IMPROVEMENTS IN WET GAS METERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Urquhart, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, and William Ward Andrews, of Kingsland Road, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS IN WET GAS METERS."
aled the 17th March 1876, and dated the 8th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Urquhart and William
Ward Andrews at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th
January 1876.
JAMES URQUHART, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, and WILLIAM
WARD ANDREWS, of Kingsland Road, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVE
MENTS IN WET GAS METERS."
The objects of this Invention are,-
Firstly. To secure the more correct measurement of gas by causing the water or
other liquid both within and without the measuring chamber to assume as nearly as
possible the same level under varying or excessive pressures and speeds.
Secondly. The simplification of the float arrangement to be applied to ordinary
meters for cutting off the supply of gas when the liquid is depressed below a
certain level.
Thirdly. The prevention of gas from entering the index box.
And, Fourthly. In an improved overflow or waste water box.
The first part of these improvements consists in either making orifices in the
partition which divides the front or float chamber from the drum chamber, so that
the gas in both has free access to each other, or by retaining only such portion of
the partition as is necessary to support the shaft and other parts of the instrument
or by removing the partition altogether and substituting strips or bars of metal so
as to maintain the parts dependent thereon in proper position. The hollow cover
which is ordinarily placed in front of the drum is in this Invention by preference
removed and fixed to the back thereof, and a bent tube to carry off the gas to the
outlet is inserted within the cover, the upper end of the said tube being made to
stand as high as the cover when revolving will permit. It is not imperative
however that the cover should be placed at the back in order that this Invention
may be carried out, as it may be retained in the position ordinarily adopted, the
gas being carried off by a bent tube, as before described, when referring to the
cover as being placed at the back. One end of this tube is, as before stated, within
the cover, the other end is inserted into a tube or conduit which conveys the gna
[Price 6d.

page_text: to the outlet of the meter. Into the outlet tube or conduit is fixed a pipe, which
leads to the front of the meter, and will carry off any condensation that may be
deposited therein.
The second part of these improvements consists in making the inlet tube of a
bent form, the bottom edge forming the seat for a valve fixed to a rod, the opposite
end of which terminates in a float. The rod being pivotted at a certain distance
from its extremity the valve will rise or fall in accordance with the position of the
float and level of the liquid.
The third part refers to a means for preventing gas from entering the index box,
and consists in the application of a stuffing box of a peculiar form to the upright
spindle that communicates motion to the index.
The fourth part of the Invention refers to an improved arrangement whereby
the overflow or waste water box is placed concentrically or nearly concentrically
with the outer case of the meter.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Urquhart and William Ward Andrews in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 1st July 1876.
IMPROVE-
_JAMES URQUHART, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, and WILLIAM
WARD ANDREWS, of Kingsland Road, in the County of Middlesex.
MENTS IN WET GAS METERS."
The objects of this Invention are,―
Firstly. To secure the more correct measurement of gas by causing the water or
other liquid both within and without the measuring chamber to assume as nearly
as possible the same level under varying or excessive pressures and speeds.
Secondly. The more efficient arrangement of the float to be applied for cutting
off the supply of gas when the liquid is depressed below a certain level.
Thirdly. The prevention of gas from entering the index box, thus reducing the
liability of an escape of gas.
Fourthly. In an improved overflow or waste water box.
And, Fifthly. In an improved mode of supporting the drum shaft.
The first part of these improvements consists is dispensing with the partition
which ordinarily divides the front or float chamber from the drum chamber, so
that the gas is free to envelope the whole exterior of the drum above the water
level. In lieu of the partition a strip or bar, or strips or bars of metal, are
substituted so as to maintain the parts dependent thereon in proper position. The
hollow cover which is usually placed in front of the drum is in this Invention
fixed to the back thereof, and a bent tube to carry off the gas to the outlet is
inserted within the cover, the upper end of the said tube being made to stand as
high as the cover when revolving will permit. One end of this tube is, as before
stated, within the cover, the other end is inserted into a tube or conduit which
conveys the gas to the outlet of the meter. Into the outlet tube or conduit is
fixed a pipe, which leads to the waste water box in the front of the meter, and
will carry off any condensation that may be deposited therein.
The second part of these improvements consists in making the inlet tube of a
bent shape, the bottom edge forming the seat for a valve fixed to a rod, the
opposite end of which terminates in a float. The rod being pivotted at some
distance from its extremity, the valve will rise or fall in accordance with the
position of the float and level of the liquid, which on being depressed below a
certain limit will cause the valve to close and shut off the gas entirely.
The third part refers to a means for preventing gas from entering the index box,
and consists in the application of a stuffing box of a peculiar form to the upright
spindle that communicates motion from the drum shaft to the index, the said

page_text: stuffing box or hydraulic seal being partially filled with oil or with tallow, or a
combination of both.
The fourth part of the Invention refers to an improved arrangement whereby
the overflow or waste water box is placed concentrically or nearly concentrically
with the outer case of the meter.
And the fifth part of the Invention refers to the mode of supporting the back
part of the drum shaft by fixing the bearing at the front of the outlet pipe.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood Drawings are
attached hereto, of which the following is a description:-Fig. 1 represents a meter
with the front of the case and part of the index box removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical
section of the case and drum of the same meter in which the cover is placed at the
back of the drum; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the stuffing box or hydralic seal; and
Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the same.
In Figures 1 and 2 A represents the case; B, the inlet pipe; C, the valve fixed to
an arm pivotted at D, and provided with a float E; F is the drum; G, the cover;
and H the bent pipe which leads the gas from the cover to the outlet tube I, and
from thence to the outlet J. Any condensation that may take place in the bent
pipe or outlet tube will fall down the lower part of the pipe or conduit I and be
carried away by the pipe or conduit K to the waste water box L placed in the
front and side of the meter; M is a small pipe or conduit communicating with the
waste water box L, and is furnished with a run-off plug at N; O is the overflow
pipe leading to the waste water box also; P is the worm wheel spindle or upright
shaft which passes through the case and is provided with a stuffing box or
hydraulic seal Q, shown more distinctly in Figs. 3 and 4, drawn to a larger scale.
In Fig. 1 the filling tube is marked T.
It will be observed that in this meter the diaphragm or partition ordinarily
placed between the front chamber and that in which the drum revolves is dispensed
with and a bar of metal R only is substituted to support the drum shaft, worm
wheel, and float. The gas enters by the inlet pipe B, passes into the body of the
meter and into the drum by the slits or openings S, S, into the divisional chambers
of the drum, and from thence into the cover G. From here it is led off, as before
described, by the bent pipe H to the outlet J. The result of the construction of
meters in this manner is that the whole of the liquid used therein is subjected to
the same pressure, or nearly so, and as a consequence the registration of such
meters will be the same, or very nearly the same, when working under excessive
pressures or speeds as when only the ordinary pressure is employed for or speed
attained in actuating the meter.
In the Drawings it will be seen that the ordinary seal tube usually surrounding
the upright shaft P is dispensed with, and that the stuffing box or hydraulic seal
fixed on the outside case and within the index box is substituted.
Although it is preferred that the drum shaft shall be supported by fixing the
bearing in front of the bent pipe, as shown at U, Fig. 2, the bearing or support
may be fixed to the back of the meter case, as now commonly done, and the bent
pipe inserted through the centre opening either above or on one side of the drum
shaft or bearing.
The introduction of the gas by the slits or openings S, S, and taking off the gas
by the bent pipe inserted within a hollow cover fixed to the front of the drum has
been found to be old, although referred to in the Provisional Specification of this
Invention, but the arrangement herein-before described is new.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, we
would observe in conclusion that we do not confine or restrict ourselves to the
precise details or arrangements which we have described or referred to, as
variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the principles or main
features of this Invention, but what we consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,-

page_text: Firstly. The making of meters without a partition between the front and drum
chamber, whereby the gas to be measured enters by the slits S, S, into the
divisional chambers of the drum and is expelled from the cover through a bent
pipe to the outlet when the cover is fixed at the back of the drum, as described
and shown on the Drawings.
Secondly. In the arrangement of the inlet tube, valve, and float, as described
and shown on the Drawings.
Thirdly. In the application of a stuffing box or hydraulic seal, as described and
shown on the Drawings.
Fourthly. In the application of a waste water or overflow box in communi-
cation with the outlet pipe and of the form described and shown on the Drawings.
And, Fifthly. The means or mode of supporting the drum shaft by fixing
the bearing at the front of the bent pipe, as shown at U, in Fig. 2 of the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Ward Andrews, have hereunto set
my hand and seal this First day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
WILLIAM WARD ANDREWS. (LS.)