Improvements in or connected with Electricity Measuring Instruments.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 26th May, 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Electricity Measuring
Instruments.
We, CARL SONDERMANN, of 58B, Weinerstrasse, Berlin, Mechanician, and RUDOLF
BERLOW, of 16, Panierstrasse, Rixdorf, Mechanician, both of the Empire of Germany,
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:-
Those instruments which are at present used for measuring the consumption of
electrical current, possess such defects that it has appeared almost impossible to
measure the current consumed, absolutely correctly.
""
The defects of the instruments hitherto used were not so much due to defects of
construction, as to the fact that the want of correctness found was brought about by
electrical manifestations. In the case of the Aron-counters it was the " remanence
which appeared in the oscillating iron core after the apparatus had been operating
uninterruptedly for some long period, and in the case of the Thomson counters it was
the high degree of self-induction.
Although in the case of the Siemens counters, both defects are almost obviated
by artificial means, on the other hand the extremely accurate construction required,
and the exceedingly careful treatment, were not equal to the external influences.
This invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings in which Figure 1 shews the
front elevation of the counter.
Figure 2 is a front elevation with the dial removed.
Figure 3 shews a view from above of the electro-magnet, and of the arrangement
of gearing.
Figure 4 shews the method of adjustment of the anchor.
Figure 5 shews the electro-magnet in section.
The counter for a two or more conductor system, for uniform or alternating current,
is situate in the main circuit of the light or power wires. The current enters at the
bracket a Figure 1, passes through the coils c and c¹, and leaves again at b. The
clock-work itself, which will run for about 40 days without stopping, possesses a
pinion-wheel, see Figure 2, at which there is an angular lever h¹ with arm n¹, and
the tongue g¹, and arm k. The arm n¹ possesses an extension o¹, which has two con-
nection wires and pl, upwards and downwards, wire v being attached to a weight m
in a glass tube filled with oil, and secured by means of the metal bracket
upper wire pl is attached to the lever arm 10, and at one end of same there is the
pin p with the tongue z, and at the other end q¹, there is an adjustable screw.
the centre of the lever w there is the cog wheel r¹, which directly moves the hands of
the dials.
The
In
The clockwork which, as already mentioned, is able to run continuously, transmits
its pendulous motion to the cog-wheel f¹; the latter gradually raises the tongue g¹
of the lever arın n³, and as soon as the cog wheel has reached the highest point, it
drops the lever arm ', which lever arm being connected with lever arm w by means
As soon as the lever
of wire p', when dropping, it will take with it the lever arm w.
arm w drops, the tongue z catches the finely toothed disc m³, and sets same in motion,

page_text: as well as the cog-wheel attached to it, which will re-act upon the dial
arrangement.
In order to break the fall of lever n³, a weight is attached to the lever arm w, and
the weight m to the extension o¹ of the lever art ¹, by means of wire v; and, by means
of the adjustable screw on lever q¹, the weight may be counter-balanced; the weight m
is immersed in the glass tube n which is filled with oil, and the oil prevents the
weight m from dropping too suddenly, and thereby enables the whole clockwork to
work smoothly and regularly.
The motion of the clockwork is absolutely independent of the current, the motion
of the hand on the dial depending solely upon the deviation of the lever arm / which,
through the lever arm n¹, acts upon lever arm w, moving the cog wheel by means of
tongue z. The cog wheel f¹ is dependent upon the pendulous motion of the driving
gear, and if, therefore, the lever arm k moves only slightly out of its first position,
the point of the cog-wheel f¹ will be able to catch the tongue of the lever arm n¹ at
its extreme end. Hence the lever arm o¹, and thereby tongue 2, will be moved only
a short distance, and this interval is registered on the dial. The deviation, however, of
lever arm k, depends upon the current consumed.
Between the poles of the electro-magnets d and , there is suspended by a thread f
of raw silk (Figure 2) the anchor ¹ (Figure 3). A powerful natural magnet with its
poles (Figure 3) which is arranged axially at right angles to the electro-magnets,
attracts the pole of anchor k¹, when there is no current passing through the coils of
the electro-magnets.
At the upper part of the movable anchor there is arranged an aluminium disc i, the
radii s and 2 of which are of different lengths.
In the position of quiesence, that is to say, when there is no current passing
through the electro-magnets, the poles of the anchor will be attracted by the poles of
the natural magnet, and as a consequence the radius 2 (Figure 3), will lie directly
against the stop of the lever k. If, however, a slight current is consumed, the weight
of lever k will press against the aluminium disc i in such a manner that, though the
anchor tends to rotate, the weight of lever / will not permit rotation. The
hole g3 (Figure 2), in which the wire p' is arranged, is bored of such a size that
the wire p is easily movable in same, and if the lever arm is lifted about 5 m.m.
by the aluminium disc i at certain intervals, whilst the lever arm n³ cannot make any
motion on account of the stroke being limited by the screw o, no registration is
possible during the position of quiesence.
In this way the clockwork will go on quietly, without influencing the mechanism
of the dial hand arrangement. But if, on the other hand, the slightest current
passes through the electro-magnets c and c¹, the lines of force of the electro-magnets
will oppose those of the natural magnet, and in this manner produce a deviation of
the anchor. The amount of rotation of anchor k¹, produced by this deviation, pro-
duces an equivalent rotation of disc i; and radius 82 being longer than radius 81, even
with the slightest consumption of current, the movement of disc i produced by the
rotation of the anchor kl will cause an interstice between the lever arm and the
disc i. The lever arm k will now come into contact with the disc, at the same time,
however, the tongue gl of lever arm ¹ drops to the same extent as the distance
between the lever arm and the disc i, amounts to, and the tongue point g¹ will be
raised by the cog wheel f¹, and the clockwork is enabled to operate in the manner
described.
To balance the weight of the aluminium disc i, there is attached to the thread
of raw silk an augular lever b¹ provided with screw-threads and the weights e¹ and
In order to prevent the anchor ¹, suspended by the raw silk thread f, from twisting
too quickly, a vessel, filled with oil, is arranged beneath the electro-magnets
(Figure 1) within which moves a rod t¹ descending from the anchor, and carrying
four blades t at its lower end; these blades are covered by the oil, and in this manner
prevent the anchor k¹ from turning too quickly.
In order to correctly adjust the anchor ¹ it is held by means of two swivels h and 8,
which swivels are movable in such a way that, (as shewn in Figure 4), three screws g²
K

page_text: allow movements to all sides, same being, however, also held by the bracket and
the latter in its turn by screw a².
The spring (Figure 4) assists in closing the oil vessel u at the conical passage w
(Figure 1), and for this purpose it carries a closing cone v¹ at the end of which the
blades t are attached.
The two electro-magnets & and d¹ (Figure 5) may have either oblique or elliptical
pole surfaces, so as to obtain a more complete utilization of the lines of force of the
electro-magnets d and (Figure 5) as compared with the poles of the natural
magnet (Figure 3).
For the purpose of regulating the uniform motion of the clockwork there is a disc ¿¹
(Figure 1) which governs the amplitude of vibration of the pendulum.
The aluminium disc i may also be provided with a scale on its lower surface, the
said scale being divided like that of an amperemeter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. In an electricity measuring instrument for a two or more conductor system, for
uniform or alternating current, a movable anchor, which may be influenced both by
a natural and by electro-magnets, so that the deviation depends upon the electro-
magnets, the poles of which are in the form either of inclined planes or elliptical
surfaces; and a natural magnet, which brings the anchor into its zero position, when
there is no current in the electro-magnet; an appliance for suspending the anchor
and admitting of an adjustment laterally so that thereby the thread may be stretched
perfectly vertically, and at the same time dipping into an oil vessel, and thus being
rendered insensible to outside influences; for the purposes described.
2. An electricity measuring instrument particularly as shewn in and described
with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 24th day of October 1899.