Improvements in or relating to Electricity Registers or Meters.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Electricity Registers or Meters.
We, CÉSAR RENÉ LOUBERY, CHARLES EMMANUEL FRANCOIS, and HENRY KUNKEL-
MANN, all of 12, Rue Seguier, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our present invention relates to improvements in fixed price electricity
registers or meters for the purpose of effecting in these registers a means of
varying the price according to the different hours of the day, or the different
months of the year, or, according to any time periods.
In order to render the following explanation clearer we will describe our
improvements as applied to various existing registers.
Our invention permits of working or being worked at a distance, so as to vary
the relative velocity of the register according to the requirements of the service.
For this purpose we employ a clock at a central station or at any other point
of the system, such clock sending during a fixed period of time a given electric
current through an electro magnet or through coils placed as hereinafter described
in every register.
The current passing through the electro-magnet, or through the coils may act,
1) On the slowing down system or brake.
2) On the tension measuring system.
3) On the intensity measuring system.
We will examine successively the three different cases which are possible.
1). ACTION ON THE SLOWING DOWN SYSTEM OR BRAKE.
If the register is provided with a slowing down system or brake consisting of
a device movable in any manner in a magnetic field we arrange our electro
magnet in such a manner as to act as a brake on that device.
As an example we take a rotating register or counter the shaft of which is
provided with a metallic disc revolving between the jaws of a permanent magnet.
An electro-magnet is so arranged as to form with its armatures a kind of horse-
shoe about the disc. Every time that the central clock sends an electric current
through the electro magnet the disc will experience a braking action propor-
tionate to the current passing through the electro magnet.
Should the register be provided with another slowing down system or brake
device such as wings for instance or be without any such device we may add to
the apparatus a metallic disc rigidly connected with the register and movable
between the two jaws or branches of the electro magnet.
By the preceding arrangement a complete variability of the price is obtained.
In the case when, as is usual two prices will suffice, we may make use of the
following arrangement. In this case the current which passes through the electro
magnet is not the one produced by the central clock the electro magnet being
only on a branch or shunt from the main line. On the branch is placed an
interrupter for breaking the branch line circuit. This interrupter can be opened
or closed by means of an electro magnet which receives the current coming

page_text: through the line from the central clock. When the current, produced by the
central clock, passes through the circuit its electro-magnet will attract
its armature which then closes the interrupter contact the current
from the line thus being allowed to pass through the other electro
magnet. This electro magnet then produces its effect as a brake, as explained
before, on the disc mounted on the spindle.
With such as arrangement it will be easily understood we obtain only two
velocities as regards the movement of the spindle one corresponding to the open
contact, i.e., corresponding to the greatest velocity, the electro-magnet producing
no braking action whatever the other corresponding to the closed position of the
contact, i.e., to the minimum velocity, the electromagnet exercising its full braking
action on the disc.
2. ACTION ON THE SYSTEM FOR MEASURING THE TENSION.
In this case the current from the central clock passes through an additional
coil thus mathematically adding its action to that which measures the tension.
Let us take, as an example the Aron register in which a stout wire coil and a
thin wire coil are employed. The fine wire coil is placed in shunt within the
terminals of the main line. Concentrically to this, coil is a second coil secured
like the latter on a rod. Through the central coil passes the special current from
the central clock. The action of this coil becomes added to or deducted from that
of the outer coil in such a manner that it is possible to accelerate or retard the
register or counter by means of the central clock. This arrangement is easily
adapted to all other registers.
The special arrangement which we have just described. may also be applied in
the following case. The current passing through the inner coil may be that of
a branch from the line or of a second branch taken from the terminals of the
register or counter. A contact breaker actuated by an electro magnet the latter
being actuated by the central clock will open or close this branch. It should-be
understood that in this case as well as in that previously described the central
clock may be pneumatic instead of electric for it has no other work to do, than
that of closing or opening a contact. The movement may therefore be either
✓ electric or pneumatic.
3. ACTION ON THE SYSTEM MEASURING INTENSITY.
In this case the line of the central clock feeds electro magnets by means of
which the stout wire coils which measure the intensity are shunted in such a
manner that only a certain determinate portion of the principal current will pass
through the register.
In such an arrangement we may employ an electric line entering the register
a coil for measuring the intensity and shunt from the terminals of the coil. Two
mercury cups serve as means by which the shunt circuit is closed or opened by
the electro magnet which is actuated by the central clock. By shunting the coil
the movement of the register is retarded by which means the price is made
variable.
As in the two preceding cases the shunt may be opened or closed by a contact
device actuated by a pneumatic clock.
"
Another way of actuating the system measuring the tension consists in the
introduction in series or in derivation of a rheostat on the fine wire coil.
The variations of resistance are obtained in the following manner.
On the line is arranged an electro magnet which attracts its armature on a
central rod at every impulse sent by the central clock. On the rod is attached a
tappet which actuates the teeth of a ratchet wheel. This ratchet wheel is firmly
.connected to a disc made of insulating material which on the one hand carries a
metallic crown and on the other hand a series of metallic sectors.
The shaft of the ratchet wheel is insulated from the rest and joined to the
principal line.

page_text: The crown connected to the thin wire coil. On the other hand the shaft is in
communication with the several sectors by means of resistances. The current
from the main line reaches the shaft passes through the resistances and out by
that sector against which presses the rubber or contact connected to the crown
and from here the current returns to the main line after passing through the
coil.
From this it will be seen that it is very easy to vary the current passing though
the thin wire coil: for this purpose it is sufficient to increase or decrease the
number of resistances interposed which is done by the impulses given through
the electro magnet.
Improvements in or relating to Electricity Registers or Meters..
We, CÉSAR RENÉ LOUBERY, CHARLES EMMANUEL FRANCOIS, and HENRY KUNKEL-
MANN, all of 12, Rue Seguier, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineers, 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:—
Our present invention relates to improvements in fixed price electricity
meters or registers for the purpose of effecting in these registers a means of
varying the price according to different hours of the day, or the different
months of the year, or, according to any time periods.
In order to render the following explanations clearer, we have illustrated by
way of example, in the accompanying drawings, our improvements as applied to
various existing registers.
Our invention permits of working or being worked at a distance, so as to vary
the relative velocity of the register according to the requirements of the service.
For this purpose we employ a clock at a central station or at any other point
of the system, such clock sending during a fixed period of time, a given electric
current through an electro magnet or through coils, placed as hereinafter described
in every register.
The current passing through the electro-magnet, or through the coils may act:
(1) On the slowing down system or brake.
(2) On the voltage measuring system.
(3) On the current measuring system.
We will examine successively the three different cases which are possible.
1 ACTION OF THE SLOWING DOWN SYSTEM OR BRAKE.
If the register is provided with a slowing down system or brake consisting of
a device movable in any manner in a magnetic field, we arrange our electro
magnet in such a manner as to act as a brake on that device.
As an example (Figure 1) we take a rotating register or counter, the shaft a of
which is provided with a metallic disc b revolving between the jaws of a permanent
magnet c. An electromagnet d is so arranged as shown in the drawing as to form
with its poles a kind of horse shoe about the disc b. Every time that the central
clock sends an electric current through the electro-magnet d the disc 6 will
experience a braking action proportionate to the current passing through the
electro-magnet d.
Should the register be provided with another slowing down system or brake
device, such as wings, for instance, or be without any such device, we may add to

page_text: the apparatus a metallic disc rigidly connected with the register and movable
between the two jaws or branches of the electro magnet d.
By the preceding arrangement a complete variability of the price is obtained.
In the case when, as is usual only two prices will suffice, we may make use of the
arrangement illustrated in Figure 2. In this case the current which passes
through the electro-magnet d is not the one produced by the central clock, the
electro magnet being only on a branch or shunt from the main line f. At e e is
placed an interrupter for breaking the branch line circuit. This interrupter e
can be opened or closed by means of an electro magnet which receives the
current coming through the line hh from the central clock. When the current,
produced by the central clock, passes through the circuit, its electro-magnet g
will attract its armature, which then closes the. interrupter contact e, the current
from the line thus being allowed to pass through the other electro magnet d.
This electromagnet then produces its effect as a brake, as explained before, on
the disc mounted on the spindle a. With such an arrangement, it will be
easily understood we obtain only two velocities as regards the movement of the
spindle a; one corresponding to the open contact e, ie, corresponding to the
greatest velocity, the electromagnet d producing no braking action whatever;
the other corresponding to the closed position of the contact e, i.e., to the minimum
velocity, the electromagnet d exercising its full breaking action on the disc b. It
should be stated, that in the example illustrated in Figure 2 jj are the terminals
by which the current enters the register and ii the terminals by which the
current passes out.
2. ACTION ON THE SYSTEM FOR MEASURING VOLTAGE.
In this case the current from the central clock passes through an additional coil,
thus mathematically adding its action to that which measures the voltage.
Let us take, as an example the Aron register (Figure 3). At k is represented the
stout wire coil; is the fine wire coil placed in shunt within the terminals of the
main line ff. At m is placed concentrically to this coil a second coil secured.
like the latter on the rod n. Through the coil m passes the special current from
the central clock by the circuit h h. The action of the coil m becomes added to
or deducted from that of the coil in such a manner that it is possible to
accelerate or retard the register or counter, by means of the central clock. This
arrangement is easily adapted to all other registers. The special arrangement
which we have just described may also be applied in the following case:
The
current passing through the coil m may be that of a branch from the line, or of a
second branch taken from the terminals of the register or counter. A contact
breaker actuated by an electromagnet, the latter being actuated by the central
clock, will open, or close this branch. This amounts in other words to the appli-
cation of the electric device represented in Figure 2. It should be understood
that in this case, as well as in that represented in Figure 2, the central clock may
be pneumatic instead of electric, for it has no other work to do, then that of
closing, or opening contact. The movement may therefore, be either electric or
pneumatic.
3. ACTION ON THE SYSTEM MEASURING CURRENT.
In this case the line of the central clock feeds electro-magnets, by means of
which the stout wire coils, which measure the current, are shunted in such a
manner that only a certain determinate portion of the principal current will pass
through the register.
In Figure 4 is represented an arrangement which we may employ. The electric
line entering the register is represented by f, and the coil measuring the current
by k; o is a shunt from the terminals of the coil k. Two mercury cups p q serve
as means by which the shunt circuit is closed or opened by the electro magnet g,
which is actuated by the central clock through the wires h h. By shunting the
coil & the movement of the register is retarded, by which means the price is made
variable.

page_text: As in the two preceding cases the shunt may be opened or closed by a central
device actuated by a pneumatic clock.
Another way of actuating the system measuring the voltage, consists, as repre-
sented in Figure 5 in the introduction in series or in derivation of a rheostat on
the fine wire coil.
The variations of resistances are obtained in the following manner.
On the line hh is arranged an electromagnet d which attracts its armature 2
on the rod 3 at every impulse sent by the central clock. On the rod 3 is attached
a tappet 4 which actuates the teeth of a ratchet wheel 5. This ratchet wheel is
firmly connected to a disc made of insulating material, which carries a metallic
ring 7.
This metal ring is provided with a spring contact 11 which presses
against a disc of insulating material carrying on its periphery metal sectors 8.
The ratchet wheel can turn freely on the spindle 9 which is fixed and supports
the sectors 8 which do not revolve. It will, therefore be seen that owing to the
rotation of the ratchet wheel the spring contact 11 will press against one or other
of the sectors.
The shaft 9 of the ratchet wheel is insulated from the rest and joined to the
principal line f.
The ring is connected to the thin wire coil . On the other hand the shaft 9
is in communication with the several sectors 8 by means of resistances 10. The
current from the main line f reaches the shaft 9, passes through the resistances 10.
and out by that sector 8 against which presses the rubber or contact 11 connected
to the ring 7, and from here the current returns to the main line after passing
through the coil 7.
From this it will be seen, that it is very easy to vary the current passing
through the thin-wire-coil; for this purpose it is sufficient to increase, or decrease
the number of resistances 10 interposed which is done by the impulses given
through the electro-magnet d.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The method of acting upon a brake device of the register by an electro-
magnet receiving electric impulses from a central clock in such a manner, that
the electro-magnet shall exercise a braking action on the movable part of the
brake device substantially as described.
2. Acting upon the voltage measuring system by means of an additional coil
which receives the impulses from a central clock, thereby adding mathematically
its own action to that of the coil which measures the voltage the additional coil
being either arranged concentrically with the one which measures the tension or
occupying any other convenient position or by sending impulses from a central
clock through an electromagnet, acting on resistances which are successively and
automatically interposed in the circuit of the thin wire coil, substantially as
<described.
3. Acting upon the current measuring system by sending the electric impulses
coming from a central clock, through electro-magnets which permit the shunting
of the stout wire coils which measure the current in such a manner, that the
register is traversed only by a determined part of the main current substantially
as described.
4. Apparatus, for use in regulating the consumption of electricity substantially
as described or illustrated in Figure 1 or in Figure 2 or in Figure 3 or in Figure 4
or in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of December 1899-
BOULT, WADE & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicants.