US437763A - Electric metee - Google Patents

Description

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A. RECKENZAUN.

ELECTRIC METER.

No. 437,763. Patented Oct. 7, 1890.

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ELECTRIC METER.

-No. 437,763. Patented Oct. 7,1890.

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PATENT OFFICE.

ANTHONY RECKENZAUN, OE CLAPHAM, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, EY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OE PART TO A. J. DE CAMP, CHARLES D. NORTON, OHARLESM. BLANCHARD, s. M. BUOHMAN, JAMES A. PENTZ, CHARLES SCIIAEEER, LINCOLN GODEREY, GEORGE w. nEwITT, ERwIN AGNE\V, AND L. WEBSTER FOX.

METER.

srEcIFIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent Ne. 437,763, dated october 7, Iseo.

Application filed August 3, 1889.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTHONY REOKENZAUN, engineer, a citizen of the United States, residing at 7 Albert Terrace, Hemberton Road,

Clapham, in the county of Surrey, England,

have invented certain new and useful Improve- Inents in Electric Meters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others Skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates' to improvements in electric meters of the type indicated in the patent speciiications numbered 394,880 and 394,881, and dated December 18, l888,respectively; and has for its objects to increase the sensitiveness of the Ineter and insure the absolutely accurate measurement of the electricity consumed.

The invention will be hereinafter particularly described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which Figure l is a side elevation of the meter, with the solenoids in section. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view with the recording mechanism removed. Fig. 4: is a plan of the disk, showing by dotted lines changes that may be made therein. Fig. 5 is a detail of one form of commutator; Fig. 6, a detail of another and the preferred form of commutator, with a portion broken away; Fig. 7, a det-ail of the wheel which forms part of the drum which incloses the spring, a portion of the drum being broken away; Fig. 8, another detail, showing` the interior of the drum and arrangement of spring therein, looking from the side neXt to the wheel.

This meter, essentially, consists of two solenoids actuating iron cores A and B, which cores are connected with a lever L. This lever is pivoted at O upon a suitable standard O and carries at its furthermost end a fric- Serial No. 319,664. (No model.)

tion-roller R. Said friction-roller is supported from the forked end of the lever by means of two small links P, pivoted at their upper ends to the fork of the lever and at their lower ends 5o to a collar p, mounted loosely around the hub or sleeve portion of the roller R and held thereon by a ange q, washer, or equivalent means on said sleeve, and the object of this mode of suspension is to allow complete freedom of motion to the roller up and down the vertical spindle S, which will be connected at its upper end with the registering or indicating mechanism, and since the end of the lever describes an arc while the path of the friction- 6o roller is in a vertical straight line, this highly flexible Inode of suspension is of great importance in eliminating friction. TheleverL is balanced by a counter-weight XV in such a manner that the roller R will just drop down toward the center of disk D when no current is passing through the solenoid. As soon as a small current is allowed to circulate through the solenoids the core B will be sucked up to a slight degree corresponding with the 7o strength of the current. Core A simultaneously drops down, principally by gravity.

It has already been explained in the previously-referred-to patents that the distance through which an iron core travels within a solenoid is not absolutely proportional to the current owing within the coil; but in this meter it is quite essential that the radial displacement of the roller R relatively to the disk D should be quite proportional, because 8o the consumption of electricity has to be recorded by the velocity with which roller R revolves and communicates its motion t-o dials similar to a gas-meter. Thus the function of the second solenoid and core A is to compen- 8 5 sate for the varying attractions upon B, and also to equalize any magnetic lag which might be appreciable and involve slight errors. Both solenoids are energized by the same current, and the tendency of core B be- 9o ing sucked up a greater distance than that corresponding with the increased quantity of currentis counteracted by the core A, whose gravitation effect is reduced simultaneously, since there is also here the natural tendency of the core being held level with its solenoid. The core A Will keep dropping down so long as its Weight (gravitation) isgreater than the effect of the solenoid trying to hold it up; but as the current is increased there will be a point when A will actually be held up by the solenoid, and all tension on its suspension cord or chain C destroyed. After this occurs the core B has alone to do the work of raising the lever, and for this reason core B is suspended by a rigid rod G. The flexible cord C and rigid rod G are preferably connected to the lever L by pivotally attaching their upper ends to clips a, straddling the lever, and held to any desired adjustment by set-screws b. Set-screws s may be used to limit the throw of the lever.

The best positions of the iron cores Vto produce absolutely proportional effects upon R are determined by experiment, and the necessary adjustment can be made partly by shifting the counter-balance W slightly, and principally by adjusting the length of the suspension-chain C and the rod G by means .of the threads c and lock-nut d, as shown in thev drawings.

The highest position of the lever is represented by dotted lines, Fig. l. This would correspond to the greatest current a given instrument is intended to indicate, and in that position the friction-roller R will be near the circumference of the disk D, and therefore transmit its greatest velocity. The disk D revolves at a constant speed. It can be revolved by any mechanical means; but in the present case a suitable kind of electric clockwork will be described.

In order that the roller R may rise and fall readily with any variation of the current, a portion of the surface of the disk is cut away or recessed, as shown in Fig. 4c. In this figure the quadrants D D. represent the workingsurfaces, which cause the roller R to revolve by friction. All the restiscut away. The amount of working-surface is immaterial, as it does not affect thenalresult upon theindicating-dials. A spring T at the end of the spindle Which carries diskD produces the requisite pressure when the roller engages upon the workingsurface of the disk. Periodically the roller drops into the recessed or open part of the disk, and therefore roller R stands still for corresponding periods, as it does not bear against any surface at such times.

In some cases where magnetic lag can be neglect-ed or wholly avoided either by virtue of alternating currents or by substituting coils for magnetic cores, one of the solenoids may be omitted, and then I compensate for the varying attractions by cutting the work. ing-surfaces of disk D to give the proportional velocity to the roller R. In such case theY edges of the working-surfaces D D Will not be straight lines radiating from the center of the disk, but theyzwill be curved or irf regular, as approximately indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4.. This recessing or cutting away a portion of the face of the disk causes the remaining portion to form a surface raised as compared with the recessed or cut away portion, against which raised portion the friction-roller will at times bear, and while it is preferred to form such bearing-surface as described it may be formed in any other suitable manner.

The disk D is kept in uniform rotation all the time while any currentis flowing through the main solenoids by the gearing shown on lthe drawings. This gear consists of an escapement-Wheel E and a self-starting pendulum Z, (shown in Figs. l and 2,)'or the pendulum may be replaced by a balance-Wheel, which latter is not shown, because the application and operation of a balance-wheel in the art of Watch-making are lwell known land thesame principle prevails here, and one is here treated as the equivalent of the other. The escapementwheel carries a pinion e, which gears into the Wheel V7 forming part of a drum V2, containing a spring f. Instead of this spring its equivalent-as a cord land weight-may be used. This spring is wound up by means of a ratchet-wheel V on the drum-shaft V3 and an arm H pivoted with a suitable standard H. This arm H is rigidly connected to an iron armature I. When this armature is pressed down, the lever H rises sufficiently to move, by means of a pivoted pawl g, the ratchet-wheel one notch, when the spring H2 will retract the arm and the pawl g will hold the ratchet. The turning of the ratchet-Wheel, as described, winds up the spring so as to maintain the tension thereof and cause the system of gears to turn so long as there is any current passingthrough the meter. When the current ceases, the mechanism stops with the parts in such position that immediately upon the current commencing again to circulate the system of gears will begin to move, as before. The following mechanism is employed for the purpose: A spring f, located within the drum or barrel V2, has one end secured to the drum and the other end to the shaft V3, on which the drum turns, said shaft being turned to Wind up the spring by moving the ratchet-Wheel V', as previously described.

In order that there may always be a tension on the spring, so that the system of gears may instantly be started upon the current commencing to circulate,I provide means for preventing the complete unwinding of the spring. Suitable means for that purpose may be a stop h, attached to some suitable part of the wall of the drum, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, and a pin h on the shaft V3. This stop and pin will be so located relatively to each other and the unwinding of the spring that the stop and pin Will come together before the spring is Wholly unwound and consequently while the tension is still on the IOO TIO

spring, and so the spring is always under tension. the stop and projection come together the rotation of the drum and consequently the movement of the system of gears will be stopped, and also that the moment the pin on the shaft is moved away from the stop on the drum the tension of the spring'will turn the drum and thus start the system of gears. The spring does not have time to run down after the pin on the shaft is moved from it before the shaft is turned by the movement of the ratchet to wind up the spring, as previously described. The rewinding of the spring is automatic and continuous 'as long as the current is passing, and takes place, after the gearing is once started, periodically and just before the stop on the drum would come against the pin on the shaft in the turning of the drum and unwinding of the spring, and thus it will be seen that when the mechanism is once started its action is continuous until the current ceases to circulate, it being remembered that the winding up is through the means already described, whose action depends on the circulation of the current. The arrangement and means employed for this purpose may be varied, as many variat-ions will suggest themselves to the mechanic, that given being merely an illustration.

In order that the parts maybe started into action immediately on the current commencing to circulate, I provide for a commutator or a number of makes and breaks in some convenient part of the mechanism, which, for simplicitys sake, in illustration may be a number of pins ,e on the gear-wheel V and a brush-as, for instance, the spring-metal strip M. One of these coinmutator-pins and the brush will normally be in contact, so that when the current commences to circulate a circuit is established with the electro-magnet K in the same, which becomes energized and attracts the armature I, so as to throw up the outer end of the arm H, and through the pawl g move the ratchet V, so as to wind up the spring f. As soon as the commutator-point is moved from the brush in the rotation of the gearV the circuit is broken and the magnet cle-energized and the arm II and its pawl drawn back to their normal position by the spring Ilz. The wire-connections are shown in Fig. 3. The making and breaking of the circuit is periodical, it being made every time one of the commutator-pins comes in contact with the brush and broken when it leaves the brush. The commutator -points z and the stop 7L and pin 7i are so relatively arranged that when the current ceases to circulate and the parts come to a rest one of the commutator-pins will be in contact with the brush and the spring will be under tension, so that the moment that the current commences again to flow the circuit will be established and the magnet energized, so as to move the windingshaft of the spring to wind up the spring, and

It will thus be apparent that when at the same time permit the retained tension of the spring to at once start the system of gears, while after the mechanism is started the circuit will be periodically made to energize the magnet and wind up the spring before the stop h and pin 7L come in contact, thus making the movement continuous so long as any current passes, and leaving the parts in position when the current ceases to automatically start into action again as soon as the current is re-established.

Instead of a number of contact-pins I may use a cam N, which rotates with the spindle n of a pinion N, driven by the wheel V, Fig. 5. Such a cam is of insulating material,but has on a portion of its surface a metallic piece `m, which makes electric contact with a brush similar to the one shown at M. Such details can be modified at will; and by the use of the cam arrangement I reduce or avoid sparking, which to some extent happens when the metal strip leaves the brush in the use of the commutator-pins z. y

The preferred construction of cominutator, however, is that illustrated in Fig. 6. In such form the cam N is formed of a disk N3 of hard carbon provided with two flanges N4 of ebonite, (or other insulating material,) which form a raised surface above the face of the carbon disk, except at the point l, where the surface of the carbon disk is exposed, and thus a camsurface is formed. The brush in this preferred form is provided at its upper or contact end with a roller N5, say, of hard carbon, which is pivoted so as to turn in a fork secured to the spring portion M of the brush. This rollerbrush rides on the two iianges N4, except where the carbon is exposed, at which point it leaves the flanges and makes contact with the carbon disk by suddenly dropping from the flange so as to make the electric circuit, the contact being made once in every revolution of the carbon disk or cam. The advantage of this last construction is that there are obtained large surfaces to make a break-contact, and the surface of the roller N5 is continually changing, so that any tiny sparks will have no eifect upon the carbon, as there are no points to burn away.

The pendulum can be lengthened or shortened by adjusting its weight Z up or down and securing it by a set-screw or otherwise, and thus the whole instrument can be accurately timed and calibrated. The disk D moves thus with a uniform velocity, and the roller R moves with a velocity due to its radial displacement on the disk. This radial displacement is proportional to the current owing, excepting Where I use one solenoid and compensate for the irregular radial displacement by cutting the surfaces of the disk to produce the desired period of rot-ation of the roller R. Thus the indicating-dials, (10 to 10,000,) actuated by the spindle S, as set forth in the previously-referred-to patents, must give the product of time and currenttherefore, ampere-hours, lamp-hours, and,

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with a constant potential, watt-hours, or horsepower hours.

For convenience of using the same type of meter for any voltage, I insert a resistancecoil F to suit that potential, the current required to actuate the clock-work being a small fraction of an ampere.

By the expression constant-speed wheel or diskf as used herein, I do not wish to be understood as limiting the same to the form or shape shown, as any other shape or form having aV constant axial velocity and imparting different angular velocities to an obj ect having contact therewith, as said object is more or less removed from the axis of said wheel, is embraced within that expression and invention.

I-Iaving described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim isl. The combination, with a register and a motor for actuating the same, of means for varying the action of said motor upon said reg` ister,'said means comprising a controllinglever and two solenoids in the circuit whose energy is to be measured, their cores being connected with opposite ends of said controlling-lever, andone of said cores acting by gravity on said lever until the exciting-current in its own coils overcomes the influence of gravity on the core, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

2. The combination, with a register and a' motor for actuating the same, of means for varying the action of said motor upon said register, said means comprising a controllinglever and two solenoids, the core of one of said solenoids having a flexible connection with thelever in such manner to act by gravity in opposition to the other solenoid until the force of gravity is overcome by the excitingcurrent in its own coils, and the core of the other solenoid having a rigid connection with said lever, and actuating the lever after the force of gravity on the core of the irst solenoid is overcome, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3.l In an electric meter, the combination, with a variable-speed member, of a lever for shifting the position thereof, a controllingsolenoid having its core connected with and actuating said lever, and a compensatingsolenoid having its core suspended from said lever in such manner as to act by gravity in opposition to the iirst solenoid until the force of gravity is overcome by the force of the exciting-current in its own coils, substantially as described.

4. In an electric meter, the combination, with a speed-wheel, a roller to bear against said wheel, and a guide rod or shaft for said roller to slide upon, of a lever, a link pivoted at both ends between said lever and roller and connecting said parts, and a solenoid for moving said lever, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 5. In an electric meter, the combination, with va constantspeed wheel and a roller changing its point of contact with saidwlieel with the change in the consumption .of energy, of a lever connected with said roller, and separate solenoids connected with said lever, to one side of the connection between the lever and said roller and on opposite sides of the fulcrum of said lever, one of said solenoids having a flexible connection with said lever, and the other a rigid connection, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6; In an electric meter, a constant-speed wheel having spaces or depressions in its surface, in combination with a roller changing its point of contact with said wheel with the change in the consumption of energy, and having its force of contact relieved at said open spaces or depressions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In an electric meter, a constant-speed wheel having spaces or depressions in its surface with the edges of the working-surfaces curved or irregular, in combination with a roller changing its point of contact with said wheel with the change in the consumption of energy and having its force of contact relieved .at such depressions or spaces, substantially as aud for the purposes set forth.

8. In an electric meter, the combination, with a register, a roller for transmitting motion thereto and having a speed variable With the energy consumed, and a constant-speed wheel with which the roller changes its point of contact with the change in the consumption ot' energy, of a system of power-impelled gears under constant tension for imparting motion to said wheel, and means for automatically releasing the impelling mechanism upon a current being caused to iow through the circuit of which the meter forms part, substantially as described.

i). In an electric meter, the combination, with a system of power-impelled gears for transmitting motion through connecting mechanism to a register or index, of means for stopping the action of said gears and holding them under tension when the current ceases to lio-w, and means for automatically releasing said gears to permit them to start into action and for restoring tension to the impelling means upon re-establishing the rcurrent, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In an electric meter, the combination, with a system of power-impelled gears under constant tension for transmitting motion through connecting mechanism to a register or index, and means for stopping the action of ,said gears when the current ceases to flow through the meter, of an armature connected with said impelling means, a magnet periodically moving said armature to restore tension to the gear-impelling means, and a commutator periodically closing circuit, with the coils of said magnet to cause the same to attract said armature, substantially asand for the lpurposes set forth.

Il. In an electric meter, the combination,

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with a system of poWer-impelled gears for transmitting motion through connecting mechanism to a register or index, of astop for preventing the complete exhaustion of the tension on the impelling means, an armature for moving a member to impart tension to said impelling means, a magnet inuencing said armature, and a commutator and brush normally in contact when no current is iiowing through the meter and in position to energize said magnet when the current begins to How and subsequently periodically closing circuit, with the coils of the magnet operating said armature to automatically restore tension to said power-impelled gears, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

l2. In an electricmeter,the combination of a clock mechanism under constant tension both while the current is passing and while it is not passing through the meter, an armature for moving a member to impart tension to said mechanism, an electric magnet for iniiuencing said armature, and a commutator and brush periodically making and breaking circuit With the magnet influencing said armature, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

13. In an electric meter, the combination of a power-impelled mechanism for transmitting motion through connecting means to a register or index, an electro-magnet, an armature intiuenced thereby and connecting with winding mechanism for maintaining the force of the poWer-impelling mechanism, a rotatable cam-commutator havingaportion of its bearing-surface insulated, and a brush bearing against said cam to periodically close circuit with the coils of the magnet to cause the restoration of power to the impelling mechanism, said commutator and brush being normally in electrical contact when no current is flowing and in readiness to make circuit when the current commences to iiow, substantially as described.

14. In an electric meter, the combination,

with mechanism for transmitting power through connecting means to an index or register, of a commutator and brush periodically establishing an electrical current, said commutator having a curved surface with a portion raised above another portion to form a cam, the lower portion having the electrical contact-point thereon, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

15. In an electric meter, the combination, with mechanism for transmitting power through connecting means to an index or register, of a commutator and brush periodically establishing an electrical circuit, said eommutator having a curved surface with a portion raised above another portion to form a cam, the raised portion being a fiange formed of an insulated material and the loT portion constituting the electrical contact-point, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

1G. In an electric meter, the combination, K

with mechanism for transmitting power through connecting means to an index or register, of a commutator having a portion of its surface raised and insulated to form a camcommutator, and a brush having a rollerbearing resting upon said commutator, and adapted when passing from the raised to the lower surface of the commutator to establish an electrical circuit, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

17. The commutator composed of a disk or core of hard carbon and a flange of insulated material raised above the surface of the hard carbon t-o form a cam-surfaced commutator, substantially as set forth, and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANTHONY REOKENZAUN.

Witnesses:

ToB. G. RIDGWAY,

19 O'hcmge Altet ,Londom E. C., Not. Pub.

FRED DAHM,

19 Change Alley, London, E. C'., Clerk.

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