IMPROVEMENTS IN VEBER-METERS OR DEVICES FOR MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE CURRENT FLOWING. THROUGH CONDUCTORS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Griffith Brewer, of 33, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VEBER-METERS
OR DEVICES FOR MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE CURRENT FLOWING.
THROUGH CONDUCTORS." A communication from abroad by Thomas Alva
Edison, of Menlo Park, in the State of New Jersey, United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Griffith Brewer at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th March 1881.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of 33, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VEBER-METERS OR DEVICES FOR MEASURING AND REGISTERING
THE CURRENT FLOWING THROUGH CONDUCTORS." A communication from abroad
by Thomas Alva Edison, of Menlo Park, in the State of New Jersey, United States
of America.
This Invention relates to apparatus for measuring an electric current, and
belongs to the general class of apparatus shown and described in the Specification
of British Letters Patent, No. 4391, dated October 27th, 1880.
One part of this Invention consists in deflecting a definite proportional part of
the current to be measured and passing it through a vessel partially filled with
water and floating in the same liquid.
The water in the vessel is decomposed by the current, and the gases formed
displace a portion of the water in the vessel lessening its specific gravity and
causing it to rise. The rising of the vessel causes the lifting of a lever connected
with a registering mechanism, so that the amount of gases produced being propor-
tional to the current passing through the vessel and thus in turn proportional to
the main current the last may be indicated by the register.
Such arrangement is made that when a definite predetermined. amount of
decomposition has taken place the vessel will rise to a sufficient height to close an
electrical circuit which will send a current through the gases and explode them, so
that they will be re-composed into water and the vessel again fall, these operations
being repeated so long as current passes.

page_text: Another portion of this Invention consists in an arrangement for measuring an
electric current as follows :-
An electro depositing cell has a metal lining which forms one of the electrodes
thereof, being connected in any suitable manner with one of the leading wires.
The other electrode is a piece of metal suspended within the cell by a spring, the
stress of the spring being so adjusted that the metal piece will be sustained at the
top of the cell when there is a minimum of deposition thereon, while the maximum
of deposition will cause it to sink to the bottom. An index arm is attached to the
metal piece and a scale provided in connection therewith so that the amount of
deposition may be visually indicated.
The electrodes are also connected with a registering apparatus and circuit
reversers which change the direction of the current through the cell, and
consequently reverse the anode and the cathode, so that metal is first deposited on
and then removed from the metal piece, causing it to rise and fall, so that the
registering apparatus works whenever the circuit is reversed.
This arrangement is similar to that described in aforesaid Patent, differing
therefrom only in detail, while the general principle remains the same.
Another part of this Invention relates to a vebermeter constructed and operating
on a different principle from those set forth in said Patent.
Generally speaking it consists of a motor to which is given a certain definite
amount of work to do or resistance to motion to be overcome combined with
registering devices which register the amount of work done or resistance to motion
overcome.
The rapidity with which the motor will accomplish its work with a definite
loading is proportioned to the amount of current energizing it, hence if the motor is
arranged to have a slow motion when the amount of current necessary for, say,
one translating device passes through the circuit, its speed will be increased
proportionately as the number of translating devices using current is increased.
The motor may be placed with its field and armature coils both directly in the
main circuit or both in a shunt circuit, or the field coils may be placed in the direct
circuit and the armature in a shunt thereto.
The loading or resistance may be given in a variety of ways; for instance, fan
blades or wings may be connected to the armature shaft by multiplying gearing;
or preferably blades or wings may be driven in a tank or dash pot filled with a
thick liquid, the armature shaft being connected to suitable registering devices,
such, for instance, as is used in gas meters by slowing down gearing or worm and
wheel, so that the movement of the registering devices is much less than that of
the actuating rotating armature.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Griffith Brewer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th September 1881.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of 33, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VEBER-METERS OR DEVICES FOR MEASURING AND REGISTERING
THE CURRENT FLOWING THROUGH CONDUCTORS." A communication from abroad
by Thomas Alva Edison, of Menlo Park, in the State of New Jersey, United States
of America. .
This Invention relates to apparatus for measuring an electric current, and belongs
to the general class of apparatus shown and described in British Letters Patent,
No. 4391, granted October 27th, 1880. One part of the Invention for this purpose
consists in deflecting a definite proportional part of the current to be measured and
passing it through a vessel partially filled with water and floating in the same
liquid. The water in the vessel is decomposed by the current, and the gases formed
displace a portion of the water in the vessel, lessening its specific gravity and
causing it to rise. The rising of the vessel causes the lifting of a lever connected
with a registering mechanism, so that the amount of gases produced being
proportional to the current passing through the vessel, and this in turn proportional
to the main current, the last may be indicated by the register. Such arrangement
is made that when a definite predetermined amount of decomposition has taken
place the vessel will rise to a sufficient height to close an electrical circle, which
will send a current through the gases and explode them, so that they will be
re-composed into water and the vessel again fall.
These operations being repeated so long as current passes.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a view of an apparatus for this
purpose.
In this Figure A is a tank of water, and B a vessel also containing water floating
therein;
1, 2, is the main circuit from which, by means of the resistance placed at R,
a definite portion of the current is deflected into the circuit 5, 6. This circuit
passes through the water in the vessel B and returns again to the main circuit.
7, 8, is a third circuit from the main one and is broken at the contact points a, a¹.
C is the top of the tank A. It supports a suitable registering apparatus E and the
contact a¹, and the wires of the circuits 5, 6, and 7, 8, pass through it. Also
passing through C is the projection b which extends up from the vessel B operating
the lever D of the registering apparatus, and terminating in the contact point a.
As above stated, in consequence of the resistance R a definite portion of the current
is deflected from the main current into the wire 5 and passes down through C into
the vessel B. The lower portion of this current 5, 6, is completed by the water,
and the current in passing through it decomposes a portion thereof, which rises in
a gaseous form to the surface. As the upper portion of the vessel becomes filled
with these gases, the specific gravity of the whole is lessened and the vessel rises,
carrying with it the projection b, and thus moving the lever D which operates the
register. When the upper part of the vessel B is entirely filled with the gases it
rises to such a height that the contact a will meet a¹ and close the circuit 7, 8.
A current of electricity immediately passes along this circuit heating the platinum
coil x and causing by explosion the re-composition of the gases into water. The
vessel B then falls to its former position, re-opening the circuit 7, 8, and the
current again passes through the circuit 5, 6.
This operation is of course continually repeated.
A resistance placed at R¹ prevents the passage of too large a current of electricity
through the circuit 7. 8.

page_text: Another portion of this Invention consists in an arrangement for measuring an
electric current as follows:-
An electro depositing cell has a metal lining which forms one of the electrodes
thereof, being connected in any suitable manner with one of the leading wires.
The other electrode is a piece of metal suspended within the cell by a spring, the
stress of the spring being so adjusted that the metal piece will be sustained at the
top of the cell when there is a minimum of deposition thereon, while the maximum
of deposition will cause it to sink to the bottom. An index arm is attached to the
metal piece and a scale provided in connection therewith, so that the amount of
deposition will be visually indicated. The electrodes are also connected with a
registering apparatus and circuit reversers which change the direction of the
current through the cell, and consequently reverse the anode and the cathode, so
that metal is first deposited on and then removed from the metal piece, causing it
to rise and fall, so that the registering apparatus works whenever the circuit is
reversed. This arrangement is similar to that described in aforesaid Letters Patent,
differing therefrom only in detail, while the general principle remains the same.
Figure 2 of the Drawings represents a form of this meter, adapted to measure
large quantities, and Figure 3 a simpler form to be used for small quantities.
A is an electro depositing cell made of any suitable material, but lined on the
inside with the metal C which is to form an electrode thereof. At one point the
metal lining is continued over the top of the cell to make connection with one of
the leading wires 3, or the wire may be taken through the outer case at any
desired point, or the two may be united by a separate piece of metal. A piece of
metal B is suspended by a spring V to form the other electrode, the stress of the
spring being so adjusted that it will sustain B at the top of the cell when there is
a minimum of deposition on B, while the maximum of deposition will cause B to
sink to the bottom of the cell.
Upon the arm D rising from or in the vicinity of A to support V is placed a
scale S, an index arm E being attached to B, so that the amount of deposition
between the maximum and minimum of deposition may be visually indicated.
From D projects a contact arm H, while upon A is secured a contact G. From an
arm x springing from the cell A or supported in any other suitable manner depends
a counter balanced lever, whose inner end is fashioned into a Y, whose inner ends
y, y¹, lie between H and G, while between them takes the prolongation e of the
index arm E, so that the rise and fall of B shall cause y, y¹, to contact with H or G,
as the case may be; I is a reversing and counting apparatus consisting of the
magnets m, n, between which plays the armature lever L, whose outer end actuates
the register K, and whose inner end controls the reverser O.
P, Q, is the main circuit, the current through which it is to be measured. From
it two branch circuits lead, one for actuating the reversing and registering apparatus
represented by the broken line circuits 1, 6, 7, 8, the other for causing electro
deposition, shown in broken crossed lines 2, 3, 4, 5.
Suppose now the current to be flowing in the direction of the arrow.
Between 4 and 5 a resistance R is placed so as to deflect through the veber
meter a certain definite fraction of the current through P, Q. Such fraction passes
by 5 to b, to d, thence by 3 to C, which is now the anode, to the cathode B, causing
deposition thereon by V to 2.c.a. 4 to P. As B becomes weighted it sinks, the
arm F finally causing y¹ and G to contact, whereupon circuit P.1.E.G.8.6. Q
is closed through n, which attracts L, causing it to operate the register K and the
reverser O, so that now the circuit is by 5. c. 2. V to B, which becomes the anode
to C, now the cathode, 3. d. a. 4. P removing the metal deposited upon B, and
depositing it upon C.
When B becomes sufficiently lightened it rises, causing y to contact with H,
closing circuit through m, which attracts L, causing operation of the register K
and a reversal of the veber meter circuit. This series of operations proceeds
continuously, the register denoting each maximum and minimum deposition, while
the index and scale denote the fractional deposition at any one moment.

page_text: When only one or two lights are used and the current to be measured is com-
paratively small, the cell A, and spring suspended plate and index and scale may
be used, as shown in Figure 3, connections being made directly thereto by wires 4
and 5. As vebers, weight of metal deposited, and the amount of light from a
given number of feet of gas of standard quality bear a certain definite relation to
each other, the scale S may be arranged to be read in either, whichever one is used
being readily reducible to terms of the others. Another part of this Invention
relates to a veber meter constructed and operating on a different principle from
those set forth in said Patent. Generally speaking it consists of a motor, to which
is given a certain definite amount of work to do or resistance to be overcome
combined with registering devices which register the amount of work done or
resistance to motion overcome. The rapidity with which the motor will accomplish
its work with a definite loading is proportioned to the amount of current energizing
it, hence if the motor is arranged to have a slow motion when the amount of current
necessary for, say, one translating device passes through the circuit, its speed will
be increased proportionately as the number of translating devices using current is
increased. The motor may be placed with its field and armature coils both directly
in the main circuit or both in a shunt circuit, or the field coils may be placed in
the direct circuit and the armature in a shunt thereto.
The loading or resistance may be given in a variety of ways; for instance, fan
blades or wings may be connected to the armature shaft by multiplying gearing, or
preferably, blades or wings may be driven in a tank or dash pot filled with a thick
liquid, the armature shaft being connected to suitable registering devices, such, for
instance, as is used in gas meters by slowing down gearing or worm and wheel, so
that the movement of the registering devices is much less than that of the actuating
rotating armature. Means for accomplishing this are shown in Figures 4, 5, 6,
and 7, of the Drawings, Figures 4 and 5 being views showing the motor and fan's
in elevation, and Figures 6 and 7 diagrams giving different methods of connecting
the motor in circuit. In these Figures, 1, 1, is one of the main conductors of the
place of consumption, the other not being shown; F is the field of force magnets,
and A the revolving armature of an electro motor.
In Figures 4 and 5 the coils of F are directly in the circuit 1, while the
armature is in a shunt circuit 4. In Figure 6 both A and F are in a shunt circuit 2,
while in Figure 7 both A and F are directly in the main circuit 1.
In Figure 4, a is the shaft of the armature A, and upon one end it carries a gear b
which meshes into a pinion c on whose shaft is a gear d taking into a pinion e on
a shaft E carrying the wings or fan blades W which give the load or resistance to
motion to the engine. The shafts of the gears and pinions and blades are
supported in suitable framing, and by the arrangement shown, the rate of motion
of A is increased in W, whereby large reduction in size of W is effected. Upon
the other end of the shaft a of A is the pinion f and an index finger i, the latter
passing over a register face m. In practice this should be the first wheel of a
register such as is employed is gas meters.
The pinion meshes with a gear g, on whose shaft is an index finger h.
The pinion and gear g being so proportioned that h shall advance one step or
registration to a complete revolution of i.
In Figure 5 the shaft a of A carries the fan blades or wings P, P, working in
contracted spaces formed in the vessel or dash pot V by projections o extending
inwardly from its sides. This vessel or pot may be filled with a liquid such as
glycerine or petroleum, that the definite work or load for the motor may be given
it in a very small space or compass.
Upon a is a screw meshing into a worm upon shaft I carrying index pointer m,
to which may be added carrying devices, as in case of Figure 4.
As the load is constant, the rapidity with which work is done will depend upon
the energizing of the motor, which in turn is dependent upon the current flowing
through 1, 1, which is determined by the number of translating devices in use upon
the circuit to be measured, hence as more or less current is used, the registration

page_text: at the time procedes faster or slower with the result that a substantially correct
indication of the current used in any given time is obtained.
What is claimed is,―
First. In a vebermeter the combination of a floating electrolytic cell, means
actuated thereby for causing the re-composition of the water decomposed therein,
and means for registering the rise and fall of the floating cell, substantially as set
forth.
Second. The method of measuring an electric current, substantially as set forth,
which consist in causing a definite proportion of the current to pass through a
floating electrolytic cell arranged to rise as the fluid therein is decomposed, and
then upon the decomposition of a pre-determined amount of fluid, causing the
recomposition of the gases and consequent fall of the cell, and registering the
occurrence of this sequence of operations, substantially as set forth.
Third. The vebermeter consisting of a cell, a spring suspended electrode, and an
index and scale, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination in a vebermeter of a cell, a spring suspended electrode
therein, and means controlled thereby for reversing the circuit through the cell
to cause such electrode to become alternately anode and cathode, substantially as
set forth.
Fifth. The combination in a vebermeter of a cell, a spring suspended electrode
therein, and means controlled thereby for registering the rise and fall of such
electrode in the cell, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination with a suspended plate in a plating cell of means for
registering the accurateness of maximum and minimum deposition thereon, and
means for measuring the fractional depositions between the maximum and
minimum, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination of the spring suspended plate, an arm projecting
therefrom, a counter balanced yoke or Y and two contacts, the arm of the plate
controlling the movement of the yoke, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The combination with an electric circuit containing translating devices
of an electric motor having a definite loading and apparatus for registering the
work done, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. The combination of an electric circuit, an electro-motor, a fan driven
thereby, and a registering apparatus for registering, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The combination of an electric circuit, an electro motor, a fan or blades
driven thereby, a vessel or tank in which the fan or blades are placed, and
registering apparatus, substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. The combination of an electric circuit, an electro-motor, a fan or
blades, a vessel or tank filled with liquid in which the blades or fan are placed, and
registering apparatus, substantially as set forth.
Twelfth. An electric meter consisting of a motor having a definite work to
perform or loading to overcome, and registering devices, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one:
E. G. BREWER. (L.S.).