IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Zuill Kay, of Dundee, in the County
of Forfar, Gas Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GAS METERS."
Sealed the 2nd May 1854, and dated the 14th December 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Zuill Kay
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 14th December 1853.
I, JOHN ZUILL KAY, of Dundee, in the County of Forfar, Gas
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the securing a correct water level in gas
meters whereby mistakes and frauds may be prevented. This is effected
by the introduction or formation of a separate small chamber in com-
munication with the water supplied to the meter. The outlet to the
burners is taken from this chamber, the discharge pipe being carried
down from the top of the meter to within a very short distance of the
water line in the chamber. This tube is curved forward towards the

page_text: front side of the meter, and its open lower end is flattened or so shaped
that a very slight elevation of the water's level will seal the tube and
stop the discharge of gas. Hence, if too much water is put into the
meter, or if the meter is tilted up out of level the discharge pipe is shut
at once.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Zuill Kay in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN ZUILL KAY, of Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North Britain,
Gas Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousaud eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
soventeenth year of Iler reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Zuill Kay, Пer special
license that I, the said John Zuill Kay, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Zuill Kay, my execu-
tors, administrators, or 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, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GAS METERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Zuill Kay, 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 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, tho said John Zuill Kay, do hereby de-
claro the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and

page_text: 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 to the securing a correct water level in
gas meters or apparatus for measuring and registering the flow of gas
whereby mistakes and frauds may be prevented. This is effected by
the introduction or formation of a separate small chamber in communi-
cation with the water supplied to the meter. The outlet to the burners
is taken from this chamber, the discharge pipe being carried down from
the top of the meter to within a very short distance of the water line
in the chamber. This tube is curved forward towards the front side of
the meter, and its open lower end is flattened or so shaped that a very
slight elevation of the water's level will seal the tube and stop the dis-
charge of gas. Hence, if too much water is put into the meter, or if
the meter is tilted up out of level, the discharge pipe is shut at once.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I
shall now proceed to describe the Figure on the Sheet of Drawings
hereunto attached. The Figure on the Sheet of Drawings represents a
gas meter arranged according to my Invention, portions of the casing
covers being removed to exhibit the internal details to which the Javen-
tion refers. The meter may be constructed as to its general details
according to any of the well-known plaus. In the one which I have
selected for representation in illustration of my Invention, a drum of
the ordinary kind revolves in the cylindrical compartment A of the
meter. In front of this casing is formed the chamber B, in which are
the inlet valve C, the water supply pipe D, the level gauge pipe E,
which takes off the surplus water to a compartment beneath, and the
worm and worm wheel F, for communicating the rotatory motion of the
drum to the counting and registering mechanism G above. In one of
the upper corners of the chamber B a separate small compartment H
is formed; this compartment being in communication with the interior
of the casing A by an opening I, partly above and partly below the
water level. The outlet pipe J for the gas is fitted to the top of the
chamber II, and the gas enters this pipe by a dip tube K, which is
bent forward to bring its mouth to the point where any tilting of the

page_text: meter will produce the greatest difference in the level of the water.
The mouth of the dip tube is elongated and flattened so as to form a
narrow slit, which is closed by a less increase in the height of the water
than would close an orifice of another form. The mouth of the tube
K, being just above the level of the water, it follows that on the meter
being tilted forward at all, the water will cover it, and so prevent the
passage of the gas to the outlet pipe J. It will be obvious to the
practical man that the position of the outlet pipe and dip tube may be
varied without altering the result.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not con-
fine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I
have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features
of my Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of gas meters, as
herein-before described.
Second, the application and use in gas meters of a dip tube, through
which the gas passes to the outlet pipe, the mouth of such dip tube
being just above the water level, so as to be closed by the water when
the meter is tilted or inclined forward, or when too much water is
supplied to the meter, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Zuill Kay, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of June, in the year One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
JOHN ZUILL KAY. (L.S.)