Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 23rd July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 23rd Aug., 1887.
I EDWARD WILLIAM LANCASTER of Albert Works, Graham Street Birmingham
in the County of Warwickshire, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
I employ a solenoid or electro-magnet of suitable size and construction, with a fixed
hollow core of brass, iron, or other metal, or of pieces or a mixture of different metal.-
Inside this core is suspended or held in position by means of a cord of suitable
material, or by other means, as hereinafter mentioned, a piece of metal (soft iron or
steel), being such that it is easily and quickly magnetised to saturation on a current
of electricity passing through the coils of the electro-magnet.
When a cord is used to suspend the piece of metal in the core of the electro-magnet
it is passed from the metal piece round a small grooved shaft or spindle or round a
grooved wheel on a spindle.
A second cord or a continuation of the first is passed round the shaft or spindle in
a second groove or round a second grooved wheel on the spindle, the groove or the
wheel being made larger or smaller than the first, if necessary.
The end of the second cord or the continuation of the first is then carried to a
spring or a counterpoise (quadrant or otherwise) which controls the movement of the
spindle.
A hand or pointer is fixed to the shaft or spindle, and behind this is placed a dial
or card suitably divided to indicate the units required in the various measuring
instruments.
When a current of electricity passes through the coils of the electro-magnet,
the suspended metal-piece is attracted towards its centre, the amount of pull on,
or the displacement of, the metal-piece depending on the strength of the current.
The above mentioned shaft or spindle is thus revolved carrying with it the hand or
pointer, which moves in front of the dial or card.

page_text: The metal-piece may be suspended or held in position by other means than that
above described, vizt. :-
(1) By a crank attached to the metal-piece and working on a second crank fixed to
the shaft or spindle carrying the pointer.
(2) By a long finely-cut toothed piece connected to the metal-piece and working in
a finely cut pinion or wheel on the shaft or spindle. When the electro-magnet attracts
the metal-piece the long toothed-piece causes the pinion or wheel to revolve.
(3) By a metal rod connecting the metal-piece with a toothed quadrant,—the teeth
of the quadrant working in a finely cut pinion or wheel on the shaft or spindle.
The cord, crank, toothed-piece, or rod is continued from the shaft or spindle to
the spring or counterpoise, which may act either direct or through the shaft or
spindle.
Provision is made to eliminate any error which might be caused by differences of
temperature.
My instruments may be made vertically or horizontally.-For horizontal instruments
the toothed gearing is, at present, preferable.
Dated this 16th day of September 1886

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Electrical Measuring Instruments.
I, EDWARD WILLIAM LANCASTER of 68 Princess Road, Edgbaston in the county
of Warwickshire, 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 :-
I employ a solenoid or electromagnet of suitable size and construction, with a hollow
core of brass iron, or other metal or pieces of metal, or a mixture of different metals.
Inside this core is suspended or held in position by means of a wire or cord, of suitable
material, or by other means, as hereinafter mentioned a piece of metal (preferably
soft iron) being such that it is easily and quickly magnetised to saturation on a current
of electricity passing through the coils of the solenoid or electromagnet.
When a wire or cord is used to suspend the piece of metal in the core of the solenoid
or electromagnet, it is passed from the piece of metal round a small grooved shaft or
spindle, or round a grooved wheel on a spindle.
A second wire or cord or a continuation of the first is passed round the shaft or
spindle in a second groove or round a second grooved wheel on the spindle, the
groove on the wheel being made larger or smaller than the first, if necessary.
The end of the second wire or cord or the continuation of the first, is then carried
to a spring or a counterpoise (quadrant or otherwise) which controls the movement of
the spindle and metal piece.
A hand or pointer is fixed to the shaft or spindle, and behind this is placed a
dial or card suitably divided to indicate the units required in the various measuring
instruments.
When a current of electricity passes through the coils of the solenoid or electro-
magnet, the suspended metal piece is attracted towards its centre, the amount of
pull on, or the displacement of the metal piece depending on the strength of the
current.
The above mentioned shaft or spindle is thus revolved, carrying with it the hand or
pointer, which moves in front of the dial or card.
The metal piece may be suspended or held in position, and its movement transmitted,
by other means than that above described, viz :-
(1) By a crank attached to the metal piece and working on a second crank fixed
to the shaft or spindle carrying the pointer.
(2) By a long finely cut toothed piece connected to the metal piece, and working
in a finely cut pinion or wheel on the shaft or spindle. When the electromagnet
attracts the metal piece, the long-toothed piece or the connecting piece, causes the
pinion or wheel to revolve.
(3) By a metal rod connecting the metal piece with a toothed quadrant, the
teeth of the quadrant working in a finely cut pinion or wheel on the shaft or spindle.

page_text: To enable my invention to be more clearly understood I attach drawings illustrating
some methods of constructing my instruments. Similar letters in all cases represent
similar parts, or parts having similar action as described herein :-
A is the solenoid, B the cord, C the metal piece, D the connecting wire or cord,
toothed piece, or rod, E the crank or toothed quadrant piece, F the grooved or toothed
wheel or pinion, G the shaft or spindle, H the controlling spring or counterpoise,
I the hand or pointer.
Fig. 1 is a front view, & Fig. 2 a side view of a portion of a vertical instrument
showing working parts, a helix of wire representing the solenoid or electromagnet,
and a spring acting as controlling force.
Fig. 3 is a front view, & Fig. 4 a side view showing pointer at its maximum
position.
Fig. 5 is a front view, & Fig. 6 a side view showing a counterpoise controlling
force.
Figs. 7, 8, & 9 are views of one form of horizontal instrument.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :
1. The combination of a solenoid or electromagnet and a magnetisable piece with
the transmitting and the controlling gear, substantially as herein before described
and illustrated.
2. The combination of a solenoid or electromagnet and controlling gear with the
transmitting and multiplying gear substantially as herein before described and
illustrated.