IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Small Cathels, and Samuel Splatt, both of
Dover, in the County of Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GAS METERS."
Sealed the 27th March 1860, and dated the 28th September 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Small Cathels
and Samuel Splatt at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 28th September 1859.
We, EDMUND SMALL CATHELS and SAMUEL SPLATT, both of Dover, in the,
County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS," to be as follows (that is to say):
Our Invention having reference to an improved construction of gas meter of
the kind called compensating gas meters, whereby greater accuracy than
hitherto in the action of the same is secured by preventing the overfilling of
or loss of water from the measuring chamber, consists, firstly, in converting the
front of the meter into a supply tank or cistern, from which the measuring
portion of the meter is fed or supplied with water by the employment of a scoop
actuated below the water level by an eccentric and elongated cam action and
counterbalance weight, the top of the overflow pipe being placed slightly
below the top of the division plate to prevent the overfilling of the measuring

page_text: chamber and the pipe for supplying water to the meter dipping down behind the
said plate, so that the water may be first admitted to the proper water level in the
measuring chamber and then caused to flow into the supply cistern, the size of
which is considerably increased by placing the vertical shaft which drives the
registering machinery further back than usual, and causing the horizontal
toothed wheel at the lower portion to project through the plate between the
drum and front chamber, the said vertical shaft and horizontal toothed wheel,
together with the L or inlet pipe being the only portions boxed in, in lieu of
the partition extending across the whole breadth of the meter as heretofore,
thus leaving the entire remaining portion of the front of the meter available for
the supply water cistern or tank.
Secondly, in causing the inlet valve to remain open until the whole of the
water has been lifted, as above described, from the supply tank, and to close
whenever the cistern is empty; this we effect by so adjusting the length of the
float spindle that the float falls below the level of the bottom of the spare
water cistern, and closes the inlet valve as soon as the cistern is empty, a corner
of the waste water box (which is placed below the cistern) being partitioned off
for that purpose, and communicating with and forming part of the supply
cistern or tank.
And, thirdly, in cutting off the supply of gas to the drum on the tilting of the
meter, which is effected. by placing over the top of the inlet pipe (through
which the gas passes to get into the drum) a conical valve or hood, the base of
which is cut obliquely in such manner, that when the meter is tilted forward
the base of the cone becomes parallel and on a level with the water, so as to
form a seal and prevent the ingress of the gas.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edmund' Small Cathels and Samuel Splatt in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 28th March 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, EDMUND
SMALL CATHELS and SAMUEL SPLATT, both of Dover, in the County of Kent,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said Edmund Small Cathels and Samuel Splatt, Her special

page_text: licence that we, the said Edmund Small Cathels and Samuel Splatt,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Edmund Small Cathels and Samuel Splatt, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said Edmund Small Cathels and Samuel Splatt, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their, or
of one of our or 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 immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Edmund Small Cathels and
Samuel Splatt, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement and the Drawings
therein referred to (that is to say):—
Our Invention has reference to improvements in gas meters known as
compensating meters, by which greater accuracy in the measurement of the
gas than hitherto is effected by preventing the overfilling of or loss of water
by evaporation or otherwise from the measuring chamber, and thus main-
taining the same at an uniform height or level, and consists, firstly, in a mode
of actuating the scoop through the medium of an eccentric and elongated cam
action placed below the water level.
Secondly, in an improved arrangement of the float for regulating the inlet
valve by which the same is kept or maintained open until the whole of the
water has been removed or lifted by the scoop from the supply tank, and closed
upon the water being withdrawn therefrom, the gas being thus admitted only.
whilst the correct water line in the measuring chamber is maintained; this is
effected by the length of the float spindle being so adjusted that the float
may be enabled to fall below the level of the bottom of the supply tank.
And, thirdly, in the employment of a conical hood or valve with an oblique
base placed over the top of the L or inlet pipe for the purpose of preventing
the supply of gas being obtained in case of the meter being tilted forwards.
And in order that our said Invention may be more fully understood and
readily carried into effect, we now proceed to describe it by the aid of the

page_text: accompanying Drawings, reference being had to the letters and figures thereon
marked (that is to say):
Fig. 1 represents a vertical front view of a cast-iron cased meter with our
improvements attached, showing the face plate removed; Fig. 2, a top or plan.
view thereof; Fig. 3, a front elevation showing the application of our improve-
ments to a tin cased meter; and Figs. 4 and 5, enlarged detailed' front and:
edge views of the eccentric and cam scoop action. In each Figure the same
letters of reference denote similar corresponding parts.
A, A, the case or body of the meter containing the working parts; B, B,
supply tank or cistern; C, C, tank or vessel communicating with the drum or
measuring chamber of the meter; D, D, waste water box; E, E, scoop
dipping into the supply tank for maintaining the supply of water in the tank C;
F, F, flat-faced cam secured to the scoop upon which the same works with
an alternating motion; G, G, eccentric; H, H, drum spindle upon which the
same is keyed; I, I, counterbalance weight to scoop; J, J, supply tank over-
flow pipe for preventing the overfilling of the measuring chamber, and serving
as a vent to the meter whilst being supplied with water; K, K, inlet valve;"
L, L, valve spindle; M, M, bearings for the same; N, N, the float; 0, 0,-
recess into which the same works; P, P, L or inlet pipe; Q, Q, oblique coni-
cal hood or valve fixed over the top of same; R, R, waste box overflowpipe
bent so as to form a seal to prevent the escape of gas at plug hole S, S; T
and T, toothed wheel and pinion for giving motion to the dial hands or indi-
cators U, U, through the intervention of the works; V, V, supply water pipe.
In conclusion to the foregoing description, it may be here necessary to note
that the water is first caused to enter the drum or measuring chamber and
tank C, and thence the supply tank or cistern, and finally conducted through.
the overflow pipe J, into the waste water box below, from which the plug
should be removed as usual, or otherwise the meter on being overcharged will
cause the L pipe to become choked and stop the supply of gas; the tank or
vessel c is also so proportioned as to contain only the vertical shaft wheel
and pinion, in lieu of extending across the whole breadth of the meter as
heretofore, whilst the space thus obtained is employed in extending the size of
the supply reservoir; and we would further note that by the employment of
the cone or valve Q, Q, the supply of gas is checked or prevented on the
tilting. of the meter, by the surface of the water being brought against or
impinging upon the oblique edges of the said cone.
Having now, described the nature of this our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, we would have it clearly under-
stood that we do not claim as of our Invention, the exclusive use of the

page_text: several parts herein-before described, except when the same are employed in
and for the purposes of our said Invention, which we hereby declare to
consist,
Firstly, in the employment of the cam, eccentric, and counterbalance weight
for actuating the scoop, as herein-described.
Secondly, the arrangement of the float in connection with the mode of
checking or cutting off the supply of gas.
And, thirdly, in the form and disposition of the hood or valve in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Edmund Small Cathels and Samuel
Splatt, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-sixth day of
March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty.
EDMUND SMALL CATHELS. (Ls.)
SAMUEL SPLATT.
(L.S.)