IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS OR FOR MEASURING GAS OR OTHER ELASTIC FLUIDS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Remington, of Sloane Street, Chelsea,
Civil Engineer, and Zephaniah Deacon Berry, of Victoria Road,
Pimlico, Gas Fitter and Engineer, both in the County of Mid-
dlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS OR
FOR MEASURING GAS OR OTHER ELASTIC FLUIDS."
Sealed the 30th March 1853, and dated the 1st October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Remington
and Zephaniah Deacon Berry at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 1st October 1852.
We, JOHN REMINGTON and ZEPHANIAH DEACON BERRY, do liereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
METERS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING GAS- OR OTHER ELASTIC FLUIDS" to
be as follows:-
Our Invention relates, firstly, to improvements in the construction of
water gas meters, and consists principally in constructing, mounting,
and working the revolving drum in a different manner to that usually
adopted. In place of making the drum cylindrical, and mounting the

page_text: axle thereof horizontally, as usual, we prefer to make the drum with a
conical end, and place the axle thereof obliquely, so that one end shall
always be immersed in the water, and the opposite end (being that at
which the gas enters the drum) always out of the water. The drum is
divided internally into three compartments, into which the gas is
admitted seriatim through a face valve at or near the upper end of the
axle; and the water that becomes displaced by the entrance of the gas
is made to pass out of the compartment through an aperture at the
lower end of the axle. In the accompanying diagram Fig. 1, repre-
sents a longitudinal section, and Fig. 2, a transverse section through a
meter constructed according to our improvements. Fig. 3, represents
the drum detached. a, a, is the drum; b, the oblique shaft; c, the face
valve which admits gas to the interior; d, d, the holes or openings at
the lower end of the axle b, through which holes the water escapes
from one compartment to another as the gas enters. e, is the pipe for
admitting the gas from the main; and f, is the exit pipe for conveying
the gas to the supply pipe. It will of course be understood that as the
gas enters any compartment it will press against the partition, and cause
the drum to move round and actuate the wheel g, which is in connection
with the counting apparatus.
The measuring
which a rolling
carries a crank
The second part of our Invention relates to dry gas meters, and will
be best understood by referring to Fig. 4, the fornier of which is a
diagram representing a section of a dry gas meter; and Fig. 5, is a
plan view of the measuring chambers. h, is a circular plate or board,
and the measuring chambers (of which there are three by preference)
are constructed of leather or other flexible material.
chambers i, ',, meet at a point in the centre to
conical piston j, is connected; this conical piston j,
shaft 7, which actuates the face valve k, which admits the gas to cither
of the compartments. It will now be understood that as the gas enters
each of the compartments in turn, as at i, it will lift up that side of the
conical piston j, and cause it to roll over to the side of the empty
compartment; by so doing the crank 1, will cause the valve k, to rotate
and cut off the supply of gas to the full compartment, and admit it to
the next empty one, and so on to all the compartments or chambers in

page_text: succession; the conical block will therefore continue to roll slowly
round the centre pin, and by moving the face valve will also actuate
the counting apparatus, which may be of any of the well-known con-
structions.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Remington and Zephaniah Deacon Berry
in the Great Seal Patent Office on 1st April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
JOHN REMINGTON, of Sloane Street, Chelsea, Civil Engineer, and
ZEPHANIAH DEACON BERRY, of Victoria Road, Pimlico, Gas Fitter and
Engineer, both in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing. date the First day of October, in the year
of our Lord One. thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said John Remington and Zephaniah
Deacon Berry, Her special license that we, the said John Remington
and Zephaniah Deacon Berry, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said John Remington, and Zepha
nial Deacon Berry, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter 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, our
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING
GAS OR OTHER ELASTIC FLUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said John Remington and Zephaniah Deacon Berry, by an
instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand-
and seal of one of us, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Remington and Zepha-
niah Deacon Berry, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon (that is to say):
Our Invention of Improvements in Gas Meters or Apparatus for
Measuring Gas, or other Elastic Fluids relates principally to that de-
scription of meter wherein water or any other liquid or fluid is employed
to form the fulcrum for the action of the measuring drum of the meter.
A somewhat similar arrangement of parts may also be adapted to dry
meters.
1
The improvements consist, first, in mounting the drum on an axle
set at an angle to the horizontal line, and thereby causing it to
rotate obliquely. By this arrangement one end of the axle may be
always immersed in the water, while the opposite end works above the
water level. The measuring drum is constructed with three or more
compartments, which are united near the lower end, where an aperture
for the water to enter is provided, so that it may circulate in and out of
the compartments as the drum rotates. The gas enters the drum
through a valve placed near the upper end of the axle, and upon one
side of a vertical line drawn through the central axis, and after filling
the space between the surface water and partitions in the drum,
it passes out at the opposite side of the valve away for consumption.
During the passage of the gas the drum is made to revolve; and this
action being conveyed through the medium of a worm or other suitable
agent to the wheel work of the index, the quantity of gas passed
through and measured by the meter is thus correctly ascertained, the
counting index, of course, being arranged to suit the quantity of gas
given out at each revolution, of the drum wheel.
The Figures in Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings represent a
gas meter arranged and constructed according to the foregoing descrip-
tion, which will perhaps illustrate the principle upon which the Inven-
tion is founded. Fig. 1,. Sheet I., is a front elevation of the meter com-
plete; Fig. 2, is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the front
box of the meter; and Fig. 3, is a transverse vertical section of the meter

page_text: taken through the centre thereof and in a line with the central shaft.
In this arrangement the drum a, a, a, (which is shewn detached at
Figures 4, and 5,) is divided into three equal compartments (as shewn
in Fig. 4,) by the flat plates b, b, b, the edges of which are attached to
the periphery and ends of the drum, the lower end of which is of a
conical form, with an opening c, left in each partition for the water to
circulate to and from the compartments. The axle d, is fixed in the
centre of the drum, and works in bearings e, e, which are attached to the
case of the meter. The valve f, which regulates the entry and exit of
gas to and from the drum, is of a slightly conical form, and is pro-
vided with three internal. divisions which radiate from the axle, as
shewn best in Fig. 2. These partitions divide the valve into separate
passages, one leading into each compartment of the drum. The peri-
phery of the valve has three port holes or openings formed in it, which
communicate with separate compartments of the drum; and each
of these openings occupies one sixth part of its circumference, the
other three sixths being left blank surfaces, which are turned and
ground to fit the outer ring or cap h, of the valve, which is attached to
the sealing box. This ring or cap h, has a blank surface at top and
bottom, which is rather more than sufficient to cover the port holes in
the cone of the valve already described. The other part of the ring or
cap 1, has openings formed in it at opposite sides. These openings
occupy the whole of the remaining circumference, and form the inlet
and outlet passages to and from the drum, they being enclosed by the
sealing box I, as shewn in the Drawing at Fig. 2, and also detached at
Fig. 6. This box 1, is divided vertically into two parts, and when in
its place forms a covering for the inlet and outlet stand pipes j, k; the
bottom of the box stands sufficiently below the water line to hermeti-
cally seal the stand pipes. The pipe i, i, leads from the inlet union o,
to the float box; and the pipe 2, 2, leads from the float box to the inlet
stand pipe j; these together complete the inlet passage to the drum of
the meter. The outlet passage from the drum is through the valve f
down the stand pipe k, into the box or chamber 7, and from thence out
at the union m. The meter is supplied with water by the pipe or
plug r, and water is poured into the meter until it runs out of the water
:

page_text: evel plug s, Fig. 3, which must then be closed. A syphon plug t, is
adapted to the lower end of the chamber or box 1, for the purpose of
drawing off any water of condensation that may accumulate therein.
The float (which is shewn detached at Fig. 7,) is suspended from the
centre n, Fig. 2, and the face of the valve plate is mounted vertically
from this centre n, the edge thereof being parallel to the front of the
meter. This valve plate covers the opening o*, in the pipe i, through
which the gas enters the interior of the meter from the inlet pipe o.
same.
In Sheet II. we have shewn another arrangement of this description
of meter, which differs from that already described principally in ex-
ternal form. Fig. 8, is a front elevation of the meter, some of the parts
being shewn in section. Fig. 9, is a transverse vertical section of the
The same letters are marked on corresponding parts in these
and the before-mentioned Figures. In this arrangement the drum a,
is spherical, as is also the outer case, which has a double front for the
float box, stand pipes, and outlet box, as already explained in the
description of the arrangement shewn in Sheet I. Both arrangements
may be modified so as to require only one stand pipe, the outlet pipe
being merely used in order to prevent the gas from filling the case of
the meter; but if the gas is allowed to enter the case after passing
through the drum, the exit stand pipe will not be required. The form
of the drum may be varied without materially altering the arrangement
or construction of the various parts, our Invention having for its prin-
cipal objects an improved mode of sealing the water ways between the
compartments of the drum, and also the novel mode of mounting the
axle, and likewise the position of the centre valve in reference to
the water ways. The centre valve may also be varied in form to
answer the necessary purposes. The water level in the drum is ascer
tained by the level of the water in the water case, both being connected
by means of an aperture in the drum near the lower end of the axle,
the revolving action of the drum being in no way dependent upon such
connection or aperture, as the rotatory motion of the drum may be ob-
tained without such aperture or connection and without water in the
outer case of the meter, providing the inlet and outlet gas ways are
separate and distinct passages.

page_text: The operation of these meters is as follows:-Gas being admitted at
the inlet union o, passes down the pipe or channel i, into the float box
or chamber through the valve port or opening o*, the float being raised
by its buoyancy in the water, and thereby opening the valve port o*;
from thence the gas passes through the inlet pipes in the direction of
the arrows up the stand pipe j, directly to the centre valve f, which,
having always a passage open into one of the compartments of the
drum a, allows the gas to enter and fill the compartments seriatim, the
water being pressed out at the lower centre c, into the opposite side of
the drum; this being open to the outlet causes the water to rise on this
sidė a little above the ordinary level, and fall in like proportion on the
inlet side. This variation in the level increases the cubical area of
cach compartment above the mean water line on the inlet side, and
diminishes the quantity of gas left in the drum on the outlet side in
like proportion; so that if there is not sufficient water in the meter the
capacity of the compartiments above the water line on the inlet and
outlet sides always increasing in equal proportion, the quantity of gas
delivered at each revolution of the drum must be the same; or nearly
so, under various changes in the level of the water, which fact renders
our meter an accurate and just measure.
Our next improvement relates to dry gas meters, which we propose
to construct with what may be called a circular oscillating motion.
Fig. 10, Sheet II., represents a sectional view of a meter of this de-
scription. a, a, a, is an inverted conical plate; b, b, b, is a circular flat
plate. The periphery of these two plates are connected together by a
leather band (or a band formed of any other suitable flexible material).
The interior between the plates is divided into three or more equal com-
partments, as in the former instances, the divisions or partitions being
also formed of suitable flexible material. Each compartment is made
gas-tight. The flat plate b, b, is stationary, and the conical plate has
a rod c, fixed at its centre, at the lower end of which a ball is attached
(or a pointed centre may be used); the ball works in a cup formed in
the centre of the fixed plate b, b, and the upper end of the rod is con-
nected to a crank d, placed above the cone a. The axle upon which
this crank is fixed is made to carry a valve e, which communicates with

page_text: the pip ff, whereby the gas is conducted to the flexible chambers, or
compartments of the drum. This valve e, is so constructed and
arranged as to regulate the entry and exit of tlie gas to and from the
compartments of the drum or diaphragm, and as it rotates it commúni
cates motion to the wheel work of the index. If gas be admitted to
each compartment of the drum or diaphragm in succession it will raise
that side of the conical plate a, which is open to the inlet, and depress
the opposite side which is open to the outlet; and the action being
governed by the radius of the crank creates a rolling oscillating motion
in the conical plate a, of the drum; and. at the same time a continuous
rotatory motion is communicated to the axle upon which the crank a
is fixed, and which works the valve and the wheel work of the index.
This rolling oscillating motion may be also applied.to the drums of wet
gas meters by constructing the flexible portions of the dry meter
already explained of metal, in place of a flexible material, and placing
the drum when so constructed in a vessel of water or other liquid so as
to be partly immersed. An arrangement on this principle of wet
meters, differing in some respects from that already referred to, is
shewn in Sheet III., in which Fig. 11, is a partial sectional view, and
Fig. 12, is a transverse vertical section of a wet meter constructed in
this manner. The drum in this arrangement is partly spherical, and
has an open cone at top and bottom, the top coné a, being made
to allow the crank to work in, and the bottom cone b, to receive the
stationary rod h. The drum in this arrangement is divided into four
equal compartments, as shewn in the plan view, Fig. 13, and rolls and
oscillates upon the ball i, which is fixed upon the end of the rod h. The
float valve is similar to that described in reference to Figures 1, to 7.
Having now described our Invention, and the best means with which
we are at present acquainted for carrying the same into effect, we
would observe, in conclusion, that we do not intend to confine ourselve
rigidly to the precise arrangement or construction of parts herein
shewn and described, as they may perhaps be varied without departing
from the nature and object of our improvements; but that which w
consider to be new, and therefore wish to claim as the Invention
secured to us by Letters Patent, is, first, the general arrangement o

page_text: parts shewn and described, or any mere modification thereof, in which
the centre valve, the axle, and water ways are placed in similar relative
positions. We also claim the use and application of the float valve and
float, as shewn and described, and also the valve f, arranged and con-
structed in such a manner that the outer box or cap is made to bear
against a shoulder or flange, as shewn and described. Second, in
reference to the meters shewn at Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13, of
Sheets II. and III., we claim the general arrangement, or any mere
modification thereof, in which the drum or diaphragm is constructed
and worked or actuated in the manner therein shewn.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Remington and Zephaniah-
Deacon Berry, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
First day of April, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three.
Witness,
W. E. NEWTON,
66, Chancery Lane.
JOHN REMINGTON.
Z. D. BERRY.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)