Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 10th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 11th Jan., 1887
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and Engineers,
of 35 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a novel combination of materials to be used as a
substitute for water in gas meters and other apparatus through which gas passes and
in which it is required that a constant level of the fluid should be preserved.
For this purpose I use chloride of magnesium, chloride of calcium, or other neutral
or alkaline chloride, either pure or in combination with other alkalis, together with
methylated or other spirit, and glycerine or other substance incapable of congelation
at ordinary low temperatures. The proportions of the materials may vary more or
less according to the circumstances and conditions under which the liquid is to be used.
By the use of the liquid mixture described instead of water, the freezing of gas
meters or other gas apparatus is prevented, and the gas is dried on account of the
strong affinity for water on the part of the substances described, which accordingly
absorb any water present in the gas which comes in contact with them.
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Substitute for Water in Meters and other Apparatus
for Gas.
I EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and Engineers
of 35 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the county of Middlesex (a com-
munication from abroad by Charles Pottier of 8 Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau, Paris
in the Republic of France, Chemist) and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved substitute for water in meters and other gas
apparatus.
It is well known that gas meters contain a certain quantity of water which is
necessary for their proper working and that it frequently happens in winter that the
water becomes frozen. An interruption is thereby caused in the supply of gas which
is prejudicial to the gas supplier because during the time that the meter is being
repaired the consumer does not consume any gas and is often obliged in order to avoid
a recurrence of such an inconvenience to have recourse to another inode of lighting
such as by mineral or other oil. It is equally prejudicial but in a much more serious
manner for the consumer as independently of the fact that he is for a time deprived of
a supply of gas he is responsible for accidents occasioned to his meter through the frost.
A gas meter being a somewhat delicate and costly apparatus it easily gets out of order.
In order to avoid this objection it has been the practice for the consumer to cover the
meter with straw, hay or wool or felt packing. This practice is both unsightly and
often inconvenient besides which the operation has to be renewed yearly. Frequently
also it is forgotten altogether and the precaution taken too late to be of any use.
Another method consists in adding to the water of the meter alcohol which corrodes
the inetal, rapidly evaporates, gives the flame of the gas a greenish hue, lowers the
level in the meter, has often to be replaced and is costly. Glycerine has also been
placed in the meter, but glycerine becomes acid, attacks the metals of which the meter
is constructed and its costs is almost prohibitive. In wet meters another objection
results from the lowering of the level of the water which they contain which renders
the measure of the gas supplied to the consumer inaccurate.
The gas supplied is measured by means of a fan somewhat in the form of a drum
divided into four compartments and which is immersed in water up to a certain height.
The portion of the fan which is not immersed receives the gas and measures it. Each
of the said compartments becomes filled with gas in proportion as each of them delivers
its gas to the pipes which lead to the gas burners; a rotating movement is consequently
given to the fan one complete revolution of which supplies a quantity of gas equal to
ine space between the level of the water and the circumference of the fan. Each
complete revolution of the fan causes the indicator of the dial to mark a consumption
of seven litres of gas in a five light meter which is given as an example.
From what has been stated it will be understood that if the level rises the capacity
becomes smaller as also does the quantity of gas delivered. If on the contrary the
level of the water falls the space left free for the gas becomes larger and the quantity
of gas delivered also becomes larger whilst the quantity indicated by each revolution
of the fan as consumed remains the same.

page_text: Now the water of the meter constantly evaporating, a serious loss is occasioned to
the gas supplier which may amount to six per cent the mean loss being about three
per cent.
In order to obviate these two objections, videlicet, the occurrence of frost and the
lowering of the water level, dry meters have been adopted which are much more
costly and delicate in their construction and which are much less durable than wet
meters.
This invention consists in a novel combination of materials to be used as a substitute
for water in gas meters and other apparatus through which gas passes and in which it
is required that a constant level of the fluid should be preserved, the said substances
not having the objections possessed by water, being less costly than alcohol and
glycerine without possessing their disadvantages, and allowing of employing wet
meters in cold climates without having to fear the consequences of frost, and in warm
countries without risk of evaporation.
For this purpose ammoniacal magnesian chloride or chloride of magnesiuin is
employed suitably prepared and brought to a neutral state such that it will not attack
the various metals of which gas meters are constructed; or chloride of calcium or
other neutral or alkaline chlorides may be employed either pure or combined or mixed
with salts, alkalies, methylated or other spirit and glycerine or other suitable
substance for the purpose of preventing congelation in meters or other gas apparatuses
as well as in all apparatuses in which it is required to prevent congelation at ordinary
low temperatures. Further these substances are employed for the purpose of
preventing evaporation in the above described apparatuses in order to maintain a
constant level therein. The said substances in fact, possess the property of yielding
nothing or nearly nothing by evaporation and at the same time serve to dry the gas.
The proportions of the materials may vary more or less according to the circumstances
and conditions under which the liquid is to be used. By the use of the liquid mixture
described, instead of water, the freezing of gas meters or other gas apparatus is
prevented and the gas is dried on account of the strong affinity for water on the
part of the substances described, which accordingly absorb any water present in the
gas which comes in contact with them.
It will be obvious that the above mentioned substances having been once placed in
the apparatus will last as long as the apparatus itself without requiring any attention
or precautions to be taken, thereby dispensing with the necessity for the preparations
which have hitherto been found necessary annually against the approach of cold
weather; the said substances are besides less costly than that of any means employed
for a similar purpose up to the present time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
-
The use of chloride of magnesium or ammoniacal magnesian chloride, chloride of
calcium or other neutral or alkaline chlorides either pure or combined with alkalies,
methylic or other alcohol, glycerine or any other suitable substances for preventing frost
in gas meters or other gas apparatus or in other apparatuses which by being exposed to
cold are liable to become frozen, or for maintaining the constant level in the said
meters or gas apparatus and drying the gases passing through them substantially
as hereinbefore described.