Technikatörténeti szemle 9. (1977)

A MÉRÉS ÉS A MÉRTÉK AZ EMBERI MŰVELŐDÉSBEN című konferencián Budapesten 1976. április 27–30-án elhangzott előadások I. rész - Debreczeny Á.–Vajda P.: A Bláthy-féle fogyasztásmérő, az áramfogyasztás gyakorlati mérőmódszerei

ing load (and flux), the permeability of the magnetic „shunt" declines, thus detracting less flux from the effective air gap. As a result, the effecting flux increases to a disproportionate extent, compensating partly or wholly for the braking effect of the magnetic field proportional to the current. This arrangement enabled the watt-hour meters manufactured along Blathy's patents to be employed up to twice (later even four times) the basic current. Thus the companies generating and distributing electric power obtained the benefit of keeping a smaller number of watt-hour models (ranges of current) on stock. Furthermore' the standard model simplified the repairs, too. Also in the field of alignment and calibration of watt-hour meters, Blathy had an outstanding achievement of the stroboscopic alignment and troubleshooting. He applied for patent in 1914; it was granted for Austria on 25 February, 1919. Since that time, this principle has been accepted, adopted and improved by a number of watt-hour meter manufacturers. The Model „Bi" watt-hour meter was a success beyond imagination. In the course of 25 years (1926 to 1951), over 2,5 million watt-hour meters were installed in 26 countries of four continents. In Hungary, many homes are still equipped with models „Bb" or „Bd" from 1926 to 1928, which operate accurately and reliably even today, after 50 years of use (disregarding occasional down times for maintenance). Toward the end of his life, Blathy devised the Model „Up" electric watt-hour meter with four-fold overload capacity, to satisfy foreign demands. By those meters, Blathy laid the foundations for the design of up-to-date watt-hour meters, and set for long the direction of development to designers all over the world. * * * Established well in actual practice, the watt-hour meters have performed an important function in a field that is apparently unrelated to scientific problems but closely associated with the practical issues of current generation and consumption. This subject is a legal one concerning the illegal use of current (commonly called ,,current stealing" with respect to the relative legal positions of the current generating Company (as seller) and the consumers (as Customers). It is almost self-evident that traditional jurisdiction and practice was first in a difficult position concerning the disputes over electricity. The rapid spreading of the electric industry necessitated the introduction of new terms and concepts as well as definition in law-making. The related problems were to be elucidated by the turn of the century. The difficulty of legal issues is best illustrated by an aparently simple case from 1897 (20). A German merchant maintained his electric motor in operation for a week after the expiration of the contract sign with the electricity company. Although the Kiel court stated the fact of unauthorized utilization of electric current, yet the merchant could not be found guilty in „stealing current" because the criminal law of contemporary Germany specified the act of stealing as the expropriation of alien personal property. The difference also pointed out as an excuse that electricity is not an object (thing) but a state or condition to which that paragraph of criminal code cannot be applied.