IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Magnus Manson, of Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, Gas Meter Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Magnus Manson, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th February 1860.
I, MAGNUS MANSON, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, Gas Meter Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of wet gas
meters in such manner as to ensure an accurato indication of the flow of gas
through the meter, whether the pressure from the inlet be great or small.
Under one modification the chamber of the meter in which the measuring
cylinder or drum is contained is sufficiently enlarged to contain the fluat,
which is, by preference, of a globular figure.
globular figure. The spindle of the float is
arranged in an inclined direction, its lower extremity being connected to one
end of a bent lever of the second order, which is centred on a stud projecting
from the face of the meter casing. This bent lever extends out from the
main chamber of the meter under a vertical partition and into the front box or
compartment in which the inlet valve is fitted, the spindle of the valve being
connected to the lever near its centre, taken longitudinally. The gas passes
down the overflow tube into the measuring chamber, and away to the outlet in
the usual manner. If now, the water in the three compartments of the meter
namely, the interior of the meter itself, the measuring chamber, and the front
box, is at such a level that the valve is just or barely shut, no gas will enter

page_text: but on one or more burners being lighted, the water in the meter chamber
rises, on account of the escape of a portion of the confined gas through the
outlet. The rising of the water in the meter causes a corresponding elevation
of the float which opens the valve and allows the gas from the main to enter,
the influx of gas depressing the water in the front box or valve chamber.
As further demands are made upon the meter by increased consumption the
demand is met by a corresponding rise of the float, and a proportionate
opening of the valve. The spindle of the float is inclined so as to admit of its
being screwed into and out of the end of the bent lever by means of a key
inserted from above. Another improvement consists in arranging the inlet
valve and overflow pipe of ordinary meters in a compartment apart from the
other chambers of the meter, so as to make them equal in performance, or
nearly so, to the arrangement first herein-before described.
Under another modification the meter is arranged upon what is called the
compensating principle, or in other words, to obtain correct measurement
irrespective of the water level. On the spindle of the drum or measuring
cylinder is a segmental wheel, the teeth of which gear alternately with a
double rack, the stem of which is carried upwards and centred on a stud. On
the stem of the rack are two pins projecting out from the face, and between
these pins is pendent the free end of a reciprocating bar, which is centred
on a stud fixed in the bent lever connected to the float. The upper end-of
the reciprocating bar is furnished with two pawls which take into the teeth
On the
of two ratchet wheels arranged above and gearing with each other.
spindle of one of these wheels is a pinion or endless screw to convey the
motion to the index above for showing the consumption of the gas. The
evaporation of the water increases the capacity of the measuring portion of
the cylinder, but, as the water decreases, the fall of the float carries down the
vibrating bar which causes the upper part to vibrate through a large arc, so
that the pawls move a greater number of teeth of the ratchet wheels. In this
manner as the measuring portion of the cylinder becomes enlarged, the index
is moved in a corresponding ratio.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Magnus Manson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th
August. 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MAGNUS
MANSON, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Gas
Metre Maker, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Magnus Manson, Her special license that I, the said Magnus
Manson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Magnus Manson, my executors, administrators, or 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 I, the said Magnus
Manson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should parti-
cularly 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 Magnus Manson, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say: -
My said Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of wet gas
metres in such manner as to ensure an accurate indication of the flow of gas
through the meter, whether the pressure from the inlet be great or small. Under
one modification the chamber of the meter in which the measuring cylinder
or drum is contained, is sufficiently enlarged to contain the float, which is by
preference of a globular figure. The spindle of the float is arranged in an
incline direction, its lower extremity being connected to one end of a bent
lever of the second order, which is centred on a stud projecting from the face
of the meter casing. This bent lever extends out from the main chamber of
the meter under a vertical partition, and into the front box or compartment in
which the inlet valve is fitted, the spindle of the valve being connected to the
lever near its centre. taken longitudinally. The gas passes down the overflow
tube into the measuring chamber and away to the outlet in the usual manner.
If now the water in the three compartments of the meter, namely, the interior.
of the meter itself, the measureing chamber, and the front. box, is at such a
level that the valve is just or barely-shut, no gas will enter. But on one or
more burners being lighted, the water in the meter chamber rises, on account

page_text: of the escape of a portion of the confined gas through the outlet.
The rising
of the water in the meter causes a corresponding elevation of the float which
opens the valve and allows the gas from the main to enter, the influx of gas
depressing the water in the front box or valve chamber. As further demands
are made upon the meter by increased consumption, the demand is met by a
corresponding rise of the float and a proportionate opening of the valve. The
spindle of the float is inclined, so as to adinit of its being screwed into and out
of the end of the bent lever by means of a key inserted from above.
Another improvement consists in arranging the inlet valve and overflow
pipe of ordinary meters in a compartiment apart from the other chambers of
the meter, so as to make them equal in performance or nearly so, to the
arrangement first herein-before described.
Under another modification, the meter is arranged upon what is called the
compensating principle, or in other words, to obtain correct measurement
irrespective of the water level. On the spindle of the drum or measuring
cylinder is a segmental wheel, the teeth of which gear alternately with a
double rack, the stem of which is carried upwards and centred on a stud:
On the stem of the rack are two pins projecting out from the face, and between
these pins is pendent the free end of a reciprocating bar which is centred on a
stud fixed in the bent lever connected to the float. The upper end of the
reciprocating bar is furnished with two pawls which take into the teeth of two
ratchet wheels arranged above and gearing with each other. On the spindle
of one these wheels is a pinion or endless screw to convey the motion to the
index above for showing the consumption of gas. The evaporation of the
water increases the capacity of the measuring portion of the cylinder, but as
.the water decreases the fall of the float carries down the vibrating bar, which
causes the upper part to vibrate through a larger are so that the pawls move
a greater number of teeth of the ratchet wheels. In this manner as the
measuring portion of the cylinder becomes enlarged the index is moved in a
corresponding ratio.
And in order that my said Invention of improvements in gas meters may
be properly understood I shall now proceed to describe the several Figures on
the explanatory Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto appended, for the
purpose of showing certain modifications under which my improvements may
be judiciously carried out in practice, that is to say: -
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is an elevation of one
modification of my improved gas meters with an open front to show the
internal arrangement; Figure 2 is a vertical section, taken at right angles to
Figure 1 and Figure 3 is a plan, corresponding to Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4

page_text: is a front elevation of another modification of a compensating gas meter;
Figure 5 is a vertical section of the same; and Figure 6 a plan corresponding
to Figures 4 and 5, and showing a portion of the mechanical details of the
second modification.
Referring to the modification delineated in Figures 1 to 3 on the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, the casing A is formed, by preference, of cast iron,
the whole of the body being in one piece, the only detached portion being the
moveable front B, which is secured by screws to the body part. The meter
casing A is divided into two compartments by the diaphragm C, which encloses
a portion of the front part of the meter, and forms a waste water box D. The
surplus water in the box D flows off through the tubular opening in the
front B, which opening is closed by the milled headed screw E. The gas
flows into the meter through the inlet pipe F, and passes into the compartment
or valve chamber G. This chamber is open at the lower part to the body of
the meter, as is more clearly shown in Figure 4 of the compensating meter, so
that the water contained within the meter rises to an equal height within the
chamber. The valve chamber is by preference formed in two parts, the upper
division being secured in a gas-tight manner to the roof of the front part of the
casing A. At the junction of the two parts of the valve chamber a diaphragm H
is formed on the lower portion, in which is a circular opening to admit of the
passage of the gas to the body of the meter. The flow of gas from the inlet
chamber through the opening in the diaphragm H is controlled by the valve I,
which is attached to the bent spindle J. The valve spindle is carried down-
wards and bent, so as to pass under the edge of the valve chamber G and up
to the regulating lever K, to which it is attached. This lover is one of the
second order; its forked extremities are centred on pins, which project out
from small lugs cast on the diaphragm H. The right-hand extremity of the
lever K is connected to the stem of the float L, which keeps the valve open
when the water is at the proper level in the meter, but if a portion of the
water be abstracted fraudulently, or it escapes from any other cause,, the
descent of the float closes the valve, and so stops the admission of the gas.
The maximum height of the water within the meter is regulated by the over-
flow pipe M, which conveys tho surplus into the lower compartment or waste
water box D. The gas flows from the inlet pipe into the lower compartment
of the valve chamber G, and down the pipe M, into the upper part of the
waste water box D, from which it flows up the curved pipe N into the
measuring drum O. The arrangement of this portion of the meter does not
differ from those in ordinary use; the rotatory movement of the drum causes
the pinion P, which is fast to its axle, to give motion to the wheel Q, the

page_text: spindle of which passes up through the tube R. The rotation of the wheel Q
actuates the train of wheels arranged behind the indexes S, which serve to
indicate the consumption on the dial plate T. After the gas is measured, it
passes out of the drum and away by the outlet pipe U to the burners.
The modification of gas meter delineated in Figures 4 to 6 is of the com-
pensating class, in which the evaporation of the water is provided for by an
automatic arrangement of the mechanical details, so that an accurate registra-
tion of the gas passing through the meter is kept under all circumstances of
irregularity in the water level. The arrangement of the casing A, the valve
chamber G, and their connected parts, is the same as shown in Figures 1 to 3,
and herein-before described. The U-shaped stem or spindle J of the valve I
is attached to the regulating lever K, which is forked at the left-hand
extremities; and jointed to lugs formed on the diaphragm H. The right-
hand extremity of the lever K is connected to the stem of the float L; the
intervening portion of the lever between the stems of the valve and the font
forms an open frame or obtuse-angled figure, as shown in the plan, Figure 6.
In lieu of a pinion, the axle of the measuring drum O carries a heart wheel P,
the periphery of which works against two pins fixed in the forked ends of the
oscillating lever Q. The upper end of this lever is fast to a horizontal rocking
spindle, which is carried in the pendent bracket piece R that is fast to the
roof of the casing A. The rotatory movement of the heart wheel P imparts
an oscillating motion to the lever Q, which is communicated to the pendent
lever S. This lever is arranged at the back of the lever Q, and passes down
between two laterally projecting pins fixed therein. The lever S is fast to a
horizontal spindle T, which is carried in lugs formed on the open or bowed
part of the regulating lever Q. The upper portion of the lever S is bent
outwards to a curved figure, and has jointed to its extremity a pawl U. The
opposite end of the spindle T carries a second lever V, corresponding to the
lever S, excepting in the prolongation of its lower part; to this lever is jointed
the pawl W. Both these pawls rest on the rim of and give motion to the
crown wheel X, which is fast to the vertical spindle Y. This spindle is
carried at the lower extremity in the horizontal part of the bracket Z, which
is screwed to the roof of the casing A. The spindle Y passes through a hole
made in the bracket R, which serves as a collar bearing for it. The upper
part of the spindle has a pinion fitted to it, which gives motion to the
indicating train of wheels. This part of the mechanism is arranged in the
ordinary and well known manner, and therefore is not shown in the accom-
panying Drawings; nor does it require particular description. The rotatory
motion of the measuring drum carries round the heart wheel P, which is fast

page_text: to its axle, and in the position in which it is delineated in Figure 4, the
periphery of the heart wheel is moving the lever S to the left-hand side by its
pressure against the corresponding pin of the oscillating lever Q. This motion
of the lever Qmoves the upper part of the lever S over to the right, the
pawl U, which is resting in the teeth of the crown wheel X, consequently
moves the wheel round to a corresponding extent, and the amount of motion
thus imparted to the spindle Y is indicated on the dials above. When the
apex of the heart wheel P has passed the left-hand pin of the lever Q, the
wheel then acts upon the right-hand pin, which carries the lower part of
the lever over to the right side; this motion causes the lever V, by means of
the pawl W, to move round the wheel X, in the same direction, as when
acted upon by the pawl U. The wheel is thus moved round with a uniform
rotatory motion by the alternate action of the pawls U and W, and in this.
manner the pawls glide alternately over the teeth of the wheel without
affecting the action of the one in operation, they being arranged in opposite
directions, as shown in Figures 4 and 6 of the accompanying Drawings. The
arrangement of the levers S and V, and the parts connected therewith, also
provide for the variation of the water level arising from evaporation or other
causes. The levers S and V being arranged on the oscillating lever Q and
the pawls U and W resting loosely on the wheel X, it follows that as this
lever descends with the sinking of the float, that the levers S and V are
practically lengthened, and hence take up a greater number of teeth than
when the float is at the full height of the water level. So that with this
arrangement, as the water sinks below the true water level, and the upper
compartments of the measuring drum consequently contain a larger quantity
of gas, the crown wheel is driven round at an increased speed, or with a
smaller number of revolutions of the heart wheel. In this way the quantity of
gas passed through the meter is accurately measured and indicated on the
dials, notwithstanding the gradual diminution of the water contained in
the meter, this alteration in the water level being compensated for by
the mechanical arrangement connected with the float. With a view of
regulating the valve with nicety, it is preferred in some cases to have the stem
of the float made tubular, and to come just up to an orifice in the casing of
the meter. The tubular steam is carried down inside the float, and partially
divided at about the centre of the float in such manner that shot or other
matters passed down the stem fall through the lateral aperture. Care is
taken to make the float lighter than is required in practice, and when the
meter is being adjusted small shot are dropped down the stem of the float
until it is of the proper weight, the aperture in the casing, as shown at

page_text: a in Figure 4, is then closed up. With these several improvements the wet
gas meter is rendered a far more accurate and reliable instrument than those
of the ordinary kind.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general arrangement and construction of gas meters of the wet
class, as herein-before described, and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the system or mode of arranging and constructing gas meters in
which the valve for regulating the flow of the gas from the inlet to the outlet
chambers is connected to a lever of the second order, to the free extremity of
which the float is attached, so as to regulate the valve, as herein-before
described, and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification
of the same.
Third, the system or mode of arranging and constructing gas meters of
what are termed the compensating class, in which the varying height of the
water in the meter is compensated for by a self-acting arrangement of levers,
which are lengthened or shortened according to the position of the float, as
herein before described, and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth, the mechanical arrangement for actuating the indicating train of
wheels, as herein-before described, and delineated in Figures 4, 5, and 6 of
the accompanying Drawings, or any more equivalent therefor.
In witness whereof, I, the said Magnus Manson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty.
MAGNUS MANSON. (L.s.)