IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN MEASURING THE FLOW OF FLUIDS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Urquhart, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Government Inspector of Gas Meters, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN MEASURING THE
FLOW OF FLUIDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Urquhart at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1880.
JAMES URQUHART, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Government
Inspector of Gas Meters. "IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
IN MEASURING THE FLOW OF FLUIDS."
My Invention relates in the first place to gas meters of the class known as dry
meters. In such meters as constructed previous to my Invention the measurement
of the gas has been effected by means of chambers having flexible walls composed
of leather. This material is liable to changes and to comparatively rapid
deterioration, so that the "life," so to term it, of such a meter is usually short.
According to my Invention I employ thin sheet metal or alloy to form the
flexible portion of the chamber. Any suitable metal or alloy, may be employed,
but I now consider tinned copper of good quality rolled very thin to be the most
suitable. I form the flexible chamber by connecting together a number of sheets
of a rectangular, circular, or other suitable form in such a manner as to form a
bellows like chamber. In the construction of the form of bellows, which I consider
to be most suitable, I punch a hole in the centre of each plate, and I connect the
plates in pairs by soldering together the margins of the two holes. I then connect
together a suitable number of such pairs of plates by soldering the margins of a
plate in one pair to the margin of a plate in another pair. A rigid plate is applied
to one end or to each end of the series. The connections of the plates may bo
strengthened by means of frames of wire or sheet metal. The bellows so formed
may be connected with the supply passage in any suitable manner. I prefer to
employ a hollow screw, which is passed through an aperture in the outer end plate,
and connects the inner end plate with the inner partition of the meter, the said
aperture being afterwards closed by means of a removable cap or plate. This
connection is also applicable to dry gas meters of ordinary construction. employ
any suitable number of such flexible chambers in a meter. Any suitable arrange-
ment of valves and connecting parts is employed, but I prefer to connect the levers
with the rigid end plate by means of links. A second part of my Invention consists
in the employment of the flexible chamber formed of metal in the construction of
water meters, that is to say, of meters used in the measurement of liquids.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Urquhart in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th November
1880.
JAMES URQUHART, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Government
Inspector of Gas Meters. "IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
IN MEASURING THE FLOW OF FLUIDS."
My Invention relates in the first place to gas meters of the class known as dry
meters. In such meters as constructed previous to my Invention the measurement
of the gas has been effected by means of chambers having flexible walls composed
of leather. This material is liable to changes and to comparatively rapid
deterioration, so that the "life," so to term it, of such a meter is usually short.
According to my Invention I employ thin sheet metal or alloy to form the flexible
portion of the chamber. I form the flexible chamber by connecting together a
number of sheets of a rectangular, circular, or other suitable form in such a manner
as to form a bellows like chamber. The bellows so formed may be connected with
the supply passage in any suitable manner. I prefer to employ a hollow screw,
which is passed through an aperture in the outer end plate, and connects the inner
end plate with the inner partition of the meter, the said aperture being afterwards
closed by means of a removable cap or plate. This connection is also applicable to
dry gas meters of ordinary construction. I employ any suitable number of such
flexible chambers in a meter. A second part of my Invention consists in the
employment of the flexible chamber formed of metal, in the construction of water
meters used in the measurement of liquids.
In order that my Invention may be well understood I have attached hereunto a
Sheet of Drawings, to which I will refer in this place. In the said Drawings. Fig. 1
represents a front view, and Fig. 2 a side view of certain of the inner parts of a
gas meter constructed in accordance with my Invention. In the said Figs. A. and B
are two of my improved flexible measuring chambers. In Fig. 2 the chamber A is
represented in section and in the expanded state, the chamber B being represented
as when contracted. Each chamber is formed by connecting together a number of
annular shaped metal plates a, A. These plates are formed of suitably thin rolled
metal. At the present time I consider the alloy constituting the white metal at
present used in the construction of parts of gas meters to be suitable, -but any
suitable metal or alloy may be used for the purpose. The thin rolled plates are
cut into circular forms, and a hole is cut or formed in or near the centre of each
plate. These plates are then united in pairs by soldering the margins of the central
holes in two plates to interposed metal washers or rings b or by soldering the
said margins to each other. These pairs of plates are then connected together by
soldering the periphery of one plate in a pair to the periphery of another plate in
a pair, thereby forming the joints or seams c, c, c. To strengthen these connections
a ring of wire or metal is or may be introduced between the two plates, and be
united with the peripheries of the plates by means of solder. The outer plate a¹
is soldered to a stronger disc d of tin or sheet metal, which is connected by links
with the lever or "flag" e which is upon the rod or "flagstaff" f, which transmits
motion to the valves and registering apparatus in the usual or in a suitable manner.
This end disc is also provided with the ordinary guide arrangement g for ensuring
the parallel movement of the said disc. Any suitable arrangement may be
substituted for the parts e, f, and g. The other outer plate a² in the example is
connected with a similar flexible plate a³, which is secured to the front plate of the
conduit or gas passage i, but if preferred a rigid disc may take the place of the
plate a³. The said plate is secured to the conduit i by means of a screw coupling
which is separately represented by Fig. 3. The said coupling consists of two parts k

page_text: and . The part 7 is a tapped ring, which is soldered or attached to or formed on
the gas conduit i, and the part k is a hollow screw formed with a head or collar.
A central opening corresponding with the holes in the flexible plates is formed in
the end disc d, and a smaller hole to suit the diameter of the screw k is formed in
the plate a. The said screw is passed through the openings in the plates, and
is screwed into the part 1, whereby the bellows chamber is secured in position, the
hole in the screw forming a passage for the flow of gas. A cap or small disc m is
then soldered over the opening in the disc d so as to close the same. When it is
necessary to take the meter to pieces access can be had to the screw k by unsoldering
the cap m.
This arrangement is also applicable to other descriptions of "dry
gas-meters. The number of measuring chambers in a single meter may be varied,
and the flexible plates of which such chambers are principally composed may be
square or of any suitable form in place of being circular, and may or may not be
corrugated, and a greater or lesser number of such plates may be used in the
formation of a chamber or bellows than is indicated in the Drawings. When
carrying into effect the second part of my Invention in the construction of meters
for water or liquids I employ the flexible bellows shaped measuring chambers
formed of, or principally of, metal sheets or plates connected together, substantially
in the manner herein indicated.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which I carry the same into practical effect, I would have it to
be understood in conclusion that I claim,-
First. The flexible or expanding and contracting chambers formed of metal plates,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth and indicated hereinbefore and in
and by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The method of forming measuring chambers for fluid meters by
connecting together suitably flexible metal plates, substantially as set forth and
indicated.
And, Lastly. The method of securing the bellows or measuring chambers of gas
meters to the gas conduits or to a part of the moter frames or casings, substantially
as set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Urquhart, havo hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Signed, sealed, and delivered
in presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
41, John Dalton Street,
Manchester.
(Agent for the Patentee.)
JAMES URQUHART. (L.S.)