IMPROVE- MENTS IN STATION AND TEST GAS METERS."
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas Sugg, of Vincent Works, Vincent
Street, in the City of Westminster, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STATION AND TEST GAS METERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas Sugg
.
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 21st December 1875.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS SUGG, of Vincent Works, Vincent Street, in the
City of Westminster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN "STATION AND TEST GAS METERS," to be as
follows:-
*This: Invention relates to station gas meters and test or other meters
which are required to measure with great accuracy, and has for its
object the construction of station meters,in such a manner as to dispense
with the casing as ordinarily employed, and to ensure the maintenance
of the correct water level in both station and test meters. This is
effected by making the wheel or drum so as to revolve upon its axis

page_text: within a tank partially filled with water, the axis or shaft. of the drum
being supported by suitable bearings within the tank. The drum or
wheel is provided with a hollow cover both to the front and back thereof,
each cover having a centre opening. The inlet pipe or pipes pass
through the centre opening into the front hollow cover, and the outlet
pipe or pipes pass through the centre opening into the back hollow
cover. The water to the tank is supplied through a pipe which enters
it outside the wheel, having a valve seat at its top and fitted with a
valve hung to an arm which is attached to the outer end of a spindle,
whose inner end passes through the centre opening, and is there attached
to another arm pivotted to a hollow float which rests upon the surface
of the water. The spindle supporting these arms works in suitable
bearings furnished for the purpose.
It will be seen from the foregoing that in station meters constructed
in this manner the outer casing-may-be-dispensed with, and that upon
any depression occurring in the level of the water the float will sink and
cause the valve in connection with the water supply pipe to open, where-
upon water will be admitted until it rises to the proper level, when
through the action of the float the valve will be closed and the further
supply of water cut off.
:
In case from any cause an undue quantity of water is admitted there
is an overflow pipe provided through which any such excess of water
will be discharged.
When this Invention is applied to test meters, it is preferred that the
drum shall be encased, and provided with a water reservoir which is
fixed to the top of such case.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-ninthi
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Thomas Sugg, Her special license, that
I, the said William Thomas Sugg, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Thomas Sugg, 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 STATION AND
TEST GAS METERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Thomas Sugg, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument 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 per-
formed, 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 William Thomas Sugg, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
This Invention has reference to station gas meters, and has for its
object the maintenance of the water level at its proper height, whereby
more accurate registration of the quantity of gas passed is ensured than
in station and test meters as ordinarily constructed. This is effected by
making the measuring wheel or drum so as to revolve upon its axis
within a tank partially filled with water, the axis or shaft of the drum
being supported by suitable bearings within the tank. The drum or.
wheel is provided with a hollow cover both to the front and back thereof,
5 each cover having a centre opening. The inlet pipe or pipes pass
through the centre opening into the front hollow cover, and the outlet
pipe or pipes pass through the centre opening into the back hollow
cover. Water is conveyed from a supply cistern fixed at a convenient

page_text: height above the water line of the meter to the tank through a large
pipe, varying in size according to the capacity of the statión meter to
which this apparatus is applied which enters it outside the wheel or
measuring drum. The top of this pipe is provided with a valve seat of
any convenient form. The valve which fits into this seat is hung to an
arm fixed to that end of a spindle which is outside the inlet hollow cover
of the measuring drum of the station or test meter, and the other end.
of which passes inside the inlet hollow cover of the measuring drum. .
To this end is fixed another arm having at its extremity a float swimming
in the water inside the inlet hollow cover of the measuring drum. The
length of this arm should be such as to give with a very slight up-and-
down motion of the float sufficient movement to the valve outside the
hollow cover to open and close it. The spindle supporting these arms
works in suitable bearings furnished for the purpose.
If from any cause more water is supplied to the tank than is required 1
to keep the float at the true water level in the inside of the inlet hollow
cover of the measuring drum, it overflows into a pipe provided for the
purpose which is also fixed in the inlet hollow cover and the top of
which is funnelled out. The true level of the water at which accurate
measurement of gas is obtained is determined by the height of the top 2
edge of the funnel.
It will be seen from the foregoing and the Drawings annexed that in
station and test meters constructed in this manner that the upper part
of the outer casing may be dispensed with, and that upon any depression
occurring in the level of the water in the inlet hollow cover of the 2
measuring drum, the float will sink and cause the valve in connection
with the water supply pipe to open, whereupon water will be admitted
until it rises to the proper level when through the action of the float
the valve will be closed and the further supply of water cut off.
By the adoption of the apparatus herein described greater accuracy 3
of measurement under varying rates of speed and pressure may be
obtained than in station and test gas meters as now ordinarily made.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood Drawings
are attached hereto, of which the following is a description :-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the general arrangement of the apparatus; 3
Fig. 2 is a side elevation; and Fig. 3 is a plan thereof.

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of which the float E is attached and to the other the valve F is hung;
G is the valve seat; and H the water supply pipe; I is the waste water
pipe.
When this Invention is applied to test meters, it is preferred that the
drum shall be encased, and provided with a water reservoir which is
fixed to the top of such case.
The making of station gas meters without a casing over its upper part
is not new, neither is the application of a cover at the front and back of
the drum.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not confine
or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
described or referred to, as variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of this Invention; but
what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the apparatus as herein described and shown on the Drawing,
by which the maintenance of the true water level is secured and
accurate registration is obtained.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thomas Sugg, have here-
unto set my band and seal, this Twenty-first day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
six