IMPROVEMENTS IN Anni A SASTHRASES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Bathgate, of Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
Anni ARSA SASTHRASES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Bathgate at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 31st
March 1865.
I, JAMES BATHGATE, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAS METERS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to
be as follows, that is to say:-
The first part of this Invention chiefly relates to a new method of con-
struction and arrangement of the parts of dry gas meters whose cases are made
by preference in cast iron, whereby great facility is afforded for their being
taken in pieces, cleaned and repaired, and a correct action of the apparatus.is
insured.
In constructing the case of gas meters under this Invention they are made
in one piece and without a central division, in contradistinction to those now
in use, which arrangement enables the diaphragms (when necessary) to be
lifted out with little trouble. The one diaphragm back (which is made of
sheet iron or other suitable material) is substituted in lieu of and answers

page_text: the purpose of two, at the same time supplying the place of and answering the
purpose of a central division. This back on which are fixed the two diaphragms
is fixed by screws to holders projecting from the centre of the case. The
chief advantage derived from this arrangement is that the two diaphragms
can be taken out together.
The second part of this Invention relates to a peculiar arrangement of the
valves which are also easily taken out, each valve being fixed to a separate
plate, to which plates are also connected the inlets to the diaphragms and
exit tubes. By removing the screws by which the small plates are connected
to the valve plate of the meter case, these last-mentioned parts are removed.
In the valve plate are two holes, viz., one from each of the exit tubes over
which is placed a box which contains the measured gas from these tubes, this
box is attached to the valve plate of the meter by screws. On the inside of
this box through which the measured gas passes are two vertical tubes of
sufficient depth that in the event of condensation taking place they prevent
the condensed gas from getting into or interfering with the action of the
valves.
Another important feature of dry gas meters constructed under this
Invention is the use of a double flange on the top of the case, by means of which
the valve plate and top box connected to it are attached to the meter case.
On the centre of the valve plate, and contained within the top box, there is
fixed by screws, studs, or otherwise, a small plate, containing the step crank
and crank support, tangent catch, and support for index spindle; the whole
of these latter parts may be removed by taking out the screws by which the
plate containing them is fixed to the valve plate.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Bathgate in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
September 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BATHGATE, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reigu, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto

page_text: me, the said James Bathgate; Her special license that I, the said James
Bathgate, my executors, administrators; and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Bathgate, my executors, adiminstrators, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make;
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GAS METERS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE-
WITH," upon the condition (amongst others') that I, the said James Bathgate,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the saine to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patént.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Bathgate, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Inventión, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates, in the first place, and chiefly, to a new method of
construction and arrangement of the parts of dry gas meters whose cases are
made by preference in cast iron, whereby great facility is afforded for their
being taken in pieces, cleaned and repaired, and a correct action of the appa-
ratus is insured.
In constructing the case of gas meters under this Invention they are made
in one piece, and without a central division in contradistinction to those now
in use, which arrangement enables the diaphragms (when necessary,) to be
lifted out with little trouble. The one diaphragm back (which is made of
sheet iron or other suitable material,) is substituted in lieu of and answers the
purpose of two, at the same time supplying the place of and answering the
purpose of a central division. This back on which are fixed the two dia-
phragms is fixed by screws to holders projecting from the centre of the case.
The chief advantage derived from this arrangement is that the two diaphragıns
can be taken out together.
The second part of this Invention relates to a peculiar arrangement of the
valves, which are also easily taken out, each valve being worked upon a
separate plate, to which plates are also connected the inlets to the diaphragms
and exit tubes. By removing the screws by which the small plates are con-
nected to the valve plate, these last-mentioned plates are removed. In the

page_text: valve plates are two holes, namely, one from each of the exit tubes, over which
is placed a box, which contains the measured gas from these tubes; this box is
attached to the valve plate of the meter by screws. On the inside of this box
through which the measured gas passes are two vertical tubes of sufficient
depth that in the event of condensation taking place they prevent the con-
densed gas from getting into or interfering with the action of the valves.
Another important feature of dry gas meters constructed under this
Invention is the use of a double flange on the top of the case by means of
which the valve plate and top box connected to it are attached to the meter
case. On the centre of the valve plate, and contained within the top box,
there is fitted by screws, studs, or otherwise, a small plate containing the
step crank, and crank support, tangent catch, and support for index spindle ;
the whole of these latter parts may be removed by taking out the screws by
which the plate containing them is fixed to the valve plate.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the system; mode, or manner in or under
which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference
being had to the several Figures upon the explanatory Sheet of Drawings,
which I have hereunto appended, and in which similar parts are indicated by
corresponding letters of reference, that is to say:―
Figure 1 is a transverse section on the line B, B, Figure 2; Figure 2 is
a half side elevation and cross section on the line c, c, Figure 3; Figure 3 is
a plan of the upper part of the meter with the cover removed, showing the
arrangement and position of the gear for actuating the slide valves and the
gas measuring boxes; Figure 4 is a sectional plan on the line A, A, Figure 1.
In all the Figures the case of the meter is marked A, and projecting
from its sides across the top and bottom is the flanch B, to which, by
means of the screws c, c, the one diaphragm back D is fastened; this
diaphragm back as herein-before described is substituted in lieu of and answers
the purpose of two, it at the same time supplies the absence of a central
division of the meter case which it has been usual to employ in dry gas meters
constructed previously to the date of this Invention. The two diaphragms E
and F, more particularly seen in Plan, Figure 4, are attached to this one
diaphragm back in the usual manner, so that the two being fixed together
their combination with the diaphragm back forms one separate and distinct
portion of the apparatus, the whole of which is readily removed by the with-
drawal of the screws c, c.
I now proceed to specify the peculiar valve arrangement embodied under.
this Invention, which is more particularly seen at Figure 3, in which Figure,

page_text: as well as in Figure 1, the valves themselves are marked G¹ and G³, Gs only
being seen at Figure 1. The plates H¹ and H³, upon which the, valves G¹
and G respectively work, are attached to the top. plate of the meter case by
screws d, upon removing which the valve plates and their attached ports are
easily removed. The edges of the ports are made to project some distance
above the lower part or flanch by which the junction with the meter case is
effected, and openings are left in the top plate of the case through which the
projecting portions containing the ports pass.. The valves themselves are of
the ordinary slide principle, and are actuated over the ports by means, of, the
connecting rods I, I', to which motion is imparted from the central crank
shaft J, this shaft from which the index gearing is also driven being actuated
by means of gearing from the diaphragms in the ordinary manner, and which
being similar to the mechanical movements usually employed in gas meters
of this kind need not be herein more particularly specified, the same being
intelligible to an expert by reference to the several Figures upon the annexed
Sheet of Drawings.
The chief improvement connected with the valve arrangement being that
by removing frame K, which carries the central crank shaft J, and step
bearing for the same the whole of the gearing together with the two valve con-
necting rods I, I', are brought away together, thus leaving the valves themselves
perfectly free for removal. The crank shaft framing K is removed by with-
drawing the screws f, f, by which it is connected to the top plate forming the
meter case.
I now proceed to describe the boxes by means of which the gas enters and
passes from the meter. The entrance box is marked M, in Figures 1, 2, and 3,
the gas entering from the pipe M', it will be observed that the box M is
closed at the bottom, and that surrounding a hole formed therein, the pipe or
tube N is fixed with a tight joint, the upper end of the pipe N does not quite
reach the top of. the inside of the box M, by this means as the gas enters the
box it cannot escape therefrom by any other way than through the pipe N, so
that if any moisture in the gas or other condensible matter should enter the
box it would remain therein until the deposited matter became level with the
top of the tube N, thus nothing but the gas itself enters the meter, and the
facility afforded for removing the box M enables it to be occasionally with-
drawn, so that any condensible matter which may have collected therein is
taken out. The box is fixed by means of screws 9, g, to the flanch of the top
box of the meter, by withdrawing which it is easily removed. The box through
which the gas escapes is differently constructed and marked P, in Figures 1 and
3, it is fixed to the top box in the same manner as the entrance box previously

page_text: described, within it two tubes O, O¹, more particularly seen in Figure 3; part
of the top of the box being cut away to render them visible, each one of
these tubes is connected to the ducts through which the gas escapes after
having been measured; and passes thence through the exit tube Q to be
burnt.
What I consider to be a very important point in connection with this part
of my Invention is the miode in which the passages or ducts by which the gas
enters and escapes from the diaphragm are constructed as follows:-Two
oblong openings are formed, one in each ring, to which the leather is jointed
on each side of the diaphragm back, from these two ducts of oblong or other
suitable form extend, and which are marked B, in Figures 1 and 4, being
dotted in Figure 1, their upper portions are turned off at right angles below
the two tubes of the escape or exit box P, and proper recess joints are
attached thereto for the reception of that part of the duct which leads to the
slide valves, through the cavities in which the gas on escaping from the dia-
phragms as they are alternately pressed in passes to one or other of the two
tubes into the escape box P, whilst the gas from the portions of the meter
outside the diaphragms escapes through the open part into the cavity of the
valves and thence through the central port into the escape box by the same
tubes.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and there-
fore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First, the general arrangement and peculiar mode of combining the several
parts of dry gas meters substantially as herein-before described or any mere
modification thereof.
Second, the peculiar arrangement of entrance box as herein-before described
or any mere modification thereof.
Third, the peculiar arrangement and construction of exit box, substantially
as herein-before described or any mere modification thereof.
Fourth, the forming of the main portion of the meter case in one piece with
à central and top flanch therein, for uniting the diaphragm back substantially
as herein-before described.
Fifth, the use of a single diaphragm back instead of two as herein-before
described.
Sixth, the use and application of moveable valve plates, substantially as
herein-before described.

page_text: Seventh, the fixing of all the details of the meter to the case by means of
screws, for the purpose of affording facilities for removing them for repairs or
other purposes, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Bathgate, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
ST. JOHN VINCENT DAY, C.E.,
166, Buchanan St.,
Glasgow.
JAMES BATHGATE. (L.s.)