Means for Operating Ammeters and other Electrical Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1892-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Means for Operating Ammeters and other Electrical Apparatus.
I, CLAUDE KENNEDY MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention a
communication to me from Herbert Morris Pilkington and Roger Sherman White,
both of 326 Pearl Street, in the City of Brooklyn, County of Kings, State of
New York, in the United States of America, Inventors, and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :--
The present invention relates to electrical devices of various kinds, but more
particularly to ammeters. According to the invention said apparatus is operated,
not by a single circuit in the usual manner, but by two or more circuits, the effect
of the current in each circuit being added to that of the other circuits to
accomplish the entire desired result, although in some cases the effect of the
current in a single one of the circuits is complete in itself, but constitutes only a
fraction of the entire operation which the apparatus is designed to perform.
In the drawings, which illustrate the invention, Figures 1 to 10, inclusive, are
diagrams showing different forms in which the invention may be embodied.
In Figure 1. 1. 2. 3 are the positive, negative and neutral mains of a 3 wire
system, and 4 are translating devices connected thereto in the usual manner.
In the wire 1, is a coil 5, having an armature 6 supported by the pivotted
lever 7. 8 is a pointer movable over the graduated scale as indicated.
This arrangement constitutes an ammeter for measuring the current on the
positive side of the system. 9 is a similar coil in the negative wire 2, and has an
armature 10 connected to the same lever 7.
This arrangement constitutes an ammeter for measuring the current on the
negative side of the system; but it will be seen that instead of having two
separate ammeters the arrangement constitutes a single instrument.
If one side of
the system only is in use, one coil only will affect the pointer, but if both sides
are in use, both coils will operate: in conjunction, that is in the same direction, on
the pointer and their effect will be added. If for example, all of the translating
devices connected to the conductor 1 are in circuit and five amperes are flowing,
the hand 8 will indicate five amperes on the scale.
If now all of the translating devices connected to conductor 2 are also thrown
into circuit and say, five amperes are flowing, the hand 8 will point to the figure 10.
It will be seen that the coils 5 and 9 perform complete operations when used
singly, but neither one can perform the entire duty which the instrument is designed
to perform; to do this requires the added effect of the two coils.
Figure 2 represents a second 3 wire system, the several parts being numbered as
in Figure so far as possible. In this construction instead of having two
armatures and two separate coils, a single armature 11 is used, and the wires 1, 2
are formed into a hollow solenoid into the centre of which the armature extends.
The pointer 8 is pivotted at 12 and is connected to said armature. The operation
is substantially the same as in Figure 1.
Figure 3 illustrates another ammeter for 3 wire systems. The positive and
negative wires are wound side by side to form one solenoid 18, the two coils being
alike so that equal currents will have equal effects on the armature 19 carried by
the pivotted hand 20 which is adapted to move over the scale.
Figure 4 shows a construction similar to that of Figure 1. except that the
coils 13, 14 are in separate, entirely independent, electrical circuits 15, instead of
being in the two sides of a 3-wire system. This device may constitute an ammeter

page_text: for independent circuits, or it may be used as an annunciator, indicator, or other
apparatus for said circuits.
Figure 5 is a device having a larger number of operating coils 16, four being
shown. These coils are in independent circuits 17. One coil and circuit is sufficient
to move the pointer far enough to move the switch blade 13 onto the first pair of
insulated blocks 16' to which the terminals of a circuit C are connected.
This closes the first circuit. If two coils are in circuit at the same, time, the
first and second circuits will be closed, and so on for the other coils and circuits,
and the several circuits may mutually operate to accomplish any unitary result.
Figure 6 shows an ammeter or an indicator for a larger number of independent
circuits 21, three such circuits being shown.
The use of the principle of additive effects is not confined to indicators, meters,
and switches or circuit-closers as described, but may be applied in many other
forms of apparatus. Such applications are shown in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10. 22 in
Figures 7 and 8 are structures similar to that shown in Figure 4, having coils in
different circuits 23. 24 are contacts connected to a local battery 25, or other
'source of current, the circuit of which includes a coil 26, having an armature 27,
which armature, when the circuit is closed as shown in the drawing, is raised to its
full-line position so that the bolt 28 can be moved in the direction of the arrow by
the key 29, but when the circuit is open the armature will be in its lower
position and will lock the bolt so that it cannot be shot or withdrawn by means of
the key.
The use of this device is obvious; for example, the bolt may control a safe and
the several circuits 23 may each be controlled by a different bank officer, so that
the safe cannot be opened until each of the officers has closed his own circuit.
In Figure 8 the detent for the lock is a mechanical one consisting of pivotted
lever 30, which is tilted out of the way of the lock by the added or mutual effect.
of the coils.
In Figure 9 is shown an indicator employing two separately pivotted arms 31, 32,
each of which is provided with an armature 33; 34, 35 are coils in separate
circuits in position to attract the armature. The coil 34 acting alone will move
the arm 31 a certain distance over the scale 36, while the coil 35 acting alone will
move the arm 32 and scale 36, carried thereby, a certain distance under the
stationary pointer. But if the two coils are simultaneously in circuit the pointer
will be moved in one direction and the scale in the opposite direction, and the two
indications will therefore be added. These coils act in conjunction on the same
indicator, although they act on separate parts instead of acting on a single pointer.
In Figure 10 the separate circuits 37 include coils which operate on the armature
levers 38, one end of each of which is adapted to travel over the contacts of an
adjustable resistance 39, the resistances being in a local circuit 40 with a source of
current 41 and a galvanometer or other instrument 42, which instrument will
indicate the total current in the several lines, since the amount of resistance in the
circuit 40 will depend on the positions of the levers 38.
It is evidently immaterial in what order the several coils are energized, but all
of the circuits should normally be in condition for use, so that they can be
used separately in any order, or together, as desired. When energized, each coil
attracts its armature, or the armature if only one is used, and performs its proportion
of the work.
In the ammeters the scales are graduated to indicate any current from the
smallest limit up to the sum of all the currents which can be used at one time in a
the circuits. In the apparatus described and illustrated, the hands, pointers or
armature levers constitute the parts which we term the movable members of the
apparatus. In the ammeters and indicators the only work the movable member
has to do is to point on the dial or scale to the proper subdivision. In the
apparatus shown in Figure 7, the movable member operates the circuit controller,
while in Figure 8 it mechanically operates the detent. While the coils of the

page_text: ammeters are so made that a current of certain strength in one coil will have the
same effect on the armature as the same current in either of the other coils, this is
not essential in the other apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-.
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination, in an electrical apparatus of the character described, of
one or more movable members, an armature or armatures for operating the same,
and two or more coils for said armature or armatures in separate line wires, all of
said wires being simultaneously in condition for use, the construction and
arrangement of the coils and armatures being such that the added effect of all of
the coils will be sufficient to effect an entire operation of said device, substantially
as described.
2. The combination, in an electrical apparatus, of a movable part or member,
one or more armatures for said member, several coils each normally in position to.
act thereon, each coil being arranged to perform a certain fraction of the work
required to effect an entire operation of said movable member, and the
construction and arrangement of the coils and armatures being such that the added
effect of all of said coils will be sufficient to effect said entire operation,
substantially as described.
3. The combination, in an electrical apparatus, of a movable member, one or
more armatures for said member, several coils each normally in position to act
thereon, each coil being arranged to perform a certain fraction of the work required
to effect an entire operation of said movable member, and the construction and
arrangement of the coils and armatures being such that the added effect of all of
said coils will be sufficient to effect said entire operation, said coils being in line
wires connected to separate generators substantially as described.
4. The combination, in an ammeter or similarly operated indicator, of a movable
member (such as an index hand) one or more armatures connected therewith, and
several coils in separate line wires acting in conjunction on said armature or
armatures, substantially as described.
5. The combination, in an ainmeter, of one or more movable members, one or
more armatures connected therewith, and coils in the positive and negative
leads of a 3-wire system, both coils acting in conjunction on said armature or
armatures and through the same on said movable member or members, substantially
as described.
6. The combination, in an ammeter or indicator, of several coils in separate line-
wires, a single pointer, a single scale, and means acted upon in conjunction by
said coils for moving said hand or pointer, substantially as described.
nted
Unted Luno 2IRTYID)
CLAUDE K. MILLS,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.