IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND REGULATING ELECTRIC CURRENTS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti of Richmond Gardens
Shepherds Bush Electrician and Alfred Thompson of Guildford Place Russel
Square Electrician both in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of
“IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND REGULATING ELECTRIC
CURRENTS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti
and Alfred Thompson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
27th September 1882.
SEBASTIAN ZIANI DE FERRANTI of Richmond Gardens, Shepherds Bush, Electrician
and ALFRED THOMPSON of Guildford Place Russel Square Electrician both in the
County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND
REGULATING ELECTRIC CURRENTS"
This invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for measuring and'
regulating electric currents.
For measuring the quantity of an alternating current passing through an electric'
conductor the current is passed through the primary wire of an induction coil.
The terminals of the secondary coil are connected to two electrodes immersed in
water slightly acidulated. The secondary induced current is directly proportional
to the primary current and the gas generated by the decomposition of water by the
two electrodes is proportional to the current passing through the secondary coil.
The amount of gas generated can be measured in any suitable apparatus such as
now used for measuring gas but preferably we employ for this purpose a small gas
measuring chamber which is open at the bottom and at the top is carried by a
central horizontal axis on which it can rock. The horizontal axis is placed vertically
above the electrodes and a partition is carried downwards from it to divide the
measuring chamber into two compartments. An arm also extends vertically
upwards above the axis its weight causes it to incline over to one side or the other
and so to incline the measuring chamber. The extent to which it can so incline is
controlled by fixed stops against which the arm strikes. When the measuring

page_text: chamber is inclined in one or other position both electrodes are below the lower
compartment and the gas rising up from them collects in this compartment. When
sufficient gas has collected in the compartment to cause it to rise the chamber rocks
on its axis until the compartment comes into a position in which it empties itself of
gas whilst at the same time the other compartment comes into position above the
electrodes this latter compartment now in turn gets filled with gas and so the
operation goes on continuously. The rocking chamber by a pawl is made to give a
step by step revolving motion to a ratchet wheel on the first spindle of a recording
train of wheels and so the number of oscillations of the measuring chamber are
recorded.
For regulating an electric current where the current is produced by dynamo
machines we transmit from the axis of the dynamo machine or from the motor
engine which drives it a continuous revolving motion in opposite directions to two
wheels which are mounted loosely upon a spindle. Between the wheels and capable
of sliding upon the spindle we place a clutch which can be slidden endwise along
the spindle and which is drawn continuously in one direction by a spring. The
spring draws the clutch against one of the wheels and locks the spindle to this
wheel when no current or too weak a current is passing. When the current is of
sufficient strength the clutch is drawn in the opposite direction in the following
manner. The Clutch is connected by a link to a moveable coil acted upon by two
stationary coils through which the electric current whose quantity it is desired to
regulate is caused to pass. The coils are each of an oblong form and the moveable
coil is mounted in such a way that it can pivot around a central axis parallel with
its two longer sides.
1.
The two fixed coils are side by side at a distance apart parallel with one-another
the moveable coil is of a smaller length than the fixed coils and is at right angles to
them so that its two opposite sides may enter into the hollow spaces in the centre
of the two fixed coils.
The spring above mentioned draws the moveable coil into a position somewhat
inclined to the fixed coils. As the current increases in strength the action of the
coils tends more and more to turn the moveable coil in the opposite direction to
that in which it is drawn by the spring and when of sufficient strength it
predominates over the spring when it does so and the moveable coil approaches a
position at right angles to the fixed coils it draws the Clutch away from the wheel
it was previously locking to the spindle and the spindle will then no longer be
driven. A still further increase in the strength of the current moves the clutch
far enough to lock the other wheel to the spindle.-the spindle will then be made
to revolve in the opposite direction to that in which it was revolved previously.
The motion given to the spindle may be caused to vary the action of the governor
upon the engine or to vary the expansion by acting on the link motion or to
otherwise control the speed of the Engine. Or it may be made to traverse to and
fro a contact bar for throwing in and out resistances. Or for cutting out a portion
of the wire around the field magnets of the Dynamo Machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by.
the said Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti and Alfred Thompson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 27th March 1883.
SEBASTIAN ZIANI DE FERRANTI of Richmond Gardens Shepherds Bush Electrician
and ALFRED THOMPSON of Guildford Place Russell Square Electrician both in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REGULATING ELECTRIC CURRENTS
"
APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND
This invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for measuring and
regulating electric currents.
For measuring the quantity of an alternating current passing through an electric
conductor the current is passed through the primary wire of an induction coil-
the terminals of the secondary coil are connected to two electrodes immersed in
water slightly acidulated. The secondary induced current is directly proportional to
the primary current and the gas generated by the decomposition of water by the
two electrodes is proportional to the current passing through the secondary coil.
The amount of. gas generated can be measured in any suitable apparatus such as
now used for measuring gas but preferably we employ for this purpose a small
gas measuring chamber which is open at the bottom and at the top is carried by a
central horizontal axis on which it can rock. The horizontal axis is placed vertically.
above the electrodes and a partition is carried downwards from it to divide the.
measuring chamber into two compartments. An arm also extends vertically upwards
above the axis its weight causes it to incline over to one side or the other and so
to incline the measuring chamber The extent to which it can so incline is
controlled by fixed stops against which the arm strikes. When the measuring
chamber is inclined in one or other position both electrodes are below the lower
compartment and the gas rising up from them collects in this compartment. When
sufficient gas has collected in the compartment to cause it to rise the chamber rocks
on its axis until the compartment comes into a position in which it empties itself
of gas whilst at the same time the other compartment comes into position above
the electrodes this latter compartment now in turn gets filled with gas and so
the operation goes on continuously. The rocking chamber by a pawl is made to
give a step by step revolving motion to a ratchet wheel on the first spindle of a
recording train of wheels and so the number of oscillations of the measuring
chamber are recorded.
Figure 1 shews a longitudinal vertical section of measuring apparatus constructed.
as above described. Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same.
Figure 2 shews a train of recording wheels. Figure 4 shews a perspective view of
the gas measuring vessel. Figures 5. 6. 7. 8 and 9 shew the way in which we
prefer to construct the induction coil.. Figure 5 shews in section the way in which.
we connect the wire main to the ends of the primary of the induction coil. Figure 6
shews the primary coil. Figure 7 a side view partly in section of the central core
of the induction coil. Figure 8 shows the primary coil surrounding the central
core. Figure 9 shows a coil of non conducting material which may be used to fill
the spaces between the several coils of the primary coil.
X is a cast iron box with two lugs cast on for fixing against a wall-the box X.
contains an inner chamber G of ebonite or vulcanized fibre made water tight this
chamber contains water slightly acidulated with sulphuric acid. The lower part
of the cast iron box X contains the induction coil-this we form of a square bar C.
of copper wound into a spiral as shewn at Figure 6-into this is placed a core D of
wood or other non conducting material-The several turns of the primary coil may.

page_text: be separated the one from the other by the coils of a coil E of non conducting
material being interposed between them. Or this coil E of non-conducting material
may be dispensed with and the spaces between the successive coils of the coil C
be simply left open without any filling of non conducting material. A plug of
. metal is inserted into each end of the core D one of these plugs is marked A-the
other B-they are to form the terminals of the primary coil. The two ends of the
coil C are put in metallic connection with the terminals A. B. by screws D¹ each of
which as shewn at Figure 8 clamps one end of the coil C on to a tubular metal
bushing A or B into which the screw D' screws. This metallic bushing enters
and fits within a hole in the metallic terminal pieces A or B.
The metal plugs A. B have each a conical hole formed into their outer end-into
these is held a metal cone C, on the end of a conducting wire C², this wire may
either be a portion of the main conductor or it may as shewn at Figures 1 and 5:
have an ordinary screw coupling C³, screwed on to its end for the main conducting
wire to be held in. The wire C2, is surrounded by a piece C4, of non conducting
material. To ensure good contact between the cone C and the metal plug A or B
an ordinary screw union is used as shewn at Figure 5 it screws on to a short
tubular projection X which stands out from the side of the box X. A flange on'
its outer end bears against a flange on a metallic ring C6 and this ring bears against
a shoulder on the piece C, of non conducting material by which the wire C2, is
surrounded and which bears against the base of the cone C¹. C7 is a ring of non
conducting material to separate the metallic coupling C³, from the metallic ring Co.
C³ is a ring of non conducting material filling the annular space between the
core D and the interior of the short cylinder X which projects out from the side of
the box X. Around the exterior of the coil C is wound a sheet of insulating
material shewn by two dark lines in Figure 1 and over this are wound numerous
convolutions of insulated fine wire to form the secondary coil F. The two ends of
this wire are connected to two platinum plates M or other electrodes which stand up
from the bottom of the tank G. Above these electrodes is the vessel H for measuring
the amount of gas rising up from the electrodes. It is as shewn divided into two
compartments by a plate H' see Figure 4. The vessel H is carried by the axis I.
Standing up from the axis I is an arm J the upper end of which can play to and
fro to a certain extent in a slot in the top or cover of the tank. The outer end of
the arm J carries a pawl K as shewn at Figures 1. 3 and 4-the pawl engages with
the teeth of a ratchet wheel L on the first spindle of a train of recording wheels
such as shewn at Figure 2.
When the parts are in the position shewn at Figure 1 and an alternating current
is passed through the primary of the induction coil gas is generated and rises from
the electrodes M into the left hand chamber of the measuring vessel H and collects
in this chamber until the buoyancy of the gas is sufficient to cause this end of the
measuring vessel to rise-the vessel then turns into the position shewn by dotted
lines in Figure 1 and the gas rising from the electrodes M is collected in the right
hand chamber whilst the gas previously contained in the left hand chamber escapes
from it and passes away. The above operations are continued so long as a current is
passing. As the measuring vessel H is thus rocked to and fro the pawl K gives
a step by step motion to the ratchet wheel Land so the number of movements
made by the vessel H is recorded by the recording train of wheels and so
indirectly records the quantity of current passed through the primary of the
induction coil.
We claim as regards this part of our Invention.
1st The combination of the induction coil, the tank containing liquid, the two
terminal plates in this tank coupled to the ends of the secondary coil of the
induction coil and a gas measuring apparatus to measure and record the volume of
gas generated from the liquid whenever an alternating current is passed through
the primary coil..
2nd The combination of the induction coil, the tank containing liquid, the two
terminal plates therein coupled to the ends of the secondary coil of the induction

page_text: coil the measuring vessel H divided into two chambers and rocking on an axis as
either one or other of these gets filled with gas and also recording apparatus for
recording the number of times that the vessel H rocks on its axis..
For regulating an electric current where the current is produced by a dynamo
machine we transmit from the axis of the dynamo machine or from the motor.
engine which drives it a continuous revolving motion in opposite directions to two
wheels which are mounted loosely upon a spindle. Between the wheels and capable
of sliding upon the spindle we place a clutch which can be slidden endwise along
the spindle and which is drawn continuously in one direction by a spring. The
spring draws the clutch against one of the wheels and locks the spindle to this
wheel when no current or too weak a current is passing.
When the current is of sufficient strength the clutch is drawn in the opposite
direction in the following manner. The clutch is connected by a link to a moveable
coil acted upon by two stationary coils through which the electric current whose;
quantity it is desired to regulate is caused to pass. The coils are each of an oblong
form and the moveable coil is mounted in such a way that it can pivot around a
central axis parallel with its two longer sides.
The two fixed coils are side by side at a distance apart parallel with one another
the moveable coil is of smaller length than the fixed coils and is at right angles to
them so that its two opposite sides may enter into the hollow spaces in the centre
of the two fixed coils..
The spring above mentioned draws the moveable coil into a position somewhat
inclined to the fixed coils. As the current increases in strength the action of the
coils tends more and more to turn the moveable coil in the opposite direction to
that in which it is drawn by the spring and when of sufficient strength it pre-
dominates over the spring-when it does so and the moveable coil approaches a
position at right angles to the fixed coils it draws the clutch away from the wheel
it was previously locking to the spindle and the spindle will then no longer be
driven. A still further increase in the strength of the current moves the clutch
far enough to lock the other wheel to the spindle-the spindle will then be made
to revolve in the opposite direction to that in which it was revolved previously.
The motion given to the spindle may be caused to vary the action of the
governor upon the engine or to vary the expansion by acting on the link motion
or to otherwise control the speed of engine. Or it may be made to traverse to and
fro a contact bar for throwing in and out resistances. Or for cutting out a portion
of the wire around the field magnets of the dynamo machine.
Figure 10 shews a vertical section and Figure 11 a horizontall section of a
regulating apparatus constructed as above described.
In these Figures A. B. are two wheels loose on a spindle C and each driven in
opposite directions from a wheel D driven continuously from, the dynamo machine
or the motor engine-or in place of the wheel D other ways of driving the
wheels A. B in opposite directions from the dynamo machine or its motor engine
might be adopted. E is a clutch capable of sliding to and fro along the spindle
but not of turning around it. F is a lever turning on a fulcrum at F1 by which
the clutch can be slidden to and fro and capable of locking either wheel A or B to
the spindle according to which wheel it is made to engage with. G is a spring by
which the lever is drawn in one direction-the strength of the spring can be
controlled by the regulating screw G¹. H is a connecting rod by which the
lever F can be drawn in the opposite direction, it is coupled to a coil I mounted as
shown so that it can turn on its central longitudinal axis. The coupling of the rod
to the coil is on one side of the central axis so that when the coil turns on its axis
the rod is moved endwise.
J. J. are two fixed coils at right angles to the central position of the coil I and
of larger diameter than this coil so that the sides of the coil I may enter into the
central spaces of the coils J as shewn. The current to be regulated or a shunt
circuit of a portion of this current is passed through all three coils and the
apparatus then acts as above explained to revolve the spindle C in one or other

page_text: direction according as the current is too weak or too strong, the spindle is shewn
in the Drawings as giving motion to a second spindle K which in turn gives a
slower revolving motion to a third spindle by worm and worm wheel gear and the
movement of this third spindle may be made to control the speed of the motor
engine or otherwise control the strength of the current as above explained.
If the action of the swinging coil is not strong enough or sensitive enough to
move the clutch, movement of the coil might be used to operate contacts to throw
in or out of action electro magnets to draw the clutch in one or other direction.
We claim as regards this part of our Invention.
First. The combination of mechanism for regulating currents of electricity
substantially as herein before described.
Second. The combination of the two stationary coils J and the moveable coil I
the sides of which enter into the central spaces of the coils J acting together
substantially as herein before described.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Thompson have hereunto set my hand
and seal this sixteenth day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
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