Improvements in Electric Meters.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Meters.
I, ADDISON GOODYEAR WATERHOUSE, Electrician, of 302 Asylum Street
Hartford, State of Connecticut, United States of America, 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 my invention is for measuring the electrical energy passing through
a conductor during a known period and belongs to that class of electric meters
known as electro-chemical meters or those in which the current passing is registered
by the electrolytic decomposition of certain fluids, whereby gases are generated in
proportion to the quantity and duration of such currents as will be hereafter
described.
In the accompanying drawings
Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show the same apparatus embodying my invention in different
stages of action.
Figs. 5 and 6 show two forms of similar apparatus provided with means of pro-
ducing mechanical movement.
Figs. 7 and 8 are modified forms of the same apparatus.
Figs. 9 and 10 show a side and front elevation of the same apparatus provided
with a multiplying gear and recording dial.
Figs. 11 and 12 show electrical connections and methods of applying my invention
to the measurement of currents.
Fig. 13 shows a practical instrument embodying my invention.
Figs. 14 and 15 show equivalent forms of the part of the apparatus shown in
Fig. 1.
Fig. 16 shows an electrolytic jar A with an atmospheric water-feeder which
replenishes the electrolyte as it evaporates and avoids the necessity of adding too
much water to the solution at one time.
My invention consists of an apparatus consisting first, of an electrolytic cell,
containing a liquid which permits a current to pass through it only by means of
the decomposition of such liquid or electrolyte, and with conductors and electrodes
leading to the electrolyte; second, a peculiar gas receiver which is capable of
collecting and retaining the gas or gases liberated by the current, and of expelling
such gas or gases when a certain quantity of the same has been collected; third, of
accessory means of recording the amount of gas collected, and of electrical con-
ductor and connections through which the current to be measured is passed.
Figure 1 shows the electrolytic cell A containing the fluid E which may he
composed of acidulated water, or other suitable solution; also the collector C shaped
like an inverted cup. This cup has a guide-rod r and a siphon T which is secured
in the collector C so that one end of the tube T will extend out at the top of C
while the other end will open inside collector C near the top of the interior while
the bend of the tube T extends down to near the lower part or opening of C.
Directly under the collector C is placed one of the electrodes H while the other
electrode G which belongs to the battery or source of energy B is placed at one
side so that the gas arising from G will pass up through the fluid E and out
through the top A" of the jar A, and the gas arising from electrode H will
pass up into the collector C and be confined there by the air-tight top of C. Fig. 1
shows C to be filled with the fluid E, and the gas just beginning to rise from H
and enter at the bottom of C, and rise to the top of C, where it will be confined.
Fig. 2 is the same apparatus as Fig. 1 but it shows that gas has been collected
in C until it has displaced part of the fluid and also displaced the fluid in the arm
of the tube T which opens inside of C.

page_text: Fig. 3 shows the same apparatus again but in it the gas has increased and dis-
placed more liquid, and by the lightness of the gas it has floated the collector C
up so that the collar to on rod r will strike against the cover A". The gas in C
has also displaced the fluid in the tube T until it has forced it down to the lower
part or bend of the tube. This displacement will continue until a globule of gas
forces itself past the bend when by gravitation it floats up the arm of the tube
leading through the top of C. This gas passing up through T will reduce the
specific weight of same by removing the fluid which fills that arm of the tube.
The result is the pressure which the surrounding fluid in A exerts on the gas in C
forces the remaining fluid all out of the tube T and after it will follow the gas in C
as seen in Fig. 4 which shows the gas rushing through the tube T and out through
the top of C with a force equal to that which is due from the pressure of the fluid E.
So in this way all the gas passes out of C and as C loses the buoyancy due to the
lightness of the gas the collector C will again sink to the bottom of the jar A, as
shown in Fig. 1 when the refilling will again resume which will result as stated,
in the collector C being filled with gas, floated up, emptied and sunk again, and so
the action will be repeated at intervals which will vary exactly in proportion to the
current generated by B or passed through the electrolyte as described.
Fig. 5 shows a means of employing the described up-and-down motion of C for
rotating a recording wheel D by means of the pawl which is pivotted to the
rod so that as the collector C and rod r move up it will cause the pawl 1 to
engage in one of the teeth of wheel D and cause it to rotate one tooth each time C
is filled with gas.
Fig. 6 shows a similar mechanism by which the wheel D is rotated one tooth by
means of the pawl p each time the collector C sinks. Either of these motions may
be made use of to record the number of times C has been filled with gas.
Fig. 7 shows two collectors C C placed in a single electrolytic jar A with one of
the two electrodes G and H placed under each collector.
Fig. 8 is a form in which the collector C is fixed stationary and arranged to fill
with gas and discharge the gas as described. When the gas is being discharged
from C it floats up under the bell F and displaces the fluid from its interior and
floats the bell F up, as shown in dotted lines. This raises the rod r which is
attached to the bell. When the gas has been emptied from C and the upward flow
of gas stops the gas collected under F slowly leaks out through a very small
opening o. After the gas in F has leaked out, the bell F again sinks, and with it.
the rod moves down.
As I have shown I cause an up-and-down motion to be performed by the rod r
each time the collector C fills with gas, either by having the collector C move or
by having it remain stationary and by causing the escaping gas from C to move
the rod r. The motion of this rod r I use to work a recording mechanism which
will register the number of times the collector C has been filled with gas.
Fig. 9 shows A the electrolytic jar, the rod extending out of it, as described,
which works a lever having a pawl p engaging the ratchet wheel D. The rotation
of D works a worm which rotates the worm-wheel K' and it revolves the pointer K
fixed in a dial.
Fig. 10 is a face of Fig. 9 showing the jar A, rod r, pawl p, wheel D, worm and
worm-wheel K', and pointer K, placed in the dial plate.
2
Fig. 11 shows an electric meter M which embodies my invention as described
showing one method of measuring a current in and out on the lines and 3. This
current has to pass through the resistance R, so around R I connected the meter M
forming a derived circuit around R which will carry a current through M
bearing a known proportion to the current passing through R and record the same
as described.
Fig. 12 shows the meter connected to the two extremes of wire a so as to record
any fall of potential between the two extremes of which potential will vary
according to the current being taken off by lamps L between the two points at
which the conductors G and H of M are connected. The ways of applying this

page_text: meter vary as circumstances will dictate, whether in series, in a derived circuit,
around a resistance, or work placed in series on the line or otherwise. In case of
an alternating current, the main current can be used to produce a small secondary
current which will vary with and bear an exact proportion to the main current and
this secondary current can be measured by the meter.
Fig. 13 represents an instrument embodying my invention consisting of a case or
box I provided with main terminals x and y through which the current to be
measured passes. Between x and y and electrically connecting each is a coiled
conductor R which forms a slight resistance to the current to be measured. Around
this resistance is connected at G' and H¹ the circuit of which the electrolytic jar A.
is a part. The current which passes between a and y is divided between resistance R
and the jar A. The resistance of path R and that of the jar A can be proportioned
so that the path of jar A can take one per cent., or any other known proportion of
the total current and this one per cent. being measured by the jar A and recorded
by means of the rod r pawl wheel D and dial K will give the measurement of the
total current passing through the instrument.
The construction of this instrument is made plain by the drawing Fig. 13. The
two circuits through the instrument from a to y are through the resistance R which
forms the main path. The other path is from H' through the small balancing
resistance R¹ into the jar A through the fluid and out through the other terminal
and conductor to G¹ then on the main conductor to terminal x. In this instrument
is shown a scale of equal parts as 1, 2 &c., on the collector C which indicates the
part of C which is filled with gas during a period less than the time required for C
to fill and empty.
n is a detail belonging to Fig. 13 and used as a cover for the
jar A to keep the fluid from leaking out when the instrument is not in usc.
Fig. 14 shows an equivalent form of constructing the collector C and tube T with
one arm of the tube inside and the other outside of C; and
Fig. 15 shows both arms of tube T outside of collector C.
Fig. 16 shows an electrolytic jar A with an automatic water-feed L in the form
of an inverted bottle in which water is confined by atmospheric pressure. This is
an old device; the water being held in L until air is allowed to enter when the
water flows into the jar A until it rises therein sufficiently to close the mouth of L
which prevents any more water escaping from L until after the surface of the
liquid in A recedes sufficiently to allow more air to enter L. when more water is
allowed to escape as above. The advantage of this device combined with the form
of meter above described is that replenishes the liquid in the jar in a gradual
way, thereby maintaining an even depth and keeping the strength of the solution
in A uniform.
As my invention is adapted for a current meter applicable for either continuous,
intermittent or alternating currents I have shown different ways of collecting the
gases or irons rising from the electrodes as for instance with an alternating current
or a continuous current where there is no liability of the current to reverse, the
collector C can be made to collect the gas from one electrode as shown in
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7; while as in Figs. 5, 8 and 13, the gas from both electrodes
may be collected by C. Fig. 6 shows how the jar A if made of metal can be used
as one of the electrodes, while the other electrode H can be placed under the
collector C.
In speaking of the tube T as a means of employing the difference in the specific
gravity between gas and fluid to cause the gas to be expelled from C, I do not
confine myself to a tube, as any arrangement of partition or passages in connection
with C-which will effect the same results as tube T, will answer in its place.
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. The combination in an electrical meter of a vessel adapted to hold a fluid
electrolyte provided with electrodes a gas collector placed over one or both of said

page_text: electrodes said collector being provided with a tube or gas passage leading from
the upper interior of the gas collector having the elements within itself for
discharging the gas from the collector after a certain amount has been collected
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. An electric meter composed of an electrolytic jar in combination with a gas
collector having a tube leading from the upper interior of the collector and leading
down to a level near its bottom opening then up to near the level of the top of the
collector when it opens outside of the collector substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
3. The combination in an electrical meter of vessel adapted to hold a fluid
electrolyte a gas collector for holding a certain quantity of gas provided with an
inverted siphon tube as a means for discharging the accumulated gas from the
said collector substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. An electric meter consisting of an electrolytic jar having the following
instrumentalities, a gas collector for collecting the gas or gases arising from one or
both of the electrodes a U-shaped tube by means of which the gas is discharged
from the collector after it has accumulated so as to displace the fluid from one arm
of the said tube a recording mechanism actuated by a movement produced by the
buoyancy of the accumulated gas or gases corresponding to the periodical discharges
of said gas or gases substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. In an electric meter a gas collector C in the form of an inverted cup submerged
in a fluid in combination with a tube T for employing the difference between the
specific gravity of gas and fluid to cause the gas to be expelled from the said gas
collector substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6. The combination in an electrical meter of a vessel adapted to hold a fluid
electrolyte electrodes which form a passage for the current through said electrolyte
a gas collector adapted for collecting the gas arising from one or both of said
electrodes a gas passage or discharge tube leading from the upper interior of said gas
collector having the means of discharging the gas from the interior of said collector
after a certain amount has accumulated a rod or connection extending from the
said collector, and leading to a recording mechanism provided with a dial adapted
for indicating the times that the accumulation and discharge of gas has floated and
sunk the said collector and electrical connections leading to the said electrodes
which form a path around a resistance adapted for carrying the current to be
measured substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 8th day of December 1891.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.