An Electric Circuit-hour Meter or Automatic Cut Out.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Electric Circuit-hour Meter or Automatic Cut Out.
We, CHARLES ORME BASTIAN, of 8*, Manchester Square, London, Electrical
Engineer, and FRANCIS MALGER STAUNTON, of No. 2, Hainault Villas, Harold
Wood, Essex, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
or
and
This invention is designed to provide means to record lamp-hours (instead of
watt-hours as in an ordinary electric meter) or otherwise measure or indicate
the amount of electricity that is consumed, to automatically cut off the supply
of electricity after the desired amount has been supplied the measure of this
amount being determined mechanically instead of electrically one object of this
invention being to obviate the use or necessity of an ordinary electric meter such
as the Thomson-Houston meter or the like especially in cases where the lamp
switches are or can be grouped close together such as in small shops, artisans'
dwellings, etc.
According to this invention a friction wheel or pinion is made to move at
speeds varying in direct proportion to the number of circuits that may be open
(at any time) for the current to flow through.
This varying speed may be imparted to the friction wheel or pinion by means
of drawing or moving it away from the centre of a disc (revolving or adapted.to
be revolved at a uniform speed) as the circuits are opened up or by moving it
along a revolving cone or by removing it from contact with one wheel or pinion
into contact with another one of larger size or one revolving at a quicker rate.
This friction wheel or pinion with the varying speed can record the number of
its revolutions by any suitable means such as the ordinary "counter" mechanism
or ordinary recording devices in meters and may also operate in conjunction with
prepayment mechanism or it can operate cut out mechanism such as that described
in Patent No. 2224 of 1896 either with or without recording the number of its
revolutions and so on.
Our meter or apparatus would not register watt-hours or ampere-hours but
lamp-hours or as we term them "circuit hours."
We use a clockwork or other suitable motor (which should be of a self-starting
character) which rotates a disc or train of wheels of varying sizes or a cone or
equivalent while the current is being consumed and such disc or equivalent
operates suitable mechanism in connection with the usual recording device or pre-
payment mechanism and thereby mechanically moves same-the measure thus
being mechanical and not electrical.
The present invention may be carried into practice with prepayment mechanism
as follows:-
A clock or clockwork or other suitable motor (advantageously of any suitable
self-starting character) is arranged to revolve a disc of suitable diameter having
two or more concentric rings of teeth thereon with which latter a toothed wheel
га

page_text: or pinion is adapted to gear said pinion or wheel being mounted or carried on a
shaft bar rod or frame or equivalent capable of being revolved (or on which said
pinion may be capable of revolving) and adapted to receive endwise motion or to
swing or oscillate or be reciprocated in any suitable manner and provided with
ratchet teeth or a rack bar arranged and adapted to be reciprocated horizontally or
thereabouts with said shaft etc.
With the rack or ratchet teeth on this shaft etc. there gear or engage the teeth
or equivalent of a pinion or it may be a pawl or other device to operate said rack
bar such pinion pawl or device being fixed to or operated by the electric
switch while two or any suitable number of such switches may be arranged and
mounted independently (on independent circuits) but each in gear or connection
with said rack bar or adapted to operate same so that each said switch when
moved will respectively and independently move said rack-bar.
If now a coin or token is inserted in the prepayment mechanism (which may be
of any suitable character) thereby the main circuit is closed and the contacts in
a local or shunt circuit moved apart a measured distance in any suitable manner
such for instance as shown in the patent above referred to but the main current
does not flow until one or more of the switches is turned on whereupon the said
rack bar is now. moved endwise and thereby the latter moves with it the aforesaid
friction wheel (from its normal position of rest at the centre of the aforesaid
motor-driven disc) to a point a little away from the centre of said disc (which
latter is now revolved by the clockwork or other motor (which latter is or may be
simultaneously started or allowed to start by or when the said rack-bar is moved
endwise) and thus the friction wheel is slowly revolved and the latter by a train
of wheels or a cord or any suitable connection now slowly brings the aforesaid
separated contacts together (except when the switch is turned off whereupon the
said friction wheel is moved by the rack-bar back into its normal position exactly
central on said disc and consequently rotation of the friction wheel ceases or if
desired the ceasing of the flow of the main current may be utilised to stop the
said motor) and when said contacts come together thereupon the supply of
electricity is cut off until the insertion of another coin or token.
If a second or third switch (or other number of switches is turned on thereby
the said friction wheel is moved so much the further from the centre of the afore-
said dise and will conséquently be revolved quicker and thereby bring the afore-
said contacts together so much the quicker and thus break the main circuit when-
ever the amount of electricity paid for has been delivered.
.or
and
any means to
Instead of the foregoing arrangement-the aforesaid pinion (to which varying
speeds are imparted by a clock or clockwork or other motor as aforesaid) may
be moved radially with respect to the ring or rings of teeth by the operation of
the switches as aforesaid only without the intervention or use of any prepayment
mechanism
cut out" as aforesaid the said pinion revolving
a circular rack-bar for instance and the latter or shaft carrying same being pro-
vided with a flexible joint and terminating with a square or non-cylindrical end
adapted to slide lengthwise (i.e. endwise) within a correspondingly shaped socket
or equivalent forming the shaft of a pinion or gear wheel which revolves another
wheel or wheels or train of wheels or index mechanism of any suitable character
and thereby forming a mechanical counter" which will always register while
the switch or switches are
on."
"
Instead of the said disc being caused to revolve at a uniform speed and moving
the pinion radially with respect thereto as aforesaid in order to vary the speed
imparted to said pinion we may alter the speed of the motor or the speed imparted
thereby to the said disc as each switch is actuated in succession for instance each
said switch when switched on may put (into circuit) additional turns in the
field magnet winding of the motor which turns are specially provided and suit-
ably connected with said switches for the foregoing purpose.
66
22
Another modification which may be used when it is desired or necessary to

page_text: have the switches (or any of them) at a distance from our aforesaid meter or
recording device consists in providing an electro-magnet (in series with or other-
wise introduced into each circuit) in a position adjacent to the aforesaid rack
or rack-bar and having an armature so arranged that when moved (by the attrac-
tion of the electro-magnet) such armature is adapted to move said rack-bar to
thereby vary the position of the aforesaid pinion with respect to the aforesaid
dise or to vary the speed of the disc as aforesaid.
Thus when each switch is actuated (i.e. switched "on") thereby the electro-
magnet is caused to attract the armature and in doing so the rack-bar is operated
or the speed of the disc varied as and for the purposes aforesaid.
· השו
001
1
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
An Electric Circuit-hour Meter or Automatic Cut Out.
We, CHARLES ORME BASTIAN, of 8, Manchester Square, London Electrical
Engineer, and FRANCIS MALGER STAUNTON, of No. 2, Hainault Villas, Harold
Wood, Essex, 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 is designed to provide means to record lamp-hours (instead of
watt-hours as in an ordinary electric meter) or otherwise measure or indicate
the amount of electricity that is consumed to automatically cut off the supply
and
or
of electricity after the desired amount has been supplied the measure of this
amount being determined mechanically instead of electrically one object of this
invention being to obviate the use or necessity of an ordinary electric meter such
as the Thomson-Houston meter or the like especially in cases where the lamp
switches are or can be grouped close together such as in small shops, artisans'
dwellings, etc.
According to this invention a friction or toothed wheel or pinion is made to move
ht speeds varying in direct proportion to the number of circuits that may be open
(at any time) for the current to flow through.
This varying speed may be imparted to the friction or toothed wheel or pinion
by means of drawing or moving it away from the centre of a disc (revolving or
adapted to be revolved at a uniform speed) as the circuits are opened up or by
moving it along a revolving cone or by removing it from contact with one wheel
or pinion into contact with another one of larger size or one revolving at a quicker
rate.
This friction wheel or pinion with the varying speed can record the number of
its revolutions by any suitable means such as the ordinary "counter" mechanism
or ordinary recording devices in meters and may also operate in conjunction with
prepayment mechanism or it can operate cut out mechanism such as that described
in Patent No. 2224 of 1896 either with or without recording the number of its
revolutions and so on.
Our meter or apparatus would not register watt-hours or ampere-hours but
lamp-hours or as we term them "circuit hours."
We use a clockwork or other suitable motor (which should be of a self-starting

page_text: character) which rotates a disc (or train of wheels of varying sizes or a cone or
equivalent all of which we shall hereinafter refer to as the disc e") while the
current is being consumed and such disc or equivalent operates suitable mechanism
in connection with the usual recording device or prepayment mechanism and
thereby mechanically moves same-the measure thus being by mechanical and
not electrical means unless an electro motor be used.
We will now proceed to describe our present invention with reference to the
accompanying drawings and for the sake of example we have therein illustrated
our said invention as carried into practice with prepayment mechanism as
follows:-
-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the meter mechanism with the casing removed.
Fig. 2 is a front view i.e. looking in the direction of the arrow 2 Fig. 1 the
front part of the casing of the prepayment mechanism being removed on the
line xx Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a view of the reverse of Fig. 2 i.e. looking in the direction of the
arrow 3 Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a plan view i.e. looking in the direction of the arrow 4 Fig. 1.
Simliar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
a is the bed plate or frame carrying the various parts of the mechanism.
A clock or clockwork or other suitable motor (advantageously of any suit-
able self-starting character) is arranged to revolve a disc c of suitable diameter
having one or more concentric rings of teeth e thereon with which latter a
toothed wheel or pinion d is adapted to gear said pinion or wheel & being mounted
or carried on a shaft (or equivalent) such as e capable of being revolved and adap-|
ted to receive endwise motion or to swing or oscillate or be reciprocated in any
suitable manner for instance by being mounted in a slide f this latter being
slotted at f and guided by means of the said slot fi travelling on the fixed pin n
while towards the other end said slide f passes through the fixed guide or loop f
said slide f being provided with ratchet teeth or a rack bar arranged and adap-
ted to be reciprocated vertically or thereabouts with said shaft e.
With the rack or ratchet teeth f* on this slide f there gear or engage the
teeth or equivalent of a gear-wheel y or it may be a pawl or other device to
operate said rack bar fx such gear wheel g being operated by the turning on or
off of the switches as hereinafter explained while one or any suitable number of
such switches may be arranged and mounted independently (on independent
circuits) for instance three switches A¹ A2 A3 may be arranged as illustrated but
each in gear or connection with said rack bar f* or adapted to operate same for
instance in the manner shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings wherein the inner end of
each switch spindle B1 B2 B3 (which are turned when the switches A A A are
turned) respectively carry a short crank or tappet such as C such tappets when
revolved by the turning of the switch being adapted to engage with the
teeth D D D respectively on the rack bar E which latter by means of the slots E
in said rack-bar E sliding and being guided on and by the fixed pins F-the
opposite edge of the rack-bar E being toothed at the latter engaging with the
gear-wheel aforesaid so that it will thus be seen when say the switch A is
turned in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3 thereby the tappet or
lever C on said switch engages the teeth D' of the sliding rack bar E and thereby
causes the latter to move in one direction when the switch is turned on (and in
the opposite direction when the switch is turned off) and thereby notion is trans-
mitted through the pinion g to the slide f in the direction away from the motor-
driven disc whereby the pinion on the shaft c is drawn from the centre of
the disc c into mesh with the innermost ring of teeth c while similarly when
the switch A2 is turned "on" thereby the gear wheel g is further revolved and
consequently the pinion d is drawn into mesh with the next ring of teeth e and
so on with the switch A³ or any other desired number of switches.
This disc e being revolved at a constant speed by any suitable motor (for

page_text: on
و,
instance clockwork as aforesaid) consequently when only one switch is "
the spindle e is revolved at the lowest speed viz.: by the innermost ring of teeth c*
the speed being increased as each additional switch is switched on.
and
such
Motion being thus imparted to the shaft e is transmitted from the latter by any
suitable means to any suitable meter index or recording instrument or
motion may be used to bring together again the contacts (separated by the opera-
tion of the prepayment mechanism) of a local circuit the latter being arranged to
act in conjunction with automatic cut out mechanism substantially as described
in the aforesaid l'atent No. 2224 of 1896 for instance the spindle e may be pro-
vided with a prolonged pinion i fixed to or formed thereon said pinion being of
sufficient length according to the maximum travel of same or of which same is
required to be capable in the direction of its longitudinal axis so as to always
remain in gear with the ring of teeth fixed on the back of the disc which
latter is fixed to or operates the disc win the front of the apparatus see Fig. 2
which disc w may be used as an indicator or may carry thereon one of the con-
tacts y in the said local circuit-the other local circuit contact being fixed to
the larger disc see Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
The prepayment mechanism shown in the drawings is as follows:-
A handle m is formed or rigidly mounted on the spindle m' which passes loosely
through a hollow axle a said spindle m¹ being fixed to the disc m carrying
thereon a coin lock piece m* while the hollow axle n¹ is fixed to the disc n² on
which latter are carried the coin lock pieces n which lock pieces m³ and n
become locked together when a coin or token of proper denomination is inserted
in the slot z and the handle m is turned whereupon motion from the spindle m
is transmitted through this coin lock to the hollow shaft this latter terminating
in rear in a shaft (see Fig. 3) and on this latter is fixed or formed the crank
arms or tappets one of which when the said shaft n is turned is thereby forced
down against the arm o pivotted at o to the frame a. This arm o is normally
held out of electrical contact by means of the spring o** and carries thereon the
two contact pieces o' and o² which (when said arm o is forced down) enter the
mercury in the vessels and p and thereby complete the main circuit through
the meter, said arm being caught and held by the catch g pivotted to the frame
at and having an extension g' normally pulled by the spring q against the
adjustable rest or stop therefor this extension q' forming an armature to the
local circuit coils after the manner described in the said Patent 2224 of 1896;
such completed main circuit (shown in full lines) leading to the consumers lamps
through the switches A A2 and A³.
Thus on the insertion of a coin or token and the closing of the main circuit
no current flows (until one or more of the said switches A1 A2 and A³ is operated
by the consumer) and also when the switches are all switched off again no current
flows and there is no progress of the meter mechanism since the gear is at
the centre of the disc c.
On the spindle or shaft n operated by the prepayment mechanism as aforesaid
is a toothed wheel (see Figs. 1 and 2) which by means of the intermediate
wheel imparts a rotary movement to the aforesaid disc (which is toothed
around its periphery for this purpose) and thereby the arm or contact thereon
is by the prepayment mechanism moved a measured distance from the contact y¹
but in the path of travel of the latter when the disc wis moved by the meter
mechanism.
The local circuit y and z (shown in dotted lines) after leading through the local
circuit coils pass up to the contact pieces y' and 2¹ respectively mounted on the
aforesaid discs and w that is to say the terminal y' of the local circuit being on said
disc w (see Figs. 2 and 3) and adapted to normally rest in electrical contact with the
other terminal 21 (of the local circuit) on the disc v and thus on the insertion of

page_text: "
d
the proper coin or token and the actuation of the meter the disc vis revolved and
thereby the one local circuit contact ¹ is moved away a measured distance from the
other the main circuit is closed as aforesaid, the gear is drawn away from the centre
of the disc e and into gear with a ring of teeth c* and thereby (so long as any
switch A' A2 or A³ remains on") slowly rotates the disc w and consequently
moves the said local circuit contact y' towards the contact ¹ and these contacts
meet as soon as the measured quantity of electricity paid for has been delivered
and thereby the local circuit yz is closed and consequently the coils are energised
and pull up the armature q which releases the spring arm o which thereupon
breaks the main circuit and it follows that the local circuit is broken; and tha
parts are all in their normal positions again ready for the next operation and so on.
s is spring catch the lowermost end of which is adapted to fit in the notches or
depressions in a notch wheel or drum g* fixed to the pinion g whereby the parts
of the meter mechanism. are rendered dead beat."
"
HHH are the rubbing contact surfaces fixed on the spindles B1 B2 B3 of
the switches A¹ A2 and A³ respectively.
The clockwork or other motor is or may be simultaneously started or allowed
to start by or when the said rack-bar f is moved endwise (i.e. when the current
is switched on) and the separated contacts are slowly brought together except
when the switch is turned off whereupon the said pinion d is moved by the rack-
bar back into its normal position exactly central on said disc e and consequently
movement of the meter stops as the rotation of the wheel d ceases, or if desired
the ceasing or reduction of the flow of the main current may be utilised to stop or
brake the said motor or otherwise vary the speed thereof as aforesaid.
*
"
Instead of the foregoing arrangement the aforesaid pinion d (to which vary-
ing speeds are imparted by a clock or clockwork or other motor as aforesaid) may
be moved radially with respect to the ring or rings of teeth by the operation of
the switches as aforesaid only without the intervention or use of any prepayment
mechanism or any means to cut out as aforesaid the said pinion for instance
being fornted upon a straight rack bar of circular section and the latter or shaft
carrying same being provided with a flexible joint and terminating with a square
or non-cylindrical end adapted to slide lengthwise (i.e. endwise) within a corres-
pondingly shaped socket or equivalent forming the shaft of a pinion or gear wheel
which revolves another wheel or wheels or train of wheels or index mechanism
of any suitable character and thereby forming a mechanical "counter" which
" on."
will always register while the switch or switches are
Instead of the said disc being caused to revolve at a uniform speed and the
pinion being moved radially with respect thereto as aforesaid in order to vary the
speed imparted to said pinion we may alter the speed of the motor or the speed
imparted thereby to the said disc as each switch is actuated in succession for
instance (with an electro-motor); each said switch when switched
"
on may put
into circuit additional turns in the field magnet winding of the motor which
turns are specially provided and suitably connected with said switches for the fore-
going purpose or may electrically operate a break to act on a clockwork or other
motor or acting on any other part of the motor mechanism to regulate same.
Another modification which may be used when it is desired or necessary to
have the switches (or any of them) at a distance from our aforesaid meter or
recording device consists in providing an electro-magnet (in series with or other-
wise introduced into each circuit) in a position adjacent to the aforesaid circular
rack or rack-bar and having an armature so arranged that when moved (by the
attraction of the electro-magnet) such armature is adapted to move said rack-bar
to thereby vary the position of the aforesaid pinion with respect to the aforesaid
disc or to vary the speed of the disc as aforesaid.
Thus when each switch is actuated (i.e. switched "on") thereby the electro-
magnet would be caused to attract the armature and in doing so the rack-bar is
and
operated the speed of the disc varied as and for the purposes aforesaid.
or

page_text: 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. A prepayment electric circuit hour meter or automatic cut out having a
motor and one or more separate switches in combination and acting in conjunc-
tion with mechanism interposed between said motor and the switches and adapted
to be actuated by the operation of turning on and off" each of the latter
respectively and thus to vary the speed of the motor or the speed imparted thereby
to the registering cut out mechanism substantially as and for the purposes
described.
or
and
2. In a prepayment electric circuit hour meter or automatic cut out the com-
bination with coin-freed mechanism and means operated by the latter to close and
open the main circuit of a motor and mechanism operated by said motor to
cause the breaking of the main circuit and means to vary the speed imparted
to said mechanism by said motor said variation being caused by the operation
of turning onl and
"off" each switch respectively whereby the main circuit
is cut out sooner or later according to the number of switches turned
"off" substantially as and for the purposes described.
66
"
on on
3. In a prepayment electric circuit hour meter or automatic cut out the com-
bination with coin-freed mechanism and means operated by the latter to close
and open the main circuit and simultaneously move one of the contacts in a local
circuit a measured distance away from the other contact in said local circuit of
a motor and mechanism operated by said motor and adapted to bring said local
circuit contacts together again and thereby break the main circuit and means to
vary the speed imparted to said mechanism by said motor said variation being
caused by the operation of turning on and off each switch respectively whereby said
local circuit contacts are brought together quicker or slower according to the
number of switches turned on or off substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described.
4. An electric circuit hour meter or automatic cut out constructed arranged
and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and
illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 20th day of Ta 1200
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.