Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1888
Specification Accented, 14th Dec., 1888
I ANTHONY RECKENZAUN of No. 7 Albert Terrace, Hewberton Road, Mayflower
Road Clapham S.W. 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 :-
My invention relates to Electric meters in which the amount of electrical energy
flowing through a given circuit in a given time is measured; and it has for its object
to periodically release contact between parts of the variable speed gear employed to
move the registering devices so that said parts may assume the position they should
have relatively to the energy consumed. It further has for its object to compensate
for the varying attractive force of a solenoid on an iron core, which, as is well known,
is not always in direct proportion to the strength of the current employed.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I have appended the
accompanying two sheets of drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation (partly
in section) of the improved meter according to my invention and Figure 2 is an end
elevation of same, also partly in section.
The instrument according to my invention comprises registering mechanism of any
suitable type actuated by a motor, which latter may be a device worked by a spring,
by compressed air, raised weights, electricity or other source of power.
For the purposes of this description I have illustrated the power as being obtained
from an electric motor A which may be of any suitable type and construction. Said
electric motor which is connected with the main circuit, is provided with an armature
and field magnets so wound that the speed of the motor is constant, with a constant
potential at the terminals B B¹ of the meter. Upon the shaft or spindle of the
motor A is a worm C gearing into a worm wheel D, which latter is faced on one side
thereof. Against this face bears a friction wheel or roller E attached to a tube F, say
for instance of brass or other suitable metal, mounted and capable of free vertical
movement upon the steel shaft or spindle G ; and in order to allow of the tube F
revolving with the shaft G, a longitudinal slot c is formed in said tube F in which
takes a pin 6 secured to the shaft or spindle G aforesaid. To the upper part of the
tube F is secured by any suitable means, say by a screw e, a soft iron tube J to serve
as the core of a solenoid K.

page_text: The shaft d, upon which is mounted the worm C or other equivalent contrivance
for imparting motion to the wheel D, is mounted in a suitable bearing on the pillar L,
and against its free end bears an arm or spring M, the pressure of which against the
end of said shaft d serves to ensure contact between the wheel D and friction roller E.
The pressure of the spring M against the shaft & may be regulated as desired by
means of an adjusting nut N upon a screw O secured to the pillar L aforesaid.
Upon the upper end of the shaft G, which is held in its seat by means of the set
screw Q is provided a worm H or equivalent for actuating the registering mechanism
above referred to, and which may be of any suitable type.
In order to prevent the possibility of the friction roller E being held by friction
against the faced wheel D, when the consumption of the electrical energy is reduced,
I provide a ping upon the shaft d, which pin 9 upon the rotation of the shaft will be
brought against one or more projections formed on the pillar L upon which said
shaft d is mounted; by which means the wheel D is withdrawn from the friction
roller E a sufficient interval of time to allow of the latter assuming the position it
should take up relatively to the electrical energy being absorbed. The frequency of
releasing the wheel D from contact with the friction roller E during the revolution of
the shaft will depend upon the number of projections formed upon the pillar L.
As herein previously mentioned the attractive force of a solenoid upon an iron
core is not in direct proportion to the strength of the electric current employed; in
order therefore to compensate these irregular effects, the core J in moving upwards
within the solenoid K may be gradually weighted by taking up washers or discs
arranged at suitable distances apart inside said solenoid K, or if desired it may be
balanced by means of a spring, I prefer however to employ a second similar solenoid
the magnetic attraction of which actuates another iron core, the disproportion of the
two solenoids and cores producing a proportional or approximately proportional result.
With this end in view I employ a solenoid K¹ in circuit with the first above mentioned
solenoid K in which second solenoid K¹a core J¹ is suspended from one end of a
balance beam or lever S, the other end of said lever being connected with the sleeve
carrying the friction roller E and core J so that as the attraction on the core J varies
while said core alters its position in the solenoid, the varying attractive force is
compensated for by the influence of the solenoid K¹ on the core J', which, while
maintaining an equilibrium at opposite ends of the lever and cores, determines at the
same time the exact position of the friction roller relatively to the wheel D when any
given amount of electrical energy is being measured. The balance beam S is provided
on either side with knife edges to serve as supports, and which work in suitable
sockets formed preferably of a material or substance which shall be unaffected by
atmospheric influence or the fumes of acids and the like. Said balance beam carrying
the cores aforesaid is so accurately balanced that in the event of the cores being
disturbed by external causes, they may return to the position they should occupy
relatively to the magnetic influence of the solenoids thereupon, as soon as the
disturbance has been removed.
The modus operandi is as follows that is to say :-The terminals B, B¹ of the meter
are connected to any source of electrical supply the energy of which is to be
measured. The current being now switched on, the motor A will revolve, and,
assuming that no current is required by the main circuit, then the motor A will
consume only sufficient energy for its own propulsion, during the revolution of which
motor, the friction roller E will be in the centre of the wheel D, its normal position.
On the introduction into the circuit of electric lamps, or other energy consuming
appliances, the core J will be drawn up into the solenoid K, and the friction roller E
simultaneously moved from the centre of the wheel D, which latter imparts motion to
said friction roller E causing it to revolve in unison therewith. As the attractive
force exerted by the solenoid upon the core is approximately proportional to the
amount of current flowing through the lamps or the like, the position of the friction
roller E relatively to the centre of the wheel D will vary according to the movement
of the core J in the solenoid K. The influence of the solenoid K¹ upon its core J
compensates the varying attractive force of the solenoid K on the core J as the latter

page_text: changes its position in its solenoid, and thus ensuring the maintainance of equilibrium
at the ends of the balance beam or lever S, and at the same time determining the
proper position of the friction roller E. The speed of the worm C or equivalent
being constant, the revolution of the friction roller E and shaft or spindle Ġ will be
proportional to the radial displacement of the iriction roller E; consequently, the
greater the amount of energy consumed, the greater will be the speed of the friction
roller E and its attachments, so that said friction roller E and wheel D serve as a
variable speed gear.
The worm H or equivalent mounted upon the shaft G gears with the wheel I which
actuates a series of discs and upon which are marked suitable scales to indicate units,
tens, hundreds, thousands and the like. The various parts of the instrument are so
proportioned, and the indicating scales so arranged, that the figures marked thereon
shall indicate by means of the pointers 3, 4, the number of revolutions per hour, per
day, or any other convenient unit of time, or they may indicate the number of lamp-
hours, ampere-hours or horse-power hours as may be desired.
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.
First. In an electric meter, the combination with a variable speed gear, of means
for periodically releasing contact between parts of said speed gear, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
Second. The combination with a wheel having a friction roller changing its point
of contact with said wheel with the change in the consumption of energy, of means
for periodically releasing contact between said friction roller and wheel, substantially
as described.
Third. The combination with the wheel having a friction roller changing its point
of contact with said wheel with the change in the consumption of energy, of a
solenoid energized from the main current and moving said friction wheel and a
second solenoid in circuit with the first solenoid and connected with a part of said
friction-wheel moving-mechanism, to counterpoise or compensate for the varying
attractive force of one solenoid on its core and thus maintain an equilibrium,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. In an electric meter, the combination with the two solenoids in circuit
with each other, of the constant speed wheel, the variable speed roller, the shaft
connecting with the registering mechanism and having motion transmitted to it from
said variable speed roller, and the lever intermediate of said solenoids and having
connection parts of the two solenoids, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
Fifth. In an electric meter the combination of a solenoid energized from the
main current, of a second solenoid in circuit with the first solenoid and connected
with first solenoid to compensate for the varying attractive force of one solenoid,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Sixth. In an electric meter the combination with two solenoids of an accurately
balanced beam or lever supported by knife edges in suitable sockets or bearings and
connected with the cores of said two solenoids substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Dated this Fifteenth day of Santambor 1888
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.