US1021106A - Three-wire mercury-meter. - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT C. IiANIHIER, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SANGAMO ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

THREE-WIRE MERCURY-METER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 22, 1911.

' To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT C. LANP'IUER,

- a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Sangamon, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Three-IV ire h'lercury-M cters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

This invention rclatesto mercury meters adapted for use in connection with a threewire system, and it has "for its object to provide a new and improved construction and arrangement of parts by which the armature spindles may be connected directly to each other without the use of gearing so that one recording mechanism shall indicate the full current passing. The means by which I have accomplished this object are illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter spe-.

citically described.

That which I believe to in the claims.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section through 11ly\ improved. meter, some of the parts being shown diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail, partially in section, showing tlie means for connecting the two spindles. ig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line 1-Ct of Fig. 2.

In the drawing, .10 indicates a casing, provided with a mercury chamber 1]. closed at the bottom by a plate 12.

13 indicates an electro-m=umet the poles of which are held in any appropriate manner in contact with the bottom-plate 1.2, the

be new is set forth coil of which magnet is connected across the three-wire circuit 14-15---16 parallel to both loads. It will be understood, however, that the coil of this magnet might equally well be connected across from either of the lines 14r-16 to neutral line 15 in parallel with only one of the loads.

17 indicates contacts of the ordinary typo embedded i n the casing 10, with their inner ends immersed in the mercury in the chamber 11 in close proximity to the armature 18 mounted on the spindle 19 the lower end of which rotates in aguide 20 carried by the plate 12, the upper end being journaled in -a bearing 21 mounted in the lower end of a sleeve 22 depending from the cover plate 23. .The contacts 17 are connected in series inthe line 16.

24-25 indicate pole pieces suitably mounted in the casing 10, preferably laminated soft-iron polepieces, the lower ends of which are directly opposite the upper ends of the poles of the magnet 13; 26 indicates a plate mounted on the upper ends of the pole-pieces 24-25, serving as the bottom plate for the mercury chamber 27 formed in the casing 28. 29 indicates a plate in the term of a ring suitably mounted in the casing 28 above the ends of the pole-pieces 24.-2:), preferably beingin the form of a laminated soft-iron ring. By this construction, the pole-pieces 2-125 and the plate 29 constitute the return path for the magnetic lines of force emanating from the magnet :13, the magnetic field in the mercury chamber 27 being practically of the same strength as thatin the mercury chamber 11 immediately adjacent to the magnet.

30 indicates contacts of the ordinary type embedded in the casing 28 with their inner ends immersed in the mercury in the chamber- 27 in close proximity to the armature 31 which is mounted on the spindle 32. The contacts 30 are connected in series in the line 14.

33 indicates a coupling of any approved type adapted to cause the spindles 1!) and 32 to rotate together, at the same time permitting them to swing very slightly relative to each other, the spindles 19 and being insulated from each other electrically in any suitable manner. The coupling between the spindles 19 and 32 is preferably constructed in the mannershown in Fig. 2. Referring to that figure, the upper end of spindle 19 and the lower end of spindle 32 are cut,

away on each side so as to form two flat surl'accs upon each sidel -16 indicates a shell preferably of metal or other suitable material.

17 indicates an end cap of metal or other suitable material provided with a substantially-oblong opening -l-8 within which the flattcncd end of the spindle 32 loosely rests. The end of the spindle is preferably pointed and rests within a suitable depression 49 in a plate 50 fixed in the interior of the shell 46.

51 indicates a cap which is fixed in the lower end of the shell 16 and is provided with a subslantially-oblong opening 52 within which the flattened end of the spin (lie 19 loosely rests. The end oi the spindle 19 is pointed, and the point rests within the plates 50 and 54 so as to insulate them from one another.

56 indicates a ring of hard rubber or other suitable insulating material, whose upper end bears upon the lower surface of the insulating plate 55 and which surrounds the bearing plate 54 between its periphery and the interior periphery of the shell 46.

57 indicates a ring of mica or other suitable insulating material, which is located below the cap 51 and below the lower end of the insulating ring 56. By this construction, the spindles are given a suitable play so as to allow them to swing slightly relative to each other and the spindles are at the same time thoroughly insulated from'one another. This is the form which I prefer to use, but any other method of insulating the spindles from one another may be used, as the same does not form any part of my present invention. The upper end of the spindle 32 is journaled in a bearing 3% carried by the lower end of the sleeve 35 'dependi-f from the cover-plate 36.

The above-described coupling between the spindles '19 and 32 electrically insulating one from the other forms no part of my present invention but is the type of coupling being used in the commercial embodiment of my improved meter. v

v 37 indicates a coupling of any approved type joining the upper end of the spindle 32 to a spindle 38 so that they shall rotate together but that one may swing very slightly relative to the other.

39 indicates a damping disk mounted on the spindle 38, rotating between the poles of permanent magnets 40 suitably held in position therefor. 41 indicates a worm cut in the spindle 38 adapted to drive a suitably geared recording train not shown. The upper end of the spindle 38 is adapted to be journaled in any suit able bearing not shown.

42indicates a float of wood or other suitable material mounted on the spindle 19 of such a size as to buoy upward the three shafts or spindles l93238 and their connected parts, as is well-known in two-Wire mercury meters.

In order to produce a mercury meter on a commercially successful basis it is important that the amount of mercury nee cssary for proper working shall be limited.

\Vith this end in View, that portion of the mercury chamber in which the armature rotates is made very shallow, on account of. which it is necessary to provide a considerable head of mercury to insure its completely filling the space about the armature and forcing out all the air. meter herein described it is of course necessary to have one of the armature spindles pierce the bottomplate of its mercury chamber. With the spindle piercing the bottom plate as such plates are ordinarily constructed, and with the required head of mercury above the bearing in the bottom plate, the mercury would slowly w'orkdts way between the bearing jewel and the spindle, very soon rendering the meter deficient and possibly inoperative. I have found, however, that I can actually pierce the bottom plate with a spindle having a working fit therein'without permitting the escape of any mercury whatever if the head of mercury above the bearing be sufficiently reduced. I have therefore raised the bearing 43 relative to the bottom-plate 26 by means of a sleeve 44: swaged upward therefrom, rising to a point atwhich the head of mercury above the bearing shall be less than the minimum head at which the mercury will work its way throughjhe bearing. To

In the type of accommodate this change in the bottom above thebearing 43, but below the surface of the mercury in order to keep the surface friction to a minimum. Suitable attachment is made in the construction-shown by means of a sleeve 45 swaged upward from the armature disk. Openings 46 are provided in the upper end of this sleeve 15 to permit the mercury to run downward between the sleeves 4.4 and 45 to properly surround the armature.

While I prefer the construction shown employing but a single electro-magnet which I do not limit myself to that construction except as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters. Patent is,-

1. In a meter, the combination of an armature, an electro-magnet with its poles in close proximity to said armature, pole pieces extending close to said armature opposite said magnet poles, a second armature mounted close to the other ends of said pole pieces and adapted to rotate in unison with said first armature, and a return plate in close proximity to the ends of said pole pieces on the opposite side of said second armature.

2. In a mercury meter, the combination of a casing, a mercury chamber therein, a bottom plate closing the lower side of said chamber, a bearing mounted in said bottom 110 furnishes a field for both parts of the meter, a

plate, a spindle extending through said bearing, and an armature mounted on said spindle above said bearing, said bearing being raised above the plane of the bottom plate proper.

3. In a mercury meter, the combination of a casing, a mercury chamber therein, a bottom plate closing the lower side of said chamber, a bearing mounted in said bottom plate, a spindle extending through said bearing, and an armature mounted on said spindle above said bearing but below the surface of the mercury, the armature proper being below the bearing, said bearing being raised above the plane of the bottom plate proper.

4. In a mercury meter, the combination of a casing, a mercury chamber therein, a bottom plate closing the lower side of said chamber, a sleeve extending upward from said bottom plate, a bearing mounted in the upper end of said sleeve, a spindle extending through said bearing, and an armature mounted on said spindle above said bearing, the armature proper being below the bearin 5. In a mercury meter, the combination 0 a casing, a mercury chamber therein, a bottom plate closing the lower side of said chamber, a bearing mounted in said bottom plate, a spindle extending through said hearing, an armature, and a sleeve extending upward from said armature and mounted on said spindle above said bearing, the armature proper being below said bearing.

(5. In a mercury meter, the combination of a casing, a mercury chamber therein, a bottom late closing the lower side of said chamber,a sleeve extending upward from said bottom plate, a bearing mounted in the upper end of said sleeve, a spindle extending through said bearing, an armature, and a sleeve extending upward from said armature and mounted on said spindle above said bearing, the armature proper being below said bearing. Y

7. In a mercury meter, the combination of a casing, a mercury chamber therein, a bottom plate closing the lower side of said chamber, a sleeve extending upward from said bottom plate, a bearing mounted in the upper end of said sleeve, a spindle extending through said bearing, an armature, and a sleeve extending upwardfrom said armature and mounted on said spindle above said hearing but below the surface of the mercury, the sleeve mounted on said armature having holes through its upper end for the passage of the mercury, the armature proper being below said bearing.

8. In a three-wire mercury meter, the combination of two mercury chambers one above the other, a raised bearing in the bottom of said upper chamber, a spindle in the lower mercury chamber, an armature mounted thereon, a spindle extending through said raised bearing. and connected with said lower spindle to rotate therewith, an armature mounted on said upper spindle and means for producing a magnetic field upon each armature.

9. In a three-wire mercury meter, the combination with two mercury chambers one above the other, a raised bearing in the bottom of said upper chamber, a spindle in the lower mercury chamber, an armature mounted thereon, a spindle extendin through said raised bearing and connecte with said lower spindle to rotate therewith, and an armature mounted on said up er spindle, of

a-magnet with its poles, in c ose roximity to the armature in the lower cham er, polepieccs extending substantially from one armature to theother, and a return plate in close proximity to the ends of said pole pieces on the opposite side of said upper armature.

10. In a three-wire direct-current meter, the-combination of two mercury chambers one above the other, a raise bearingin the bottom of said upper chani er, a spindle in the lower mercury chamber, an armature mounted thereon, a spindle extendi through said raised bearing and connect with said lower spindle to rotate therewith but insulated therefrom, an armature mounted on said upper spindle, means for producing a magnetic field upon each armature, one of said armatures being in series with one load circuit and the other of said armatures being in series with the other load circuit.

ROBERT C. LANPHIER. Witnesses Jacon BUNN, GEORGE A. BATES.

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