IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR ELECTRICITY PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt of Sutton in the County of Surrey for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR ELECTRICITY PARTS OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES " communicated to him
from abroad by Jules Cauderay of Lausanne Switzerland
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th April 1883.
SYDNEY PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey "IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS
FOR ELECTRICITY PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
"
PURPOSES [communicated to him from abroad by Jules Cauderay of Lausanne
Switzerland]
The principle object of the invention is the construction of a meter for
measuring and registering the quantity of electricity which passes through a
conductor in any given time.
The current according to its intensity deflects more or less the needle of a
galvanometer which needle oscillates in front of a regularly rotating cylinder,
having projections on it which come into contact with the needle-The projections
are arranged in rings transversely to the cylinder, the ring at the central or zero
position of the needle having no projections, the rings on each side which are
opposite to the positions of the needle corresponding to an intensity of current of
say one ampère having each one projection, the next pair of rings opposite the
positions corresponding to an intensity of two ampères having each two projections
and so on. The needle each time it comes into contact with a projection completes
an electric circuit which actuates a step by step dial recording apparatus and
advances the pointers one unit.
Thus the number of units recorded by the dial during the time occupied by
each revolution of the cylinder varies as the strength of the current passing
through the conductor.
The recording apparatus might be actuated mechanically instead of electrically. .
The galvanometer which it is preferred to employ has a horse shoe magnet
between the arms of which is the needle. Each arm has a projecting piece attached
to it and by means of screws these pieces can be brought nearer to or separated
from each other-The magnetic field can thus be regulated and the sensibility of
the instrument adjusted. This improvement may be applied to galvanometers
used for other purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Sydney Pitt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th October 1883.
SYDNEY PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS
FOR ELECTRICITY PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
"
PURPOSES a communication to me from abroad by Jules Cauderay of Lausanne
Switzerland
The principal object of the Invention is the construction of a meter for
measuring and registering the quantity of electricity which passes through a
conductor in any given time.
The current according to its intensity deflects more or less the needle of a
galvanometer which needle oscillates in front of a regularly rotating cylinder
having projections on it which come into contact with the needle. The projections
are arranged in rings transversely to the cylinder the ring at the central or zero
position of the needle having no projections; the rings on each side which are
opposite to the positions of the needle corresponding to an intensity of current of
say one ampère having each one projection; the next pair of rings opposite the
positions corresponding to an intensity of two ampères having each two projections
and so on. The needle each time it comes into contact with a projection
completes an electric circuit which actuates a step by step dial recording apparatus
and advances the pointers one unit.
Thus the number of units recorded by the dial during the time occupied by
each revolution of the cylinder varies as the strength of the current passing
through the conductor.
The recording apparatus might be actuated mechanically instead of electrically.
The galvanometer which it is preferred to employ has a horse shoe magnet
between the arms of which is the needle. Each arm has a projecting piece
attached to it and by means of screws these pieces can be brought nearer to or
separated from each other. The magnetic field can thus be regulated and the
sensibility of the instrument adjusted. This improvement may be applied to
galvanometers used for other purposes.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A is the galvanometer interposed on the line through which is passing the
current to be measured and registered. It is connected to the line by the
conductors B-0 is the needle of the galvanometer oscillating between the arms
of the horse shoe magnet D before a graduated scale E divided into degrees
representing ampères.
In front of the needle and parallel with the scale is mounted a small metal 4
cylinder F insulated from the needle and to which is given either by clockwork or
by an electric motor G a rotation of say one turn a minute. At the centre of this
cylinder there is a ring corresponding to the zero of the scale at this point the
needle gives no indication but in front of each degree of the scale to the right or
left of zero the cylinder F has upon it the same number of projections as there
are degrees there being one projection on the ring in front of one degree on the
scale, two projections on the ring in front of two degrees and so on. The effect of
these projections is to put the needle C of the galvanometer into contact with a
platinum wire H stretched transversely across the face of the scale and to send at
each of these contacts a current to the recording apparatus I at the foot of the 5
instrument. Each of these currents is registered on the dials. If the current has
an intensity of 3 ampères the needle comes in front of the ring with -three

page_text: projections, three currents are sent and three units are marked on the scale each
minute. If the intensity is four ampères the needle comes in front of the ring
with 4 projections and four units are registered and so on.
The platinum wire is only required when the recording apparatus is worked by
an electric current, when the recorder is worked mechanically the wire is replaced
by some suitable mechanical arrangement.
The arrangement shown in the drawings for driving the cylinder F consists of
wheel work moved by an escapement governed by a pendulum actuated by an
electric current in the ordinary way.
It will be observed that in the drawings a small plate K on the side of
the galvanometer at one end of the scale receives one end of the platinum
wire H. This plate also receives the end of the conductor L which leads to the
bobbin of the registering apparatus and thus transmits to it the current given by
the contact of the galvanometer needle.
This electrical arrangement may be replaced by mechanism worked by the
pressure of the projections on the cylinder against the galvanometer needle.
Any suitable galvanometer may be used-in the one shown the poles of the
horse shoe magnet are made moveable by means of two moveable pieces X X
attached one to each of the two arms of the magnet by two screws Z Z which
cause the ends to approach towards or separate from each other at pleasure.
The magnetic field can thus be increased and change the value of the graduations
so as to obtain a greater sensibility of the instrument. This improvement is
important as it allows of the regulation of the action of the instrument. It may
also be applied to galvanometers used for other purposes.
In the drawings the electricity for working the apparatus is supplied by a
Leclanché or other battery (not shown) through two distinct circuits. One of these
circuits 1 serves to actuate the bobbins of the electro-magnet M. then it descends
to the interrupter N which keeps the pendulum in movement and then returns to
the negative pole of the battery. Before reaching the electro magnet M the wire 1
bifurcates so as to supply the axis of the cylinder F with another current
which is transmitted by the wire L to the electro magnet P of the registering
apparatus.
When it is desired to measure and record changes of mechanical power the
galvanometer and its attachments are omitted the other parts of the apparatus
being retained-In this case the needle C is caused to oscillate according to the
variations of the power in any convenient way.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the
details of the apparatus but that what I claim is :—
First. The combination substantially as described of a needle whose movement
indicates electrical or other changes with a regularly revolving cylinder and a
recording apparatus.
Second. The combination for the purposes specified of the cylinder F (with
projections on it) and of its motor with or without the platinum wire H with
the galvanometer needle and the registering apparatus substantially as described
and shown.
Third. The apparatus substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Sydney Pitt have hereunto set my hand and
seal this fifth day of October in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.