Patent GB-504424-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to gas meters
IPC: G01F3/22
Filed: 1938-05-30
Abstract: 504,424. Gas meters. BINGHAM, J. H., and METROPOLITAN GAS METERS, Ltd: May 30, 1938, No. 16166. [Class 54] A number of gas-measuring chambers forming duplicates of one another are arranged in sets, each set being operatively connected to a single flag-rod, and all the flags, flag-rods, and, if provided, the diaphragm steadying wires being positioned externally of the measuring chambers. Meters of varying size, capacity, or shape can be built and existing meters can be enlarged. Fig. 1 shows a meter comprising two sets of measuring chambers 9, 10 and 11, 12 arranged in axial alignment in a meter casing 1, the rigid centre portions 47 of the diaphragms 48 of each set being connected by rigid tie members 49 and operating by flags 45, 46 the flag rods 41, 42 which rotate in bearings 50, 53 in a plate 51 screwed to the bottom of the casing 1 and a platform 17 to which the gas branches 13, 14, 15, 16 of the measuring chambers are secured. The motion of the diaphragms is steadied by wires 43, 44, The flag rods 41, 42 carry arms 88, 89 rotating a vertical shaft 86 carrying a worm 93 operating the counting mechanism and a toothed wheel 85 geared to wheels 73, 74 rotating the gas distributing valves 54, 55. Gas is supplied to a chamber 21, Fig. 4, surrounding the valves 54, 55 through a tubular inlet 30 and, after passing through the measuring chambers, issues through ports 63, 65 in the valves into the meter casing and escapes by the outlet 60. Alternatively the gas may be led through passages or a manifold from the ports 63, 65 to the outlet 60. The parts of the gas meter exposed to the gas, including the gas measuring chambers, the rigid centre portions of the flexible diaphragms, the gas-way branches, the valves, the valve plate 26, the chamber 21, a plate 77 supporting the wheels 73, 74 and the meter casing, may be made of synthetic resin or a similar plastic material. The gas-way branches 13, 16 have gas-tight joints with the gas passages 61, 62 respectively and with the undersides of the end portions 19, 20 of the platform 17 and the gas-way branches 14, 15 have gas-tight joints with attachment plates 67, 68 respectively secured to the centre part 18 of the platform 17. If the abutting surfaces are sufficiently smooth,- gaskets or washers are unnecessary. The counting mechanism is housed in a gas-tight chamber 32 of synthetic resin removably inserted in the front wall of the casing 1. On disconnecting the gas inlet 30 from one wall of the meter casing and a supporting bracket 31 from the opposite wall the whole of the internal parts of the meter, with the exception of the chamber 32 and the enclosed counting mechanism is removable as a unit from the meter casing for repairs &c. A single rotary valve may be employed instead of the two valves 54, 55. The measuring chambers may be of circular or square cross section. Modified constructions of meters are described in which (1) one pair of measuring chambers arranged in axial alignment with their flexible diaphragms facing one another is arranged at the side of or above a similar pair; (2) one pair of measuring chambers arranged side by side is arranged above a similar pair; (3) one pair of measuring chambers arranged one above the other is arranged above a similar pair so as to form a single vertical row. When the measuring chambers of a pair are arranged side by side or one above the other a rocking lever is arranged between one diaphragm and its flag so that one chamber is discharging while the other is charging. The backs of the measuring chambers may be secured to rigid supporting plates forming integral parts of the removable unit. Specifications 455,353, 504,425, 504,426, and 504,427 are referred to.