IMPROVEMENTS IN DRY GAS METERS, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF AIR
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Jones, of the New North Road, in the County
of Middlesex, Gas Meter Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN DRY GAS METERS, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS FOR
REGULATING THE FLOW OF AIR."
Sealed the 20th December 1864, and dated the 22nd June 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Jones at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
June 1864.
I, JOHN JONES, of the New North Road, in the County of Middlesex, Gas
Meter Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN DRY GAS METERS, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS FOR
REGULATING THE FLOW OF AIR," to be as follows:—
My Invention consists, first, in dividing the chamber or body containing
the diaphragms in a diagonal direction, and not across as heretofore; the divi-
sion may extend from either angle to the opposite angle according to the
manner in which it is desired to fit the diaphragms.
My Invention consists, secondly, in hinging the discs carrying the diaphragms
at or near the sides of the case. The hinges work in sockets, and carry arms
or plates, which are connected to the discs carrying the diaphragms, and as it
were grasp them at about their centre, so that the diaphragms open and shut
in an even and steady manner about one point, and that the hinge. By
hinging the diaphragms in the manner before described, I am enabled to
construct meters of much less size than heretofore, and to dispence with the
guides and other appliances usually used for causing the diaphragms to work

page_text: steadily and evenly, and at the same time I reduce the friction. The case
being as before described divided diagonally, renders it necessary to place the
levers in connection with the hinges on each side or at opposite angles of the
case, and these are jointed to other levers for communicating motion to the
valves and index. I prefer to conduct the gas from the meter through a box
to the outlet pipe. The levers and arms are made of, by preference, non-
corrosive metal.
My Invention also consists in fitting a box constructed as hereafter described
to apparatuses made similar to dry gas meters generally, but I prefer the
meter before described, whereby I am enabled to pass and at the same time
to regulate the flow of air over volatile oils to render them more suitable for
burning purposes. This box contains by preference two passages in com-
munication with the ports of the valves, and the outlet pipe; apertures are
made in each of the passages, and valves are fitted thereto. Motion being
communicated to the crank, and thence to the diaphragms by clockwork or
any suitable mechanical contrivance, the air admitted through the outer ports
of the valves is prevented by means of the valves on the passages from passing
from one diaphragm to the other, but escapes in an even and steady flow to
the outlet pipe.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Jones in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
December 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN.
JONES, of the New North Road, in the County of Middlesex, Gas Meter
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Jones, Her special licence that I, the said John Jones, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Jones, 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

page_text: METERS, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW
OF AIE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Jones,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 John Jones, 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 Drawings hereunto annexed, that is
to say:
My Invention consists, first, in dividing the chamber or body containing the
diaphragms in a diagonal direction, and not across as heretofore; the division
may extend from either angle to the opposite angle according to the manner
in which it is desired to fit the diaphragms.
My Invention consists, secondly, in hinging the discs carrying the dia-
phragms at or near the sides of the case. The hinges work in sockets, and
carry arms or plates which are connected to the discs carrying the diaphragms,
and as it were grasp them at or about their centre, so that the diaphragms
open and shut in an even and steady manner about one point, and that
the hinge. By hinging the diaphragms in the manner before described, I
am enabled to construct meters of much less size than heretofore, and to
dispense with the guides and other appliances usually used for causing the
diaphragms to work steadily and evenly, and at the same time I reduce the
friction. The case being, as before described, divided diagonally, renders it
necessary to place the levers in connection with the hinges on each side, or
at opposite angles of the case, and these are jointed to other levers for com-
municating motion to the valves and index. I prefer to conduct the gas from
the meter through a box to the outlet pipe. The levers and arms are made
of, by preference, non-corrosive metal.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a front elevation, with a portion-
of the ease removed of a dry gas meter constructed according to my Inven-
tion; Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the line x, y, of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is a plan of the meter, shewing. the position of the valves, levers,.
and gear work by which motion is communicated thereto.
a is the outer case or frame of the meter, which is divided into two parts
or compartments b, c ; that marked b receives gas supplied from the inlet pipe d

page_text: and that marked c contains the diaphragms and the gas while being measured.
The compartment c is divided diagonally into two parts f, g, by the partition h,
as shewn clearly in the horizontal section, Figure 2, and each part contains a
diaphragm as also shewn in the same Figure. The discs i; k; of the diaphragms
are grasped as it were at or about their centre by arms l, m, united to roda n, o,
which are stepped in sockets p, p, one only of which is seen, and extend
upwards, and pass through the plate dividing the compartment b:from the
compartment c, the joints being made gastight by stuffing.boxes through
which the rods pass, so that as the gas passes into the measuring chamber or
chambers, and communicates motion to the diaphragms, they move in an even
and steady manner about the rods n, o, and thus communicate motion to the
valves and index by means of the arrangement of lever and gear work here-
after described. The diaphragms are made of one piece of leather-securely
fixed in the frame without the use of cement, no tying is adopted, and the
frame holding them above the bottom of the meter prevents the deposit of
impurities in their inner chambers, and obviates the inconveniences and errors
in registration arising from accidents of that, description. The rods n, o, are
as shewn at Figure 3 at opposite angles of the case, and work in the compart-
ments f. 9. To the upper ends of these rods n, o, I unite levers q, q', which
are linked to other levers r, r, which meet at 8, and through a short rod t are
joined to a vertical rod u passing through a guide v, and carrying a worm w
in gear with a toothed wheel z on the index shaft 2¹; which registers the
quantity of gas passing through the meter in the ordinary manner. Below the
worm w the rod u is cranked, and passes through the valve guides 1, 2,
whereby a regular alternate reciprocating motion is communicated to the
valves 3, 4, which are in communication with the compartments f, g, containing
the diaphragms. The gas in its passage to the exit pipe 5 passes through a
box 6. All the levers and parts just described in connection with the gear
work are made of non-corrosive metal, and by arranging the meter as described
I dispense with the box usually adopted for enclosing the valves, and conse-
quently I avoid the friction that has been hitherto produced by the stuffing
acting directly upon the crank, transferring it in a greatly diminished degree
to the driving rod working the index, which revolving much more slowly than
the, crank gives far less chance of leakage and of oscillation in the lights
through wear, tear, and fouling than has hitherto been the case. Meters
constructed according to my Invention are capable of being made much
smaller than those of ordinary construction, which will be found of great
advantage where it is desired to fit a meter in a limited space.
:
My Invention also consists in fitting a box constructed as hereafter described

page_text: to apparatus made similar to dry gas meters generally, but I prefer the
meter before described, whereby I am enabled to pass, and at the same time
to regulate the flow of air over volatile oils to render them more suitable for
burning purposes. This box contains by preference two passages in com-
munication with the ports of the valves and the outlet pipe; apertures are
made in each of passages, and valves are fitted thereto. Motion being com-
municated to the crank, and thence to the diaphragms by clockwork or any
suitable mechanical contrivance, the air admitted through the outer ports of
the valves is prevented by means of the valves on the passages from passing
from one diaphragm to the other, but escapes in an even and steady flow to
the outlet pipe.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, dividing the chamber or body containing the diaphragms in dry gas
meters by a partition in a diagonal direction, as herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, hinging the discs carrying the diaphragms at the sides of the case,
and supporting them at their centre, in manner and for the purposes herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Third, the arrangement of levers and gear work for communicating motion
to the index and valves, as herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
Fourth, the regulating the flow of air over volatile fluids, substantially as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Jones, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
EDWP. G. BREWER,
89, Chancery Lane.
W. C.
J. JONES. (L.S.)