Improvements in Electricity Meters Worked from a Central Position.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 24th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electricity Meters Worked from a Central
Position.
I WILLIAM HARDING SCOTT of Gothio Works King Street Norwich
Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention applies to electricity meters which integrate periodically the
amount of current flowing and that are worked from a central position by means
of special mater wires along which periodic currents are sout which either act
direct on the main meter coils or work a relay which completes a shunt circuit or
the like or which act as in this invention by means of a magnet or its equivalent
which can move an arm or feeler connected to the integrating apparatus of the
train of wheels every time the periodic current is sent, an amount in proportion to
the current flowing; so that the integrating apparatus to which it is connected will
move the train of wheels an amount in proportion to the current flowing. To effect
this I connect a piece of sheet metal one edge of which is shaped, to the plunger or
moving part of the solenoid in which the current to be measured flows, and arrange
the shaped piece of metal with reference to the before mentioned arm in such a
manner that when no current is flowing in the solenoid the arm is held between the
piece of sheet metal and a stop piece so that it is not moved by the magnet and
also so that when the plunger of the solenoid moves on account of the current
flowing the piece of sheet metal properly shaped is moved by it, so that the arm
can be moved by the magnet an amount in proportion to the current flowing in the
solenoid. 1 arrange so that the movement of the arm is as nearly as possible at
right angles to the shaped piece of sheet metal so that the movement of the one
shall have as little as possible influence on the movement of the other.
In order to get as long a range as possible with this meter I prefer to make the
solenoid with a sheathed plunger that is, I arrange a U shaped sheath of iron
connected to the plunger which goes inside the solenoid so that it encloses or nearly
encloses the solenoid, and the plunger which goes in the centre hole of the solenoid
I connect magnetically to the inside of the bend of this U so that the magnetic
lines of force pass from the plunger inside the solenoid straight out to the sheath
outside the solenoid; their path being as short as possible. By this means I get a
smaller magnetic resistance and consequently greater range owing to the solenoid
becoming magnetised with a small current.
This sheathed plunger I prefer to arrango horizontally hanging it by its two ends
by means of flexible strips or by means of non flexible bars with pivots or knifo
edges at each end and the shaped piece of sheet metal before mentioned I may fix
to this horizontally shoathed plunger; the arm or feeler moved by the magnet
being horizontal so that the end of it or a point near the end is made at certain
times by the magnet before mentioned to drop on to this shaped piece of metal
from a fixed position; the amount of this drop being determined by the position
that the sheathed plunger is moved to by the current in the solenoid, but when no
current is flowing in the solenoid the top of the shaped piece of metal will be so
arranged that there can be no movement of the arm as the arm will just be held
but without any jambing between it and the stop piece.
The shaped piece of metal may be fixed to an arbour which is moved by the
plunger before mentioned, so that the motion of the plunger can be amplified.
The sheathed plunger may have a round core but as it will by the method of
Buspension require considerable clearance vertically in order to allow for its vertical

page_text: displacement I may make it with a rectangular plunger, very much deeper than it
is wide, so that the clearance sideways will not have to be increased to allow for
the displacement of the solenoid.
In another arrangement this solenoid may be placed vertically and suspended
from the end of a pivoted arm the other end being balanced, by another solenoid or
by a weight. From the centre of this arm where it is suspended I should bring
down a rod or its equivalent to which the weight or its equivalent acting in
opposition to the solenoid could be fixed; and also to which the shaped piece of
sheet metal could be attached.
In a third arrangement I might curve the sheathed plunger and make it work in a
curved solenoid the plunger being suspended from knife edges or the like situated
at the centre of the curve, so that it can move in the solenoid without touching
anything. The shaped piece of metal and a regulating weight could then he fixed
to the underside of the curved plunger and worked as before mentioned.
In a fourth arrangement the shaped piece of metal may be fixed to the iudicating
arm of a thermo electric apparatus such as a bar strip ammetor.
The integrating apparatus which integrates the movements of the arin on the
train of wheels may consist simply of an arm with a little pawl on it engaging in a
fine ratchet wheel, another pawl being fixed to prevent this ratchet wheel going
backwards or the integrating apparatus may consist of any other convenient
arrangement.
The magnet which works the arm I should prefer to arrange so that the weight
of its plunger or armature keeps the arm or feeler before mentioned against the
stop and that when its armature or plunger is lifted up a weight or spring takes
the end of the arm on to the shaped piece of metal. By this 'means the pressure
of the arm on the shaped piece of metal can easily be regulated and is not
influenced by the current in the magnet.
The magnet coil before mentioned may be eithor of high resistance to take a
small current and work in parallel with the magnets of the other ineters or it may
be of low resistance and work in series with them.
Dated this 28th day of January 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electricity Meters Worked from a Central Position.
1, WILLIAM HARDING SCOTT, of Gothic Works, King Street, Norwich, 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:
My invention relates to electricity meters which integrate periodically the
amount of current flowing and that are worked from a central position by means of
special meter wires along which periodic currents are sent which either act direct un
the main meter coils or work a relay which completes a shunt circuit or the like or
which act as in this invention by means of a magnet or its equivalent which can
move an arm or feeler connected to the integrating apparatus of a train of wheels
for operating a counting device.
"
I will describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which
illustrate what I consider the best means for carrying my invention into effect but.
I do not restrict myself to the precise details shewn and described as variations
may be made therein without departing from the nature of my invention.
Referring to Figures 1, 1ª and 1ª, Å is an electro-magnet which may be either
wound with a coil of high resistance to take a small current and work in parallel
with the magnets of other meters or the coil may be of low resistance to work in
series with the magnets of other meters. The armature a of the magnet A is

page_text: contred at a³ and carries an arm or feeler B which is connected by a wire or rod or
chain b to a pawl and ratchet wheel or equivalent means of operating integrating
mechanism such as the train of wheels C, the extent of movement of the arm B
being governed by the strength of the current to be measured so that the
integrating mechanism will be operated to an extent proportional to the current
flowing.
-
To effect this I connect to the plunger or armature of a solenoid D in the coils
of which the current, to be measured flows a device such as the plate E so shaped
and arranged with reference to the arm B that when no current is flowing in the
soleuoid D the arm B is held between the device E and a fixed stop F so that the
arm B cannot be moved by the magnet A. When the plunger or armature d of
the solenoid moves under the influence of the current flowing in the solenoid D,
the device E moves with it in the direction of the arrow so that a less clovated
part of the device E comes into position to allow the arm B and armature a to fall
away from the magnet A to an extent in proportion to the current flowing in the
solenoid D as the greater the movement of the armature d (which movement is in
proportion to the current flowing in the solenoid D) the lesser is the elevation of
the part of the device E on which the arm B will rest. I prefer to arrange the
said arm B and device E so that their movements are in directions as nearly as
possible at right angles to each other in order that the movement of the one shall
have as little influence as possible on the movement of the other.
In order to get as long a range as possible with this meter I prefer to provide
the solenoid with a sheathed plunger or armature as shewn that is I connect to a
centre bar which passes through the solenoid a sheath of iron d so shaped that
it encloses or nearly encloses the solenoid, and I magnetically connect the bar d¹ to
the inside of the bend of this sheath d so that the magnetic lines of force pass
from the bar d' inside the solenoid straight out to the sheath outside the solenoid.
the path being as short as possible. By this means I obtain smaller magnetic
resistance and consequently greater rango owing to the solenoid bocoming
magnetised with a small current.
I prefer to arrange the solenoid horizontally and suspend its sheathed armature
by its ends to flexible strips G as shewn or by means of non-flexible bars with
pivots or knife edges at each end, and to this horizontally sheathed armaturo I fix
the piece constituting the device E.
The arm or feeler B is shown as being horizontal when the said arm or feeler iş
confined between the dovice E and stop F. The said arm or feeler is also shown
as being provided with a friction bowl e to rest upon the device E.
At certain times the bar B drops from a fixed position the bowl e resting on the
part of the device E which is beneath it, the distance of the drop being determined
by the position into which the sheathed armature d is moved by the current in the
solenoid D but when no current is flowing in the said solenoid D the highest part
of the device E is by gravity or by the action of the spring hangers & or in other
convenient way, brought into position to prevent the movement of the arm B it
being then held (but without jambing) between the device E and the stop F.
Instead of fixing the shaped piece E to the solenoid armature d as shewn it may
be fixed to an arbour moved by the said armature and so amplify the motion
derived from the armature d.
The bar d' may be cylindrical but as by the method of suspension hereinbefore
described considerable clearance is required vertically in order to allow for its
displacement I preferably make the said bar of rectangular shape in cross section
and much deeper than it is wide so that the clearance sideways will not require to
be increased to allow for the displacement of the armature.
As shown in Figure 14 distance pieces of non-magnetic metal are provided at
one end of the sheathed armature to prevent the outside of that end from being
attracted to the centre.
In the arrangement illustrated by Figure 2 the solenoid D is in a vertical
position and the armature d' is suspended from one end of a lever G centred at g

page_text: the other end of this lever being counterweighted by the weight o' as shewn or
otherwise, for instance by another solenoid. The lever G has a depending arm H
to which is attached the shaped piece E which in this arrangement acts on the arm
or feeler B from the upper side the said arm or feeler being connected with the
integrating mechanism C by the rod b.
In the arrangement illustrated by Figure 3 a curved sheathed armature d' is
employed which works in a curved solenoid coil D the said armature being
suspended by rods G from the centre g from which the curve of the solenoid and
armature is struck so that the said 'armature can move properly in the solenoid.
The shaped piece E is fixed to the underside of the curved sheath d of the
armature and a counterbalance weight g² e fixed by a rod from the point of
suspension of the armature to normally retain the said armature in position for the
device E to prevent the movement of the arm B when no current is flowing through
the solenoid D.
In the arrangement illustrated by Figure 4 the shaped piece E is attached to
the indicating strip or bar D' of a thermo-electric device for operating the
integrating mechanism of the nieter. The current to be measured flows through
the strip or bar D' and as the said strip or bar expands by the heat produced by
the current it causes the arm m to which the piece E is fixed to turn on the knife
edge n in the direction indicated by the arrow and allow the arm or feeler B to
drop to greater or less extent according to the current flowing through the strip
and consequently as in the other arrangements give a greater or less movement to
the integrating device and indicate on the counter the amount of current consumed.
The integrating device shewn in the examples of meters illustrated consists simply
of an arm with a pawli on it engaging in a fine ratchet wheel ka detent / being
provided to provent back movement of the said ratchet wheel but any other
convenient arrangement of integrating mechanism may be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. In electricity meters worked from a central position the employment of an
electromagnet which is periodically excited from the central position (to integrate
by its periodic movement the amount of current being used by the consumer) in
combination with a counter or integrator and a solenoid or electro-magnet in the
coils of which the current to be measured flows and a shaped piece such as E or its
equivalent operated by the armature of the last-named solenoid or magnet all being
so combined or connected and operating that the movements produced on the
.counter or integrator by the periodic excitation of the first mentioned electro-
magnet are restricted, and when no current to the consumers flows the movements
are stopped, by means of the piece E or its equivalent substantially as hereinbefore
described.
"
2. In electricity meters of the kind referred to the employment of a sheathed
plunger armature or core so constructed or formed that the clearance necessary for
the displacement does not increase the magnetic resistance of the circuit sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In electricity meters of the kind referred to the arrangement of the curved
solenoid and its curved sheathed plunger, armature or core, substantially as
bereinbeforu described and shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings..
4. The several arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the electricity
meters substantially as bereinbefore described and illustrated respectively in
Figures 1. 2. 3. and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 24th November 1893