Year: 1885

page_text: I GEORGE PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey Gentleman do hereby declare
the nature of this invention (a communication from Jules Cauderay of Neuilly
Seine in the Republic of France Engineer) to be as follows:-
The present invention has for its object improvements on the electric meter
described in the specification of the patent of the 9th of May 1884 N° 7515.
These modifications are designed to simplify and cheapen the construction of the
meter to bring it within the reach of small consumers.
The principle remains unchanged but the method of mechanism for actuating
the ratchet which drives the counter is modified. The revolving cylinder furnish
with teeth is suppressed and replaced by a new arrangement of cones hereinafter
described.
C
The annexed drawings represent the instrument with these improvements.
Figure 1 is a front view-Figure 2 a side view in which the part of the frame is
removed to show the parts beyond.
Figure 3 is a plan in which the top of the frame is partly broken away
Figure 4 is a plan view of the discs and the regulating organs of the balance-
Figures 5 to 12 show details.
A is a vertical galvanometer of which the bobbins a a carry between them a
frame a as is seen in Figures 2, 3 and 6. An axis E¹ passes through this frame
and carries at its centre a needle B-This galvanometer is mounted between the
ends of the two upright limbs of a horseshoe magnet C attached to a frame y-
These limbs of the magnet as well as the extremities of the frame A¹ are traversed
on either side by a horizontal iron screw C¹, C,-these screws serve as adjustable
magnet poles and can thus be brought to any required proximity to the point of
the needle B. The bridle C2 (Figure 3) attached to the ends of the magnet and
surrounding them and the frame a³ receives the two ends of the axis e¹ the bearings
for which it carries.
Upon one end of the axis e' is a mounting an arm e upon which at a flat
blade E is fixed which oscillates with the blade E around the axis E¹, but it is
flexible laterally which gives the freedom necessary for the function herein after

page_text: explained. The flat blade E (Figures 2, 5, 6, 11) advances horizontally as far as
the axis M against which a small bracket upon it carrying a wheel e rests. The
arm e³ terminates in a tail which is screwed and has an adjustable counter weight
mounted upon it. The blade E moved by the axis e¹ under the influence of the
needle B oscillates vertically and its wheel e is displaced in consequence along the
axis M. The counterpoise is intended to increase its sensibility and to bring it
back to the zero of the scale. The wheel on the blade E performs its oscillations
before a graduated scale engraved on a vertical band E¹ represented in Figure 5
and seen from the rear and partly broken away in Figure 2 by means of the scale
the length of the oscillations may be observed; the graduations correspond to the
steps hereinafter mentioned. When the apparatus is at rest the wheel e should
coincide with the zero of the scale without touching the axis M-I will explain
further on the function of the blade E and the action of the axis M upon it.
The axis M which passes vertically through the apparatus turns at its lower end
in a step fixed to the base of the apparatus, and the axis is loosely held at the top
by an adjustable screw pivot passing through the upper cross pieco of the frame-
It is provided with a horizontal fly wheel M' and a propelling spring N-These
pieces together represent, on an enlarged scale, the balance of a watch-their
movement to and fro should be performed in one second in consequence of the
regulation of the spring N. The motive power which keeps up the movement and
results from the action of electro magnets as in the former patent-These electric
magnets are carried by a frame I and they act upon the armatures p p fixed by the
ring and screw p₁ upon the axis M (Figures 7 and 8)-these armatures are
normally in a plane oblique to that in which are the poles of the magnets, but they
are brought into the plane of the magnets by the attraction of the poles when these
magnets are in action. These magnets are in a circuit derived from the principal
circuit or that in which it is desired to measure the current, the relations being
established in the following manner.
Two terminals O, O¹ placed upon the base Z of the apparatus are respectively
connected with the opposite terminals of the bobbins of the galvanometer by means
.of thick conductors ww. The terminals 0 0³ are connected together by a thick
conductor w-The wires of the main line, it may be w w¹ are to be connected to
the terminals O and O³. One of the magnets P has its bobbins connected to one
pole by a wire w* to the main conductor wand the other pole by a wire w' passing
to a metallic sleeve q mounted upon a non conducting platform Q and carrying an
adjustable contact screw r—the other magnet is connected at one pole by a wire w
to the large conductor w³ connecting the terminals O³, 0%, whilst the other pole of
the bobbins of this magnet is connected by a wire w' to a sleeve q' on the non con-
ducting platforin Q-To the sleeve q¹ one end of a flat horizontal spring T is
connected, the free end of which faces the point of the contact screw (Figures 1
and 4). Upon the back of the flat spring T there is a bracket t' in which pivots
one end of a small metallic arm t which projects in the direction of the axis M in
proximity with which it terminates. When the axis is in its normal position the
inner end of the bar t engages in one of the recesses on an enlargement having two
cavities & carried by a collar t³ fixed upon the axis M. The projection of this
enlargement is sufficient to push back the arm which, in its turn, presses the free
end of the spring T against the end of the contact screw r which it does not touch
when the arm is not operated by the enlargement. The arm t is normally directed
to the axis M and is retained in this position by two springs S S which allow it to
yield laterally in either direction but bring it back always to its normal position.
The spring T is tipped with platinum where it touches the contact screw this
spring when it is in contact with the screw closes the derived circuit in which
the magnets p p are included. This derived circuit is closed in two cases, that is
to say, when the apparatus is at rest and when the apparatus being in operation
the amplitude of the movement of the balance diminishes in consequence of the
insufficiency of the propelling force-In this latter case a time comes when the
projection t³ does not rub over its whole length upon the end of the arm t as it

page_text: does when the disc is in full oscillation, so that the end of this arm is no longer
Caught by one of the recesses of the projection. It results that the arm is pushed
longitudinally and presses the end of the spring T against the contact screw r
which closes the derived circuit. The contact is short, it may be about a quarter
of an oscillation, but while it lasts the electro magnets become charged and attract
their armatures p p thus giving to the axis and to the disc of the balance a new
impulsion sufficient to cause a full oscillation during 7 to 12 seconds. When the
balance is at rest it is put in movement as soon as electric influence passes in the
principal circuit, the derived circuit being closed and receiving its proportion of
the current. Upon the axis M two stepper cones J J are fixed, their form is
represented by the drawings-These cones are moveable and independent the one
of the other, they are adjustable, as is shown, on the axis M and fixed each by a
pressure screw The space between them in the middle corresponds to the zero of
the scale E. The steps of the cones increase by 1 m.m. of radius and they are
1 m.m. thick.
The wheel e carried by the bracket of the blade E when in a state of rest is
intermediate between the cones where it is held at a distance of about 2 mille-
metres from the axis M, but as soon as the needle B acted upon by the current
causes its axis el'to turn the blade E oscillates and its roller e rising or falling
along the axis M-encounters the steps of the truncated cones J which are
systematically arranged summit to summit, and upon these steps it rests-One of
the cones is shown double the actual size at Figure 12. It should be observed that
these steps are eccentric in section and project from the axis M on one side and in
consequence of the oscillations they come in contact with the roller. The pro-
jection terminates at the axis and thus permits the roller to come back to the
intermediate part between the cones which has no action upon it.
The effect of the steps upon the roller is to remove it more or less from the
axis M. In this to and fro motion of the blade E the neck of the bracket,
which carries the roller, abuts against the plate E¹ and drives it back at ench
movement.
The plate E¹, upon which a scale is engraved giving the amplitude of the
racking movement of the blade E is seen in Figure 5 mounted vertically upon two
horizontal rods D, D, forming a frame of which the hinder part pivots upon two
screws d passing through the arms of a copper support attached to the hinder limb
of the magnet C, as is seen in Figure 2-The frame D, D, is constantly brought
back to its normal position by a coiled spring f' which is fixed to the principal
frane I (see Figure 1).
The frame D carries upon the intermediate vertical rod d' a small block through
which is passed a horizontal rod F (Figures 5, 9, 10) the position of which is
adjustable at pleasure. This rod F terminates in a flat end, the function of which
is to actuate the horizontal ratchet wheel G, the teeth of which are one millemetre
the one from the other. On the rod is fixed a pawl armed with a wedge f which
is thus carried against the teeth of the ratchet so as to limit the forward move-
ment of the rod F―The spring ƒ1 attached at one end to the wedge f and at the
other to the rod d at the end of the frame D, continually acts upon the rod F so as
to hold its end before the teeth of the ratchet-A moveable counterpoise f³ placed
at the opposite extreme of the rod F serves to regulate its movement and to keep
it in equilibrium in case the apparatus is not set upright.-A steel blade g³ fixed
to the arm g prevents the return of the ratchet-the further the frame D retires, in
consequence of its being thrust back by the blade E, the further the point of the
rod F moves the teeth of the ratchet in its advance in consequence of the traction
of the spring f¹as is seen in Figures 9 and 10, which give the extreme positions
of these parts, Figure 9 being the position of repose and Figure 10 the position
corresponding to a 6 teeth impulse which is given by the highest step of the cone.
It will be understood that the retirement from the teeth of the ratchet corre-
sponds to the variation in height and breadth of the steps of the cones; if then
the blade E has its roller upon the first step of one of the two cones, the point of

page_text: the rod F will take one tooth of the ratchet. If the roller is upon the sixth step,
the point of the rod F will take six steps (Figure 10) and so in other cases-so
that in these two examples the ratchet will advance at each impulse from one to
six teeth according to the action produced by the current upon the needle B.
The ratchet G is fixed upon a vertical axis G¹ which turns in the arm g and its
foot rests in a sleeve attached to the back of the hinder plate of the counter E.
The stem of this axis carries a screw thread g¹ which actuates a toothed wheel i
Figure 2 forming part of the system of gearing constituting the registering
apparatus, of which the construction is well known, and does not require to be
described.
It results from the above explanations that when the intensity of the current to
be measured exerts its action upon the needle B this acts upon the blade E and
brings it by its action upon the steps of the cones J, J; this action transmitted in
turn to the frame D and by it to the rod F modifies more or less the number of
teeth of the ratchet pushed forward and consequently the rotation of the counting
wheels..

page_text: improvements in Electric Meters.
I GEORGE PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey Gentleman do hereby declare
the nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Jules
Cauderay of Neuilly Seine in the Republic of France Engineer) and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The present Invention has for its object improvements on the electric meter
described in the Specification of the Patent of the 9th of May 1884 N° 7515.
These modifications are designed to simplify and cheapen the construction of the
meter to bring it within the reach of small consumers.
•
The principle remains unchanged but the mechanism for actuating the ratchet
which drives the counter is modified. The revolving cylinder furnished with teeth
is suppressed and replaced by a new arrangement of cones hereinafter described.
The annexed drawings represent the instrument with these improvements.
Figure 1 is a front view-Figure 2 a side view in which part of the frame is
removed to show the parts beyond. Figure 3 is a plan in which the top of the
frame is partly broken away. Figure 4 is a plan view of the discs and the
regulating organs of the balance-Figures 5 to 12 show details.
A is a vertical galvanometer of which the bobbins a. a. carry between them a
frame a¹. As is seen in Figures 2. 3 and 6, an axis e¹ passes through this frame
and carries at its centre a needle B-This galvanometer is mounted between the
ends of the two upright limbs of a horse shoe magnet C, attached to a frame y.
These limbs of the magnet as well as the extreinities of the frame a¹ are traversed
on either side by a horizontal iron screw C² C³. These screws serve as adjustable
magnet poles and can thus be brought to any required proximity to the point of
the needle B. The bridle C, (Figure 3) attached to the ends of the magnet and
surrounding them and the frame a¹ receives the two ends of the axis e'. 'the
bearings for which it carries.
Upon one end of the axis e¹ is a mounting, an arm e' upon which at x, a flat
blade E is fixed which oscillates with the blade e around the axis e¹, but it is
flexible laterally which gives the freedom necessary for the function herein after
explained. The flat blade E (Figures 2. 5. 6. 11) advances horizontally as far as
the axis M against which a small bracket upon it carrying a wheel 6. rests. The
arm e, terminates in a tail which is screwed and has an adjustable counter weight
mounted upon it. The blade E moved by the axis e¹ under the influence of the
needle B oscillates vertically and its wheel e is displaced in consequence along the
axis M. The counterpoise is intended to increase its sensibility and to bring it back
to the zero of the scale.
The wheel on the blade E performs its oscillations before a graduated scale
engraved on a vertical band E' represented in Figure 5 and seen from the rear and
partly broken away in Figure 2. By means of the scale the length of the
oscillations may be observed; the graduations correspond to the steps herein after
mentioned. When the apparatus is at rest the wheel e. should coincide with the
zero of the scale without touching the axis M-I will explain further on the
function of the blade E and the action of the axis M upon it.

page_text: The axis M which passes vertically through the apparatus turns at its lower end
in a step fixed to the base of the apparatus and the axis is loosely held at the top by
an adjustable screw pivot passing through the upper cross piece of the frame-it
is provided with a horizontal fly wheel M¹ and a propelling spring N. These
pieces together represent, on an enlarged scale, the balance of a watch-Their
movement to and fro should be performed in one second in consequence of the
regulation of the spring N. The motive power which keeps up the movement and
results from the action of electro magnets as in the former Patent. These electric
magnets are carried by a frame I and they act upon the armatures p. p. fixed by
the ring and screw upon the axis M (Figures 7 and 8)-These armatures are
normally in a plane oblique to that in which are the poles of the magnets, but they
are brought into the plane of the magnets by the attraction of the poles when these
magnets are in action. These magnets are in a circuit derived from the principal
circuit or that in which it is desired to measure the current, the relations being
established in the following manner.
Two terminals 0, 0¹ placed upon the base Z of the apparatus are respectively
connected with the opposite terminals of the bobbins of the galvanometer by means
of thick conductors ww. The terminals 0 0³ are connected together by a thick
conductor w-the wires of the main line, it may be W W₁ are to be connected
to the terminals O and 0%. One of the magnets P has its bobbins connected to one
pole by a wire to the main conductor wand the other pole by a wire w³ passing
to a metallic sleeve q mounted upon a non conducting platform Q and carrying an
adjustable contact screw r―The other magnet is connected at one pole by a wire w
to the large conductor w² connecting the terminals 02, 03, whilst the other pole of
the bobbins of this magnet is connected by a wire w7 to a sleeve q¹ on the non
conducting platform Q. To the sleeve q¹ one end of a flat horizontal spring T is
connected, the free end of which faces the point of the contact screw (Figures 1
and 4). Upon the back of the flat spring T there is a bracket t' in which pivots
one end of a small metallic arın t which projects in the direction of the axis M. in
proximity with which it terminates. When the axis is in its normal position the
inner end of the bar t engages in one of the recesses on an enlargement having two
cavities carried by a collar fixed upon the axis M-The projection of this
enlargement is sufficient to push back the arm which, in its turn, presses the free
end of the spring T against the end of the contact screw r which it does not touch
when the arm is not operated by the enlargement. The arm t is normally directed
to the axis M and is retained in this position by two springs S S which allow it
to yield laterally in either direction but bring it back always to its normal position.
The spring T is tipped with platinum where it touches the contact screw this
spring when it is in contact with the screw r closes the derived circuit in which
the magnet P P are included. This derived circuit is closed in two cases, that is
to say, when the apparatus is at rest and when the apparatus being in operation
the amplitude of the movement of the balance diminishes in consequence of the
insufficiency of the propelling force. In this latter case a time comes when the
projection t does not rub over its whole length upon the end of the arm t as it
does when the disc is in full oscillation, so that the end of this arm is no longer
caught by one of the recesses of the projection. It results that the arm is pushed
longitudinally and presses the end of the spring T against the contact screw?
which closes the derived circuit. The contact is short, it may be about a quarter
of an oscillation, but while it lasts the electro-magnets become charged and attract
their armatures pp thus giving to the axis and to the disc of the balance a new
impulsion sufficient to cause a full oscillation during 7 to 12 seconds. When the
balance is at rest it is put in movement as soon as electric influence passes in the
principal circuit, the derived circuit being closed and receiving its proportion of
the current. Upon the axis M two stepped cones J, J, are fixed, their form is
represented by the drawings-These cones are movable and independent the one
of the other, they are adjustable, as is shown, on the axis M and fixed each by a
pressure screw. The space between them in the middle corresponds to the zero of

page_text: the scale E'. The steps of the cones increase by 1 mm. of radius and they are
1 m,m. thick.
The wheel e carried by the bracket of the blade E when in a state of rest is
intermediate between the cones where it is held at a distance of about 2 millemetres
from the axis M, but as soon as the needle B acted upon by the current causes its
axis e' to turn the blade E oscillates and its roller e rising or falling along the
axis M encounters the steps of the truncated cones J which are systematically
arranged summit to summit, and upon these steps it rests.
One of the cones is
shown double the actual size at Figure 12. It should be observed that those steps
are eccentric in section and project from the axis M on one side and in con-
sequence of the oscillations they come in contact with the roller. The projection
terminates at the axis and thus permits the roller to come back to the intermediate
part between the cones which has no action upon it.
The effect of the steps upon the roller is to remove it more or less from the
axis M. In this to and fro motion of the blade E the neck of the bracket, which
carries the roller, abuts against the plate E¹ and drives it back at each movement.
The plate E¹, upon which a scale is engraved giving the amplitude of the
rocking movement of the blade E is seen in Figure 5 mounted vertically upon two
horizontal rods D, D, forming a frame of which the hinder part pivots upon two
screws d' passing through the arms of a copper support attached to the hinder limb
of the magnet C, as is seen in Figure 2. The frame D, D, is constantly brought
back to its normal position by a coiled spring ƒ³ which is fixed to the principal
frame I (see Figure 1).
The frame D carries upon the intermediate vertical rod d² a small block through
which is passed a horizontal rod F (Figures 5, 9, 10) the position of which is
adjustable at pleasure. This rod F terminates in a flat end, the function of which
is to actuate the horizontal ratchet wheel G, the teeth of which are one millometre
the one from the other. On the rod is fixed a pawl armed with a wedge f which
is thus carried against the teeth of the ratchet so as to limit the forward movement
of the rod F. The spring f' attached at one end to the wedge f and at the other
to the rod d at the end of the frame D, continually acts upon the rod F so as to
hold its end before the toeth of the ratchet. A movable counterpoise fƒ³ placed at
the opposite extreme of the rod F serves to regulate its movement and to keep
it, in equilibrium in case the apparatus is not set upright. A steel blade g² fixed to
the arm g prevents the return of the ratchet. The further the frame D retires, in
consequence of its being thrust back by the blade E, the further the point of the
rod moves the teeth of the ratchet in its advance in consequence of the traction
of the spring f' as is seen in Figures 9 and 10, which give the extreme positions
of these parts, Figure 9 being the position of repose and Figure 10 the position
corresponding to a 6 teeth impulse which is given by the highest step of the cone.
It will be understood that the retirement from the teeth of the ratchet corresponds
to the variation in beight and breadth of the steps of the coues; if then the
blade E has its roller upon the first step of one of the two cones, the point of the
dwill take one tooth of the ratchet. If the roller is upon the sixth step,
the point of the rod F will take six steps (Figure 10) and so in other cases-s0
that in these two examples the ratchet will advance at each impulse from one to
six teeth according to the action produced by the current upon the needle B.
The ratchet G is fixed upon a vertical axis G¹ which turns in the arm g and its
foot rests in a sleeve attached to the back of the hinder plate of the counter H.
The stem of this axis carries a screw thread g¹ which actuates a toothed wheel
Figure 2 forming part of the system of gearing constituting the registering
apparatus, of which the construction is well known, and does not require to be
described.
It results from the above explanations that when the intensity of the current to
be measured exerts its action upon the needle B this acts upon the blade E and
brings it by its action upon the steps of the cones J, J; this action transmitted
in turn to the frame D and by it to the rod F modifies more or less the number of

page_text: teeth of the ratchet pushed forward and consequently the rotation of the counting
wheels.
The position and the movement of the parts are regulated to operate as described.
The details of construction can be varied without departing from the principle of
the invention.
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 combination in an electric counter of the needle B mounted upon the
axis e; the flat blade and roller E, and the bobbins of a galvanometer A mounted
between the arms of a permanent magnet C and under the influence of the main
current.
2. The combination in an electric counter of the needle B mounted upon the
axis e, the said needle actuated by the bobbins of a permanent magnet and
actuating the blade and roller E; with stepped cones J, J, fixed upon the axis M
of a balance oscillating in a circular course under the influence of a current derived
from the main current.
3. The combination in an electric counter of the needle B mounted upon the
axis el moving the blade E along the stepped cones J, J; with the frame D, D, and
the rod F with its impelling nose acting upon the ratchet G which controls the
counting wheels.
4. The combination in an electric counter of the blade E with the frame D, the
rod F, the impelling point in which it ends, the wedge f, the springs f¹, f³, the
counterpoise fs and the spring blade g² to insure the action of the ratchet G in
conformity with the influence of the current upon the needle B.
5. The combination in an electric counter, of mechanism operating the ratchet G
controlling the counter by moans of the needle B, the blade E and stepped wheels,
the rod F and their accessories; with the regulating balance composed of the axis M
carrying an armature, the fly wheel M¹, the impelling spring N and electro magnets
placed in a derived circuit under the control of automatic parts T, t, t¹, t³, t³, S, S, r,
(Figure 4).
6. The general construction of an electric counter substantially as herein described
and shown.