Improvements in and relating to Electric Meters.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1892-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Meters.
I RICHARD NORMAN LUCAS of No. 8 Featherstone Buildings High Holborn
in the County of London Translator of Languages do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to certain novel improvements in electric meters by means
of which the amounts of electric current passing through the instrument may be
recorded in watt-hours upon a dial. My invention may also be employed for
recording ampère-hours and volt-hours either separately or in conjunction with one
another or at one and the same time with the watt hours.
To accomplish this I make use of the principle that from a cone revolved by
clockwork or other suitable means and mounted so as to be capable of revolution
about its axis motion may be communicated to another cone similarly mounted and
arranged with its apex adjacent to the base of the first cone by means of a disc band
wheel or other suitable appliance or combination of such appliances and that in this
way the velocity of the second cone can within certain limits be made to assume
any desired relation to that of the first cone. For instance according to the
position occupied by the disc transmitting motion from the one cone to the other
the velocity of the second cone may easily be made to vary from one tenth to ten
times that of the first cone.
I may also when desirable attain a similar end by communicating motion from a
cone to a cylinder or disc or wheel or combination of such elements or from a disc
cylinder or wheel to a cone.
To measure say the volt hours or ampère hours of any given current I arrange
any suitable volt-meter or ammeter in such a way that the disc or wheel is made to
assume a position that will cause the velocities of the cone to which it communi-
cates motion to vary in proportion to what would under ordinary circumstances be
the variations in the indications of the voltmeter or ammeter in question. It may
be easily seen that in this way a pointer or series of pointers may be made to record
volt-hours or ampère-hours directly on a dial.
The movement of the disc or wheel backwards and forwards may be effected by
ordinary mechanical means namely by causing the indicator of the volt meter or
ammeter to impart motion directly to the standard or support on which the disc or
wheel revolves. But I prefer to effect the movement by means of a special
mechanism which I have devised and which obviates the necessity of causing
the indicator of the volt meter or ammeter to perform the work of moving the
disc or wheel directly enabling this to be done by the simple process of making and
breaking electrical contacts.
To measure the current in watt-hours I adopt a double application of the same
principle by means of which the velocity imparted to the second cone may be again
increased by transmission to a third or from a third to a fourth cone or cylinder the
ratio between the velocities so imparted being controlled by a second ammeter or
volt meter. As however the wattage of a current is equal to the voltage and
ampèrage multiplied together the arrangement should be such that a transmission
or variation of velocity occurs at least twice on one of which occasions it is con-
trolled by a volt meter and on the other by an ammeter. If the velocity be
transmitted or varied four times the control should be exercised twice by an
ammeter and twice by a volt-meter and so on.
It must of course be understood that I do not confine myself to any precise
number of cones or cylinders or to any precise number of times of varying the
communicated velocities.

page_text: I have also devised means for applying the principle of my invention to the
recording of the indications of the Siemens dynamometer and other instruments.
Dated this 19th day of October 1891.
RICHARD NORMAN LUCAS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Meters.
I, RICHARD NORMAN LUCAS, of 8 Featherstone Buildings High Holborn in the
City of London, 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 :-
My invention relates to certain novel improvements in electric meters, by means
of which the electric current passing through the leads or mains to which the
instrument is attached may be measured and recorded in watt-hours or other units
upon a dial. Said invention is applicable to all cases in which the one factor is
that of time, and the other that of quantity, pressure or potential, or energy.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I have appended the
accompanying four sheets of drawings, in which
Figure 1, Sheet 1 represents a front elevation of one form of instrument and
Figure 2 upon the same sheet an end elevation thereof.
Figure 3 Sheet 2 is a plan view of the same and Figure +, Sheet 3 and Figure 5
Sheet 4 are diagrammatic views of the electrical connections for the better illus-
tration of the description.
'
As far as possible similar letters of reference are used to denote corresponding
or like parts in the several views.
In carrying my invention into effect I utilise the principle that from a cone
revolved by clockwork or other suitable means, mounted so as to be capable of
revolution about its own axis, motion may be communicated to another cone
similarly mounted and arranged so that its apex is adjacent to the base of the first
or driving cone, by means of a disc, band, or other suitable appliance or com-
bination of such appliances and that in this way the velocity of the second cone,
may, within certain limits be made to assume any desired relation to that of the
first cone. For instance, according to the position occupied by the disc transmitting
motion from the driving cone to the other, the velocity of this latter may be caused
to vary within the limits of one tenth to ten times that of said driving cone.
may in some cases transmit the motion of the driving cone to a cylinder disc or
wheel, or vice versu.
I
Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the appended drawings; the spindle
upon which B is mounted may be driven by clockwork or other suitable means. The
rotary motion is transferred to A by means of the disc e which is free to slide upon
its spindle or arbor. A. volt or ampere meter of any suitable construction is
placed at so that its index or needle may control the position of the disc e.
I prefer however to perform this operation electrically; and, to effect this, I cause
the spindle or arbor of the disc e to be furnished with a screw thread of fine pitch,
an internal thread in the bore of the disc corresponding thereto. Said spindle or
arbor terminates in a bevel or mitre wheel, two similar wheels being arranged
upon a feathered sleeve F so as to slide upon a transverse shaft or spindle s in
such a manner that either of said wheels may gear with that first mentioned while
the other is out of gear. As a modification of the foregoing, I may make use of an
arrangement, which presents certain practical advantages, and in which the disc is
mounted in bearings, while the screw, causing it to advance and retire, works in a
shoulder rigidly connected with said bearings.
The aforesaid transverse shaft is rotated by a suitable motor, preferably an
electrical motor, absorbing a negligible amount of electrical energy, the direction of

page_text: rotation being always the same. Electromagnets G, G¹, G", G" are arranged
opposite to each other so that a pivotted lever E acting as an armature may be
attracted to either which may at the time be vitalised. The upper part of the
lever E is forked or otherwise arranged so as to operate the sleeve F carrying
the two wheels upon the transverse shaft, and put either into gear according to the
vitalisation of the magnets, thus reversing the motion of the screwed spindle or
arbor of e or e¹ and causing the latter to move either up or down between the.
reverse cones thus varying the rate of transmission of motion. The needle or
index of the ampère or volt meter is caused to make contact on either side of a
forked contact piece a and a', according to the direction and magnitude of the
deflection.
The diagram upon Sheet 3, enumerated as Figure 4, shews the electrical circuit
necessary to produce the above mentioned effect, and may be arranged as a shunt
from the main conductors, or connected to a separate source of electric energy.
The contacts of and shewn in Fig. 4 correspond with the forks a and a in
Figures 1, and 3. The ampère or volt meter c is arranged so that its needle or
index is directly connected to the circuit, and forms a moveable contact therewith,
operating between f and ¹, and causing either of the magnets G or G¹ to be
vitalised, deflecting the lever E in either direction upon its pivot or fulcrum b and¸
moving the sleeve F as hereinbefore described.
The motor g may be included in the circuit in the manner shewn in the diagram
but I do not confine myself to this special mode of connecting the various parts, but
may vary this according to the conditions of requirement. In constructing a watt-
hour meter, which I have chosen as an example, and have illustrated by the
appended drawings I duplicate the arrangement, making A the driven cone,
connected with the clockwork or equivalent mechanism, the ratio of transmission
being controlled by the measuring instrument d. The rotary motion of B being
transmitted to H by reason of these being mounted upon one spindle, the ratio of
transmission of the rotary movement to the final cone C is controlled by the
measuring instrument c in the manner herein before described. Any form of counter
or rejector may be attached to, or operated by the spindle of C, and as the con-
struction of such appliances varies considerably, and forms no essential part of my
invention, I do not illustrate it in the appended drawings.
The measuring instruments c and d Figs. 1 & 3 in the instance illustrated
represent the factors of pressure or potential and quantity respectively, and the
mechanism used for giving a regular rotary motion to A represents the time factor,
thus enabling me to construct an instrument for accurately measuring and recording
the expenditure of electrical energy in terms of watt hours or any other equivalent
unit.
In some
cases I may vary the velocities four or more times, but in such
instruments a voltmeter and an ampere meter must be employed to control each
couple, these being suitably connected relatively to the main circuit.
Said
I may also simplify the arrangement and render it more compact by using,
instead of an ammeter or voltmeter, a movable coil of thin wire 'n and of high
resistance, through which passes a shunt current as shown in Figure 5.
movable coil is, in this case, deflected by means of a coil of stout wire N through
which passes the whole current. The instrument thus constructed is used in com-
bination with two cones in the manner previously described.
The position of the ammeter, wattmeter, voltmeter or other measuring device
adopted, is of importance in the construction of the apparatus. The points at which
the disc e can be situated so that corresponding variations in velocity shall be
transmitted from the one cone to the other, are not equidistant but approach one
another in a certain fixed proportion. In order that the disc e shall be brought
into these positions by the controlling instrument employed, namely an ammeter
voltmeter or the like, I place the latter at such a point that the tangents of the
angles through which its needle is deflected by equal variations in the current, shall
be equal to the distances between the different positions of the disc e, so that

page_text: corresponding changes of velocity shall be transmitted from one cone to the other
as before mentioned.
I may use a Siemens dynamometer or any other instrument for measuring the
pressure, the current strength, or both, in combination with the regulated rotating
cones hereinbefore described; and any pair of such cones, in combination with
a suitable measuring instrument may be used as a recording volt or ampere
meter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
First. In an electric meter, the combination of reverse cones, one being driven by
clockwork, or the like, and a dise or equivalent between each pair of said cones for
transmitting the motion controlled by an electrical measuring instrument, with a
counter or other recording device, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
by the appended drawings.
Second. In an electric meter, the arrangement of an ammeter, voltmeter, watt-
meter or other measuring instrument so that the tangents of the angles to which
the needle of said measuring instrument is deflected by equal variations in the
amount of current measured, shall correspond to such positions of the disc between
the two cones controlled thereby, as to cause changes in the velocity of one of the
cones proportional to changes in the amount of the current measured, substantially
as herein described.
Third. In an electric meter the arrangement of any number of cones, regulated
by an electrical measuring instrument for each pair, substantially as herein
described.
Fourth. The adaptation of said arrangement of cones and regulating mechanism
in combination with suitable electrical measuring instruments to the production of
recording voltmeters and ampere meters substantially as herein described.
Fifth. The combination of the various parts and appliances, for the measurement
of electric currents substantially as herein described, and shown on the accom-
panying sheets of drawings.
Dated thin 4th d... ST. 1000
FREDK. WALKER,
!
11, Furnival Street, Holborn, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.