Improvements in and connected with Apparatus for Measuring Electricity
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Apparatus for Measuring
Electricity
We, HENRY GUILLAUME KUNKELMANN, Gentleman, CHARLES EMMANUEL
FRANCOIS, Gentleman, CÉSAR RENÉ, LOUBERY, Expert Accountant to the French
Courts of Justice, all of 12, Rue Seguier, Paris, France, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows
In the Specification of a prior application for Letters Patent, No 24833 of
1897, granted to Messis. Routin and Biown there 18 described apparatus for
measuring the consumption of electric currents, in which discontinuous-integia-
tion meters may be employed and which is applicable both where the charge
is fixed and when it varies according to the time of the day
Before describing the various improvements constituting this invention, a
description will be given of the Routin and Brown apparatus.
In the use of the Routin and Brown apparatus three cases may arise, there
may be (1) alternating currents without transformers in the mains, (2) alter-
nating currents with transformers in the mains, and (3) continuous current
1. DISTRIBUTION BY MEANS OF ALTERNATING CURRENTS WITHOUT TRANSFORMERS
IN THE MAINS
At the generating station from either of the mains, which start from the
alternator, there branches off a local shunt which 18 led fist to a dynamo capable
of generating continuous current, whence the shunt passes to the contact-maker
of the controlling clock, and on to earth
This part of the installation serves for all the shunts that branch off from the
mains and the current supplied to which 18 to be measured In the case of
each such shunt there is provided a switch that controls the supply of current
thereto. To one pole of the switch there is joined a receiving electro-magnet
which is connected to earth If the electro-magnet 18 of sufficient impedance by
reason of its winding, it will be seen that leakage currents from the mains will
not have any action upon it, whilst it will be actuated by the continuous current
generated by the dynamo each time the contact-maker of the controlling clock
will be closed. If, for example, the controlling clock close its contact-makei
every ten seconds, a current coming from the dynamo will pass through the main
corresponding to pole of the switch to which the receiving electro-magnet 18
connected, and will arrive every ten seconds at the receiving electro-magnet
and return by earth to the dynamo Under the action of these emissions of
continuous cuiront, the receiving electio magnet will attract its aimature and act
as hereinafter described upon the parts of the meter in such a manner as to
cause it to operate
If the consumer open his switch it is evident that the curents produced by
the contact-maker of the controlling clock will not auive at the receiving electio-
magnet and the meter will not work The remark 18 of importance in connexion
with the description of the operation of the time-meter hereinafter given.

page_text: -
II DISTRIBUTION BY MEANS OF ALIBENATING CURRENTS WITH TRANSFORMERS
IN THE MAINS
In this case, from one of the low tension mains proceeding from a transformer
connected by high-tension mains to the alternator, there branches off near the
transformer, a shunt which comprises, as in the previous case, a continuous
culent generator the contact-maker of the controlling clock, and the connexion
to earth
Each station on the low-tension main comprises, as before, the same parts--
riz., a switch, a curent consuming apparatus, a receiving electro-magnet acting,
when it is traversed by a continuous cutient produced by the generator, upon
the parts of the meter The mode of operation is like that herein before described
This arrangement, however, has the disadvantage of requiring an auxiliary
we between the generating station and the transformei
It is obvious that, in the cases which have been considered, the generator that
produces the continuous current, might be the exciter of the alternator, or even a
suitable battery of primary on accumulator cells
In order, in the case of alternating-currents with transformers on the line,
to dispense with the use of an auxiliary wile to the transformer, there 18, in
one ai rangement, placed in a shunt from the low tension mains a small motor
that drives a continuous curient dynamo which, as before, 18 arranged on a
hunt leading from one of the low-tension mains, and which leads to earth through
the contact maker of the controlling clock.
A battery of primary cells might equally well be employed. Each consuming
station comprises, the same parts as before, namely, a switch, a consuming
apparatus and a receiving electro-magnet The mode of operation is like that
herein before described.
III DISTRIBUTION BY MEANS OF CONTINUOUS CURRENT
The mains are normally traversed by a continuous current produced by a
dynamo, and from either of them there bianches off a shunt, which leads to a
small alternator, thence to earth through the contact-maker of the controlling
clock. The apparatus at the generating station is, apart from this, the same as
before At each station of consumption, there is placed between the receiving
electro-magnet and the earth, a condenser, whose object is to effect the elimina-
tion of the action of leakage-currents passing through the mains, upon the re-
ceiving electro-magnet whilst allowing the receiving electro-magnet to be acted
upon by the alternating currents produced by the small alternator The mode
of working is the same as that of the other arrangements
From the foregoing it will be seen that the Routin and Brown apparatus can
be employed both in the case of varying charges and in the case of a fixed charge
By a varying charge being meant a charge that varies with the time of the
day, and a fixed charge, on the contrary, being one for which the emissions of
current produced by the controlling clock always take place at equal intervals
of time
A discontinuous-integration meter for use in apparatus such as described may
be constructed as follows:-In the case of an ampere-hour meter or a watt-hour
meter, the receiving electro-magnet operates through its armature, a lever which
18 fiee to turn on a shaft mounted in a bracket fixed to a base-plate Each time
that the controlling clock establishes communication by means of its contact-
make the receiving electio magnet comes into operation and attracts, by means
of its armature, the aforesaid lever This lever caries a pawl which engages
with a ratchet-wheel that is mounted on the same shaft as the lever, and com-
municates its movement to the first moving part of the integrator of the metei
The level is constantly subjected to the action of a sping which tends to return
it to its position of rest; the movements of the lever are limited on one side by
a screw and on the other side by a cam mounted on the axle of the measuring

page_text: apparatus (ampere-meter or watt-meter). This cam is formed in such a manner
that the ratchet-wheel will be moved, at each attraction of the lever, through an
angle proportionate to the amount to be measured (amperes or watts) In order
to allow of the free movement of the cam, the aforesaid screw must be regulated
in such a manner that even if the consumption be nil, the end of the lever will
not rest on the cam. A conical screw keeps the pawl away from the ratchet
wheel when the lever makes only the small movement that corresponds to no
consumption, but allows it to come into engagement with the ratchet wheel as
soon as, in consequence of the movement of the cam, the lever is allowed to make
a movement of greater amplitude In the case of a simple hour-meter a second
and fixed stop can be substituted for the cam because in that case, the movement
of the lever must always be the same
It will be seen that the apparatus with a discontinuous integration meter can
be employed whether the charge be a fixed or varying one
Having thus described the Routin and Blown apparatus, we will now proceed
to describe the nature of our improvements in relation thereto.
First we will show how motor-meters can be used in such apparatus and that
their use admits of the employment of a varying charge
Each
The pinciple 18 exactly the same as in the case of discontinuous-integrating
meters Either of the mains is connected by a shunt at the generating station
either to a generator or dynamo in the case where the mains are traversed by
alternating currents, or to an alternator when the mains are traversed by a con-
tinuous current The other pole of the generator or dynamo or the alternator
18 connected to earth through the contact maker of the controlling clock
branch leading to a consuming device from the mains there is provided a switch
the terminal of which that corresponds to the main connected to the contact.
maker of the controlling clock 18 connected to earth through a receiving electro-
magnet So long as the receiving electro-magnet is not traversed by a current
coming from the generator or dynamo or from the alternator, the integrator 18
not actuated by the motor-meter, but as soon as the receiving electro-magnet 18
traversed by such a current, the integrator and the motor meter are, as it were,
one For this purpose, the integrator is hung on the hinges and the receiving
electro-magnet, when it 18 traversed by a cunient, attracts an armature which 18
attached to the integrator. The first movable part of the integiator gears with a
woim which 18 mounted on the shaft of the motor-meter
From the foregoing, it will be understood that if no curent, passes through
the receiving electro magnet, the integrator, under the action of a spring, remains
in such a position that the motor meter does not operate the integrator
As soon
as a current passes through the receiving electro magnet, the armature is attracted
and the integrator gears with the worm on the shaft of the motor-meter. The
integiator is therefore operated Consequently, in applying the varying charge
to motor-meters, the duration of each emission of current from the generator or
dynamo or the alternator 18 varied, whereas, as herein before stated, in applying
the varying charge to discontinuous-integration meters the frequency of the
emissions is varied.
It will be readily understood, that where the Routin and Brown apparatus
operates with a fixed charge it can be used for the distribution of time in houses
and other places All that is necessary is that the receiving clock shall register,
for each emission of current, the number of seconds which separates two consecu-
tive emissions.
Where the varving change is adopted, the distribution of time to private houses,
hotels, and other places may still be effected through the lighting wires, by means
of any of the Routin and Brown arrangements in combination with apparatus
now to be described
We shall assume that the different charges adopted correspond to emissions of
current every m, n and p seconds, m being greater than ", which is itself greater
than p
The receiving clock for showing the time, will be regulated so as to be

page_text: actuated every m seconds To the controlling clock there 18 added a second clock
which operates a switch (hereinafter called the time-switch) The controlling
clock will make a complete revolution in m, n, or p seconds The said second
clock will move at a constant speed of one revolution in m seconds When the
time-switch 18 in one extreme position the receiving apparatus or electro magnet
will, at each evolution of the controlling clock be acted upon by the voltage
of one source of electric energy, this voltage being sufficient to operate the
electricity meters but too feeble to operate the receiving clocks, whose opposing
springs have been adjusted to the desued tension When the time-switch 18 in
the other extreme position, the receiving apparatus will at each revolution of the
controlling clock, be acted upon by the combined voltages of two sources of
electric energy, which are connected in series, a second source having been
added to the fist by the time-switch, and all the receiving apparatus will be
placed in operation. Now, after each emission of curient, the time-switch 18
returned to its first mentioned position, and every m seconds it assumes the
second-mentioned position Theie 18, therefore, every m seconds, an emission
of the strengthened current which is intended to operate the clocks, which remain
unaffected at the intermediate contacts The operation of the time-switch 18
effected in a sudden manner by the fall of two levers which are mounted to 1ock
about the axles of the wheels of the controlling and second clocks and which are
moved and stopped by means of the pins Each of the levers calles a weight,
or 19 provided with a counter weight, either of which can be adjusted at will
If the two sources of electric energy are to supply alternating culents, whilst
the line is traversed by a continuous curent, they may consist of two trans-
formers having their primaries coupled together in series
The Routin and Blown apparatus may also be employed as a fraud-detector—
e, for the purpose of preventing a subscriber for electric cui rent from exceeding
the maximum amount of current to which he has a right under the terms of his
contract The function of a fraud-detector must be distinguished from that of
the fusible cut-outs employed to limit the current The latter cut off the current
suddenly, and stop the working of the entire installation at the subscriber's
premises It is also very difficult to adjust them for a piedetermined maximum.
and their fusion often takes place at untimely moments Furthermore, fusible
cut-outs are usually employed exclusively for the purpose of protecting the
installation in the case of local short-circuiting
According to this invention, on the contrary, the current is not cut-off when
the subscriber exceeds his maximum consumption, but a time-meter 18 brought
into operation which indicates the length of time that the excessive consumption
has lasted At the same time, it 1ings a local bell or operates a visible signal, or
both, so as to wain the subsciiber The agreement of the subscribe may con-
tain a special fine for example, a double tariff for all the hours indicated by
the apparatus and the fusible cut-outs, which do not serve a double purpose in
this case, may be adjusted in such a manner as to prevent the current from
reaching the intensity coresponding to the amount of the fine Motors may be
controlled in the same manner as lighting installations For this purpose, it
will be sufficient to state, in the subscriber's agreement, the number of hours
to be allowed per month for starting the motois.
Apparatus according to this invention for enabling the Routin & Brown
apparatus to act as a fraud-detector comprises essentially a maximum ampere-
meter, which may comprise a solenoid attracting an non core suspended to a
spring and included 111 a local cucuit ending in the mains When
the solenoid of the ampere-meter 18 traversed by 8. current of suffi-
cient intensity, it will attract its core and will thereby close a contact and
this action will only take place when the intensity of the current exceeds the pre-
determined amount On the circuit which is controlled by the contact there is
a bianch including a time-receiver similar to those herein before described, and
the electro-magnet thereof will attract not only the armature that operates the

page_text: time-receiver, but also an armature that closes the circuit of a local battery, in
which is included a bell or a visual signal. As soon as the bell rings, or as soon
as the signal falls, the subscriber will be warned that he has exceeded the
maximum intensity of current allowed by his agreement, and, at the same time,
the time-receiver will begin to record the time during which this maximum is
exceeded The consequence of this is that, first, the subscriber will be warned
of this abnormal state of affairs by the bell, or the visual signal, or both, and
secondly, the company will be able to obtain payment for the time during which
this abnormal state of affairs has continued, by means of the record of the time-
receiver
In order to adapt the 'Routin & Brown apparatus to the prepayment system we
employ the following means
This
On the same shaft there are loosely mounted two bevel wheels, one of which
has formed in one with it a toothed wheel which receives its motion from the
first moving part of an electric meter proper The other hevel wheel calles a
ratchet wheel, which is allowed to move in one direction only by a detent
last-mentioned pinion 18 also provided with a long boss, an extension, upon which
is loosely mounted a sleeve furnished with a handle. This sleeve is provided
with a lateral slot and the said boss 18 formed with a certain number of notches,
into which can be placed a coin which renders the sleeve and the boss, as it
were, one If a coin be introduced into the slot formed in the sleeve so as to
engage with any one of the notches of the boss, these two parts will be rendered,
as it were, one, and on turning the handle, the pinion will be operated The
coin will be guided to the slot formed in the sleeve through a suitable passage.
It will be guided during half a revolution in a bent passage having a half twist
It will then be left to itself at the lowest part of its travel, to fall into a till or
drawer.
The movement of the bevel-wheel having the aforesaid boss, which is effected
by hand by means of the handle, or of the other bevel-wheel, which 18 effected
by the meter, moves a planet-pinion in either one or the other duection
If, after a certain number of coins have been introduced successively into the
apparatus, and consequently after the handle has been given a certain number
of half-revolutions, the planet-pinion 18 brought into such a position that its
shaft does not touch a certain contact-piece, the rotation of the toothed wheel
that receives its motion from the first moving part of the meter, will have the
result of returning the planet pinion gradually into its extreme position, in
which it touches the said contact piece
When the contact-piece 15 brought into contact the current can flow to an
electro-magnet and thence to earth The electro-magnet attracts its armature
and a switch which is under spring action and controls the whole installation 18
opened, so that the current can no longer pass If, on the contrary, the contact-
piece is out of contact, a state which is produced by the rotation of the handle,
no current can pass into the electro-magnet and consequently the switch remains
closed, allowing the current to pass into that particular installation
The parts
will remain in this position until the contact is again closed, in consequence of
the rotation of the planet-wheel
It is evident that in lieu of a spring-controlled switch, there might be employed
a mercury switch or brake interruptor operated by an electro-magnet connected
to the two mains and comprising a pivoted armature in the form of a two-armed
lever one arm of which contains mercury

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Apparatus for Measuring
Electricity
We, HENRY GUILLAUME KUNKELMANN, Gentleman, CHARLES EMMANUEL
FRANCOIS, Gentleman, CÉSAR RENÉ, LOUBERY, Expert Accountant to the French
Courts of Justice, all of 12, Rue Seguier, Pai 18, Fiance, 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
In the Specification of por Letters Patent No 24,833 of 1897 granted to
Messrs Routin and Brown there is described apparatus for measuring the con-
sumption of electric currents in which discontinuous-integration meters may be
employed and which 18 applicable both where the charge is fixed and also where
it varies according to the time of the day.
Before describing the various improvements constituting this invention, a
description will be given of the Routin and Brown apparatus.
In the use of the Routin and Brown apparatus three cases may arise, there
may be (1) alternating currents without transformers in the mains, (2) alter-
nating currents with transformers in the mains, and (3) continuous cuirent
I. DISTRIBUTION BY MEANS OF ALTERNATING CURRENTS WITHOUT TRANSFORMERS
IN THE MAINS.
Fig 1 of the accompanying diawings represents Routin and Brown apparatus
for such a case
At the generating station from either of the mains and 6 which start from
the alternator a, there branches off a local shunt which is led first to a dynamo c
capable of generating continuous curent, whence the shunt passes to the contact
maker d of the controlling clock, and finally on to earth at e.
This part of the installation serves for all the shunts that bianch off from the
mains 66 and the current supplied to which is to be measured
In 'the case
of each shunt there is provided a switch g that controls the supply of current
thereto There is shown at h one of the apparatus (lamps or motora which
utilize the current in the circuit) the consumption of which it is required to
measure To one pole of the switch g there 18 joined a receiving electio magnet f
which 18 connected to earth at e¹ It will be seen that if the electro magnet f i8
of sufficient impedance by reason of its winding, leakage currents from the
mains will not have any action upon it, whilst it will be actuated by the
continuous current generated by the dynamo c each time the contact maker d
of the controlling clock will be closed. If, for example, the controlling clock
close its contact-maker d every ten seconds, a current coming from the dynamo c
will pass through the main b coesponding to pole of the switch to which the
receiving electro-magnet f 18 connected, and will alive every ten seconds at the
receiving electio magnet and return by earth to the dynamo c Under the
action of these emissions of continuous current, the receiving electro-magnet f
will attract its armature and act as hereinafter described upon the parts of the
moter in such a manner as to cause it to operate
If the consumer open his switch g, as is shown in Fig. 1, moreover, it is
evident that the currents produced by the contact-maker d of the controlling
clock will not arrive at the receiving electromagnet f and the meter will not

page_text: work The remark 18 of importance in connexion with the description of the
operation of the time-meter hereinafter given.
II DISTRIBUTION BY MEANS OF ALTERNATING CURRENTS WITH TRANSFORMERS
IN THE MAINS
In this case (which is represented in Fig. 2) from one of the low tension
mains proceeding from a transformer connected by high-tension mains to the
alternator a there branches off near the transformer, a shunt which comprises,
as in the previous case, a continuous curent generator c the contact-maker d
of the controlling clock, and, finally, the connexion to earth e
Each station on the low-tension mains comprises, as before, like parts viz
a switch g a current consuming apparatus h, a receiving electio magnet / acting
--when it is traversed by a continuous current produced by the generator
upon the parts of the meter. The mode of operation is like that herein before
desorbed.
This arrangement, however, has the disadvantage of requiring an auxiliary
wire between the generating station and the transformer
It is obvious that, in the two cases which have been considered, the generator c
that produces the continuous curent, might be the exciter of the alternator a,
or even a suitable battery of primary or accumulator cells
In order, in the case of alternating currents with transformers on the line,
to dispense with the use of an auxiliary wire to the transformer in the Routin
and Brown apparatus shown in Fig 3, there is placed in a shunt from the low-
tension maina a small motor k that dives a continuous-curient dynamo which,
as before, 18 arranged on a shunt leading from one of the low-tension mains,
and which leads to earth e through the contact maker d of the controlling clock
A battery of primary cells might equally well be employed Each consuming
station comprises like parts as before, a switch g a consuming apparatus h and
a receiving electro-magnet f The mode of operation is like that herein before
described.
III. DISTRIBUTION BY MEANS OF CONTINUOUS CURRENT.
"
The mains are normally traveised by a continuous curient produced by a
dynamo a (Fig. 4) and from either of them there bianches off a shunt, which
leads to a small alternator c and thence to the earth & through the contact-
maker d of the controlling clock. The apparatus at the generating station 18,
apart from this, the same as before. At each consuming station, there is placed
between the receiving electro-magnet f and the earth e, a condenser 1, whose
object 18 to effect the elimination of the action of leakage-curients passing
through the mains b, b¹, upon the receiving electromagnet f, whilst allowing
the receiving electromagnet f to be acted upon by the alternating currents pro-
duced by the small alternator c The mode of working is the same as that of the
other arrangements
From the foregoing it will be seen that the Routin and Brown apparatus can
be employed both in the case of a varying charge and also in the case of a fixed
charge By a varying change being meant a charge that varies with the time
of the day, and a fixed charge on the contrary, being one for which the emissions
of current produced by the controlling clock always take place at equal intervals
of time.
A Routin & Brown discontinuous-integration meter for use in apparatus such
as described is constructed as follows.-
In the case of an ampère-hour meter or a watt-hour meter, the receiving
electro-magnet (Fig 5) operates, through its armature m, a lever o which is
free to turn on a shaft n mounted in a bracket fixed to a base-plate. Each time
that the controlling clock establishes communication by means of its contact-
maker d the receiving electro-magnet f comes into operation and attracts, by

page_text: means of its armature m, the lever o The lever o carries a pawl which
engages with a ratchet-wheel that is mounted on the same shaft as the lever,
and communicates its movement to the fast moving part of the integrator of
the meter The level o 18 constantly subjected to the action of a spings which
tends to return it to its position of rest, the movements of the lever o are limited
on one side by a sciew and on the other side by a cam r mounted on the axle
of the measuring apparatus (ampère-meter or watt-meter) This cam 18 formed
in such a manner that the latchet-wheel r will be moved, at each attraction of
the lever o, through an angle proportionate to the amount to be measured
(ampères or watts). In order to allow of the free movement of the cam 2, the
screw t must be regulated in such a manner that even if the consumption be nil,
the end of the level o will not rest on the cam 2. A conical screw u, of which
only the end 18 shown, keeps the pawl away from the ratchet-wheel r when the
lever o makes only the small movement that coresponds to no consumption,
but allows it to come into engagement with the ratchet-wheel as soon as, in
consequence of the movement of the came to ', the lever is allowed to make
a movement of greater amplitude In the case of a simple hour-meter, a second
and fixed stop can be substituted for the cam because in that case the move-
ments of the lever must always be alike
It will be seen that the apparatus with a discontinuous-integration meter can
be employed whether the charge be a fixed on a vaiving one
Having thus described the Routin and Brown apparatus, we will now proceed
to describe our improvements in relation thereto Fist we will show how
motoi-meteis can be used in such apparatus and that then use admits of the
employment of a varying chaige
The principle is exactly the same as in the case of discontinuous-integrating
meteis Either of the mains b, b¹ (soc Fig 6) 18 connected, by a shunt at the
generating station, either to a continuous current generator or dynamo e in the
case where the mains b b are traversed by alternating currents, or to an alter-
nator when the mains bb are traversed by a continuous curent. The other
pole of the generator or dynamo on the alternator is connected to earth e through
the contact make d of the controlling clock. In each branch leading to a
consuming device h from the mains b, there is provided a switch g the ter-
minal of which that conresponds to the main b' connected to the contact makeı d
of the controlling clock is connected to earth e¹ through a receiving electro-
magnet f So long as the receiving electromagnet is not traversed by a
current coming from the generator o dynamo cor from the alternator e the
integrator is not actuated by the motoi-metel, but as soon
as the receiving
electiomagnet f 18 traversed by such a curent, the integrator and the motoi
meter are, as it were, one To effect this, the integrator A 18 hung on hinges
at A' and the receiving electromagnet f, when it is traversed by a current,
attracts an aimature A" which is attached to the integrator A The fist movable
part of the integrator A gears with a worm B which is mounted on the shaft
of the motor-meter From the foregoing, it will be understood that if no current
passes through the receiving electromagnet f, the integrator A, under the action
of a spring C, remains in such a position that the motor-meter does not operate
the integrator A As soon as a cuirent passes through the receiving electro-
magnet f, the armature 1" 18 attracted and the integrator A gears with the
worm B on the shaft of the motor-metei The integrato 18 therefore operated
Consequently, in applying the varying charge to motor-meters, the duration of
each emission of cuent from the generator or dynamo on the alternatoi € 18
varied, whereas, as herein before stated, in applying the varying charge to dis-
continuous-integration meters the frequency of the emissions is varied.
It will be readily understood that where the Routin and Brown apparatus
operates with a fixed charge, it can be used for the distribution of time in houses
and other places All that is necessary 18 that the receiving clock register, for

page_text: each emission of current, the number of seconds which separates two consecutive
emissions.
Where the varying charge is adopted, the distribution of time to private
houses, hotels, and other places may still be effected though the lighting wires,
by means of any of the Routin & Brown arrangements shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3,
and 4, in combination with apparatus now to be described and shown in
Figs. 7, 8 and 9.
We shall assume that the different charges adopted correspond to emissions of
current every m, n and p seconds, m being greater than a, which is itself greater
than p. The receiving clooks for showing the time, will be regulated so as to be
actuated every m seconds To the controlling clock D (Fig. 7) there is added a
second clock C which operates a switch C (hereinafter called the time-switch)
that effect the connexions indicated diagrammatically in Figs 8 and 9 The
controlling clock D will make a complete revolution in m, noi pseconds. The
second clock C will move at the constant speed of one revolution in m seconds.
When the time-switch 18 in one extreme position (indicated in Fig 8) the
receiving apparatus are at each evolution of the controlling clock D acted upon
by the voltage of one source of electric energy E this voltage being sufficient
to operate the electricity meters, but too feeble to operate the receiving clocks,
whose opposing spings have been adjusted to the desned tension When the
time-switch C18 in the other extreme position (indicated in Fig 9), the re-
ceiving apparatus are, at each revolution of the controlling clock D, acted upon
by the combined voltages of the two sources of electic energy E and E', which
are connected in series, a second source, E', having been added to the frst, B,
by the time switch and all the receiving apparatus are put into operation.
Now, after each emission of curent, the time-switch C is returned to its first-
mentioned position (Fig. 8) and every m seconds it assumes the second-men-
tioned position (Fig 9). There is, therefore, every m seconds, an emission of a
strengthened cuiient which is intended to actuate the clocks, which remain un-
affected at the intermediate contacts The operation of the time-switch C' 18
effected in a sudden manner by the fall of two levels F, F which are mounted
to 1ock about the axles G G of the wheels of the controlling and second clocks
iespectively, and which are moved and stopped by means of the pins H, H¹,
H, H. Each of the levels F F canes a weight, which can be adjusted at
will. If the two sources of electric energy E E are to supply alternating
curients, whilst the Ime is traversed by the continuous current, the ymay con-
sist of two transformers having their primaries coupled together in series.
ie,
The Routin and Brown apparatus may also be employed as a fraud-detector-
for the purpose of preventing a subscribe for electric current from exceeding
the maximum amount of current to which he has a night under the terms of his
contract The function of a fraud-detector must be distinguished from that of
the fusible cut-outs employed to limit the current The latter cut off the current
suddenly, and stop the working of the ente installation at the subscriber's
premises. It 18, moreover, very difhcult to adjust them for a piedetermined
maximum, and then fusion often takes place at untimely moments. Further-
more, fusible cutouts are usually employed exclusively for the purpose of pro-
tecting the installation in the case of local short-cui cuiting.
According to this invention, on the contrary, the current is not cut off when the
subsciber exceeds his maximum, but a time-meter is brought into operation
which indicates the length of time that the excessive consumption has lasted
At the same time, it 1ings a local bell or operates a visual signal, or both, so as
to warn the subscriber The agreement of the subscriber may contain a special
fine for example, a double charge for all the hours indicated by the apparatus,
and the fusible cutouts, which do not serve a double purpose in this case, may
be adjusted in such a manner as to prevent the current from reaching the inten-
sity corresponding to the amount of the fine.

page_text: 1
Motors may be controlled in the same manner as lighting installations; for
this purpose, it will be sufficient to state, in the subscriber's agreement, the
number of hours to be allowed per month for starting the motors.
The aangement according to this invention for enabling the Routin &
Brown apparatus to act as a fraud-detector comprises essentially a maxima
ampère-meter I, which may comprise, as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 10,
a solenoid attracting an non core 1¹ suspended on a spring and included in a
local cucuntry ending in the mains & When the solenoid of the ampèie-
meter I, being traversed by a curent of sufficient intensity, attracts its core I¹,
it closes a contact 1", this action takes place only when the intensity of the
cument exceeds the predetermined amount On the circuit which is controlled
by the contact 1", there is a shunt including a time-meter I analagous to
those herein before described, and the electro-magnet thereof will attract not only
the amature that operates the time-meter but also an aimature J that closes
the cucuit of a local battery J" which is included a bell Joi & visual signal
As soon as the bell ings, or the signal falls, the subsciber is warned that he
has exceeded the maximum intensity of current allowed by his agreement, and,
at the same time, the time-meter fin begins to record the time during which
this maximum 18 oxceeded. The consequence of this is that, first, the subscriber
18 wained of this abnormal state of affans by the bell, on the visual signal, or
both, and, secondly, the company will be enabled to obtain payment for the
time during which this abnormal state of affans has occured, by means of the
record of the time-meter 1"1
In order to adapt the Routin & Brown apparatus to the prepayment system
we employ the following means
On the same shaft K (Fig 11) there are loosely mounted two bevel-wheels K',
K which gear with a planet pinion L The pinion K has formed in one with
it a toothed wheel L' which receives its motion from the fist moving part of the
electric meter proper
The other bevel-wheel K' called a latchet-wheel L",
which is prevented from moving except in one duection by a detent (not shown)
The wheel K¹ 18 also provided with a long boss, M, upon which 18 loosely mounted
a sleeve M¹ furnished with a handle 111 The sleeve M is provided with a
lateral slot and the boss M 18 provided with a number of notches, into which
can be placed a coin which renders the sleeve M¹ and the boss M, as it were, one
If a suitable coin is introduced into the slot formed in the sleeve M¹ so as to
engage with any one of the notches of the boss M, two parts M and M¹are
rendered, as it were, one, and, on turning the handle M, the pinion K¹ 18
operated The com is guided to the slot formed in the sleeve M by a suitable
passage not shown in the drawing, it is then guided, during half a revolution,
by a bent passage having a half twist, which is also not shown in the drawing;
and it is finally fieed at the lowest part of its travel in the bent passage, so that
it can fall into a money diawei.
The movement of the bevel-wheel ¹ which is effected by hand by means of the
handle M, or that of the other bevel-wheel K", which 18 effected by the meter,
moves the planet-pinion L in either one on the other direction
If, after a certain number of coms have been introduced successively into the
apparatus, and consequently after the handle has been given a certain number
of half-evolutions, the planet-pinion 1 has been brought into such a position
that its shaft does not touch a contact-piece O, the rotation of the toothed
wheel L' that receives its motion from the first moving part of the meter, will
have the result of returning the planet-pinion L gradually into its extreme
position, in which it will again touch the contact-piece ().
When the contact-piece is brought into contact (see Fig 12) the current
can flow to an electio-magnet P and thence to earth. The electromagnet P
attracts its aimature, and a switch Q, which is under spring action and controls
the whole stallation, 18 opened, so that the current can no longer pass.

page_text: If, on the contrary, the contact-piece is out of contact, a state which is
produced by the rotation of the handle M" (Fig 11), no curent can pass into the
electromagnet P and consequently the switch Qremains closed, allowing the
cument to pass into the particular installation The parts will remain in this
position until the contact be again closed in consequence of the rotation of the
planet-wheel L.
It is evident that in lieu of a sping-controlled switch Q, there might be
employed a mercury switch or bieak Q¹ (Fig 13) which 18 operated by an
olectio-magnet P connected to the two mains and compuses a pivoted armature
in the form of a two-aimed level-one aim of which contains mercury adapted
to close the cucuit except where the armature is attracted by the magnet P
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :—
In apparatus for measuring the consumption of electric current which
18 applicable to hour-meters, ampère-hour meters, and watt-hour meters,
both where the chaige 18 fixed and where it varies according to
the time of day and which complises a controlling clock, situated
at the cential station, which operates a switch having one terminal
connected to earth and its other terminal connected to one of the mains
through the medium either of a continuous-current generator when the line 18
traversed by alternating currents, or of an alternator when the line is traversed
by continuous current, the switch of each installation arranged in a shunt fiom
the mains being connected to an electric receiving apparatus connected to earth,
either duectly, in the case of alternating currents, or through the medium of a
condenser in the case of continuous cullent, substantially as set forth
-
1 For the purpose of employing a motor meter where the charge varies, a
binged integrator adapted to move as one piece with the aimature of the receiving
electromagnet and so aanged that its first moving pait will not be operated by
the worm on the motoi-meter, unless the receiving electromagnet be traversed
by a current substantially as herein before described and consequently attract the
integrator, substantially as set forth
2 For the purpose of distributing time where a raising change is made, the
combination with controlling clock having a variable speed, of a second clock
which constantly makes a complete revolution in the longest unit of time adopted
for the varying charge, and actuates, in each of its evolutions, a time-switch
which introduces into the cucuit of the source of electricity utilized by the
electricity meter, a second source, which, being added to the first source, pio.
vides an electiomotive force sufficient for operating the electiomagnet that con-
trols the receiving clocks connected to the mains, substantially as set forth
3 For the purpose of adapting the curent-measuring apparatus to act as a
fraud detector, the arrangement of a local line of a maxima ampère meter,
which, by attracting its aimature, closes the circuit of an electro-magnot which
operates a time receiver and also closes the local encuit of a battery which
operates either a bell on a visual signal, substantially as set forth
4 For the purpose of distributing electricity on prepayment, the provision,
on the shaft of the first moving part of the meter, of a differential gear, one of
the bevel-wheels of which 18 mounted on the shaft of the first moving part, and
the other one of which can be operated by hand when connected with a suitable
key by means of a coin the planet pinion of the differential gear being mounted
on a shaft that opens and closes the circuit of a receiving electro-magnet which,
when it is traversed by a curent, opens the local consuming cucuit, which 18
closed when the electromagnet is not traversed by a curent, substantially as
set forth.
5. The combination with current measuring apparatus of the kind herein-

page_text: before referred to, of apparatus constructed, arranged and operating as herein-
before described with reference to and shown in Fig 6, in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, in
Fig 10, or in Figs. 11 and 12 or 13, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 92nd day of Cantamo 1900
For the Applicants,
W LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.