Improvements in Counters or Apparatus for Recording the Passage of Electricity in Lamp Circuits and for other Uses.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in Counters or Apparatus for Recording the
Passage of Electricity in Lamp Circuits and for other Uses.
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
$ 75
I SYDNEY PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey Gentleman do hereby declare
the nature of the invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUNTERS OR APPARATUS FOR
RECORDING THE PASSAGE OF ELECTRICITY IN LAMP' CIRCUITS AND FOR OTHER
(A communication to me from abroad by "Jules' Cauderhy of Lausanne
Switzerland) to be as follows:-
USES
7
"
J
"
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1 7 1
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**
.
This invention has for its object improvements in counters or apparatus for
recording the passage of electricity in lamp circuits and for other uses.
The apparatus is an improvement on that for whicli a Patent was granted to me:
No 1756 in the year 1883...
+ -
.1.
The improved apparatus comprises the following parts:-.
There is a time keeping arrangement consisting of a balance wheel with spiral
spring which is kept in' movement so long as the current flows in the circuit by
electro magnets-the coils of these magnets form a shunt to the main or lamp
circuit. These magnets alternately attract armatures attached to the axis of the
balance wheel and so keeping the said wheel in movement.
.
The alternate transmission of currents through the coils of these magnets is
effected by a regulator also upon the axis of the balance wheel. On the same axis
there is also a cam operating a lever and ratchet arrangement in such manner as to
cause the rotation of a drum or cylinder once in each hundred seconds or one
revolution for every hundred double oscillations of the balance wheel. This drum
or cylinder has projections upon it as hereinafter more fully described.
The current to be measured is caused to pass through galvanometer coils and to
influence & needle. suspended between the pole pieces of a permanent magnet.
These pole pieces are adjustable and by means of them the regulation of the
instrument can be effected.
The needle is mounted upon an axis carrying also two light arms one of these is
simply an indicating finger by the observation of which the deflection of the needle
can be read upon a graduated arc.
The other is a longer arm and its end terminates in a metallic button which is
always in close proximity to the surface of the drum or cylinder mentioned above.
гр....

page_text: When the needle is uninfluenced by any current passing in the circuit this
button stands in such a position in relation to the surface of the drum or cylinder
as to be clear of the projections thereon but the deflection of the needle to one side
or the other brings the button into the path of these projections.
Thus if the needle be deflected one degree the button will thereby be moved to
a position such that in one revolution of the drum or cylinder it is displaced once
by a projection upon the drum or cylinder coming against it; in other words it is
thus brought into the path of one only of the projections which the drum or
.cylinder carries.
If the needle be deflected two degrees the button is thereby brought into the
.path of two projections upon the drum or cylinder and it is consequently displaced
twice during each rotation. Similarly if it be deflected three degrees it is brought
into the path of three of the projections and so on.
Each displacement of the button by the projections upon the drum or cylinder
operates and moves forward by 1 tooth or step a ratchet with which it is in
mechanical connection. The ratchet carries round with it the first of a train of
counting wheels. The mechanical counter consequently indicates and registers
upon its dials the number of displacements to which the button controlled by the
galvanometer needle is subjected during the time since the counting wheels were
set to the zero point.
Apparatus is provided to stop and retain the balance wheel immediately the
current ceases to flow in the circuit.
This is effected by an electro magnet in the main circuit which by attracting its
armature gives a partial rotary motion to an axis and thereby removes a cam like
stop out of the way of projections upon the periphery of the balance wheel.
Immediately the current ceases to flow in the circuit the armature falls away
from the magnet and the stop is then brought into position to retain the balance
wheel at or near the end of its oscillation and so that when the stop is again
removed by the current being again passed through the apparatus the balance
wheel may at once start into movement.
This apparatus differs from that described in the Specification of my former
Patent in the following particulars amongst others :-
1 In the use of the balance wheel.
2-In that movement is transmitted to the counting wheels by mechanical
appliances in place of electrically.
3-In that the time keeping mechanism is actuated by electro-magnets included
in a shunt or derived circuit.
4-In the apparatus for releasing and retaining the balance wheel.
5-In providing an indicating arm in connection with the galvanometer needle,
STITO NA
шау тоот,
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: "
I, SYDNEY PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey Gentleman do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUNTERS OR APPARATUS FOR
RECORDING THE PASSAGE OF ELECTRICITY IN LAMP CIRCUITS AND FOR OTHER USES
(A Communication to me from abroad by Jules Cauderay of Lausanne Switzerland)
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 improvements on an apparatus for measuring and
registering the quantity of electric current flowing upon a conductor in a given
time which is already protected by Patent No 17568.
The object of the said apparatus is to resolve the indications of amperes or
units of current strength as given by an ampere meter or suitably graduated
galvanometer into indications of quantity of coulombs, this object being
accomplished by means of a novel combination of a galvanometer a registering
mechanism and a time mechanism.
.
The operation is based upon the rule of electric measurement that the flow of an
electric current of the strength of one ampere during one second is equal to one
coulomb of quantity and the construction and operation of the apparatus will be
readily understood from the following particular description in connection with the
accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved electric meter. Figure 2 is a rear
elevation of the same. Figures 3 and 4 are respectively opposite side elevations.
Figure 5 is a plan view Figure 6 is a horizontal section on line x. x. of Figures 3
and 4. Figures 7 and 70 are detail front and side views of the mechanism for
rotating the cylinder. Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of the. devices for
transmitting motion from the galvanometer to the register. Figure 9 is a detached
view of the pointer and Figure 10 an enlarged. detail view of its projecting point.
Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the teeth on the toothed
cylinder. Figure 12 is a cross section of the toothed cylinder at its mid length
and Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are diagrams illustrating the several toothed
circles of a modified form of the cylinder. In the drawings the letter A designates
a vertical galvanometer the coils a. a. of which are respectively above and below
an open flat frame a¹ in which is pivotted transversely an arbor. upon which is fixed
a non-magnetic needle. B.
The galvanometer is arranged between the depending legs of a permanent horse
shoe magnet C the ends of said legs being secured to the ends of the open frame a¹
while the magnet is secured to a vertical back plate Y.
.
Horizontally through the tips of the magnet legs and also through the end walls
of the open frame a¹ are arranged iron screws C. C. which form laterally
adjustable pole pieces for the magnet and the tips of which may be adjusted in any
desired proximity to the ends of the needle B.
The needle is magnetised by induction from the screw pole pieces and the
strength of its magnetization is regulated by adjusting said pole pieces for a
purpose which will be hereafter referred to.

page_text: •
To the rear end of the arbor which carries the needle B is fixed a pointer D
arranged to vibraté before a scale d on a plate d¹ in front of the magnet C and to
the front or inner end of said arbor is fixed a much longer pointer or index E the
upper portion of which vibrates before a scale plate E¹ arranged in front of the
vertical supporting plate Y and carried by upright arms e. c. the lower ends of
which are fixed to a horizontal rock shaft el pivotted between brackets e². e³. fixed
to the opposite.edges of said vertical. plate.
The upper ends of the arms e. e. are connected by a rod es with which engages a
hook fon the end of an arm F' of a bent lever F the other arm F' of which carries
a spring impelling pawl f³ which engages with a horizontal ratchet wheel G
mounted on a vertical shaft G¹ mounted in a bracket g secured to the frame work
of a register H supported at the top of a frame I the further function of which
will be hereafter explained.
The extreme end of the arm F is bent to form a detent f* which arrests the
forward movement of ratchet wheel G and also prevents it from moving backward.
From the elbow of the bent lever F extends an arm f³ carrying a weight fo
which gives steadiness to the movement of the lever on its pivot pin which
extends downward from an arm y extending forward from the top of plate Y.
A suitably supported adjustable spring f draws the arm F' towards the ratchet
wheel G and furnishes the power which causes the pawl f³ to drive said ratchet
wheel.
Upon the shaft G₁ below the ratchet wheel G is a disc h having a broad
peripheral edge which is graduated in a manner which will be presently explained.
The lower portion of the shaft G¹ carries a worm g¹ which meshes with a toothed
wheel on a shaft the front end of which projects beyond the front plate K¹ of
the register and carries an index or pointer / which revolves in front of a dial
bearing a circular series of numerals from 1 to 0 at equal distances apart.
The register has three other indices or pointers k'. k². k³. arranged to revolve
before similar dials and the shafts i. 13. . are so geared with the shaft i' after the
usual well known manner of multiplying registers that a complete revolution of
any index shaft causes the next index shaft to the left to make a partial revolution
sufficient to carry its pointer over one numbered space on its dial for instance when
the units index makes a complete revolution, in front of its dial, the tens index will
have passed from zero to oné and so on.
The gear connections of the register are similar to those of the well known
register used in gas meters and need not be particularly described.
The arms e and scale plate E' are held forward from plate Y by a spring e* the
forward movement of the arms being limited by an adjustable stop screw e
arranged in a bracket near the top of said plate Y which itself, limits the rearward
movement of the arm scale plate and connecting rod e³.
When the arms e are moved to carry the connecting rod e³ towards the plate Y
the bent lever F will be swung on its pivot to cause the pawl f³ to make a fresh
engagement with the ratchet wheel G and on the said arms e being then released
the spring f' will retract the bent lever and cause the pawl f³ to give the ratchet
wheel a partial rotation equal to the number of teeth which it slips over in making
each fresh engagement the number of teeth being regulated by the movement of
the connecting rod e³. In the present instance the movement. of the part is
supposed to be such that the pawl slips over two teeth at each movement, the
wheel having 100 teeth.
The scale disc h has 50 equal graduations and two complete revolutions of this
disc and its worm shaft G¹ are necessary to cause the units pointer of the register
to move one space.
I will now describe the devices by which the indications of the galvanometer are
transferred to the register.
In front of the scale plate E¹ and the upper end of the long pointer E is arranged
a.cylinder J the shaftj of which has conical tips pivotted in suitable bearing screws 1
arranged in arms ? projecting forward from the plate Yi -

page_text: This cylinder is provided with a number of annular series of teeth 1. This
cylinder is graduated into a number of circles corresponding to the graduations of
the scale plate E¹ and the series of teeth of the cylinder are arranged according to
the numerical graduations on said scale plate for instance referring to the diagram
Figure 11 on the circle or space of the cylinder opposite the middle or zero point of
the scale plate there are no teeth on the cylinder.
On each of the first circles to the right and left of the zero point respectively
there is one tooth on the next succeeding circle of the cylinder to the right and left
there are two teeth diametrically opposite each other and on each of the next circles
there are three teeth at equal distances apart around the cylinder and so on.
While the diagram does not show a complete, cylinder it illustrates the relative
arrangement of the series of teeth in a manner which will be readily understood.
Near its top the pointer E is provided with a forwardly projecting point E' which
will be struck by such teeth of the cylinder as the pointer may stand opposite and
said pointer will be thereby forced against the scale plate E¹ and cause the arms e:e.
and connecting rod es also to be moved towards the plate Y thus causing motion to
be transmitted through the bent lever F and its pawlf to the registering mechanism
as before explained the number of partial revolutions thus given to the ratchet
wheel G and disch depending on the number of teeth which strike the projection
of the pointer.
The pointer takes its position according to the strength and direction of the
electric current which traverses the coils of the galvanometer which is connected in
the circuit, the current on which is to be measured, such connection being made in
the present instance for a particular reason in a manner which will be presently
described.
The scale plate E' is graduated for amperes and the circular series of teeth on
the cylinder are arranged accordingly that is if a current having the strength of
one ampere traverses the coils of the galvanometer the pointer E will be deflected
from the zero point according to the direction of the current to the first graduation
to the right or left and if it stands in this position while the cylinder J makes one
revolution said pointer will be forced rearwardly once as there is one tooth on said
cylinder opposite the first ampere graduation of the scale plate. This movement is
to be graduated so that it will cause the bent lever F and its pawl to give the
ratchet wheel G a partial rotation sufficient to move the graduated disc h one space.
As the disc has 50 spaces it follows that the pointer must be forced rearwardly
50 times to move the disc one revolution or 100 times to cause the units index of
the register to move one space.
In the present instance I will describe the cylinder J as controlled by devices
which cause it to make a complete revolution in one hundred seconds of time and
that it will therefore be seen that if the pointer stands during such revolution in a
position to indicate a passing current having the strength of one ampere a single
graduation of the disc h will indicate one hundred coulombs of quantity and if the
pointer should stand in this position long enough to cause the disc to make two
complete revolutions, ten thousand coulombs of quantity would be indicated in the
units index of the register which would move one space indicating one myriacoulomb
which is equal to 10,000 coulombs.
This indication of a myriacoulomb would show that during one hundred revolutions
of the cylinder occupying one hundred seconds each the pointer of the galvanometer
had stood in a position indicating a passing current having the strength of one
ampere.
If the pointer should stand in position to indicate a current of greater strength
say for instance three amperes it would be forced rearward three times during one
revolution of the cylinder as said cylinder has three teeth on the circle corresponding
to the position of the pointer when it indicates three amperes and therefore the
disch would be moved three spaces indicating three hundred coulombs of quantity.
All indications less than a myriacoulomb are read from the graduated disc h;
indications of ten myriacoulombs or less are read from the units dial of the register

page_text: I
•
and multiples of ten myriacoulombs are read from the dials to the left successively
in the usual manner.
:
I have adopted the myriacoulomb as a practical unit for measuring electric
lighting currents from the fact that it has been demonstrated that 1080 coulombs
utilized in a lamp (Edison incandescent) of sixteen candle power produce the same.
amount of light as a cubic meter of gas having the same candle power.
Hence in practice a myriacoulomb may be considered the equivalent of a cubic
meter of gas.
I will now describe the means by which the cylinder J is caused to make a
complete revolution in one hundred seconds. I employ devices similar to the
motive mechanism of an electric clock as much preferable to mechanism driven by
a spring or cord and weight, the electric mechanism having the advantage that it
needs no winding up and may be operated by an almost inappreciable derivation of
the current to be measured as will presently appear.
The letter M indicates a vertical balance staff having a balance disc M¹ and an
impelling spring N, these parts being so far similar to the balance staff wheel and
spring of a watch but of course much larger, the disc M¹ weighing about 700 grammes
and making one complete or to and fro oscillation per second as controlled by the
regulation of the spring.
The motive power which keeps up the operation of this balance disc is derived
from the electro magnets P P supported by the frame I and acting on the
armatures p. p. on the staff M.
These armatures stand normally in a plane oblique to the poles of the magnets
but will be caused to stand in the axial plane of the magnets by the attraction of
the cores when said magnets are energized.
..
The magnets are in a circuit derived from the main circuit or that the current
upon which is to be measured the connection being made as follows; the binding
posts O. O. on the base Z of the apparatus are respectively connected with the
opposite terminals of the galvanometer coils by means of large wires w and w
leading to the metallic plates, s, supported by but insulated from the plate Y-
and connected directly to the terminals of said coils in the usual manner.
Binding posts 02. 03. are connected together by a large wire w².
In practice the binding posts O¹ and 03 are to be connected together as for
instance by the wire w³.
The main line wires or W. W. are to be connected to posts O and Oª
One of the magnets P has its coils connected from one terminal by a wire w' to
the large wire w and from the other terminal by a wire w³ to a metallic bracket q
mounted on a non-conducting platform, Q and carrying an adjustable contact
screw 7. The other magnet is connected from one terminal by a wire w" to the
large wire w² connecting the posts 0% 03, while the other terminal of the coils
of this magnet is connected by a wire w' to a bracket q' on non-conducting
platform Q
The bracket q is secured to one end of horizontal strip spring T the free end of
which lies opposite the tip of the contact screw r.
Upon the rear side of the strip spring T is a bracket t. in which is pivoted one
end of light metallic arm t which extends towards and terimiñates close to the
balance staff M.
When this staff stands in its normal position the inner end of the arm t will
engage with one of the notches of a double notched lug 3 carried by a collar t³.
which is fixed upon the staff M.
:
The projection of this lug from the staff is such that it forces the arm t endwise,
and the arm in turn forces the free end of spring T against the tip of contact
screw r. through, when the arm is out of engagement with the lug the spring will
not make contact with said screw.
The pivoted arm t points directly to the balance staff normally and is held in
such position by two springs 8. 8. which permit it to yield laterally in both
directions but tend to bring it back to its normal position.

page_text: The spring T is provided with a platinum face where it contacts with the
screw T..
The spring when in contact with the screw r. closes the derived circuit in which
the magnets P. P. are included.
The derived circuit is closed in two cases viz:-first when the apparatus is at
rest, and secondly when the the apparatus being in operation the amplitude of
oscillation of the balance disc begins to shorten from loss of momentum.
•
In this latter case there comes a time when the lug 2. will not brush past the
end of art as it does when the disc makes full oscillations and the end of said
arm will remain caught in one of the notches of the lug. The arm is therefore
pressed endwise and carries the tip of spring T against the contact scrow r. thus
closing the derived circuit.
The contact continues but a short time say during about 1% of an oscillation, but
while it continues the electro magnets are energized and attract their armatures p. p.
thus imparting to the balance staff and disc a fresh impulse sufficient to enable thein
to make full oscillations for from seven to twelve seconds when the renewed impulse
is again given as before.
The balance being at rest it will be set in motion as soon as an electric current
passes on the main circuit as the derived circuit will then be closed and will receive
its due proportion of the current. This proportion may be so small as not to
appreciably affect the strength of the main current.
The electro magnets may have a resistance of 1000 ohms, so that when operating
with a main current of 100 volts electro-motive force an intensity of only 1/10 of an
ampere will traverse the magnet coils for 1/4 of a second at intervals of say 7 to 12
seconds.
When operating with main currents of less than 80 or 100 volts the magnets may
be connected in multiple are in a well known manner so as to properly reduce the
resistance sufficiently, to obtain the required proportion of current on the derived
circuit for efficient action of said magnets.
The variation of from 7 to 12 or 15 seconds during which the balance shaft and
disc will make full oscillations without renewal of impulse may be due to two
causes viz to the greater or less electrical force with which the apparatus is operated
or in different machines the difference of distance between the magnet poles and
the armatures.
Near the top of the balance staff is a collar carrying a curved plate V fitted
partially around the shaft to form an eccentric. V. is a rock shaft having a radial
upright arm v. from which projects a horizontal arm v¹. in the end of which
is mounted a small friction wheel which is caused to bear against the balance staff
by a spring v. and is acted on by the eccentric plate V when the staff oscillates
thus giving a rocking motion to shaft V¹.
A long arm V rises from shaft V' through an opening in the tip piece of frame I
and at its upper end this long arm carries a spring impelling pawl V³ which engages
with the teeth of a ratchet wheel U on the shaft of the cylinder J.
ງ
The arm V also carries a detent pawl V which prevents the ratchet wheel from
being carried too far by momentum.
Backward movement of the wheel is prevented by a detent pawl u.
The wheel U has one hundred teeth and the throw of the eccentric V is such
that at each oscillation of the balance shaft the pawl V³ will be caused to advance
the ratchet wheel one tooth thus giving the wheel and the cylinder J a complete
revolution in one hundred seconds.
With a view to reducing the number of teeth in the cylinder and lessening the
risk of hindering the free movement of the pointer E, I propose to use a cylinder
of the modified construction illustrated in Figures 13. 14. 15. 16. 17 and 18.
The two halves of the cylinder on opposite sides of the zero space are identical,
therefore a description of one half will suffice.
1..
Upon the first circle or that next from the centre circle there is one tooth three
millimetres long which I call a half tooth and upon the next succeeding or second

page_text: circle instead of two teeth I fix one tooth four millimetres long which I call full
.tooth and then upon the next or third circle, I fix one full tooth and one half tooth,
upon the next or fourth two full teeth and upon the fifth circle two full teeth
and one half tooth and so on for the remaining circles, one full tooth answering to
two half teeth.
When a half tooth forces rearward the pointer E arms e. e. and rod e³, the
lever F will move its pawl to engage only one tooth of ratchet wheel G so that the
spring will then move said wheel the space of only one tooth, and the disc h one
half of a graduated space or one 11/100 of revolution as the wheel G has 100 teeth.
When a full tooth acts upon the pointer the wheel G will be moved the space.
of two teeth and the disc h will be moved one full graduation.
In using such a cylinder I place the tooth circles a distance apart corresponding
to half ampere deflections of the pointer and therefore the first half tooth in
causing the disc h to move 1/100 of a revolution gives the indication of 50 coulombs
and the first full tooth causes the indication of 100 coulombs while on the next
circle the full tooth and half tooth being equal to three half teeth cause the
indication of 150 coulombs.
The multiple indications are given to the Register indices in a corresponding
manner.
J indicates the modified cylinder the full teeth and 12 the half teeth.
For exactness in operation I prefer to give the cylinder teeth the form of a
pyramid of triangular cross section one of the angles being turned in the direction
of rotation and the tooth somewhat inclined in the opposite direction.
The projecting point of the galvanometer pointer is preferably curved on its
under edge which has a V shaped longitudinal groove into which the teeth take.
The width of the point is such that when it moves laterally from any series of
teeth or tooth circle it will be certainly in position to encounter the teeth of the
next circle.
It will be now understood the current on the main circuit will flow from
post O or O through the galvanometer coils and cause the needle and pointer
to be deflected from zero in a direction according to the direction of the current ;
the derived current passing through the magnet coils will cause the balance or
clock mechanism to rotate the cylinder once in a hundred seconds the teeth of the
cylinder will operate on the pointer such a number of times in one hundred
seconds as corresponds to the pointer's position and a corresponding number of
indications will be made by the register.
When the apparatus is started the time is to be noted from any ordinary time
piece, and then at any time thereafter, the quantity of current in coulombs or
myriacoulombs may be obtained by multiplying the number of indications given
by the register by the number of seconds which elapsed.
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.) In counters or apparatus for recording the passage of electricity in a circuit.
the combination of balance wheel toothed cylinder galvanometer index and counter
the latter moved through the co-operation of the aforesaid parts by auxilliary
instruments substantially as described.
(2.) In counters or apparatus for recording the passage of electricity in a circuit
the combination of the toothed cylinder and galvanometer index, and mechanical
arms or parts c operated thereby and giving movement to a counting train of
wheels by means of an impelling pawl substantially as described.
(3.) In counters or apparatus for recording the passage of electricity in a circuit,
the combination of a balance wheel having armatures on its staff or axis and electro
magnets to attract the said armatures and an automatic circuit closer placing the
coils of the said magnets in circuit when the balance wheel is at rest and after
each oscillation which fails to attain a certain amplitude substantially as described.

page_text: (4.) In counters or apparatus for recording the passage of electricity in a circuit,
the combination of the tooth cylinder, balance shaft oscillating in given periods
and intermediate mechanical connections for transmitting rotary motion to the
cylinder from the said balance shaft substantially as described.
(5.) In counters or apparatus for recording the passage of electricity in a circuit
the combination of the balance shaft provided with suitable armatures and
returning spring, the electro magnets arranged to attract the said armatures and a
circuit closer for closing an electric circuit through the coils of the said magnets
substantially as described.
(6.) In counters or apparatus for recording the passage of electricity in a circuit,
the combination of a galvanometer in the main circuit, a registering mechanism,
intermediate connections for transmitting motions from the galvanometer needle to
the register and a time mechanism controlled by electric devices in a circuit derived
from the main circuit and arranged to modify the operation of the said intermediate
motion transmitting devices substantially as described.