Improvements in or applicable to Electric Meters.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1896-Accepted, 12th June, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Electric Meters.
I, ALBERT LOTZ, of Ragaz, in the German Empire, 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 :-
The object of the present invention consists of a meter for direct and alternate
currents, in which the beats of a motor coil (the so-called armature) oscillating between
fixed limits are utilised to cause the motion of the counting apparatus registering the
consumption of current, and also to effect the reversal of the motor. In addition to
the generally known advantages which are offered by such arrangement, namely the
absence of the collector and of all friction compensation beyond that in the bearings of
the axles, and easy control by counting the audible strokes, the meter hereinafter
described possesses special arrangements, which have for their purpose to cause the
periodic reversal and the registering mechanism to operate more certainly, and to
prevent incorrect indications thereof. The principle which underlies the construction
of the meter is as follows:-
A suitably supported revoluble armature is connectel with the winding of a relay
actuating the meter as well as a reversing mechanism, which relay is so connected in
a branch current circuit of the coil through which the main current flows that it can
effect a turning through the electrodynamic effect exercised by the latter and impart
the same to contact arins. This revolving, motion is limited by the striking of the
contact arms against suitably arranged contacts, which are connectel in a suitable
manner with the winding of the relay; herein occurs in consequence of the short
circuiting of the latter and in consequence of the actuating of the shunt mechanism
thereby occasioned, a reversed magnetisation of the armature and consequently a
reversal in its direction of rotation. The periodically occasioned reversed magnetisa-
tion which is effected without interruption of the auxiliary current, causes the
oscillating motion of the armature and a movement of the counting apparatus corre-
sponding to the quickness of the rotary motion. The rapidity of the rotary motion,
and consequently the moving forward of the counting apparatus is in this arrangement
according to electrodynamic laws proportional to the product of the current strength
consumed and the tension existing between the main conductors, that is to say to the
number of watts used. The turning of the armature may be opposed by a counter-
acting force actuated by the same shaft such as a metal disc revolving between
magnets, and the rapidity of rotation thereof is consequently diminished.
In the accompanying drawing are shown in diagrammatic form some arrangements
of motor counters of the above described kind.
In these drawings,
Figures 1, 2 and 10 show the complete mechanisms.
Figures 4, 6 and 11 the corresponding reversing devices for three types of
meters and,
Figures 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9 various details of the mechanisms.
In the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 4 the armature S consists of two windings
which are alternately connected and disconnected with the electromagnets E E¹ of
the relay which neutralise one another and through the alternate short circuiting
of which the magnetisation of the armature is reversed. With the revolving axle
of the two armed relay armature A A' are firmly connected the catch b actuating the
wheel R and a contact spring f which spring comes into contact with the contacts k

page_text: or according to the position of the armature. The spring is electrically
connected with the point of junction of the two coils of the armature S, the
contacts k² k³ are electrically connected with the ends of the armature S and with the
electromagnets E E' as shown. The contact arms ff which are in connection with
the said ends and also with the parts k² 3 turn at the same time as the armature S
and strike alternately on the turning of the armature against the contacts. The
latter are again in connection with the ends of the electro magnets E E¹ which are
connected to the main circuit, The armature shaft bears the brake disc D turning
between the magnets M M. If the iron armature A A¹ tilts in one direction, as for
instance when attracted by magnet coil E (see Figure 1) then in consequence of the
contact off and the armature S will be magnetised in such a manner that it will turn
in the direction of the arrow under the influence of the fixed winding surrounding it
at a right angle and through which the consumption current flows. The turning
of the motor in this direction reaches its end when the contact arm f strikes against
the contact k; by means of this the armature is on the one hand stopped and pushed
back, on the other hand the winding E of the relay is put out of action, the
armature A becomes free and E' attracts its armature A whereby the armature S is
magnetised in the reverse direction and moves itself in the opposite direction until
the contact arm strikes the contact and the operation is repeated. As soon as
the relay has been reversed by contact with one of the two contact arms, a repeated
contact has no further effect upon the action of the relay, because the one winding
becomes again inactive, but the armature already finds itself in the opposed
position. The relay can consequently only cut in or out once during each direction
of revolution of the motor at the same time the counting apparatus is actuated
by aid of the catch and the wheel R.
The modification set forth in Figures 10 and 11 is similar as regards the arrange-
ment of its motor armature, to the device already described. But on the other hand
there is an alteration from the first puttern in that two wheels R R' are placed
upon a common shaft, of which the first is actuated by the catch b connected with the
armature A whilst the second wheel R¹ which is similar to the first wheel but has
only half the number of teeth of the wheel R, is in alternate connection with two
checking and contact springs F F so that when for instance F lies in the hollow
between two teeth, F lies upon a tooth not yet in action and is thereby pressed
against the contact and so forth. Moreover there is attached to F and F and
insulated therefrom further contact springs F2 F3 (one to each) which in the same
manner as F and F alternately come into contact with the contacts and k³ and which
are connected both to one another and also to the junction point of the windings 1
and 2 of coil E. The contacts and are connected with the contacts kk, the
springs FF are connected to one another and to the junction point of the two
windings of the armature S. The opposite contacts are attached to that end
of the armature S which is joined to the negative conductor, and to the electro-
magnet E, respectively. The contact arins ff which revolve with the armature
are connected to one another and also at the same place with the armature S. If
the wheels R R assume the position shown in Figure 10 the armature S will then
be magnetised through the contact of the spring with in such a manner that
it revolves with the axle in the direction of the arrow. At the same time the
contact spring Falso touches the contact and consequently the contact &' is in
connection with the junction point of the two windings 1 and 2 of the electromagnet E.
If the contact arm strikes (on the turning of the armature) against the contact,
the magnet E will attract the armature A and the latter will by means of the catch b
impel the wheel R forward by one tooth, whereby also the wheel R', and the
springs F F and F F will be brought into opposite positions with regard to the
contacts. The de-magnetisation of the armature thereby obtained causes the latter
to turn itself in the opposite direction until the contact arm strikes against the
contact and the oscillations of the motor will regularly repeat themselves, whilst
on the other hand the contact and consequently also are disconnected, so that
in this position any further touching of the contact arm upon remains without

page_text: influence upon the relay, and consequently the latter upon each alteration of the
direction of rotation of the motor can act only once.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 2 and 6 the motor armature S' has only
one winding and is re-magetised through reversal of the current flowing through the
same. The armature S¹ and the winding 1 of the electromagnet E' are both constantly
in circuit and alternately connected with the windings 2 and 3 of the same magnet which
neutralise the winding 1 and which are alternately cut in and out of a branch
conductor between the main conductors. By this arrangement in one case one end
of S is connected directly to the negative conductor the other end to the winding 2,
this latter to the winding 1 and this again to the positive conductor, whilst in the other
case the armature has the current flowing through it in the opposite direction, and
one end of the same is connected with the connecting point of the windings 2 and 1
and through the latter with the positive conductor, the other end of S' being connected
with winding 3 and through this latter with the negative conductor. The electro-
magnet E actuates the wheel R' by means of its armature A2, through the catch
and the wheel R, and consequently operates the contact making and breaking
springs F F and F2 F3 in the same manner as this is done in the modification
shown in Figure 10. The parts FF are connected to each other and to one end
of S, and the insulated fixed contact springs F2 F3 are connected to each other and
to the other end of armature S. For the first of these the contacts kk' serve as
stops, which contacts are respectively in connection with the end of the winding 3
of E2 which is not directly joined to the negative conductor and with the otherwise
free end of the winding 2. The contact springs F 3 are served by the contacts " k
which are respectively in connection with the uniting point of the windings 1 and 2
and the contact and with the negative conductor and contact +. The contact
arms revolving with the motor armature are connected together and also with the
middle of the armature winding S1. If the wheels R R are in the position shown in
Figure 2, the motor armature S¹ will as already stated revolve in the direction of the
arrow until the contact arm f3 strikes upon whereupon the winding 2 of the electro-
magnet becomes inactive this latter consequently becomes magnetic and attracts the
armature A2. The positions of the wheels R R and consequently those of the contact
springs will be reversed as hereinbefore described. Hence the armature S¹ is
re-magnetised and turns itself in the opposite direction whereby the contact arm f³
strikes and the oscillation of the motor repeats itself regularly; furthermore there
will be in place of the neutralising winding 2 of the electromagnet E the winding 3
cut in which acts in the same sense, so that in this position a repeated contact of the
contact arm f³ with remains without influence upon the relay, the latter
consequently can only act once upon each revolution of the motor.
As already stated the contact springs are brought alternately into opposite positions
through the turning of the wheel R; this is effected moreover in such manner that
the springs placed upon the one side of the wheel already make contact before those
upon the opposite side have broken off the contact, so that there never occurs a
complete interruption of current in the auxiliary circuit, that portion of the current
circuit on the other hand lying between the four contacts is shortcircuited. This
circumstance causes that in the modification shown in Figures 2 and 6 during the
changing of the springs the respectively operative neutralising winding of the electro-
magnet E becomes inactive, and the latter consequently remains magnetic until the
armature has effected a motion already begun, although the contact arm has already
ceased its contact with kk (whereby the activity of E2 was originally caused) in
consequence of the reverse current.
These circumstances make the relays necessarily active so that the operation of the
meter becomes an extremely certain one. The like object can be attained by the meter
shown in Figures 10 and 11 through the suitable arrangement of a contact spring f
in connection with F2 and of a second spring fin connection with F in such
a manner that the same remain in contact during the change of the contact
springs F F F F³. The wheel R' shown in the Figures 2 and 10 and the make

page_text: and break contact springs F, F, F, F3 may also be replaced by a commutator with
spring contacts of the pattern shown in Figure 5.
In the modification shown in Figures 2 and 6 and 10 and 11 the electromagnet
inserted in the branch circuit is rend red as free from induction as possible in
consequence of the operation of two windings which neutralise each other or are bifilar
so that the auxiliary current circuit in spite of the presence of iron is as free from
induction as possible, consequently is approximately equivalent in value with constant
current and with alternate current of different frequency.
In the whole of the forms of meter above described the relays may be separated
from the motors and only connected with the latter by means of conductors; a further
number of counting apparatus set at suitable points can be placed by the arrangement
of contacts to the relay and with aid of the electric current in synchronous
motion. In order in all cases to obtain a motion of the wheel R by means of the
catch and consequently a regular operation of the registering mechanism, a
projection I, serving as check for the said catch b or other equivalent device may be
provided. In order to compensate exactly the only occurring friction during the
oscillation of the motors, that namely in the bearing of the revolving axle, there is
arranged revolubly around the motor armature S an auxiliary coil H consisting of
several windings and inserted in the same branch current (see Figures 7, 8, and 9).
Through proper adjustment of the inclination angle between the two planes of the
winding the effective electrodynamic force between the two coils can be regulated
exactly to correspond with the amount of the bearing friction of the motor whereby
the same is compensated in a very simple manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.. -
1. A non-direct driving oscillating electricity motor meter characterized by the
movements of the motor being confined by contacts with stops which produce the effect
that part of a relay is short circuited which again produces the alternate short
circuiting of a part of the coil of the motor or an alternate return current in the
same and only permits after each oscillation of the motor of one movement of the
relay notwithstanding repeated closings of the contact of the motor in the same
direction.
2. A modification of the meter characterized in Claim 1 constructed substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 1 or 2 or 5 or 10 of the accompanying drawings.
3. A modification of the meter characterized in Claim 1 in which the stoppage of
the lever escapement is arranged by a projection N of the pawl which when the
movement is complete touches a pin L and so prevents the advance of more than the
required number of teeth.
4. A modification of the meter characterized in Claim 1 in which the escapement is
furnished with two escape wheels R R equally divided but of which in one only every
second tooth is cut out to produce the alternate insertion of one or more arresting
springs which may serve at the same time as contact springs.
5. A modification of the meter characterized in Claim 1 in which an adjustable
auxiliary spool H is arranged round the motor spool S the plane of which can be
turned to agree with that of the motor spool for the purpose of regulating the revolving
force between the two from zero upwards for the purpose specified.
Dated this 12th day of June 1896
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.