Improved Electric Current Meter.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 24th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1894
2
Improved Electric Current Meter.
I, SOPHUS EMIL NIELSEN, Watch Manufacturer, of 14 Soho Square, London,
in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for measuring, indicating and
recording the amount of current which passes a given point, and it consists in a
counter or integrating mechanism of any suitable construction, which is actuated
by a wheel driven by a rotating disc, but which is so constructed and so arranged in
relation to such disc that the speed with which it is actuated thereby varies with
the amount of current passing at the time.
The wheel above referred to consists of a drum with longitudinal grooves or
teeth cut on its periphery, or such wheel may be in the form of a lantern pinion.
This wheel is mounted so that it can rotate freely in bearings which are formed in
a frame or carrier capable of turning in relation to the counter on which it is
mounted, the range of movement of the frame being through an angle of 90°, so
that the axis of the wheel can occupy all positions within such range. The axis
is connected to the counter by any suitable arrangement of gearing which will not
interfere with the free turning of the frame and such wheel, and yet permit the
motion of the wheel when it revolves on its axis to be always transmitted to the
counter.
The disc which drives the wheel is mounted in fixed bearings and its periphery
is composed of bristles so as to form a circular brush, or such periphery may be of
any other suitable soft, flexible or yielding material. The brush is arranged so as
to gear with the wheel or lantern pinion above referred to, and when the latter is
in a plane at right angles to the axis of the disc, the bristles will simply move down
over the teeth of the wheel and in the spaces between same without imparting any
movement thereto, so that the counter will not be actuated. This position of the
wheel or lantern pinion corresponds with the condition when no current is passing.
Any movement of the wheel or lantern pinion from the position referred to will
at once present the teeth thereof so that the brush will work across the teeth, when
the wheel or pinion will at once be caused to rotate on its axis, and its motion be
transmitted to the counter, the speed at which the wheel is driven increasing as
same deviates from the plane at right angles to the axis of the disc which drives
it, until it reaches its maximum speed when the axis of such wheel is in a plane
parallel to the axis of the disc. It will thus be seen that the speed at which the
counter is driven by the wheel or lantern pinion depends entirely on the position
the latter occupies with regard to the driving disc, and as such position changes
with the amount of current passing, the counter will correctly register such
amount.
As above stated the driving disc or brush is caused to rotate, and this may be
effected by clockwork or other suitable motor (electrical or not), and may either
cause such disc to rotate continuously or only when a current is passing.
The wheel or lantern pinion which drives the counter is controlled by the current
passing, either through the action of a voltmeter or by variations of temperature
caused by increase or decrease of the current, or by any other suitable means, so
that the position of such wheel in relation to the driving disc or brush, and con-
sequently the speed at which same is driven and at which it actuates the counter,
varies with the current.
It will be readily understood that in place of moving the wheel or lantern pinion

page_text: in relation to the disc, the latter might be caused to move in relation to the wheel
or lantern pinion, in which case it would be the position of the disc which is
controlled by variations of the current.
Dated this 24th dow of Monch 1902
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, SOPHUS EMIL NIELSEN, Watch Manufacturer, of 14 Soho Square, London,
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 ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for measuring, indicating and
recording the amount of current which passes a given point, and it consists in a
counter or integrating mechanism of any suitable construction, which is actuated
by a wheel driven by a rotating disc, but which is so constructed and so arranged
in relation to such disc that the speed with which it is actuated thereby varies with
the amount of current passing at the time.
The wheel above referred to consists of a drum with longitudinal grooves or
teeth cut on its periphery, or such wheel may be in the form of a lantern pinion.
This wheel is mounted so that it can rotate freely in bearings which are formed in
a frame or carrier capable of turning in relation to the counter on which it is
mounted, the range of movement of the frame being through an angle of 90°, so
that the axis of the wheel can occupy all positions within such range. The axis is
connected to the counter by any suitable arrangement of gearing which will not
interfere with the free turning of the frame and such wheel, and yet permit the
motion of the wheel when it revolves on its axis to be always transmitted to the
counter.
The disc which drives the wheel is mounted in fixed bearings and its periphery
is composed of bristles so as to form a circular brush, or such periphery may be of
any other suitable soft, flexible-or yielding material. The brush is arranged so as
to gear with the wheel or lantern pinion above referred to, and when the latter is
in a plane at right angles to the axis of the disc, the bristles will simply move
down over the teeth of the wheel and in the spaces between same without imparting
any movement thereto, so that the counter will not be actuated. This position of
the wheel or lantern pinion corresponds with the condition when no current is
passing. Any movement of the wheel or lantern pinion from the position referred
to will at once present the teeth thereof so that the brush will work across the
teeth, when the wheel or pinion will at once be caused to rotate on its axis, and its
motion be transmitted to the counter, the speed at which the wheel is driven
increasing as same deviates from the plane at right angles to the axis of the disc
which drives it, until it reaches its maximum speed when the axis of such wheel is
in a plane parallel to the axis of the disc. It will thus be seen that the speed at
which the counter is driven by the wheel or lantern pinion depends entirely on the
position the latter occupies with regard to the driving disc, and as such position
changes with the amount of current passing, the counter will correctly register
such amount.
-
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus,
Fig. 2 a plan view,
Fig. 3 a rear elevation, and
Fig. 4 a similar view to Fig. 3 with certain parts broken away and. showing

page_text: Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the apparatus, and
Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views.
In these drawings I have shown the operating wheel in the form of a lantern
pinion A, consisting of a toothed disc a, a', at each end, with fine wire, thread or
other suitable material a² wound thereon from disc to disc. The wheel A as above.
stated may be in the form of a drum with longitudinal grooves or teeth cut on its
periphery.
The wheel is mounted as shown in bearings B, B', so that it can rotate freely,.
such bearings being formed on a frame or carrier which is capable of turning in
relation to the counter D on which it is mounted, and which may be of any
suitable construction.
The range of movement of the frame or carrier C is through an angle of 90°,.
and it will therefore be seen that the axis of the wheel A can occupy any position
within such range. Its movement is controlled by the current passing, either by a
voltmeter; by variations of temperature caused by increase or decrease of the
current; by an electro magnet or solenoid the action of which will vary with the
current passing; or by any other suitable means.
The axis of the wheel A is connected to the counter D by any suitable arrange-
ment of gearing, that shown in the drawings consisting of a worm E on such axis
actuating a wheel F on one end of a shaft G pivoted in bearings in the carrier C,.
and provided with a pinion G¹ meshing with a wheel H fixed on the centre arbor
of the counter, which latter also passes through and forms the axis on which the
frame or carrier C turus.
A bridge piece I forms one bearing of the centre arbor of such counter, and
keeps the frame or carrier C from shifting away from the back plate d of the
counter D.
In the drawings I have shown the wheel A as being driven by a disc J formed
with bristles j, although as above stated the periphery of the disc may be formed of
any suitable soft, flexible or yielding material. The dise J is mounted on an axis
carried in fixed bearings K and rotated by any suitable means, such as by clock-
work or by any suitable electrical or other motor, and it may either be caused to
rotate continuously, or only on the passage of a current which it is desired to.
measure.
The bristles are arranged so as to gear with the threads or teeth of the wheel
or lantern pinion A, and it will be seen that when the axis of the latter is in a plane-
at right angles to the axis of the disc J, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the bristles will
simply move down over the teeth of the wheel and in the spaces between such
teeth without imparting any movement to the wheel. This is the position of the
parts when no current is passing, and therefore the counter D is not actuated..
Any movement of the wheel A from the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7 will at
once present the teeth of such wheel so that the bristles j of disc J will work
across them and so rotate the wheel A on its axis, this motion being transmitted by
the worm E and wheel F to the pinion G' and wheel H, the axis of the latter of
which as above stated forms the centre arbor of the counter D.
It will be seen that the speed at which the wheel A is driven by the disc will
increase as the wheel is moved from the plane at right angles to the axis of the
disc, until it reaches the maximum speed when the axis of such wheel A is in a
plane parallel to the axis of the disc J, which position of the parts is indicated in.
It will be readily
Figs. 2, 3 and 5. An intermediate position is shown in Fig. 4.
understood that as the speed at which the counter D is driven by the wheel A
depends entirely on the position the latter occupies with regard to the driving
disc J, and as such position changes with variations in the current passing, the
counter will always correctly register such current.
It will further be readily understood that in place of moving the wheel or lantern
pinion A in relation to the disc J, the latter might be caused to move in relation
to the wheel or lantern pinion, in which case it would be the position of the disc
which is controlled by variations of the current.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said!
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The combination with a counter or integrating mechanism of a toothed wheel
connected therewith and a disc of bristles or other suitable soft, flexible or yielding
material for actuating such wheel, the axes of the wheel and disc being one
movable in relation to the other, so as to vary the rate of transmission in accord-
ance with variations in an electric current which is caused to act upon the
movable axis, substantially as specified.
.
2. The improved electric current meter constructed and operating substantially
as specified.
Dated thin 94th day of Tonuose 1904
ALLISON BROS,
Agents for the Applicant.