Improved Electric Meter.
Year: 1897

page_text: Cat: of Application, 6th Dec., 1897
Improved Electric Meter.
I, ALBERT PELOUX, of 17, Place Cornavin, Geneva, in the Swiss Republic,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an electric meter of the motor type in which a motor
system giving motion to a metallic disc revolving between the poles of magnets or
of electro-magnets, takes a speed of rotation proportioned to the electric energy
expended, such for instance as the meter of Dr. V. Siemens.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings represents one form of the improved meter;
in this example A A are movable coils or solenoids, formed of thick wire and traversed
by the current to be measured or by a current proportioned to the latter, these coils
are fixed on the shaft B, and therefore form the induced wire, the shaft B is formed
of two pieces, insulated the one from the other. The fixed coils C compose the
inductors and are wound with fine wire.
The metallic disc D is fixed solidly with the shaft B and rotates between the poles
of permanent magnets E or of electro-magnets P.
The lower pivot of the shaft B dips into a cup K containing mercury, this cup is of
special form, so that whatever may be its position, the mercury cannot run out; the
upper pivot carries a like cup, into which dips a shaft forming a counter pivot and
current conductor; the ends of the coils A being connected the one with the upper
pivot and the other with the lower pivot the main current therefore passes through
these movable coils or solenoids A.
The shaft B is combined with a counter for indicating the number of turns effected
by the rotative system.
The counter pivot N carries a collector I, this collector is formed as shown
at Fig. 3, of four or a larger number of plates, insulated from each other, the
number of plates depends on the number of fixed coils C; this collector I is therefore
fixed and each plate corresponds with one or other of the fixed coils C.
The movable brush S, fixed firmly to the shaft B, when rotating comes into
contact at every revolution with each plate, the connections being made as indicated
by the diagram Fig. 3 the fixed coils C are therefore traversed at each rotation by a
derived current, so as to produce a rotating magnetic field, this magnetic field
rotating with the same speed as the movable coils or solenoids A imparts to it a
continuous rotary motion, when this latter is traversed by the current to be
measured.
The fixed and movable coils may have their cores of laminated iron, in order to
render their action more energetic, see Fig. 5.
Figures 2 and 4 indicate an arrangement of fixed and movable coils different from
that of Fig. 1.
Figure 5 indicates the fixed and movable coils having their cores of iron, further
the movable brush S and the fixed collector I are placed at the side of the axle B, and
the brush S rotated by the toothed gearing V V₁; this arrangement enables a
collector to be made of very small diameter.

page_text: Fig. 6 shows the arrangement of a single coil A surrounded by four fixed coils C ;
the breaking in this arrangement is produced by the fixed oils C, acting on a copper
cylinder Z.
Figures 7 and 8 indicate the arrangement of this meter, when it is constructed for
a three wires system.
This system of motor type meter has the advantage that it is not possible to falsify the
number of revolutions of the secondary coil by approaching an exterior magnetic field, as
in consequence of the current not changing its direction in the movable coil, an exterior
magnetic field would only retard the speed of rotation of the movable coil during a
seni revolution, and would then increase it during the other semi-revolution, the
speed of rotation during the complete revolution would therefore remain the same
time as if the exterior magnetic field did not exist, further it is impossible to cause
the secondary coil to rotate in a contrary direction by means of an exterior inagnetic
field, when the main circuit is interrupted and the current of consumption of the
meter continues; which is not the case with motor type meters in which the movable
coil is traversed by a current in derivation upon the main conductors and the fixed
coils by the main current.
The frictions on the apparatus are very slight, consequent on the meter employing
only a single brush, further it is easy to compensate for these frictions, by placing a
small magnet upon the movable coil, in a convenient position or else by winding
some turns of fine wire upon ti movable coil, one of the ends of this wire being
connected to the axle and the other to the brush S, this latter requiring to be in this
case insulated from the axle B.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
Improved Electric Meter.
I, ALBERT PELOUX, of 17, Place Cornavin, Geneva, in the Swiss Republic, 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 :-
This invention relates to an electric meter of the motor type in which a motor
system giving motion to a metallic disc or cylinder revolving between the poles of
magnets or of electro-magnets, takes a speed of rotation proportional to the electric
energy expended, such for instance as the ineter of Dr. Siemens.
Fig. 1 of the drawings accompanying my provisional specification represents one
form of the improved meter; in this example A A are movable coils or solenoids,
formed of thick wire acting as an armature and traversed by the current to be
measured or by a current proportional to the latter, these coils are fixed on the shaft B
which latter is formed of two pieces, insulated the one from the other. The fixed
coils C compose the inductors or field magnets, and are wound with fine wire.
The metallic dise D is fixed solidly with the shaft B and rotates between the poles
of permanent magnets E or of electro-magnets P.
The lower pivot of the shaft B dips into a cup K containing mercury, this cup is of
special form as shown so that whatever may be its position, the mercury cannot run
out;
the upper pivot carries a like cup, into which dips a shaft forming a counter pivot
and conducting the current; the ends of the coils A being connected the one with the
upper pivot and the other with the lower pivot the main current therefore passes
through these movable coils or solenoids A.

page_text: The shaft B is combined with a counter for indicating the number of turns effected
by the rotative system.
The counter pivot N carries a collector I, this collector is formed as shown at
Fig. 3, of four or a larger number of plates, insulated from each other, the number
of plates depends on the number of fixed coils or field magnets C; this collector or
commutator is therefore fixed and each plate corresponds with one or other of the
fixed coils or field magnets C.
The movable brush S, fixed firmly to the shaft B, when rotating comes into contact
at every revolution with each plate, the connections being made as indicated by the
diagram Fig. 3; the fixed coils or field magnets C are therefore traversed in turn
at each rotation by a shunt current, so as to produce a rotating magnetic field; this
magnetic field rotating with the same speed as the movable coils or solenoids or
armature A, imparts to it a continuous rotary motion when this latter is traversed by
the current to be measured.
The fixed and movable coils (inductors or field magnets and armature) may have
their cores of laminated iron in order to render their action more energetic, see
Fig. 5.
Figs. 2 and 4 indicate an arrangement of fixed and movable coils (armature and
inductors or field magnets) different from that of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 indicates the fixed and movable coils (field magnets and armature) having
their cores of iron; further the movable brush S and the fixed collector I are
placed at the side of the axle B, and the brush S rotated by the toothed gearing V V¹;
this arrangement enables a collector or commutator to he made of very small
diameter.
Fig. 6 shows the arrangement of a single coil A surrounded by four fixed coils or
field magnets C; the breaking in this arrangement is produced by the fixed coils
or field magnets C acting on a copper cylinder Z.
Figs. 7 and 8 indicate the arrangement of this meter when it is constructed for a
three wires system.
This system of motor type meter has the advantage that it is not possible to falsify
the number of revolutions of the movable coil or solenoid (armature) by approaching
an exterior magnetic field, as in consequence of the current not changing its direction
in the movable coil or solenoid (armature), an exterior magnetic field would only
retard the speed of rotation of the movable coil or armature during a semi-revolution,
and would then increase it during the other semi-revolution; the speed of rotation
during the complete revolution would therefore occupy the same time as if the
exterior magnetic field did not exist; further it is impossible to cause the movable
coil or armature to rotate in a contrary direction by means of an exterior magnetic
field when the main circuit is interrupted and the shunt current of the meter
continues, which is not the case with motor type meters in which the movable coil
or armature is traversed by a shunt current upon the main conductors and the fixed
coils or field magnets by the main current.
The frictions on the apparatus are very slight consequent on the meter employing
only a single brush; further it is easy to compensate for these frictions by placing a
small magnet upon the movable coil or armature in a convenient position, or else by
winding some turns of fine wire upon the movable coil or armature, such coil being
arranged as a shunt on the main conductors, one of the ends of this wire being
connected to the axle and the other to the brush S, the latter requiring to be in
this case insulated from the axle B.
In some cases an air fan may be used as a brake instead of the metallic disc or
cylinder hereinbefore described.
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 electricity meter consisting of a motor comprising an armature composed of
movable coils or solenoids traversed by the current to be measured or by part of the

page_text: same, the direction of the current being constant in these movable coils, and fixed
coils or solenoids, these fixed coils, inductors or field magnets being traversed each in
its turn by a shunt current derived from the main conductors by means of a fixed
collector or commutator and a movable brush, this system of motor being capable of
combination with a break consisting either of a disc or cylinder of copper or other
metal turning in a magnetic field or of a fan turning in the air, substantially as
described.
2. In an electricity meter such as claimed in Claim 1, a system of collector or
commutator formed of several plates, the said collector or commutator being fixed
and each plate being in connection with one or several fixed inducting coils arranged
as a shunt on the main conductor by the intermediary of a brush movable around the
collector or commutator, substantially as herein shown and described.
3. In an electricity meter as claimed in Claim 1, the arrangements of movable and
fixed coils (armatures and inductors or field magnets) and of the collector or
commutator, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, substantially as shown and
described.
Dated this 5th day of Santambor 1809
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.