Currents, which Apparatus will also Serve as a Motor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1888
Specification Accepted, 6th July, 1888
WHA
Currents, which Apparatus will also Serve as a Motor.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings 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 :-
This invention relates to apparatus which may be employed either for the purposes
of measuring electric currents or as a source of light motive power.
In carrying out the said invention I utilize the heating effects of an electric current
upon a confined body of air or other gas, or upon a fluid, such air, gas or fluid being
contained in a suitable chamber and the expansion produced by the heat of the
electric current being utilized to produce movement of a body such for instance as a
body of liquid contained in a suitable receptacle and having the confined body of air,
gas or expansible liquid resting on its surface. Or such body may consist of a
suitable shiftable weight lever or other movable device, acted upon through suitable
connections between the same and an expansible or yielding wall of the chamber
containing the expansible liquid or gas.
My invention consists in the combination with two or more such air, gas or liquid
chambers of proper electric heaters for expanding the contents of the same, and
electric switches controlling the flow of current to the said heaters, the said heaters
being governed by the movement produced by the expansion of the body of air, gas
or other fluid in such a way as to cut off the flow of current to the heater by which
an expansion and consequent movement are produced and at the same time to admit
the current to a heater whereby expansion may be produced in another chamber or
receptacle as, and for the purpose hereinafter described.
My invention consists further in certain details of construction which will be
specifically claimed at the end of this description.

page_text: The electric heater may be of any desired description and may consist of a coil or
section of conductor which opposes a resistance to the flow of electric current so as
to be heated thereby, or the heating effects may be produced by changes of magnetic
conditions or by the actions of induced currents induced by a primary current as will
hereinafter appear.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electric meter based on the principles of and
embodying the elements of my present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a modification in the manner of applying a heating coil.
Figure shows another way of heating the thermo-expansive element of the
combination by means of an electric coil or conductor.
Figure 4 illustrates another modified form of my invention and
Figure 5 illustrates a form in which electro magnets are utilized to perform the
switching operations.
Figure 6 shows another way of mounting the movable receptacle or movable frame
which carries the shiftable weight.
Figure 7 illustrates another manner of mounting the fluid or liquid containing
receptacles.
Figure 8 illustrates another form of the invention in which an electro magnetic
switch is employed.
Figure 9 shows another form of my invention in which the expansive force of the
fluid is utilized to throw or move the weight so as to change the centre of gravity of
the same and cause a movement of oscillation which, by the employment of switches
as hereinafter described, may be utilized for the purposes of an electric meter, or
might as could the other forms of my invention be used as an electric motor in which
constant movement of the parts would be maintained so long as current is supplied to
the apparatus.
Figure 10 shows the apparatus as used in connection with an induction coil.
In Figure 1, B B' represent two bulbs or other forms of receptacles for the gas or
other fluid, and H H two heating coils or conductors which are sealed in the bulb
and carry the electric current that serves to heat the fluid contained in the receptacle.
In the present instance the fluid operated upon so as to become the expansive operating
element of the invention is supposed to be a gas such as air, and in the form of the
invention illustrated in the Figure 1, the current is supposed to be the whole or a
definite application of the current which is to be measured. The bulbs or chambers H H¹
are connected to one another by a tube or other passage A, and a pair of minor bulbs
or enlargements W Ware applied at or near the ends of the tube A. The bulbs and
tube hold a small body of liquid such as water, though where the apparatus is liable
to be exposed to a freezing temperature it is preferable to use a non-freezing liquid
such as sulphuric acid or even alcohol. Other liquids might be used in place of the
water.
Upon the liquid which is the shifting weight of this organization, rests the confined
body of expansible gas contained in the bulb Bor B'.
The whole structure formed of the tube A, and the attached bulbs W W1, B-B¹, is
suspended or mounted on a knife-edge or pivot at E, so that it may oscillate or move
between stops V, V₁ on the shifting of the body of liquid forming the shiftable weight.
The centre of gravity of the structure is preferably arranged so as to be either coincident
with or directly over the suspension or pivotal point thereby not interfering with but
rather facilitating the tilting of the structure from side to side as the balance is
disturbed.
The frame S supports the bulbs and tube and is provided with any suitable
mechanical device for imparting movement to a register or other indicator of the
number of oscillations of the structure. In the present instance this device is shown
as consisting of a pawl P carried by the frame and engaging with the first wheel T
of a register D, like a gas meter register.
The connections of the coils HH' are made by sealing the conductors into the
glass after the manner of an incandescent electric light or through a suitable stopper

page_text: or plug inserted air-tight into the openings in the wall of the receptacle. One
terminal from each heating coil is connected with a wire which is carried down
through the standard, preferably as indicated, to the circuit from which current is
taken and the remaining terminals of the coils are carried respectively to contacts
which dip alternately into mercury cups f, g or otherwise form an electric contact
so as to complete connection with the outgoing wire a forming the combination of
the electric circuit. When the structure tilts so as to make connection with f
connection at g is broken and vice versa. By this means the coils may be brouglit
alternately into the circuit.
LL indicate electric lamps or other devices the consumption of current in which is
to be measured, and R indicates an artificial electric resistance placed as shown to
divert a definite amount of current to the meter in obvious manner. When alternating
currents are used the meter coils or heaters might obviously be in the circuits of a
secondary coil of an induction coil whose primary would be in the lamp circuit. This
modification is indicated in Figure 10.
The operation of the apparatus as thus constituted is as follows:
The current which traverses the heating coil H or H¹ which is in circuit at any time
will be in proportion to the number of lamps or the current taken by them. The
current is made strong enough and the resistance of the heating coils is such that
with the smallest current or load to be measured, say one lamp, sufficient heat will be
generated to cause an expansion of the fluid such as gas or air included in the bulb B
or B and thereby force some of the liquid from the bulb W or W' over to the other
side of the structure eventually causing the bulb system which is delicately balanced
to tip from one side to the other. Thus for instance in the position shown, the coil II
is in circuit and the structure, by the passage of current in said coil, will be caused
to tip to the other side thereby breaking the circuit to coil H and bring coil H into
circuit. At the same time the pawl P will be brought into engagement with a fresh
tooth of the wheel T. Current will now flow in coil H', and cause an expansion of
the fluid in the bulb B₁ thereby gradually forcing the liquid back to the other side
of the structure until finally the balance is again disturbed, thus causing the system
to oscillate back to its original position and produce one movement of the register
wheel T. This movement continues indefinitely and each complete oscillation to and
fro is accompanied by a movement of the wheel T a definite distance.
I find that as more lamps are added at L, and more current passes in the register
the frequency of dipping increases in like proportion or nearly enough for practical
purposes, and the apparatus can be used as an effective electric meter.
In order to prevent errors of registration and irregularities of action from changes
in the condition of the surrounding temperature of air it is preferable to enclose the
apparatus in a box or case to cut off air-currents. The case may be of glass, pottery,
metal or other material.
I do not limit myself to the employment of mercury cups as described for switching
the current into and out of the electric heater as any other form of switching device
and any other arrangement of circuits may be employed by which the current may
be alternately caused to flow and to cease to flow in the heater.
I do not limit myself to the form of register indicated as any other means for
keeping a register of the oscillations of the structure might be used.
The tube A might be a barometer tube with bulbs B B¹, about two inches in
diameter, and the coils or conductors H, H' may be of platinum wire of rather small
gange. The resistance R may be made adjustable to determine the best conditions of
working.
The mode of pivoting or suspending the structure may also be modified and the
same purpose would be served if the bulbs or receptacles were arranged to move up
and down in a vertical line alternately in response to the heating effects of the current.
In Figure 2, the coils or conductor are applied externally, and the receptacles B B¹
are supposed to consist of thin copper closely wound on the exterior with the coils H, H¹,
which are of rather fine wire and applied in a single layer. The shiftable body of

page_text: liquid occupies the conical bottom of the boxes and the connecting tube and the space
above said shiftable liquid contains the expansible fluid whether the same be another
lighter fluid, or preferably air or gas, whose rate of expansion is large as compared
with the fluid.
In Figure 3, another form of electric heater is used. In this case the coils or
conductors carrying the current by which the heating effects are produced consist of
electro magnetic coils H³, H, surrounding cores of iron which produce a magnetic
field which in turn induces in the sides of the boxes B, B', of copper or other metal,
electric currents which heat the boxes and the contained fluid so as to expand the
latter and produce the transfer operation before described. It will of course be under-
stood that in this case the current which flows in the coil is an alternating or varying
current that will produce the changes of magnetic condition necessary to the production
of induced currents.
In the modification shown in Figure 4, the current is switched from the heater by
forming shunts around the heating conductor or coils H, H, and the switch is formed
by metallic contacts F, G, insulated from one another. These contacts are connected
respectively to the circuit at one side of the heating conductor, while contact springs
moving with the structure connect respectively with the circuit at the other side.
When contact is made a shunt circuit of low resistance is formed around the
heater. The arrangement is here shown as such that if both contacts are open the
current will pass in both heaters. The tilting or oscillation of the structure as before
produced by the alternate expansion of the gas in the receptacles H, H¹, produces
an alternate closure of contact at F, G, and the continued operation of the apparatus
in obvious manner. The connection to the heater is in this figure shown as effective
through stoppers inserted in the bulbs at their top.
In Figure 5, the bulbs or receptacles are shown as consisting of inverted bottles
containing at their lower ends the shiftable liquid. The stoppers hold the ends of the
tube A, and the wires leading to the conductors H, H. One terminal of each coil
or conductor is connected to a common wire n, while the other terminals are arranged
to dip into the mercury cups f, g, from which they never rise sufficiently to break
contact. At i, j, are two spring keys or circuit closers with which a part of the
oscillating structure engages alternately to close the connection as the bulbs tilt or
oscillate on their support. The keys or circuit closers i, j, serve to close circuit
respectively from a battery t, or other generator of electricity through electro
magnets M, M², and these magnets in turn operate upon their armatures so as to
close connections from the mercury cups at f, g, to the continuation m, of the circuit.
When magnet M, is put into circuit it attracts its armature and closes a contact from
wire m, to the cup f, which circuit was open owing to the fact that the armature
of the electro magnet M, is normally retracted. Electro magnet M', similarly
establishes connection from m, to the cup at 9. The armatures of the electro magnets
obviously operate as electric switches. By this means a firm closure of the circuit
through the electric heater is obtained at every change of connection and uncertainty
of contact at the mercury cups is avoided.
In Figure 6, the structure is suspended by delicate coil springs e³, e³, attached to
opposite ends of the same as indicated. When the liquid is shifted the end of the
structure to which the liquid is forced becomes the heavier and falls when overcoming
the tension of the spring slightly the effect being substantially as if the structure were
pivoted and an oscillation taking place as before. The connection may be rendered
more positive by means of a weight X, pivoted to the structure as shown and limited
in its swing on its pivot by stops as indicated. As the structure tilts one way or the
other the weight X, tilts with it and falls to that side which is depressed thereby
increasing the movement and insuring the retention of the structure in the position
last assumed until the transfer of the liquid weight in the opposite direction is
produced by the action of the electric heater. The shifting lever carrying the weight X;
might also carry a pawl for operating on the wheel of a register.
In the modification indicated in Figure 7, the pivotal point E, of the structure is at

page_text: one side or near one of the bulbs or receptacles B,B', and a balancing weight Y, is
used in order to produce substantial equilibrium until a transfer of the liquid is
brought about. The operation is the same as in the other cases.
In Figure 8, the structure is suspended by three metal wires or strips F. The
middle wire or strip connects to one of the terminals of the two coils, the other
terminals of the said coils being connected respectively to the fixed contacts and g
through the other two wires or supports F. The armature of an electro magnet M,
plays between the two contacts, g, and operates as an electric switch to transfer the
current from the wire m, to one or the other of the heaters as the action of the
apparatus may require. For varying the magnet M, a spring contact or key K, is
arranged in the path of the oscillating structure and serves to close the circuit of a
battery t, through the electro magnet M, when the structure oscillates in one direction
and to open the said circuit when oscillation or movement of the liquid and structuro
takes place in the opposite direction. When the circuit is open the armature of the
magnet M, rests on the contact thereby closing the circuit from m, to the heater H.
When through the expansion of the gas or air in bulb B, the structure is made to
operate in the opposite direction the switch K, closes thereby energizing the
magnet M, and closing the circuit at the contact g, so as to bring into the circuit
the heater for bulb B1, and causing a shift of the liquid in the opposite direction
so as to permit the switch K, to open.
In the form of my invention shown in Figure 9, the force of the expanding fluid is
utilized directly upon the flexible top of the receptacle B, or B', which top is of thin
metal like the side of an anneroid barometer. In this case, as before, I preferably use
gas or air as the fluid though it is obvious that a liquid having a considerable
coefficient of expansion might be employed. The expansive force is applied to
bell crank levers B2, B3, to shift a weight attached to the end of a tilting rod or
lever C³, and thereby to produce oscillation of the structure carrying said lever and
boxes or receptacles B, B1, the whole structure being pivoted as before and working
between suitable stops. Suitable limiting stops are also used for the lever (³, as
indicated.
It is obvious that the structure upon which the chambers are mounted might be
fixed and the lever alone move. In this case the lever would operate on the switches
and shift the current from the heater by which a given movement is produced to
another heater which shall produce the reverse movement.
The operation of the apparatus will be obvious from the foregoing description.
The heating coils H, H, are best made of some metal whose resistance does not
greatly change by change of temperature, and in such cases the resistance R, should
likewise be of such material. When the coils are of platinum or subject to change of
resistance by temperature, the coil R, or resistance should be of similar construction.
In fact, since with many lamps at I., L, in use, the coils H, H¹, may even become
alternately red hot, the resistance R, must be made so small in gauge as to
be similarly rendered hot by its own current. Variations in these respects may
be used to vary the effects of registry or the proportional registry under different
loads so as to obtain any desired results.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
Correspondent I declare that what I claim is:-
First. The combination of two or more air, gas, or liquid chambers, an electric
heater or heaters for expanding the contents of the same, a body either liquid or solid,
movable under the influence of expansion of the contents of each chamber, and electric
switches controlling the flow of current to the said heaters, said switches being governed
by the movement produced by expansion as described so as to cut off the flow of
current to the heater by which such expansion and consequent movement are produced
and to admit the current to a heater whereby expansion inay be produced in another
chamber, as and for the purpose described.
Second. The pivoted receptacle described consisting of two closed chambers or bulbs

page_text: communicating below and partially filled with a liquid, heating electric conductors for
producing an expansion of the fluid in the spaces above the liquid so as to give rise to
a bodily movement of the same to opposite sides of the pivotal point of support, and a
toothed wheel to which the movements of said receptacle are communicated, as and for
the purpose described.
Third. In an electro-thermo-expansion device, a closed receptacle of metal containing
a fluid of any character susceptible to heat, and an electro magnetic coil adapted to
act inductively on the metal of the receptacle to develope heating electric currents in
said metal.
Fourth. The combination with the two bulbs or chambers containing an expansible
gas or liquid, of electric switches operated through the expansion of the contents of
said bulbs or chambers, and controlling the circuits of the electro magnets which in
turn operate the switches that control the flow of current to the electric heaters serving
to heat the expansible gas or liquid as described.
13
1 1
1
1 1000