Improvements in and relating to Electric Meters.
Year: 1898

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Meters.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampion Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 electric counting apparatus or meter,
consisting of a double working mechanism with balance lever adjustment, in
which the stationary current-coils act upon two pairs of tension coils mounted on
balance or double armed levers and oscillating, as in the case of horizontal pendula,
with a small amplitude, the action of the said current-feed-coils being such, as to
either attract or repel the two pairs of tension coils. The difference thus obtained
in the working of the two clockworks serves as a means for measuring the amount
of electricity used. The object of the invention is, to concentrate the oscillations
of the solenoids upon the magnetic field of the current-coils and thereby to obtain
a constant sensitiveness as well as an exact proportionality of the said indications.
The invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which
Figures 1 and 2 represent a constructional form of the counting device or meter
with spring adjustment or regulation in front elevation and plan, respectively;
Figure 3 a similar view to Figure 1 but in which the spiral springs are substi-
tuted by the electro-dynamic directing power obtained from a stationary coil;
Figure 4 a front view of a modification in which the springs are substituted by
the power derived from a permanent magnet.
Figure 5 shows the elastic coupling of both balance beams or levers; and
Figure 6 a magnetic coupling of both balance beams or levers for the purpose
of preventing differences in the working, when the counting device meter is
currentless; and
Figure 7 shows the method of influencing the meter by the arrangement of a
relay, for the same purpose.
As is seen from Figure 1, the vertical arbors 1 and 2 of the two clock works I
and II are arranged above one another, the arbor 1 is supported on the axle
bearing 22, whilst the upper end of the arbor 2 is located in the bearing 23.
Upon the arbor 1 a horizontal double armed lever 5 of comparatively light weight
is fixed, at the ends of which a pair of solenoids 6, are arranged which are
energized by the working tension. As directing or guiding power serves the
spiral spring 3, which has its inner end connected upon the arbor 1, while its outer
end is fastened outside, and which may also be used for conveying the current to
the tension coils, for which latter purpose, however, according to Figure 1,
separate conducting wires are indicated. The oscillations of this double armed
lever 5 are communicated by the armature 10, mounted on the arbor 1, to the
escapement-wheel 11, which is mounted on the shaft 12, running in bearings 13
and 16. The movement of the armature is further transmitted to the driving
071

page_text: gear of the clockwork by means of the pinion 14, mounted on the shaft 12,
which said pinion gears with the crown wheel 15.
The arrangement of the second clock work II is entirely analogous to that of
the clock work I. Upon the arbor 2 the double armed lever 7 with the solenoids 8,
further the spiral spring 4 and the armature 18 are mounted, the latter engaging
with the escapement wheel 19. The said escapement wheel is mounted on the
shaft 17, the rotary movement of which is transmitted to the clock work II by
means of the pinion 20 and of the crown wheel 21.
The two double armed levers 5 and 7 with their two pairs of solenoids 6 and S,
respectively, oscillate with a relatively small amplitude as is for instance usual
in the "Graham-work "--above or below the stationary current coils 9. As is to
be seen from the denominations of the poles, the directing power of the spring
is increased by the attracting power of the current feed coils
upon the sole-
noids 8, but is weakened by the repelling effect upon the solenoids 6; consequently,
according to the strength of the current, traversing the coils 9, the balance beam
or lever 7 of the clock work II oscillates more rapidly, whereas the balance beam
or levers of the clock work I oscillates more slowly. The difference between both
rates of speed is transmitted to a counting mechanism, not shewn in the drawing
and represents the measure of the amount of energy used.
In order to reduce as much as possible any incorrectnesses resulting from altera-
tions, to which the spiral springs 3 and 4 are subject, a single double-wound
spiral spring may be employed for both clock works.
Instead of utilizing the directing power of the elastic springs 3 and 4, it is
also possible, to use the electro dynamic force of a solenoid or electro magnet 24
(Figure 3) for actuating both balance beams or levers. As, according the denomi
nation of poles in Figure 3, one and the same electro magnet 24 acts simul-
taneously upon both clock works, any alterations of the electro magnet in the
difference between the speeds of both clock works, which said difference alone
is used for the measuring-are-compensated. The other (right) arm of the lever 5
'or 7, respectively, may analogous to Figures 1 and 2, be influenced by a stationary
'current-feed coil 9, arranged between the tension coils 6 and 8.
According to Figure 4 the electro magnet 24 of Figure 3 is substituted by a
permanent magnet 25, the poles of which only influence the outer poles of the
two coils 6.and 8, in order to enable the two current feed coils 9-required for
instance in the three wire system-to independently act either retarding or
accelerating upon the inner poles of the pairs of solenoids 6 and 8, as in Figures 1
and 2.
In the arrangement represented, the magnetic effects are indicated by the
denominations of poles. Instead of the electromagnet 24 (Figure 3) and of the
magnet 25 (Figure 4) of a somewhat straightened shape, other equivalent arrange-
ments may, of course, be likewise employed.
If the pairs of tension coils 6 are sufficiently close together and strong relatively
to the pair 8, an electro dynamic influence exerted by the pair of coils of the one
work upon that of the other work is already possible even in the entire absence
of current or in the presence of a current of however small strength it may be;
and this electro dynamic influence is applicable for compensating small working
differences between the two works or in other words for obtaining the
« coinci-
dence" of or synchronism of working in the absence of a current, so as to avoid
incorrect counting. This "coincidence" or synchronism of working of the two
works may be still further enhanced by elastically coupling both balance beams or
levers by means of a sufficiently weak coupling spring 26 such as represented in
Figure 5. This spring 26 has its inner end fastened to the arbor 1 of the clock
work I, while its outer end is fixed to a tappet 28, mounted on arbor 2 of the
clock work II.
:
Instead of using such coupling spring, it is possible to obtain a sufficiently
strong magnetic influence of both balance levers by arranging an iron arm 27
on the solenoids 6 or 8 respectively (see Figure 6), the arrangement being such,

page_text: that the arm polarized by the coil 6, reaches closely up to the corrresponding arm
of the solenoid 8, oscillating below and appertaining to the other work to be kept
going in "coincidence or synchronism.
ور
In order not to be compelled to have the elastic or magnetic coupling of the
two balance levers 5 and 7 chosen too strong and to thereby disturb the results
as regards the charging or "load" of the counting mechanism, the electric force
of the current feed coils may be used indirectly for instance by the aid of a relay,
in order that, if a certain initial strength of current be reached, the coupling of
both works then no longer necessary-may be suppressed. To attain the same
purpose, the arrangement may also be such (see Figure 7) that instead of both
balance levers being coupled, one of the two clock works, for instance the upper
one is when working without current-"inversely" influenced by the elastic
or magnetic action of a relay. This relay consists of an iron core 30, arranged
in one current feed coil 9 and adapted to rotate about the pivot 29; this iron
core is already drawn into the coil 9 at the initial strength of current, but, if
no current is present, its spring actuated point 32 presses against the free
extremity of the spiral spring 31 mounted on the balance lever 5 and thereby
slightly accelerates the oscillations of said balance lever 5. Owing to this arrange-
ment the clock work I, otherwise to be retarded, slightly advances, but neverthe-
less this incorrect difference is prevented from being indicated upon the counting -
mechanism by means of a suitably acting stop-work.
This stop-work preferably consists of a balance wheel arranged upon the axle
which bears the first counter disc of the counting or indicating mechanism; the
backward movement of this balance wheel is hindered in the usual manner by
means of an anchor which lets the said wheel only pass forwards.
The shapes of coils and their arrangements represented in the drawing may,
of course, also be substituted by other forms, for instance in such a manner,
that the current feed coils are not arranged with tension coils above and below, but
so that the latter are adapted to oscillate to the right and left or even only upon
on one side opposite the stationary coils.
Owing to the use of a clock work operating with a small amplitude (as for
instance in the case of the "Graham" or similar escapement) for obtaining small
oscillations of the balance lever, the solenoids are always kept within the magnetic
field of the current feed coils, so that the sensitiveness or in other words the
constant" of the counting mechanism is always retained unchanged. It is
especially the double sided arrangement of the coils, which constitutes an
advantage for such counting mechanisms working with two clock works.
66
By altering the axial position of the stationary current feed coils relatively to
the tension coils, oscillating above and below, or in other words by slightly dis-
placing the former in upward or downward direction, the proportionality of the
indications of the counting mechanism can be regulated in a peculiar manner, so
that in both clock works simultaneously the relative influences are altered, the
sum of which represents the measure of the amount of electricity used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In electric counting apparatus or meters, in which the indication of the
amount of electricity, consumed is based upon the difference of speed of two clock-
works: the arrangement of balance levers oscillating under the influence of a
lirecting force (a spring or magnet), these balance levers serving as organs for
egulating the working, the operation being such, that the solenoids (6, 8), carried
y the oscillating double levers (5, 7) move with a small amplitude, similar to
he amplitude of a pendulum, opposite the pole surfaces of stationary current-feed
oils (9), the object being to concentrate the oscillations of the solenoids upon the
magnetic field of the current feed coils and to thereby obtain a constant sensitive-
ess and exact proportionality of the indications of the counting mechanism.

page_text: 2. A constructional form of the electric counting apparatus or meter, described
in the first claim, in which the solenoids (6, 8) oscillate under the influence of
an anchor-escapenient (for instance a Graham work) necessitating but a slight
amplitude.
<
3. A constructional form of the electric counting apparatus or meter described
in the first and second claims, in which the directing force exerted upon the
oscillating balance levers (5, 7) is formed by stationary solenoids (24) or
magnets (25), in such a manner, that any alterations of the directing power
uniformly act upon both clock works (I, II).
4. A constructional form of the electric counting apparatus or meter, described
in Claims 1 to 3, in which the oscillating balance levers (5, 7) are connected with
each other by an elastic or magnetic coupling (26 or 27) respectively or are
influenced by a relay (30) in such a manner, that, when working without a current,
small differences in the working of both clock works (I, II) are balanced or sup-
pressed that is to say that the indication of such differences is prevented.
5. A constructional form of the electric counting apparatus or meter, described
in Claims 1 to 4, in which the solenoids (6, 8) are adapted to oscillate opposite
both pole surfaces of the axially displaceable current feed coils (9) the object being
to admit of the magnetic field of the latter being utilized as completely as possible
and simultaneously for both clock works (I, II) and to admit of altering the rela-
tive distance between both current feed coils by simply displacing the said current
feed coils between the oscillating solenoids, for the purpose of regulating the pro-
portion of the indications of the counting mechanism.
TL
18th of
at 1808
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.