Improvements in Electric Meters.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 12th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Meters.
We THE ELECTRIC METER COMPANY LIMITED, of 25 College Hill in the
City of London and THOMAS PARKER Electrician of Newbridge House Wolver-
hampton Co-inventor do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention consists of the following improvements in electric meters which if
desired can in whole or part be used in conjunction with or in substitution of corre-
of 1890,
sponding parts of the meters described in the previous Patents No. 4791
and No. 14729 of 1887.
The improved apparatus consists of a combination of an ammeter, with an
arrangement constructed on the principle of pedometer and clockwork, these
being dependent on each other, the clockwork supplying the motive power whereby
the mechanism is driven subject to regulation effected by means of levers the action
of which is controlled at certain intervals of time by a suitable ammeter, the index
pointer of which is specially shaped for the purpose.
By means of a combination substantially as described, it is possible to measure in
ampere hours the amount of current passing through an electric circuit. The
position of the index of the ammeter regulates the length of travel of the pedo-
meter mechanism, picks up by friction the registering train of wheels, always
moving them in a forward direction only, and thereby recording periodically the
indication of the ammeter, the figures of the dials being so arranged as to record
the current passing through the ammeter in ampere hours. This may be varied to
other quantities if desired.
The improved meter is capable of registering either alternating or continuous
currents..
+
By preference such an ammeter is used as is manufactured by The Electric
Construction Corporation Limited, arranged to register from zero on the right
hand of the scale to maximum on the left hand & to indicate the strength of the
current through an arc of approximately 90°.
The lever of the pedometer mechanism is curved and so fixed in relation to the
clockwork and ammeter that the hollow side of the curved lever drops on
the extremity of the index or pointer of the latter, & the end of the pointer or
index is made broad & flat for this purpose. The proper curvature being given
to the lever it allows the correct amount of travel on the pedometer. The com-
bination acts in the following manner..
The pointer of the ammeter is deflected to various angles according to the
strength of the current passing; a curved piece of metal at one end of the pivoted
lever falls by its own weight until it is arrested by the pointer. The lower edge of
the curved piece may be milled to prevent slipping. The distance to which the
curved piece drops regulates the amount of forward travel given at regular intervals
by the clockwork to the indicator movement, the dials of which are actuated in the
usual manner.
Should there be no current passing and the ammeter pointer be at
zero, the curved piece although resting on it will be in such a position that the
other extremity of the pivoted lever will be beyond the reach of the revolving arm
in the clock, and no forward movement will be communicated to the counter.
little current passes the pointer of the ammeter is slightly deflected to the left, & the
curved piece will drop slightly; & each time the arm of the clock comes round, it
will act on the lever to a corresponding extent, pushing forward the counter through
the requisite number of divisions or degrees to cause record on the dials of the
current passing for that fraction of the hour. Thus if 20 amperes are passing &
If a

page_text: the lever is acted on every three minutes for one hour, that is to say during twenty
revolutions of the carrier or revolving arm, twenty ampere hours will be recorded
on the dials. It will thus be noticed that when one ampere is passing through the
circuit the lever moves forward & records th of an ampere hour if the current
is only passing three minutes; if for thirty minutes it would record half an ampere 5
hour; if for 60 minutes one ampere hour.
Dated this 13th day of December 1890.
For ELECTRIC METER COMPANY, LIMITED,
S. Leith Tomkins, Managing Director.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Meters.
We THE ELECTRIC METER COMPANY LIMITED of 25 College Hill, in the
City of London and THOMAS PARKER Electrician of Newbridge House Wolver-
hampton Inventor 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 :-
Our invention consists of an improved apparatus whereby it is possible to measure
in ampere hours the amount of current passing along an electric circuit, being an
improvement on the Douglas Patent No. 4791 of 1890.
The improved apparatus consists of a combination of an ammeter with an
arrangement constructed on the principle of a pedometer, and clockwork, these
being dependent on each other, the clockwork supplying the motive power whereby
the mechanism is driven subject to regulation effected by means of levers the
action of which is controlled at certain intervals of time by a suitable ammeter, the
index pointer of which is specially shaped for the purpose.
By means of a combination substantially as described it is possible to measure in
ampere hours the amount of current passing through an electric circuit. The index
of the ammeter regulates the length of travel of the pedometer mechanism the
pedometer mechanism picks up by friction the registering train of wheels always
moving them in the forward direction only and thereby recording periodically the
indication of the ammeter the figures on the dials being so arranged as to record
the current passing through the ammeter in ampere hours. This may be varied to
other quantities if desired. The improved meter is capable of registering either
alternating or continuous currents. use by preference such an ammeter as is
manufactured by The Electric Construction Corporation Company arranged to
register from zero on the right hand of the scale to maximum on the left hand and
to indicate through an arc of approximately 90°. The lever of the pedometer
mechanism is curved (or it may be made to carry a curve consisting of two arms,
each one being adjustable) and so fixed in relation to the clockwork and ammeter
that it drops on the extremity of the pointer of the latter, the end of the pointer or
index is made broad and flat for this purpose. The proper curvature being given
to the lever it allows the correct amount of travel on the pedometer. The com-
bination acts in the following manner. The pointer of the ammeter is deflected
to various angles according to the strength of current passing, a curved piece of
metal at one end of a pivoted lever falls by its own weight until it is arrested by
the pointer, the lower edge of the curved piece may be milled to prevent slipping,
the distance to which the curved piece drops regulates the amount of forward travel
given at regular intervals by the clockwork to the indicator movement, the dials of
which are actuated in the usual manner. Should there be no current passing and
the ammeter pointer be at zero the curved piece although resting on it will be in
such a position that the other extremity of the pivoted lever will be but just within
reach of the revolving arm in the clock and no appreciable forward movement will
be communicated to the counter, if a little current passes, the pointer of the

page_text: ammeter is slightly deflected to the left the curved piece will drop slightly, and
each time the arm of the clock comes round it will act on the lever to a corre-
sponding extent, pushing forward the counters through the requisite number of
divisions or degrees to cause a record on the dials of the current passing for that
fraction of the hour, thus if 20 amperes are passing and the lever is acted on every
three minutes one twentieth part of that quantity or one ampere will be recorded on
the dials and so on for other positions.
With reference to the drawings a, is the curved or intergraded arm which takes
its bearing from the axle of the wheel c, which is pivoted between the bottom or back
plate b, that carrys the train of index wheels and the brass bracket d, the clutch
wheel C
is a smooth edged brass wheel marked out in equal parts or divisions, the
axle of this wheel is so fixed as to form the first axle of a train of counting wheels,
the curve a, and the arms a 1, and a 2, are one piece of metal or the three parts are
rigidly fixed together; the whole moving freely on the axle of the clutch wheel; to
the arm a 1, is rigidly fixed a spring f, resting on the edge or rim of the clutch
wheel c, in such a manner as to only allow the wheel c, to revolve in a direction
opposite to.the hands of the clock; there is also fixed on the front plate carrying
the ampere meter and index or counting wheels, another small spring g, which also
rests on the rim of the clutch wheel c, and is so fixed and adjusted to prevent the
wheel c, from moving in any other direction than that opposite to the hands of the
clock, the arm a 2, with the curved intergraded scale a, being heavier falls down-
wards, but the distance through which it drops is controlled by the pointer t, of the
ampere meter which moves to the left according to the strength of the current
passing through the coil h, of the ampere meter k; m, is a carrier with a pin o,
fixed near the end, this carrier makes one revolution every three minutes and is
driven by a self winding or other suitable clock p, and forms the connection with
the recording dials; when the intergraded curved arm or scale is at zero point the
pin o, on the carrier which connects the counting dials with the clock, passes very
nearly free on account of no current passing, and no perceptible record is made by
the counter, but when a current passes through the ampere meter and the pointer t,
moved by the current, the curved scale carried by the arm a 2, falls down upon the
pointer, and the arm a 1, carrying the spring f, is raised, thus the greater the
deflection of the pointer the greater the distance arm a 1, is raised, and the arm a 2,
with the curved scale a, lowered, it will tnus be noticed that when a weak current
is passing, the pin o, only presses on the arm a 1, during a small portion of the
revolution of the carrier m, and during a stronger current, the fall and rise of a 1,
and a 2, being greater, o, presses longer, causing f, which is fixed on the arm a 1,
to revolve the clutch or unit counting wheel forward in proportion.
The dials above should be marked to show the consumption of electricity in
ampere hours.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. The combination of the curved arm moveable on the axle of the leading or
clutch wheel of a train of index dials, the position of the curved arm being regu-
lated as described by the deflection of the index hand attached to any circular
ammeter, substantially shown in the drawings annexed.
2. We also claim the use of the carrier m, with the pin o, as herein set forth and
substantially shown in the accompanying drawings.
THE ELECTRIC METER COMPANY, LD.,
S. Leith Tomkins, Managing Director,
On behalf of The Electric Meter Coy., Limited.
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