An Electric Meter.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1890
An Electric Meter.
I, ALPHONSE FRAGER of No. 23 Boulevard de Strasbourg Paris, France Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
-
This invention relates to an electric meter consisting of three principal parts or
organs.
(1) An electro-dynamometer which at every instant indicates the electric energy
expended per 'second, (2) a clockwork which indicates the time during which the
energy is expended, (3) a counter which registers the product of energy by time on
suitable dials.
(1) The electro dynamometer consists of a coil of high resistance having its axis
horizontal fixed on a vertical axis which passes through its middle, this axis being an
elastic wire, of adjustable torsine force which passes through the vertical axes of two
coils, the one above, the other below the coil first mentioned. The wire of the first
coil is traversed by a current external to the circuit of the consumer the intensity of
this current being proportional to the difference of potential at its two extremities;
the wires of the other two coils are traversed each by half the current transmitted to
the consumer. A needle attached to the axis of the first coil shews the deflection
of the coil in opposition to the torsion of its suspending wire, the zero of the deflection
angle being arranged to give great sensitiveness.
(2) The clockwork consists of a spring balance wheel adjusted to make one to and
fro oscillation per second, and at each double oscillation to move by a pawl a ratchet
wheel of 100 teeth, one tooth, so that this time wheel makes one revolution in 100
seconds. The iron axis of the balance wheel passes between the poles of two pairs of
electromagnets and is so shaped that when the balance wheel is at the extreme of its
oscillation in the one direction, the magnets being then excited, their attraction gives
rotative impulse to the axis. The axis also moves contacts which open and close the
circuit of the electromagnets in time with the oscillations of the balance wheel, which
is thus maintained oscillating as long as a current. passes through the instrument.
The contacts moved by the balance wheel are so arranged that after having stopped,
the parts are in position for starting afresh when the instrument is again put in
circuit.
(3) The counter consists of a set of dials with indices geared together and to a
horizontal ratchet wheel. Above this ratchet wheel is a horizontal cam which is
caused to revolve by the time wheel once in 100 seconds and which is so mounted on
its vertical axis that it is inclined downwards by the weight or elasticity of the index
of the electro dynamometer when it bears upon it. When it is thus inclined, an arm
attached to the cam is depressed so that a pawl carried by the arm engages the ratchet
wheel of the counter. The cam is so shaped that the extent of the arc traversed on it
by the index of the electro-dynamometer is proportional to the electric energy
measured by the electro-dynamometer, consequently the movement imparted to the
counter is proportional to the expenditure of energy during every 100 seconds.
When it is desired to register, not energy, but quantity, a bar of soft iron is
substituted for the resistance coil of the electro dynamometer, which then acts as an
ampère meter.
Dated this 29th day of May 1889.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Electric Meter.
I, ALPHONSE FRAGER of No. 23 Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris, France 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 relates to an electric meter consisting of three principal parts or
organs. (1.) An electric dynamometer which at every instant indicates the electric
energy expended per second (2) a clockwork which indicates the time during which
the energy is expended. (3) a counter which registers the product of energy by time
on suitable dials.
I will proceed to describe the construction and action of my improved electric meter
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shews a longitudinal
section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 a plan. Fig. 3 an end view from the side of the
registering apparatus. Fig. 4 is an end view from the side of the electro dynamo-
meter, Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the clock work on the line 1-2 Fig. 1. Figs. 6
and 7 an elevation and plan to an exagerated scale of the upper end of the axis of the
balance wheel of the clockwork, and of the spring operating therewith. Figs. 8 and 9
shew two other positions of the said axis.
The electro dynamo meter consists of two solenoids, one A with fine wire coils, of
great resistance, which is rotatable round a vertical axis a, and is on a shunt of the
consumers circuit. The intensity of the current passing through such circuit is at
all times proportional to the difference of potential between the two extremities of the
circuit.
The second solenoid is formed of two fixed coils B B¹ symetrically arranged in
vertical positions. These two coils are shewn separately in front elevation at Fig. 10
and in back elevation at Fig. 11; Fig. 12 is a section on line 3-4 of the coil B.
Fig. 13 is a section on line 5-6 of the coil B¹. Fig. 14 is a diagram shewing the
connections of the meter with the line and with the consumers circuit.
The coils B B are wound in contrary directions as shewn at Figs. 12 and 13 and
are connected together at m.
The moveable coil A is mounted on a tubular axis a through which passes a metal
wire b which serves both as a suspending wire and as torsional spring. The wire b is
connected at c to the lower end of the axis and at the upper end it is fixed to a
regulating screw v¹.
The action of the solenoid B B' upon the moveable one A is reduced to a couple,
the moment of which is proportional to the strength of the distributed current, and is
a function of the angle which the axes of the solenoids form between them; on the
other hand the resisting couple of the torsion wire b is proportional to the angle of
deviation; from this it follows that the position of the pointer C which is fixed on the
axis a of the moveable coil A is determined by the expenditure of the apparatus.
The moveable coil and its pointer form a system in equilibrio which. is not affected
by gravity.
In applying the above described apparatus to the measurement of currents, the
coils B and B are connected to one of the terminals of the station by the contact
post 1, and to the consumers circuit by the contact post 1'.
The posts 2 and 21, which are connected together at the interior of the apparatus,
receive indifferently, the one the second wire of the station, and the other the second
end of the consumers circuit. The whole of the consumers current consequently
passes through the fixed coils.
The fine wire of the electro dynamometer A is on a shunt from the connection C¹¹
which connects 1 and-2.
The clockwork consists of a balance wheel D with vertical axis provided with a
spiral spring F and making second beats.
Its motion is produced and maintained electrically by the following arrangements;

page_text: The axis of the wheel D (Figs. 1 and 5) is an iron rod having 2, 3, 4 or 6 wings
and passing freely through the axis of the fixed coil E and forming with this coil an
electro magnet the poles of which are at a and a¹, this coil E is enclosed in a vertical
cylindrical fixed box of iron Z the upper and lower ends of which are shaped as shewn
at Fig. 5 so as to form a number of openings equal to the number of the wings of the
axis, such as six, as shewn on the drawing.
The connection between the wire e and the coil E is directly established but the
communication between it and wire e¹ is effected through a spring contact arranged
as follows; a screw g insulated from the mass is in contact with the spring h, the end
of which faces a contact i (Figs. 2, 6 and 7) formed in one with a screw j.
The screws 9 and j are insulated, their supports being formed in one with the
ebonite frame k. The screw j is connected to a conductor which passes to the
coil E. The upper part of the axis of the wheel D is constructed as follows: A cap n
fixed by a pin to the upper end of the axis f, has a groove o with which can engage a
stud p on the spring h (Fig. 7). In this position the spring h touches the point i of
screw and the circuit is closed. Below the cap na second cap g is fitted loose on
the axis (Figs. 1, 6, 7 8 and 9) and has a groove or recess o¹ which is wider than
that o of the cap n (Figs. 6 and 7). The cap n has a projecting tooth which has a
certain amount of play in a cavity s on the top of the cap q the cavity s being larger
than the tooth r. By means of this tooth r the axis fis made to carry the cap round
with it in oscillating, when the tooth butts against the sides of the cavity.
In the position of equilibrium the balance wheel D is acted upon by its spiral
spring in such manner that the wings of the axis f correspond with the spaces of the
fixed armature Z (Fig. 5).
In this position also, the centre of the groove o of the cap n Fig. 7 coincides with
the edge of the stud p. When the current passes, the axis f turns through a certain
angle, one side of the groove o, that at the right hand Fig. 7, for example, raises the
stud p; the circuit being interrupted, the axis f of the wheel D is turned back by
the action of the spiral spring, and a certain time elaspes before the attraction is
re-established and turns the axis forward again; the balance wheel thus has increasing
oscillations imparted to it until on passing the point at which the wings of the axis
coincide with the spaces of the fixed armature, the balance wheel is attracted, so as to
cause n to come in contact with the other side of the stud p, and to raise it, so that
the oscillations are at least equal to the width of the groove o of n.
The stud p being
made to drop into the groove at each semi oscillation, and thus to close the contact i,
the balance wheel will receive two impulses at each double oscillation.
With a sufficiently strong current, the oscillation, which tends to increase at each
impulse, could attain an exagerated value; the cap q serves to prevent this.
In the equilibrium position after a normal stoppage by gradually decreasing
oscillations, the groove o of the cap n, that o¹ of 9 and the vertical recess s of 9 are all
symetrically situated relatively to the plane through the stud p and axis f. For an
oscillation at most equal to the width of s, it is evident that the moveable cap q will not
be moved; if the oscillations exceed the width of s, the cap q will be carried with / by
the tooth r, but there are still two impulses for each oscillation as the edges of the
groove o¹ do not act upon the stud p. If the oscillation exceeds the width of both s
and o¹ the sides of the latter will come under the stud, and will lock it in the raised
position. If the width of o is such that on the return motion the grooves o and o¹
cross each other; the impulses will be stopped, as the caps n and
present any recess for the stud to drop into, as shewn at Figs. 8 and 9. When the
oscillations diminish, the grooves o and o¹ of the two caps again coincide, and the
springh again makes contacts so as to impart fresh impulses to the axis f.
will then not
When the current ceases, the oscillations of both caps gradually diminish, the cap g
coming first to a standstill in a position which will be more or less symetrical with
regard to the stud p, after which the cap n will come to a standstill with the centre of
its groove coinciding with the edge of the stud. The apparatus thus comes to a
standstill in a definite position in readiness for the next start.
The registering apparatus is carried by a piece G which is in one with the framing

page_text: of the meter; it consists of a vertical axis H to-the lower part of which is fixed-a
wheel I with 100 teeth which is actuated directly by a pawl J with a tail, as shewn
at Fig. 15, which is a plan on the line 7-8 Fig. 1; this pawl J is mounted
excentrically on the axis of the balance wheel.
At each oscillation the point u of the pawl engages with the teeth and causes the
wheel to advance one tooth; the tail of the pawl limits the backward motion
of the point relatively to the wheel during the return motion of the axis f; the
axis H of the registering apparatus consequently makes one revolution in 100 seconds.
For preventing the backward motion of the toothed wheel 1, I arrange within the
same (Fig. 15) an oblique finger t pivotted at a and acted upon by a spring so as
to allow of the rotation of the wheel in the one direction but acting as a brake in
the contrary direction.
The axis H carries at its upper end a construction of clutch gearing to be
presently described, which under the action of the pointer ( of the dynamometer,
actuates to a certain extent at each revolution the main wheel K which drives the
train of wheels of the clockwork.
This wheel K is mounted on a hollow spindle L concentric with the axis of the
wheel I, and carrying at its lower end a bevil pinion M gearing with another bevil
pinion N fixed on the first motion-shaft of the clockwork of the counter dials X. This
clockwork and the corresponding dials, which are shewn at Figs. 1, 3, and 16, are of
well known construction. The clutch gearing shewn in section at Fig. 17 and in plan
at Fig. 18 consists of two principal parts; the incline y and the cam o, which carries
the pawl z arranged over the main wheel K. The incline y in revolving horizontally
with the shaft H on which it is fixed, meets at each revolution the point ẞ of the
pointer C of the dynamometer; this point ẞ rises in clearing this inclined surface,
and the pointer bears against the lower side of the bridge piece j fixed to the framing,
which is curved concentrically to the axis a of the electro dynamometer. The
pointer is thus fixed at each revolution of the shaft H in the position of equilibrium,
in which it then finds itself.
When the incline y has passed the point 3 of the pointer, this by virtue of its elasticity
falls on the cam 0; the cam which is carried by the arms 88 fixed on the horizontal
shafts, drops and its pawl Z engages with the teeth of the wheel K, so that this
wheel is then carried round during the whole time that the pointer rests on the
cam O. The point ẞ of the pointer describes on this cam O an arc, the central angle
of which, for each position is proportional to the energy of the distributed current.
The extent of the rotation of the wheel K, is consequently also proportional to this
energy, and the clockwork advances during each period of 100 seconds a quantity
which represents the expenditure of energy during this time.
The conditions required for an energy meter are thus obtained. If an amperè
meter be substituted for the electro-dynamometer a quantity meter will be obtained.
For this purpose it suffices to replace the solenoid A by a bar of soft iron.
The entire apparatus is enclosed in a glass or zinc casing through which the
dials can be seen and which is fixed to the base by sealed screws.
The connecting posts 1, 11, 2, 21, are outside the casing, under wooden plates P
which are screwed and sealed.
The step bearings of the shaft a of the electrodynamometer and shaft f of the balance
wheel are carried by screws V2 V2 Fig. 1, which can be turned from the outside so as
to lock the shafts during transport. The arrangements which I have adopted in this
apparatus have the effect of increasing the sensitiveness with a small consumption, and
of allowing a simple and quick regulation.
The axis of the moveable coil A of the electrodynamometer forms an angle of 45°
with the plane of the fixed coils B B', which angle increases, with an increased
expenditure consequently the extent to which the pointer is displaced for one and the
same increment of current will diminish in proportion as the expenditure diminishes.
At about Zero it is triple that which it is at about the maximum for which the
apparatus is constructed, it results from this:
1. That the apparatus is very sensitive for a small expenditure.

page_text: 2. That in varying the position of the pointer relative to the coil A, the variations of
exactness which trials may show between the indications at small and at great
expenditure can be made to vanish.
When these differences are done away with and the clockwork is nearly regulated to
the second, it suffices to make a trial during a fixed time and to replace the wheel with
100 teeth 1 by a wheel with a greater or less number of teeth according as the meter
is too fast or too slow. If this difference is too great, the bevil wheel N which
actuates the clockwork can be replaced by a suitable wheel without changing the
pinion M which can be raised or lowered on the shaft L.
The apparatus is applicable to continuous or alternating currents; it suffices for the
latter to reduce the resistance of the shuut circuit of the apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1-
1. In an electric meter the use of a fixed solenoid in the form of two parallel coils
between which passes the spindle of the moveable solenoid arranged in the centre, the
fixed coils being made to receive the whole of the distributed current, substantially as
described.
2. In an electric meter the arrangement of the clockwork wherein firstly a balance
wheel is acted upon by a spiral spring and is mounted on a vertical spindle, such wheel
being made to beat seconds by the action of an electromagnet surrounding the spindle
of the balance wheel, the spindle being formed with a number of wings, while the coil
of the electromagnet is enclosed in a fixed cylindrical iron casing having a number of
openings corresponding to that of the said wings, and secondly wherein such balance
wheel and spindle are made to receive from the electromagnet two impulses at each
double oscillation by means of the combination of a spring contact h and stud p with
two grooved caps n and q carried by the spindle, the one cap n being fixed on the
spindle of the balance wheel and having a tooth taking into a recess of greater width
in the second cap q which is loose on the spindle, substantially as described.
3. Actuating the first motion shaft of the registering counter by means of the
balance wheel of the clockwork, through the medium of a pawl actuating a toothed
wheel, the train of wheels of the counter being driven by the said first motion shaft by
means of a clutch gear the duration of whose action varies with the position of the
pointer of the electrodynamometer, substantially as described.
4. The construction of the clutch gear referred to in the preceding claim, consisting
of an incline fixed on the first motion shaft of the registering apparatus on which rises
the end of the pointer of the electrodynamometer so as to be held thereby, and a cam
which revolves with the said shaft and which drops under the action of the pointer
when this has cleared the said incline, such lowering of the cam causing the engage-
ment of the first motion shaft of the registering counter substantially as described.
5. The construction of the cam referred to in the preceding claim in such manner
that the central angle of the are described at each revolution upon the said cam by the end
of the pointer when locked in position, shall be for each part proportional to the energy
of the current expended at the moment.
6. Arranging the fixed and moveable solenoids of the electrodynamometer with
their central planes at an angle of 45° to each other, in order to obtain for the pointer
displacements that shall be the greater for one and the same increment of current, the
more the expenditure, diminishes, whereby the sensitiveness of the apparatus for
small expenditures is insured, substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of December 1889.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.