Improvements in Electric Meters.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 15th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Meters.
I, SEBASTIAN ZIANI DE FERRANTI, of 120 Fellows Road, Hampstead, in the County
of Middlesex, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in electric meters and the
improvements relate to that class of meters in which the amount of alternating
current passed through the meter is from time to time automatically gauged and
recorded upon a train of recording wheels or in other suitable ways. The well
known meters of Gordon, Foucher. Aaron and Coudray are examples of this
kind of meter.
According to my invention I employ for giving motion to the gauging and
recording mechanism of such meters electrical motors in which there are no
commutators and which are non-synchronous with the alternating current by
which they are driven. The motors described in the Specifications of Patents
granted to Borel, Wright and E. Thompson No. 1383 of 1888 No. 1480 of 1889
and No. 11705 of 1888 are examples of this class of motor.
In the meters of Gordon, Foucher and Coudray, the motion which at present
is given to the instrument by an electrical motor to move the instrument at a
definite speed, can be replaced by a non-commutator, non-synchronous electric
current motor which would be kept at a constant speed by means of a governor
in the form of an escapement with balance wheel or a pendulum, or by a governor
in the form of weights flying out and causing friction against the sides of a
metal cup as in Sir William Thomson's clock or by other suitable form of
governor.
In the Aaron meter, which consists of two pendulums and which is kept in
motion by means of a spring wound up, or falling weight the spring or falling
weight would be replaced by means of an automatic winding gear driven by
means of one of these non-commutator non-synchronous motors.
Dated this 16th day of November 1889.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Meters.
I, SEBASTIAN ZHANI DE FERRANTE, of 120 Fellows Road, Hampstead in the County
of Middlesex, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object improvements in electric meters and the
improvements relate to that class of meters generally called integrating meters
in which the amount of current passed through the meter is from time to time or
continuously automatically guaged by a galvanometer either in the form of a
solenoid or in other form and is recorded upon a train of recording wheels or in
other suitable ways.
Heretofore in meters of this class the recording mechanism has been set in
action by clockwork which required frequent winding or by electrically worked
clocks which although not requiring any winding were of such construction that
they would not with certainty start into movement whenever current was sup-
plied to them and various attempts have been made to give a uniform movement
to the parts of such meters.
According to my invention I employ for giving motion to the gauging and
recording mechanism of such meters induction electrical motors which are close

page_text: ercuted and have no commutators and which are non-synchronous with the
alternating current by which they are driven.
The drawings annexed shew two examples of meters constructed as above
described.
Figure 1 is a front elevation with the greater part of the front casing removed
of a meter in which the amount of current passing is recorded continuously.
Figure 2 is a face view of the motor used for giving movement to the record-
ing mechanism.
Figure 3 is a front elevation with the greater part of the front of the casing
removed of a meter in which the current passing is gauged intermittently at
short intervals of time.
In Figures 1 and 2 A is a solenoid through which the current to be measured
passes. B is the solenoid core suspended from a lever arm C by the action of a
spring D. E is a light vertical spindle by which motion is given to the train of
recording wheels of the recorder F. G is a small wheel which can be slidden up
and down along the spindle E but cannot turn around it. His a dise the face of
which is in contact with the circumference of the wheel (. The disc H is fast.
on an axis I which is the axis of the non-commutator non-synchronous electric
motor used for giving motion to the train of recording wheels. In some cases
gear may be interposed between the axis of the dise H and the axis of the motor
in order to vary the speed. The motor shown in the drawing is one constructed
in the manner described in the Specification of a Patent to Arthur Wright,
George Herbert Alderton and George Joseph Philpoti No. 1480 in the year 1889.
Other non-commutator. non-synchronous motors such as those described in the
Specifications of Patents to Borel No. 1383 in the year 1888 and to E. Thompson
No. 11705 in the year 1888 and others might be used instead of it. In the
motor shewn in the drawing is the armature, it is an iron wheel fast on the
axis 1. KK are magnetic pole pieces curved so that they surround a large
part of the circumference of the armature. L are the exciting coils of the
magnets a branch circuit from the main is led through these coils.
vanes on the axis I for controlling its speed of rotation.
M are
When current passes through the coils of the magnets the disc H will always
revolve at approximately the same speed-at the same time the solenoid core B
will be drawn more or less into the coil A according to the strength of main
current which is to be registered. As the wheel G is in this way shifted more or
less away from the centre of the dise H it will be revolved and the speed at
which it is revolved will depend upon the strength of current passing and the
number of revolutions made by it will be recorded by the train of recording
wheels.
In the construction shown at Figure 3 the motor is shown as giving motion
to the recording mechanism of a meter such as is described in the Specification
of a Patent to I. E. H. Gordon No. 2922 in the year 1883
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. An electric meter in which the amount of alternating current passed through
the meter is automatically either from time to time or continuously gauged by
a galvanometer or other current measurer and in which the mechanism employed
for recording the amount of current passed has motion given to it by an induction
alternating current electric motor which has no commutator or collector but is
close circuited and is non-synchronous with the alternating current by which it
is driven.
2. The construction of electric meters for measuring and recording the passage
of alternating currents substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 15th day of August. 1890.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.