Improvements in Maximum Electrical Current Indicators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 25th Aug., 1900-Accepted, 10th Nov., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Maximum Electrical Current Indicators.
I, ERNEST CECIL RIMINGTON, of 19-21, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Consulting Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:
This invention relates to maximum electrical current indicators, and consists
of an apparatus whereby the constant generation of a gas or gases, such as by
electrolysis of water, by the passing electrical current, is utilized to effect a record
of the maximum current that has passed, provided such maximum has had a
duration for a predetermined time, such as for a few minutes, so as to avoid
registration of the maximum mere accidental variations of the current.
In many cases of the supply of electrical current to consumers, the maximum
current required for a definite period has been deemed to be an important factor
in the estimation of the charge per unit of current supplied, and in such cases a
maximum current recording indicator is required.
The volume of gases liberated by the electrolysis of a passing current is a reliable
indication of the amount of current passing and in some cases instruments on
this basis are extant, in which by the inverse measurement of the volume of water
left in the electrolyte, a record is obtained of the total amount of current that
has been consumed at any time, the gases in this case being allowed to go to
waste.
I therefore may utilize the gases so generated in a quantitative instrument to
operate my maximum recording apparatus, or may as part of my apparatus apply
a tube of water for electrolysis by the passing current in manner well known.
I close the mouth gas tight of such electrolytical tube, providing only a specific
aperture or tube for the escape of the gas, as generated, and provide, as a bye-pass
from such tube, an exit to the atmosphere for the gas, limited as to its power of
permitting the gas to escape by a definite area of a porous plug, or a minute hole
of specific dimensions.
The accummulation of gas within the tube and its accessories beyond that which
is allowed to escape will thus provide a means, by its rising pressure, for an
indication and record of the maximum of current that has passed at any time.
The accummulating pressure of the gas may be utilized to give an indication
of such rise by the means of a U tube of water or other liquid, or by direct action
upon a mechanical pressure gauge, such as a Bourdon tube, or an anemometer,
and such movement of a rising volume of liquid or of the pointer of a mechanical
pressure gauge may be caused to effect a definite record as to its varying or
maximum amount by well known means.
Or equivalently, for merely maximum record, I may apply in that leg of the
U tube in which the liquid column ascends, a check valve, which will prevent the
return of the column of liquid from. its position of maximum height, and I thus
preserve a record of the maximum current.

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The liquid may be returned to normal after observation by a bye-pass and cock.
In order to avoid a record of a small temporary rise of current I introduce a
time-lag" in my recording device.
This I may do by introducing a chamber of large capacity in my gas tube
between the point of generation and the recording device closing the aperture,
and in this way the accummulation of increased gas pressure may be caused to be
very gradual, so that sudden changes of small duration as to time are not recorded
Equivalently, I may close the outer end of the U tube in which the recording
column of liquid is situated, so that as the column rises it is caused to compress
air above it, and this imprisoned air may be allowed vent through an aperture
closed by a porous plug of defined area, or by an extremely minute orifice so
that the imprisoned air resisting the rise of the recording column, will take some
appreciable time to escape, thus giving a time-lag. Or equivalently the intro-
duction of a partially permeable obstruction, or a minute aperture or construction
in the U tube itself, would serve to produce a time-lag, as regards the indication
and record of increases of current of short duration.
FELL & JAMES,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Maximum Electrical Current Indicators.
I, ERNEST CECIL RIMINGTON, of 19-21, Queen Victoria Street. London, E.C.,
Consulting 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 a maximum electrical current indicator or recorder, and
consists of an apparatus whereby the constant generation of a gas or gases, such as
by electrolysis of water by the passing electrical current, is utilized to effect a
record of the maximum current that has passed, provided such maximum has
had a pre-determined duration, so as to avoid registration of a mere accidental and
short rise of current.
In many cases of the supply of electrical current to consumers the, maximum
current required for a definite period has been deemed to be an important factor
in the estimation of the charge per unit of current supplied and in such case a
maximum current recording indicator is required.
The volume of gases liberated in a given time by the electrolysis of a passing
current is a reliable indication of the amount of current passing, and instruments
upon this basis are extant, in which by the inverse measurement of the volume of
water left in the electrolytic cell a record is obtained of the total amount of
current in ampère hours that has been consumed quantitatively at any time, the
gases in this case being allowed to go to waste.
I therefore may utilize the gases so generated in a quantitative measuring
instrument to operate my maximum recording apparatus, or may as part of my
apparatus supply a distinct electrolytic cell through which passes the current
to be estimated as to maximum amount.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of my maximum indicating
apparatus.
Fig 2 is the same with a modified form of recording device.
Fig. 3 is a detached detail of modified recording device and time lag..

page_text: And Fig. 4 is a detached detail of a further modified form of time lag.
K is an electrolytic cell with electrodes k člosed, so that all gas generated is
forced to pass by the tube A, which is formed as a U tube with ascending leg A¹;
the lower part of the U tube being filled with a liquid a. In the upper part of
the tube A above the liquid a, I provide a bye pass B, to the atmosphere limited
as to its power of permitting the gas to escape by a porous plug C, such as com-
pressed glass-wool or asbestos wool, or by a pin hole in a metal plate plug, or by
other equivalent restriction of the passage of gas through such exit.
The accumulation of the gas within the cell K and the tube A, beyond that
which is allowed to escape, will thus provide a means by its rising pressure, for
indication and eventual permanent record by a recording device, hereinafter de-
scribed, of the maximum. current that has passed at any time.
By making the lower descending part of the U tube larger in diametre than
that of the ascending leg A', the rise of the column of liquid in the leg A',
may be multiplied as regards the ratio of descent of the liquid a in the lower part
of A under the accumulated gaseous pressure, and a permanent record may be
preserved by the staining of a rod H in the said tube A or the washing off from
such rod of a dissolvable colour or by pockets formed in the face of a strip of
metal or other suitable material H¹ suspended in the liquid in A¹, which pockets
will retain portions of liquid up to the highest level attained by the liquid.
Equivalently, to obtain a permanent record of the maximum rise of the liquid
a in the leg A¹ of the U tube, I may provide an overflow passage D from the
tube A¹, with a depending pocket tube E in which the overflow liquid will collect.
To ensure perfect and uninterrupted over-flow into the pocket tube E, I find it
advisable to add an air bye-pass R¹.
Equivalently, to obtain a permanent record of maximum current, I may con-
duct the tube A containing the accumulated gas pressure direct to a mechanical
pressure gauge F. such as the well known Bourdon tube gauge, and the ordinary
indicating hand L may be caused to push before it a supplementary balanced
hand N mounted upon its pivot with sufficient frictional resistance to rotation to
remain at the point to which it has been pushed by the ordinary indicating hand L.
In order that any short and accidental rises of the current may not produce
any permanent addition to the maximum record, I introduce a time lag in my
recording apparatus.
This time-lag I may provide in various equivalent ways. First, as in Figs. 1
and 2, I provide a plug G, closing the end of the rising part of the U tube A',
which plug may be porous, such a porous earthenware, or may have a minute pin-
hole there-through, thus retarding the rise of the liquid column in A¹ for a time,
until the enclosed air above it gradually escapes, second, as in Fig. 3, I may pro-
vide a closed vessel or chamber V, of considerable capacity, connected to the pipe A.
the rise of pressure by accumulation of gas being thus delayed in proportion to
the volumn of the space that has to be filled by the excess accumulation of gas.
Third, as in Fig. 4. I may apply a construction X anywhere in the tube A', so that
the rising column of liquid is caused to pass through a pin-hole and is thus
retarded in any tendency to quick movement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
1st. In combination, a closed electrolytic cell, an exit tube for the gases gener-
ated by electrolysis, a partially impeded exit to the atmosphere from said gas
tube, and means connected to closed end of said gas tube for permanently recording
the highest pressure generated by the accumulated gases, substantially as described.
2nd. In combination, a closed electrolytic cell, an exit tube therefrom for the
gases generated by electrolysis, a partially impeded exit to the atmosphere from
said gas tube, means connected to the closed end of said gas tube for permanently
recording the highest pressure generated by the accumulated gases, and means

page_text: for retarding the immediate effect of the accumulated gaseous pressure upon the
recording device, substantially as described.
3rd. In combination, a closed electrolytic cell, an exit tube for the gases there-
from, an exit bye-pass to atmosphere from the said gas tube, a porous plug in
said bye-pass to impede the exit of gases to the atmosphere a continuation of the
gas tube as a tube a liquid therein, and means for permanently recording the
rise of level of said liquid in the ascending leg of said U tube, substantially as
described.
4th. In combination, a closed electrolytic cell; an exit tube for the gases
therefrom, an impeded exit bye-pass to atmosphere from the said gas tube; a
U bend continuation of gas tube with liquid therein; and a side issue from
ascending leg of U tube, with a pocket tube or trap connected thereto, for perma-
nent reception of over-flow liquid therein, substantially as described.
73
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· 1000
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicants,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicants,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.