US638011A - Electric meter. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Nov. 28,1899. E. s. HALSEY.

ELECTRIC METER.

(Application filed Mar. 27, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD S. HALSEY, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS;

ELECTRIC METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 638,01 1, dated November 28, 1899.

Application filed March 2'7, 1899. Serial No. 711L627. (N0 model.)

To aZZ w/tom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. HALSEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Evanston, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Electric Meter, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to maximum-recording meters; and the objects of my invention are, first, to utilize the common integrating supply-meters that are now in use and make them perform a second function, they being at present connected in series with a separate maximum-meter (or two of them, if on a threewire circuit) where the maximum-meters have been adapted fora discount system; second, to make a more accurate and reliable maximum-meter that is more easily tested and cared for, and,third,to provide a simple means of retarding the revolving of a spindle in its socket, as will be described more fully hereinafter and pointed out in the claims. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 will be recognized as a vertical view of the essential parts of a common integrating wattmeter, with the attachments necessary to carry out my invention added thereto. Fig. 2 is a partial section thereof,

especially illustrating my attachments there-I to and the change made in the shaft. Fig. 3 is a view as it appears looking down from the top,with the field-coils and armature removed. 4: is a sectional plan View through the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The several parts of a Thompson wattmetor-are indicated as follows: 9 and 9, series coils; l, armature; 12, armature-shaft; 2, copper retarding-disk 10,bottom bearing; 8,dragmagnet; 15, a recording mechanism, (shown in fraction,) being of the ordinary gear-wheel type, carrying a pointer surrounded by figures in circular arrangement in the ordinary way and being driven by the worm-gear at the top end of the armature-shaft. The several parts added thereto in carrying out my invention are as follows: a second shaftpoint 13, (shown in Fig. 2,) formed by cutting the shaft and dressing one end to a point and the other end flat, so that they may work against each other; the flexible coupling 3, being a sleeve-socket embracing the shaft, having their contact dressed with a viscous material and joined to a spiral spring 7 ,which may be known as a part of the flexible coupling 3; the gravity-pawl 4,carried at the end of an arm secured to the top of said sleeve; the cap-shaped ratchet-wheel 11, having teeth on the lower side or brim and being secured to the upper section of the shaft bya set-screw and having riveted to it an indicator 6 and having secured to the inside of its flange the outer end of spring 7. The kilowatt-scale 5 is cut or marked on the rim of the rotating drag-disk 2.

Having briefly described the drawings, I will now describe my invention in full.

Taking an integrating meter of any motor type, preferably one retarded by a metallic disk, acted upon by drag-magnets, I first cut the shaft in two between the armature and the dragging mechanism, dressing one of the cut ends down to a point 13, and the other is made a cup-bearing or is polished flat. A metallic sleeve is then fixed rigid to the lower portion of 12, as is seen in Fig. 2. The ratchet wheel 11 is then secured to the upper portion of the shaft by a set-screw. Now the sleeve which is fixed to the drag portion is coupled, through the medium of the spring 7, to the ratchet-wheel which is fixed to the upper or motor portion. A11 arm fixed to the upper end of said sleeve carries a pawl 4 or a suitable clutch which is adjusted to allow the free advance of the upper parts carrying the index-finger 6, but will not allow a relax. The'upper part is perfectly loose in the sleeve, the scale corresponds to the capacity of the meter, and the spring is adjusted so that when the pointer reaches the top of the scale the indication is the full load of the meter. It is evident that the indication will always be equal to the greatest load that may have passed since the last resetting, which is accomplished by disengaging the pawl and reestablishing the zero. It is obvious also that the torque of the armature is opposed entirely by the lower portion or disk, consequently the torque and drag being always and under all conditions equal,and, f urther,that the springs torsion (it being the medium through which they are connected) is always equal to the torque of the armature. The pointer or indicator is of thin elastic metal, so that it can be sprung down to the disk to take accurate readings. It is also obvious that my invention is applicable to either ampere or watt meters of the motor class.

It is quite important that a maximum-meter should indicate slowly, so as not to be seriously affected by accidental overloads or short-circuits. I overcome this trouble by charging the socket formed by the sleeve in which the shaft moves with viscous material of resinous or tarry matter of such a consistency as to make the motion of the indicator Very sluggish, and yet so thick that it will not run out to an objectionable extent when the meter is left in an inverted position. This part of my invention is applicable to other devices, such as the spindle-points of alternating indicating wattmeters and other instruments that cannot readily be made deadbeat and are the cause of no end of annoyance from unsteady indications and bent hands from striking at the ends of the scale. It may also prove of value in the escapement of some mechanisms, such as arc-lamps.

I am aware that a spring has been attached to a meter-shaft for intermittent use; but I am not aware that any device similar to my invention has previously been used.

What I claim is' 1. In acombined maximum and integrating electric meter a rotating motor; a counting mechanism; a maximum-indicator being a pointer and scale; a suitable device for preserving the maximum indication; the armature or rotating part of said motor being revolved in a given direction by, and at a velocity in proportion 'to, the measured current, simultaneously operating said counting mechanism and, by its force, raising the indication on said maximum-scale to the maximum amount passed through the meter.

2. In a maximum-recording electric meter, a motor rotated in a given direction by the measured current; a breaking or drag mechanism for said motor being a closed conductor cutting the lines of forcevof a magnetic field; an indicator being a suitable pointer and scale to show the maximum effect of the current passed through the meter; a device to preserve the maximum indication of said indicator; the force of said motor pulling against the drag between the said closed conductor and said magnetic field, forcing a relative movement orindication on said scale, thereby establishing a maximum indication.

3. In a maximum-recording electric meter in combination; a pointer and scale pivoted in movable relation to one another to indicate the maximum; a device forcing an indication by the power of the current being measured; a device for preserving the said maximum indication; a part or surface revolving opposite another surface or part and dragging through the medium of an interposed viscous material upon said opposite surface or part; one of said parts or surfaces being fixed with the said pointer and the other of said parts or surfaces being fixed in its relation with said scale, thereby making any movement of indication slow or sluggish, substantially as shown and specified.

4. In a maximum electric recorder a rotat= ing armature 1; a rotating drag part 2; a suitable indicator set rotating with said parts, one portion of said indicator set lagging in its circuit behind another part thereof, in correspondence to the load, thus establishing a maximum indication.

5. A maximum electric current or energy indicator, consisting of a rotating motive part 1; a lagging part 2; an elastic coupling connecting the two said parts; an indicator 6 carried by one of said parts; and an index carried by the other said part, whereby the maximum current that may pass can be determined.

6. In a combined maximu m and integrating electric meter, a motor part 1; a drag part 2; an elastic coupling 3; a mechanical clutch or detent 4 and an indicator 6.

7. In combination with an integrating elec-- tric meter an armature-shaft being of two separate parts of sections; a sleeve-coupling 3 joining together the two said parts of shaft, and fixed to one of them; a dressing of viscous material on the interior of said sleeve; a spring 7 forming part of the coupling; an index 5; an indicator 6; and a detent or clutch 4, all for the purposes specified.

8. In an electric meter a revolvingarma ture 1; a revolving drag part; and a flexible coupling joining the two said parts together.

9. In an electric meter a revolving armature-shaft having a flexible joint and bearing intermediate between the end bearings, as shown and specified.

10. In a maximum electric meter an arma ture-shaft being of two severed parts, combined with an elastic coupling and a suitable detent preventing one part of said shaft from returning in its relation to the other part thereof as specified.

11. In a maximum electric meter the following combination, a sleeve-socket, a stem or spindle movable in said socket; a viscous material in said sleeve, and in contact with said stem retarding any motion between them.

12. In a mechanical escapement; a receptacle-socket; a spindle loose in said socket; viscous material in said socket in contact with said spindle, acting as a retarding agent to a rotative movement in said apparatus.

13. In an electric measuring instrument a socket-bearin g; a shaft-spindle rotated in said socket a dense viscous material in said socket in contact with said spindle so as to retard the movement thereof as described.

14. In a maximum recording instrument a shaft-bearing formed by a sleeve or socket; a dense viscous dressing in said bearing for the purpose of preventing any but sluggish motion thereof.

15. In a maximum-recording meter an index 5, and indicator 6, a suitable detent, retaining the said parts at a maximum relation to one another; a rotating armature 1; a dragmagnet 8 a rotating metallic disk 2 dragging through eddycurrents generated therein upon said magnets field, all combined with a suitable retarding device to cause a sluggish indication.

16. In a combined maximum and integrating electric meter an index 5; a radial indicator 6; a rotating armature l; a drag-magnet 8; a drag-disk 2 acting through its Foucault currents upon said magnet; and a retarding device, suitable to permit only a sluggish indication of said indicator.

17. In a combined maximum and integrating electric meter an armature 1; an indicator 6; a ratchet-wheel 11; a pawl4; aspring 7; a drag-magnet 8; a drag-disk 2 acting through its Foucault currents upon said magnet; and viscous material as a retarding agent for said indicator.

18. In a combined maximum and integrating electric meter an armature 1; an indicator 6; a spring 7; a drag-magnet 8, a dragdisk 2,dragging through its Foucault currents upon said magnet; and viscous material as a retarding agent for said indicator.

19. In a maximum-recording meter an armature l; a vertical shaft 12; a cap-shaped ratchet-Wheel 11, on said shaft; a pawl engaging the vertical teeth on the flange of said wheel, a spring-coupling 7, an'indicator 6 and a drag part 2.

20. In a maximum-recording electric meter, a motor rotated in a given direction by the measured current; a breaking or drag mechanism for said motor being a closed conductor cutting the lines of force of a magnetic field; an indicator being a suitable pointer and scale to show the maximum effect of the current passed through the meter; a device to preserve the maximum indication of said indicator, a suitable retarding device to permit only a sluggish movement of indication; the force of said motor pulling against the drag between the said closed conductor and said magnetic field forcing a relative movement or indication on said scale thereby establishing a maximum indication.

21. In a combined maximum and integrating electric meter an index 5; a radial indicator 6; a spring 7 a rotating armature 1; a detent I; a drag-magnet 8; a drag part 2; acting through its Foucault currents upon said magnet thereby producing a maximum indication on said index.

In testimony that I claim the above I here unto set my hand.

EDWARD S. HALSEY.

In presence of ALBERT G. TURNBULL, GEORGE E. MEEKER.

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