IMPROVED MEANS FOR MEASURING ELECTRIC CURRENTS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, HERMANN ARON Dr Phil of Berlin in the Kingdom of Prussia, German
Empire do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVED MEANS
FOR MEASURING ELECTRIC CURRENTS" to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new means for measuring electric currents which may
be better understood if I refer to the known "Coulomb "-meters and "Watt "-meters
the former of which serves to measure the quantity of electricity
Idt, within
a given space of time, the latter indicating the amount of electrical energy
SIEdt within a given time.
My new mode or system has for its object to obtain the results of both systems
referred to in the most simple and most reliable manner. It is based upon the
influence of the electric current upon the motion of clock-work, but the said
influence is only intended to effect a controlling action and not a driving action as
with the electric clocks. The appliances of my invention are independent of the
driving mechanism of the clock-work and the driving power may be exercised by
weights or springs, or by electricity.
The electrical influence may conveniently be made to act upon the vibrations of
the pendulum, but with clocks which are operated by spring-power or any other
driving-mechanism, the said influence may with equal advantage be made to act
upon the balance or any other regulating device of the clock.
By securing a magnet to the pendulum of a clock and making said rod swing
above or within an electric coil this coil will either attract or repel the swinging
magnet and, thereby, either. increase or reduce the natural attraction of the earth
on the pendulum. In consequence the electro-magnetic influence exercised by the
coil upon the pendulum will either accelerate or retard the motion of the clock-
work and the dial will show a time fast or slow compared with that of a normal
clock. Such deviations of the clock influenced by the electric current, from the
true motion of a normal clock afford the scale for measuring the influence, by
which said deviation has been occasioned, and in case of the magnetic influence
being small compared with the gravitation of the pendulum, the deviation will be
also in proper proportion to the time, within which the magnetic influence has
ID 431

page_text: been working, as also in due proportion to the intensity of the current, and,
accordingly the arrangement will constitute a Coulomb-meter.
Supposing the resistance to be constant and I =
Edt and accordingly
1
1
E
W
Idt =
Idt; and in the
I may maintain
W
Ed tc =
same manner as galvanometers may be used to measure Volts, the before described
Coulomb-meters may also be employed to indicate the mean electrical tension
within a given space of time.
'
•
Instead of applying the electro-magnetic influence to one clock only and of
comparing the deviations of this clock with the true time of a normal clock, I inay
employ two clocks influenced by the same current, one of which clocks is made to
go as much fast, as the other going slow; the difference between the indications
of the two dials affords the scale for measuring the quantity of electricity supplied,
each of these two clocks consuming only one half of the magnetic influence. This
mode of counting will afford even a greater proportionality to the quantity of
electricity to be measured.
Instead of securing the magnet or its equivalents to the pendulum and making
it swing in proximity to a stationary coil, the coil may be secured to the pendulum
and swing in proximity to a stationary magnet or an electro-magnet, or an electric
coil. The same result may also be obtained by attaching to the pendulum a pieco
of iron, or any suitable conductor, or a disc of copper or other conductor, which
disc may serve as bob to the pendulum. The magnet within the field of which tho
conductor attached to the pendulum is swinging, will act as a constant damper upon
the pendulum, if the magnet be a permanent one; in such case the magnet is
mounted with coils through which the electric current is passing. The magnetic
radiation will increase or decrease according to the variations of the current and
the influence exercised upon the pendulum will undergo the same variations, which
as before, constitute the scale for measuring the electricity.
The permanent magnets (either stationary or swinging) attached to the pendulum
or balance of a clock, may be exchanged by electro-dynamic coils, through which
the current is sent, such coils may be provided with iron cores as convenient. If,
with the application of such coils, I arrange the shunt in a manner that the electro-
dynamic action of one coil indicates the Volts, while the other indicates the
Ampères, 1 thereby obtain a Watt-meter. The sensibility of the instruments may
further be regulated by well known means.
Where the magnetic influence of the current is made to work upon a clock with
spring and balance, the varying magnetic influence will impair the constant
elasticity of the spring and, thereby, effect the deviations to be read on the dial.
Such arrangement may be conveniently made by securing to the balance of the
clock work a magnetic needle surrounded by a coil, through which the current is
sent. Said needlo may be replaced by little coils through which the current is sent
and which coils are acted upon by a stationary magnet, or electro-dynamic coils,
or electro-magnets, working a momentum which either increases or decreases the
elastic momentum of the spring, thereby effecting the deviations from the normal
motion of the clock, such deviations serving, as already mentioned, to measure the
electricity.
The division of the dial of the clock or clocks employed to count clectricity
according to my new system may be of any convenient kind.

page_text: 1, HERMANN ARON, Dr Phil, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVED MEANS FOR
MEASURING ELECTRIC CURRENTS;" and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My Invention relates to a new means for measuring electric currents, which may
be better understood if I refer to the known Coulomb-meters and Watt-meters, the
T
former of which serves to measure the quantity of electricity (SI E d t )
within a given space of time, the latter indicating the amount of electrical energy
(1 Edt) within a given time.
T
My new mode or system has for its object to obtain the results of both systems
referred to, in the most simple and most reliable manner.
It is based upon the
influence of the electric current upon tho motion of clock-work, but the said
influence is only intended to effect a regulating action and not a driving action, as
in the case of electric clocks. The appliances of my Invention are independent of
the driving mechanism of the clock-work, and the driving power may be exercised
by weights or springs or electricity.
The electrical influence may conveniently be made to act upon the oscillations of
the pendulum, but with clocks which are operated by spring power or any other
driving-mechanism, the said influence may with equal advantage be made to act
upon the balance or any other regulating device of the clock.
With reference to the Drawings, Figure 1 is a clock, to the pendulum P of which
a magnet M is secured, swinging above an electric coil R through which the current
is sent. The magnetic action of the coil upon the magnet will either increase or
reduce the natural attraction of the earth on the pendulum, the said action being
either an attractive or a repulsive one. In consequence, the electro-magnetic
influence exercised by the coil upon the pendulum will either accelerate or retard
the oscillations, and thereby the motions of the clock-work; the dial accordingly
will show a time-fast or slow compared with that of a normal clock. Such devia-
tions of the clock influenced by the electric current from the true time of a normal
clock afford the scale for measuring the influences by which said deviations have
been occasioned, and in case of the magnetic influence being small compared with
the gravitation of the pendulum, the deviation will be as well in proper proportion
to the time within which the magnetic influence has been working, as also in due
proportion to the intensity of the current, and accordingly the arrangement will
constitute a Coulomb-meter.
Instead of applying the electro-magnetic influence to one clock only, and of com-
paring the deviations of this clock with the true time of a normal clock, I may
employ two clocks influenced by the same current, one of which clocks is made to
go as much fast as the other is going slow; the difference between the indications
of the two dials affords the scale for measuring the quantity of electricity supplied,

page_text: each of the clocks consuming only one half of the magnetic influence. This mode
of counting will afford even a greater proportionality to the quantity of electricity
to be measured.
In order to obtain a magnetic action approximately as constant during the period
of one oscillation, as the gravitation, the coil may be shaped oblong in the direction
of the oscillation; the magnet may also be arranged to enter more or less into the
coil, swinging within, instead of above the same. The coils may as well be
arranged at both sides of the swinging magnet, as shown in Figure 2. Or, instead
of the magnetic bar shown in Figures 1 and 2, a horse-shoe magnet may be
employed, as shown in Figure 3. The same effect may be obtained, if, instead of
securing the magnet M to the pendulum and making it swing in proximity to a
stationary coil, the coil be secured to the pendulum to swing in proximity to
a stationary magnet. Several arrangements of this kind are illustrated by Figures
4, 5, and 6.
In all the arrangements described and shown in Figures 1 to 6, the permanent
magnet A1 (either stationary or swinging) may be replaced by electro-dynamic
coils R¹ through which the current is sent. The modifications resulting from this
exchange are clearly shown in Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10.
Ap
The purpose of securing the coil, instead of the magnet, to the pendulum, is to
render impossible any false indications which might be occasioned by exterior
magnetic influences. The Ampere-coil is not, or not so easily, subject to such
exterior influences, particularly not, when the circuit is interrupted; but even when
the current is passing through the coil, the exterior influence will be of much
smaller avail than with the magnet. Such adulterating influence will be the less
remarkable if, as it is preferable, the Ampere-coil is enclosed in a circuit of little
intensity branched off from the main current.
If, with the application of such coils, I arrange the shunt in a manner, that the
electro-dynamic action of one coil indicates the volts, while the other indicates
the Amperes, 1 thereby obtain a Watt-meter.
An essential feature of my Invention, as shown in Figures 1 to 10, is to arrange
the stationary coil or coils, or the stationary magnet, with relation to the swinging
magnet, or the swinging coil or coils, in such a manner that the magnetic action be
acted in the plane of oscillation of the pendulum, and the parts attached thereto.
I thereby avoid the pendulum being forced out of its normal path, and to assume
an elliptic oscillation which would greatly impair the preciseness of the indications
of the dial. In all the Figures 1 to 10 the arrangement of the magnet with relation
to the coil or coils, or of the stationary coil or coils with relation to the swinging
coil or coils is symmetrical to the plane of oscillation.
For the Watt-meter I prefer the arrangement shown in Figure 7, in which the
stationary coils R are arranged with their working surfaces vertically on the plane
of oscillation of the swinging coils R. The coils R may conveniently be placed in
such proximity to the coils that the latter while swinging, enter into the coils R.
I thereby obtain a considerable amount of action exercised precisely in the plane of
oscillation, and a great momentum compared with that of gravitation.
same,
To increase such amount of action, I further have invented the arrangements
shown in Figures 13, 14, and 15. This modification consists in placing two
stationary coils R, one below the swinging magnet M or coil R¹, the other above the
the pendulum passing through the interior of the upper coil. The poles of
these two coils R are so arranged with relation to the poles of the swinging magnet
or coil that while the lower coil R attracts the lower end of the magnet M or
coil R¹, the upper coil R acts repulsive on the upper end and vice versa. The
stationary coils R shown in Figure 15 are of a tapering shape. The total amount
of action will be increased if both poles of the swinging magnet or coil, attached to
the pendulum P, are influenced.
The sensibility of any of these instruments may further be regulated according
to any actual requirements by well known means.

page_text: In those cases where it is preferred to obtain a considerable amount of action
rather than great accuracy, the bobbins in all arrangements may be provided with
iron cores, to increase their effect, but the proportionality thereby, will be impaired.
Such iron cores may particularly and with good result be employed in the Volt-
coil of the Watt-meter, if said Volt-coil is stationary, and the Ampere-coil secured
to the pendulum and enclosed in a branched-off circuit. The purpose of this
arrangement is first to increase the amount of action which otherwise would be
very small, and further to increase the proportionality, which in this case may
be obtained if the electro-magnetic influence works an acceleration of the clock-
work.
As I have stated before, the amount of action worked by the influence of the
current on the normal motion of clock-work is supposed to be infinitely small.
For practical use however, it will be necessary to obtain deviations of greater
amount, and in order to secure nevortheless the proportionality, as far as possible,
the instrument ought to be provided with means to correct the excess of action
which impairs the proportionality.
The variations of the number of oscillations of a pendulum N-n worked within
a given time by the influence of the electric current, are counted by a series of the
form ai+b³ +
The first member a i of this series is that of greatest
amount, while the second bi is but of little avail. Nevertheless, if the deviations
are considerable, the effect of this second member will still become reinarkable, and
the indications of the instrument will differ from the proportionality, if the
intensity of the currents is stronger than usual. The further powers of the said
series may be fully omitted, as they are of no influence. To counteract the
member bis I employ the temporary magnetism as the means to obtain a power
-bi, so that N-n becomes equal to a i.
-
The Coulomb-meter contains in itself such means, afforded by the temporary
magnetism of the hardened steel of the magnet, provided the temper of said stocl
be suitably set, but the Watt-meter does not contain any parts which might acquire
such temporary magnetism. In general, the use of iron parts in combination with
the pendulum and in reach of the action of the coils, is carefully and totally avoided
in such instruments, because their indications are known to be impaired by the
iron. But I have found that up to a certain degres iron parts may be employed
though, and that they exactly afford the temporary magnetism which, as in the
Coulonib-meter, serves to correct the indications. I therefore arrango in combi-
nation with the pendulum within or without the swinging coil or coils, a small
portion of iron, subject to the magnetising action of the stationary coil or coils.
Accordingly, the indications of the instrument, in spite of the variability of the
currents, will not, or but very slightly differ from the quantity to be measured.
Where the magnetic influence of the current is made to work upon a clock with
spring and balance, instead of upon a pendulum, the varying magnetic influence
will impair the constant elasticity of the spring, and thereby effect the deviations
to be read on the dial. An arrangement of this kind is shown in Figure 11. To
the balance U of the clock, which carries the spring F, a magnet NS is secured,
surrounded by a coil R through which the current is sent. In this, as in the other
arrangements, the magnet secured to the balance may be replaced by small electric
coils through which the current is sent, and upon which a stationary magnet, or
stationary electro-dynamic coils, work a momentum which either increases or
decreases the elastic momentum of the spring, thereby effecting the deviations from
the normal motion of the clock, such deviations serving, as already described with
reference to the pendulum clock, to measure the electricity.
In some cases it may be found sufficient to omit the magnet N S. secured to the
balance U of the clock, and to employ in its stead a steel spiral spring F magnetised
in the direction NS of Figure 11. The electric current working its magnetic
influence directly upon the said spring, will influence the elasticity of the spring
in a similar manner, as with the magnet, and the effect will be essentially the
same,

page_text: In Figure 11 I have shown the magnet and coil arranged in combination with a
cylinder escapement, but the same arrangement may be combined without difficulty
with an anchor escapement or any other.
All the modifications described with reference to the pendulum may be applied
to the spring regulator of clock work, without materially changing the arrangements.
Instead of measuring or counting the electricity by comparing the dial of a clock
influenced by the current as described, with the dial of a normal clock, the two
clocks may as well be arranged in combination with each other for the purpose of
counting or measuring automatically.
An arrangement of this kind is shown in Figure 12. The clock-work I under
influence of the current is mounted upon the same bed-plate or secured to the same
framo with the normal clock-work II. Both clockworks (the dials and fingers of
which may be omitted) impart their movement to a differential counter, the fingers
and the dial plates of which are turning round the same axis. For this purpose
the spindles of the dials are hollow, and the spindles of the fingers are guided
inside those. One clock drives the fingers and the other the dials. As long as both
clocks are going same speed, the fingers and dials will keep their norinal position
towards each other, but as soon as the speed of one of the clockworks is fast or
slow, the fingers will mark the deviation upon the dials.
Instead of combining one electricity counter of my Invention with a normal
clock-work, as shown in Figure 12, two clock-works influenced by the same electric
current, may be arranged and combined in the same manner, one of these clock-
works being made to go as much fast as the other is made to go slow. The
differential counter receiving the movements of these two clock-works, will in this
case show the total amount of deviation of both clock works and by this means even
greater proportionality to the quantity to be measured will be obtained.
Either of these combinations may be modified by omitting the differential-
counter placed between the two clockworks; in its stead one of the dial plates I
or II is used to afford the one system of the differential-counter, the other system
concentrically combined with the former receives its motion by transmission from
the other clockwork. Also the normal clock-work II, as shown in Figure 12,
may be replaced by an electric dial-train periodically controlled from a central
station, as usual with dial trains, which serve to replace clocks with movements of
their own.
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
یا
First. The combination with a pendulum swinging under the influence of gravi-
tation, of a magnet, magnetically acted on by a stationary coil or coils enclosed in
an electric circuit, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, as also the combination of a coil
or coils with the pendulum and the arrangement of a stationary magnet, as shown
in Figures 4, 5 and 6 for the purpose of measuring the Coulombs sent through the
coil or coils, the scale being afforded by the deviations of the dial, occasioned by the
change of speed of the pendulum, substantially as described.
Second. The combination with a pendulum swinging under the influence of
gravitation, of an Ampere-coil swinging in proximity to a stationary magnet,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Third. The combination with a pendulum swinging under the influence of
gravitation of a coil or coils acted on by a stationary coil or coils, as shown in
Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, for the purpose of counting the Watts, substantially as
described.
Fourth. In a Watt-counter the combination with the pendulum of an Ampere
coil or coils swinging in proximity to stationary Volt-coils, the effect of which is
increased by iron cores, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Fifth. In a clock regulated by a vibrating spring, the combination with said
spring of a magnet acted on by a coil or coils enclosed in the electric circuit, as also
the combination of the spring with a coil or coils acting on a stationary magnet

page_text: for the purpose of changing the duration of the oscillations of the spring by the
influence of the currents, the deviations serving to count the Coulombs, substantially
as described.
Sixth. In a clock regulated by a vibrating spring, the arrangement of a magnetised
spring acted on by a coil or coils enclosed in the electric circuit, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
Seventh. The combination with a pendulum swinging under the influence of
gravitation of a magnet M or coil R¹ magnetically acted on by two stationary
coils R, one of which being arranged below, the other above the swinging magnet
or coil, for the purpose of acting on both its poles, substantially as described and
shown in Figures 13, 14, and 15.
Eighth. In a Watt-counter the combination with the swinging pendulum of iron
or iron parts, in suitable proportion, arranged to be acted on by the stationary coil
or coils for the purpose of obtaining through the temporary magnetism of said iron
parts an increased proportionality of the indications to the quantity to be measured,
substantially as described.
Ninth. The combination of two clock-works, one being a Coulomb or Watt-incter,
containing any of the described arrangements claimed in claims 1 to 8, the other
being a normal clock-work or dial-train, as also the combination of two clock-works
influenced by the same electric current in an opposite way, the movements of both
clock-works being transferred to a differential-counter, which automatically indi-
cates the deviations from the norinal motion, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.