Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1886
Complete Left, 14th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 15th Mar., 1887.
I, ROBERT PERCY SELLON of 112 Belvedere Road Lambeth S.E. Electrical'
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
--
My Invention relates to apparatus for measuring and recording the passage of
electric currents so that the quantity flowing may be accurately indicated or
registered.
I sometimes carry out my Invention in the following manner. By means of a
suitable electromagnet or magnets I cause to reciprocate or impart motion, on the
passage of current through the aforesaid electro magnet or magnets, to a pendulum or
obtain motion by any other convenient means. This electromagnet, in the case where
a supply of current at approximately constant electromotive force is maintained, may
be wound with a comparatively fine wire and is placed across the two main wires of
the source of supply. Thus a constant motion is obtained on the pendulum or other
body, to which motion is imparted, so long as a constant potential is maintained at the
main wires across which the electro-magnet is connected. Or this pendulum may
equally be driven by means of a spring or falling weight, the use of electricity to
drive the pendulum not being in any way essential to this Invention.
This pendulum or moving body imparts a reciprocating motion to a pawl or catch
by means of a suitable link or connection placed between the pendulum and the pawl
itself: the position or point of connection between the pendulum and the link is
determined by an electromagnet, magnets or solenoid or other suitable device
affected by the passage of current. This magnet or solenoid, when the meter is
placed across the source of constant electro-motive force supply, is wound with coarse
wire and is placed in series with the lamps, motors or other devices of which it is
required to measure the consumption of energy. The link thus controlled by the
electromagnet is free to slide vertically upon the pendulum spindle. This vertical
motion upon the spindle is controlled by the electromagnet or solenoid and varied
according to the amount of current passing in the circuit, in such measure that with
varying positions of the link upon the spindle the "throw" of the pawl or catch iş
varied in extent

page_text: The pawl may be made to engage with a wheel or other suitable device, which in
turn controls a series of indicating dials. By so arranging that the throw of the pawl
or catch shall bo increased as the current (passing through the electromagnet or
solenoid and to be measured) increases and the "throw" of the pawl diminishes as the
current diminishes, the dials will register the amount of current passed.
Or, I may sometimes construct my improved meter, as follows:-
By means of an electromagnet wound with fine wire and connected across the main
wires, imparting motion to an armature, of which the motion will tend to be constant
so long as the electromotive force at the terminals is constant or by any other means
of obtaining motion, such as clockwork-I impart revolution to a fan or suitably
shaped body immersed in a vessel containing liquid, such as mercury, glycerine or
water.
The depth of immersion of the fan or its equivalent is determined by an electro-
magnet or solenoid, the fan or its equivalent being attached to the armature of the
above electro-magnet.
Thus, when small current is passing the depth of immersion is great and conse-
quently comparatively great resistance is offered to the motion of revolution of the fan.
Equally when a large current is passing the depth of immersion is small, and
consequently comparatively little resistance is offered to the motion of revolution of
the fan.
By means of a registering device such as a dial or dials suitably connected with the
fan, its speed of revolution and consequently the amount of current that has passed in
a given time, may be indicated or recorded."
Or I may sometimes make one of the following device for my improved electric
meter.
By means of a magnet or solenoid or in other well known and approved manner I
obtain a deflection of a needle or pointer or its equivalent, such deflection being
dependent upon the strength of current.
For this purpose I prefer to use the following novel device: within a glass tube
partially filled with some liquid, such as mercury, place a small soft iron plate or
dise; surrounding the tube is a solenoid or magnet, which attracts the soft iron-core,
thus. raising the mercury in the tube. The motion of the core will depend on the
magnetising strength of the solenoid, thus the height of mercury in the tube will
register the strength of current passing round the coils of the solenoid: I prefer to
enlarge the glass tube so as to form a chamber within which the soft iron core is
placed, so that a small movement of the core effects a considerable variation in height
of the mercury, within the narrower portion of the tube.
In connection with a suitable device, as above, for indicating the strength of current,
I place an illuminant-preferably an incandescent lamp-in such a manner that it
shall indicate by the shadow or otherwise of the indicating device upon chemically
sensitised paper, the position of the indicating device, and consequently the strength
of current, passing.
The sensitised paper may be in the form of a long roll wound upon a drum, and
caused to revolve at a constant speed by clockwork or at a speed dependant upon the
difference of potential in a system of "múltiple are" supply, by means of a pendulum
to which motion is imparted by means of an electromagnet or magnets.
It may
automatically and by electrical means be put in motion as soon as the passage of
current to be registered by the meter, takes place.
Thus the position of the indicating device and consequently the strength of current
will be continuously registered upon the sensitised paper, so long as any current is
passing. The mean of current registered may then be readily ascertained from the
sensitised paper.
My novel indicating device described may be used as a "current" or "potential "
indicator alone and not necessarily in conjunction with the above described ineter.

page_text: I, ROBERT PERCY SELLON of Victoria Works 112 Belvedere Road Lambeth in the
county of Surrey Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC METERS and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to apparatus for measuring and recording the passage of
electric currents, so that the quantity flowing may be accurately indicated or
registered.
I sometimes carry out my invention in the following manner. By means of a
suitable electromagnet or magnets, I cause to reciprocate or impart motion on the
passage of current through the aforesaid electromagnet or magnets, to a pendulum, or
obtain motion by any other convenient means. This electromagnet, in the case where
a supply of current at approximately constant electromotive force is maintained, may
be wound with a comparatively fine wire and is placed across the two main wires of
the source of supply. Thus a constant motion is obtained on the pendulum or other
body, to which motion is imparted, so long as a constant potential is maintained at
the main wires across which the electromagnet is connected. Or this pendulum may
equally be driven by means of a spring, or falling weight, the use of electricity to
drive the pendulum not being in any way essential to this invention. This pendulum
or moving body imparts a reciprocating motion to a pawl or catch by means of a
suitable link or connection placed between the pendulum and the pawl itself, the
position or point of connection between the pendulum and the link is determined by
an electromagnet, magnets or solonoid or other suitable device, affected by the passage
of current.
This magnet or solonoid, when the meter is placed across the source of constant
electromotive force supply, is wound with course wire, and is placed in series, with the
lamps, motors or other devices of which it is required to measure the consumption of
energy. The link thus controlled by the electromagnet is free to slide vertically upon
the pendulum spindle.
This vertical motion upon the spindle is controlled by the electromagnet or solonoid
and varied according to the amount of current passing in the circuit, in such measure
that with varying positions of the link upon the spindle the throw of the pawl or catch
is varied in extent.
The pawi may be made to engage with a wheel or other suitable device which in turn
controlls a series of indicating dials. By so arranging that the "throw" of the pawl
or catch shall be increased as the current (passing through the electromagnet or
solonoid and to be measured) increases, and the "throw" of the pawl diminished as
the current diminishes, the dials will register the amount of current passed.
Fig. I of the accompanying sheet of drawings will serve to clearly illustrate one
method of carrying out the invention. E is an electromagnet by means of which the

page_text: pendulum p is maintained in motion: the necessary opening and closing of the circuit
of the magnet being effected at the contact screws c c by the motion imparted by the
pendulum to the rocking piece 1. M is a solonoid magnet which raises the core K
more or less, according to the strength of current passing round it. The core K is
connected to one end of the lever L, to the other end of which is connected a link N.
One end of the link is bared or otherwise suitably arranged so that it may slide freely
up and down the pendulum rod p. To the other end of the link is attached the pawl
or ratchet T which engages with the ratchet wheel W indicating wheels are geared with
the ratchet wheel, W. Thus varying strengths of current passing in the magnet M
will cause the core K to assume different positions, thereby rocking the lever L and
so varying the position of the link N upon the pendulum rod p.
The greater the current passing in the magnet M, the greater will be the motion of
reciprocation of the link N and consequently of the ratchet Tupon the ratchet wheel W:
therefore the greater will be the current registered.
Or. I may sometimes construct my improved meter as follows, By means of an
electromagnet wound with fine wire and connected across the main wires, imparting
motion to an armature, of which the motion will tend to be constant so long as the
electro motive force at the terminals is constant or by any other means of obtaining
motion such as clockwork-I impart revolution to a fan or suitably shaped body,
immersed in a vessel containing liquid, such as mercury, glycerine or water.
The depth of immersion of the fan or its equivalent is determined by an electro-
magnet or solonoid, the fan or its equivalent being attached to the armature of the
above electromagnet.
Thus, when small current is passing, the depth of immersion is great, and
consequently comparatively great resistance is offered to the motion of revolution of
the fan. Equally, when a large current is passing, the depth of immersion is small
and consequently comparatively little resistance is offered to the motion of the fan.
By means of a registering device such as a dial or dials suitably connected with the
fan, its speed of revolution and consequently the amount of current that has passed
in a given time, may be indicated or recorded.
Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings clearly illustrates this invention:-
E is an electromagnet through which rotary motion is imparted to the fan F placed
within the vessel P which contains mercury as shown by the dotted lines at L. The
depth of immersion of the fan F is determined by the attraction of the solonoid
magnet M for its core K to which core the fan is suitably connected. The rotation of
the fan is registered by the indicating dials dd.
Thus when a small current is passing, in the solonoid M, the attraction exercised
upon the core K tending to lift both it and the fan F is small; consequently the depth
of immersion of the fan F in the liquid L is great; and the speed of revolution small-
On the other hand if the current in M be large, the core K will be lifted upward, the
fan will be raised to a greater extent than before out of the liquid L, and the speed
of rotation will be thereby increased.
Thus the rotary motion of the fan F, and the indications registered upon the dials,
will be a measure of the current or electrical energy passing in circuit.
Or, I may sometimes make one of the following device for my improved electric
meter.
By means of a magnet or solonoid or in other well known and approved manners I
obtain a deflection of a needle or pointer or its equivalent, such deflection being
dependent upon the strength of current.
preferably an incandescence
shadow or otherwise of the
position of the indicating
In connection with such device I place an illuminant,
lamp in such a manner that it shall indicate by the
indicating device upon chemically sensitised paper, the
device, and consequently the strength of current passing.
The sensitised paper may be in the form of a long roll wound upon a drum, and
caused to revolve at a constant speed by clockwork or at a speed dependent upon the
difference of potential in a system of "multiple are" supply, by means of a pendulum
to which motion is imparted by means of an electromagnet or magnets. It may

page_text: automatically and by electrical means be put in motion as soon as the passage of
current to be registered takes place.
Thus the position of the indicating device and consequently the strength of current
will be continuously registered upon the sensitised paper so long as any current is
passing.
Fig. III of the drawings serves to make clear one method of carrying my
invention into effect.
Dis a roll or drum wound with chemically sensitised paper, to which revolution is
imparted when a current of electricity flows in circuit, in connection with which the
meter is placed by any suitable means. I is an incandescence lamp, lighted when
the current of electricity flows in circuit, the rays of light from which, tending to
affect the paper wound upon the drum D are intercepted by a screen S. This screen
is in connection with the core K of a solonoid or magnet M. The position of the
core K is determined by the current passing round the magnet M, and thus the amount
of light allowed to fall upon the sensitised paper varies with the current in the circuit
of which the meter is placed.
Thus the current passing is indicated upon the paper; and the consumption may
readily be read off by well known ineans.
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 an electric meter, indicating the passing current of electricity, by the
employment of an oscillating or reciprocating link or rod, the extent of whose
movement is varied by the extent of the current of electricity, which it is desired to
register, substantially as hereinbefore described.
(II.) In an electric meter, the method of varying the motion of an oscillating or
reciprocating link or rod, consisting of a reciprocating pendulum upon which a link
or rod is free to move, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figure I of the accompanying drawings.
III.) In an electric meter, the combination of parts, consisting of a reciprocating
pendulum, a link or rod actuated thereby, and of which the motion is varied by an
electromagnet with a registering device substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figure I of the accompanying drawings.
(IV.) In an electric meter, means for varying the rotation of a fan, pinion or an
equivalent device, the speed of rotation of which is indicated upon a registering
device, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figure II of the
accompanying drawings.
(V.) In an electric meter, the combination of parts, consisting of a fan, pinion or
equivalent device, immersed within a vessel containing a. vapour, gas or liquid, to
which motion is imparted and controlled by an electromagnet all substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to Figure II of the accompanying drawings.
(VI.) In an electric meter, the registration upon a drum or roll of paper of the
value of the current of electricity passing by means substantially as hereinbefore
described, with reference to Figure 111 of the accompanying drawings.
ROBERT PERCY SELLON.