Improvements in Proportional Meters.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 11th May, 1892-Accepted, 25th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Proportional Meters.
I, FRED ELLIOTT YOUNGS of 296 Pennsylvania Avenue, in the City of
Allegheny, County of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to improvements in proportional meters and it consists in
the construction and arrangement of parts which will be fully specified hereinafter.
One object of my invention is to provide a proportional meter which will
accurately maintain the ratio between the measured and unmeasured portions of the
gas or fluid without regard to changes of pressure or changes of volume, or amount
of flow, of course within the limits of the capacity of the meter, and which will
absorb but a very small amount of the flowing pressure of the gas or fluid.
Another object of my invention is to provide a proportional meter in which the
loss of pressure of the gas or fluid in passing through the meter is constant without
regard to changes of volume, and to insure accuracy of the proportional measure-
ments without regard to friction in the tally meter.
According to one construction the meter comprises a suitable enclosing case of
any desired form, shape or construction and within which are two chambers viz. an
inlet chamber and an outlet chamber. The gas or fluid enters the inlet chamber
and bears upward against the underside of a weighted diaphragm which forms a
portion of the partition between the inlet and outlet chambers. This weighted
diaphragm acts by the lifting pressure of the gas in the inlet chamber to open two
proportional valves, so as to allow a portion of the gas from the inlet chamber to
pass into the outlet chamber at the same time that another portion of the pressure
of the gas is allowed to pass from the inlet chamber into a feeding chamber. The
pressure of the gas in the inlet chamber acting upon the lower side of the weighted
diaphragm has a tendency to raise the diaphragm, and open the said proportional
valves.
This upward motion is counteracted or balanced by both the pressure of the gas
in the outlet chamber and the weighted diaphragm, the result being a constant
difference of fall in pressure between the inlet and outlet chambers.
At the same time that the lifting motion of the weighted diaphragm controls the
passage of the gas from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber, it also controls
the passage of the gas from the inlet chamber to the feeding chamber. Where the
pressure of the gas accumulates to such an extent as to raise another weighted
diaphragm, and thus operate a third valve so as to allow gas to pass from the
feeding chamber into the tally meter, the weight on diaphragm is so adjusted that
the pressure in the feeding chamber is constantly kept higher than the pressure
in the outlet chamber. In other words, the fall or drop in pressure of the gas in
flowing from the inlet chamber to the feeding chamber, through one of the pro-
portional valves, is less than the fall or drop in pressure of gas in flowing from the
inlet chamber to the outlet chamber.
The portion of the gas to be measured flows from the feeding chamber through
the third valve and tally meter to the outlet chamber where it mingles with the
unmeasured portion of the gas. By thus adjusting the weight of the diaphragm so
as to cause a less fall of pressure in flowing from the inlet chamber through the
small opening of one of the proportional valves than there is in flowing from the
inlet chamber through the large opening of the proportional valve into the outlet
chamber, the area of the small opening of the proportional valve may be made

page_text: larger than it could be in case the fall in pressure through the two openings of
proportional valve was the same.
те
In constructing proportional meters, it is found difficult to maintain accurately the
ratio between the flow of the gas through the two openings of the proportional
valves, especially when the total flow through the meter is small. The area then of
the small opening of the proportional valve is so small that a very minute error in
the shape of this opening has a very large effect on the ratio of the measured
portion of the gas to the unmeasured portion of the gas.
By the construction described, the small opening of the valve may be made
considerably larger, so that any ordinary error in shaping the valve will have a
correspondingly less effect on the ratio of the gas passing through the two openings
of the valve.
In another arrangement the casing of the meter which can be of any desired
shape, size or construction, as preferred, is connected to the tally meter at points I
will call C and D. The gas enters at an inlet I will call E and fills the entire lower
portion of the casing around the chamber I will call F and while a portion of this
gas passes through the tally meter into said chamber, the other portion passes up
under the weighted diaphragm and through a valve port which is placed in the
partition, the area of which is controlled by a valve. The weight placed on the
diaphragm is proportioned to the area of the diaphragm so as to cause the pressure
in one chamber (I will call L) to be less than in the other (I will call N) by a certain
definite amount. This difference of pressure between the two chambers is regulated
by a valve lever which is connected to the weight at one end by a link, and to a
standard at the other. To this lever between the said link and the standard are
connected two valve rods to which valves are secured, and these valves control the
two openings through the partition.
I do not limit myself to the precise construction referred to, because the
arrangement of parts may be varied indefinitely without departing from the spirit
of my invention.
The chamber F is formed inside of the casing and may be of any suitable shape.
The greater portion of the bottom of this chamber is formed by the lower weighted
diaphragm to which the valve lever is connected. The valve which is secured to
this lever regulates the flow of the gas from the tally meter into the chamber F.
The pressure of the gas in the chamber N against the underside of the weighted
diaphragm serves to operate the lever so that the valve will only allow the gas
passing from the tally meter to enter the chamber F with a certain regulated
degree of pressure, and the pressure in this chamber is a certain regulated amount
less than the pressure in the chamber N without regard to the volume of the gas
passing through the meter.
The weights of the diaphragm are so proportioned that the differences in pressure
between the chambers N and L is always a certain amount greater than the
difference in pressure between the chamber N and chamber F.
This permits of making the opening in the partition controlled by the valve
larger than it would be made if the fall in pressure were as great from the
chamber F to the chamber L, as it is from the chamber N to the chamber L. To
illustrate, if the fall in pressure from the chamber N to the chamber I be made
four times as great as the fall in pressure from the chamber F to the chamber L,
the size of the opening may be given twice the area it would have if the fall in
pressure was the same and still maintain the same ratio of flow through the
openings. The gas in passing from the chamber N through the tally meter and
valve into the chamber F always loses a certain definite amount of its pressure no
matter how much pressure is absorbed by the tally meter, so long as the pressure
absorbed by the tally meter is less than the fixed difference in pressure between the
chamber N and chamber F.
In one construction, the form of the valve is made such that in all positions of
the stroke of the valve or lever, the ratio of the area exposed in one valve to that
of the area exposed in the other valve always remains the same, and the flow of the

page_text: gas in passing through one of the openings will always bear the same ratio to the
flow of gas in passing through the other opening, no matter in what position
the valve may be placed.
Instead of the valve mechanism above referred to, there may be used an L-shaped
lever connected to the link of the weighted diaphragm; to the upper end of said
lever being connected the operating rod to which the proportional valve is secured.
Instead of the lever and valve described above, there is connected directly to the
diaphragm a valve rod controlling the balance valve. This valve controls the
passage of the gas into the chamber F.
Instead of the lower diaphragm being placed horizontally, it may be placed
vertically and be weighted by a weight fastened by means of a cord wire or chain
to the rod of the balance valve. The cord wire or chain passes over a pulley placed
in the chamber F, and by exerting its pressure endwise against the rod serves to
weight the diaphragm and cause it to act. The operation of the gas upon the
diaphragm and all of the parts, the fall in the pressure of the gas in passing from
one of the chambers to the other is the same in all the arrangements, and the
changes may be varied indefinitely without departing from the spirit of my
invention.
.
$11000
F. E. YOUNGS,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Proportional Meters.
I, FRED ELLIOTT YOUNGS of 296 Pennsylvania Avenue, in the City of
Allegheny, County of Allegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in proportional meters and it consists in
the construction and arrangement of parts which will be fully specified hereinafter
and particularly pointed out in the claims.
One object of my invention is to provide a proportional meter which will
accurately maintain the ratio between the measured and unmeasured portions of
the gas or fluid without regard to changes of pressure or changes of volume, or
amount of flow, of course within the limits of the capacity of the meter, and
which will absorb but a very small amount of the flowing pressure of the gas
or fluid.
Another object of my invention is to provide a proportional meter in which the
loss of pressure of the gas or fluid in passing through the meter is constant without
regard to changes of volume, and to insure accuracy of the proportional measurements
without regard to friction in the tally meter.
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of a meter which embodies my invention.
Figs. 2, 3, and 4 show modifications thereof.
Referring to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing, A represents a suitable
enclosing case of any desired form, shape or construction that may be desired.
The gas or fluid enters at the inlet chamber C and bears upward against the under
side of the weighted diaphragm D, which forms a portion of the partition between
the inlet chamber C and the outlet chamber E. This weighted diaphragm acts by
the lifting pressure of the gas in the chamber C to open the proportional valves F
and G, so as to allow a portion of the gas from the chamber C to pass into the
outlet chamber E at the same time that another portion of the pressure of the gas
is allowed to pass from the chamber C, into the feeding chamber H. The pressure
of the gas in the chamber C, acting upon the lower sides of the weighted

page_text: tagii 1º, has a tendency to raise the diaphragm and open the proportional
valves and G.
This upward motion is counteracted or balanced by both the pressure of the gas
in the chamber E and the weighted diaphragm D, the result being a constant
difference of fall in pressure between the chambers C and E.
At the same time that the lifting motion of the weighted diaphragm D controls
the passage of the gas from the inlet chamber C to the outlet chamber E, it also
controls the passage of the gas from the chamber C to the feeding chamber H.
Where the pressure of the gas accumulates to such an extent as to raise the weighted
diaphragm I, and thus operate the valve J so as to allow gas to pass from the
chamber H into the tally meter L, the weight on diaphragm is so adjusted that
the pressure in the chamber H is constantly kept higher than the pressure in the
chamber E. In other words, the fall or drop in pressure of the gas in flowing
from the chamber C into the chamber H, through the valve F, is less than
the fall or drop in pressure of gas in flowing from the chamber C into the
chamber E.
The portion of the gas to be measured flows from the chamber H through the
valve J and tally meter L to the outlet chamber E where it mingles with the
unmeasured portion of the gas. By thus adjusting the weight of the diaphragm
so as to cause a less fall of pressure in flowing from the inlet chamber C through
the small opening F of the proportional valve than there is in flowing from the
inlet chamber through the large opening of the proportional valve into the
chamber E, the area of the small opening of the proportional valve may be made
larger than it could be in case the fall in pressure through the two openings of the
proportional valve was the same.
In constructing proportional meters, it is found difficult to maintain accurately
the ratio between the flow of the gas through the two openings of the proportional
valves, especially when the total flow through the meter is small. The area then
of the small opening of the proportional valve is so small that a very minute error
in the shape of this opening has a very large effect on the ratio of the measured
portion of the gas to the unmeasured portion of the gas.
By this construction, the small opening of the valve may be made considerably
larger, so that any ordinary error in shaping the valve will have a correspondingly
less effect on the ratio of the gas passing through the two openings of the valve.
Referring now to Fig. 2, A represents the casing of the meter which can be of
any desired shape, size or construction, which may be preferred, and B the tally
meter which is connected thereto at the points C and D. The gas enters at the
inlet E and fills the entire lower portion of the casing around the chamber F, and
while a portion of this gas passes through the tally meter B into the chamber F,
the other portion passes up under the weighted diaphragm C and through the valve
port H which is placed in the partition I, the area of which is controlled by the
valve J. The weight placed on the diaphragm G is proportioned to the area of
the diaphragm so as to cause the pressure in the chamber L to be less than in the
one N by a certain definite amount. This difference of pressure between the two
chambers is regulated by the valve lever P which is connected to the weight at
one end by the link O, and to the standard Q at the other. To this lever between
the link and the standard Q are connected the two valve rods R to which the
valves J and S are secured, and these valves control the openings H and T through
the partition I.
I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein shown, because this
arrangement of parts may be varied indefinitely without departing from the spirit
of my invention.
The chamber F is formed inside of the casing A, and may be either of the shape
here shown or any other that may be preferred. The greater portion of the bottom
of this chamber is formed by the lower weighted diaphragm U to which the valve
lever is connected. The valve W which is secured to this lever regulates the
flow of the gas from the tally meter D into the chamber F.. The pressure of the

page_text: gas in the chamber N against the under side of the weighted diaphragm U serves
to operate the lever V so that the valve W will only allow the gas passing from the
tally meter to enter the chamber F with a certain regulated degree of pressure, and
the pressure in the chamber F is a certain regulated amount less than the pressure
in the chamber N without regard to the volume of the gas passing through the
meter.
The weights of the diaphragm U are so proportioned that the differences in
pressure between the chambers N and L is always a certain amount greater than
the difference in pressure between the chamber N and chamber F.
This permits of making the opening T in the partition I controlled by the valve
larger than it would be made if the fall in pressure were as great from the
chamber F to the chamber L, as it is from the chamber N to the chamber L. To
illustrate, if the fall in pressure from the chamber N to the chamber L be made
four times as great as the fall in pressure from the chamber F to the chamber L,
the size of the opening T may be given twice the area it would have if the fall in
pressure was the same and still maintain the same ratio of flow through the
openings T and H. The gas in passing from the chamber N through the tally
meter and valve W into the chamber F always loses a certain definite amount of its
pressure no matter how much pressure is absorbed by the tally meter, so long as the
pressure absorbed by the tally meter is less than the fixed difference in pressure
between the chamber N and chamber F.
Referring now to Fig. 3, another form of proportional meter is shown, and which
is operated by the diaphragm G. I do not limit myself to any particular form of
valve mechanism, because this can be varied at will without departing from the
spirit of my invention.
In the construction shown in Figure 2, the form of the valve is made such that in
all positions of the stroke of the valve or lever, the ratio of the area exposed in the
valve T to that of the area exposed in the valve J always remains the same, and the
flow of the gas in passing through one of the openings will always bear the same
ratio to the flow of gas in passing through the other opening, no matter in what
position the valve may be placed.
In Figures 3 and 4 instead of the valve mechanism shown in Figure 2, there is
an L-shaped lever A' connected to the link O of the weighted diaphragm G and to
the upper end of the lever A' is connected the operating rod B' to which the
proportional valve is secured. Instead of the lever V and valve W shown in
Figure 2, there is connected directly to the diaphragm U a valve rod C' controlling
the balance valve D¹. This valve D' controls the passage of the gas from the tube
or chamber F1 into the chamber F.
In Figure 4 the valve mechanism is shown as in Figure 3, connected to the upper
diaphragm G. Instead of the lower diaphragm U being placed horizontally, it is
here placed vertically and is weighted by means of a weight G₁ fastened by means
of a cord wire or chain I to the rod C¹ of the balance valve D¹. The cord wire or
chain passes over a pulley J' placed in the chamber F as shown, and by exerting its
pressure endwise against the rod C₁ serves to weight the diaphragm and cause it to
act exactly as shown in Figure 1. The operation of the gas upon the diaphragm
and all of the parts, the fall in the pressure of the gas in passing from one of the
chambers to the other is the same in all the figures of the drawing, and the changes
may be varied indefinitely without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a proportional meter the combination of an inlet chamber, an outlet
chamber, a meter feeding chamber through which a portion of the gas passes to a
tally meter to be measured, proportional valves, and a weighted diaphragm which
operates them, a valve for controlling the flow from the feeding chamber to the tally

page_text: meter, and a weighted diaphragm which operates it, substantially as shown and
described.
2. In a proportional meter, the combination of an inlet chamber, an outlet
chamber, proportional valves, a weighted diaphragm placed between the inlet and
outlet chambers which operates the proportional valves, a meter feeding chamber,
a tally meter, a valve placed between the meter feeding chamber and the tally
meter, and a weighted diaphragm placed between the meter feeding chamber and
the outlet chamber for operating it, all combined to operate in the manner sub-
stantially as specified.
3. In a proportional meter, the combination of an inlet chamber, an outlet
chamber, a meter delivery chamber, a tally meter, a weighted diaphragm U placed
between the inlet chamber and the meter delivery chamber, a valve placed between
the tally meter and meter delivery chamber and operated by the weighted
diaphragm U, in such a manner as to cause a constant fall or difference of pressure
between inlet chamber and meter delivery chamber, a weighted diaphragm G,
placed between the inlet chamber and outlet chamber, a proportional valve, one
opening of which is placed between the inlet chamber and outlet chamber, and the
other opening placed between the meter delivery chamber and the outlet chamber
and operated by the weighted diaphragm G in such a manner as to cause a constant
difference or fall of pressure between the inlet and outlet chambers, and between
the meter delivery and outlet chambers, substantially as described.
F. E. YOUNGS,
By L. W., per F. B.