Year: 1885

page_text: We, FRANÇOIS BOREL, of Cortaillod, in Switzerland, Doctor and Electrician, and
EMILE PACCAUD, of Lausanne, also in Switzerland, Vice President de la Société
suisse d'électricité, à Lausanne, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
Our system of electric current meter is based on the continuous action exerted
upon a moveable part of an electric circuit by an electric current, a solenoid, an
electro magnet or a magnet.
Thus we obtain immediately a continuous rotation, and the speed of rotation
being proportional to the quantity of electricity which passes through the
apparatus, it suffices to adapt a revolution meter to the moveable part of the
circuit to measure the quantities of electricity which have passed through the same.
In the accompanying drawings are represented some arrangements for practically
carrying out the aforesaid principle.
In fig. 1 the electric current enters a vessel A partially filled with mercury,
passes into the disc B which is supported by the horizontal axis C, D, then through
the disc E, into the vessel F also filled with mercury, and from there the current
passes into the coils of the electro magnet G, H, J.
The disc E, forming a moveable part of the circuit being placed between the two
poles G and J of the electro magnet, is put in rotation with a speed proportionate
to the intensity of the current; the worm V drives a revolution meter.
.
The apparatus shewn in Fig. 2 consists of an electro-magnet and of a hollow
cylinder, or metallic armature L, L, fixed on a vertical axis N with its lower
extremity dipping into an insulated annular vessel K K filled with mercury.
The current enters the vessel K K, ascends through the wires L, L, and is
conducted to the electro magnet by the axis N.
The only difference between the apparatus shewn in Fig. 2 and that shewn in
Fig. 3 consists in the substitution of a solenoid Q for the electro magnet P.
In the apparatus shewn in Fig. 4 the moveable portion R, R of the electric
circuit is fixed to a vertical axis S, this axis dips into a vessel of mercury T and
the extremities of R, R, dip into a circular vessel U U also filled with mercury.
En

page_text: The conducting wire is rolled around a ring W placed outwards or inwards of U
and made either of metal or of a non-conducting material. The current having
passed through the wire W, passes through the mercury in the annular vessel U,
into the moveable part of the circuit and the vessel T from which it leaves the
apparatus. In all the arrangements already described it is important to avoid
absolutely the oxydation of the surface of the mercury in which the moveable part
of the circuit moves. This oxydation alters necessarily the resistance opposed by
the mercury to the movable armature. To avoid such inconvenience we make use
of the following means which have both the same object, but are applied in
accordance with the size of the meter.
1st We cover the surface of the mercury with an inoxidable liquid, as for
instance, purified oils.
2nd We place the whole apparatus into a vacuum or into a box filled with an
inert gas, as for instance, hydrogen, azote, dried air, etc. In some cases an electric
current meter must be able to measure very variable quantities of electricity and
with an apparatus of the aforesaid construction, this electro magnet may happen to
melt or at least the wires may be heated more than is desirable to secure the right
working of the apparatus. To avoid this inconvenience we have combined the
arrangement shewn in Fig. 5.
The electric current coming from A¹ passes through the solenoid D¹ formed of
thick wire and the meter No Ĭ, and leaves the apparatus through B'. Supposing
the meter No 1 works regularly only up to the intensity of
amperes, it suffices
for avoiding the passage of a current of greater extremity through the same, to
place into the solenoid D' a cylinder C¹ of soft iron, fixed at the extremity of a
flexible lever C, I, which is acted upon by the cylinder C¹ that penetrates more or
less into the solenoid according to the intensity of the current. The lever C', I, is
provided with a pusher F¹ which produces a derivation of the current through
meter No 2 as soon as the intensity of the current reaches 5 amperes.
Supposing the resistance of this second meter is a fourth of the resistance of
meter N° 1, of the current will pass through meter N° 2 and be registered
therein while the remaining of the current will continue to pass through
meter No 1. If the second meter should not work with a current of more
intensity than 20 amperes, we affix to the lever C¹, I, a second pusher E¹ so
arranged as to produce a derivation of the current by meter N° 3 as soon as the
current passing through the solenoid reaches 25 amperes.
The meter N° 3 offering, for instance, a resistance of of the resistance of N° 2
and being able itself to work regularly up to 100 amperes, it will be possible to
measure with the so combined arrangement of three meters a current of variable
intensity up to 125 amperes. To find out the whole quantity of electricity which
has passed through the circuit it will be sufficient to suin up the indication of the
three meters.
Instead of the aforesaid system of derivation of the current through a certain
number of meters, we combine for the same purpose a mechanism increasing the
speed of rotation of the hand of the meter according as the current passes through
derivations, the effect of which is to diminish the speed of the moveable part of
the circuit.
The apparatus represented in Fig. 6 is composed of a solenoid of thick wire, in
which enters a metallic cylinder H₁ fixed to a flexible lever H¹, J', I', of a meter
of the arrangement shewn in Fig. and of an electro magnet X¹ acting upon
a mechanism which causes the hand of the meter to turn slowly or quickly.
Having passed through the said solenoid the current passes through the meter and
causes the axis K' to revolve. The toothed wheels Land M' are loose on the said
axis K¹, they are moved by the same, by means of the coupling box Q which is
acted upon by the lever V1. The wheels L' and M² engage into the wheels N¹ and O
fixed on the axis R¹ bearing the hand of the meter. As long as the intensity of
the electric current does not exceed the number of amperes for which the meter is

page_text: constructed, the lever V₁ is maintained by a spring U' against the stop Sand
causes thereby the coupling box to move the wheel L' which drives the axis R¹
with a velocity determined by the proportion existing between the diameters of
the wheels Land N¹. If the intensity of the current exceed the said limit the
lover H, I, J, establishes a derivation of the current through the electro magnet X¹
the piece of soft iron W₁ is attracted and the lever V1 is thrown against the stop T¹
and causes the coupling box Q₁ to engage with the wheel M¹ and thereby to alter
the speed of the axis R¹, that is, of the hand of the meter.
For imparting to the axis R¹ a speed always proportionate to the intensity of
the current, we establish the proportion of the speed produced by the wheels L¹
and M¹ equal to the proportion existing between the resistances of the derivation X¹
and of the meter.
If the resistance of X' is for instance equal to half the resistance of the meter
the number of revolutions of the axis R' acted upon by wheel M¹ must be thrice
the number of revolutions of the same when acted upon by the wheel Ll. In fig. 7
the axis e carries a plate against which bears a disc g fixed on the axis of the
mcter. When the intensity of the current is slight the lever i, p, bears against
the stop m, under the action of the spring n and places, by means of the box i
fixed on, the disc g in contact with a determined point of the plate f. If the
intensity reaches a certain limit determined by the construction of the apparatus
the lever b, d, e, causes the current to pass through the electro-magnet q.
piece of soft iron o is attracted and the lever i, p, is thrown against the stop 7.
The contact of the disc g against the plate f is thereby removed outwards from
the centre of the latter and the speed of the axis of the meter is increased.
The
If the speed of rotation of the axis k should remain proportionate to the intensity
of the current, it is necessary that if the resistance of the derivation o is, for
instance, a quarter of the resistance of the meter the disc g should be displaced so
as to be five times farther from the centre of f when it is acted upon by the
derivation than when it is acted upon by the whole current. The meters of the
intensity of the currents may be sufficient in every case in which the electro-motive
power of the current which is to be measured varies little, as for instance with
electric lighting by incandescent lamps.
If the energy of the current is to be measured the knowledge of the intensity of
a current is not sufficient, it is absolutely necessary to have the product of the
intensity by the difference of potential existing between the two extremities of
the circuit in question. We have contrived for this purpose, apparatus giving
directly the said product by making use of the meters above described.
Fig. S shews one of these arrangements consisting of a meter of the same con-
struction shewn in Fig. 2, the only difference being that the solenoid of thick wire
placed in the principal circuit is replaced by a solenoid of fine wire offering a great
resistance, and the ends s and t of which are joined to both ends of the circuit in
which the electric energy expended is to be measured.
:
The principal current entering the apparatus through r and passing out through u,
the power which determines the rotation of the movable part of the circuit is
proportionate to the product of the intensity of the current passing through the
moveable part of the current by the difference of the potential which causes the
magnetization of the core X.
Fig. 9 represents another arrangement by which the same result is achieved.
The axis a¹, b¹, of a meter of intensity through which the current passes, drives,
by means of a worm and a traiu of wheels the axis c¹, e¹, which carries at one end
a plate which bears on a roller h¹ fixed to the axis f¹, g¹.
The end of the lever carries a cylinder of soft iron, entering partially into a
solenoid m¹ of great resistance connected with both ends of the circuit in which
the electric energy is to be measured..
The plated turning with a speed proportionate to the intensity of the current
and the knee lever i,,, displacing the roller h¹ in a measure proportionate to

page_text: the difference of potential existing between both ends of the circuit, it results
therefore that the speed of rotation of the axis f¹, g¹ will always be proportionate
to the electric energy spent in the circuit and it will be sufficient to drive a revolu-
tion meter by the help of the axis f¹, g¹, to know the total energy spent in the
circuit, and it will be sufficient to drive a revolution meter by the help of the
axis f, g, to know the total energy which has been expended in a certain space
of time.

page_text: Improvements in Electric Current Meters.
We, FRANÇOIS BOREL, of Cortaillod, in Switzerland, Doctor and Electrician, and
EMILE PACCAUD, of Lausanne, also in Switzerland, Vice President de la Société
suisse d'electricité à Lausanne, 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, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say:-
Our system of electric current meter is based on the continuous action exerted
upon a moveable part of an electric circuit by an electric current, a solenoid, an
electro magnet or a magnet.
Thus we obtain immediately a continuous rotation, and the speed of rotation
being proportional to the quantity of electricity which passes through the apparatus,
it suffices to adapt a revolution-meter to the moveable part of the circuit to
measure the quantities of electricity which have passed through the same.
In the accompanying drawings are represented some arrangements for practically
carrying out the aforesaid principle.
In fig. 1, the electric current enters a vessel A, partially filled with mercury,
passes into the disc B, which is supported by the horizontal axis C, D, then
through the disc E, into the vessel F, also filled with mercury, and from there the
current passes into the coils of the electro magnet G, H, J.
The disk E, forming a moveable part of the circuit being placed between the two
poles G and J of the electro magnet, is put in rotation with a speed proportionate
to the intensity of the current; the worm V drives a revolution-meter.
The apparatus shewn in Fig. 2, consists of an electro-magnet and of a hollow
cylinder or metallic armature L, L, fixed on a vertical axis N, with its lower
extremity dipping into an insulated annular vessel K, K, filled with mercury.
The current enters the vessel K, K, ascends through the wires L, L, and is con-
ducted to the electro magnet by the axis N. The only difference between the
apparatus shewn in Fig. 2, and that shewn in Fig. 3, consists in the substitution
of a solenoid Q, for the electro magnet P.
In the apparatus shewn in Fig. 4, the moveable portion R, R, of the electric
circuit is fixed to a vertical axis S, this axis dips into a vessel of mercury T, and
the extremities of R, R, dip into a circular vessel U, U, also filled with mercury.
The conducting wire is rolled around a ring W, placed outwards or inwards of U,
and made either of metal or of a non-conducting material. The current having
passed through the wire W, passes through the mercury in the annular vessel U,
into the moveable part of the circuit and the vessel T, from which it leaves the
apparatus. In all the arrangements already described it is important to avoid
absolutely the oxidation of the surface of the mercury in which the moveable part
of the circuit moves. This oxidation alters necessarily the resistance opposed by
the mercury to the moveable armature. To avoid such inconvenience we make use

page_text: of the following means which have both the same object, but are applied in
accordance with the size of the meter.
1st We cover the surface of the mercury with an inoxidable liquid,
instance purified oils, &c.
as for
2nd We place the whole apparatus into a vacuum or into a box filled with an
inert gas, as for instance, hydrogen, azote, dried air, etc.
In some cases an electric current meter must be able to measure very variable
quantities of electricity, and with an apparatus of the aforesaid construction this
electro magnet may happen to melt or at least the wires may be heated more than
is desirable to ensure the right working of the apparatus. To avoid this incon-
venience we have combined the arrangement shewn in Fig. 5.
The electric current coming from A¹, passes through the solenoid D¹, formed of
thick wire, and the meter No 1, and leaves the apparatus through B¹. Supposing
the meter N° 1, works regularly only up to the intensity of 5 amperes, it suffices
for avoiding the passage of a current of greater intensity through the same, to place
into the solenoid D¹ a cylinder C¹, of soft iron, tixed at the extremity of a flexible
lever C, I, which is acted upon by the cylinder C', that penetrates more or less
into the solenoid according to the intensity of the current. The lever C¹, I, is pro-
vided with a pusher F¹, which produces a derivation of the current through meter
No 2, as soon as the intensity of the current reaches 5 amperes.
Supposing the resistance of this second meter is a fourth of the resistance of
meter N° 1, of the current will pass through meter N° 2, and be registered
therein while the remaining of the current will continue to pass through meter
No 1. If the second meter should not work with a current of more intensity than
20 amperes, we affix to the lever C, I, a second pusher E' so arranged as to produce
a derivation of the current by meter No 3, as soon as the current passing through
the solenoid reaches 25 amperes.
The meter N° 3, offering, for instance, a resistance of of the resistance of N° 2,
and being able itself to work regularly up to 100 amperes, it will be possible to
measure with the so combined arrangement of three meters a current of variable
intensity up to 125 amperes. To find out the whole quantity of electricity which
has passed through the circuit it will be sufficient to sum up the indication of the
three meters.
Instead of the aforesaid system of derivation of the current through a certain
number of meters, we combine for the same purpose a mechanism increasing the
speed of rotation of the hand of the meter according as the current passes through
derivations, the effect of which is to diminish the speed of the moveable part of
the circuit.
The apparatus represented in Fig. 6 is composed of a solenoid of thick wire, in
which enters a metallic cylinder H₁ fixed to a flexible lever H', J', I', of a
meter of the arrangement shewn in Fig. 2, and of an electro magnet ✗' acting
upon a mechanism which causes the hand of the meter to turn slowly or quickly.
Having passed through the said solenoid the current passes through the meter and
causes the axis K¹, to revolve. The toothed wheels L', and M¹ are loose on the said
axis K¹, they are moved by the same, by means of the coupling box Q, which is
acted upon by the lever V₁. The wheels L¹ and M¹ engage into the wheels N
and O fixed on the axis R¹ bearing the band of the meter. As long as the
intensity of the electric current does not exceed the number of amperes for which
the meter is constructed, the lever V₁ is maintained by a spring Ut, against the
stop S¹, and thereby causes the coupling box Q to move the wheel L' which drives
the axis R with a velocity determined by the proportion existing between the
diameters of the wheels L' and N¹. If the intensity of the current exceed the said
limit the lever H¹, 1¹, J', establishes a derivation of the current through the electro
magnet X, the piece of soft iron W₁ is attracted and the lever V1 is thrown against
the stop T, and causes the coupling box Q, to engage with the wheel M¹ and
thereby to alter the speed of the axis R¹, that is, of the Land of the meter, For

page_text: imparting to the axis R', a speed always proportionate to the intensity of the
current we establish the proportion of the speed produced by the wheels L' and M¹
equal to the proportion existing between the resistances of the derivation X' and
of the meter.
If the resistance of X¹, is for instance equal to half the resistance of the meter,
the number of revolutions of the axis R¹, acted upon by the wheel M', must be
thrice the number of revolutions of the same when acted upon by the wheel L'.
In fig. 7, the axis c, carries a plate f, against which bears a disk g, fixed on the
axis of the meter. When the intensity of the current is slight the lever i, p,
bears against the stop m, under the action of the spring n, and places, by means of
the coupling box i, fixed on k, the disc g, in contact with a determined point of the
plate f. If the intensity reaches a certain limit determined by the construction of
the apparatus, the lever b, d, c, causes the current to pass through the electro
magnet q. The piece of soft iron o, is attracted and the lever i, p, is thrown
against the stop l. The contact of the disc g, against plate f, is thereby removed
outwards from the centre of the latter and the speed of the axis of the meter is
increased.
If the speed of rotation of the axis k, should remain proportionate to the intensity
of the current, it is necessary that, if the, resistance of the derivation o, is for
instance a quarter of the resistance of the meter, the disc g, should be displaced so
as to be five times farther from the centre of f, when it is acted upon by the
derivation than when it is acted upon by the whole current. The meters of the
intensity of the currents may be sufficient in every case in which the electro-motive
power of the current which is to be measured varies little, as for instance with
electric lighting by incandescent lamps.
If the energy of the current is to be measured the knowledge of the intensity of
a current is not sufficient, it is absolutely necessary to have the product of the
intensity by the difference of potential existing between the two extremities of the
circuit in question. We have contrived for this purpose apparatus giving directly
the said product by making use of the meters above described.
Fig. 8, shews one of these arrangements consisting of a meter of the same
construction shewn in Fig. 2, the only difference being that the solenoid of thick
wire, placed in the principal circuit, is replaced by a solenoid of fine wire, offering
a great resistance, and the ends 8 and t of which are joined to both ends of the
circuit in which the electric energy expended is to be measured.
The principal current entering the apparatus through r, and passing out
through u, the power which determines the rotation of the moveable part v, of the
circuit is proportionate to the product of the intensity of the current passing
through the moveable part of the current by the difference of the potential which
causes the magnetization of the core X.
Fig. 9, represents another arrangement by which the same result is obtained.
The axis a¹, b¹ of a meter of intensity through which the current passes, drives,
by means of a worm and a train of wheels, the axis c¹, e¹, which carries at one end
a plate d', which bears on a roller h¹, fixed to the axis f¹, g¹.
The end of the lever carries a cylinder of soft iron, entering partially into a
solenoid m¹ of great resistance, connected with both ends of the circuit in which
the electric energy is to be measured.
The plate d¹ turning with a speed proportionate to the intersity of the current,
and the knee lever, k, l, displacing the roller in a measure proportionate to
the difference of potential existing between both ends of the circuit, it results
therefore that the speed of rotation of the axis f¹, g' will always be proportionate
to the electric energy spent in the circuit, and it will be sufficient to drive a
revolution meter by the help of the axis f, g, to know the total energy spent in
the circuit, and it will be sufficient to drive a revolution-meter by the help of the
axis f, g, to know the total energy which has been expended in a certain space
of time.

page_text: .
Having thus described our invention, we declare that what we claim is :--
1. In meters for measuring the intensity and energy of an electric current, the
use, as a motive power, of the continuous rotation of a part of the conductor passed
through by the current being constant, substantially as shewn and described.
2. The combination of one or more. meters with an automatic mechanism of
derivation allowing very variable electric intensities or energies to be measured,
substantially as shewn and described.
3. In meters of electric intensity or energy in which the continuous rotation of a
moveable part of the circuit is employed as motive power, the use of inoxidable
liquids, as purified oils &c, for covering the surface of the mercury into which the
moveable part of the circuit dips, in order to prevent oxidation of the mercury
which would alter the resistance opposed by the same to the rotation of the
armature.
4. In the same meters, the arrangement of the whole mechanism in a vacuum,
or in a box filled with a dead gas, as for instance, hydrogen, azote, dried air, etc.,
for the purpose of avoiding oxidation of the mercury in which the moveable part
of the circuit moves, as described.