IMPROVE- MENTS IN GAB METERS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James John Shedlock, of 63, Cambridge Street,
Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GAB METERS."
Sealed the 6th April 1863, and dated the 11th October 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James John Shedlock
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th October 1862.
I, JAMES JOHN SHEDLOCK, of 63, Cambridge Street, Pimlico, in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in wet gas meters. In
order that a wet gas meter may be rendered the more sure and perfect in its
registration, I surround the drum or measuring wheel in ordinary use with an
annular float or air-tight vessel of sufficient capacity to displace a volumn of
water equal in weight to the immersed portion of the drum, so that by
possessing this buoyancy it can rise as the water rises, or fall as the water
decreases in the case, or more properly speaking, that the water always
maintains the same level in the drum or measuring wheel. The two ends of
the shaft or axis of the drum pass through and are guided by a rectangular
frame or double lever, which is supported and carried by two fixed pivots or
bearings forming the fulcrum. Upon one end of the lever or frame is secured
a curved gas holder, which is intended to neutralize the effect of the sudden

page_text: entree of gas at a high pressure into the drum or measuring wheel. Upon
the other end of the frame is attached a weight equal to the weight of the
curved gas holder, and which has for its object to balance the frame or lever.
By the rectangular frame or lever vibrating on the fixed points or pivots, the
drum or measuring wheel is constrained to form an arc in following the
variations of the water level. The frame is curved, so as to allow the spout
or supply pipe to pass into the drum. The gas entering the meter passes
through the inlet valve, which is attached to and acted upon by a small float
resting upon and governed by the water in the case, the gas then passes
through a second valve, which being suspended, is acted upon solely by the
position of the meter, thus if the meter be horizontal, the gas passes freely
through, but if inclined, the gas is immediately shut off until the meter be
replaced in its former horizontal position. The gas after passing the two
valves enters a chamber, into which the supply pipes to the drum or measuring
wheel and the curved gasholder are inserted. The shaft or axis of the drum or
measuring wheel is fitted with a worm, by which means motion is carried to
the index or registering apparatus through a long toothed pinion fixed to a
spindle placed at right angles with the shaft or axis of the drum; provision is
made in the long pinion attached to the index spindle for the arc described by
the worm attached to the axis of the drum by cutting the teeth of the pinion
of the same radius as that caused by the drum rising and falling, thus the
worm presses equally and directly on the teeth of the pinion; motion is thus
carried into the registering apparatus, which is of the ordinary kind, but I
substitute a transparent dial for that in ordinary use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed s
by the said James John Shedlock in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th April 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
JOHN SHEDLOCK, of 63, Cambridge Street, Pimlico, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
mė, the said James John Shedlock, Her special licence, that I, the said James
John Shedlock, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others

page_text: .
as I, the said James John Shedlock, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereaftor 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GAS METERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said James John Shedlock, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James John Shedlock, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in wet gas meters. In
order that a wet gas meter may be rendered the more sure and perfect in its
registration, I surround the drum or measuring wheel with an annular float or
air-tight vessel of sufficient capacity to displace a volume of water equal- in
weight to the drum, so that by possessing a buoyancy it can rise as the water
rises, or fall as the water decreases in the case, or more properly speaking,
that the water always maintains the same level in the drum or measuring
wheel. The two ends of the shaft or axis of the drum pass through and are
guided by a rectangular frame or double lever, which is supported and carried
by two fixed pivots or bearings forming the fulcrum. Upon one end of the
lever or frame is secured a curved gasholder, which is intended to neutralizo
the effect of the sudden entree of gas at a high pressure into the drum or
measuring wheel. Upon the other end of the frame is attached a weight
equal to the weight of the curved gasholder, and which has for its object to
balance the frame or lever. By the rectangular frame or lever vibrating on
the fixed points or pivots, the drum or measuring wheel is constrained to form
an arc in following the variations of the water level. The frame is curved so
as to allow the spout or supply pipe to pass into the drum. The gas entering
the meter passes through the inlet valve, which is attached to and acted upon
by a small float resting upon and governed by the water in the case, the gas
then passes through a second valve, which being suspended, is acted upon.
solely by the position of the meter, thus if the meter be horizontal, the gas:
passes
freely through, but if inclined, the gas is immediately shut off until the

page_text: meter be replaced in its former horizontal position. The gas after passing
the two valves enters a chamber, into which the supply pipes to the drum or
measuring wheel and the curved gasholder are inserted. The shaft or axis of
the drum or measuring wheel is fitted with a worm, by which means motion is
carried to the index or registering apparatus through a long toothed pinion fixed
to a spindle placed at right angles with the shaft or axis of the drum; provision
is made in the long pinion attached to the index spindle for the arc described
by the worm attached to the axis of the drum, by cutting the teeth of the
pinion of the same radius as that caused by the drum rising and falling, thus
the worm presses equally and directly on the teeth of the pinion. Motion is
thus carried into the registering apparatus, which is of the ordinary kind.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood, I will proceed
to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed. Similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts where such parts appear or can be seen at each
of the Figures respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation,
also partly in section, of a gas meter constructed according to my Invcution.
A is the drum or measuring wheel, upon the periphery of which is con-
structed the annular ring or air-tight vessel B. The shaft or axis C, C, of
the drum A pass through and are guided by the rectangular frame or double
lever D, D, upon one end of which is attached the curved gas holder F, and
on the other end the weight G or equipoise of the curved gas holder. E, E,
are the points or pivots upon which the frame D, D, vibrates. The meter is
charged with water at the plug Q, and passing down the pipe R, enters and
filling the case X buoys up the annular float B and the drum or measuring
wheel A. The highest water level S, S, is fixed and determined by the water
rising up the pipe 6, and overflowing at the opening 7 through the pipe 5 into
the waste water box L, from whence it is allowed to run off at the pipe T. The
float J begins to rise when the water arrives at the level W, W, carrying with
it the inlet valve I, to which it is attached by the wire Y, as shewn, passing.
through the float J. The gas enters at the inlet union 1, and passing down
the pipe 2 enters the valve box 3 (the passage of the gas is indicated by the
arrows), passing the valve I, into the valve box 4, and through the second
valve K, which being suspended is affected only by the position of the meter,
that is, should the meter be inclined to the back, the valve falls upon its seat.
and effectually preventing gas from passing until the meter be replaced in its
former horizontal position. The gas then passes down the pipe 5 into the,

page_text: waste water box L, thence passing up the pipe M to the curved gasholder F,
and up the pipe into the drum or measuring wheel A, through which the
gas passes measured to the outlet union U. The passage of the gas through
the drum A causing it to rotate, transmits motion to the index O, through the
worm N, which is fixed on the axis of the drum and the pinion P, to which is
attached the upright spindle V. The index O is acted upon by the spindle V
in the ordinary manner. The variation of the water level has no effect upon
the registration, as the drum or mensuring wheel A in following the water
maintains always the correct level in the interior of the drum. The water
falling to the level W, W, brings the float J down, thus closing the valve I,
and effectually preventing the passage of the gas through the meter.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and explained the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood I make no claim
to any one part; but what I claim and desire to be secured to me is,
Firstly, the combined arrangement of the drum or measuring wheel
surrounded by the annular ring or air-tight vessel with the rectangular frame
and curved gasholder.
'Secondly, the application of a separate float to regulate the inlet valve in
connection with a floating drum or measuring wheel.
Thirdly, the arrangement of the valves and valve boxes, and the method of
obtaining the required water level, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James John Shedlock, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
TAKER
JOHN SHEDLOCK
OCK. (L.B.)