Operating Electric Meters from a Central Position in such a way that Charge for the Current can be Varied according to the Time of Day.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Operating Electric Meters from a Central Position in such a way
that Charge for the Current can be Varied according to the
Time of Day.
I WILLIAM HARDING SCOTT Electrical Engineer of Gothic Works King Street
Norwich, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
I connect up each meter by means of a system of special meter wires to the
central station or other central position, the meters being of the kind that are
made to integrate periodically the current being used, by means of small periodic
currents sent from the central position which either react on the main current being
used by the consumer as in my meter Patent No. 1662388 and 19525 or which
operate separate mechanism which effects the integration of the currents flowing
at the different times. The small periodic currents I send by means of clockwork
with suitably arranged contacts which at certain intervals make contact with some
convenient source of electricity so that the number of periodic currents per hour
that are sent into the meter can be reduced at certain hours of the day. The
meters will then integrate less than the full amount of current that is used hy
the amount that the number of periodic currents is reduced and the charge for the
current being according to the meter reading, it is reduced when the meter integra-
tions are reduced by the above means. Another way of attaining the same object
in meters worked according to my Patent '166238 and 19525 is by altering the
electro-motive force that operates the small shunt currents so that meters shall
indicate less than the actual current passing them at such times as it has been
decided to supply at a 'cheaper rate.
Dated this 95th day of November 1809
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION. .
י
Operating Electric Meters from a Central Position in such a way
that Charge for the Current can be Varied according to the
Time of Day.
I WILLIAM' HARDING SCOTT of L'aurence Scott & Co. Ld., Gothic Works,
King Street, Norwich in the County of Norfolk, Electrical Engineer, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide means by which electricity meters can
be caused to indicate differently at different periods and relatively to the current
consumed so that by the indications of the meter the proper charges can be made
in cases where the charges are différent at different periods for instance where the
charge is less at times when the demand is generally small than it is when the
demand is greater.
According to my invention by means of a system of special meter wires I connect
each meter to the central station or other central position the meters being of the
kind that integrate periodically the current being used by means of small currents
periodically sent from the central station or position which small currents either
react on the main current being used by the consumer as described in the Specifica-
tions of Letters Patent No. 16623 of 1888 and No. 19525 of 1889 or which operate
separate mechanism which effects the integration of the current flowing at the
different times. The small periodic current I send by means of clockwork or a
ID 17

page_text: time keeper with suitably arranged contacts which at certain intervals make contact
with some convenient source of electricity so that the number of periodic currents
that are sent, say per hour, into the meters can be reduced at certain hours of the
day; so that the meters will then integrate less than the full amount of current
that is used by the amount that the number of periodic currents is reduced and the
charge for the current being according to the meter reading the charge for the
electricity consumed is correspondingly reduced when the meter integrations are
reduced by the above means. The same object may be attained when the meters
are worked according to my aforesaid Patents No. 1662388 and No. 1952589 by
altering the electro motive force of the small shunt currents so that meters shall
indicate less than the actual current passing them at such times as it has been
decided to supply electricity at a cheaper rate.
The accompanying diagrams will serve to illustrate the nature of my invention
and manners in which it may be carried into practical effect.
Figure 1 shews the method of connecting up meters operated as described in the
Specification of Letters Patent No. 1662388 A being the main wire and B being
the shunt wires for each meter one end of the latter wires being connected to the
main and the other end of the said wires being connected to a special meter
wire C. Contact is made with this special meter wire at the central station or
central position at certain intervals for a short time and during this time the shunt
current flows and the meter registers the amount of current flowing in it at that,
time. When the shunt currents are sent at the shorter intervals say every
90 seconds the meter indicates correctly and this is the time during which the
higher charge is made. When the shunt currents are sent at longer intervals the
meter indicates proportionately less and this is the time during which the lesser
charge is made.
It is obvious that the changing from one indication to the other so that the
interval between the successive shunt currents is altered can be effected in various
ways. One way is by having two star wheels to complete the circuit for the shunt
current as shown at D and E which may be driven by the same clockwork, or they
may be driven separately and arranged so that one (that at E) has either a less
number of contacts than the other (D) or it may revolve at a lesser rate than the
other, then by means of a two way switch, as shewn at G either one or the other of
these star wheels cau be used to make and break the circuit in accordance with
the period of the day. In the arrangement shewn the wheel D is that which
operates during the time the higher charge is made and the wheel E is that
which operates during the time the lower charge is made.
If desired one star wheel only may be used its rate of revolution and consequently
the periods at which the contacts are made being altered by means of any suitable
gearing.
In Figure 2 an arrangement is shewn in which the intervals at which the shunt
current is sent is constant but the electro motive force thereof is altered. The
two-way switch G can be placed either so that the full electro motive force which
is available is sent along the shunt or so that only part of it is so sent as will be
readily seen by tracing the connections.
In Figure 3 an arrangement is shewn in which a separate meter wire is used
which goes first to one meter and then to another and operates the small electro
magnet which causes a contact to be made for the shunt circuit of the meter inside
the meter. The arrangement for changing over from one to another for sending
the shunt current is shewn as being the same as that shewn in Figure 1.
The parts which correspond with those shewn in Figure 1 are marked with the
same letters of reference in Figures 2 and 3. In Figure 2 I have not repeated
the diagrams of the meters and lamps as they may be presumed to be the same as
in Figure 1.
I have shewn arrangements for providing for two different charges but it
will be understood that more than two variations can be similarly provided for if
desired.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The operation of electricity meters from a central position or station by
providing in combination with them means by which they can be made to
integrate or indicate differently at different periods substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described.
2. The combination with electricity meters of devices which complete the
operating circuits thereof at different intervals and means for putting either
of the said devices into circuit substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
3. The combination with electricity meters of means whereby the voltage or
pressure of the current which operates them can be altered at intervals substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
4. The several arrangements herein before described and respectively shewn in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 for the purpose explained.
Dated this ol 1
1000
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.