Improvements in Electric Meters.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 4th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 8th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Meters.
We, EMANUEL BERGMANN, of Berlin, Markgrafenstrasse 19 in the Kingdom of
Prussia, German Empire, Merchant, and CARL ERBEN, of Berlin, Markgrafen-
strasse 29 in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, Watch Maker, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This improved electric meter is characterised by a spring which acts on the
Oscillating (balance, pendulum or the like) of a clockwork, being more or less
hindered, according to the strength, and eventually the direction, of the electric
current, in the freedom of its oscillations, by the action of one or more other
springs influenced by the current. This takes place either by the magnetic
bodies, which are influenced by the current, being entirely disconnected from,
or only indirectly connected with, the oscillating system, and therefore not
requiring to take part in the oscillations of the latter, or by the duration of
oscillation of the driving springs being directly altered by allowing them to act
as movable solenoid coils.
The speed of the clockwork, which is thus modified, is indicated, for the object
of registering the amount of electricity consumed, by the difference in the going
of the clockwork being compared with a correctly going clock or watch.
On the accompanying drawings
--
Figures 1-10 show various forms of construction of electricity meters made
according to the above explanations.
Figures 1 and 2 show a front view and plan respectively of the essential parts of
the clockwork in combination with the meter.
The balance u is fixed on the axis a' moving in supports, and on the same axis is
fixed the inner end of a spiral spring, the outer end of which is immovably
attached to the frame at a, but which may be altered in its effective length by
means of the adjuster b, as is usual with spring clocks.
In Figure 1, the spring f¹ is omitted for the sake of clearness. The clockwork
works by itself in such a way as to regulate, by a suitable regulator, the speed of
the series of wheels which are operated by a wound up spring or a weight.
This takes place by the pins which is fixed eccentrically on the balance, and
which, in its oscillations, throws to and fro the fork g which oscillates on the axis a²
and thus causes the anchor escapement z, which is connected with it and
is also fixed on the axis a³, to engage with the ratchet wheel in the usual
manner, which is then communicated to the meter mechanism by the transfer
gearing.
The actual electrical part of the apparatus consists in a second spiral spring f*
being fixed on the axis a', the outer end t of this 'spring not being fixed but
connected with an arm o which revolves freely on the axis a¹ and only serves as a
guide. This loose end t of the spiral spring f' may oscillate to and fro between
contact pieces w w during the oscillations of the balance. The electric current
passing through the fixed coils e e acts on the two iron armatures m m attached
to an elbowed or curved spring v, attracting them more or less according to its
strength, and thus, in consequence of the alteration of the free space for the play
of the spring o between the stops or contact pieces w w, limits more or less the
freedom of the oscillations of the spiral spring f, and thus influences the going
of the clockwork.
The arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4 is a similar one.
In thi
only a
single eniral spring f is arranged, as a regulator of the

page_text: going of the clockwork beside the balance on the axis a', the inner end of
the spiral spring being again fixed to the axis a', whilst a rigid side contact arm t¹
is arranged on the outer end t of the spring, which end is quite free and is
only suitably guided. This free spring arm t', which is fixed on the axis a but
capable of revolving with the same, may, during the oscillations of the apparatus,
move a little to and fro in the forked or rectangular slot g' of the lever 0, which
latter revolves on a separate axis a³, but this arm has a tendency to throw the
lever o to and fro with it and thus to create for itself more play for its oscillations.
As, however, the lever o which revolves on the axis a', and which is provided with
the regulating screw p, carries a tension coil i of thin wire, the capability of
movement of the arm o is made dependent on the intensity of the magnetic field
of the fixed coils e which are traversed by the varying current, and thereby,
according to the variation in the amount of free movement allowed to the spiral
spring, the duration of oscillation of the clock work is also influenced. The slot g¹
of the fork is made of a suitable given width and thereby the oscillation of the
influenced lever arm o is determined.
In the form of construction shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, an indirect connection
is established between the spring fand the magnet or solenoid i. The balance u is
seated on the axis a' and the inner end of the spiral spring is also attached thereto.
The outer end of the spiral spring fis arranged in such a way as to be freely
movable and is connected with the upper arm of the lever o which revolves on the
axis a². The lever o carries, in addition to the regulating weight p, the solenoid or
magnet i, and swings with the oscillations of the clockwork to and fro over the fixed
coils e through which the current passes.. According to the strength of the current,
the free oscillation of the magneti is more or less limited in consequence of the
regulating force of the coil e, and thereby the movement of the driving spring fand
the speed of the clock motion is varied.
In Figures 8 and 9, a meter is shown, in which another indirect connection
is formed between the oscillating spiral spring f, which has its inner end attached
to the axis a' of the balance, and the solenoid or magnet i. The spring is here
guided by the arm o (which is counterbalanced by means of the screw p² and
revolves on the axis a³) and has at its outer free end an arm t¹ with a curved piece l.
The latter is connected with a band or flexible cord y, which is attached to the
magnet or solenoid i. During the oscillations of the clockwork and therewith also
of the spring arm t¹, the magnet or solenoid i, which is counterbalanced on the
separate axis n by means of the weight p², rises more or less, according to the extent
of oscillation of the spring f. This movement of the body is influenced in
proportion to the strength of the current flowing through the fixed coil e, and with
it the freedom of the band or cord y as well as the extent of swing and duration of
oscillation of the spring arm t' and of the clockwork is varied.
Finally, the duration of oscillation of the spiral spring f of a clock may also be
varied directly in proportion to the ampères or watts which are to be measured,
without the use of a fixed coil, by sending a given fraction of the current direct
through the coil surface of the spiral spring f which is preferably made of
NOD-magnetic material, as is shown in Figure 10.
The inner and outer ends of the preferably cylindrically-shaped spring fare
here attached to the frame and to the axis a¹ and insulated therefrom. h is a
movable strip of silver or the like, which serves as a current conductor, a small
side shunt resistance inserted in the circuit.
The fraction of current flowing through the spiral coils of the spring produces
electro-dynamic action of the separate spiral coils on one another, which may be
further increased by the arrangement of intensive magnetic fields, or they may have
an electrothermic action if desired. The elasticity or the duration of oscillation of
the spring and the clockwork respectively may be influenced by this action.
It is evident from the foregoing that, in this manner, the disturbance in the going
of the clock, caused by the action of the electric current, affords a means of
measurement of the consumption of ampères or watts per hour.

page_text: The electricity meter hereinbefore described differs essentially from other clock-
work meters in that, in this case, the movement of the free end of a spiral spring is
more or less limited (according to the strength of the current which is to be
measured) by the magnet or iron body which is either merely indirectly connected
with the spring, or entirely separate from it, and without having any connection
with the oscillating mechanism, or by the current which is to be measured, directly
influencing the length of oscillation of the oscillating spiral spring and of the spiral
spring which regulates the movement, without, at the same time, fixed or movable
rollers or magnets being employed.
Dated this 8th day of November 1893
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.
CUMI MIN DE MUIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Meters.
We, EMANUEL BERGMANN of Berlin, Markgrafeustrasse 19 in the Kingdom of
Prussia, German Empire, Merchant, and CARL ERBEN of Berlin, Markgrafen-
strasse 29, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, Watch Maker, 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 improved electric meter is characterised by a spring which acts on the
oscillating part (balance, pendulum or the like) of a clockwork, being more or
less hindered, according to the strength, and eventually the direction, of the electric
current, in the freedom of its oscillations, by the action of one or more other
springs influenced by the current. This takes place either by the magnetic bodies,
which are influenced by the current, being entirely disconnected from, or only
indirectly connected with, the oscillating system, and therefore not requiring to
take part in the oscillations of the latter, or by the duration of oscillation of
the driving springs being directly altered by allowing them to act as movable
solenoid coils.
The speed of the clockwork, which is thus modified, is indicated, for the object
of registering the amount of electricity consumed, by the difference in the going
of the clockwork being compared with a correctly going clock or watch.
The improved electric or electricity meter forming the object of this invention
is shown in two forms of construction in the accompanying drawings.
In the electricity meter shown in Figures 1 and 2, a single spiral spring fis
arranged as regulator of the going of the clockwork beside the balance on the
axle a', and the inner end of the spiral spring fis fixed to the axle a', whilst a rigid
side contact arm t¹ is arranged on the outer entirely free end of the spring. This
free spring arm t¹ is guided by being connected to a bar revoluble on the axle a³
and counterbalanced by means of a weight pl. The outer free spring arm t¹ may,
during the oscillations of the apparatus, move a little to and fro in the forked
or rectangular slot g¹ of a lever o which is revoluble on the axle a².
In con-
sequence of the centrifugal force of the balance axle, and the elasticity of the
spring f, the end t of the spring has a tendency to throw the bar o, together
with the fork g', to and fro so as to create more play for its oscillations.
This greater freedom of oscillation is, however, prevented by electro-magnetic
force. This is effected by a permanent magnet or solenoid i arranged on the
bar 09 which oscillates on the axle a³, and which may be counterbalanced
at will by means of the upper regulating screw p of the lever o.
This magnet
or solenoid i is also set in oscillation with and by means of the outer end of
the spring, but oscillates under the influence of a fixed coil e through which
flows the current which is to be measured. This coil e, therefore, exerts,

page_text: according to the strength of current, a variable controlling power on the movable
magnet or coil . The freedom of oscillation of the outer end t of the spring
is thereby indirectly influenced. When short circuiting, for instance, takes
place, or a very strong current impulse, the magnet i and the double lever o,
or, in other words, the fork g' is returned entirely stationary, and the clockwork
then goes at its quickest as the duration of oscillation of the spring f then has
its full effect, and its elasticity can then act to the fullest extent. If no current
be present, the end of the spring is only checked in its movement to an
extent equal to the power necessary for overcoming the inertia of the double
lever o (together with the regulating screw p and the magnet i). The amount
of this inertia of the double lever o, which simultaneously serves for checking
the oscillations of the free end t of the spring, is suitably determined by the
excess of weight which is given to the magnet i over that of the screw p.
Thereby the spring f, even without current, experiences a tendency to return to a
position of rest, which tendency increases according as the pendulum action of the
magnet i is made stronger.
The form of construction shown in Figures 3 to 5 differs only slightly from that
shown in Figures 1 and 2.
In this case, the arrangements are shown on both sides. Instead of a permanent
magnet, there are here two solenoids ii (inserted under tension) attached to the
double lever o, which solenoids are influenced by the electro-dynamic action of two
fixed coils e e, which latter are both traversed by the current. The outer free
end of the spiral spring fis connected at t with a rigid side contact arm t, which
encloses with the fork or slot g' the bar o, revoluble on the axle a, and is here
fixed by means of the screw p. In this way, the bar o serves itself as a stop and a
means of guiding the spring arm t'. On the oscillations of the axle a', together
with the balance u, the outer end of the spring has a tendency to throw to and
fro, by means of the arm t', the double lever o together with the solenoids ii, in
order thus to obtain freedom for its oscillations. According to the strength of the
current which is to be measured, the coils e e will, however, attract (or, when the
direction of current is reversed, repel) these oscillating solenoids i, and tend, for
instance, in the case of very strong currents, to hold them either entirely or nearly
stationary. In this case, the clockwork will go at its fastest speed, as the
elasticity of the driving spring thereby comes fully into effect. Further, in
order to moderate the otherwise too great oscillations of the free end of the
spring, and simultaneously to have a means for adjustment, two spiral springs v v²,
wound in opposite directions, are also arranged here. These checking springs
are arranged with their inner ends attached to the centre plate, and with their
outer ends attached to the arm th of the outer spring end t.
By means of these springs 2, which are of equal elasticity, but which engage
with the arm in opposite directions, a certain tendency to resume a normal
position is imparted to the spring end t and the lever o, in the same way as this
tendency is produced in Figures 1 and 2 by the pendulum action of the excess
weight of the magnet i. According as the springs 3, which act in opposite
directions, are more or less stretched, a more or less strong checking action is
exerted on the spring end t, and the solenoids i i, and it is possible to so regulate
the action that the exact proportions of the differences between the clockwork and
the electric force may be ascertained as desired. The checking force of the
pendulum o in Figures 1 and 2 may be measured as desired in a similar way to this
checking action of the springs, and eventually it is possible, in order to obtain the
exact proportions or the sensitiveness, to combine the checking action of the springs
and the overweight with one another, assisted, if necessary, by air resistance, for
instance, by the use of fans or the like.
The form of construction of the electric meter in which the oscillating body
is a solenoid, is suitable for measuring watts per hour and serves equally for
direct or alternating currents. The current supply to the solenoids ii, which
oscillate with the double lever o, takes place by means of two elastic bands (for

page_text: instance, silver foil) y y², which are brought from both sides to the insulated
block a fixed on the axle a', and from whence their connection with the coils i i
takes place.
As very considerable differences in the extent of oscillation of the movable coils.
or magnets i may be obtained in proportion to the strength of current, these
differences may be also utilised for estimating the ampère or watts consumed per
hour, a light pointer z being attached to the oscillating arm t¹, which pointer moves.
over an Ampère or Watt scale s on the oscillations taking place.
When the difference between the actual duration of the oscillation of the
balance, together with the driving spring, and the double lever with its magnets,.
is made too great, that is to say, when, for instance, the solenoids are too heavy,
and operate on lever arms of too great length, the potential energy, that is to say,
the amount of inertia of this system of magnets, together with its checking springs,
becomes too great and this lever receives from the axle of the balance opposite
impulses to what it itself has, that is to say, if the balance swings to the right, the
magnet lever swings to the left, and so on. The two parts of the clockwork then
race one another and this clockwork goes still faster than even when the series of
magnets is held fast.
By the means hereinbefore explained of altering the amount of inertia, the
correcting force and the checking of the free oscillating outer end of the spring or
of the magnet double lever connected with the same, or, in other words, of varying
the duration of their natural oscillation, it is possible to obtain the proportions
within the widest limits, so that, with the greatest uniformity of ampères per hour,.
a suitably great acceleration of the clockwork may be obtained, the actual ampère
or watts charge being simultaneously indicated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what.
we claim is
:-
1. An electricity meter in which one or more of the coils traversed by the
current which is to be measured influence the oscillations of a balance spring and
thereby the movement of a clockwork, characterized by an arrangement whereby
the free end of a balance spring, which end is not connected with the balance, is
connected directly or indirectly with a magnetic body or solenoid, arranged to
oscillate independently and retained swinging or oscillating in a given central
position, which body or solenoid is arranged in the magnetic field of one or more
current coils, which can influence the oscillating movement imparted to the body by
means of the balance spring and thereby the duration of oscillation of the balance
spring itself so that the alteration in the going of this clockwork produced by this
means may serve when compared with a correctly going clock as a measure or
meter of the electricity consumed.
2. The electricity meter as described in Claim 1 characterized by the arrange-
ment of an indicator connected with the oscillating arm of the driving spring,.
showing on a scale the actual ampère or watt charge.
Dated this 3rd day of August 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.