An Improved Electrical Meter and Recorder.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th July, 1893-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrical Meter and Recorder.
We, PIERRE FEYS and JEAN LORWA, both of 6 Rue des Commercants,
Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers to an improved apparatus for counting and registering
currents of electricity.
It contains three principal parts (1) an ordinary Watt-meter (2) a motor and
(3) a combination recording instrument.
The Watt-meter is composed of several layers according to the intensity of the
current.
Inside is a bobbin of fine wire, oscillating in the magnetic field.
The motor consists of a coil of fine wire receiving the current from a balanced
bar carrying a piece of iron which when the current is passing is attracted by the
coil, and when the current ceases is pressed back by a spiral spring.
Each attraction of the balance bar actuates an eccentric on the same axle
which moves forward one tooth of the toothed wheel attached to the recording
instrument.
Our improved apparatus as usually made acts with perfect regularity at a tension
of 70 to 130 volts, but may be adjusted to any required potential.
The toothed wheel has sixty teeth and is designed to make one step forward
per minute.
On the same axle is a recording cylinder. When a current of more or less
strength passes through the Watt-meter, the needle of the Watt-meter which is
placed in the middle of this cylinder is drawn to one side of the cylinder, or repelled
from the other.
As the apparatus works the cylinder turns and moves another toothed wheel
which sets in motion a set of five graduated. wheels which carry the needles of the
recording dials.
Dated this 28th day of November 1895
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electrical Meter and Recorder.
We, PIERRE FEYS and JEAN LORWA both of 6. Rue des Commercants Brussels
in the Kingdom of Belgium Engineers 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 electricity meters whose constructive characteristic lies.
in the more or less judicious combination of a Watt-meter with a counting or
indicating mechanism, with the object of registering by means of the latter and
with as great a precision as possible, the quantity of current passing in a given
time through the Watt-meter.
In an electricity meter constructed according to this invention, the combination
of the two groups, Wattmeter and counter, is characterised by the method in which
the needle of the Wattmeter intervenes in the running of the indicating mechanism,
such method consisting in making the needle itself govern directly the running of
the total-indicating mechanism in such manner that it controls the running

page_text: thereof, which is continuous only so long as the deflection of the needle, and
consequently, the intensity of the current traversing the Wattmeter, are at their
maximum, whilst this running becomes intermittent as soon as the intensity of the
current, and thereupon, the deflection of the needle, diminish, the duration of these
intermittent periods being proportional to this degree of diminution or, in general,
to the position of the needle. In other terms such intervention of the needle has
for its effect to allow or suspend the working of the total-indicator for periods
regulated by the needle itself.
In principle, these effects may be obtained by the arrangement in the total-
indicating mechanism of a differentially acting apparatus of any suitable construction
which governs the working of the total-indicator as soon as its active part exercises
on the needle, over and above the impulse received from the Watt-meter, a supple-
mentary action corresponding to this effect, whilst the needle is again left to the
sole impulse of the Watt-meter and the working suspended as soon as this action
has ceased. One may therefore say in more restricted terms that the needle and
this apparatus or cam constitute a control of the total-indicator differentially
engaged or disengaged corresponding to their co-operation or their disconnection.
On the annexed drawings a construction is shown as an example, permitting the
realisation of the principle in a simple and practical manner.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the meter.
Fig. 1 a detail showing the active position of the needle.
Fig. 2 is an end view of the meter.
Fig. 3 is a plan.
Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the control of the catch.
On a foundation plate or base S, of suitable construction, are fitted in suitable
seats the Watt-meter W, the counter T, and an electric escapement E of a special
construction, which puts into constant rotation the governing spindle A of the
counter, on which is fixed the differential came above which is the horizontal
plane of the needle X of the Watt-meter which in its central position is perpendicular
to the spindle A.
In the present example the cam C which is in constant rotation with the
spindle A consists of a hollow cylinder or drum, the surface or periphery of which
is cut away, the remaining half presenting at one side a straight line and on
the other side a helical spiral the pitch of which is equal to the length of the
cylinder which bas for effect that the surface half thus formed is in the
transversal direction equal to zero at one end where it terminates in a point,
and equal to the length of the circumference at the opposite end or base of
the cylinder, the intermediate surface lengths increasing progressively from zero
to the maximum of the circumference, the other half being plain and the space of
which increases progressively in the opposite direction. This form of cam is
obtained practically by encircling round the axis, one half of the rectangle con-
stituting the developement of the cylinder obtained by its division along the
diagonal, forming a right angled triangle, the small side of which is equal to the
circumference or base of the cylinder, the large side to the straight line of the cam
and the hypotenuse to the helical spiral. This being accepted, if the surface half
is considered as the active part of the cam, designed to co-operate with a second
organ in the counting apparatus in such manner as to effect the working of the
total-indicator, this action will be of a duration longer or shorter in proportion as
this organ intervenes nearer or farther from the base of the cam, and it will be
rigorously proportional to the position of this organ between the top and the
base of the triangle, by virtue of the theorem of equal triangles. This organ being
the needle of the Wattmeter it is evident that it is sufficient to make the deviation
of the needle from zero to its maximum proportionate to the length of the cylinder
in the direction from the summit of the triangle to its base, in order that, no
matter what the position of the needle, the total indicator may be set in motion for a
period corresponding to the intensity of the current which has effected this deviation.
In these conditions, if the degree of intensity of the current is maximum for a fractional

page_text: period, one minute, for example, for an entire revolution of the cylinder the needle
will effect the continuous motion of the total indicator for that space of time,
because it is at the base of the cam, whilst if the intensity is inferior the needle
is deflected towards the summit and the total indicator will only be set in motion
for a fraction of the minute proportional to the base of the equal triangle
determined by the position of the needle, and it will only register this quantity.
The differences of current density may be of any amount so long as the length of
the cylinder is sufficient, with respect to the Watt-meter, to take the currents.
Although the precision of the registered amount is very great by reason of the
motion of the totaliser during a fraction of time corresponding to a degree of
intensity indicated by the needle at the moment it enters into co-operation with the
cam, it may be still further augmented if instead of one turn per minute, two or
three turns are given to the cam as then the co-operation with the needle would be
of a duration two or three times as small, or rather it would be repeated two or
three times in the same period, thus permitting the registration of variations in
current densities which might have been produced during these fractions of the
minute, by the deviation of the needle which would be thereby caused. In this
case the arrangement of the gearing of the totaliser changes in conformity with
the speed of the cam, in order to maintain the normal speed of the totaliser, which
is composed of a suitable series of geared wheels and the corresponding dials to
indicate the units, tens, hundreds &c.
The following is the manner in which the putting in motion and suspension of the
totaliser are controlled by the clutch composed of the needle X and the cam C.
The working pinion P is in one piece with the stop wheel Y which is provided with
fine teeth on its periphery. The two are slipped loosely on the spindle A by the
side of the cam C and pressed firmly against a corresponding shoulder piece by a
spring R. Into the notches of the stop wheel engages a spring clip c which is
carried on the lower surface of one of the sides of the frame Ch and is light but
rigid. This frame C is jointed at its lower side to the base of the Watt-meter and
terminates at its upper side in an arc, below which is the plane of the needle X the
upper extremity of which terminates in a chamfered hook or point b. On the
upper face of the needle is a pivot p below the under side of the arc or frame Ch.
When the needle moves freely the lower point b sinks into the low space on the
cam, but when in the course of its rotation the straight side of the active part
strikes against the chamfered side of the point the latter rises on to the active part
and the needle is raised, lifting at the same time, by the pivot p, the frame Ch which
also lifts the catch c of the stop wheel Y. As long as this was stopped the spindle A
ran loosely in its bore, but as soon as the wheel is free the spring R effects its
engagement and the totaliser is put into motion by the pinion P. As soon as the
needle leaves the active part the frame C descends again and stops the wheel Y by
the catch c.
As the frame Ch is rigid it is raised throughout its extent with the
same pressure, no matter what may be the position of the pivot p below the arc of
the frame which it controls.
The needle X of the Watt-meter is itself very light but of sufficient rigidity to
prevent its being bent or twisted during its periods of engagement with the active
part of the cam. It is seated at its lower end on the vertical spindle which rotates
between points and carries the fine wire voltage bobbin of the Watt-meter. A
spiral spring which acts antagonistically to the magnetic influence surrounds the
upper end and brings the needle back to zero when it is no longer under the
influence of the current, which deflects it in the opposite direction proportionately
to its strength. The thick wire bobbin of the Watt-meter and which is traversed
by the current to be measured is provided with an arrangement allowing the
passage of currents of very variable strengths.
The electric escapement which forms the motor serving to put into constant
rotation the spindle A and the cam C, consists essentially, as is usual with these
apparatuses, of a fly-wheel V connected by a single arm to the spindle A'-
horizontal in the present case-and rotating between points. The rim of this

page_text: fly-wheel is composed partly of soft iron passing through an annular bobbin B
wound with fiue wire forming a shunt to the principal circuit traversed by the
current to be measured.
The backward and forward movement of this escapement is obtained by the
intermittent passage of the current in the bobbin B, and a spiral spring R' arranged
on the spindle A' and acting in the contrary direction. The interruptions in the
current are controlled by a cut out consisting of a strip L to which extends one of
the poles of the circuit and of a cylindrical contact to which the other pole extends,
through the spindle A' and which has one part insulated so as to cut the circuit
when it comes opposite the strip L in its movement to and fro under the impulse of
the flywheel V the soft iron part of which is attracted into the bobbin when the
current is flowing and which is sent back by the opposing spring R' when the
circuit is opened.
At the other end is fixed on the spindle A, an eccentric E' which, following the
oscillating movement of the spindle, acts on a lever arm L' carrying a catch C
jointed at its opposite arm and engaging in the teeth of a ratchet R2 fixed on the
spindle A of the cam C. Supposing that the ratchet has 60 teeth and that the
catch moves one forward each second by the movements of the flywheel V
the cam C will make one revolution per minute.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In an electricity meter, the combination of the needle of a Watt-meter with
an organ or cam of differential action, in such manner as to engage the needle for
certain periods, the duration of which depends upon the position of the needle,
controlled by the strength of the current, and to thus put the counting mechanism in
motion during the period of engagement and to suspend its action as soon as the
engagement of the needle has ceased substantially as described.
2. For the engagement and disengagement of the totaliser by means of the
controlling method described in Claim 1, the combination with the needle of a
light and rigid frame jointed at its lower side and carrying a flexible catch which
rests on a stop wheel when the needle is free but which is raised so soon as the
needle engages with the differential cam substantially as described.
3. On the spindle of the electric escapement, the arrangement of an eccentric in
combination with a lever carrying the catch whose object is to move forward by
the extent of one tooth per second the ratchet through which the differential cam
is put in constant rotation.
Dated this 25th day of July 1893.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.