US1142425A

US1142425A - System of electric metering.

Info

Publication number: US1142425A
Application number: US71141012A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernst Heilborn
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1912-07-25
Filing date: 1912-07-25
Publication date: 1915-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 1932-06-08

Description

v E. HE|LBORN.-

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC METERING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25,1912.

1,142,425. PatentedJune 8,1915.

Fig.2.

20 @M /a /6 2" I Witnesses: v I Inventor: I Ernst, HeilbnTn 231 9? /M a HisQfittornem ERNST HEILIBORN, E GH ARLOTTENBURG, GERMANY, ASQSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.' I

SYSTEM OF ELECTRIC METERING. I

subject of the King of Prussia, residing at Charlottenburg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Electric Metering, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to systems of metering electrical energy, and particularly to multiple rate systems in which the charge for energy consumed depends upon the quantity used and also upon the time of day during which the consumption takes place.

The load curve of the ordinary central generating station shows a maximum demand for energy during the evening hours when a large amount of electricity is used for lighting purposes. During the other hours of the day the demand on the central station is relatively very light. Obviously,

it is most desirable that the load curve of the station be as uniform as possible. result can be approached if consumers would use more energy during the period of v period of light load.

I propose to accomplish the object of my invention by providing a double tariff rate,

l2]. low rate and a high rate. During the period of peak load on the station, the consumer will be charged for the energy which he uses at the low rate as longas his demand on the station does not exceed a predetermined amount. When the rate of consumption of energy rises above this predetermined amount, the consumer will be charged the higher rate for the total. energy consumed during the time his demand exceeds the fixed amount. During the period of light load the reverse method of charging Specification of Letters Batent.

Application filed July 25, 1912. Serial No. 711,410.

Such a Patented June 8, 1915..

will be employed, and the consumer will pay the high rate as long as his demand is below a predetermined quantity. When, however, the demand is above this quantity the consumer will obtain his energy at the low rate. In this manner consumers are encouraged to use large quantities of energy during the'light load periods, and induced not to use large amounts during theperiods of peak load.

In carrying out my invention, I provide an electric meter having at least two registers. energy consumed for which the low rate is to be charged, and another indicates the energy for which the high rate is to be charged. The change in registration from one register to the other is accomplished automatically by a relay responsive to a predetermined change in the amount of energy being consumed or the consumers demand. A time controlled device operates at predetermined periods to reverse the effect of this One of these registers indicates the relay upon the changing mechanism for the registers. By this apparatus the total energy consumed during the period of light load when the demand is above a predetermined quantityis registered on the low rate register as is also the total energy consumed during the period of peak load, when the demand is below a predetermined amount. On

7 the high rate register is registered the total consumption of energy during the light load period, when the demand is below the predetermined amount, and also the total consumption during the peak load period when the demand exceeds the predetermined quantity. The registers may have the same rate of registration in which case the rate charged for the energy registered on one register will be higher than the .rate charged for the energy registered on the other regis ter. Or the registers may have difierent rates of registration so that one will register a larger consumption than the other .for the same actualamount of energy consumed, in which case the rate charged will be the same for the energy registered on both registers.

The novel features which I believe to be embodiment of the novel features of my new system of metering, and Fig. 2 is a modification thereof.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings there is shown an electric meter 5 having the usual rotatable shaft and driving worm 6. The meter is placed in an electric supply circuit to measure the energy supplied by a source of electricity 7 to electric translating devices 8. Included in this circuit is a relay9 which operates as a demand actuator. An armature 10 isin operative relation with the relay and when the current coil of the latter is energized the armature is attracted and operates to close the contacts 11. spring 12 normally holds the armature 10 so that contacts 11 are open and also provides a force to be overcome by therelay before contacts 11 can be closed. The

amount of this opposing force of the spring.

, can be adjusted by the set screw 13. A

scale 14 and coiiperating pointer 15 may also be provided so as to readily and accurately make this adjustment in known units. By this arrangement the contacts 11 will be automatically closed when a predetermined current flows in the coil of the relay. An electromagnet 16 .is provided with two sets of windings 17 and 18. The circuit of the windings 17 is controlled by the contacts 11. The circuit of the winding 18 is controlled by the time switch 19. The time switch 19 may be or any desired construction. T have merely represented this switch in a diagrammatic manner in the accompanying drawings and have shown movable contact 2% mounted on the hour hand of a clock arranged to cotiperate with a sector shaped fixed contact 3d to close the circuit of the winding 18 for a predetermined interval of time The wind ings 1? and 18 are so arranged that their magnetic eil'ects are opposite. Thus when .the circuit of either winding is closed the magnet 16 is ener ized, but when the cir cuits of both windings are closed the magnet is deenergized since one winding neutralizes the other. The electromagnet ld has a coiiperating armature 20. A spring 21 normally holds the armature in the position shown in 1 1i @peratively connected to the armature is a link mechanism 22 pivoted at 23 which controls the movemerit of a movable gear member 21-. This gear member is adapted to mesh with the Worm 6 at all times, and also according to its position, with either the driving gear 25 of register 26, or driving gear 2'? of register 28.

The operation of my novel system of metering, as just described, is as follows: The set screw 13 is adjust-ed by aid of the calibrated scale 14 and pointer 15 so that the contacts 11 will be closed when a certain predetermined current flows in the circuit of relay 9. Normally the spring 21 holds the armature 20 in the position shown in Fig. 1, and the movable gear member 2-l is operatively connected to the high rate register 26. W hen the energy being consumed in the translating devices 8 reaches a predetermined quantity the relay 9' automatically operates to close the contacts 11, and thus the circuit of the winding 17 is completed and electromagnet 16 is energized. Armature :20 is then attracted by the poles of the electromagnet and operates to move gear member 2 1 from engagement with driving gear '25 into engagement with driving gear 27. The total energy consumed in the translating devices is now registered on the low rate register 28.

The foregoing description of the operation of my system of metering is correct only when no current is flowing in the winding 18. The circuit of this winding is closed by a time switch during the period of peak load on the central station. When the circuit of winding 18 is thus closed its effect will be to neutralize the effect of wind ing 17 In this way when the demand is below a predetermined quantity the contacts 11 will be open and the electromagnet 16 will be energized by winding 18. Movable gear 2% will thus be in operative relation with the low rate register 28. lit the demand during this peak load period rises above the predetermined quantity the circuit of winding 17 will be closed and since the effect of one winding is to neutralize the efi'ect of the other, the electromagnet 16 will be deenergized, and the energy consumed in the devices 8 will be registered on the high rate register 26. Tt will thus be seen that the edect of the time switch 19 and winding 18 is to-reverse the normal efi'ect of the winding 1? upon the register changing mechanism.

in Fig. 1, l have shown the demand actuator provided with two windings. 011s winding is included in series relation wi h the circuit 01 the translating device 8, as heretbfore described, and the other winding 18 is in series with the winding 18 of electromagnet 16. The circuit of winding 18' is, therefore, completed by the time switch 19 during the period of peak load. Tn this manner the winding 18 will operate during armature 10' will be attracted and the contacts 11 closed.

In case it is not'desired to have adifl'erent predetermined demand during the periodofpeak loads the winding 18, shown in Fig. 1, may be omitted. This modification of my invention I have illustrated in 2 of the drawings. In this figure the relay or demand actuator 9 has only one winding which is the same as the series winding described in connection with relay 9. The winding 18 of the electromagnet 16 is, accordingly, arranged to be connected directl across the line by means of the time switc 19. The other features of construction of the modification illustrated in Fig. 2 are the same as heretofore described in connection with Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that during the period of light load on the central station the circuit of winding 18 is open and the total energy consumed when the demand exceeds a predetermined amount is registered on the low rate register. When the demand is below this amount the consumption is registered on the high rate register, During the period of peak load just the reverse takes place. The circuit ofwinding 18.is now closed and the total energy consumed when the demand is below a predetermined uantity is registered'on the low rate register, while that consumed when the demand is in excess of this quantity is registered on the high rate register.

I desire it to be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular construction or arrangement of apparatus here shown, since many changes which do not depart from the spirit of my' invention, will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and

which changes are within the scope of the present claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

'1. The method of metering electrical energy which consists in registering upon one register during certain periods of time only the total consumption of energy when the demand is less than a predetermined quantity and during other periods of time only the consumption of energy when the demand is in excess of a predetermined quantity, and efi'ecting such registration of energyby the magnitude of the demand.

2. The method of metering electrical energy which consists in registering upon one register during certain periods of time only the total energy consumed when the demand is in excess of a predetermined quantity and during other periods of time only the total energy consumed when the demand is less than a second predetermined quantity, registering upon a second register the remaining energy consumed, during any period of time, and effecting such registration of energy upon the appropriate register by the magnitude of the demand, 7

3. The method of metering electrical en ergy supplied by a central genera-ting station to electric translating devices which consists in registering upon one register during the period of peak load on the station only the total energy supplied when th demand is less than a predetermined quan-' tity and upon a second register only the total energy supplied when. the demand is in excess of said predetermined quantity,

registering at other periods of time upon the first mentioned register only the total energy supplied when the demand is in excess of a second predetermined quantity and upon said second register only the total energy supplied when the demand is less.

than said second predetermined quantity, and effecting such registration of energy upon the appropriate register by the magnitude of the demand;

4. A system of metering electrical energy comprising a meter, a plurality of registers for registering the energy metered, an electric supply circuit, means responsive to the electrical condition of saidcircuit for determining the register upon which the en-. ergy metered is registered, and means for reversing the effect of said means at predetermined times.

- '5. A system of metering electrical energy comprising a meter, a plurality of registers for registering the energy metered, an electric suppl circuit, means responsive to a predetermlned change in the electrical condition of said circuit for determining the register upon which the energy metered is registered, and means for varying at predetermined times the predetermined change to which said means is responsive.

6. A system of metering electrical energy comprising ameter, a plurality of, registersfor registering the energy metered, an electric supply clrcuit, means responsive to a predetermined change in the electrical condition of said circuit for determining the register upon whichthe energy metered is registered, means for reversing the eiiect of said means at predetermined times, and means for varying at predetermined times the predetermined change to which said first mentioned means is responsive.

7 A system of metering electrical energy comprising a meter having a register, electric translating devices, means for registering on said register during predetermined times only the total energy consumed in (ill al u

said translating devices when the demand is in excess of a predetermined amount, and. means for registering on said register during other times only the total energy consumed in said translating devices when the demand is less than a predetermined amount.

8. A system of metering electrical energy comprising a meter having two registers, electric translating devices, means for registering on one of said registers during cer tain periods of time only the total energy consumed in said translating devices when the demand is in excess of a predetermined quantity, means for registering on the second register during said same periods of time only the total energy consumed in said translating devices when the demand is less than thepredetermined quantity, means for registering on said first register during all other periods of time only the total energy consumed in said translating devices when the demand is less than a predetermined quantity, and means for registering onthe second register during the last mentioned periods of time only the total energy consumed in said translating devices when the demand is in excess of the last mentioned predetermined quantity.

9, A system of metering-electrical energy comprising a meter having a rotatable shaft and two registers, electric translating de vices, a movable member for operatively connecting said shaft to either of said registers, means responsive to the quantity of energy being consumed by said translating de vices for operating said movable member, and time controlled means for reversing the effect of said last mentioned means upon said movable member.

10. A system of metering electrical energy comprising a supply circuit for electric translating devices, a meter having a rotatable shaft and two registers, a gear train for each of said registers, a movable memher for connecting either of said gear trains to the meter shaft, an electromagnet, an armature coiiperating with said electromagnet and operatively connected to said movable member, a time controlled winding for said electromagnet, a second winding for said electromagnet, and means responsive to a predetermined change in the electrical condition of said supply circuit for controlling the circuit of said. second winding.

11. A system of metering electrical comprising a meter having a rotatable shaft and two registers, an electric supply circuit, a movable member for placing said shaft in operative relation with either of said registers,'an electromagnet, an armature coiiper ating with said electromagnet and opera tively connected to said movable member, winding for said electroinaenet, a time trolled switch foihsaid winding, a second winding for said electromagnet, a relay forcontrolling the circuit of said winding and having a current coil included in said supply circuit, a second winding for said electromagnet, a second winding for said relay, and a time switch for controlling the circuits of said second windings,

13 A system of metering electrical energy comprising in combination an electrical installation, means for metering the electric energy supplied to said installation, a register and meansfor registering on said register during certain periods of time the energy supplied to said installation only when the demand of the installation is less than a predetermined quantity and during other periods of time the energy supplied to said installation only when the demand of the installation is in excess of a predetermined quantity,

it. A system of metering electrical energy comprising in combination, an electrical installation, means for metering the electric energy supplied to said installation, a register, means for registering on said register during certain periods of time the energy supplied to said installation only when the demand of the installation is less than a predetermined quantity and during other periods of time the energy supplied to said in stallation only when the demand of the installation is in excess of a predetermined quantity, a second register and means where by the remaining energy supplied to said installation is registered upon said second register.

15. A system of metering electrical energy comprising in combination an electrical installation, a source of electric energy supply for metering the electric energy supplied said installation, two registers, means registering upon one register during period of pealr load on said source the total energy supplied to said installation only when the demand of the installation is less than a predetermined quantity and for registering upon second register thetotal energy supplied to said installation only When the demand of the installation is in tal energy supplied to said installation only 10 excess of said predetermined quantityya'ndp when the demand is less than said second means cooperating with said last'mentioned predetermined'quantity.

means for registering upon the first register In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set duringother periods of time the total enmy hand this 9th day of Julv, 1912..

ergy supplied to said installation only when DR. ERNST HEILBORN. the demand of the installation is in excess Witnesses: of a second predetermined quantity and for KARL MORKAN,

registering upon the second register the to- I FRITZ WALLMfiLIER.