IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL POWER
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Vernon Boys, of Wing, near Oakham, in the
County of Rutland, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
MEASURING MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL POWER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Vernon Boys at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd June 1881.
CHARLES VERNON BOYS, of Wing, near Oakham, in the County of Rutland.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL
POWER"
My Invention relates to apparatus whereby the quantity of mechanical or
electrical force developed or employed can be measured and recorded. One
apparatus which I employ for this purpose effects mechanically a process of inte-
gration, and this apparatus suffices for estimating the total power given out by a
mechanical motor, or conveyed by an electrical conductor. When however it is
required to estimate how much of a transmitted power is absorbed in driving
machinery or in electrical operations I employ additional apparatus which performs
a process of differentiation. I will first describe the integrating apparatus which is
of the following construction :-I mount a cylinder on an axis, round which it is
free to revolve and on which it is free to travel longitudinally to and fro, and at
its side I mount a disc with its periphery in contact with the surface of the cylinder,
this disc being mounted on an axis which can be inclined at various angles to the
axis of the cylinder. I connect the cylinder by suitable gearing to a counter or
register which records the number of revolutions or parts of a revolution through
which the cylinder is caused to turn. In applying this instrument to measure the
power given out by a prime mover, such as a steam engine or other engine worked
by fluid pressure, I connect the cylinder to a moving part of the engine so that it
is caused to move to and fro longitudinally in time with and in proportion to the
movements of the working piston of the engine. To the cylinder of the engine I
connect by a pipe a small cylinder fitted with a spring piston, as in an ordinary
indicator, and I connect the rod of this indicator piston by a pin working in a
radially slotted hole to an arm fixed to the axis of the integrating disc, so that
according as the pressure varies in the engine cylinder the plane of the disc is
moved to various degrees of obliquity to the axis of the integrating cylinder. As
this cylinder is caused to reciprocate in correspondence with the piston of the
engine, it is at the same time, by its frictional contact with the disc, caused to turn
more or less round according to the inclination of the plane of the disc in relation
to the axis of the cylinder. The extent of revolution thus given to the integrating
5-

page_text: cylinder is proportional to the product of the pressure on the engine piston
multiplied by the space traversed by it and is therefore a measure of the work done
by the engine piston.
In applying the apparatus to measure the power transmitted through a revolving
shaft I connect the integrating cylinder to the shaft so that it is caused, by means
of a mangle motion or equivalent mechanism, to reciprocate longitudinally at a
speed bearing a known proportion to that of the shaft. The axis of the integrating
disc is connected to a differential coupling of the shaft having a spring to take the
strain passing through the shaft, and the disc is thus more or less inclined to the
As the
axis of the integrating cylinder according as the strain is greater or less.
back stroke of the integrating cylinder, if the same disc bore against it, would undo
the record which was made during its forward stroke, I employ two discs, the one
being made to bear against one side of the cylinder during its forward stroke, and
In like manner
the other to bear against its opposito side during its back stroko.
the power conveyed by a continuously travelling band may be registered, the
integrating cylinder being caused to reciprocate at a rate proportioned to the speed
of the band, and the discs having their inclination determined by the driving strain
of the band.
For measuring electricity passing through a conductor in a given time I cause
the integrating cylinder to reciprocate by means of clockwork which may be
worked or governed electrically, and I effect the inclination of the discs by connecting
them to a galvanometer needle, the deflection of which is greater or less according
to the force of the electric current. When it is desired to measure the quantity of
electrical energy given out in a certain length of conductor I employ for moving
the integrating cylinder clockwork, the speed of which is determined by the
difference of electrical potential at the two extremes of the conductor. Although I
have above described the use of a cylinder and disc, it is to be understood that for
particular purposes of integration a cone, sphere, or other solid of revolution may be
substituted for the integrating cylinder, and a sphere may be substituted for the
disc, the rotating axis of the sphere being inclined more or less to that of the
cylinder or its equivalent, and the circle of contact of the sphere with the cylinder
or its equivalent being moved more or less out of the equatorial plane of the sphere.
When an integrating cylinder and disc are employed the cylinder may be clothed
with paper or other receptive surface, or a band of paper or the like may be made
to travel with the surface of the cylinder, so that a diagram may be marked on it
by the pressure of the disc.
When it is desired to ascertain the efficiency of a machine, that is to say, the ratio
of the work given out to the work put in, I employ a differentiating apparatus of
the following kind:-Against the face of a flat wheel capable of free rotation I
press the edges of two discs, the one of those discs being moved by the cylinder of
an integrating apparatus as above described applied to the prime mover of the
machine, and the other disc being in like manner moved by the cylinder of an
integrating apparatus applied to measure the work performed by the machine.
mount the wheel against which these discs press on an axis capable of moving in a
line slightly inclined to the line of the axis of the two discs. According as the one
disc moves faster or slower than the other, so the wheel is caused to take a position
such that the radial distance of the points of contact of the two discs with its
The movement of the axis
surface are proportional to the velocities of the discs.
I
of the wheel at any time being measured on a suitable scale will give the ratio of
the velocities of the two discs and therefore the ratio of the work imparted to the
machine to the work given out by it at that time. By causing this movement of
the axis of the wheel to be traced on paper or other travelling surface, a diagram is
produced which represents the efficiency of the machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Vernon Boys in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
December 1881.
"
CHARLES VERNON BOYS, of Wing, near Oakham, in the County of Rutland.
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL
POWER."
My Invention relates to integrating apparatus whereby quantities of mechanical
or electrical force developed or employed can be measured and recorded. The
apparatus which I employ for this purpose effects mechanically a process of
integration in the following manner:-I mount a cylinder on an axis on which it
is free to slide longitudinally to and fro, and at its side I mount a disc with its
periphery in contact with the surface of the cylinder, this disc having its axis
mounted in a swivel frame so that the plane of the disc can be inclined at various
angles to the axis of the cylinder. When the disc and the axis of the cylinder are
in the same plane, the cylinder when it is slid along its axis has no tendency to
revolve, but when the plane of a disc is inclined to the axis of the cylinder the
cylinder when it is slid along its axis in contact with the inclined disc is caused to
turn more or less according as the inclination of the disc is greater or less. The
extent of the revolution thus given to the cylinder is proportional to the product
of the distance which it travels over longitudinally by the tangent of the angle
which the plane of the disc makes with the axis of the cylinder. I connect the
axis of the cylinder by suitable gearing to a counter or register, which records the
number of revolutions or parts of a revolution through which the cylinder is caused
to turn.
In applying this instrument to measure the power given out by a reciprocating
prime mover, such as a steam-engine or other engine worked by fluid pressure, [
connect the cylinder to a moving part of the engine, so that it is caused to move to
and fro longitudinally in time with and in proportion to the movements of the
working piston of the engine. To the cylinder of the engine I connect by a pipe a
small cylinder fitted with a spring pisiton, as in an ordinary indicator, or as its
equivalent a vessel covered by a flexible diaphragın, as in an aneroid barometer,
and I connect the rod of the indicator piston or a stem projecting from the
diaphragm by a pin working in a radially slotted hole to an arm fixed on the
swivelling axis of the integrating disc, so that according as the pressure varies in
the engine cylinder the plane of the disc is moved to various degrees of obliquity
to the axis of the integrating cylinder. As this cylinder is caused to reciprocate in
correspondence with the piston of the engine, it is at the same time by its frictional
contact with the disc caused to turn more or less round. The extent of revolution
thus given to the integrating cylinder is proportional to the product of the pressure
on the engine piston multiplied by the space traversed by it, and is therefore a
measure of the work done by the engine piston. As the pressure which causes the
pistou to perform this work is the excess of the pressure on one of its sides over
that on its other side, 1 prefer to make the indicator cylinder double acting, its
ends communicating respectively with the ends of the working cylinder, or when a
flexible diaphragm is substituted for the indicator piston 1 prefer to employ two of
these, subject respectively to the pressure at both ends of the working cylinder;
thus the swivelling of the integrating disc is that which is due to the excess of
pressure acting on the one side or the other of the working piston. Fig. 1 of the
accompanying Drawings is a front view partly in section; Fig. 2 is a transverse
section; and Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on Z, Z, of an integrating apparatus of

page_text: the kind above described applicable to a double acting steam or other fluid pressure
engine. A, A¹, are two vessels covered by flexible diaphragms a, a, the centres of
which are connected by an intervening stem a¹. The vessels A, A, communicate
respectively by pipes with the two ends of the working cylinder of the engine, and
they may contain a mixture of glycerine with water or other suitable liquid, which
whilst it is subject to the varying pressure of the fluid acting in the cylinder saves
the diaphragms from being effected by its heat. B is the integrating cylinder
fitted on an axis b, which may be polygonal, or have a key, as shewn, so that while
the cylinder can slide along it it must revolve with the cylinder. It gears at C
with the wheels of a counter or register of any convenient form. D is a lever
which can at any suitable part of its length be connected by a rod d to the piston
rod, beam, or other part of the engine, having movements corresponding with those
of the piston. To the lever D is connected by a ball and socket joint a yoke d'
which embraces the two ends of the integrating cylinder B, and which as the
lever D reciprocates causes the cylinder B to travel to and fro along its axis b. On
the upper surface of B bears the disc E which is mounted in a swivel frame e,
having a vertical axis e¹ pressed down by a spring e². On the axis e¹ is fixed an
arme having a radial slot, in which works a pin projecting from the stem a¹ that
connects the two diaphragms a, a, so that according as the diaphragms move inwards
or outwards in obedience to the excess of pressure on the one or other of them the
swivel frame e is caused to turn in the one or the other direction, inclining the
As the alternation of the pressure
disc E more or less to the axis of the cylinder B.
on the two diaphragms a, a, corresponds with the alternation of the longitudinal
motion of the cylinder B, the obliquity of the disc E has the effect of turning the
cylinder B always in the same direction, and the extent of this turning, as indicated
and recorded by the counter at C, is a measure of the work done, as above
explained. Although I prefer to interpose liquid between the steam and the
diaphragmns a, a, the steam might be allowed to act on them directly, in which case
the apparatus might be inverted.
-
In applying the integrating apparatus to measure the power transmitted through
a revolving shaft, I connect the integrating cylinder to the shaft, so that it is
caused by a mangle motion or equivalent mechanisin to reciprocate longitudinally
at a speed bearing a known proportion to that of the shaft. I connect the swivel
axis of the integrating disc to a differential coupling of the shaft having a spring
to take the strain passing through the shaft, the disc being thus more or less
inclined to the axis of the integrating cylinder according as the strain is greater or
less. As the integrating cylinder reciprocates, the disc if it bore against it during
its back stroke, would undo the record made during its forward stroke. I therefore
employ two discs, the one made to bear against the cylinder during its forward
stroke, and the other during its back stroke, and I thus obtain a revolving move-
ment of the cylinder always in one direction. Fig. 4 is an end view, a Fig. 5 a
plan, shewing the integrating apparatus applied in this manner to measure the
work transmitted from a revolving shaft S to another shaft S' connected to it by
a differential coupling of known kind consisting of a box F, in which are mounted
on a transverse axis bevil pinions f, f, gearing with bevil pinions on the two
shafts S, S'. The box F is prevented from revolving by a suitable spring applied
to a lever F¹ projecting from it, but it turns partly round in the one direction or
the other according as the strain transmitted through the bevel gear overpowers or
falls short of the strain of the spring. From the side of the box Fa pin ƒ¹
projects into a radial slot in an arin e of a swivel frame e, in which are mounted
the two discs E, E¹, one on each side of the integrating cylinder B. Thus as the box F
turns more or less round its axis, the discs E, E, are inclined more or less obliquely
to the axis of the cylinder B. This cylinder B is mounted in a yoke frame d
which can swing on and travel along a rod d, and which carries on its upper part
a counter C worked by worm gear c from the cylinder B. A counter shaft G
driven by a band or otherwise from the shaft S, works by worm gear a wheel H
on which is a pinion h. This pinion forms part of a mangle motion which causes

page_text: the frame to travel to and fro, as will be understood on reference to Fig. 6,
which is a plan shewing the under face of the frame d', and at each alternation of
movement it causes the frame to swing on the rod d³ from one side to the other.
Thus while the cylinder B travels in the one direction it bears against one of the
discs E or E', and while it travels in the opposite direction it bears against the
other of the discs. Thus so long as both discs remain inclined in one way
the cylinder B in both its forward and its backward strokes is caused to turn more
or less round in one direction, and the number or extent of its revolutions registered
by the counter C indicates, as above explained, the work transmitted from the
shaft S to the shaft S. Although I have in this application of the integrating
apparatus shewn a particular known form of deferential coupling for the shafts S, S',
it is to be understood that other forms of differential couplings might be
employed, such as are used for various governors, these being so arranged that a
variation of strain transmitted through a shaft occasions a movement of some part
of the coupling, which movement can be transmitted by suitable connections to
the common swivelling axis of the integrating discs E, E'. In like manner the
work conveyed by a continuously travelling strap or band may be registered, the
integrating cylinder B being caused to reciprocate at a rate proportioned to
the speed of the band and the inclination of the discs E, E', to the axis of B,
being varied according to the driving strain of the band, as determined by a suitable
dynamometer of known kind applied to the band. It is not essential that two
discs E, E', should be employed unless it be required to get a continuous record of
work done. In most cases it suffices to get a record at frequent intervals, and
therefore one of the two discs E, E', may be dispensed with, in which case every
alternate stroke of the integrating cylinder will be an idlo stroke. I proceed to
describe an arrangement of this kind in which the integrating apparatus is applied
to measure the electricity passing through a conductor in a given time, referring to
Fig. 7, which is a sido view, and Fig. 8, which is an end view. In this case the
integrating cylinder B is mounted in a bell cranked yoke in a frame d', caused to
swing on and travel along the rod d by the mangle motion pinion / which is
driven by any suitable clockwork. The disc E is mounted in a swivel frame, whose
axis e carries a galvanometer needle K, subject to the greater or less deflection
caused by more or less electricity passing through a coil surrounding it according
to any known arrangement, that coil being part of the conductor of the electricity
which is to be measured. As the cylinder B makes its stroke in the one direction
it is withdrawn from contact with the disc E, and consequently its stroke is idle,
but when it makes its stroke in the opposite direction it bears against the disc E,
and according as the disc is more or less inclined to the axis of the cylinder, as
determined by the deflection of the nccedle K, so the cylinder will be caused to
turn more or less round its axis. The number or extent of revolution thus imparted
at every alternate stroke of the cylinder B is recorded by a counter C, which is
mounted on the swing frame d', and is worked by worm or other suitable gear
from the cylinder B.
When it is desired to measure the work done by an electrical current between
two points of a conductor, that is to say, the product of the main current by the
difference of the potentials at the two points I apply the integrating apparatus as
shewn at Figs. 9 and 10, Fig. 9 being a side view partly in section, and Fig. 10
an end view. The integrating cylinder B is mounted in the yoke frame b, which
is caused by a mangle motion pinion h to travel to and fro along the rod d², and
also to swing so as to bring the cylinder into contact with each of the discs E, E',
alternately as it makes its to and fro strokes. The pinion h of the mangle motion
is driven by clock work. The swivel frame e in which the discs E, E', are mounted
is in this case fixed on the axis of a beam L, one end of which is loaded by a
weight, and from the other end is suspended the moveable core M, M', of a
stationary solenoid N, N¹. The solenoid consists of an outer coil N and an inner
coil N¹, both of large insulated wire, wound in the same direction and forming

page_text: part of the electrical conductor. The core consists of an upper part M and a lower
part M1, both consisting of fine insulated wire wound in opposite directions, this
wire forming a by pass circuit of high resistance connected to the two points O, 0¹,
of the main circuit, between which points the electrical work expended is to be
measured. It will be seen that according as the upper core M is more or less
drawn down into the solenoid, while the lower core M' is at the same time more
or less repelled downwards in opposition to the adjustable pendulum weights et,
the discs E, E, are more or less inclined to the axis of the integrating cylinder,
causing it, as it reciprocates, to turn more or less round. The number or extent of
the revolutions of the cylinder B registered in a given time on the counter C will
then give a measure of the work performed by the electricity in its circuit between
the points O, O'. When the instrument is used for weak currents, the solenoid
N, N', is preferably made as shewn with its coils wound on and in iron, as this
renders it more energetic in its action.
In order to stop the to and fro movement of the cylinder B when no electricity
is passing along the conductor to which it is applied, the clock work which moves
the mangle motion pinion h may have a detent worked by the spring armaturo of
an electromagnet, having its coil in the main circuit, this detent stopping the
clockwork when there is no current. When a current passes through the conductor
it excites the electromagnet, and the armature being attracted withdraws the
detent, permitting the clockwork to move. The same movement may break and
make contact for the by-pass circuit of the core coils M, M².
In some cases, for particular purposes of integration, instead of the integrating
cylinder, a cone, sphere, or other solid of revolution may be employed, the swivel
frame of the disc having suitable movements imparted to it. Also instead of
employing a disc having its plane more or less inclined to the axis of the cylinder,
a sphere may be employed having its rotary axis more or less inclined to that of
the cylinder, and its circle of contact with the cylinder more or less distant from
its equatorial planc. Instead of or in addition to a counter for registering the
number or extent of the revolutions of the integrating cylinder, a receptive
surface, such as paper, may be arranged to have a diagram of results traced upon
it. For example, the integrating cylinder might be clothed with a receptivo
surface, on which the disc would mark a diagram; or a band of paper might be
made to travel with the cylinder, and the diagram could be drawn on it by a
stationary tracing point.
The action of the integrating cylinder and disc might be inverted in the following
manner The cylinder while free to slide along its axis might be caused by
extraneous power to revolve in contact with the disc, and it would then be moved
longitudinally moro or less, according as the plane of the disc might deviate more
or less from being perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder. On thus making its
full longitudinal stroke the cylinder might be arranged to shift a reversing clutch,
causing it to revolve in the opposite direction; or it might be brought into contact
with a disc on its opposite side, the direction of its longitudinal motion being
thus reversed. The number of reciprocations of the cylinder effected in this
manner would represent the integral of the function determining the obliquity of
the disc.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim,-
First. For measuring mechanical or electrical power the use of integrating
apparatus wherein a cylinder is caused to travel longitudinally in frictional contact
with a disc, and is thereby caused to turn more or less round its axis, according as
the plane of the disc is more or less inclined thereto, so that the amount of.rotary
movement thus imparted to the cylinder represents the sum of a series of products
of which the spaces moved over by the cylinder and the tangents of the inclinations
of the disc are the factors.
Second. For measuring the work of a steam or other fluid motor engine the

page_text: combination of the integrating apparatus with flexible diaphragms or their
equivalents, subject to the pressure of the working fluid, substantially as described
with reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
Third. For measuring the work transmitted by a revolving shaft the combi-
nation of the integrating apparatus with a differential coupling of the shaft,
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 4, 5, and 6.
Fourth. For measuring the electricity transmitted through a conductor, the
combination of the integrating apparatus with a deflecting galvanometer needle or
movenblo solenoid core acted on by the electricity measured, substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 7.and 8, and 9 and 10.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Vernon Boys, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.