Electric Meter.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 24th Jan.,
1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE SOCIÉTÉ ANONYME CONTINENTALE POUR LA
FABRICATION DES COMPTEURS À GAZ ET AUTRES APPAREILS, of No. 23, Boulevard
de Strasbourg, Paris, France, Manufacturers.]
Electric Meter.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in
the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a construction of electric meter, wherein a counter or
registering mechanism is periodically advanced a quantity proportional to the couple
exerted in an electrodynamometer-Watt meter, giving the electro-motive force of the
current.
The meter is composed of three main parts:
1. A chronometric electro-motor with uniform motion, serving to actuate periodically
the mechanism of the meter.
2. A torsional electrodynamometer-Watt-meter, the moveable bobbin of which is
fixed at the end of a spring or torsional thread, the other end of which is connected at
the required moment with the electro-motor.
= 0.
3. A counter or registering mechanism which advances periodically to the extent
of the angle through which the end of the spring of the electrodynamometer has to be
turned for bringing the moveable bobbin into a condition of equilibrium in a
determined position which shall always be the same at every measurement, and which
starts from the point corresponding to the same equilibrium when the E.M.F.
This angle measures accurately the E.M.F. of the current in consequence of the
proportion existing on the one hand between the electrodynamic actions and the
intensity of the current, and on the other hand between the efforts exercised by
the spring and the angles of torsion.
CHRONOMETRIC ELECTRO-MOTOR.
Principle of action. I will assume a centrifugal isochronous governor, adjusted for
an angular velocity W, upon which any couple is made to act in the state of rest
The angular velocity will increase until it attains the value w, and will then remain
constant and equal to w, until the moveable parts have attained their maximum dis-
placement; but during such time, the governor, acting as fly wheel, will accumulate
a certain quantity of mechanical energy in consequence of the increase of the linear
velocity of its weights. When the impulse on the governor ceases, it will maintain
an angular velocity varying very little from w during the displacement of the weights,
by reason of the energy previously accumulated being given out again. This governor
running with a speed w consequently constitutes an accumulator of mechanical energy
with constant velocity.
Construction of the apparatus. The chronometric electro-motor constitutes a direct
application of the principle of action above set forth.
Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings shew the general arrangement of
the apparatus.
Fig. 1 shews a side view, Fig. 2 an end view, Fig. 3 a plan and Fig. 4 a detached
plan view of the electro-magnet action.
The governor can be of any suitable form of more or less isochronous action; in the
construction shewn at Fig. 1. A is a piece fixed on the axis O and carrying two
studs a a' on which bear the two arms m m¹ connected to the weights M M'.

page_text: the arms in combination with stops as shewn limit the extent of dis-
placement of the weights, which are pivotted on a frame B that is raised up by the
outward motion of the weights and which carries a contact cone C.
Against this cone bear one or more contact springs c fixed on an insulating piece H
Fig. 1 pivotted at h and connected to a piece G actuated by the distributor D fixed
on the axis of the armature F of the electro-magnet E E'.
When the cone C is lowered, the contact is established through Cc, and this is
broken when the cone is slightly raised.
The shaft O has teeth, or a V shaped groove at bottom in gear with which is a
sector S either with teeth or with a V shaped edge which is curved to a radius from
the centre and is pivotted freely at S on the armature F, so that the curvature is
somewhat excentric to the pivot. A stop limits the extent to which it approaches the
point this limit being such as to allow S to come out of contact with O. A spring R,
ordinarily maintains the armature in the position shewn at Fig. 4. The piece G,
made flexible at G¹ Fig. 3, is formed with a point G2 which bears upon the dis-
tributor D. When at rest, the point G2 rests in the notch d' and the piece H brings
the spring c towards the cone C. The circuit arranged as shewn at Fig. 3, is closed
at Ce when the governor is in the lowered position.
The electro-magnet being excited, the armature F and the sector S are then turned
to the right Figs. 3 and 4, and the sector S is kept out of contact with the axis 0;
the piece G is made to bear upon g, by the pivot G2 being made to slide on the
inclined, and the concentric part d². At the moment when the incline d³ arrives in
front of the point G2 the piece G recedes rapidly to the point g¹, thereby interrupting
the contact Cc by removing the spring e from C.
The electro-magnet being out of action the spring R causes the armature F to turn
to the left, whereupon the sector S gears with O either merely by its inertia, or by
the action of a spring, and if it is constructed without teeth, it is pressed in contact
with a pressure which can be readily regulated by varying the distance between 's, f
so as to avoid slipping, whereupon the axis O and consequently the governor will be
rotated by the action of the spring R.
when G² slides on the incline d' when the armature
The spring e only approaches
has nearly arrived at the point of rest.
The above action is repeated so long as the governor has not attained the speed w
sufficient for raising the cone C.
Every time the cone C arrives in its lowest position the circuit being closed, the
armature is turned so as to put the spring R under tension so that on the breaking of
the circuit the spring imparts to the governor a sufficient impulse to raise the
governor weights to a height slightly below their maximum displacement. The
speed is consequently independent between certain limits of the effort to be over-
come by the governor, the contacts being made the more rapidly the greater this
effort is.
The parts might be also so arranged that the attraction of the armature F is made
to impart motion to the regulator, the spring R then only serving to bring the parts
back into their first position as soon as the contact Cc is interrupted.
When the contact c is in the state of rest, the joint G2 should bear against the
bottom of the notch d¹; keeping G slightly removed from g, so that at the first
movement of the armature the contact Uc is insured by a slight approach of the
spring c.
This distributing device permits of the use of a vibrator having a displacement
equal to the movement of the armature at each contact. For diminishing the
friction and wear of the bearings of the regulator spindle, a step bearing of the
following construction may be used.
The lower end of the spindle O. rests on a ball o¹ of suitable diameter, situated
in a cavity of somewhat larger size than the ball, which rests on a plate o. When
the spindle revolves the ball will rotate continually in describing a small circle,
the friction is thereby greatly reduced, and the ball being immersed in oil, the points
of contact are continuously lubricated.

page_text: ELECTRODYNAMOMETER.
The torsional electrodynamometer, shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, is of vertical arrange-
ment, the frames of the thick conducting coil J through which the current to be
measured passes are fixed; the fine wire bobbin V which is on a shunt from the main
circuit receives a very slight motion on its axis v, limited by suitable stops. One end
of the torsion spring is fixed to a certain point of v and the other end to the axis
situated in line with v. In the drawing, the spring is constituted by a wire V¹
situated in the axis of land v. The axis carries a toothed sector L gearing with a
pinion P which at the required moment, is connected to the spindle n by means of a
clutch QQ. The wheel N is moved by the chronometric electro-motor and makes one
revolution for each measurement (for example 100 revolutions per hour). The electro-
dynamic couple being exerted on in the direction of the arrow, the position of rest of
the spindle is determined by an abutment, so that when the E.M.F.
spring V slightly displaces the bobbin V in the same direction.
= ( the
The measurement is effected by causing the spindle to turn in the direction
opposite that of the arrow, thereby putting torsion on the spring V, until the
bobbin V is displaced by its action; at this moment the fingers 9 and q escape each
other as will be presently described and the spindle is brought back to the position
of rest by the combined action of the spring V, and the compensator.
Compensator. The compensator has the following functions:
1. To put in equilibrium the reaction of the spring V₁ on the spindle l.
2. To determine the return motion of the spindle with a constant force.
This is effected by the following means. A lever K moveable round an axis k
Figs. 1 and 2, is urged by a spring k¹, in the direction of the arrow.
A rod k¹ k¹
connects the end of this lever with a point of the sector L. When the three axes k¹lk"
are in a straight line the compensator has no action; if at this moment the action of V
is also zero, there is equilibrium. When the sector L is displaced in the one direction
or the other the compensator exercises in the direction of the motion, a couple which
increases with the angle and the length of the levers of the compensator can be
determined so as to make the couple proportional to the angle formed by L.
Under these conditions, one can, firstly, in regulating the strength of the spring k³,
render the couple exerted on L by the compensator equal to the couple exerted by V
for all the positions that L may have, and as these two forces will be in the contrary
direction, the resultant will be zero.
Secondly, in shifting the compensator relatively to spindle through an angle in
the direction of the arrow, this axis is subject to a constant couple for all positions
of L, and equal to the couple exercised by the spring V₁ for such angle; this couple
consequently determines the return into the position of rest.
ACTION OF THE APPARATUS.
1
An axis z carries two levers Z and X. The lever Z carries a piece against which
bears the end of the spindle n.
The lever X'has a beak X' (Fig. 4) which is in contact with a stop v on an arm on
spindle when the bobbin V is in a state of rest. Assuming the lever X to be out of
contact with v¹, at the moment when the fingers 9 q¹ come into gear, then in
consequence of the inclination of q and g¹ or of one of these, the spindle n will be
pushed longitudinally to the right hand, pushing back, and causing X' to be pressed
against . The spindle n being stopped from further backward motion causes by the
action of q on g¹, the rotation of p and of the sector L, thereby putting torsion on the
spring V When the bobbin V in moving, allows the lever ✗ to escape as soon as
the stop of vis in line with the edge X2, the spindle n passes farther backward against
the action of the spring 3, and the fingers and q¹ then escape each other; n then
continues its rotation while I moves immediately back to the position of rest.
Before the fingers q q' again come into gear, for the next measurement, the pin n'

page_text: fixed on the wheel N (Figs. 1 and 5) acts upon an incline on Z, thereby causing
spindle n to move to the left hand again and pushing X outward away from v¹, the
incline X in thereby bearing against pin v¹ causing its arm to turn spindle and
with it the bobbin V to a slight extent. If the electro-motive force is greater than
the maximum power of the meter, then at the moment when the rotation of L is
arrested by a stop, the spindle n is pushed back with sufficient force to cause pin z¹
to deflect its spring 2, thus allowing L to move back into the position of rest.
For facilitating the return of the lever X and to avoid a useless loss of current and
heating of the bobbin V, there may be placed upon p or an interrupter 22 Figs. 1
and 2, which allows the current to pass into V when p begins to turn and breaks the
circuit in the position of rest.
The described mechanism can be modified as follows:-
The inclination of the fingers q g¹ can be replaced by springs which would tend to
force the spindles p and n apart.
The spring V might be regulated so that there is no movement of when
the E.M.F. is = 0.
The incline and the pin n' might be replaced by a spring tending to force ✗
away from ¹, and the inclination of qq might be increased so as to effect the
escapement.
The stop might be fixed on Z and the current in V be interrupted by the
interrupter described above for allowing the lever X to escape when the maximum
displacement is attained.
The beak X might be hinge jointed so as to give way on the return motion of the
lever X, without imparting motion to the bobbin V as described.
The part X2 of the lever might be made concentric with the axis z, for reducing the
effort of the return motion of X.
The compensator is not indispensable for the working of the apparatus; it only
tends to make it more regular.
COUNTER.
The counter serves to register the sum of the angles described by 1, from the point
where the lever X escapes when the E.M.F. is 0.
The motion of 7 is transmitted to a spindle t by means of a rod U, and two
levers U¹ U2 carried respectively by 7 and t.
A disc T working with slight friction on spindle t, has a circular V shaped groove
on its upper face, and is pressed by a spring t (Fig. 2) against a point t¹ which enters
the groove, so as to prevent the rotation of the dise under ordinary circumstances.
The lever U2 carries a second arm U³, on the end of which is pivotted a finger t³,
slightly inclined to the face of the disc, the point of which finger also enters the
V groove in an oblique direction. Under these conditions, if the lever U² be moved
to the right in Fig. 3, the finger 2 in bearing upon dise tends to press it downward,
so that this, in being now freed from the pressure of t¹, is carried along by the motion
of U2. If this arm moves to the left, the finger 2 will slide in the groove without
moving the disc T, which is then held by the point t¹.
The disc T and the two fingers t' t thus form a ratchet motion operating for every
amount of angular motion of U2; the groove of T may be made either with or
without serrations, and the finger 2 instead of being pivotted might have spring
action.
In order that the disc T may not begin to turn before the above described moment,
the finger 2 is raised up when in the position of rest by means of an adjustable
stop t³, the position of which will determine the point at which the disc begins to
rotate.
The disc is made to communicate its motion to any suitable counter mechanism on
which the expenditure of electrical energy can be indicated in any known manner.
The chronometric electro-motor directly connected to a counter of revolutions, will
indicate the time during which the main conductors are in action and can serve as an
electric clock.

page_text: GRAPHICAL REGISTERING APPARATUS.
For adapting a graphic registering device to the above described apparatus, the
following arrangement can be employed.
On the axis p, made of sufficient length for this purpose, is fixed a cylinder covered
with paper. Parallel to the axis p is a screw spindle which is rotated by the electro-
motor and which thereby causes a pencil or style resting on the paper to advance at a
uniform speed. At each measurement as above described the style will draw on the
paper a line the length of which starting from a determined generatrix of the cylinder
will represent exactly the strength of the current.
The surface included between the generatrix and the extremities of the lines drawn,
will represent exactly the electrical energy consumed during a given time.
===
For preventing the rotation of the clockwork mechanism when the meter is not in
action, the electro-motive force being 0, there may be added to the apparatus a
relay mechanism which breaks the circuit of the electro-motor when the intensity of
the current to be measured is = 0, for example, when all the lamps supplied by the
current are turned off.
Dated this 16th day of May 1890
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Electric Meter.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, 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 a construction of electric meter wherein a counter or
registering mechanism is periodically advanced an amount proportional to the product
of electro-motive force by intensity indicated by an electro-dynamometer Watt meter.
The meter consists of three main parts.
1. A chronometric electromotor having uniform motion and arranged to put the
parts of the counter periodically in motion.
2. A torsion electrometer Watt meter, having its moveable coil attached to one end
of a torsion spring, wire or thread, the other end of which is at certain times attached
to the electromotor.
3. A counter advancing periodically through that part of a revolution through
which the end of the torsion spring must be turned to bring the coil of the dynamo-
meter back to a certain position at which the product of electromotive force by
intensity is zero. Each of these movements of the counter is therefore proportional
to the product of electromotive force by intensity at the time when the movement
takes place.
1. The chronometric electromotor is arranged as shewn in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive.
A is a boss fixed on the spindle O and carrying two stops a a' on which rest arms m m¹
to which are attached the weights M. M. The movement of these these weights is
limited by stops as shewn in Fig. 1. They are pivotted on the arms of a sleeve B
carrying a contact cone C, which is raised as the weights M M' fly outwards so that
their arms bb bear on studs a a¹ raising the sleeve B. In face of the cone Cas
shewn in Fig. 7, a contact spring c or several of these are fixed on an insulating
arm H pivotted on h, and these springs are connected to a piece G governed by a
cain D which is fixed on the spindle of the armature F of an electromagnet E E.
When the cone C is lowered, contact is made with c, but this contact is broken
when the cone is slightly raised. As shewn in Fig. 4, the spindle O has a groove
into which enters a segment S which is concentric with f, but is pivotted at s on the

page_text: may be toothed.
is furmshed with a stop pin 7. The groove of ♥ and the edge of S
A spring Rusually keeps the armature F in the position shewn in Fig. 4. The
piece G part of which is flexible at G¹ has its point G2 bearing against the cam D
usually in the bollow d', whereby the contact c is brought to bear against the cone C
closing a circuit for the electromagnet E E¹. The armature F and sector S are thus
caused to turn partly round, also the cam D, and thus the point G2 having the
incline d' d² moved along it causes the contacts c to be pressed against the cone C,
until the other incline d² d' acts on G³ so as to move the contacts c away from the
cone C, the arm G bearing against a stop g¹ until the armature F returns to its
original position bringing the hollow d¹ to face G². While the armature F makes
its stroke towards the poles E E' the segment S is somewhat drawn away from O, but
when the armature makes its return stroke in obedience to the spring R, the segment S
.pressing against the spindle O causes it to revolve. The weights M M' are thus made
to fly somewhat outwards, and acting as a fly wheel they maintain the spindle O for a
time at a speed nearly uniform. The arrangement might be varied in such a way
that the motion of the armature F caused by the attraction of the magnet should give
the impulse to the spindle O, the spring R merely bringing the parts back when the
contact Ce is broken. When the contact c is at rest the point G2 resting in the
hollow should keep G a little away from g, so that at the first moving of
the armature, the contact Ce may be ensured by a small approach of the spring c.
In order to reduce friction the lower end of the spindle O rests on a ball o¹ lodged in
a cavity containing lubricant somewhat larger in diameter than the ball, which can
roll round in a small circular path on a plate o".
The effect of the weights M M is to maintain a nearly uniform velocity of revolution.
They are in the first place driven by centrifugal force away from the centre and have
their own velocity in space thus increased owing to the increase of radius. When the
impulse that gave the movement ceases, the weights return towards the centre,
tending to increase the angular velocity, which is thus prevented from diminishing so
rapidly as it would do if there were no such weights as M M¹ subject to centrifugal
force.
2. The electro dynamometer has a vertical axis. The coils. J through which flows
the current I to be measured, are stationary the coil V of fine wire connected in
shunt has a small movement round its axis v between suitable stops. A torsion
spring V¹ which is an elastic wire has one end fixed by a clamp at the top of a tubular
spindle 7, it passes through this spindle and has its lower end fixed to the spindle v.
The electrical connections are arranged as shewn in Fig. 3, so that the coil V tends to
turn in the direction of the arrow at Fig. 1. Assuming that the spindle is in such
a position that the wire V₁ exerts no torsion on it, then on exciting the coils J and V
by a current, the coil V is deflected and bears against its stop with a force propor-
tional to the current. If now the spindle be turned in the direction opposite to
the arrow until the elasticity of the wire V₁ balances the deflecting force, the angle
through which the spindle is thus turned is proportional to the force exerted by the
current in the dynamometer. By summing these angles, caused at equal intervals of
time, the counter registers the electric energy. When the spindle is left free, it
returns to a position such that the spring V₁ presses the coil V with very slight
force against its zero stop. To the spindle is connected by bevil gear another
spindle p. There is a compensating mechanism whereby the action of the spring V
on the spindle is balanced and this spindle is caused to return with constant force.
For this purpose a lever K pivotted at is urged by a spring k¹ in the direction of
the arrow Fig. 3. A rod k¹ k¹¹ connects the end of K to the bevil toothed sector L.
When the three centres k¹lk are in line, no force is exerted by K, and if at this
time the action of V is also null, there is equilibrium. When the sector L is displaced,
the lever K exerts on it a force in the direction of its motion which increases with the
displacement, and, by suitably proportioning the parts, this force may be made very
nearly proportional to the angle through which L is displaced. Thus by suitable
adjustment of the spring the force exerted on L by K may be made equal to that

page_text: exerted by Vin all positions of L, and these forces being opposite the resultant will
be null, but by turning the compensator through a certain angle round 1, a certain
force on this axis may be determined constant for all positions of I, and equal to that
exerted by the spring V₁ when twisted to that angle.
The electro-dynamometer operates in the following manner. The spindle is
periodically turned from its position of rest until the spring V₁ overcomes the
deflecting force on V, whereupon the spindle 7 should return to its position of rest,
and a couner which will hereafter be described registers and sums the movements of 1.
The movements for this purpose are obtained from the following organs.
(1) The chronometric electromotor which supplies the necessary power, turning the
wheel N on the spindle n, one revolution of which effects the series of periodic
operations.
(2) Two fingers q q' on p and n respectively, causing, while they are engaged, p to
turn with n, but, being inclined, there is a force tending to push the spindle n back
and so to disengage the fingers.
(3) A spindle 2 having two arms Z and X by which the escape of the fingers q¹ q¹
is determined at, the moment when the coil V is deflected. The arm Z (see Figs. 6
and 4) has a piece z¹ bearing against the end of the spindle n. The arm X has a
nose X which, when the coil V is at rest, is stopped by a pin v fixed on an arm of the
spindle y, but which is released when the coil V is turned back by the spring V¹. If
the arm X is away from v¹ when the fingers 9 9¹ become engaged, then owing to the
obliquity of these fingers or of one of them, the spindle n, being urged to the right,
pushes back 21 and brings X, against v¹. As n cannot now be pushed farther back it
causes to revolve turning the sector L and twisting the spring V'. When the
coil V becoming deflected lets the arm X escape, on the stop reaching the edge X2,
the spindle n retreats pushing back and allowing the fingers q q¹ to escape so that
n can continue its motion while returns to rest. Before the fingers 9 can
re-engage for the next count, the movement of a pin n' on the wheel N along the
slope of an arm projecting from L (as shewn in Fig. 5) causes the spindle n to
move to the left and causes X to move back behind the stop v', slightly moving the
coil V as X2 passes v. To facilitate the return of the arm X and avoid waste of
current and heating of the coil V, either or p may be provided with an interrupter v²
which lets the current pass to V when p begins to revolve, but stops it when p is at
rest. The mechanism above described may be variously modified. For the inclination
of the fingers 9 q' might be substituted springs tending to push apart the spindles p
and n.
The spring V might be adjusted so that there is no displacement of when
the electric force is null. Instead of the pin n¹ and the slope of there might be
a spring urging X away from the slopes of q¹ being more decided. The stop 2¹
might be fixed on Z, the current in V being interrupted as mentioned above, to let
the arm X escape when the maximum deflection is attained. The nose X¹ might be
jointed so as to pass in the back stroke without moving V, and the edge X, might
be shaped concentric with its axis z in order to reduce the strain in the return stroke
of X. The compensating mechanism is not essential to the working of the apparatus,
it only renders it more regular.
9
On
3. The counter is intended to register the sum of the angles moved through by
from the point where the arm X escapes when the product E x 1=0. The notion
of is transmitted to a spindlet by a connecting rod U and two arms U, U₂.
the spindle t can turn with light friction a disc T having a V groove in its face and
pressed by a spring against a pin t, which being engaged in the groove usually
prevents the dise from turning. The arm U, which is fixed to t has another arm U
at the end of which there is an inclined finger t2 entering the groove of T. When
the arm U² is moved towards the right the finger t, tending to become vertical pushes
down the disc T releasing it from the pressure of t¹ so that it turns along with U².
But when U moves to the left the finger 2 slips and the pin t₁ holds the disc T.
This arrangement constitutes a ratchet action without loss of motion, but it might
obviously be variously modified.
In order that the disc T should not begin to turn too soon, the finger t² in its back

page_text: position is raised by an adjustable stop t³ the position of which determines the
period at which 2 engages with and begins to turn the disc T. This disc is
geared to any convenient counter with indices marking Watts-hours and multiples
thereof.
The construction and operation of the apparatus is the same with either
continuous or alternating currents. By connecting a counter of revolutions to
the chronometric electromotor, the time during which the current is on can be
registered, and such a counter may serve as a clock, the spindle O being caused to
revolve at equal successive intervals of time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is: :-
1. The herein described construction of chronometric electromotor with centrifugal
regulator having weights which, as they depart from the centre accumulate energy
and as they return towards the centre restore this as driving power to the spindle
which carries them.
2. The herein described contact making and breaking mechanism for the electro-
magnet of the electromotor above referred to.
3. Imparting movement to the spindle of the electromotor by means of a segment
so centred that it is caused to bear against and drive the spindle when it is moved in
the one direction, but that is withdrawn from and slips past the spindle when it is
moved in the opposite direction.
4. The herein described compensating mechanism applied to the electrodynamo-
meter.
5. The mechanism and connections herein described whereby the spring of an
electro dynamometer is subjected to torsion until the deflected coil is brought back
to a given position, and is then released allowing the spring to return to its position
of repose, and whereby a record is made of the sum of the angles through which the
spring is twisted.
6. The herein described friction ratchet gear applied to the disc for driving the
counter.
7. The ball bearing herein described for the end of the vertical spindle of the
electromotor.
Dated this 6th day of November 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.