IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METER INDICES AND IN APPARATUS FOR TESTING THE AGREEMENT OF THE MEASURING CHAMBERS OF GAS METERS WITH THE STANDARD GAS HOLDER AND THE ACCURACY OF THE INDICES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Joslin, of Colchester, in the County of Essex, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METER INDICES AND IN APPARATUS
FOR TESTING THE AGREEMENT OF THE MEASURING CHAMBERS OF GAS METERS
WITH THE STANDARD GAS HOLDER AND THE ACCURACY OF THE INDICES."
Sealed the 30th July 1878, and dated the 9th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Joslin at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th February, 1878.
GEORGE JOSLIN, of Colchester, in the County of Essex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
GAS METER INDICES AND IN APPARATUS FOR TESTING THE AGREEMENT OF THE
MEASURING CHAMBERS OF GAS METERS WITH THE STANDARD GAS HOLDER AND THE
ACCURACY OF THE INDICES."
This Invention is based upon one for which Provisional Protection, dated October 1,
1877, was granted to me, and has for its objects in the first place the construction of
gas meter indices in such a manner that the consumer may ascertain the consumption.
of gas for any particular period, and set the hands on the dials at zero whenever he
pleases without interfering with the ordinary index attached to the meter; in the
second place for providing means for testing the agreement of the measuring
chambers of gas meters with the standard gas holder, and subsequently for testing
the accuracy of the registration of indices without necessitating the revolution or -
vibration of the measuring chambers of the meter, and in the third place for
the construction of apparatus for testing the accuracy of the registration of indices;
generally.
The Invention consists, firstly, in attaching a train of wheels with three or more
dials, which constitutes another index in connection with the ordinary index, but
partially independent of it; this addional index I call the "consumer's index." The
consumer's index is driven by the usual gas meter index, and is so arranged that by:
means of friction, or by means of a friction or slip wheel or wheels, and a key or
knobs, each pointer or hand may be turned separately or set upon its own spindle..
The consumer may therefore set the index to zero or to any other figure or:

page_text: position he desires, so as to show the consumption for any given time without
altering the position of the hands or registration of the index recognized by the gas
company or supplier of gas.
The Invention relates, secondly; in providing means for the attachment of the gas
meter index to the standard or testing index, and for disconnecting the action of
the measuring chambers from the index. This consists in so arranging the parts
that through an opening in the case of the meter, or by removing the glass, the
connecting shaft of the standard or testing index (which forms the subject of the
third part of this Invention, and which is subsequently described herein) may be
attached to the units dial or drum of the gas meter index and revolve with it.
Through the same opening a nut or screw on the spindle or shaft of the gas meter
index may be slackened, thereby allowing the dial or drum with one of the wheels
or worm attached to it to revolve independently of the shaft or spindle and
without actuating the measuring chambers, by tightening the same nut or screw,
the measuring chambers actuate the dial or drum and the index in the ordinary
manner.
The Invention in the third place consists in the construction of a standard or
testing index, which is driven by clockwork, by hand, or other suitable motive
power and has an extensible shaft or spindle which indicates one cubic foot for one
revolution. The said shaft has an universal joint and is made square or other shape
corresponding to the same in the units dial or drum of the gas meter index. Some
of the wheels that form the train of the index and the spindles or pinions of the
same have attached to them circular plates which revolve with them; each plate
having a notch or opening in its edge. The spindle of each wheel and pinion
passes through a front plate, upon which three, four, or more dials are drawn, und to
each spindle a pointer is attached corresponding to and opposite the notch or
opening before mentioned. Over the circular plates is a moveable bar provided
with pins or projections which drop into the notches or openings in the circular
plates as they revolve in succession, and when all the pins have dropped into their
corresponding notches or indents the apparatus will stop, and the hands on each of
the dials will point to zero.
The last movement of the bar will also cause the striking of a bell, thereby
announcing that the test is completed.
The manner in which the apparatus is used is as follows:-The standard or
"testing index" is arranged upon or fixed to a suitable support. The units dial or
drum of the gas meter index to be tested being fixed upon its shaft or spindle by
tightening the nut or screw upon the same, and the extensible connecting shaft of
the standard index being connected to it, testing may then be commenced with the
"standard gas holder" in the ordinary manner. If the movement of the hands of
the standard index agrees with the standard gasholder and with the units dial or
drum of the gas meter index, the test up to this point may be considered satis-
factory. To test the remainder of the train of the index it is necessary to slacken
the nut or screw on the shaft, the bar before referred to is then lifted, the hands are
set, and motion is imparted to the indices, when they will revolve together. If the
index tested proves to be correct it may be released from the standard index, the
wheel or worm being again firmly fixed on the shaft or spindle by tightening the
nut or screw. The opening in the case of the gas meter, or the glass in front of the
index, and the nut or screw on the spindle or shaft where the connection was made
between the standard index and the meter index, may then be soldered or sealed up:
by the tester.
If one revolution of the units drum or dial of the gas meter index about to be
tested indicates one cubic foot, which is shown on the units dial of the standard
index, the gas meter index is to be set at zero, and the standard index must be set
at a complete revolution of the gas meter index.. Motion is then given to the
standard index and as the motion is transferred to the index to be tested, they both
revolve together; or if one revolution of the units drum or dial of the gas meter:
indicates five cubic feet, or five times as much as the units dial on the standard

page_text: index, then the complete revolution of the gas meter index (say, 100,000) must be
divided by five, and the standard index set at the quotient (20,000) or one-fifth
of the complete revolution of the gas meter index. When the hands of the
standard index have reached zero the bar will fall, the bell will ring, and both
indices will stop. The two indices may then be compared, and if each of the hands
of the tested index points to zero the tester may be sure of the accuracy of the index
tested.
The standard index may be used as a whole as herein-before described, or it may
be divided so as to suit the testing of the measuring chambers alone.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Joslin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th August
1878.
GEORGE JOSLIN, of Colchester, in the County of Essex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
METER INDICES AND IN APPARATUS FOR TESTING THE AGREEMENT OF THE MEASURING
CHAMBERS OF GAS METERS WITH THE STANDARD GAS HOLDER AND THE ACCURACY OF
THE INDICES."
This Invention is based upon one for which Provisional Protection, dated
October 1, 1877, was granted to me, and has for its objects, in the first place, the
construction of gas meter indices in such a manner that the consumer may ascertain
the consumption of gas for any particular period, and set the hands on the dials at
zero whenever he pleases without interfering with the ordinary index attached to
the meter; in the second place, for providing means for testing the agreement of
the measuring chambers of gas meters with the standard gas holder, and subse-
quently for testing the accuracy of the registration of indices without necessitating
the revolution or vibration of the measuring chambers of the meter; and in the
third place, for the construction of apparatus for testing the accuracy of the
registration of indices generally.
The Invention consists, firstly, in attaching a train of wheels with three or more
dials, which constitutes another index in connection with the ordinary index, but
partially independent of it. This additional index, marked A, Fig. 1, I call the
"consumer's index." The consumer's index is driven by the usual gas meter
index B, Fig. 1, and is so arranged that by means of friction, or by means of a
friction or slip wheel or wheels, the hands of the consumer's index may be set in
any position without disturbing the ordinary index. This arrangement is shown
in Fig. 2. Here there are two toothed wheels C and D, each containing the same
number of teeth. One of the wheels C is geared into and is driven by a wheel of
the company's index B, the hand of which indicates one thousand feet for each
revolution. The other wheel D revolves with the spindle and at the same rate, and
drives a wheel of the consumer's index A, also indicating one thousand feet per
revolution, and having the same number of teeth as the wheel in the company's

page_text: index B that gives motion to the wheel C. When it is required to set the
consumer's index at zero the wheel D slips round on the spindle E by the friction
caused by the spring F. The knobs G which carry the pointers or hands H revolve
with their respective spindles, and are secured upon the same by a coiled or other
shaped spring. Two methods of attaching these knobs G and pointers H are shown
in Figs. 3 and 4, and as the knobs are shown in section the coiled or spiral spring
in each case can be distinctly seen. By these knobs therefore the hands or pointers
can be set at zero or in any other position without disturbing either train of wheels,
and the consumer can consequently ascertain the consumption for any given time
without altering the position of the hands or registration of the index B recognized
by the gas company or supplier of gas.
The Invention relates, secondly, in providing means for the attachment of the
gas meter index to the standard or testing index, and for disconnecting the action
of the measuring chambers from the index. This consists in so arranging the parts
of the gas meter index that through an opening I, Fig. 1, in the case of a wet meter,
or by removing the glass in a dry meter, as in Fig. 6, a nut J, Fig. 5, on the spindle
or shaft K. of the gas meter index may be slackened, thereby allowing the dial or
drum L, with one of the wheels or worm M attached to it, to revolve independently
of the shaft or spindle K, and without actuating it or the measuring chambers, to
allow the train of the index to be tested by the standard index, as hereafter to be
described. By tightening the same nut the measuring chambers will actuate the
dial or drum L and the rest of the index in the ordinary manner, thus providing
means for using the standard index or that portion of it illustrated in Figs. 11 and
12 and hereafter described, for the purpose of ascertaining the agreement of the
nieasuring chambers of the gas ineter with the standard gas holder.
The Invention, in the third place, consists in the construction of a standard or
testing index, shown in Figs. 11, 12, and 13. This index may be driven by hand,
by clockwork, or by other suitable motive power. It has an extensible shaft or
spindle N which revolves once for each cubic foot. The said shaft is furnished
with a universal joint P, Figs. 12 and 13, and the end Q is made square or other
shape corresponding to the same square or other shaped hollow in the units drum
or dial L of the gas meter index. For testing dry meters it is more convenient to
use the extensible connecting shaft horizontally, but for wet meters it may be found
preferable to use the shaft vertically, and in this case it is placed as at R, Fig. 11,
and is driven by a pair of bevil wheels S, S, each with the same number of teeth,
one being attached to the driving shaft N. By these means the standard index can
be retained in the same position when testing either wet or dry meters. If, how-
ever, it is preferred that the bevil wheels shall be dispensed with, then the standard
index may be turned on its side, and what was the horizontal shaft will now become
vertical, and may be used for the testing of wet meter indices.
Some of the wheels that form the train of the index have attached to them
circular plates T which revolve with them, each plate having a notch or indent U
in its edge. The spindle of each wheel and pinion passes through a front plate
upon which three, four, or more dials are drawn, and to each spindle a pointer or
hand V is attached, corresponding to and opposite the notch or opening before
mentioned. Over the circular. plates T is a moveable bar W provided with pins or
projections X which drop into the notches, indents, or openings U in the circular
plates in succession as they revolve. When all the pins have dropped into their
corresponding notches, and the bar W has fallen and stopped, the driving and
connecting shaft N of the standard index by the pin (shown in dotted lines) :
coming in contact with the short lever e on the driving shaft N, the hands on each
of the dials will point to zero. The last movement of the bar W will cause the
striking of a bell Y, thereby announcing that the test is completed. To effect this
striking the bar W has a slot Z in it, through which passes the hammer lever a.
The hammer lever has a projection at b, and as the bar falls it draws back the lever,
but as soon as it has passed the projection a spring c, shown in dotted lines in
Fig. 11, causes the hammer to jerk forward and strike the bell. A break d, which

page_text: presses against a short lever e fixed to the driving shaft, prevents the train of
wheels from starting in motion when the bar W is raised, and keeps them at rest.
until released by the hand of the attendant. In Fig. 13 the bar W is only partly
shown in full lines, the remainder being dotted, and the bell and hammer are
entirely removed..
Instead of using the standard index just described in its complete form that part.
of it shown in Fig. 12 may be used alone for testing the measuring chambers.
A sectional side elevation of this arrangement is shown in Fig. 12, where the'
driving shaft N of the standard index carries a pointer or hand O, Figs. 11 and 12,
fitted with a knob, as in Figs. 3 and 4, to point on a dial f, also shown in Figs. 11,
and 12. This dial is divided into one hundred parts, and has another small dial
sunk upon its face, the, smaller dial being divided into ten parts, each division
indicating the number of the revolutions of the shaft N. The small dial has a
pointer and slip knob, as shown either in Fig. 3 or 4.
;
The manner in which this part of the apparatus is used for testing the measuring
chambers is as follows:-That part of the standard or testing index shown in Fig. 12
is arranged upon or fixed to a suitable support. The units dial or drum L of the
gas meter index to be tested being fixed upon its shaft or spindle K by tightening.
the nut J and the extensible connecting shaft N of the standard index, Fig. 12,
being connected to it by the square or other shaped end Q through the opening I,.
Fig: 1, or to the front of the dial in Fig. 6, the testing may be commenced with
the standard gas holder. The movement of the dial or drum L is shown on the
dial of the standard index, Fig. 12, and indicates the per-centage of variation
between the measuring chambers of the gas meter and the standard gas holder.
1
If more than one revolution of the standard index is made the operator must
divide the total variation by the number of revolutions, and the quotient will be
the per-centage of variation. If however the movement of the hands of the standard
index agrees with the standard gas holder, and with the units dial L of the gas'
meter index, the test up to this point may be considered satisfactory..
To test the remainder of the train of the index with the standard index, Figs. 11.
and 13, it is necessary to slacken the nut J. on the shaft or spindle K and connect'
the extensible shaft N of the standard index to the units dial or drum L of the gas
imeter index. Then the pointers or hands V of the standard index may be set
to required position by a key placed on the square end of the shaft g, which
carries one of the pointers. The placing of the key on the shaft g moves the lever h
and bar l, which raises the bar W with the pins attached out of the notches U of
the circular plates T. The wheel i, Figs. 11 and 13, is allowed to revolve indepen-'
dently of the spindle by the friction of a spring j, and arranged similarly to D and F,
Fig. 2, thereby permitting the pointers to be set as desired.
Motion is now imparted to the standard index, and from it to the gas meter'
index, when they will revolve together. If the index tested proves to be correct it
may be released from the standard index, and the wheel or worm M, Figs. 5 and 9,
with the units drum or dial L attached, being again firmly fixed on the shaft or
spindle K by tightening the nut J.
The opening in the case of the meter, the glass in front of the index, and the
nut on the spindle or shaft, with a small piece of metal, shown in Fig. 8, introduced
into the squared or other shaped opening in the units dial or drum, where the con-
nection was made between the standard index and the gas meter index, may be
soldered or sealed up by the tester.
In using the standard index for testing indices the large dial and the small one
thereon are to be disregarded.
The end of the extensible shaft may be made square or of any other suitable
figure, so long as it corresponds and fits into or on to the units dial or drum L, with
the wheel or worm M attached.
Fig. 7 is a plan of the top of the units dial or drum L, showing the nut J on the
top of the shaft K.

page_text: Fig. 9 represents the horizontal shaft of a dry meter; and Fig. 10 is a plan of
the units drum with the wheel or pinion M attached.
In Fig. 13 m represents a pulley for the reception of motive power from any
suitable source.
Fig. 14 shows the square end of the extensible shaft, furnished with a spring so
as to secure it firmly in the opening of the units drun when testing the measuring
chambers.
If one revolution of the units drum or dial L of the gas meter index about to be
tested indicates one cubic foot the gas meter index is to be set at zero, and the
standard index must be set at a complete revolution of the gas meter index. Motion
is then given to the standard index, and as the motion is transferred to the index
to be tested they both revolve together. Or if one revolvtion of the units drum or
diál L of the gas meter indicates five cubic feet, then the complete revolution of the
gas meter index (say 100,000) must be divided by five, and the standard index set
at the quotient (20,000), or one-fifth of the complete revolution of the gas meter
index. The same rule applies to any other number of cubic feet indicated on the
units dial or drum. When the hands of the standard index have reached zero the
bar W will fall, the bell will ring, and both indices will stop. The two indices may
then be compared, and if each of the hands of the tested index points to zero the
tester may be sure of the accuracy of the index tested.
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, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details
or arrangements which I have described or referred to, as variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of this 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,―
Firstly. The construction of an additional index, herein-before called the con-
sumer's index, arranged and driven by the ordinary index, as herein-before
described, and shown on the Drawings.
Secondly. The construction of the units drum together with the shaft or spindle
and appliances thereto, by which it is worked (so as to admit of the connection of
the gas meter index with the standard index for the testing of the said gas meter
index, and to admit of the measuring chambers being tested independently of the
index), as herein-before described, and shown in the several Figures, but more
especially in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the Drawings attached hereto.
And, Thirdly. The construction of a standard index together with the appliances
for connecting it with the gas meter indices, as herein-before described, and shown
on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Joslin, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.