Improved Means in Connection with Multiple Electric Circuits for Measuring Current Passing in either of them as desired.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec.,
1888
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept., 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means in Connection with Multiple Electric Circuits for
Measuring Current Passing in either of them as desired.
We LAURENCE PARIS and SCOTT Limited of Gothic Works Norwich in the County
of Norfolk Electrical Engineers and REGINALD LAURENCE Chairman of the Company
do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
-
The object of this Invention is to provide in connection with multiple electric
circuits or two or more conductors diverging from one common junction means
whereby the current passing in either circuit or conductor can be ascertained inde-
pendently of that flowing in the other conductor or conductors without having to
interrupt the working of the circuits for the purpose and with the employment of but
one measuring instrument. For this purpose there is provided in connection with the
several circuits or conductors and the one measuring instrument a switch of a character
which will allow the current of either of the circuits or conductors as desired to be
passed through the instrument and measured. The switch may be one with several
plugs levers or moveable pieces capable of being adjusted or moved in connection with
contact plates for passing the current on from either conductor past the instrument or
through the instrument as desired.
Say that the conductors which are to be provided with the one common measuring
device are between a dynamo-accumulators and lamps or other work the switch has
three contact plates one connected to the conductor from the dynamo, one to the
conductor to the accumulators and one to the conductor to the lamps. There are
also two contact plates for the terminals of the measuring instrument. The plates are
in such juxta position that the plugs or other moveable parts of the switch can be
caused to make contact between the measuring instrument contact plates and either
or any the other plates. For instance if the dynamo contact and the contact
to the measuring instrument be connected and the contact from the said instrument
and the contact for the lamps and the accumulator he connected the current coming
from the dynamo will pass through the measuring instrument to enable that current
to be measured and so on with the other circuits or conductors the two contacts of
the measuring instrument being put in connection with those of the adjacent contacts
in connection with the circuit or conductor the current in which is to be tested.
It is preferred however to use a switch constructed as follows
case.
Upon an insulating base are fixed conducting segments arranged in a circle and
in number in accordance with the number of conductors or circuits the currents in
which are to be measured by the one instrument say there are three as in the above
These segments are connected to the dynamo accumulators and lamps. Upon
an insulating axis are fixed two plates or wings one of which makes contact with
either one of the segments and the other with the remaining two segments and this
can be done with the segments in any desired order by simply rotating the axis and
the plates or wings carried by it. The said plates or wings are electrically connected
respectively the one to the contact leading to the measuring instrument and the
other to the contact leading from the measuring instrument. It will readily be seen
that by moving round the contact wings the current of either circuit or conductor
can be passed through the measuring instrument without interfering with the working
of the system.
11
Dambon 1988

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means in Connection with Multiple Electric Circuits for
Measuring Current Passing in either of them, as desired.
We, LAURENCE PARIS and SCOTT Limited. of Gothic Works, Norwich, in the
County of Norfolk, Electrical Engineers, and REGINALD LAURENCE Chairman of the
Company, 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 :—
The object of this Invention is to provide in connection with multiple electric
circuits or two or more conductors diverging from one common junction means
whereby the current passing in either circuit or conductor can be ascertained inde-
pendently of that flowing in the other conductor or conductors without having to
interrupt the working of the circuits for the purpose and with the employment of but
one measuring instrument. For this purpose there is provided in connection with the
several circuits or conductors and the one measuring instrument a switch of a
character which will allow the current of either of the circuits or conductors as desired
to be passed through the instrument and measured. The switch may be one with
several plugs, levers or movable pieces capable of being adjusted or moved in con-
nection with contact plates for passing the current on from either conductor past the
instrument or through the instrument as desired.
Say that the conductors which are to be provided with the one common measuring
device are between a dynamo-accumulators and lamps or other work the switch has
three contact plates one connected to the conductor from the dynamo, oue to the to the
accumulators and one to the conductor to the lamps. There are also two contact
plates for the terminals of the measuring instrument. The plates are in such juxta
position that the plugs or other movable parts of the switch can be caused to make
contact between the measuring instrument contact plates and either or any of the
other plates. For instance if the dynamo contact and the contact to the measuring
instrument be connected and the contact from the said instrument and the contact
for the lamps and the accumulator he connected the current coming from the dynamo
will pass through the measuring instrument to enable that current to be measured
and so on with the other circuits or conductors the two contacts of the measuring
instrument being put in connection with those of the adjacent contacts in connection
with the circuit or conductor the current in which is to be tested. It is preferred
however to use a switch constructed as follows:-
Upon an insulating base 12 are fixed conducting segments C C C arranged in a
circle. We have shewn three in the drawing but they will be in number in accordance
with the number of conductors or circuits the currents of which are to be measured
by the one instrument. These segments are connected through the terminals shown
in connection with each to the different circuits the currents of which are to be
measured say for instance the dynamo, accumulators and lamps. Rotating upon the
same axis but insulated from one another are two plates or wings (A and B) one of
which (that A) makes contact with either one of the segments and the other of which
(that B) makes contact with the remaining segments and this can be done with the
segments in any desired order by simply rotating the plates or wings around the axis
by means of the handle H attached to but insulated from the said plates or wings.
The said plates or wings are electrically connected respectively the one plate or
wing A to the contact plate E connected with the one terminal of the measuring
instrument and the other plate or wing B to the contact plate D in connection with
the other terminal of the measuring instrument the connection between D and B being
made by the disc and collar D. The letters I indicate the insulating material and
the positions in which it is, employed. It will readily be seen that by moving round
the contact wings A and B'by means of the handle H the current of either circuit or
conductor can be passed through the measuring instrument without interfering with
the working of the system. S S₁ are steel discs which form the spring to ensure good
'

page_text: and even contact throughout, the contact pressure being regulated by the nut and
lock nut S.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. In combination with multiple electric circuits a measuring instrument and a
switch arranged so that the current of either circuit can be passed through the
measuring instrument as desired without interrupting the working of the circuits for
the purpose substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In or for multiple electric circuits a switch constructed substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1889.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.