Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring and Registering Electric Currents, Applicable also as an Electro Motor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 5th Jan., 1889
Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring and Registering Electric
Currents, Applicable also as an Electro Motor.
JAMES THORNE ROE, (of the firm of Blanch Brain & Roc Engineers and Electricians
London and Blackpool), 17 Bristol Gardens Maida Vale London (W.) Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
For Improvements in apparatus for measuring and registering automatically or
otherwise the quantity of Electric currents applicable also as an electro motor and
the utilization and combination of the heat generated by a current of Electricity
and of the expansion of gases, fluids, metals or other suitable material caused by
the heat of, or given off by such a current of Electricity, passing through any
kind of conductor or an Electrical apparatus, as a motive power, my Invention
as it relates to improvements in Electric Meters has for its object the measuring
and registering automatically or otherwise the quantity of Electric current, traversing
a conductor or any other Electrical apparatus for any period, such apparatus being
equally serviceable for measuring alternating, or direct currents of Electricity.
In carrying my said Invention into practice, I utilize the heat caused by a current of
Electricity traversing a conductor or Electrical apparatus by useing the said heat to
expand gases, or fluids, that are contained in a chamber, or cylinder, made of uitable
material and shape so that the pressure caused by the expansion of such gases or
fluids, acting upon a piston fitted with suitable gear, causes it to rise and fall, and in
such rising and falling by suitable mechanism opening, and shutting valves, arranged
so as to govern or regulate the rising and falling of the said piston, which by such
action gives motive energy to suitable gear or mechanism, for recording and
registering the quantity or value of Electric currents passing through a conductor, or
Electrical apparatus.
The object of my Invention is the utilization and combination of the expansion of
gases fluids metals or other suitable material caused by the heat of, or given off by, a

page_text: current of Electricity, passing through any kind of conductor or an Electrical
apparatus, as a motive power, and also the measuring and recording the quantities or
value of Electric currants, either direct or alternating by the same apparatus or meter,
and also the automatic registration or otherwise of such Electric currents.
Currents, Applicable also as an Electro Motor.
I JAMES THORNE ROE Engineer of 17 Bristol Gardens, Maida Vale London (W.)
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:
-
My Invention consists of improvements in apparatus for measuring and registering
automatically or otherwise the quantity of Electric currents, applicable also as an
Electro motor, and the utilization and combination of the heat generated by a
current of Electricity and of the expansion of gases, fluids, metals or other suitable
material caused by the heat of or given off by such a current of Electricity
passing through any kind of conductor, or an Electrical apparatus, as a motive
power.
My Invention as it relates to improvements in Electric meters has for its object
the measuring and registering automatically or otherwise the quantity of Electric
current traversing a conductor or any other Electrical apparatus for any period,
such apparatus being equally serviceable for measuring alternating or direct currents
of Eléctricity.
In carrying my said Invention into practice, 1 utilize the heat caused by a current
of Electricity traversing a conductor or Electrical apparatus by using the said heat to
expand gases or fluids that are contained in a chamber or cylinder made of suitable
material and shape, so that the pressure caused by the expansion of such gases or
fluids acting upon a piston fitted with suitable gear, causes it to rise and fall and in
such rising and falling by suitable mechanism opening and shutting valves for
discharging the heated air and admitting the cold air or gases and arranged so as to
govern or regulate the rising and falling of the said piston, which by such action gives
motive energy to suitable gear or mechanism for recording and. registering the
quantity or value of Electric currents passing through a conductor or Electrical

page_text: apparatus. The object of my Invention is the utilization and combination of the
expansion of gases, fluids, meials or other suitable materials caused by the heat of, of
giving off by, a current of Electricity, passing through any kind of conductor or an
Electrical apparatus, as a motive power, and also the measuring and recording the
quantities or value of Electric currents, either direct or alternating by the same
apparatus or meter, and also the automatic registration or otherwise of such Electric
currents.
And in order that my said Invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing one method of carrying out my Invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation shewing another form of the apparatus; Figure 3
is a sectional plan of the same and Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the valves shewn
in Figure 2.
Referring to Figure 1 a is the chamber in which the air to be heated and expanded
is confined. The lower part of this chamber is supplied with a quantity of water or
other fluid, upon which the piston d rests, is the metallic coil or conductor through
which the current of electricity is caused to pass, c is the cylinder in which the
piston d works fluid or air tight, as in some cases I might not use fluid; d' is the
piston rod, to the upper end of which the toothed rack e is attached; el is a toothed
pinion, receiving motion from the rack e. 2 is the bearing in which e¹ works.
The pinion e' drives the wheel running loose in bearings f1, and fitted with the
ratchety (fast on the spindle) and pawl f2. By means of this gear intermittent
motion is conveyed to any ordinary recording or indicating dials. is a valve for the
emission and the admission of air to the chamber a. These valves receive motion by
the upward movement of the collar i fitted to the piston rod d. When the piston
rod rises the collar i lifts the balance lever j-thus lowering the rod k. The lower end
of the rod has a cam k¹, which opens the valves & inwards. When the
rod krises the valves & are returned to their seats and closed by the
spring l
When a current of electricity traverses the conductor b, the heat arising therefrom
is communicated to the air in the chamber a, whereby the air is expanded and caused
to raise the piston d, in a manner well understood.
When useing air, gases or fluids seperately, or conjointly in some cases the
apparatus is made to work alternately (with or with air valves) the motive part of
saine being switched out of circuit, making contact when it returns to the normal
condition, in fact arranged to work the same as hereafter described when useing as
a motive power the expansion or contraction of metals.
Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, a, a are two air chambers, in which the air receives
heat from the coils bb. ce are two cylinders fitted with pistons d d, having piston
rods a' d¹. ee are levers connecting the piston rods d with vertical spindles e' e¹,
and imparting a partial rotary motion to the same, and, through the latter spindles, by
means of the levers and f, and the links gg, rotating the spindle by their
attachment to the crank . On the latter spindle is fixed a worm i working into a
worm wheel, and, through the same, actuating a train of wheel work, and thus motion
is conveyed to the recording or indicating dials. are the valves for the admission.
of air to the cylinders c c, and for the regulation of the emission of air through the
exhaust ports. These valves are actuated by means of the eccentrics jj through the
intervention of the levers j¹ j and rods . ccc care the induction ports to
the cylinders c c. cc² are the exhaust ports. care the passages for opening
communication between the Chambers a a and the outer atmosphere, through the
ports cc in the flanges of the slide valves b¹ b¹. m is the case enclosing the
apparatus. Sometimes the Chambers a a are formed in one. I also in some cases
when using my invention as a motor charge the Chambers a a by means of an
air pump in order to increase the amount of worked obtained.
I also sometimes fit valves to the air Chambers a a and work the same in a manner
analogous to that shown in Fig. 1 hereinbefore described.

page_text: Although I have described the application of my invention to the effects arising
from the expansion and contraction of air and gas only it is obvious that by
analogous mechanical contrivances, the heat arising from currents of electricity may
be applied to the expansion of other fluids and metals, and such expansion and con-
traction may be utilised in measuring and recording the quantities or value of electric
currents and also in the production of motive power.
To make my Invention more clearly understood as regards the expansion and
contraction of metals, I utilize the expansion more particularly when I use steel iron
copper or such like metals and the contraction when I use Bismuth or any other
metal or compound of metals or substances that will contract by heat of or by an
Electric current passing through it, or caused by the shape of the conductor as for
instance a spiral spring by a current of Electricity passing through it will be com-
pressed or shortened in length by the influence of magnetism.
Describing more particularly the action of expansion or contraction of metals as
my motive energy; I considerably modify Figs. 2 & 3, and dispense altogether with
the cylinders and the necessary gearing and valves in connection with them and
instead of same I use a ring or rings of metals or apparatus made with ends at such
distance apart that they will allow for the expansion or contraction of the metal rings
(or other shaped appliances) one end of each being fixed and the other arranged with
gear to give motion to levers e e Figs. 2 & 3. When utilizing the expansion of metals
I preferably use a ring composed of two or more metals, say for example steel and
brass or rings or bands made watch spring shape of any other convenient combination
of metals made of suitable size and thickness that the capacity of the meter may
require through which I shunt a definite proportion of the Electric current causing
the ring to expand and thereby moving the lever e until by the said expansion the
contact is broken by a small additional lever acting as a switch, the ring is thrown out
of circuit, after which the said ring contracts and by such action the Electric current
is switched on again and the contact renewed and so the action is repeated as long as
the Electric current is passing.
In some cases I pass the whole of the main current of Electricity through the
meter. The contact I may break as before described or by fixing upon the active part
of apparatus a non-conductor which is brought into play by the said expansion (or
contraction) and the contact broken, the Electric current then passing through other
ring or Rings or resistance coil arranged as a shunt. When utilizing the contraction
of metals and other substances as before mentioned I do so in the following manner.
I preferably use a ring of Bismuth (of suitable size and thickness in accordance
with the requirements of meters) as before mentioned, through which is shunted a
definite proportion of the total Electric. current, the heat generated by the current
contracting the metal and thereby moving levers ee Figs. 2 & 3 until the contact by
the said contraction is broken, after which the Bismuth circle resumes its original
size, or in other words, expands and the contact is renewed, and so the action is
repeated as long as the Electric current is passing.
I can multiply the effect obtained by any suitable gearing. In constructing my
meter or motor, I do not confine myself to any particular metals, or materials, or
substances, and make them of such form and capacity, and arranged as may be most
convenient.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed .I déclare that what I
claim is
1. In an instrument for measuring automatically or otherwise the quantities or value
of electric currents the combination of one or more chamber or chambers, containing
air or gas and a coil or coils of wire or any suitable conductor in communication with
the electric current whereby the enclosed air or gas is caused to expand and such
expansion is utilised in indicating the quantities or value of the electric current
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In an instrument for measuring the force of electric currents, the application of

page_text: heat, arising from electric currents, to the expansion or contraction of metals the
results of such expansion or contraction being communicated to suitable gearing
and indicators for indicating and recording the same, substantially as described.
3. The utilisation and combination of the effects of expansion or contraction
arising from the application of heat derived from electric currents to air; gases,
fluids, metals and other suitable materials, in the production of motive power
substantially as described.
4. The general combination and arrangement of parts together forming my im-
provements in apparatus for measuring and registering electric currents and applicable
also as an electro motor substantially as herein before described and shewn on the
drawings.
5. The utilization and combination of the heat generated by a current of electricity
and of the expansion or contraction of gases, fluids, metals or other suitable material,
caused by the heat of or given off by such current of electricity passing through
any kind of conductor or electrical apparatus as a motive power, substantially as
described.