IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WET GAS METERS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert West, of Walsall, in the County of Stafford,
Gas Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF WET GAS METERS."
Sealed the 19th February 1861, and dated the 22nd August 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert West at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
August 1860.
I, ROBERT WEST, of Walsall, in the County of Stafford, Gas Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF WET GAS METERS," to be as follows:-
I diminish the width of the cross fans of the cylinder or measuring wheel
at the water line so as to allow a greater range or variation of the height of
the water line than in the ordinary cylinder; and I increase the width of the
said cross fans where they join the periphery of the cylinder by which the
variation in the registration of wet gas meters, caused by the variation of
the water line from evaporation and other causes, is much reduced. I make
the front of the cylinder flat instead of convex, as now in general use.
In adjusting and fixing the valve and float, I attach a long screw to the
valve box with one or more nuts, one inside and the other outside the front
box of the meter, and which may be introduced at the top or side of the said
front box, thus permitting the valve box and float to be readily adjusted';

page_text: and also for an improved float with a long internal screw attached to it, into
which the valve spindle shall be screwed and, fixed by means of a lock nut on
-the valve spindle..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert West in the Great Seal Patent Office' on the 21st
February 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WEST, of Walsall, in the County of Stafford, Gas Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself; Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert West, Her special licence that I, the said, Robert West, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such otliers as I, the said Robert
West, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time- agrec
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
Chanuel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF WET GAS METERS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Robert West, my executors or administrators,. by an instru-
ment in writing, under my, or their, or one of 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 I, the said
the nature of my said Invention, and in
performed, to be particularly described and
statement (that is to say):
Robert West, do hereby declare
what manner the same is to be
ascertaned in and by the following
This Invention consists, first, in the application to wet gas meters of an
improved measuring wheel or cylinder; and, secondly, of an improved valve
and float, with the modes of their adjustment.
My improvements in the measuring wheel or cylinder consist in diminishing
the widths of the cross fans at the water line, and making the front of the
cylinder flat instead of convex, by which means the variation in the regis-

page_text: height of the water
For a meter for a
tration of wet gas meters caused by the variation in the
line from evaporation' and other causes is much reduced.
large number of lights the cylinder is constructed with an internal cylinder
with the cross fans diminished in width where they join thereto, but so placed
as to form the spaces between the leaves of the cylinder wider at the water
line than at the periphery of the cylinder, which arrangement enables the water
to escape freely from the gas chambers of the cylinder. There are no
openings in the periphery of the internal cylinder, and the capacity of the
measuring wheel or cylinder is the space between its periphery and the
periphery of the internal cylinder and the back and front leaves.
My improvements in the valve and float consist in attaching to the valve
box a screw with one or two nuts, which screw is passed through the side or
top of the front box. If the screw is passed through the side of the box, the
hole is lengthened so as to allow the valve to be adjusted and afterwards
secured by the outside nut; if through the top two nuts are required, one
inside and the other outside. The relative positions of the valve and float are
also regulated by a screw on the valve rod working in a nut secured at the top
of a tube which passes through the float, there being in addition a lock nut to
keep the parts firm after the adjustment. These improvements will be clearly
understood by referring to the Figures and letters on the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings.
Fig. 1 is a cross section, and Fig. 2 a front or back view of one of my
improved measuring wheels or cylinders for a wet gas meter for registering the
consumption of gas of from one to five lights. a is the periphery of the
cylinder; b, the-spindle; c, the water line; d and.e the back and front blocks;
f, the cross fans; g, the leaves; and h, the flat front face of the cylinder.
The cross fans are tapered towards the centre of the cylinder so as to diminish
their width at the water line, the front and back blocks being flat or only
slightly curved. Fig. 3 is a cross section, and Fig. 4 a back or front view of
another of my improved measuring wheels or cylinders for a wet gas meter
adapted for from two to ten lights and upwards. In this arrangement, the
cylinder is constructed with an internal cylinder k, to which the cross fans
are joined so as to make the openings between the leaves largest at the
internal cylinder, and wider at the water line than at the periphery of the
cylinder. The cross fans taper towards the centre of the cylinder, and have a
diminished width at the water line similar to those of Fig. 1. The front block
of the internal cylinder is shewn at Fig. 5, and the back block at n, Fig. 4.
In Figs. 6 and 7. I represent other forms of cross fans, but so long as they
diminish in width at the water line their shapes may be varied to any desired

page_text: extent:
In Figs. 8, 9, and 10, I represent my improvements connected with
the valve and float of wet gas meters.. In Fig. 8 the valve box is adjusted
and secured to the side of the front box. The valve box is shewn at o, and
fixed to it is 'the screw p, which is passed.through a long hole or slot q in the
side of the front box, which slot allows the valve box to be raised or
lowered for adjusting the registration. On the screw is the nut s for securing
the box after its adjustment, and the nut may be prevented from turning by
passing through it a pin or small screw which enters the side of the box. In
Fig. 9 the valve box is secured to the top of the front box. To the top of
the valve box t is fixed the screw u; it passes through a hole in the top of
the front box v. The screw is mounted with two nuts w and x, one inside
the front box and the other outside, which enable the valve box to be adjusted
as required.
The mode of regulating the relative positions of. the valve and float is shewn
in Fig. 8. In the float y. is the tube z, at the top of which is fastened the
nut a', in which works the screwed part of the valve rod b², so that the valve
can be raised or lowered for the purpose of adjustment, there being a lock-
nut c¹ to prevent the valve rod from turning.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be distinctly understood that
I claim as my Invention, and which, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
has not been hitherto used within the realm, the improvements in wet gas
meters as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert West, have hereunto set my
.hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Robert West, in the
presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
ROBERT WEST. (L.S.)
Patent Agent,
Manchester.