US389870A - Registering-meter for electric currents - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. D. BISHOP.

REGISTERING METER EoR ELECTRIC GURRENTS. No. 389,870. I Patented Sept. 25, 1888.

N. PETERS. phmum nwr. Walhinglam o c be either above or below the UNITED STATES PATENT )rrrcn.

JAMES D. BISHOP, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

REGISTERING-METER FOR ELECTRIC CURRENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389.870, dated September 25, 1888.

Application filed December J l, 1887. Serial No. 258,027. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,'JAMEs D. BIsI-ior, of San Francisco, San Francisco county, State of California, have invented a Registering-Meter for Electric Currents; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a registering-meter for electric currents.

It consists of indicating dials with suitable gearing by which they are actuated, an adj ustablepawl-and-ratehet mechanism by which the movements of the indicating-dials are regulated, and an oscillating arm or pendulum actuated by the passing current, together with a mechanism by which the movement of the ratchet-wheel is increased or diminished in proportion to the current which is passing.

Referring to the accompanying drawing for a more complete explanation of myinvention, the figure is a front elevation showing the arrangement of my meter.

A is a pendulum, the weight of which may point of suspension P.

E is an armature, which is fixed to the pendulum-rod at'a point either above or below the point of suspension and in such a position as to be attracted alternately by the electro-magnets 0 O, which in the present case I. have shown as standing horizontally upon each side of the armature, and at such a distance therefrom that when the current passes through either one or the other the magnet will attract the armature and cause the pendulum to swing to one side. Above the point of suspension, as at present shown, are contact-points O O, which in the present case are shown in the form of plungers, and the corresponding point or points 0 of the pendulum rod will be brought into contact with these plungcrs alternately as the pendulum swings from side to side, so as to make and break electrical contact alternately. These plungers are held by springs, so that when the pendulum is exactly vertical both points would be in contact with the point 0 upon the pendulum-rod, one upon each side; but as neither of these plungers can move beyond a certain point when the pendulum is moved a little to one side or the other it will break the opposite contact, thus leaving the magnet O, which is in connection with that contact, in the circuit and short-circuiting the eleetro-magnet 0' through the pendulunrrod, the opposite plunger, and the line, which will thus attract the armature E in the direction of O. WVhen the pendulum swings in the opposite direction,it makes contact with the opposite plunger, simultaneously breaking contact with the firstone, thus cutting the other electric magnet, 0, out of the circuit and passing the circuit through the opposite electro-magnet, C, so that the armature will be attracted in that direction, and an impulse is thus given to the pendulum alternately from opposite sides.

M is a solenoid having the core L extending into the hole in its center, this core being drawn into the coil by the increased current and allowed to drop out of it when the current diminishes either by its own weight or the action ofa spring or other suitable mechanism. The lower end of the core L is connected by the link D with the oscillating bar Q, which is "fulcrumed upon the post K.

G is a link or bar pivoted to the opposite endof the oscillating bar Q, and having antifrictional rollers R journaled in its upper end. The pendulum-rod is extended below the fulcrum, as shown atF, and one of the anti frictional rollers R has its periphery in contact with this pendulum-rod,while the other roller is in contact with the lever H, which is fulcrumed upon the center J, about which the ratchet-wheel S turns. At the upper end of the lever H is a pawl, I, which engages the teeth of the ratchet-wheel S. By the means of a train of gearing arranged in the well-known manner, adapted for driving dials of meters or registering devices, a series of indicating-dials are driven by the movement of the ratchetwheel, so that the current passing through the instrument is indicated upon these dials.

In order to register the movement of the currentin amperes or other units of measurement, and also to register the variations of the current, it will be manifest that when the current becomes strong the core L will be drawn into the coil M, thus raising the end of the lever Q with which it is connected and depressing the opposite end. Thisdraws the anti-frietional rollers R R down so that they are at a greater distance from the fulcrum of the pendulumrod, and consequently will be given a longer impulse or movement by the vibrations of the rod. At the same time, as they are drawn down they are brought nearer to the fulcrum J of the lever H, and this again increases the arc of vibration of the lever H, thus carrying the pawl I over a greater distance of the periphery of the ratchet-wheel S, and causing the latter to move more rapidly. If the current becomes less. the core L is allowed to move out of the coil M either by its own weight or by the action of a spring, as above stated, and the anti-frictional rollers will move upward between the lever II and the extension F of the pendulumrod,which lie parallel with each other, sothat contact between them and the rollers will always be maintained. In moving up, these rollers approach the fulcrum of the pendulum, which consequently shortens the distance to which they are moved by the ac tion of the pendulum, and as they move correspondingl y farther away from the fulcrum J of the lever II the movement of the pawl I will also be correspondingly shortened.

:ly this device I am enabled to indicate accurately any variation in the current, and also to register the total amount of the current which has passed over the line within any given time. It will be manifest that the penduluni-weight might be below its point of suspension, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the relative position and arrangement of the electro-magnets of the mechanism, these operating without materially altering the character or operation of my in venlion. I have preferred to fix t he pendul umweight above the point of suspension, so that the rod, which may be made llexible between the weight and point of suspension, would always be inclined to one side, and one of the contacts 0 would be broken and the other air cuit closed, and whenever the current is passed through the apparatus the pendulum would immediately commence to oscillate, and the operation will continue as long as the current is passing and cease with it. By making the pendulumrod flexible above its point of suspension I preventany jar or sudden stoppage at the ends of the beats.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A suspended pendulum having an armature attached to its rod, one or more clectro magnets acting upon the pendulum, and a mechanism, substantially as described, whereby the magnets are alternately short-circuited by the pendulum, the dial or dials having indicating-figures marked upon them, and a variable gearing between the pendulum and the dials, whereby the oscillations of the pendulum are transmitted, so as to move the dials and indicate the passing current, substantially as herein described.

2. A suspended pendulum having an armature attached to its rod, and mechanism by which the current is passed through one or more electro-magnets, whereby an oscillation of the pendulum is produced, a train of gearing, and pawl-and-ratchet movement, which is operated by the movements of the pendulum, and a dial or dials having indicating-figures, in combination with a solenoid having a movable core, a lever and a variable gearing connected with said core and operating between the pendulum and the lever and pawl which drive the dials, so that the movements of the dials are increased with the increase of the current and decreased with decrease of the current, substantially as described.

3. A suspendedpendulumhaving an armature fixed to its rod, an electro magnet or magnets which act upon this armature, and a commutator which is operated by the vibrations of the pendulum, so as to transfer a passing electric cu rrcnt, whereby the oscillation of the pendulum is produced. an indicating dial or dials with a train of gearing, a pawl-andratchet mechanism by which the gearing is moved, a pawl-lever, H, parallel with the pendulumrod extension F, and a rod, G, with the anti-frictional rollers or slides lying between the lever and pendulum-rod, forming a contact with the two, whereby the movements of the pendulum-rod are transmitted to actuate the pawl-lever, substantially as herein described.

4-. A pendulum-rod with its operating electro magnet or magnets and commutator, the pawl-earrying lever lying parallel with the pendulum-rod extension, and the antifrictional rollers or slideslying between the lever and the pendalum-extension, forming a contact with the two, in combination with the electromagnetic coil or solenoid, the oscillating lever, from which the anti-frictional rollers are supported, and a core connected with the opposite end of said lever and extending into said electroanagnetic coil or solenoid through which the current to be measured passes, said current drawing the core into the coil as it increases and allowing it to fall out as it decreases, substantially as herein described.

5. In combination with the alternately-acting clectro magnet or magnets, a pendulum the rod of which is made flexible between the weight and the point of suspension, an armature upon which the magnets act to cause the pendulum to swing from side to side, and a commutator operated by the swinging pendulum.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

J. l). BISHOP.

Vitnesses:

S. H. Nouusn, H. 0. LEE.

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