IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS
Year: 1838

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
CLEGG, of No. 16, Sidmouth Street, Gray's Inn Lane, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
"
WHEREAS I did, by Petition, humbly represent to Her most Excellent
Majesty Queen Victoria that I had invented "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS,"
and Her Majesty being willing to encourage all useful Inventions, was gra-
ciously pleased to. issue Her Royal Letters Patent under. the Great Seal of
England, bearing date at Westminster, this Seventh day of June, One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, and in the first year of Her reign;
by which Letters Patent Her said Majesty did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, Samuel Clegg, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, Her especial license that I, the said Samuel Clegg, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, and such others as I or they should agree with
(and no others), might lawfully make, use, exercise; and vend my said Inven-
tion within that part of Her Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland called England, Wales, and Berwick-upon-Tweed, in such manner as
to me, the said Samuel Clegg, or my executors, administrators, or assigns,.
should seem meet, and should have and enjoy the whole profit, benefit; com-
modity, and advantage arising from the said Invention during the term of
fourteen years from the date of the said Letters Patent; in which said Letters
Patent there is contained a proviso that I, the said Samuel Clegg, should,
within six calendar months from the date of the said Letters Patent, cause a
further description of the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, to be enrolled in 'Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery, as

page_text: in and by the same (reference being thereunto had) will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Samuel Clegg, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are described and ascer-
tained in manner herein-after set forth, and as represented in the Drawings
hereunto annexed:-
My improvements apply to that description of dry gas meters, and the
workings thereof, for which a Patent was granted me for England by His
late Majesty William the Fourth, the Twentieth day of October, One thousand
eight hundred and thirty, and are as follows:-
First, a more effective method of securing a correct ratio of temperature
between the two globes constituting the pulse glass.
Second, a method of bringing the meter into action with less delay after it
is lighted.
Third, a method of diminishing the quantity of gas necessary for working
the meter.
Fourth, a method of rendering the meter capable of measuring a greater
quantity of gas without increasing the globes of the pulse glass.
Fifth, a method of working the meter by connecting it with an apparatus
sometimes called a governor, for regulating the size and heat of any number
of gas flames, which is worked upon a principle entirely new.
The principle of this gas meter in the state of perfection to which I have
now brought it consists in the application of heat (produced either by the
flame of a gaslight or by any convenient means) to certain pipes or chambers
in which the gas circulates before it arrives at the interior of the meter,
which causes the meter to commence working very soon after it is lighted.
The gas thus heated flows through an aperture on to the lowest of two very
thin glass globes united by a bent tube and partly filled with alcohol or any
other fluid which evaporates at a low temperature (the remainder of their
capacity forming a vacuum). The tube which unites the globes forms with
them a balance which rests on an axis in such a manner as to be able
to oscillate freely, as herein-after described. A counterweight projecting
from the axis serves to keep the two globes in nearly a vertical position one
above the other. Another current of gas which is not heated blows upon the "
upper globe, which renders unequal the temperature of the two globes, and
thus causes the alcohol contained in the lower globe to rise into the upper,
and by thus rendering the upper one the heaviest causes the balance to turn
over and changes the position of the two globes. The lightest is thus brought
opposite the current of cold gas whilst the heavier is exposed to the current

page_text: of hot gas; this reproduces the effect already described, and by causing the
balance to turn back again, restores the globes to their former position; their
action is thus constantly kept up at a speed proportioned to the quantity of
gas that has blown upon them, provided a uniform difference of temperature
is always maintained between the two streams of gas. This difference of
temperature is established by means of the small flame before alluded to, and
is rendered uniform by the following arrangement:-A long tube or chimney
is fixed to the top of the heated chamber, and receives the saine heat from the
flame as the said chamber receives. This chimney expands by its heat, and.
elevates a lever which rests upon it. The fulcrum or fixed point of this lever.
is attached to a rod of the same length, and made of the same metal, as the
chimney; and to the inoveable end of the lever is suspended a regulating cone
for closing the aperture which admits gas to supply the small burner when
there is sufficient heat. If the heat should diminish the chimney will shorten
and, by allowing the lever to fall, increase the flame, and always maintain a
uniform difference of temperature between the rod which supports the fixed
point of the lever and the heated chamber. As this rod, as well as the current
of cold gas, receive no variation of temperature except from the atmosphere,.
their temperatures always correspond, therefore a uniform difference of tem-
perature is constantly maintained between the heated chamber (or, in other
words, the hot gas) and the cold.gas. A third current of gas passes the
meter without in any way acting on the globes, the object of which is to
render the meter capable of measuring a larger quantity of gas, and also to.
adjust its speed, as more fully explained hereafter. The number of oscillations
of the balance is registered on figured dials, by means of a train of wheel-
work, indicating thereon the quantity of gas that has passed the meter.
My improved meter and the workings thereof also consist in the addition of
an apparatus thereto for regulating or equalizing the quantity of gas supplied
to the burners of the consumer, so that they may not be materially affected by
any sudden changes of pressure in the main from which they are supplied.
This apparatus, which I call the governor, is similar in its construction and
action to the one already described for rendering uniform the temperature
between the hot and cold currents of gas, and is more clearly described in thie
Drawings annexed.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a horizontal plan of the improved meter. Fig. 2 is an elevation,
with one side removed to shew the interior. Fig. 3 is a vertical section. Fig. 4
is an elevation shewing the opposite side to Fig. 2. Fig. 5, the same view as
Fig. 2, with the side of the meter. complete. Fig. 6, a section of the heating
chamber, chimney, and thick metal pipe cut at right angles to Fig. 3. Fig. 7,
a section of the governor apart from the meter. A, A¹, two glass globes of
the balance. The glass tube d which unites them is bent, as shewn at Fig. 2.
Y, horizontal axis of the balance. The globes A, A', are firmly attached to
the axis in the following manner: -A tiu plate h is soldered to the axis Y;
on this plate is soldered a half pipe of tin B, which receives the tube d. A
second half pipe B surrounds the back part of the tube d, and. two rings
soldered to their extremities serve to unite the two half pipes B, B. The two
globes A, A', are thus kept at an equal distance from the axis Y, which turns
in bearings soldered to the sides of the chamber N, N, which contains the
balance A, A¹, d, Y, h. This chamber is made of tin, and closely soldered in
all its parts. b, a counterweight projecting from the plate h, and serving to
keep the globes. in nearly a vertical position. U, inlet pipe for the gas.
V, exit pipe leading to the burners. M, a valve for opening and shutting
the communication of the meter with the outlet pipe V. Z, Z, a pipe
having a governor or regulating cone C at its extremity, and surmounted
by a small pipe q. This last is pierced with two small burner holes for
the passage of the gas, which, being lighted, gives the requisite heat for
setting the meter in action. P, a pipe conducting the gas to a chamber I.
I, a chamber, made of any metal which is a quick conductor of heat,
to which the pipes P and W are joined. W, a thick metal pipe, also
of quick conducting power, terminating at the orifice w, through which
the gas passes after having been heated in the chamber I. This pipe is
enclosed in a case of paper, or any material which is a slow conductor of heat.
F, a solid metal conductor for transmitting heat to the lower part of the
chamber N, terminating in the form of a spoon, corresponding in its curve
with the lower globe, but which it does not touch. Q, a pipe for conducting
the cold gas. k, an aperture at which the cold gas blows upon the upper
globe; this aperture is about double the area of the aperture w. T, a vertical
chimney, fixed to the top of the chamber I, on the upper part of which
chimney the lever z rests at its point of impact J. The fulcrum of this lever
is attached to the rod f, and the moveable end to a wire which passes
through a stuffing box D, and suspends the valve M and the regulating
cone C. a, a small arm projecting from the plate h, and serving to transmit
the motion of this plate to the forked lever H. This lever moves on an axis

page_text: fixed to the side of the chamber N, and acts at its lower extremity on a
catch G, which gives motion to the ratchet wheel L. A second catch falls
into the small teeth of the wheel L, and prevents any retrogade movement.
A small spring, fixed to the plate h, strikes against the stops e, e, fixed to the
sides of the chamber N; this limits the distance the balance can move, and
keeps the globes A, A', in a proper position for the next oscillation, as seen
at Fig. 2 and 3. g, a pipe connecting the chambers 1, v, and containing a
regulating screw i, which opens or closes the end of the pipe by means of a
sliding valve to which this screw is attached; this I call the neutral pipe.
4, inlet chamber, connecting the pipe U with the pipes Q, P; and g, v, outlet
chambers through which the gas passes in its way to the burners. R, a small
box, divided into two compartments, which communicate with each other by
a valve E in the division. This valve is kept closely shut by a spring; the
compartment behind the valve is open to the meter, and to the other com-
partment the pipe O is attached. K, a governor for regulating the quantity
of gas supplied to the burners. 0, a small burner for heating the 'governor
chimney X. u, a pipe containing a stopcock to supply gas to the burner o.
m, a lever resting upon the chimney X at its point of impact n.
point of the lever is attached to the plate d', which forms one side of the case
which encloses the chimney X. To the other end of this lever a wire is
attached (passing through a stuffing box) to which the governor K is
suspended. When the governor is used separately from the meter, as shewn
in Fig. 7, this wire is attached to a second lever, which suspends the valve C
and the governor cone K. The end of this lever forms a pall or catch which
drops into the teeth of the wheel p', and disengages the wheel whenever the
lever is raised. The valve c is pierced with a small hole No. 2, to allow the
burner o to be lighted when the valve is shut.
The fixed
Operation. To put the meter in action, the valve E must be opened by
pressing the small brass stud S, which projects beyond the outer case; this
will allow the atmospheric air which may have accumulated in the meter to
escape at the pipe o, and the burner q can then be lighted, which heats the
chamber I and the gas contained therein, but no gas can pass the meter
before the valve M is opened. This is effected as follows:-The chimney T,
receiving the saine heat as the flame q, expands and raises the lever z, which
draws the wire and raises the valve M and the regulating cone C. This
governor closes the passage for the gas to the burner q, and checks the heat
of the chamber I and the chimney, when it sufficiently exceeds that of the
rod f. The valve M being opened, the gas passes through the pipes P, Q,
and
93 the current of gas passing up the pipe P, gets into the chamber I,

page_text: where it is heated, and then descends by the pipe W till it arrives at the
orifice w, there it escapes and blows upon the globe A³. The current of cold
gas which rises in the pipe Q blows through the opening k upon the globe A,
to cool and partially condense the vapour contained therein, and consequently
assists the alcohol to raise from the globe A' to A, until the latter becomes
heavy enough to turn over the balance. The position of the two globes is
thus reversed, and the currents of gas, acting in the same way again, cause the
balance to overturn and restore the two globes to their former position. These
alternate movements continue with a speed proportioned to the quantity of gas
which enters by the openings k and w.
The small stops e, e, prevent the
balance from assuming a completely vertical position, and by this means render
its action certain when the alcohol has risen into the upper globe; a third
current of gas passes by the pipe g into the chamber v. This current, which I
call neutral gas, passes the meter without blowing upon the globes, and the
object to be gained by it is to render the meter applicable to a large number
of lights, which is done by adjusting the clockwork to register the united
quantities of gas which have passed the chamber N and the pipe g. The
speed of the meter is regulated by increasing or diminishing the opening at
the end of the pipe 9 by means of the regulating screw i. The solid con-
ductor F transmits a certain quantity of heat from the chamber I to the lower
globe, which compensates for the beat transmitted to the upper part of the
chamber N and consequently to the upper globe. The alternate movements
of the balance are transmitted to the registering dials by means of an arm a
which acts on the forked lever H and sets in action the catch G which gives
motion to the wheel L, and thence in the method now in common use by a
train of wheelwork to bands on dials to register the quantity of gas that has
passed through the meter. If it is required to regulate or equalize the lights
to which the gas is being supplied, the burner o must be lighted; this can be
done by opening the stopcock in the pipe u, or, when the governor only is used,
by opening the main cock. The heater of this burner expands the chimney X,
opens the valve c, which raising closes the governor K as the heat of the
chimney increases, and opens it as the heat diminishes, thereby regulating the
size of the flame and the heat supplied by the burner v. As all the other lights
are acted on by the same causes, viz., increased by pressure in the main, or by
suddenly diminishing the number (which is, in fact, increasing the pressure
above the governor) they will be regulated or equalized by its action in the
same manner as the burner o. Where the governor only is employed, the
catch
P is raised by the elevation of the lever m and disengages the wheel p',
this liberates a spring which works a clock indicating the time that the

page_text: governor has remained in action and the lights burning. All meters con-
structed on this system are surmounted by a case of metal or any other
convenient material, as shewn by the dotted lines in all the Figures, the form
of which may be varied according to the taste of the manufacturer, having
apertures for the external air to circulate through it. That part of the
apparatus described as the governor, and shewn separately in Fig. 7, may be
used either combined with the other parts before described, or they may be
used separately at pleasure. In such places where the number of lights is
agreed upon, the governor alone will be an index of the quantity consumed,
the elevation of the lever may disengage a catch, as shewn at Fig. 7, and set
a spring clock or clockwork in action, indicating the time the catch. has been
disengaged and the lights burning, which catch will stop the clock by the
contraction of the chimney whenever the small flame is extinguished. The
description and Drawings hereto annexed represent a meter for five lights;
this meter can be made to measure gas for more than that number of lights
by opening the slide valve at the end of the neutral pipe g, by increasing the
size of the said pipe g, by increasing proportionately the size of the globes and
the dimensions of the other parts, and also by increasing the number of aper-
tures through which the, gas blows upon the globes.
Now that I have described my meter and the workings thereof for measur-
ing gas for five or a larger number of lights, and have furnished Drawings
giving an exact representation of it, I wish it to be clearly understood that
the arrangement and construction of its several parts may be greatly varied
and modified without deviating from the essential properties of my improve-
ments; but I claim exclusively the instrument or combination above described
(being an improvement of my patent dry meter) for measuring gas, and which
is composed as well of a balance formed of a pair of globular or other shaped
vessels united by a tube fitted, as before described, as of a new method of
submitting it to the action of jets of gas at different temperatures, the gas being
heated before it arrives at the vessel containing the balance by a flame of
gas or any other convenient means. I also lay claim to my method of capa-
citating the instrument to measure any increase of quantity by opening, from
the same source as supplies the vessel containing the said balance, a free
passage for the gas through an aperture or apertures, bearing an ascertained
ratio to an outlet aperture in the said vessel, and registering both currents at
the same time. I also lay claim to my new method of regulating or equaliz-
ing the size and heat of any gas flame by means of the expansion of metal
exposed to the heat of such flame, and of regulating the size and consumption
of any number of gas flames by the expansion of metal exposed to the heat

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twentieth day of October, in
the second year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said 'Samuel
Clegg came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknow-
ledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained
and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-fifth year of
the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.
Enrolled the Fifth day of December, One thousand eight hundred and
thirty-eight.