Electrical efficiency meter

• US 4,401,943 A
• Filed: 11/17/1978
• Issued: 08/30/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Betty Ann Garrett
• Original Assignee: Betty Ann Garrett
• Inventors: Morris, Donald G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Karlsen, Ernest F.
• Application Number:
  US05/961,658
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 324/115, 324/113, 324/127, 324/116, 324/134, 324/137, 324/149, 324/157, 235/61 M, 235/64.7, 235/70 R, 235/70 A, 235/85 R, 235/86, 235/87, 235/88 R, 235/89 R, 364/483, 364/464
• US Class Current: 324/157
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/08 Circuits for altering the measuring range
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A device for determining the operational costs of electrical devices. A case encloses a measuring instrument including a circuit which is connectable to a power source and to the device being checked. The instrument has a dial calibrated to give readings directly related to current consumption. The user applies the applicable energy rate at computation means on the case to determine the operational cost in a period of time.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining the cost of operation of an electrical device in a pre-determined unit of time when connected to a power source having pre-determined voltage and at relatively constant current during said period of time, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an instrument case having a front and including male plug associated therewith for connection to a power source and a female socket associated therewith for connection to the device to be tested;

(b) an ammeter circuit within said case for measuring current, said ammeter circuit being operatively connected to said plug and said socket whereby said ammeter circuit is interposed between a power source having pre-determined voltage and the electrical device being checked;

(c) a dial on said instrument case operably connected to said ammeter circuit having a dial scale calibrated to give a numerical reading correlated to measured current; and

(d) slide rule computation means on said instrument case adjacent said dial including;

(i) a first scale having indicia thereon corresponding to the calibration of said dial;

(ii) a second scale having indicia representative of various costs of power, said second and first scales being moveable relative to one another;

(iii) a third scale having indicia thereon representing various operational costs of power in a pre-determined unit of time, said indicia on said third scale being the mathematical product of combinations of various indicia on said first and second scales; and

(iv) indicator means cooperative with said third scale whereby the user can compute the operational cost of the electrical device in a selected unit of time at pre-determined voltage and substantially constant current during said period by aligning the reading obtained on the dial of said instrument means on said first scale with applicable energy cost on said second scale and thereafter determining the operational cost by reading the cost on said third scale at said indicator means.

2. An apparatus for determining the cost of operation of an electrical device in a pre-determined unit of time when connected to a power source having pre-determined voltage and at relatively constant current during said period of time, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an instrument case having a front and including male plug associated therewith for connection to a power source and a female socket associated therewith for connection to the device to be tested;

(b) an ammeter circuit within said case for measuring current, said ammeter circuit being operatively connected to said plug and said socket whereby said ammeter circuit is interposed between a power source having pre-determined voltage and the electrical device being checked;

(c) a dial on said instrument case operably connected to said ammeter circuit having a dial scale calibrated to give a numerical reading correlated to measured current; and

(d) computation means on said instrument case adjacent said dial, said computation means including first and second generally spaced apart flange means, said first flange means carrying indicia thereon representative of various power costs, slide means slideable relative to said first and second flange means, said slide means having a second scale thereon having indicia thereon corresponding to the calibration of said dial, said second scale means being directly adjacent said first flange means, said slide further having third scale means thereon disposed adjacent said second flange, said third scale having indicia thereon representative of various operational costs in a selected period of time, said indicia on said third scale being the mathematical product of combinations of various indicia on said first and second scales, marker means on said second flange means cooperable with said third scale whereby the user can compute the operational cost of electrical device in a selected unit of time by aligning the reading obtained on the dial of said instrument means on said first scale with the applicable energy cost on the second scale and determining the operational cost on said third scale adjacent said marker.