Improved Apparatus for Supplying or Measuring a Current of Electricity.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 4th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 4th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Supplying or Measuring a Current of
Electricity.
We, WILLIAM DOBSON WATSON, Manufacturer, of Falinge Road, and THOMAS
HUMPHREYS, Electrical Engineer, of 4, Sladen Street, both of Rochdale, in the
County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of apparatus for supplying a definite
amount of electricity upon prepayment of its equivalent value or otherwise, and
especially to such apparatus as are required to supply the said current in varying
quantity, say for varying numbers of lamps to be lighted at the same time or for
other purposes; and our improvements are applicable to that class of apparatus
wherein the current is measured by clockwork according to the time taken for
a given current to flow through the meter.
The principal parts of this invention are as follows:―
6
1. An ordinary clockwork motion provided with means for working a governing
lever controlling the escapement of an auxiliary clockwork motion with actuates
an indicator and a cut out" device, the said governing lever being so combined
with an ampere meter as to remain inactive when no current is being used, and
to allow the aforesaid escapement to work slowly or quickly according as a greater
or less amount of current is being used.
2. Special means hereafter described for regulating the action of the ampere
meter without calibrating the latter.
"
3. A special construction setting mechanism for setting back the cut out"
regulator and the indicator according to the amount of electricity paid for, if the
prepayment system is to be adopted.
4. A special construction of "cut out" or mechanism for cutting off the current
supply when the whole of the electricity paid for has been used, if the
prepayment system is to be adopted.
In the first place we make use of any ordinary clock motion, and upon any
convenient and suitable arbor or shaft thereof we fix a cam of such form that as the
said arbor revolves the cam will actuate through a bowl (or otherwise) one end of
the governing lever before mentioned, which is by preference cranked and provided
with a suitable weight or spring to cause it, when allowed to do so, to rest in
contact with the entire surface of the said cam.
1
1
The other end of this governing lever is formed or provided with a cam surface
in the shape of a slot wire, flange, or edge, of zigzag or similar form to cause a pin
peg clip or equivalent device upon the escapement lever of the auxiliary clockwork
before named to work the escapement and allow one tooth thereof to escape, and (if
desired) to repeat this escape once or more times, according to the degree of motion
imparted to the governor, and the possible requirements of the meter, the full

page_text: stroke of the governing lever as hereafter explained causing the maximum motion
of the auxiliary clockwork to correspond with the time taken by the flow of the full
amount of current for which the meter is adapted, for example in order to light the
whole of a number of lamps to be supplied by the meter.
In order to regulate the stroke of the governing lever according to the time taken
by the flow of the amount of current being used, or to stop the action of the said
lever in case no current is being used, we provide the said governing lever with a
graduated adjustably stepped cam surface, and we fit to the apparatus an ampere
meter, the armature of which is formed or provided with a projection or armi in
such a position with regard to the last named cam surface that as the position of
the said armature changes according to the amount of current being used (the
ampere meter being in the circuit thereof) or according to the stoppage of such
current, the bowl on the end of the governing lever will be moved partly or entirely
out of reach of the cam worked by the clockwork first named, and consequently
the action of the escapement will quicken or retard or arrest the motion of the
indicator and cut out disc hereafter described.
The governing lever may work in any convenient position with regard to the
ampere meter, and if preferred the armature of the latter may carry the graduated
or stepped cam surface and the arm or projection may be formed or fitted on the
governing lever.
It will therefore be evident that owing to this cam surface it will not be necessary
to calibrate the ampere meter, as the said surface can be adjusted or formed to
agree exactly with the motion of the ampere meter which is applied in each case.
In the case of a prepayment meter the auxiliary clockwork, the speed of motion
(or stoppage) of which is thus regulated by the amount of current supply (or the
stoppage of the same), actuates a disc or wheel which is actuated by friction from
its shaft or arbor so that it can be set like the hands of a clock; and this disc or
wheel is provided with a suitable notch or recess into which the end of a weighted
cut out or switch lever can engage. In this position the said switch lever raises a
switch from mercury in a suitable pot or vessel, and the circuit is broken and the
current shut off.
When however the disc is set in such a position that the end of the cut out or
switch lever is not in the recess, the said lever is held by the periphery of a suitable
part of the disc in such a position that the switch dips into the mercury and the
electric circuit is completed to supply the desired current.
This disc may be set back by hand by any authorized person, and the amount of
such set back is indicated either by a graduated dial rotating with the disc behind
a fixed point or by a pointer rotating in front of a fixed dial, so that the amount
of the current of electricity paid for and unused is clearly and readily ascertained.
We prefer however to set back the disc as follows; we provide the periphery
thereof with a suitable surface in contact with which a friction sector can act;
this sector is rotated by a suitable handle and shaft, which however are prevented
by a ratchet wheel and fixed catch from rotating backwards, and are held by a
suitable cam from rotating forwards.
This cam rests against the end of a lever which however is withdrawn by the
weight of a coin dropped into the apparatus through a convenient aperture; the
cam being then released the handle can be turned and the sector brought into
contact with the disc which it will rotate and set back until it has passed out of
contact therewith.
We prefer to make the sector in two parts held together by a set screw and slot
so that the length of are or friction surface can be increased or reduced according
to the price to be charged for the electricity. We also arrange upon the sector
shaft a second sector or cam of such length and in such a position as to act upon
the cut out or switch and withdraw it from the recess in the setting disc before
the setting sector begins to act thereon, and to release the said switch lever
before the setting back of the disc is completed.
When the current commences the main clock work will through the auxiliary

page_text: clockwork gradually return the disc to its original position, and the cut out lever
will then move into the recess and shut off the current supply.
If desired one of the auxiliary clockwork wheels may be provided with or
otherwise actuate an indicating dial or pointer to shew the exact amount of current
used independently of the coins found in the receiver.
We propose also to provide the clockwork with a device which when the key
of the clock is inserted into the keyhole will cause the electric circuit to be broken,
and the current supply will cease until the key is removed, and thus the clock
can not be kept stopped by the key while the current is being supplied; and
part of the said device will be so connected to the pendulum or balance wheel of
the clock as to give the same an impulse and start the clockwork on withdrawing
the key.
The electric circuit may be caused also to be broken by the running down of the
clock.
A feature of this invention not previously described is the combination with a
prepayment meter for the supply of electricity by clockwork, of a clock used to
measure the electricity, (and if necessary to indicate the amount paid for) with
hands and a dial so that the apparatus can be used as a time piece also to shew the
time of day.
This can be effected by providing the primary clockwork above described with
a dial and hands.
$6
We may also if required provide means for automatically stopping the clock
when the current has been shut off by the cut out" or switch lever, or when
the last lamp has been cut off or the electric current has otherwise been completely
stopped.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicants, 4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.
Improved Apparatus for Supplying or Measuring a Current of
Electricity.
We, WILLIAM DOBSON WATSON, of Falinge Road, Manufacturer, and TнOMAS
HUMPHREYS, Electrical Engineer, of 4, Sladen Street, both of Rochdale, in the
County of Lancaster, 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 the construction of apparatus for supplying a definite
amount of electricity upon prepayment of its equivalent value or otherwise, and
especially to such apparatus as are required to supply the said current in varying
quantity, say for varying numbers of lamps to be lighted at the same time or for
other purposes; and our improvements are applicable to that class of apparatus
wherein the current is measured by clockwork according to the time taken for
a given current to flow through the meter.
The principal parts of this invention are as follows:-
1. A primary clcckwork motion provided with incans for working a governing
lever controlling the escapement of an auxiliary clockwork motion which actuates
a "cut out" device, and if required an indicator, the said governing lever being so
combined with an ampere meter or its equivalent as to remain inactive when no

page_text: current is being used, and to allow the aforesaid escapement to work slowly or
quickly according as a greater or less amount of current is being used.
2. Special means hereafter described for regulating the action of the ampere
meter without calibrating the latter.
cut out"
3. A special construction of setting mechanism for setting back the "
regulator and the indicator according to the amount of electricity paid for, if the
prepayment system is to be adopted.
66
4. A suitable construction of cut out" or mechanism for cutting off the current
supply when the whole of the electricity paid for has been used, if the
prepayment system is to be adopted.
Our invention will be readily understood from the following description on
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a front view, Fig. 2 an elevation seen from one side, and Fig. 3 an
elevation seen from the opposite side of an automatic meter for the above purposes
liberated (in order to be set in action) by the insertion of a coin or coins thereinto,
the said meter being shewn suitable for supplying electricity to one (or more) of
six electric lamps; the invention is however applicable for any reasonable number
of lamps.
The remaining figs, are detached views hereafter more particularly referred to.
In the first place we make use of any ordinary clock motion; the drawings shew
for this clockwork the works of a common pendulum clock and such works
therefore require no special description being indicated generally by the letter A;
and upon any convenient and suitable arbor or shaft thereof, say the arbor a as
shown, we fix a cam a¹ of such form that as the said arbor a revolves the cam a¹ will
actuate through a bowl or pin a² (or otherwise) one end of the governing lever b.
before mentioned, which is by preference cranked and provided with a suitable
weight as shewn, or a spring, to cause it, when allowed to do so, to rest in
contact with the entire surface of the said cam, as seen at Fig. 1.
The other end of this governing lever b is formed or provided with a cam surface
in the shape of a slot 6 or wire, flange or edge, of zigzag or similar form to move
a pin or a peg clip or equivalent device upon the escapement lever of the
auxiliary clockwork before named.
This auxiliary clockwork is indicated generally by the letter C on the drawings.
It may be the works of a common clock of any suitable description having an
escapement wheel with the desired number of teeth on it to cause the shaft.c¹
thereof (which is driven by the friction gearing (Fig. 2) as usual in many
common clocks) to revolve at the requisite speed. Such gearing therefore requires
no further description.
:
Each incline or slope of the zigzag slot 61 (or its equivalent) works the pin c¹
in one direction or the other and so actuates the escapement wheel c³, and allows ono
tooth thereof to escape, and therefore (according to the degree of motion imparted
by the cam a¹ to the governing lever 6) this escapement is repeated once or more
times as required by the meter; the full stroke of the governing lever b as hereafter
explained causing the maximum motion of the auxiliary clockwork C to correspond
with the time taken by the flow of the full amount of current for which the meter
is adapted, for example in order to light the whole of a number of lamps to be
supplied by the meter.
In order to regulate the stroke of the governing lever 6 according to the time
taken by the flow of the amount of current being used, or to stop the action of the
said lever in case no current is being used, we provide the said governing lever b
with a graduated stepped cam surface ba, and we fit to the apparatus än ampere
meter or its equivalent which is provided with a projection or arm d³ in such a
position with regard to the last named cam surface 63 that as the position of the said
arm 3 changes according to the amount of current being used (the ampere meter
or its equivalent being in the circuit thereof) or according to the stoppage of such
current, the bowl or pin a³ on the end of the governing lever will be moved partly
or almost entirely out of reach of the cam a¹ worked by the primary clockwork A,

page_text: and consequently the action of the escapement c³, c³ will be repeated more or less
frequently, or will be stopped, and will quicken or retard or arrest to the motion of
the indicator and cut out disc e hereafter described.
The ampere meter which we prefer to use for this purpose consists of a coil or
coils D (see Figs. 1 and 14) in the electric circuit of the current to be measured
which according to the amount of current passing through the said coil or coils
attracts more or less an armature or armatures D fixed on the lower end of the
lever or arm d³ which is pivotted at d, and which when no current passes through
the coil or coils D hangs of its own weight in the position seen at Fig. 1, and props
up the lever b as shewn so that the pin or bowl a is almost out of reach of the
cam a' and the clockwork C is stopped since only a short inoperative part 6" of
the slot 6 can engage with the pin c.
The lighting of any lamp causes the lever or arm ³ to be moved by the armature D'
along and under the cam surface b³ a step further from the fulcrum of the lever b
and allows the said bowl a to be moved by the weight of the lever b further into
gear with the cam al; this works the slot 6 one incline further past the pin or
arm c as each lamp is lit and so the escapement is worked one tooth more for each
lamp lit.
Other means may be devised for regulating the position of the arm ³ or its
equivalent according to the amount of current passing through the meter.
Instead of the slot 6 a rack 610 shewn at Figs. 1, 1º, may be formed on the
lever b actuating a pinion 60 rotating on a fixed pin or centre 1. This pinion 620,
rotates a crank pin working in a slot in the lever and thus the same effect is
obtained of working the escapement.
The governing lever b may work in any convenient position with regard to the
ampere meter, and if preferred the armature of the latter may carry a graduated or
stepped cam surface equivalent to 63 and an arm or projection may be formed or
fitted on the governing lever b.
It will therefore be evident that owing to this cam surface 63 it will not be
necessary to calibrate the ampere meter or its equivalent, as the said surface b³
can be formed to agree exactly with the motion of the ampere meter which is
applied in each case.
**
In the case of a prepayment meter the auxiliary clockwork C, the speed of motion
(or stoppage) of which is thus regulated by the amount of current supply (or the
stoppage of the same) actuates a disc or wheel e which is actuated by friction on its
shaft or arbor el so that it can be set like the hands of a clock; and this disc or
wheel c or the arbor c¹ is preferably provided with a projection e* (see also detached
view Fig. 3) coming in contact with a long cut out or switch lever e³ as hereafter
described. Or the disc c or a second disc or wheel on the arbor e may be provided
with a suitable notch or recess into which the end of a weighted cut out or switch
lever can engage. In this position the said switch lever would raise a switch from
mercury in a suitable pot or vessel and the circuit would be broken and the current
shut off.
When however the disc last above described is set in such a position that the
end of this last named cut out or switch lever is not in the recess, the said lever
is held by the periphery of the disc in such a position' that the switch dips into the
mercury and the electric circuit is completed to supply the desired current.
We prefer however to use the long switch lever as shewn on the drawings..
The lever which is ordinarily held in place by the spring is displaced by the
arm e and releases a pin z on a spring switch c³ from a notch y on. the long
lever and allows the switch e to be pulled by its spring 5 out of contact with a
spring plate in the electric circuit which is thus broken and the current is
shut off.
"
When however the disc e is set in such a position that the end of the cut out or
switch lever is not in contact with the projection ; the said levere is held by
the spring in such a position that the switch e³ is kept in contact with the spring

page_text: plate fi owing to the pin and notch y (see full lines Fig. 4) and the electric circuit
is completed to supply the desired current.
A second spring switch e' is provided having a slotted depending link c connect-
ing it by the pin c with the switch 3, the said switch bearing upwards against a
flattened disc e, also shown detached at Fig. 9, on the shaft hereafter described.
When raised this lever is in contact with a spring plate f³ (see Fig. 1) and the
plates and f³ are connected to wires in the electric circuit of the current.
supplied; thus when either 3 ore is out of contact with its spring plate the circuit
is broken; is set in contact with its plate fl by depressing the switch by
turning the disc e as hereafter described see Fig. 5, owing to the upper end
of the slot in the link e pushing down the pin e; the switch can rise again
when the rotation of the disc e has been completed leaving the switch c³ depressed
and locked by the catch y z.
The levers et are preferably provided with insulated metallic contact
plates,, in metallic connection with which the link e is fitted. Other means
can if preferred be adopted for pushing down the switch 3 by the switch e'.
The disc e may be set back by hand by any authorized person, and the amount of
such set back is preferably indicated either by a graduated dial rotating with the
disc behind a fixed point or pointer, or by a pointer E as shewn rotating with the
disc in front of a fixed dial E, so that the amount of the current of electricity paid
for and unused is clearly and readily ascertained.
1
.
We prefer however to set back the disc as follows:-We provide the periphery
thereof with a suitable surface say by covering its edge with leather, felt or cloth in
contact with which a friction sector 9 (shewn also detached at Fig. 8) can act; this
sector is rotated by a suitable handle g¹ and a shaft (see also Fig. 7), which
however are prevented by a ratchet wheel (see also Fig. 10) and catch g on a
fixed pivot, from rotating backwards, and are held by a suitable cam 5 (see also
Fig. 11) from rotating forwards.
.
This cam rests against the end of a lever 7 (see Figs. 6 and 6) which however
is withdrawn by the weight of a coin dropped into the apparatus through
convenient aperture at h (Fig. 1); the coin passes down the shoot h¹ and comes in
contact with the end of the lever 9 which it displaces sufficiently to release the
cam ; the handle g¹ can then be turned and the cam 95 causes the lever to
move further and allow the coin to fall from the shoot h¹, the continued rotation of
the handle g' brings the sector 7 into contact with the disc e which it will rotate
and set back until it has passed out of contact therewith.
We prefer to make the sector g in two parts (see Fig. 8) held together by a set
screw and slot, so that the length of arc or friction surface can be increased or
reduced according to the price to be charged for the electricity; ** is a screw for
adjusting the setting with greater accuracy. We also arrange upon the sector shaft
g a second sector or cam ex of such form and in such a position as to act upon the
cut out or switch e, and withdraw it before the setting sector g begins to act on
the disc and to release the said switch before the setting back of the disc e
is completed.
We also provide on the disc e a recess indicated at P. Fig. 1 which prevents the
engaging of the sector g at this part of the disce and so prevents over-winding
on the insertion of too many coins at one time.
When the current commences the main clock work A will through the auxiliary
clockwork C gradually return the disc e to its original position, and the cut out
lever will be tripped by the projection e* which allows the lever e³ to be lifted
from the spring plate f by the spring, and the current supply will be shut off.
If desired one of the auxiliary clockwork wheels may be provided with or other-
wise actuate an indicating dial C1 (Fig. 1) or pointer, to show the exact amount of
current used independently of the coins found in the receiver.
We propose also to provide the clockwork A with a device which when the key
of the clock A is inserted into the key-hole w will cause the electric circuit to be

page_text: broken, and the current supply will cease until the key is removed, and thus the
clock cannot be kept stopped by the key while the current is being supplied.
For this purpose we may provide the long cut out lever with a cranked arm c
(see Figs. 1 2 and 3) having a part projecting over the winding square
that before the key can be fitted on the square it must raise the part
so
and displace
the switch lever so that the pin z on the switch e' is released and the current
cut off.
We further arrange a spring catch i beneath the sweep of the pendulum A* and
at or near the end of the stroke of the said pendulum (see Fig. 1), this catch i being
held down when the current is on by a cranked arm fixed to the switch e but.
as soon as the switch is raised the arm moves nearer the fixed end of the
catch & allows it to rise and catch the pendulum A when it next passes its
end and so stop the clockwork A until the switch c³ is replaced in contact with its
plate f¹.
The electric circuit may be caused also to be broken by the running down of the
clock, by the expansion of the main spring m and its consequent contact with the
set pin or its equivalent, and displacement of the cut out lever e³.
Further, should it be attempted to use more than the six (or other proper number)
of lights by the current passing through this meter the coil or coils D will attract
the prop or arm d³ to such an extent that the part 63 will miss it altogether and the
lever b can move still further towards the centre of the cam a¹ and an arm 13
thereon will come in contact with a small weighted catch n pivotted at n¹ to the end
of the cranked part of the switch lever and throw it into gear with the teeth
of one of the wheels (say A³) of the clockwork A. This wheel A will in its motion
raise the catch n and the crank and so move e to release the switch & and break
the circuit as before explained. We propose to provide a short inoperative part 613
at the inner end of the slot b' (or its equivalent) to allow of this slight extra motion
of the lever b without working the escapement c², c³.
An arm or projection n³ on the lever moves the catch n out of the teeth of
the wheel A when the lever et is depressed by the flattened disc prior to completing
the circuit again.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
A coin is inserted in the opening h, and rolls down the shoot h³ and comes in
contact with the upright end of the lever go and by its weight moves so that
the handle g can turn the cam g³ which forces the lever still further outwards
(see Fig. 6) and allows the coin to drop from the shoot h¹ into any convenient
receptacle not shewn on the drawing. The coin being caused to fall clear of
the switches by the inclined plate 4. The cam g by the further motion of the
handle g acts upon the wheel c and causes it to make part of a revolution, the
cain ehaving at the same time forced the lever c by the link and pin e (or
equivalent means) to push down the lever c³ (see Fig. 4) from the dotted position
shown on that fig. into the position shewn also at Fig. 5. The complete rotation
of the handle g¹ brings the flat part of e* into contact with which can rise again
owing to the slot in the link e, and thus the circuit in which the spring plates f¹, ƒ³,
are fitted is completed.
Fig. 1 shows the arm or prop d³ in full lines in such a position that all the lights
are in use, and the cam 63 has allowed the lever b to assume the position seen at
Fig. 1 having the pin as acted on by almost the entire working surface of the arms
of the cam a', which being constantly rotated by the clockwork A (which has been
set going by the release of the pendulum A* on the completion of the circuit) will
cause the whole of the cam b' to act on the escapement &, giving it six motions, and
thus the clockwork C will return the arm e quickly towards the lever because all
the lamps are alight. Should one lamp or more he turned out the arın or prop d³
will be moved nearer to the position shewn in full on Fig. 1, and so allow fewer
motions to be given to the escapement of the clockwork C and the arm e* will
move back more slowly.
When all the electricity paid for has been used the arm e comes in contact

page_text: with and pushes it back to release the pin and allow the spring to raise the
lever and break the connection between f and f; the current then ceases, the
prop or arm keeps the pin a² almost entirely out of gear with the cam a' so that
the clockwork C is stopped and the pendulum A is also stopped as above described.
We would remark in conclusion that the form of prinrary and auxiliary clock-
works can be varied (as will be readily understood) without departing from the
principle of our invention.
A feature of this invention not previously described is the combination with a
prepayment meter for the supply of electricity by clockwork, of a clock used to
measure the electricity, (and if necessary to indicate the amount paid for with
hands and a dial so that the apparatus can be used as a time piece also to show the
time of day.
This can be effected by providing the primary clockwork above described with a
dial and hands, but in this case the clock cannot be stopped by the cutting off of the
current as above described.
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. Mechanism for supplying and measuring electricity consisting of primary
clockwork provided with means for working a governing lever controlling the
escapement of auxiliary clockwork which actuates a cut out" device, and if
desired an indicator the said governing lever being so combined with à device for
measuring the electricity as to remain inactive when no current is being used, and
to allow the aforesaid escapement to work quickly or slowly according as a greater
or less amount of current is being used.
2. The combination with the clockworks A and C and their adjuncts of the
special means such as the cam surface and support or arm, hereinbefore
described for regulating the action of the ampere meter without calibrating the
latter.
3. The combination with the clockwork A and C and their adjuncts of the
special construction of setting mechanism herein described for setting back the
cut out" regulator d and the indicator according to the amount of electricity paid
for, if the prepayment automatic system is to be adopted.
66
4. The combination with the clockworks A and C and their adjuncts of a "cut
out" or mechanism such as hereinbefore described for cutting off the current
supply and means for working the cut out by the key of the clock A, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicants, 4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.