An Electric Meter.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 28th Mar.,
1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Electric Meter.
I, ALPHONSE FRAGER, of No. 23, Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris, France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
==
My invention relates to the construction of electric meter for measuring electrical
energy described in my Patent No. 8958 of 1889.
My present improvements relate, firstly, to the arrangement for suspending in
an adjustable manner the bobbin of the Watt or Ampère meter described in the
said Specification, within its solenoid coils. According to the present improvement,
the suspension of the wire holding the bobbin is effected as follows.
The frame of the apparatus has a split eye situated centrally over the vertical
axis of the bobbin, into which fits a cylindrical piece, perforated for the passage of
the suspending wire and terminating at its lower end in a coned part that fits into a
hollow in the upper end of the tubular axis of the hobbin, so as to form the upper
pivot for the latter. The cylindrical piece has a projecting lug or flange above the
frame, through which passes a screw, bearing upon the frame, so that on turning
this screw the cylindrical piece is raised or lowered in the frame, thereby accurately
adjusting the amount of play between its lower coned end and the hollow axis of
the bobbin.
n
The upper end of the cylindrical piece is formed as an internally screwed socket
for the reception of a second externally screwed piece, also bored centrally for the
passage of the suspending wire. The boring of this piece is enlarged at the upper
end and serves to receive a coned plug divided longitudinally into two halves. The
suspending wire is passed between the two halves of this plug, and is nipped thereby
by pressing the plug down into the boring of the upper screwel piece by a screw
cap screwed on to the latter and pressing upon the upper rounded head of the
plug. The socket for the upper serewed piece is split and provided with lugs through
which passes a nipping screw, for securely fixing the screwed piece in its socket
after it has been adjusted. The split eye of the frame is in like manner provided
with a nipping screw for holding the lower cylindrical piece securely in its adjusted
position.
Another improvement relates to the mechanism whereby the requisite oscillating
motion is imparted by the electrical current to the axis that actuates the clockwork
of the indicating mechanism or comter.
This axis carries a horizontal fly heel, the rim of which is divi lel at one point,
and the parts of the rim on each side of the gap are formed of soft iron, the other
part being of non-magnetic metal.
These soft iron parts are adapted by their oscillation to enter alternately the
opposite ends of the central opening of a solenoid coil, held with its axis horizontally
within a soft iron casing fixed to the framing, the casing being divided at one side
so as to be made to nip the solenoid and hold it secure, by mens of a nipping
screw screwing through lugs.
The crew is insulated from the casing, so that the division of the latter prevents
the formation of induced currents in the same.
When in the position of rest, one of the soft iron parts of the fly wheel rim is
male to enter the solenoid somewhat, so as to insure the proper starting of the
apparatus. The solenoid with its essing is capable of being adjusted in position
relatively to the two soft iron ends of the fly wheel for the above purpose. The mode
in which the current is conveyed to the solenoid by the oscillating axis, and in which
the motion thereof impartel to the counter mechanism, is the same as in the con-
struction described in my said Specification No. 8958, the only difference being

page_text: that the notched dise on the axis which actuates the contact spring that makes and
breaks the contact of the solenoid circuit, is formed with gradations, so that it first
only very slightly raises the spring, just sufficient to break contact, and then, on
completing the motion, it raises it to the full extent required.
By this means the formation of sparks, which occurs if the contact spring is suddenly ||
raised to it full height, is prevented.
Dated this 30th day of April 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
An Electric Meter.
1. Alphonse Frager, of No. 23, Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris, France,
Engin er, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in rud by the
following statement :-
My invention relates to the construction of electric meter for measuring electrical
energy described in my Patent No. 8958 of 1889.
My present improvements relate, firstly, to the arrangement for sustuling in
an adjustable manner the bobbin of the Watt or Ampere meter described in the said
Specification, within its solenoid coils. According to the present improvement, the
Suspension of the wire holding the bobbin is effected as follows.
The frame of the apparatus has a split eye situated centrally over the vertical
axis of the hobbin, into which fits n cylindrical piece, perforats 1 for the passage of
the suspending wire and terminating at its lower end in a conel part that fit into
a hollow in the upper end of the tubular axis of the hoblin, so as to form the upper
pist for the latter. The cylindrical piece has a projecting lug or flange above the
frame, through which passes a serew, bearing upon the frame, so that on tuning
this screw the cylindrical piece is raised or lowereal in the frame, there by accurately
adjusting the amount of play between its lower coned end, nd the hollow exis of
the bobbin.
wed_socket
crew
The upper end of the cylindrical pice is formed as an internally
for the reception of a second externally rewed piece, also bored centrally for the
passage of the suspending wire. The ring of this piece is enlarged at the upper
nd airlerves to receive a coned plug divided longitudinally into two halves. The
suspending wire is passed between the two halves of this plug and is nipped thereby
by pressing the plug down into the horing of the upper screwed picer by a
cap crewed on to the latter and pressing upon the upper rounded head of the plug.
The ket for the upper screwed piceo is split and provided with lugs through
which panipping crew, for securely fixing the screwed piece in its sucket
after it has been adjusted. The split eye of the frame is in like manner provided
with a nipping screw for holding the lower cylindrical piece securely in its adjusted
po.ition.
Another improvement relates to the mechanism whereby the requisite oscillating
motion is imparted by the electrical current to the axis that actuates the clockwork
of the indicating mechanism or counter.
The axis carrie a horizontal fly wheel, the rim of which is divided at one point.
ul the parts o' the rim on each side of the gap are formed of soft iron, the other
part being of non-magnetic metal.
These soft iron parts are adapted by their oscillation to enter alternately the
opposite ends of the central opening of a solenoid coil, held with its axis horizontally
within a so't iron casing fixed to the framing, the easing being divided at one side
so as to be made to nip the solenoid and hold it steure, by means of a uipping serew
rerewing through lug.

page_text: The screw is insulated from the casing, so that the division of the latter prevents
the formation of induced currents in the same.
When in the position of rest, one of the soft iron parts of the fly wheel rim is
made to enter the solenoid somewhat, so as to insure the proper starting of the
apparatus. The solenoid with its casing is capable of being adjusted in position
relatively to the two soft iron ends of the fly wheel for the above purpose. The
mode in which the current is conveyed to the solenoid by the oscillating axis, and
in which the motion thereof imparted to the counter mechanism, is the same as in
the construction described in my said Specification No. 8958, the only difference
being that the notched disc on the axis which actuates the contact spring that
makes and breaks the contact of the solenoid circuit, is formed with gradations, so
that it first only very slightly raises the spring, just sufficient to break contact, and
then, on completing the motion, it raises it to the full extent required.
By this means the formation of sparks, which occurs if the contact spring is suddenly
raised to its full height, is prevented.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing shews an elevation of the electric meter with
my above described improvements applied thereto.
Fig. 2, shews a vertical section through the mechanism by which the oscillating
motion is obtained from the electric current.
Fig. 3 shews a horizontal section through the solenoid with its fly wheel.
Fig. 4 shews a plan of the contact device for breaking and closing the electric
circuit that actuates the solenoid.
Fig. 5 shews an enlarged plan of the notched disc.
Fig. 6 shews an enlarged vertical section of the device for suspending the bobbiu
of the Watt or Ampère meter, and
Fig. 7 shews a cross section through the same on line X X Fig. 6.
EF is the spindle to which a reciprocating motion is imparted by the electric
current and which imparts such motion to the counter mechanism, the spindle being
also acted upon by a spiral spring at L as in my previous Patent, connected by a
bracket to the framing. C is the fly wheel fixed on the spindle by the arm I,
and provided at H J with two soft iron pieces, between which is a gap. K is the
solenoid, into the centre of which alternately pass the pieces H J as the fly wheel
oscillates. The solenoid is surrounded by a soft iron casing consisting of a strap X
having lugs Y through which passes a screw Z for nipping the strap so as to hold
the solenoid in position, the strap being fixed to the framing by a piece a. W W
are two soft iron side cheeks which also nipped by the band X.
In the position of equilibrium the one piece say J, of the balance wheel is nearer
to the solenoid K than the other: on a current being passed through the latter,
this piece is drawn into the solenoid, thus imparting motion to the spindle E F, and
at the same time moving the disc A so as to cause the contact spring O to be moved
away from its contact, thereby breaking the circuit and rendering the solenoid
inoperative, whereupon the spring L imparts a contrary motion to the spindle,
bringing the second piece H within the solenoid, and this having now again become
operative by the closing of the contact spring on the return motion of the disc A,
it attract the piece H and thus causes the spindle E F to complete its motion in
the other direction.
The notched disc A that actuates the contact spring O has its notch formed with
steps as shewn at Figs. 4 and 5, so that the first step only very slightly raises the
spring. just sufficient to break contact, and then on completing the motion,
the second step raises the spring to the full extent, by which mean- sparking
is prevented.
The upper bearing of the spindle E F is carried by a circular plate M that
can be shifted round in its seat on the framing N, and upon the disc is mounted a
stirrup piece of insulating material, that carries the contact spring ; this piece
is secured by a serew P passing through a slotted hole therein. By this means
the contact spring O is capable of very accurate adjustinent relatively to the

page_text: dise N. both by shifting round the plate M and by shifting the piece Q in a radial
direction thereon.
Referring to Fig. 6 and 7. r is the suspension wire of the bobbin 13 of the Wate
meter, and is the axis of the bobbin through which the suspension wire passes and
which carries the index arm c. Centrally love this axis is a cylindrical piece d,
which is perforated for the passage of the suspension wire a, and which is held
adjustably in a split eye of the framing. The lower pointed end of the piece d
fits into a hollow in the upper end of the axis, so as to form the upper pivot of the
latter. The upper end of d is formed as a threaded socket, split où one side and
provided with lugs through which passes a screw as shown at Fig. 7. Into this
socket serews a hored piece g, through which passes the wire a, and this is nipped
at the upper end between the halves of a split tapering plug 4 situated in an
enlargement of g. int which it is pressed by a cap i, screwed on to the upper
end of
The piece of has a flange d' through which screws a screw bearing with its end
upon the eye c From the above construction it will be seen that by means of the
screw ; the pivey of can be accurately adjusted in position relatively to the axis b,
after which it is fixed in that position by the nipping screw passing through
lugs on the split eye e.
The wire e having been nipped by the plug 4 as described, it is adjusted both
vertically and as regards it- angular position, for holding the bobbin in the proper
equilibrium position, by screwing a more or less round in d and then securing it by
the nipping crew i̟.
The other parts of the meter are constructed and operate in a similar manner to
that described in the Specification to my previous Patent, and need not be farther
described.
Laving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what i
claim is :-
1. In an electric meter of the kind herein referred to, imparting the requisite
motion to the reciprocating spindle E F by a fly wheel C with soft iron pieces II I
operating in combination with the solenoid K substantially as described.
2. Constructing the solenoid K referred to in the preceding claim with a split
sof iron casing W X Y which is nipped by a crew so as to hold the solenoid
substantially as described.
3. In an electric meter of the kind herein referred to, contructing the dise A
for actuating the contact spring O with a stepped notch in order to effect the
breaking of the eirenit without sparking, the spring 0, being rendered adjustable in
position by the parts Q M carrying the same, substantially as described,
4. In an electric meter of the kind herein referred to, the use of an adjustable
suspending device for the suspension wire of the Watt meter bobbin, consisting
of the combination of the parts i d' e, g h and 1, operating substantially as herein
described.
Dated this 29th day of January 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY.
Agents for the Applicant.