Year: 1898

page_text: I, CHARLES SCHMIDLIN, of 52, Rue de l'Université, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Jeweller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved electricity-meter which enables, as
desired and according to the various cases occurring in practice, either the inten-
sity I of the current in an electric circuit, or the amount of electric energy EI
expended in a given time to be indicated.
My improved meter can thus be employed as an ampère-hour or "quantity"
meter or as a watt-hour or
energy"-meter.
"
"
My improved meter comprises a clockwork movement driving a counter and
continually tending to communicate a continuous rotary motion to a rotating
brake-disc, either in the case of the quantity meter in a bobbin consisting
of a coil of fine wire arranged as a shunt to the circuit and of a coil of thick
wire wound in the opposite direction and arranged in series with the said circuit,
or in the case of the " energy" meter, between the two poles of a magnet,
mounted on the movable bobbin of the wattmeter, the fine wire coil being
connected in shunt with the circuit and the thick wire coil in series.
The braking or retarding of the movable disc always varies, by reason of my
arrangement, in inverse ratio to the intensity of the current or to the quantity
of electric energy in the circuit; in proportion as the intensity of the current
increases, the braking action diminishes and the clockwork movement turns
faster and faster until the magnetic field or flux produced by the main-current
exactly balances that in the shunt, at this moment there is no further braking
or retarding action and the meter turns at its maximum speed.
The main current moreover traverses an electromagnet serving to attract an
armature which releases the wheelwork of the clockwork movement and enables
them to move on as soon as a current traverses the circuit.
In order that my said invention may be readily understood, I have shown in
the accompanying drawings but by way of example only, the object of my said
invention.
Figure 1 shows, in elevation, the application of my arrangement as a "quantity"
meter.
Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.
Figures 3 and 4 show in elevation and in plan the application of my arrange-
ment as an energy meter.
66
وو
In these figures like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
As shown on the drawings, my arrangement, which works with a constant
turning effort or torque and a variable braking force, comprises a clockwork
movement a, consisting of a driving-barrel and a train of wheelwork of which the
last arbor carries a light metal disc b, for example, of aluminium, magnesium,
copper, or any other suitable material.

page_text: The rotary motion of this disc is regulated by a governor of any suitable form,
for example, a governor of the Foucault type.
The clockwork movement a moreover drives a counter e actuated directly by
the barrel or by any of the intermediate arbors of the mechanism.
In the application of my invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the disc b turns
in the interior of a bobbin d, on which are wound in opposite directions a fine
wire e arranged as a shunt to the circuit and a thick wire f in series therewith.
In order that the clockwork movement shall only be set in motion on the
passage of the current, the main current traverses an electromagnet g arranged
in such a manner that, when a current passes through the circuit, it will attract
an armature h on which is mounted a stop or brake-needle or shoe & which, in its
normal position rests on the disc b; a counterweight ; enables the pressure of this
needle or shoe on the disc to be regulated.
The clockwork movement can be completed by an electric winding-up
mechanism operating periodically when a certain number of turns of the wheel
have been made.
My arrangement operates as follows:-When no current passes through the
main circuit, the electromagnet g not attracting the armature h, the clockwork
movement is held fast by the pressure of the needle on the disc b.
The only current consumed is taken by the shunt e, moreover this loss can be
rendered as small as desired by giving this shunt a very high resistance.
If the needle or shoe i be raised mechanically, the disc b will take up a very
slow rotary motion for it will be braked to the maximum by the magnetic field
or flux produced in the fine wire coil e by the shunt ourrent; in order that this
disc b may turn faster it is necessary to weaken this field; the thick wire
winding, which is wound in an opposite direction, will effect this automatically
and proportionally to the current which passes through it and which will be
a function of the value of I.
When no current passes through the main circuit, the armature h is not
attracted by the electromagnet g and the movement is held fast; on the contrary,
as soon as a current passes through the main circuit, the armature h is attracted
and the disc 6 can turn so much faster accordingly as the circuit is traversed
by a stronger current, until the magnetic field or flux produced in the main circuit
exactly balances and neutralises that of the shunt; at this moment, the counter
turns at its maximum speed since there is no longer any braking action; the
movement of the disc bis then regulated only by a vane governor or "fly," or
by an electric or magnetic brake which prevents it from exceeding a predetermined
speed. This apparatus only gives the variations of the intensity I of the current,
but in practice, where the difference of potential is maintained constant on the
distributing mains, it can be assumed that it gives the amount of electric energy,
that is to say, the product EI.
energy
"
Figures 3 and 4 show the application of my arrangement as an
meter. The disc b in this case turns between the two poles of a magnet k
mounted on the axis of the movable bobbin of the wattmeter; this bobbin, which
is wound with fine wire e, is arranged as a shunt to the circuit; the thick wire
babbin, on the contrary, is arranged in series in the circuit.
When at rest, the two poles of the magnet are at the periphery of the disc b
and as no current traverses the electromagnet g, the needle retains the disc b
immovable.
As soon as a current passes through the main circuit, the movable bobbin of
the wattmeter turns through an angle proportional to the quantity of electric
energy, that is to say, to the product EI, and the magnet comes near the centre,
as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4; the braking or retarding action then acting
at a point of the disc nearer the centre, the retarding effort is smaller and the
disc can turn faster.
It is obvious that I can thus make electricity-meters of all forms and of all
dimensions and I can modify the details thereof according to the requirements

page_text: of each particular case. It is moreover easy to understand that my apparatus
can be also applied to the measurement of alternating currents.
Dated the 15th day of November 1898..
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
An Improved Electricity-meter.
I, CHARLES SCHMIDLIN, 52, Rue de l'Université, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Jeweller, 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 an improved electricity-meter which enables, as
desired and according to the various cases occurring in practice, either the inten-
sity I of the current in an electric circuit, or the electric energy E I integrated
over a given time, to be indicated.
My improved meter can thus be employed as an ampère-hour or "quantity"
meter or as a watt-hour or
energy"-meter.
66
My improved meter comprises a clockwork movement driving a counter and
continually tending to communicate a continuous rotary motion to a rotating
brake-disc, either, in the case of the "quantity" meter, in a bobbin consisting
of a coil of fine wire arranged as a shunt to the circuit and of a coil of thick
wire wound in the opposite direction and arranged in series with the said circuit,
or in the case of the " energy" meter, between the two poles of a magnet,
mounted on the movable bobbin of the wattmeter, the fine wire coil being
connected in shunt with the circuit and the thick wire coil in series.
The braking or retarding of the movable disc always varies, by reason of my
arrangement, in inverse ratio to the intensity of the current or to the quantity
of electric energy in the circuit; in proportion as the intensity of the current
increases, the braking action diminishes and the clockwork movement turns
faster and faster until the magnetic field or flux produced by the main-current
exactly balances that in the shunt, at this moment there is no further braking
or retarding action and the meter turns at its maximum speed.
The main current moreover traverses an electromagnet serving to attract an
armature which releases the wheelwork of the clockwork movement and enables
it to move on as soon as a current traverses the circuit.
In order that my said invention may be readily understood, I have shown in
the drawings left with my Provisional Specification, but by way of example
only, the object of my said invention.
Figure 1 shows, in elevation, the application of my arrangement as a "quantity"
meter.
Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.
Figures 3 and 4 show in elevation and in plan the application of my arrange-
ment as an energy meter.
66
33
In these figures like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
As shown on the drawings, my arrangement, which works with a constant
turning effort or torque and a variable braking force, comprises a clockwork
movement a, consisting of a driving-barrel and a train of wheelwork of which the
last arbor carries a light metal, disc b, for example, of aluminium, magnesium,
copper, or any other suitable material.

page_text: -
The rotary motion of this disc is regulated by a governor of any suitable form,
for example, a governor of the Foucault type."
The clockwork movement a moreover drives a counter o actuated directly by
the barrel or by any of the intermediate arbors of the mechanism.
In the application of my invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the disc b turns
in the interior of a bobbin d, on which are wound in opposite directions a fine
wire e arranged as a shunt to the circuit and a thick wire in series therewith.
In order that the clockwork movement shall only be set in motion on the
passage of the current, the main current traverses an electromagnet g arranged
in such a manner that, when a current passes through the circuit, it will attract
an armature h on which is mounted a stop- or brake-needle or shoe i which, in its
normal position rests on the disc b; a counterweight j enables the pressure of this
needle or shoe on the disc to be regulated.
The clockwork movement can be completed by an electric winding-up
mechanism operating periodically when a certain number of turns of the wheel
have been made.
My arrangement operates as follows:-When no current passes through the
main circuit, the electromagnet g not attracting the armature h, the clockwork
movement is held fast by the pressure of the needle i on the disc b.
The only current consumed is taken by the shunt e, moreover this loss can be
rendered as small as desired by giving this shunt a very high resistance.
If the needle or shoe i be raised mechanically, the disc 6 will take up a very
slow rotary motion for it will be braked to the maximum by the magnetic field
or flux produced in the fine wire coil e by the shunt current; in order that this
disc 6 may turn faster it is necessary to weaken this field; the thick wire
winding, which is wound in an opposite direction, will effect this automatically
and proportionally to the current which passes through it and which will be
a function of the value of I.
When no current passes through the main circuit, the armature h is not
attracted by the electromagnet g and the movement is held fast; on the contrary,
as soon as a current passes through the main circuit, the armature h is attracted
and the disc b can turn so much faster accordingly as the circuit is traversed
by a stronger current, until the magnetic field or flux produced in the main circuit
exactly balances and neutralises that of the shunt; at this moment, the counter
turns at its maximum speed since there is no longer any braking action; the
movement of the disc is then regulated only by a vane governor or "fly," or
by an electric or magnetic brake which prevents it from exceeding a predetermined
speed. This apparatus only gives the variations of the intensity I of the current,
but in practice, where the difference of potential is maintained constant on the
distributing mains, it can be assumed that it gives the amount of electric energy,
that is to say, the product EI.
66
Figures 3 and 4 show the application of my arrangement as an energy"
meter. The disc b in this case turns between the two poles of a magnet k
mounted on the axis of the movable hobbin of the wattmetor; this bobbin, which
is wound with fine wire e, is arranged as a shunt to the circuit; the thick wire
bobbin, on the contrary, is arranged in series in the circuit.
When at rest, the two poles of the magnet are at the periphery of the disc b
and as no current traverses the electromagnet g, the needle i retains the disc b
immovable.
As soon as a current passes through the main circuit, the movable bobbin of
the wattmeter turns through an angle proportional to the quantity of electric
energy, that is to say, to the product EI, and the magnet comes near the centre,
as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4; the braking or retarding action then acting
at a point of the disc nearer the centre, the retarding effort is smaller and the
disc can turn faster.
It is obvious that I can thus make electricity-meters of all forms and of all
dimensions and I can modify the details thereof according to the requirements

page_text: of each particular case. It is morcover easy to understand that my apparatus
can be also applied to the measurement of alternating currents.
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. The improved electricity-meter applicable as & "quantity" meter or
energy" meter and comprising a clockwork movement actuating a counter and
the speed of which is regulated by a disc mounted on the axis of one of the
moving parts of the said clockwork movement and subjected to a variable braking
action, the amount of this braking action varying according to the relative
values of the magnetic field of flux produced in the main circuit coil and of
the magnetic field or flux produced in a fine wire shunt, substantially as herein-
above described and for the purpose specified.
2. The improved electricity-meter constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1 and 2, or to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, for the
purposes specified.
Dated thin 14th day of Anomat 1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant