Year: 1887

page_text: 1, HARROLD JESSIE BELL, residing at Lincoln in the County of Lancaster and
State of Nebraska, one of the United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
:-
Heretofore gas meters have been employed consisting of a main casing divided into
two or more compartments in one of which the diaphragms or operating parts are located
and in the other the valve mechanism and in some instances the registering mechanism
also, the gas to be measured being admitted to the last mentioned chainber from the
main and exhausted after passing through the valves, measuring devices, etc., into the
chamber containing the diaphragm or equivalent devices against which the gas operates
to communicate motion to the registering devices. All said meters, are however, open
to several objections, the principal one being that the partition between the chambers
is liable to be corroded by the ammonia or other substance carried in with the gas and
to leak, thus permitting the passage of gas to the consumer from one chamber to the
other without being measured. Another and very serious one, is that the shafts and
rods passing through the partition must be packed in order to prevent leakage which
packing very materially increases the friction and the consequent retarding of the
action of the meter, causing the supply of gas to be lessened and the meter to operate
in a very unsatisfactory manner.
There are many other objections to this form of meter, among which may be
mentioned the inaccessibility of the operating parts to permit of adjustment or repair
when necessary or desirable, as in all of them it is required; in order to permit this,
that a portion at least of the main casing be removed, thus practically destroying the
meter.
It is the object of my present invention however to obviate all the objections pointed
out above and others found in practice to exist in meters of this class, and it consists
generally in locating all the operating parts of the meter within a chamber into which
gas is admitted from the main so that no packing will be required, tending to in any
way retard the action of the mechanism.
It further consists in certain novel arrangements of parts whereby the operations

page_text: Fig. 5, is a sectional view on the line, -, of fig. 3.
Fig. 6, a bottom plan view showing the arrangements of supply and exhaust
channels.
Fig. 7, a detail perspective view of the main shaft and the adjustable crank pin
mounted thereon and showing also the tripping device for preventing the backward
movement of the meter.
Figs. 8, to, 13, inclusive are detail views showing the manner of connecting the
diaphragm holding frames with the diaphragm.
Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.
A, represents the metallic main casing of the meter constructed preferably of
circular form as shown, though if desired, square or other shaped casings may be
employed as will be readily understood, and it is provided with the top, A¹, and the
bottom, A2, the latter being secured slightly above the lower end of the side portions
of the casing so as to accommodate the inlet and exhaust passages communicating
with the various diaphragm chambers and with the valve ports of the valves, though
if desired these passages can be placed above the bottom and inside the casing
proper.
On opposite sides of the chamber, B, within this casing are diaphragms, B¹, B², B³, B¹,
preferably of leather secured at their edges in frames, C,. constructed as shown in
figures, 8, to, 13, inclusive as described specifically hereinafter, which frames are
secured to the sides of the casing, A., at their edges by means of solder or other
suitable fastening means if desired, and it will be noted in passing that the edges of
these frames are rounded so that the leather will not be bent over a sharp corner of
metal when the diaphragins are moved backwards and forwards.
The four diaphragms being slightly less in length than the diameter of the casing
when they are secured in place there will be formed four chambers, C¹, C², C³, C₁,
between each diaphragm and the casing behind it, closed at the top by a projecting
flange, c, to which frames, C, are secured as shown in figures, 1, and, 3, and at the
lower side by the bottom, A2, of the main casing. Each of the chambers thus formed
it will be noted is deeper at the centre than near the odgos thus permitting of the
maximum movements of the diaphragm in and out without having any waste space
to be filled with "dead" gas and providing for the nearly complete exhaustion of the
gas in the chambers when the diaphragms are moved therein.
On either side of the centre of each of the diaphragms are secured metal
plates, C, C, having their edges turned as shown to prevent sharp corners coming
in contact with the material of the diaphragm and wearing or tearing it, and to the
outer one of each pair of these plates is secured one end of a piston rod or plate, D,
the other end of which is connected to the plate on the opposite diaphragm as shown,
so that when one is moved inward the opposite one moves outward as will be readily
understood and near the centre both rods are provided with longitudinal slots d, for the
passage and accommodation of a central standard, g, carrying the main operating shaft, F.
This standard, E, is constructed preferably of cast metal and is secured to the
bottom, A, as shown, while its upward extension is hollowed and forms the bearing
for the shaft, F, which passes up through it and is provided on its upper end with a
small casting, Ú, having the extension, C, in which are two perforations, g, g', at
right angles to the shaft, F, as shown.
The upper perforation, g, is smooth and in it is adapted to slide a guide rod, H, the
outer end of which is secured to a casting, J, having thereon a stud or pin, i, while
the lower perforation, gl, is screw threaded and adapted to receive the end of the

page_text: screw,
J, passing through a perforation in casting, J, and prevented from longitudinal
movement therein by means of collars, j, j, soldered or otherwise secured thereon as
shown, and this screw is further provided near its outer end beyond the casting with a
cross pin,, serving as a means for turning said screw as will be explained.
It will be seen that by turning the screw to the right or left the casting, J, can be
moved nearer to or farther from casting, G, on shaft, F, the rod, H, serving as a guide
and the collars, j,j, causing the movement. Upon the inner end of the rod, H, beyond
the shaft, F, is secured a loop, K, constructed preferably of sheet metal and between
the arms of this loop is placed a weighted pawl or catch, K', pivoted upon the rod, H,
and with its upper engaging end, k, projecting above the same while its lower end is
weighted causing it to assume the position shown normally, the connecting portion, k,
of the loop, K, preventing its turning save in one direction.
The two rods or plates, D, connecting diaphragms on opposite sides are as stated
provided with the slots at their centres through which the shaft, F, or rather the
tubular portion of support, E, passes and are further provided on one side these slots
with the upward extension or pins, L, L. to the upper ends of which are loosely.
pivoted connecting rods, L', L', their other ends being pivoted to the stud, i, on
the casting J, and being secured thereon by the small pin passing through it, as
shown.
Now it will be seen that if the diaphragms beginning with say B¹, then, B² etc.
are pressed outward in succession, the connecting rods, L, will, acting through the
crank pin, i, cause the shaft, F, to be rotated to the left as indicated by the arrow fig. 2,
and the trip, K', is so positioned relative to the connecting rods, L', that its upper
end will pass beneath them and be moved backward thus permitting their passage,
but as soon as it has passed, the lower heavier end causes it to resume normal position
and should the motion of the diaphragms and shaft, F, be reversed, this upper end
would come in contact with the connecting rod, L', and the portion, k, of the loop, K,
arresting the backward movement of the trip, the mechanism would be stopped.
Mounted upon the shaft, F, is a worm, M, with which a worm gear, M³, secured on a
horizontal shaft, N, engages, said shaft passing through a stuffing box, m, in the
casing, A, at one side between two of the diaphragms, B3, B4, and its outer end is
provided with a gear, ml, engaging the first gear in the train of the registering
inechanism, O, preferably located in a casing, O', secured to the outside of the casing, A,
as shown.
In order to cause the rotation of this shaft, F, some means must be provided for
admitting the gas to the chambers in rear of the diaphragms in succession and
exhausting it from the chamber of the opposite connected diaphragm into the outlet
from the meter and in order to provide for this I locate preferably beneath the bottom
proper, A2, several channels, P, P, Q, Q, R, R¹, as shown in figure, 6. The two
passages, P. P, connect the chambers, (, C³, with the ports, c', c, respectively, the
valve seat, S. located on the bottom of the casing to one side of the shaft, F, and the
passages,,, connect the chambers, C²C, with the ports, c², c, respectively in the
valve seat, S', also located in the bottom of the casing at right angles to the valve
seat, S. Passages, P, and, Q, cross each other near the centre of the casing at right
angles as shown, one, P¹, being located below the other and there being no communi-
cation between them. Passages, R, R', connect the centre ports, 1, 2, of the valve
seats, S, S', respectively with the exhaust pipe, U, passing up through the chamber, B,
in one corner between the diaphragms and out through the top of the main casing, as
shown.
T, T, represent two slide valves provided with the chambers, t, t¹, therein adapted
to be reciprocated back and forth upon the valve seats, S, S¹, respectively by
connecting rods, T¹, T¹ connected to a crank, V, on the lower end of the shaft, F,
said valves being guided and prevented from leaving their seats by rods, t, t³, passing
through loops secured to the bottom of the casing in the ordinary manner. The
valves and crank, V, are so situated relative to each other and the crank pin, i, at
upper end of the shaft that when the latter is, say in the position in figure, 1, the
valve, T, is moved toward the centre leaving the port, c', in connection with the
the

page_text: chamber, B, the port, c³, in connection with the exhaust port, r, through the chambert,
in the valve and the valve, T, is at half stroke leaving the port, c*, partly open to
chamber, B, and port, c², connected by chamber, t', with the exhaust port, 1, in valve
seat, S, (not shown). A further motion of the shaft, F, in the direction of motion
indicated would as will be scen from figure, 5, cause the valve, Tx to be moved
farther outward, fully opening the port, c, and fully connecting the port, ², with the
exhaust and at the same time move valve, T, outward closing port, c', and then
connecting with the exhaust port, r, and opening the port, e³, to the chamber, B.
From the above general description the operation of the device will be readily
understood.
The gas is admitted from the main or supply through the inlet, W, and fills the
chamber, B, then passes through the port in the valve seat that happens to be open
(in the present instance referring to figure, 5) through, c, fills the chamber, C, and
presses the diaphragm outward moving the connecting rod and through it the shaft, F,
to the position shown, the gas in the chamber, C3, exhausting through the port, c³, to
the exhaust, and exit pipe, U. The continued movement of the crank, V, causes
the valve, T, to admit the gas from the chamber, B, to the chamber, pressing its
diaphragm outward at the same time exhausting, the gas in C², out through the
port, 2, and exhaust in the valve seat, S¹, to the pipe, U, then the chamber, C3, is
filled and the gas in chamber, (, exhausted and so on filling the chambers in
succession and exhausting the opposite chambers into the outlet pipe and rotating the
shaft, F, from which motion is cominunicated through the worm and cooperating
wheel and shaft to the registering mechanism. The capacity of the chambers and
the gearing to the registering machanism are so regulated that the quantity passing
through the former and into the exit pipe will beaccurately measured and registered.
The valves are of course arranged so that there will be a continuous motion and
one chamber will be open to the supply of gas until the diaphragm of the next is
fairly started on its outward movements so there will be no jerky or sudden movement
of the diaphragm due to sudden impulse, but the rotation of the shaft will be uniform
and continuous as long as gas is supplied.
It will be noted that between two of the diaphragms, B³ B', there is more space than
between any other two and this is for the purpose of permitting the passage of the
shaft, N, connected to the registering mechanism and also for another purpose about
to be described.
Oftentimes meters either from variations in the density of the gas or some other
reason get out of order and fail to register the quantity of gas passed through them
properly and in order to correct this, it is necessary to adjust the throw of the crank
pin to which the diaphragms are connected, this is ordinarily done by dismantling
the meter and moving nuts on the crank on either side of the pin inward or outward
so as to carry the pin nearer to or farther from the operating centre but all this I
obviate by the employment of the adjusting screw, J', carrying the casting, J,
cooperating with the casting on the end of the shaft, F, and provide in the side of the
casing, A, above the register, an opening, a, closed by a plate, a¹, that can be removed
when desired so that a key having a split end for engaging the cross pin, j', may he
inserted into the casing and the screw J' turned in or out adjusting the pin i, nearer
to, or farther from the shaft, F, as will be readily understood.
It will be noted that all the operating parts of the meter are located within the
chamber into which the gas is admitted preliminarily and consequently no packing is
required for any of the operating parts except the shaft communicating motion to
the register that is located to one side and between the register casing and the main
casing so that even should any leakage take place in this packing the gas would only
enter the register casing and not escape into the air. Even this packing might be
dispensed with and the register casing be open to the chamber, B, but this is objec-
tionable in that the impurities in the gas would be liable to discolor the glass
and obscure a view of the dial faces and 1 prefer to employ the arrangement
shown.
The friction produced by packing will be reduced by the employment of the above

page_text: means to a minimum and the shaft on which even this small amount is produced is
geared down so that its motion is slow and positive, readily overcoming it.
Another and quite an important advantage is gained by employing horizontal
valve seats and locating them above the bottom of the main casing in that they will
be self clearing of any deposit and any water condensed in the main chamber will
not tend to clog them but will be below their upper sides in the bottom and it
may be drawn off from said chamber when desired through a perforation, 2,
in the bottom, closed by a suitable plug or cap as shown in dotted lines
figure, 3.
It is of course desirable and even necessary that the edges of the leather
diaphragms should come in contact when moving, only with rounded surfaces and as
a means of accomplishing this result, I secure them as before stated in frames, C. In
figures, 8, to, 13, inclusive are shown the various steps of making these frames and
the following is a description of the various manipulations. As all the sides of the
frame are alike the description of one will apply equally well to all.
In figure, 8, is shown a portion of the strip of metal preferably tin, forming one
side of the frame and this is first bent over at the edges as shown in figure, 9, forming
the beads, 1, which are pressed down upon the surface and the strip bent longi-
tudinally at the middle as shown in figure, 10, the beads, 1 forming rounded edges for
the plates against which the leather works. Four of these strips are formed in this
manner and then are placed upon the edges of the square piece of leather constituting
the diaphragm with one end of the inner side of each strip overlapping that of the
next as shown in figure, 11. then the edges of the plates are clamped tightly on the
leather and at the ends, on each other, forming a metal frame enclosing the leather
which can be secured on the easing and employed without further manipulation if
desired, but I prefer to further finish them. The corners of the frame are now cut
off as shown in dotted lines figure, 11, and full lines figure, 12, presenting the
appearance indicated in the latter figure with two thicknesses of metal on cach side
of the leather.
Now in order to finish the frame and render it much stiffer and more substantial I
bend the strips composing it longitudinally as indicated in dotted lines, 2, 2, figure, 12,
folding the portion, 3, with the leather between over upon one side as shown clearly
in figure, 13, the beveled portion at the corner where the cut was made, forming the
joint indicated at, 4, in said figure thus completing the frame.
Now it will be noted that the edges of the leather come only in contact with the
rounded beads at the edges of the frame on either side and that at or very near this
point there are six thicknesses of metal and two of leather forming an extremely
rigid and substantial frame. These frames can be secured in position in the casing, A,
by solder or in any suitable manner desired, can be manufactured cheaply and will
serve the purpose for which they are intended in an admirable manner.
A further advantage incident to the employment of the operating devices located
within the gas chamber and the dispensing with the packing and consequent
diminution of friction lies in enabling me to employ a much smaller plate, U³, at the
centre of the diaphragm through which motion is communicated to the connecting
rods, D, not only reducing the weight but allowing a much greater reciprocation of
the diaphragm in the chamber which, as stated, is also permitted by their semi-
circular shape. The small plates also present an advantage over the employment of
the larger ones heretofore used, in that with the latter the amount of leather between
their edges and the retaining frames is necessarily small and when they are recipro-
cated back and forth the leather is doubled back upon itself when passing the centre,
thus rendering it more liable to wear and cut than is the case where the plates are
small and the amount of leather greater.
Other advantages incident to the construction shown and described herein will at
once present themselves to those skilled in the art and it is evident that various
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of my invention
and therefore I do not desire to be confined to the exact arrangements herein
shown.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a gas meter, the combination with two or more chambers, diaphragms forming
one side thereof, an operating shaft, a registering mechanism geared thereto, and
connections between said diaphragms and the shaft for causing the roiation of the
latter, of a chamber in which the shaft and operating parts are located and with which
one side of the diaphragms are normally in communication, passages leading from
the central chamber to the chambers in rear of the diaphragms, exhaust passages to
the exit pipe, a valve also located within the central chamber and operated from the
main shaft for connecting the diaphragm chambers with the central chamber and the
exhaust and a supply pipe leading to the central chamber; substantially as
described.
2. In a gas meter, the combination with four chambers, the diaphragms forming
one side of each, an operating shaft, a registering mechanism geared thereto, rods
connecting opposite diaphragms and connections between said rods and the shaft for
causing its rotation when the diaphragms are moved inward in succession of a central
chamber with which one side of each of the diaphragms are normally in communi-
cation and in which all the operating parts save the register are located, passages
leading from the central chamber to each of the diaphragm chambers, exhaust passages
communicating with the exit pipe and valves also located in the central chamber, and
operated from the operating shaft for connecting each of the diaphragm chambers
with the central chamber in succession and at the same time connecting the diaphragm
chamber opposite the one so connected with the exit pipe through the exhaust
passage and a supply pipe leading to the central chamber; substantially as
described.
3. In a gas meter, the combination with the four chambers, the diaphragms forming
one side of each, rods connecting opposite diaphragms, an operating shaft and
connections between said rods and shaft for causing the rotation of the latter by the
successive movement of the diaphragms, passages connecting each of the diaphragm
chambers with a chamber communicating with the gas supply, two exhaust passages
one for each pair of chambers, and two valves operated from the operating shaft
adapted to connect each of the chambers in succession with the supply and at the
same time connect the opposite chamber with the exhaust and a registering mechanism
connected with the main operating shaft, substantially as described.
4. In a gas meter, the combination with the operating diaphragms, the connecting
rods, the operating shaft having the adjustable crank pin to which said rods are
connected, the central chamber connected with the gas supply, valve devices
connected to the operating shaft for admitting gas to the diaphragm chambers in
succession, all said operating parts being located within the central chamber, of a
registering mechanism operated from a shaft geared to the main shaft, said first
mentioned shaft passing out through the main casing between two of the diaphragms,
substantially as described.
5. In a gas meter, the combination with the operating diaphragms and connecting
rods, the main shaft to which they are connected and a registering mechanism geared
to said shaft a rod secured to said shaft, the metal loop secured to the rod and the
weighted pawl hung upon the rod between the arms of said loop so as to cooperate
when moving in one direction with the connecting rods to arrest the action
but when moved in the opposite direction, to permit their free passage, substantially
as described.
6. In a gas meter, the combination with diaphragms, and connecting rods, the
main shaft and a registering mechanism geared thereto, a casting secured to said shaft,
a casting having a crank pin thereon to which the connecting rods are attached a
guide rod and an adjusting screw connecting the two castings whereby the throw of
the crank pin may be adjusted, substantially as described.
7. In a gas meter, the combination with diaphragms and connecting rods, the main
shaft and a registering mechanism geared thereto, a casting secured to said shaft, a

page_text: casting having a crank pin thereon, to which said connecting rods are attached a
guide rod and an adjusting screw secured to the last mentioned casting and perfora-
tions in the casting on the crank shaft with which they cooperate whereby the throw
of the crank pin may be adjusted, substantially as described.
8. In a gas meter the combination with the diaphragms and connecting rods, the
main shaft, and a registering mechanism geared thereto, a casting secured to said
shaft, a casting having a crank pin thereon to which the connecting rods are attached,
a guide rod and an adjusting screw connecting the two castings and a perforation in
the main casing in line with the shaft whereby the screw can be manipulated by the
insertion of the proper tool and the crank pin adjusted without removing the
machinery from the casing, substantially as described.
9. The combination with the diaphragins and connecting rods, the main shaft and a
registering mechanism geared thereto, the casting secured to the shaft, the casting
having a crank pin thereon, a guide rod and adjusting screw connecting the two and
the pivoted pawl mounted upon the extension of the guide rod and adapted to
cooperate with the connecting rods to prevent the backward movement of the
mechanism, substantially as described.
10. The improved frame for holding the diaphragms consisting of the metal strips
having the beaded edges folded longitudinally and clamped upon the edges of the
diaphragm and again bent longitudinally with the leather between them, substantially
as described.
11. The combination with the diaphragm, of the frame consisting of the single
strips of material, each having beaded edges bent over upon itself, with the diaphragm
between said edges, substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of November 1887.