Nov. 2,- 1948. H. B.

coNANT 2,452,551
-RECTIFIER TYPE MEASURING INSTRUMENT
Filed April 27, 1945

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 Patented Nov. 2, 1948
2,452,551

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,452,551
RECTIFIER MEASURING INSTRUMENT
" Harold B. Conant, Lincoln, Nebr. `
Application April 27, 1945, Serial No. 590,607
6 Claims. (Cl. 171-95)
1 . 2
This invention relates generally to apparatus a. compensating circuit connected thereto in ac
for measuring alternating-current quantities and cordance with the invention;
particularly concerns Ithe compensation of recti Fig. 2 is a schematic wiring diagram `of a stand
fier type measuring circuit-s. . ard bridge type rectifier meter circuit and a com
It is Well established that the accuracy of rec pensating circuit therefor;
tifler type instruments is affected by errors due Fig. 3 is a standard full-wave semi-bridge rec
.to the temperature-resistivity and the current tifier meter circuit with a compensating circuit
density-resistivity characteristics of the rectifiers, therefor;
as well as the frequency error of the inductively Fig. 4 shows the manner in which the termi
wound meter and the rectifiers. 10 nals of the meter circuits in Figs. 1 to 3 may be
Heretofore various corrective measures have connected to a source of alternating-current en
been practiced, but these have been only par ergy for measuring the voltage thereof, and
tially effective and usually require the use of dif Fig. 5 shows the arrangement of terminal con
ferent scales on the meter for diierent types of nections for measuring vthe current through an
readings due to Ithe non-linear characteristics of 15 alternating-current conductor where the meter
the rectiers and the meter. The frequency er circuits of Figs. 1 to 3 are used as ammeters.
~ ror in rectifier type instruments has been attrib According to Ithe invention, the compensating
uted largely to capacity effects in the rectifier. circuit for the rectifier type meter includes a
However, I have found that the frequency error rectifier connected in parallel with the meter cir
is mainly due to variations in the impedance of 20 cuit and having substantially the same charac
the meter itself due to the pulsating direct cur- ' teristics as the rectifier in the meter circuit. The
rent delivered by the rectifier. Since the fre compensating circuit may also include an imped
quency of this pulsating current varies according :ance having substantially the same characteris
to the frequency of the alternating current being tics as -those of the meter itself. Thus, the com
measured, the ciiective impedance of the meter 25 pensating circuit may include a single rectifier
depends upon the frequency being measured. in Ithe case of an elementary rectiiier meter cir
A major object of this invention is to provide cuit, or a bridge 'or full-wave rectiiier in the case
improved compensating circuits for increasing of other standard meter circuits, such as will be
the accuracy of lrectifier type measuring instru hereinafter more fully described. With these ar
ments. 30 rangements, varia-tions in meter readings due to
An important object of the invention is to cor non-linear characteristics of the rectiiiers and/ or
rect variable characteristics of the rectiners in the meter will lbe exactly compensated by sub
this type of measuring instrument by a compen stantially identical variations in the characteris
sating circuit including a rectier having sub tics of the compensating circuit. It may be said,
stantially the same characteristics as that con 35 therefore, that the compensating circuit is sub
nected -to the meter. stantially an equivalent circuit to that of the rec
Another object of the invention is -to provide tiiier meter and is connected in parallel there
a lcompensating circuit in which a compensating with. With .this arrangement, the compensating
impedance forthe meter is subjected to substan impedance is subjected to substantially the same
tially the same electrical condition as the meter. 40 electrical conditions as the meter.
A further object of the invention is rto compen Should other errors be introduced by current
sate for frequency error 4due 'to the variable im limitations due .to the high impedance of the
pedance characteristics of the meter as well as meter when used for measuring high-frequency
those of the rectifiercircuit. quantities, the currents through the rectiers may
A still further object of the invention is to im 45 be increased -by connecting a by-pass condenser
prove the accuracy of rectifier Itype meters by in shunt with lthe meter. In this case, a similar
reducing errors due to high-frequency components by-pass condenser in the compensating circuit
from the energy source to which the meter is will maintain the equivalence between the meter
connected. circuit and the compensating circuit.
Further vobjects and advantages of the inven 50 In vthe case of an elementary half-wave recti
tion will become apparent from the following fier type meter circuit, errors due to the inverse
speciiication taken in connection with the accom current passed by some types of rectiers may be
panying drawings, wherein: substantially eliminated by arranging a reverse
Fig. 1 is a schematic wiring diagram of an ele ly connected rectifier' as well as a compensating
mentary form >of rectifier type meter circuit with 55 circuit .in parallel with the meter circuit.
 amarsi
3
Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a gal so that the high-frequency components are by
variometerl I I connected in series with a rectiiier passed and, regardless of theV frequency, suicient
element I `2". When this meter circuit has its ter current is drawn through the rectiiier I2. as
minals I3 and Ill connected to a source of alter the value of the compensating impedance I will
nating-current energy, the alternating current vary in the same manner as that of the galva
will be rectied by the rectier i2 and the result nometer II, a by-pass condenser 22 may also be
ing unidirectional current measured .by the gal shunted across the compensating impedance le.
vanometer or other type of Vdirect-current meter It will be apparent, therefore, that high-frequen
iI. In accordance with the invention, errors in cy currents of suiiicient magnitude will be drawn
readings of the meter I I are compensated by con 10 through the rectiers I2 and i5 to operate them
necting a rectiiier I5 across the terminals I3 and e?ciently. Furthermore, the insertion of by-pass
i4 and in parallel with the meter circuit. By se condensers 2l and 22 in the meter circuit and the
lecting the rectiiier I5 to have substantially the compensating circuit, respectively, maintains the
same characteristics as the characteristics of the equivalence of these two 'circuits so that all vari
rectier I2 in the ineter circuit, substantially all able characteristics o the meter circuit are com
errors in the readings of the meter I I due to non pensated by corresponding variations in the
linear characteristics of the rectier i?. will be n characteristics of the compensating circuit.
compensated.
In Fig. 2, the invention is shown as applied to a
Additional compensation may be provided by meter circuit in which a direct-current respon
connecting an impedance i6 in series with the sive meter or a galvanometer 3i is connected
compensating rectifier I5. The compensating across one diagonal of a standard rectiiier bridge,
impedance I6 should be selected to have sub designated generally at 32. This rectifier bridge
stantially the same electrical characteristics as includes four rectiers 33, 3d, 35 and 35 arranged
those of the meter Il. This impedance should in a conventional balanced circuit and having
particularly have, rst, the same impedance to their other diagonal connected to terminals 31
alternating currents of varying frequencies; sec " and 3e. The rectier bridge 32 acts as a full
ond, the same direct-current resistance, and, wave rectifier tosupply unidirectional current
third, the same temperature-resistivity coei through the galvanometer 3i when the terminals
cients. -
3l and 38 are 'connected to a source of alternat
It is desirable to provide taps il on the corn ing-current energy. . '
pensating impedance IS so that the terminal i 3 of As in the case of the elementary rectier type
the meter circuit may be connected to dierent meter circuit shown in Fig. 1, the standard bridge
taps for introducing dierent values of the im type rectifier meter circuit shown in Fig. 2 is pro
pedance into the circuit. Where such taps are vided with _a compensating circuit connected in
provided on the compensating impedance, it may parallel across the terminals 3l and 38. This.
be necessary to have this impedance composed of compensating circuit is composed of rectiers
separate inductive and non-inductive units. Any 33, da, l5 and de corresponding to the rectiiiers
well-known conventional units of this type may 33, 3d, 35 and 36 and arranged in pairs to pro
be selected. It is important, however, that the vide two legs of _a parallel circuit which is con
compensating impedance have substantially the 43 nected in series with 4a compensating impedance
same characteristics as those of the meter i I. ` il having characteristics corresponding to those
It will be apparent that the rectier I5 and the' of the meter 3| . As will be apparent from an in
impedance It form a series circuit which is sub spection of Fig. 2, for a given polarity of voltage
stantially equivalent to the series circuit of the applied to the terminals 3l and 38, current will
rectifier I2 and the meter Ii. Since these two ow through the meter 3i by way of rectiers 33
series circuits are connected in parallel, compen ~ and 3d. For the same polarity of voltage applied
sation is provided for variations in the meter to the terminals 37 and 38, current Iwill ilow
readings due to non-linear characteristics of the through rectiers i3 and all, on one leg of the
meter circuit. ' -
compensating circuit, and the compensating im
n this elementary rectier type meter cir 50 pedance ill. When the polarity of the applied
cuit, errors are sometimes introduced by the voltage is reversed, the current through the
inverse current passed by the rectier i2. This meter and compensating circuits will flow
is particularly true when this rectifier is of the 1 through the other two pairs of rectifiers 35 and
copper oxide type. It should be understood, how 3S, and l5 and de, respectively.
ever, that any suitable type of rectier may be in.. 55 With this arrangement of the rectiers and>
corporated in the meter circuit as well as _the the compensating impedance in the compensating
compensating circuit. If the inverse current circuit, al1 variations in the characteristics of
characteristic of the rectifier I2 produces errors the standard bridge rectiiier circuit 32 and the
in the meters reading, the meter circuit may be meter BI will be compensated by corresponding
shunted by a rectifier I8 connected in parallel 60 changes in the characteristics of the rectiers
with the meter circuit and the compensating cir and the impedance in the compensating circuit.
cuit across the terminals I3 and I. This rec As in the case of the elementary type circuit of
tier is connected to pass current in the oppo Fig. 1, the various elements of the compensating
site direction to the direction in which current circuit should be substantially identical to the
is passed by the rectiers I2 and I5. In this man 65 corresponding elements in the meter circuit.
ner, the rectifier I 8 acts as a by-pass for substan Since the .compensating circuit is subjected to
tially all of the inverse current. substantially the same electrical conditions as
Where the alternating-current energy to be the meter circuit, eects of non-linear character
measured is of a very high frequency, the im istics will be greatly reduced.
pedance of the galvanometer II may be raised 70 Fig. 3 shows the invention as applied to a stand
so high that the current drawn through the rec ard full-wave rectifier type meter circuit. In ,
tifier I2 is too low to operate the rectifier ei this type of circuit, a meter 5I is connected across
ciently. In this case, the current drawn through a diagonal of a balanced bridge designated gen
the rectier I2 may be increased by shuntng a erally at 52 and composed of rectiiiers 53 and 56
by-pass condenser 2| 4across the galvanometer Il 75 providing full-wave rectincation and voltage di
 2,452,551
5 6
viding resistors 54 and 55. This balanced bridge pensating readings of said meter for variable
is provided with input terminals 51 and 58 and characteristics of said first rectifier, and a third
functions in a similar manner to the 'standard rectifier also connected between said terminals in
rectifier bridge shown in Fig. 2 except that the Parallel with said measuring unit to pass current
_,rectifiers 34 and 35 are replaced by resistors 54 Ci in a direction opposite to that passed by said first
and 55, respectively. rectifier for by-passing substantially all of the
'I'he compensating circuit for this arrangement inverse current around said meter.
includes rectiiiers G3 and 86 arranged for full .2. Apparatus for measuring alternating-cur
wave rectification and connected to compensating rent quantities comprising a current responsive
impedance 61. The rectiflers yiii. and 6B. should be measuring unit having terminals for connec
substantially identical to the rectiflers 53 and 56, tion to an alternating-current source with a
and the characteristics of the compensating im direct-current >responsive meter and a first
pedance 61 should be substantially -the same as rectifier connected in series between said termi
corresponding characteristics of the meter 5l. nals, a compensating circuit connected in paral
Resistors 64 and 65, preferably identical to the lel with said unit including a series-connected
resistors 54 and 55, are connected in series with impedance and rectifier forming a circuit sub
the rectifiers 63 and 6E, respectively, to complete stantially equivalent to said unit for passing
the compensating circuit. Thus, the compensat current in the same direction as said unit to
ing circuit is substantially equivalent to the bal~ compensate readings of said meter for variations
anced bridge meter circuit, so compensation is 20 in the characteristics of both said meter and the
provided for al1 variable conditions. rectifier in said unit, and a third rectifier also
For purposes of simplicity, by-pass condensers connected between said terminals in parallel
have not been included in Figs. 2 and 3. It should with said unit to pass current in a direction op
be understood, however, that in the case of high posite to that passed by said first rectifier for
frequency measurements, these circuits may be .' by-passing substantially all of the inverse cur
provided with equivalent by-pass condensers con rent around _said meter.
nected across the meter and the compensating 3. Apparatus for measuring alternating-cur
impedance. rent quantities comprising a current respon
Although I have shown my invention applied sive measuring unit consisting of a first recti
to three types of rectifier meter circuits, it is con- fier bridge having a current responsive instru
' templated that it is equally as applicable to all ment connected across one diagonal, the other
types of such circuits. It may be used for meas diagonal being adapted to be connected to a
uring alternating voltages by connecting the in source of energy to be measured, and a com
put terminals of any of the three described cir ensating circuit including a second rectifier
cuits to terminals Il and 12 (Fig. 4) so that the . bridge connected across said other diagonal of
voltage of a source 13 to be measured is supplied the first rectifier bridge and having substan
through a multiplying resistance or impedance 14. tially the same characteristics as said first recti
The value of the multiplying impedance is, of fier bridge to compensate readings of said meter
course, selected to provide an appropriate pro for variations in the characteristics of said first
portionality factor for the meter. The voltage of 40 rectifier bridge.
terminals 'll and 'I2 is applied directly across the 4. Apparatus for measuring alternating-cur
meter and compensating circuits. rent quantities comprising a current responsive
In Fig. 5, there is shown an arrangement for measuring unit consisting of a first rectifier
measuring current in 'an electrical conductor 15. bridge having a current responsive instrument
For this purpose, a shunt 'i6 is connected across 45 connected across one diagonal, the other diag
terminals 11 and 18. The shunt 16 is connected onal being adapted to be connected to a source
into the line 15 and the current in the line is . of energy to be measured, and a compensating
measured by determining the voltage drop across circuit connected across said other diagonal of
the known impedance T6. When the rectifier me said first rectifier bridge including an impedance
ter circuit is to be used `as an ammeter, its input 50 having substantially the same characteristics
terminals may be connected to the terminals 11 as said instrument connected in series with a
and 18, in which case the deflection of the meter second rectifier bridge having substantially the
will provide a measure of the current in the con same characteristics as said rst rectifier bridge.
ductor 15. y 5. Apparatus for measuring alternating-cur
The invention may be embodied in other spe 55 rent quantities comprising a current responsive
cific forms without departing from the spirit or measuring unit having a direct-current meter
essential characteristics thereof. The present and a first full-wave rectifier arranged in a
embodiments are therefore to be considered in all balanced circuit adapted to be connected to a
respects 'as illustrative and not restrictive, the source of energy to be measured, and a com
scope of the invention being indicated by the ap 60 pensating circuit including a second full-wave
pended claims rather than by the foregoing de rectifier having substantially the same char
scription, and all changes which come Within the acteristics as said first full-Wave rectifier, said
meaning and range of equivalency of the claims second full-Wave rectifier being connected
are therefore intended to be embraced therein. , ac_ross said balanced circuit to compensate read
What is claimed and desired to be secured 'by 65 ings of said meter for variations in character
United States Letters Patent is: ` ,stics of said rst full-Wave rectifier.
l. Apparatus for measuring alternating-cur `6. Apparatus for measuring alternating-cur
rent quantities comprising a current responsive rent quantities comprising a current responsive
measuring unit having terminals for connection measuring unit having a direct-current respon
to an alternating-current source with a direct sive meter and a first full-wave rectifier ar-v
current responsive meter and a first rectifier con ranged in a balanced _circuit adapted to be con
nected in series between said terminals, a second nected to a source of energy to be measured, and
rectifier connected between said terminals in par a compensating circuit including an impedance
allel with said measuring unit to pass current in having substantially the same characteristics as
the same direction as said first rectifier for com said meter series-connected with a second full
 2,452,551
8 .
wave recti?er having substantially the sam'e
characteristics as said rst full-wave 'rectiier, UNITED STATES PATENTS
said compensating circuit being connected in Number Name - Date
parallel with said unit to compensate readings 1,836,934 Morecroft ________ __ Dec. 15, 1931
of said meter for variations in the character- A 1,895,812 Morecroft ....... _- Jan. 31, 1933
istics of both said meter and said rst full-wave 2,079,485 Bousman _ _______ __ May 4,' 1937
rectier. '
2,160,712 Barnhart ___- ____ _- May 30, 1939
HAROLD B. CONANT. 2,249,452 Boekels _________ -_ July 15, 1941
2,368,351 Ewen ........... -_ Jan. 30, 1945
REFERENCES CITED ~10
IDREIGN PATENTS
The following references are of record in the Number
le of this patent: Country Date
404,498 Great Britain ____ -_ Jan. 18, 1934