Currents, which Apparatus will also Serve as a Motor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Currents, which Apparatus will also Serve as a Motor.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention comprises an apparatus wherein the heating effects of an electric
current are utilized for the purpose of measuring the current or for the purpose of
light motive power, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.
In carrying out my invention I propose to make use of a liquid which is vaporizable,
such as ether or alcohol, and to employ the electric current to produce a heating effect
on the said liquid thus giving rise to a vapour which being held in a confined space
above the liquid may cause a bodily movement of the latter into another receptacle or
portion of receptacle containing the same. By the application of suitable devices as
hereinafter described the movement thus produced may be directly measured or may,
by the application of suitable switching devices and additional heating coils as herein-
after set forth, be made to give rise to a continued reciprocating or rotary movement
of a receptacle or receptacles containing the liquid which movement may be utilized
either to measure the electric current by which it is set up or may be employed as a
light motive power. The vapour under tension thus produced may be made to
coinmunicate motion to any other body instead of to the body of liquid from which
the vapour arises, and each body may be a weight of greater or less amount directly
or indirectly affected by the pressure of the vapour.
By the use of movable bodies of sufficient weight a light motive power may be
obtained. When applied to measuring electric current the weight or body moved

page_text: My invention consists further in the combination with the apparatus described, of
suitable means for registering or retarding the movements of expansion whereby the
electric current supplied over a circuit to lamps or other apparatus may be measured.
My invention consists also in the combination with the movable weight or weights
shifted by the expansion as hereinafter described and governed in its action by the
automatic electric switches which control the current-flow to the heaters, of a wheel
or wheels mechanically operated through connection with the shiftable weight as will
hereinafter more fully appear.
My invention consists further in making the tube through which the liquid is
shifted in such way that there should be an opposition or obstruction to the ready
flow of the current through the same as will be hereinafter described.
My invention consists also in the improved switching, devices and other details
claimed hereinafter.
In the accompanying drawings
:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus which combined with suitable switches
may be employed for indirectly indicating the strength or amount of an electric
current or as a motive power.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of an apparatus in which the movement of the liquid
indicates directly the strength of the current.
Figure 3 shows in side elevation a modification of the structure illustrated in
Figure 1, the electric coil which heats the liquid being applied to the outside of the
receptacle.
Figure 4 illustrates another modification to be hereinafter described.
Figures, 5, 6, and 7, are detail views of modifications in the construction of the
bulb and the application of the heating coil.
Figures 8 and 9 indicate methods of controlling the flow of current to the heating
coil by means of an electro magnet.
Figure 10, illustrates a modification in which liquids of different specific gravity
are employed.
Figure 11, shows a form of apparatus that may be employed for giving rise to a
continued oscillatory movement.
Figure 12 is a modification of the construction illustrated in Figure 10.
Figure 13, shows a construction in which the oscillatory movement may be
employed to govern or produce the movements of an escapement wheel.
Figure 14, shows the apparatus contained in a protecting case.
Figure 15 illustrates one way of using the apparatus as a light motive power.
Figures 16, 17 and 18, show modifications in which a continued rotary movement
of a structure is produced instead of an oscillatory movement.
Figure 19 illustrates the manner of using the apparatus to measure the current
flowing to a number of lamps, the apparatus shown being of the form in which
an oscillatory movement is employed and being properly constructed to retard
the movement of the body of liquid from one receptacle to another.
Figures 20 and 21, show modified devices for producing a resistance to the
passage of the fluid from one receptacle to the other.
Figure 22, illustrates the manner of supplying current to the apparatus from an
alternating current main.
Figure 23, shows the application of the retarding medium to a case where the
bodily movement of the liquid is measured directly.
Figure 24, illustrates the application of the retarding medium to a case where the
vapour of the vaporizable liquid is required to pass through a tube to another
receptacle.
Figure 25 is an elevation of the meter case.
Figure 20, shows in section the wall of the case.
Figure 27, illustrates another modification of my invention.
In Figure 1, B, B1, are two receptacles or chambers or bulbs connected by a
tube or passage. These receptacles are made of glass or other suitable material.
In one or both of these bulbs is placed a coil or resistance H, capable of being

page_text: traversed by an electric current and connected with wires which are hermetically
sealed into the sides of the bulbs or receptacles. The bulbs or receptacles are
partly filled, as well as the tube T with a vaporizable liquid, such as ether or alcohol,
and are sealed or otherwise securely closed against the loss of liquid by evaporation,
the bulbs may be sealed with an atmosphere of air or other gas above the liquid,
but I prefer, for extra sensitiveness, to so construct the apparatus that it shall
contain only the vapour of the liquid itself; thus, if ether or alcohol be used the
space above the liquid would be filled with a tenuous vapour of ether or alcohol.
If, now, either of the resistance coils H, H¹, be traversed by an electric current
a gradual expulsion of the fluid from the bulb in which the coil receiving the
electric current exists will take place, and an accumulation of liquid in the
other bulb. This mechanical movement of the liquid may be measured directly,
as will be hereinafter described, or may be utilized to set up a continued
reciprocating movement of the structure shown as will be described further on.
This reciprocating movement may be employed to operate a meter or for other purposes
as for light motive power. To accomplish this I mount the bulbs in a frame F, F',
bearing by a knife edge or other pivoted support, at E, on a pillar extending from
a base plate P. An adjustable counter-weight W, is sometimes added to enable an
adjustment of the centre of gravity to be made, in accordance with the requirements.
By raising the weight W, the centre of gravity of the whole movable portion is
raised so that it may be above or below the suspension point E, and the apparatus be
placed in unstable, indifferent, or stable equilibrium, as the case may be. The
application of current alternately to the coils H, and E', of the apparatus shown in
Figure 1, will alternately overbalance the apparatus and cause oscillation of the
moving parts by the movement of the fluid from side to side, in accordance with the
operation as above described. I will point out further on how this oscillatory
movement may be utilized.
In Figure 2, the bulb B, provided with its heating resistance H, which resistance is
preferably placed inside the bulb, communicates by a tube T, with an upright
indicating tube or extension B¹, in which tube or extension B, the level of the liquid
may be read as desired. The passage of the current in the coil H, will, by the heat
evolved, evaporate the fluid in H, so as to cause the liquid to ascend in the tube B',
to a height depending upon the energy or vigor of the electric discharge passing
through the coil H. In order to diminish the sensitiveness of the apparatus
there may be added another coil H2, wound around the tube B₁, as shown, and
traversed by a constant electric current, or a current whose amount may be
controlled by any suitable means. This coil H2, acts to increase the vapour tension in
the bull B, and thereby to oppose the action produced by the current passing in the
coil H. The coil H, is adapted to raise the temperature of the liquid in B¹, but
slightly. It could be arranged as the coil H, is arranged, in the interior of the
receptacle with its wires sealed in the sides thereof, but the construction shown is the
preferable one.
In Figure 3, I have shown the closed receptacles in the form of metal boxes B, B',
one of them B, being in section, and around its outside a heating coil is so placed
as to be traversed by an electric current. A similar coil can surround B¹, when it is
desired to produce an oscillating movement of the structure. Alcoliol or ether.is
made to partially fill the apparatus, and the empty space is preferably pumped out by
a vacuum pump, or otherwise exhausted, and the vessel then sealed up closely. The
tube T, as before connects the lower parts of cach receptacle B, B. The two
receptacles with the connecting tube are supported by knife edges as shown and an
indicating coil carried by the tube T passes over a scale S, showing the disturbance
of equilibrium which may be produced by inequalities of temperature in the
receptacles B, B1, as the result of the passage of an electric current in the coil H.
It may sometimes be desirable to oppose the heating action of the coil H, by the
application of heat to the receptacle B. As a type of such an arrangement I have
shown a small lamp L, whose Hame is placed below the receptacle B', and which acts,
as did the coil H2, in Figure 2, to increase the vapour tension above the liquid in the

page_text: receptacle B1, and render less easy the transfer of liquid, from the receptacle B, to
the receptacle B', under the action of the coil H. The more vigorous the current
passing in coil H, the greater will be the movement of the parts from the position of
equilibrium on the support or knife edge E, and the indicating needle will point out
this change of position on the scale S.
In Figure 4, the receptacles B, B', may be of glass or metal with the tube T,
passing down to the interior from above and opening near the bottom of each vessel.
As before, the vessels B, B¹, are partly filled with vaporizable liquid. The coil H, is
shown in this case as placed below the receptacle B, and not inovable with it, but
communicating its heat by connection or radiation to the receptacle B. An opposing
or counteracting coil H, might be placed as shown in dotted lines under the
receptacle B¹, for a purpose similar to that of H', in Figure 1, and H2, in
Figure 2.
The two spaces being provided each with a heating coil as described it is obvious
that by the application of proper switches controlled by the movement of the structure
the current may be admitted alternately to the coils thus producing a continued
reciprocating movement. This is illustrated in Figures 11, 15 and others.
Either of the bulbs or receptacles B, B', may be variously modified. Thus, as in
Figure 5, instead of the coil H, Figure 1, being immersed in the liquid of the
receptacle B, it may simply be wound upon a piece of cotton wicking extending into
the liquid the coil being located above the surface of the liquid. The wicking in
this case by its capillary action will bring sufficient fluid from the lower level, up to the
coil H, to be evaporated by any current that happens to be passing in the coil H, and
thus generating an increased vapour tension in the upper portion of the bulb. It is
proper to say here that in all the cases in which the coil H, is placed within the bulb
it may be attached to platinum wires sealed in the glass of such bulb or receptacle
when it is made, and the coils of the resistance H, may be composed of a strip or coil
of metal, such as German silver, or may be made of carbonized thread or filament,
carried by the platinum wires or it may be constructed of other metal in any way
giving a definite and determinate electrical resistance between the wires.
In Figure 6, the heating coil H, is shown as constituting a sort of spiral around
the upper portion of the bulbs or receptacles, and the heat is applied to the exterior
and is conducted inwards. In such a case it is best to line the bulb or receptacle B,
with a cotton or fibrous lining C, as indicated in Figure 7, whereby the whole interior
or a large portion of the interior of the bulb B, is kept moist with the vaporizable
fluid or liquid to facilitate its evaporation under the heating action.
Current may be caused to flow in the heating coil by the operation of a magnet M,
as illustrated in Figure 8 which magnet attracting its armature N, thereby closes a
contact at Z, thus bringing the coil H of the bulb B into circuit with a battery or
other suitable source of current D. Suitable connection to the circuit wires may be
made through mercury cups as indicated at A.
In Figure 9 the magnet, when traversed by a current opens a contact at which
latter forms a shunt of low resistance around the heating coil. By this means
current is caused to flow in the coil as before. The wires a, b are the leading wires
from the source of current.
If the centre of gravity of the pivoted structure be made to exist some little
distance below the point of suspension or support the movement accomplished by
the transfer of the liquid would be a gradual one and would follow the shifting of
the liquid backwards and forwards in the connecting tube and bulbs, but if the centre
of gravity of the apparatus is above the point of support such movement will not
take place except by a sudden jump, that is, the balance will be overset and be in
unstable equilibrium, and there will be no motion of the apparatus until a certain
amount of fluid has passed from one side to the other, when the device will then be
moved quickly to its extreme limit on the other side. It may be desired to obtain
these varying effects in certain specific cases.
Since the receptacles B B may be made of large capacity so as to hold a
considerable weight of liquid and may be set at any desired distance from the centre

page_text: of suspension, a force amply sufficient to do considerable work and overcome
considerable friction may be obtained, even though the current strength available is
quite moderate. The element of time comes in to enhance the effects of the current
by an accumulative action occurring.
In Figure 10 I have shown how my apparatus may be made more compact and
more powerful. In this case the receptacles B B₁ with the heating coils or
resistances HH, suitably applied are filled in part with a light fluid such as alcohol,
water or ether above a denser fluid, such as mercury, below, indicated by the dark
shading in the Figure. The passage of current in either coil H. H' evaporates the
light liquid above and forces the heavier liquid below such as mercury, downward and
up into the other bulb or receptacle thus producing in smaller volume a much greater
difference in weight with respect to the position of the fulcrum or point of suspension
so that more energetic effects are obtained with a diminutive apparatus than can be
obtained when alcohol, water or other volatile fluid are used alone.
In Figure 13 I have shown the addition of automatic circuit changing devices such
as a pair of mercury cups at a and a whereby the current of electricity from any
source, such as a battery at D may be alternately caused to traverse one of the other
of the coils H H by the dipping of the wires which form the terminals of either
coil H H into their respective mercury cups located in pairs at a, a.
In the position
shown in the Figure the coil H being in circuit with the source of current D is heated
and the energy will he expanded in causing a transfer of liquid from the receptacle B
to the receptacle B¹. When this has occurred to a sufficient extent the superior
weight of B so brought about will cause it to descend dipping the terminals of the
coil Hand causing a renewed expulsion of the liquid back into the receptacle B and
the actions as thus described will be indefinitely repeated so long as the source of
current lasts. Thus a continual rocking action will ensue which can be utilized in
various ways as a meter or motor apparatus depending for its operation on electric
currents.
In Figure 12 I have sliown a modification of the apparatus of Figure 10 wherein
the lighter and heavier fluids are contained in different bulbs or receptacles the upper
bulbs B B containing the volatile liquid or fluid and communicating with a second
set of receptacles J J below which contain the heavier fluid such as mercury before
mentioned. This arrangement is somewhat better than that shown in Figure 10 in
this respect that less of the heat imparted to the vaporizable liquid is diffused into the
mercury or heavier liquid which tends to heat the same and detract from the activity
of the actions displayed.
In Figure 13 I have shown how the apparatus of Figure 1 or of Figure 11 may be
utilized to operate the escapement K for an escapement wheel Q. The oscillation
back and forth as described in connection with Figure 11 may be made by an
escapement K to allow tooth after tooth of the wheel Q to pass. The apparatus
here shown will be useful as a controlling device for feeding mechanism as in electric
are lamps, and may be operated by either direct or alternating currents, since the
length of the arc may be made to control, in accordance with the principles of
Figure 8, the activity of the device the magnet M, of Figure 8 being assumed to be
in a derived circuit around the arc or otherwise suitably placed to respond to
variations in current, which could be followed by a feed of the carbons.
In order to avoid the disturbing effects of variations of outside temperature upon
the bulbs or receptacles B B' it is generally preferable to enclose the apparatus in a
non-conducting box or case, as described also in connection with Figures 25 and 26 so
as to shield the bulbs or receptacles from the air. It is not necessary however that
the casing be a non-conductor for heat as it may be made of heavy copper or other
metal as this will ensure a uniform temperature in the interior. A convenient form
of case or box is represented in Figure 14 at U U and if made of metal it may have a
non-conducting lining if desired, such as a layer of wood or felt in its interior. It
may also be a wooden box lined with copper in its interior or more simply a plain
wooden case or metal box.
Figure 15 shows the apparatus applied to move a pawl and ratchet wheel or to

page_text: give a step-by-step movement for meter or motor purposes. In this case the alternate
transfer of liquid from the bulb B to the bulb B¹ and back again ensuing upon the
dipping or circuiting of the terminals of the respective heating coils, causes a movement
to be imparted to the pawl thus giving movement to a ratchet wheel Q suitably
arranged and pivoted whereby at each shift of position one tooth or more is fed or
pushed forward, and an intermittent rotary movement is given to the wheel Q. It is
desirable in the case of the organization of Figure 15, to so adjust the centre of gravity
of the oscillatory portion of the apparatus that it shall be above the point of support E
in unstable equilibrium and in this way the actions are more positive, the movement
from side to side being a quick one, occurring after pauses of more or less length of
time Thus a rotary motion may be given to the wheel Q, and the number of
oscillations occurring may be registered.
In Figure 16 the apparatus is so modified as to cause a rotary motion to be
produced by the heating action of the coil H when traversed by a current. Heat is
transferred from the coil by radiation and connection, to a series of containing
receptacles, each one of which consists of an independent receptacle consisting of two
bulbs or chambers B B¹, connected by a tube T and having no connection with any
of the other sets of receptacles and tubes. Three or more of such double receptacles
joined by tubes combined in the form shown in Figure 16 may be mounted upon a
central shaft or axis suitably supported, each receptacle having been previously
partially filled with a vaporizable or expansible fluid and preferably exhausted or
boiled to exclude atmospheric air and then sealed. In the apparatus so constructed a
continuous rotative effort is exerted by virtue of the fact that whenever a bulb or
receptacle comes near or over the heating coil the fluid in it acquiring greater vapor
tension is forced into the corresponding receptacle or bulb at the other end of the
diameter thereby increasing the weight on that side of the axis and resulting in a
gradual descent of the heavy side which has received the liquid and an ascent on the
lighter side from which the liquid has been expelled. There results from this a
continuous rotary motion which may become more or less rapid according to the energy
of the heating coil II and the proportions of the apparatus in relation thereto.
Whilst in Figure 16 the heating coil is shown as exterior to the bulb, by a simple
modification, indicated in Figure 17 each bulb as B B may have its own heating coil
in its interior or wound about the exterior. In this case it will be necessary to
provide for putting the heating coils into circuit successively and in such a way that
they shall be traversed by a current whenever the bulbs or receptacles are at or near
the position occupied by the bulb B Figure 17, and that the said heating coils shall
at other positions be out of circuit or at least not traversed by much or any current.
To secure this result it is only necessary that one of the terminals of each of the
heating coils Y of the coil H shall touch a contact surface as R suitably placed with
respect to the rotation and connected with one terminal of the heating current and
that the other terminals of the heating coils shall unite in a common joint as R',
which joint is in connection with the other terminal of the heating current. These
connections are indicated in Figure 17 and will result, when a current flows from the
source D in each of the heating coils receiving current at that position during the
rotation where the heat developed may cause expulsion of fluid from the bulb as B
over into the bulb B¹ thus giving rise to the conditions as described in connection
with Figure 16 whereby a rotary motion is obtained.
My invention in the form shown in Figures 15, 16 and 17 is applicable to the
keeping of clock-work in motion by the action of quite feeble currents, and the action
may become continuous as will be evident. By adjusting the strength of the current,
as by the interposition of a resistance in the circuit etc.: or in any other way, the
speed of motion may be controlled, that is, increased or diminished.
In Figure 18, is shown a simplified arrangement whereby, by a suitable com-
mutator, the heating coils H, H, H, H¹, H¹, H', may be brought into circuit in
succession. The commutator Y consists of a number of insulated segments equal to
the number of heating coils, each segment being connected to a terminal of a coil in
regular order, the other terminals of the coils, not so connected, being attached to a

page_text: metallic ring. Brushes Wi Wa bear upon both the ring and the segments and are
connected with the source of current D. The brushes Ware placed in contact with
the segments when the heating coils are to receive current and at the proper position
to cause rotation. The brush W² may be placed in any convenient position upon
the ring upon which it bears, the ring being connected to one terminal of each
heating coil.
In Figure 19 I have described the oscillating structure as applied to the metering
of the current flowing to a number of electric lamps L included in the circuit a, b with
the electric meter.
In order to retard the passage of the fluid from one bulb to the other I make the
connecting tube T of rather narrow bore or place in the same some obstructing
material such as a fibre or granular or spongy fibrous material. In Figure 19 the
bore is shown as of small calibre.
The suspension is such, preferably, that the centre of gravity is above the point of
support, or the device is in unstable equilibrium, so as not to rest in a middle position
but to tip either way according to the excess of weight on either side. In the Figure
the bulb B is in the act of going down and the bulb B, of rising. The oscillatory
motion operates the pawl P, so as to give motion to the dial or register D, as usual in
such cases, each oscillation being adjusted to cause a definite motion of the dials.
The oscillations are caused by the difference of level in the bulbs brought about by the
heating effect of either coil H, H', which increases the vapour tension above the
liquid and gives rise to a flow of the liquid through the tube T, thereby raising
the level in the other bulb. Mercury cups C, C and (^, receive alternately the
ends of the wires leading from the coils H H1, in accordance with the position of the
bulbs, so that when B, is down the coil H, is in circuit and the coil H', out of circuit,
and vice versa. Of course other contact arrangements or circuit closing devices may
replace the mercury cups and I have used the latter merely as typical of any circuit
switches actuated upon a movement of the bulb system from side to side. Very
numerous arrangements may be used to replace these, directly acting or indirectly
acting and mechanically or electrically operative.
While the wires dipping into the cups C, C, may be made so as to make contact
thereat just before the others in 01, C1, break their contact and thus prevent a rupture
of the circuit, yet this is not necessarily the condition, for by interposing a resistance R,
definitely selected, between the cups, each cup of a pair being connected to one of the
cups of the other pair, as shown, the resistance R, being a bridge across this double
connection a circuit through R, is kept even though a break at C, C, and C³, C¹,
should occur on the transfer.
It will also be understood that a rupture made at any one point, i.e. at one cup only
of cach pair C, C, and C, C1, by a movement of the bulbs would equally serve to
throw the coils H H¹, as the case may be, out of the circuit. It is understood of
course, that the connections by cups C, C, and C, C, must have definite resistances,
or practically no resistance, at all times when closed.
My device thus constituted is shown in circuit with wires feeding incandescent
lamps in multiple, provided as usual with switches by which each lamp may be cut off
or put in connection.
The operation of the devices shown in Figure 1, is as follows:-
Assuming the bulb B to be depressed, so that its heating coil H, is in circuit, and
that the apparatus has been previously adjusted by selecting the resistance of the
coils H, H, suitably, and (when the resistance R is used) making the combined
resistance of the coils H, H' bear a definite relation to the resistance of the resistance R;
if a certain number of lamps L, be fed by current flowing from the point a, to the
point b, the coil H, will be traversed by a current, or portion of it, as may be, and
will cause slight warming of the liquid in the bulb B, with the result of a depressed
level in the bulb due to increased vapour tension, and a resisted flow of the fluid
through the tube T, into the bulb B₁. This goes on until the accumulated weight in
the bulb B', is sufficient to tip the apparatus over and connect the coil H³, instead of

page_text: the coil H, in circuit. The reverse action now takes place, resulting in a depression
of the level in the bulb B¹, and an elevation in the level of the bulb B, and after a
time, depending upon the amount of the overbalancing, a return of the level in the
bulb B, to its original position, the action as above described being repeated indefinitely.
At each complete oscillation the pawl P, moves the register D, and counts a definite
amount of current consumed.
The device is adapted for use with continuous currents, and with alternating
currents, providing the self-induction of the various parts of the apparatus be kept as
low as possible. By varying the resistance R, the meter can be calibrated so that
the reading on the dial will be in proportion to the current used in the lamps.
In Figure 20 instead of a tube of narrow bore is shown a tube filled with fibrous,
granular, or porous material which contracts the bore of the tube and leaves almost
capillary spaces for the passage of the liquid.
In Figure 21, a slab of porous material acts as a diaphragm in the tube T, such tube
being expanded to receive it. The object of the resisting material or of the forming
of the tube so as to resist the passage of the fluid, is to cause a balance to exist between
the friction of the liquid and the heating effects of the current. The friction of the
fluid varying as the square of its velocity and the heating effect varying as the square
of the current, and the difference of vapour tension being proportional to the difference
of temperature within ordinary limits of working, result in the amount of fluid passing
in a given time through the tube being nearly proportional to the current.
It may sometimes be desirable to make such an arrangement as is shown in
Figure 22, which represents an induction coil in the secondary circuit of which is
placed the measuring meter. a, b, are the mains supplying current to the primary
coil M, and I, is the iron core of the induction coil, of which N, is the secondary coil.
Currents are induced in the secondary N, depending on the volume of current flowing
in the primary M, and are carried to the meter by the wires a¹, b1, as shown in the
figure. The chief advantages of this arrangement are first, that a break in the
contact C, C, or in the coil H, or in the circuit a', ', does not interfere with
the mains a,
b, and the lights L; secondly, that the secondary circuit a, b, may be
carried to a place where it would be inconvenient and well nigh impossible to carry
the primary circuit or mains a, b.
Whilst the heating coils H, H', Figure 19, may be made of any resisting substance,
in fact may be simple strips of carbon or metal, or the like, carried by platinum wires
scaled into the glass, I find that German silver wire, or platinum silver alloys borne
on the platinum entering wires, is suitable and that its variation of resistance by
temperature is so slight as not to affect the working. The secondary coil N, is of
insulated copper wire, preferably, whose resistance increases with the temperature,
and I obtain satisfactory working with it, as sometimes means of compensation are
useful in balancing the slight errors introduced by changes of external temperature,
and by suitably varying the material and the relative resistances given to the coil N
and H, Figure 22, or to the coils R and H Figure 19, the amount of liquid
transfer occurring at one temperature under other given conditions of current may
be made the same as, or slightly greater or less than, that at other temperatures
within ordinary changes of temperature of the air.
My apparatus as constituted Figures 19 and 22 is adaptable to use with alternating
currents, and with the recording dials of Figure 19 is an efficient house meter.
Sometimes, however, it is only required to indicate for short periods. As adapted to
this case Figure 23 shows a simplified form. Here the bulb containing the heat
generating resistance H, is connected with the tube T which runs up into the
graduated receptacle B2 Liquid driven over from the bulb by the heat in the
resistance H, overflows into B2, and can be there measured. The tube T, is shown
filled with pebbles or pieces of glass to prevent too free passage of liquid through it.
Figure 24 illustrates the application of the tube of narrow bore to the case of two
bulbs connected by a tube above the level of the liquid therein such tube serving as
the means for conveying a vapour from one bulb to the other. The vapour produced

page_text: in one bulb by the heat of the coil therein is conveyed to the other bulb and condensed
in the latter until the latter bulb becomes the heavier. The tube T of narrow bore has
the same function as before of restricting or retarding the flow of the vapour.
It is of course not absolutely requisite that the meter should be enclosed for use,
particularly if the surrounding temperature is uniform and fairly free from disturbance
by air currents. But in practice a surrounding box or casing Figure 25, is provided
to avoid errors and secure uniformity. The casing may be variously constructed. It
may be a plain wood or metal box, kept closed, and with posts for the attachment of
terminals " b, from the source of meter current. The sides of the box may also be
made as in Figure 26, of two or three thicknesses, such as an outer metal case
lined with wood or felt and this again covered internally with copper or brass
sheet, or a double metal box or casing with metal sides of two thicknesses
separated by an air space may be used.
Figure 27 shows the bulbs containing two liquids, the upper layer being the
vaporizable liquid and the lower layer a denser less volatile liquid, such as mercury.
The tube T, is of small bore. Though less sensitive than the arrangement Figure 19,
it is very positive in its actions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First. The combination of a closed receptacle partly filled with a volatile liquid,
of a heating electric conductor for giving rise to a bodily movement of the said
liquid, and a register for indicating the amount of such movement.
Second. The wick or other porous or bibulous material extending into the mass of
volatile liquid and heated in a closed chamber provided with a heating electric
conductor in suitable proximity to the wick.
Third. The combination with the closed receptacle containing the liquid and having
the heating electric conductor of the electro magnet for controlling the flow of current
to said conductor.
Fourth. The combination with the closed receptacle consisting of two communicating
chambers or bulbs partly filled with a liquid and having a heating electric conductor
applied to one chamber or bulb, of a source of heat such as described applied to the
other chamber or bulb at the same time.
Fifth. The combination with the closed receptacle consisting of two closed com-
municating chambers or bulbs partly filled with a volatile liquid, of an electric
heater applied to one chamber or bulb, and a simultaneously operating electric
heater applied to the other chamber or bulb so as to oppose a transfer of the liquid.
Sixth. The oscillating structure hereinbefore described consisting of the two closed
chambers or bulbs communicating below and partly filled with a volatile liquid, the
said chambers being provided with heating electric conductors, and with suitable
switches operated by the oscillation of the structure as described so as to shift the
current from one heater to the other alternately.
Seventh. The combination with the pivoted receptacle containing a volatile liquid
distributed at opposite sides of its centre of support and partially filling the
chamber, of the electric switches for changing the current from one to the other
of the electric heaters which act upon the liquid, and means as described for
registering or indicating the movements of the receptacle or communicating said
movement to a wheel or wheels.
Eighth. A group of pivoted receptacles mounted as described upon a common
axis and each having two closed chambers or bulbs communicating below and
partly filled with volatile liquid, electric heating coils for acting on said bulbs or the
liquid contained therein, and an electric switch for successively bringing said heating
coils into circuit as the structure revolves by the change of the centre of gravity
produced through the movement of the liquid.
Ninth. The combination with the closed receptacle partly filled with a volatile
B

page_text: liquid and having a heating conductor applied thereto, of an enclosing case or box
which is a non conductor of heat.
Tenth. The pivoted liquid receptacle having two closed chambers or bulbs com-
municating below and partially filled with a layer of comparatively heavy liquid upon
which at each end is a layer of comparatively light and volatile liquid, in combination
with heating electric conductors in heating proximity to the layer of volatile liquid.
Eleventh. The two communicating chambers or bulbs containing a liquid connected
by a tube constructed as described, or provided with an obstructing material so as
to offer a resistance to the passage of the fluid from one receptacle to the other,
in combination with an electric heater applied to one or both of said bulbs or
receptacles for producing a transfer of the liquid as described.
Twelfth. The combination for an electric meter, of a pivoted receptacle having two
bulbs or chambers connected together and provided with a communicating tube, a
volatile liquid in the said chamber and tube, switch devices for changing an electric
current from one to the other of two electric heaters acting upon the bulbs respectively,
said switches being operated by the tilting of the receptacle, and a train of wheels
operated by a pawl or other device connected with the pivoted receptacle and having a
dial or dials for showing the number of oscillations of the receptacle.
11
"
1000
יוי
day of April 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.