IMPROVEMENTS IN DRY GAS METERS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Boulton, of 1, Coppice Row, Clerkenwell,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRY
GAS METERS."
Sealed the 19th December 1854, and dated the 26th September 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Boulton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th September 1854.
I, JOSEPH BOULTON, of 1, Coppice Row, Clerkenwell, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN DRY GAS METERS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of a peculiar combination of parts of a dry gas
meter. For this purpose the meter is divided into three compartments by a
vertical and horizontal partition. On either side of the vertical partition there
is a moving diaphragm, which consists of a plate of metal, by preference of a
rectangular shape, attached at one of its side edges by arms to an upright
axis; this metal plate is formed double at its edges, and such is the case
also with the frame, which is fixed or soldered to the vertical partition, thus
admitting of the edges of the leather or flexible material being closed or
shut between the double edges of the partition and frame. The inlet or supply
pipe or passage for the gas communicates with the two measuring chambers

page_text: (formed one on each side of the vertical partition) in such manner, that when
the supply of gas is passing into one of the measuring spaces or chambers, that
which has previously passed into the other measuring chamber is passing out
therefrom into a receiving chamber on the other side of the moving diaphragm;
and the gas so passed out, when the valve has moved far enough, passes out of
the receiving chamber into the upper or valve chamber, and thence to the
burners. The valve seat to each of the two measuring chambers has three
openings; one, into the measuring chamber; communicates with the supply;
the middle opening-communicates with the measuring and the receiving
chamber; and the third opening communicates between the receiving chamber
and the upper compartment of the meter. The slide or hollow valve is
capable of covering two of the openings in the valve seat, and is attached to a
lever, moving on an axis at one end; the other end is attached by a bent
connecting rod to a crank axis, and the proper adjustment of the valve is
obtained by bending the connecting rod. The axis of the crank has fixed
thereon a worm or screw, which gives motion to a worn wheel, and to the
train or recording apparatus, which is of the ordinary kind. Motion is com-
municated to the crank axis by connecting rods attached to arms fixed on the
upright axes of the diaphragms or moveable partitions, the two connecting
rods being attached by a pin joint to a nut which is on the screw fixed on the
crank axis. The leather or flexible material is made so that where it comes
near the vertical axis it is comparatively narrow, whilst that part which is at
the edge of the diaphragm, most distant from the vertical axis, is wider. The
connecting portion of the flexible material between these two upright parts
decreases in width as they come towards the upright axes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Boulton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th March 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
BOULTON, of 1, Coppice Row, Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the

page_text: said Joseph Boulton, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph Boulton, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Boulton, my executors, administrators, 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 DRY GAS
METERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph
Boulton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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 I, the said Joseph Boulton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say):-
This Invention consists of a peculiar combination of parts of a dry gas meter.
For this purpose the meter is divided into three compartments by a vertical
and horizontal partition. On either side of the vertical partition there is a
moving diaphragm, which consists of a plate of metal, by preference of a
rectangular shape, attached at one of its side edges by arms to an upright
axis; this metal plate is formed double at its edges, and such is the case also
with the frame which is fixed or soldered to the vertical partition, thus
admitting of the edges of the leather or flexible material being closed or shut
between the double edges of the partition and frame. The inlet or supply
pipe or passage for the gas communicates with the two measuring chambers
(formed one on each side of the vertical partition) in such manner, that when
the supply of gas is passing into one of the measuring spaces or chambers,
that which has previously passed into the other measuring chamber is passing
out therefrom into a receiving chamber on the other side of the moving
diaphragm; and the gas so passed out, when the valve has moved far enough,
passes out of the receiving chamber into the upper or valve chamber, and
thence to the burners. The valve seat to each of the two measuring chambers
has three openings; one, into the measuring chamber, communicates between
the receiving chamber and the upper compartment of the meter.
The slide or
hollow valve is capable of covering two of the openings in the valve seat, and
is attached to a lever, moving on an axis at one end; the other end is attached
by a bent connecting rod to a crank axis, and the proper adjustment of the.

page_text: valve is obtained by bending the connecting rod. The axis of the crank has
fixed thereon a worm or screw, which gives motion to a worm wheel, and to the
train or recording apparatus, which is of the ordinary kind. Motion is com-
municated to the crank axis by connecting rods attached to arms fixed on the
upright axes of the diaphragms or moveable partitions, the two connecting
rods being attached by a pin joint to a nut which is on the screw fixed on the
crank axis. The leather or flexible material is made so that where it comes
near the vertical axis it is comparatively narrow, whilst that part which is at
the edge of the diaphragm, mest distant from the vertical axis, is wider; the
connecting portion of the flexible material between these two upright parts
decreases in width as they come towards the upright axes.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe
the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews a plan with the top removed, Figure 2 a plan in section,
and Figure 3 a transverse section, of a dry gas meter constructed according to
my Invention; Figure 4 shews a side view of one of the moving diaphragms;
and Figure 5 shews the shapes of the leather or flexible material previous to
being connected to the partition and to the frame of one of the moving
diaphragms. The corner edges of these leathers are connected together by
sewing; the other edges are then turned over, and inserted into grooves formed
upon the edges of the plate of the diaphragm, and also of the frame which is
attached to the vertical partition; these double edges are then firmly closed
down upon the leather or flexible material, so as to make a perfectly tight
joint. By thus connecting the parts of the diaphragm together, no blocking of
the leather or flexible material is required. a is the vertical partition which
divides the meter longitudinally; b is a horizontal partition, which divides the
meter so as to form an upper compartment, in which are placed the valves and
apparatus for giving motion from the moving diaphragmns to the indicating
apparatus. c, d, are the moving diaphragms, one on each side of the vertical
partition; c, d, are vertical axes, which are connected by arms c, d, to the
moving diaphragms. The axes c', d', pass through stuffing boxes into the upper
compartment, and have lever arms c, d, fixed thereon, which are connected by
links c', d', to a crank pin e', carried by a screw nut on the arm e*, fixed on
the axis e, which is supported in bearings, as shewn. is another crank,
formed on the lower part of the axis e, which is connected by links or con-
necting rods f, g, to the covers or slides h, i, of the valve h', , the openings
of which (in the arrangement shown) communicate respectively the interior

page_text: and exterior of the moving diaphragms, and with the inlet passage or supply
pipe j, the centre opening being the inlet or supply, which is alternately
placed in communication with the side openings to conduct the gas alternately
to the interior and exterior of the measuring diaphragms, such side openings
being alternately open for the gas to pass into the upper compartment and
away to the burners by the outlet pipe k, which may, if desired, be made the
inlet pipe, and the pipe j the outlet, the gas passing through the meter in the
reverse direction to that described. The covers to the valves are connected to
levers h³,, moving on the fixed centre 1, by which the covers are caused to
move to and fro in the arc of a circle over the valve seats, no other guide
being required. m is a worm or screw on the axis e, which gives motion to the
worm wheel n on the axis o, which gives motion to the recording apparatus,
which is of the ordinary construction.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I make no claim to
any of the parts separately, and I am aware that dry gas meters have before
been constructed, each with two moveable diaphragms; I do not therefore
claim the making of dry gas meters with two moveable diaphragms; but what
I claim is, the arrangement of the valves and parts connected therewith for
giving motion thereto, and also the forming the flexible diaphragms as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Boulton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
5
Witness,
HENRY WILLIAM CARPMAEL.
JOSEPH BOULTON. (L.S.)