawal of the cable when the door is locked.

8. A charging-station for electrically-propelled vehicles comprising a casing over the current-supply apparatus, a locked door controlling access to said apparatus, an electromagnet controlling the lock connection, means permitting energization of said magnet by the cabman’s battery, and means for locking the cabman’s cable and preventing its removal when the door is open.

9. A charging-station for electrically-propelled vehicles comprising current-supply apparatus, independently-accessible sets of supply-terminals, a guard therefor, connections for rendering them accessible to cabmen, and means for forcing the cabmen to restore the guards after use.

10. A charging-station for electrically-propelled vehicles comprising current-supply apparatus, a locked door guarding access thereto, an electromagnet responsive to a cabman’s battery for releasing the lock, and means for removing the control of the magnet when the door is open.

11. A charging-station for electrically-propelled vehicles comprising current-supply apparatus, two locked doors each controlling supply of current to different classes of customers, and means for disabling the supply-terminals of the outer door when the inner one is open.

12. A charging-station for electrically-propelled vehicles containing prepayment apparatus for supplying current, and means for opening the supply-circuit within a casing when the vehicle is disconnected from the station.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of July, 1901.

Hermann Lemp

Witnesses:

Dugald McK. McKillop,  John J. Walker.

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The Barber Ten Cent Coin shows with one of the images from Mr. Lemp’s patent request showing his charging station.

Barber Ten Cent Coin