Improvements in or relating to Electrical Meters, applicable to Prepayment Electrical Meters.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1898-Accepted, 2nd June, 1898
Improvements in or relating to Electrical Meters, applicable to
Prepayment Electrical Meters.
I, CHARLES ORME BASTIAN, of 8A, Manchester Square, London, W., Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;-
-
This invention relates to electrical meters and also is applicable to prepayment
electrical meters and is as follows:-
I form of any suitable material a suitable tube or vessel to hold water-advan-
tageously a glass vessel in the form of a U-shaped tube which latter may advan-
tageously be made in two parts and such parts adapted to be secured together in
any suitable manner for instance by a rubber block which fits within one part
say one side of the U which is or may be enlarged at the lower portion thereof
and adapted to receive said rubber therein while the upturned end of the other
side (viz. just above the bend) enters said rubber block which latter is advan-
tageously provided with any suitable valve (which will permit upward flow through
said block but will prevent any flow downwards through same) such as an ordinary
hinged flap valve.
Just above this valve or in any other desired position or positions but advan-
tageously within an enlarged portion of the tube I arrange any well-known or
suitable means for producing electrolysis-for instance by means of suitable con-
ductor wires led through the glass wall of the vessel and terminating in platinum
electrodes held a suitable distance apart by a series of glass beads or distance blocks.
The operation is as follows:-
The tube being filled with water or other suitable electrolyte to the desired
height advantageously to the top or thereabouts of the said upwardly extending
arms of the U and on the current flowing through the electrodes thereby the
water is decomposed and the resulting gases rise up and escape from one or both
of the arms and as a natural consequence the height of the water in the tube
varies (2.e., decreases) and it is this variation which I utilise according to my
present invention as follows:-
(1) As a current meter:
-
I may have a meter index or scale on one or both arms of the U-shaped tube
so that the decrease (i.e. descent) of the liquid in the tube will show on the meter
index or scale how much current has passed-the tops of the tubes being as much
covered in as possible to prevent or reduce condensation as much as possible and
the whole apparatus is or may be enclosed in any suitable case or covering.
(2) As a prepayment meter:
-
One of the arms of the U is shorter than the other or the latter may be pro-
vided with a suitable overflow hole or escape and may terminate in a funnel-like
top for filling purposes and in one of these arms I provide a float to which is
attached a long wire bent over and then extending downwardly or with any other
suitable connection to the outside of the tube and carrying thereon or forming
one of the two contacts in a "local" circuit the other of said contacts in said

page_text: local circuit being adapted and arranged to be moved downwards (in advance of
the contact carried on or by said float) in any suitable manner and by any suit-
able means for instance by a prepayment mechanism and means such as described
in Letters Patent No. 2224 of 1896 or 16342 of 1896 whereby on the insertion of
a coin the said contact would be moved a measured distance down away from the
"float contact" while at the same moment the main circuit would be closed and
the meter ready for use and as the current flows through said electrodes thereby
the water in the tube is decomposed and the height of the water gradually descends
and thereby gradually brings down the contact carried on or operated by the said
float as the latter descends with the descending column of water-until the said
contact are brought together again whereby the local circuit is completed and
cuts out the main circuit as described in the said patents.
The tube would of course require to be refilled with the electrolyte from time to
time to replace the amount decomposed and the meter mechanism re-set.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1897
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
thampton Buildings; Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Electrical Meters, applicable to
Prepayment Electrical Meters.
I, CHARLES ORME BASTIAN, of 8A, Manchester Square, London, W., England,
Electrical Engineer, 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 invention relates to electrical meters and also is applicable to prepayment
electrical meters and I will proceed to describe my present invention with refer-
ence to the accompanying drawings; Figs. 1 and 2 of which illustrate the first-
named arrangement i.e. the current meter and Figs. 3 to 7 illustrate my present
invention carried into practice as a prepayment electrical meter.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2:-
Fig. 1 is a view in elevation (partly in section) and Fig. 2 is a view at right
angles to Fig. 1 i.e. looking in the direction of the arrow 1 Fig. 1.
a is a tube (advantageously of glass or other suitable transparent material)
which is bent round at 6 and terminates at c in a plug or block d of rubber or
other suitable material which block d fits tightly within the lower end of the
enlarged part e of the tube f.
The electric current enters the enlarged part e through the conductors or con-
nections g g and passes thence to the electrodes h h¹ which latter are mounted
and held apart in any known or suitable manner.
Thus a continuous tube is formed from a to f with an enlarged part e therein
the plug or block d connecting the two parts of the tube together in a liquid-tight
manner.
Or if desired the whole of the U-shaped tube or vessel a to f may be made all
in one part although I consider the arrangement illustrated as more advantageous
since it permits ready access to the interior of the enlarged part e and the electrodes
therein.
I find it advantageous to use a coloured liquid (water) in the tube a b c and a
slightly acidulated liquid (water) in the part e f and in order to prevent these

page_text: two liquids mingling I may use a loose bag advantageously a very thin flexible
rubber bag i sufficiently loose to receive therein as much of the coloured liquid
as will flow from the tube a b c into the tube e f during the action of the meter
such flexible bag i being fitted in a liquid-tight manner over the plug d as illus-
trated (or over the tube end c) so that no mingling of the two liquids can take place.
A scale or other suitable index may be provided on the arm a of the U-shaped
device or on the arm for both.
The operation is as follows:-
When the electric current flows through the electrolyte in the chamber e there-
by electrolytic action is caused and the gases caused by such electrolysis escape out
of the tube f and consequently the column of liquid in the arm f descends and
it follows that the column of liquid in the arm a will correspondingly descend
and thus the alteration in the height of said column will be the measure or indica-
tion of the amount of electric current that has passed.
That is to say the amount of water that is decomposed by an electric current
of a given strength in a given time is well-known and understood and therefore
by measuring off (by means of the falling column of liquid) the amount of
electrolyte that has been decomposed by the electric current passing therethrough
as aforesaid thereby I am enabled to measure and indicate the amount of current
used and consequently the amount of current to be paid for by the consumer.
The column is re-filled or replenished with the electrolyte from time to time
as required.
Referring now to Figs. 3 to 7:-
Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of my present invention carried into practice as
a prepayment electrical meter.
Fig. 4 is a view at right angles to Fig. 3 i.e. a side elevation looking in the
direction of the arrow 4 Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of Figs. 3 and 4 only on an enlarged scale.
Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on line 6-6 Fig. 5 looking in the direction of
the arrow 5-the mercury cup D being also shown in section.
Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view on line 7-7 Fig. 5 also looking in the direction
of the arrow 5.
In this arrangement the vessel a bee and ƒ for holding the electrolyte is shown
formed all in one part advantageously of glass the current passing to the elec-
trodes and h¹ through the conductors or connections g g₁ so that when the
electric circuit is completed and the current flowing through 9 g thereby the
electrolyte is decomposed and consequently the height of the column of liquid
in the arms a and f respectively is reduced.
To utilise this gradual decrease in the height of the column of liquid in the
arm for the purpose of prepayment electric meters I proceed as follows:-
A is a contact making and breaking device pivotted at A¹ carrying on the
underside thereof two pins or projections B B¹ in electrical connection with one
another and adapted to respectively enter the mercury C in the mercury holders
or vessels D D which latter are insulated from one another--the main circuit
wires being connected respectively to the said mercury cups or vessels D D' or
if desired only one mercury cup such as D may be used one wire of the main
circuit being connected to said cup and the other wire connected to the device A
-a spring E (one end of which is fixed to the frame at E¹ and the other end
attached to the device A) serving to normally hold said device A in the position
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 so that the contact piece B is normally held out of
contact with the mercury C in the cup D and thereby the main circuit is broken.
In order to close the main circuit on the insertion of à coin any suitable pre-
payment mechanism may be used such for instance as that illustrated in the
drawings which consists of a spindle F having a knob F¹ on the end thereof by
rotating which latter the spindle F and with it the disc G with flange G¹ thereon
is rotated.

page_text: Another disc H is fixed rigidly on a separate spindle F* this spindle F³ being
entirely independent of the first-named spindle F.
The disc H carries three pairs of flanges H¹ H³ thereon each such flange H¹
being arranged at such distance from its adjacent flange H³ as to permit a coin or
token of suitable value to enter edgewise between said pair of flanges (see Figs. 4
and 5) and these three pairs of flanges H¹ and H³ are arranged in pairs on the
face of the disc H equi-distant from one another see Fig. 6.
On the insertion of a coin or token such as Z (see Figs. 4 and 5) thereby on
twisting the handle F¹ to the left the discs G and H will be locked together by
said coin through the flanges G¹ and H2 respectively and consequently the disc H
will be revolved through one-third of a circle the exact amount of such revolution
being ensured by means of the triangular shaped piece I fixed rigidly to the back
of the disc Ha strong spring J pivotted to the frame at J* being held firmly
against the said triangular piece I by means of the end J₁ of said spring sup-
ported on the fixed stud K.
In this manner the spindle F* is turned through one-third of a revolution and this
spindle F has rigidly fixed thereon a triangular device L one of the three cams,
cranks, or extremities L' L³ or L³ being by such one-third revolution brought in
contact with a spring arm or extension A* fixed to or formed on the aforesaid
pivotted make-and-break device A. whereby the latter is thus forced down (against
the action of the spring E) into the horizontal position shown in full lines in
Fig. 7 and is then caught and held down by the spring catch M said catch (which
is normally pressed into position to hold said device A by the spring N- -see
Figs. 6 and 7) being pivotted at M* and the end M¹ thereof extending as an arma-
ture just under the coils O of a shunt circuit.
On the aforesaid shaft or spindle FX there is rigidly fixed a reel or drum P to
which is attached one end of a metallic tape or soft flexible conducting wire Q
several turns of this latter being wound upon said reel or drum P and thence pass-
ing up over an idle roller or pulley R and descending and terminating with the
weight S which latter is attached to this end of the connection Q said weight S
furthermore forming one of the contacts in a shunt circuit by which the coils O
are energised when said local circuit is completed as hereinafter described.
T is the other contact in said local circuit being formed by the turned-over
end of a wire (advantageously copper) T" which passing freely through the guide
cap a¹ on the top of the tube a into said tube and has a cork float T2 firmly fixed
thereto the lower end of said copper wire T¹ terminating in the liquid in which
it is always immersed in said tube a.
The operation is as follows:
On the insertion of a coin or token of proper value or denomination the spindle F*
can be revolved (by means of the handle F₁which latter is returned by suitable
spring F and thereby permits the coin to drop into a suitable receptacle) and
thereby a portion of the flexible connection Q is unwound off the drum P and
the contact piece S descends a measured distance from the other contact T in the
local circuit.
At the same time the device A is forced down until caught and held by the
spring catch M and the main circuit is thus completed and as the current flows
the electrolytic action causes the descent of the column of liquid in the tube a
and the float T therein thus. gradually descends with said liquid until the con-
tact piece T comes in contact with the other contact piece S in the local circuit
whereupon said local circuit is completed and energises the magnets 0 which
thereupon attracts the armature M¹ and draw same up into the position shown in
dotted lines in Fig. 7 this action consequently moving the catch M off the device A
and the latter on thus being released is instantly pulled up (into the position
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7) by the spring E whereupon the main circuit is
broken and consequently the local circuit is also broken and the armature M' is
released by the magnets O and the catch M is now forced by the spring N into the

page_text: again engage with the device A on the latter being again forced
down as aforesaid.
The meter either arranged as in Figs. 1 and 2 or as in Figs. 3 to 7-is cased
in or enclosed in any suitable case or enclosure so as to prevent access to same
except by duly authorized persons.
It will be obvious that I may if desired use only one column instead of two
columns as illustrated in the drawings for instance I may use only the column
or tube f with the enlarged portion e at the lower end thereof and measure off
the amount of descent of the electrolyte in said column f when using the meter
simply as a current meter as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1
and 2; or in the case of a prepayment meter the floating contact device T T¹¹ T³
would be arranged to act in such single tube f in the same manner as herein-
before described with reference to the tube a Figs. 3 to 7.
In order to prevent or reduce evaporation of the electrolyte (water) by exposure
to the atmosphere of the upper surface thereof in the tube or tubes f a
or
and
I find it very advantageous to put a little oil which will float on the top of each
column of water and thereby cover and protect the latter from evaporation by
the atmosphere.
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:
1. An electrical meter in which the reduction of the volume or column of an
electrolyte in a vessel is effected by electrolysis by passing the electric current
through said electrolyte in said vessel and indicating on a scale on or adjacent
to said vessel the reduction of the electrolyte and thereby indicating the amount
of current which has passed substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In an electric meter of the character described the combination with the
bent tube a and straight tube f having enlargement e at its lower end of a pair
of electrodes mounted within said enlargement e and having electrical connections
outside thereof; a soft plug having an axial opening therethrough fitting in the
lower end of said enlargement e the lower end of said tube a fitting into said axial
opening in said plug and communicating therethrough with the tube f and a loose
collapsible waterproof diaphragm fitted over the inner end of said axial open-
ing in said plug substantially as described.
3. An electrical meter in which the reduction of the volume or column of an
electrolyte in a vessel is effected by electrolysis by passing the electric current
through said electrolyte in said vessel and indicating on a scale on or adjacent
to said vessel the reduction of the electrolyte and thereby indicating the amount
of current which has passed in combination and acting in conjunction with pre-
payment mechanism in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
4. In a prepayment mechanism for electric meters the combination with a
rotatable spindle and means for causing said spindle to rotate through the medium
of an inserted coin of a drum operated by said spindle, a flexible electric con-
ductor secured to and wound upon said drum and reeving over a pulley, a contact
device constituting a contact device in a local circuit suspended on or from said
flexible conductor, a second contact device in said local circuit adapted to fall
with the reduction of volume of the electrolyte in the meter and to make con-
tact with said weight, an angular disc having a straight edge or edges upon its
periphery rigidly mounted upon said spindle, a flat spring arm bearing against
the periphery of said disc and adapted when bearing upon one of said straight
edges to retard the rotation of said spindle, a circuit closer for the main circuit
adapted to be moved into the position to complete the main circuit through the
meter when the said spindle is rotated, a spring catch adapted to engage said
circuit closer in its closed position, a spring tending to hold said circuit closer
out of contact and a magnet in said local circuit adapted when energised to release

page_text: said catch from said circuit closer and break the main circuit substantially as
described.
5. In a prepayment mechanism for electric meters the combination with a
rotatable spindle and means for causing said spindle to rotate through the medium
of an inserted coin of a drum operated by said spindle, a flexible electric con-
ductor secured to and wound upon said drum, a contact device constituting a
contact device in a local circuit suspended from said flexible conductor, a second
contact device in said local circuit adapted to fall with the reduction of the
volume of the electrolyte and to make contact with the first said contact device,
an angular disc having a straight edge or edges of equal length upon its periphery
rigidly mounted upon said spindle, a flat spring arm bearing against the periphery
of said disc and adapted when bearing against one of said straight edges to retard
the rotation of said spindle, a circuit closer for the main circuit normally held
out of contact, a disc rigidly mounted upon said spindle and provided with a lug
or lugs adapted to strike a projection on said circuit closer and move the latter
into contact during the rotation of said spindle, a spring catch adapted to engage
said circuit closer when the latter has been moved to its closed position, and a
magnet in said local circuit adapted when energised to release said catch from
said circuit closer and break the main circuit substantially as described.
6. In a prepayment electric meter the combination with a vessel adapted to
contain a liquid and containing two electrodes having suitable electrical con-
nections with the main circuit, a float mounted in said vessel and carrying a bent
arm which extends outside said vessel and forms a contact device in a local circuit
of a suspended contact device in said local circuit, coin-freed devices adapted upon
the insertion of the proper coin to lower said suspended contact device a pre-
determined distance and break said local circuit, a circuit closer in the main
circuit adapted to be moved to the closed position by said coin-freed devices, a
spring-actuated catch adapted to engage said circuit closer in its closed position,
a magnet in said local circuit adapted upon becoming energised to release said
catch from said circuit closer and break the main circuit subsantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1898.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.