IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER GAS METERS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Shearman, of Haggerston, in the County of
Middlesex, Gas Meter Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WATER GAS METERS."
Sealed the 3rd September 1860, and dated the 8th March 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left; by the said George Shearman at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
March 1860..
I, GEORGE SHEARMAN, of Haggerston, in the County of Middlesex, Gas
Meter Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER GAS METERS," to be as follows:-
The object of the improvements is a more correct working of water gas
meters. For this purpose the float is controlled to act in a separate com-
partment of the front chamber formed by partitions dipping to below the water
line of such chamber.. An opening is formed in the upper part of this
compartment for the passage of air, and the gas is excluded from this com-
partment, except when from any cause the level of the water falls below its
lower edges. The float is by connections attached to a valve capable of
closing the inlet passage, as also to a conical or other suitable valve adapted
to regulate the quantity of gas. passing into the measuring compartments of

page_text: the meter when undue pressure is exerted; and I also connect the float to
another valve capable of closing the passage for the atmosphere to this
compartment when from undue pressure of gas the float has a tendency to be
raised above a certain height, and I sometimes apply a pipe to such opening.
In place of forming a separate compartment in the front chamber for the float,
the float may be placed in the case for the measuring drum of the meter, and
thence by suitable connections attached to the valves.
Also, the improvements relate to arranging the parts supporting the
measuring drum, that when the meter is tilted such drum shall come forwards
and act to close the passage of gas through the meter.
Also, the improvements relate to means for maintaining a uniform level of
water in the measuring compartment of the meter. For this purpose I apply
a scoop or conductor capable of receiving water from a reservoir and con-
ducting it into the measuring compartment of the meter, such scoop or
conductor being connected to levers or arms operated on by the rotation of
the main drum.
Also, the improvements relate to applying the compensating apparatus in
compensating gas meters at the back of the meter, by which facility in repairs
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Shearman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th September 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
SHEARMAN, of Haggerston, in the County of Middlesex, Gas Meter Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of March, 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 George Shearman, Her special licence that I, the said George
Shearman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Shearman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,

page_text: the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS, IN
WATER GAS METERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
George Shearman, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describo
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 George Shearman, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
The object of the improvements is a more correct working of water gas
meters. For this purpose the float is controlled to act in a separate.com-
partment of the front chamber, formed by partitions dipping to below' the
water line of such chamber. An opening is formed in the upper part of this
compartment for the passage of air, and the gas is excluded from this com-
partment, except when from any cause the level of the water falls below its
lower edges: The float is, by connections, attached to a valve capable of
closing, the inlet passage, as also to a conical or other suitable valve adapted
to regulate the quantity of gas passing into the measuring compartments of
the meter when undue pressure is exerted; and I also connect the float to
another valve capable of closing the passage for the atmosphere to this com-
partment when from undue pressure of gas the float has a tendency to be
raised above a certain height, and I sometimes apply a pipe to such opening.
In place of forming a separate compartment in the front chamber for the float,
the float may be placed in the case for the measuring drum of the meter, and
thence by suitable connections attached to the valves.
.
.
Secondly, the improvements relate to arranging the parts supporting the
measuring drum, that when the meter is tilted such drum shall come forwards
and act to close the passage of gas through the meter.
But that the nature of my Invention may be more fully understood, I will
proceed to describe the Drawings annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
:: Figure 1 shows a sectional front, view, and Figure 2, a transverse section
of a gas meter of the kind commonly called water meters, arranged with. my
improvements.

page_text: 1 a is the general case or body of the meter; and b, the. measuring wheel or
drum therein, and which is of the ordinary character; c is the front chamber.;
d, the inlet, and e, the outlet passage for the gas; fis the float, which is
controlled to act in a separate compartment g, which, though open at the
bottom, in order to admit of the free action of the float, is there sealed by its
sides or outer surface dipping below the water line. At the upper part of this
chamber g there is a horizontal partition g' with an aperture 9* therethrough;
capable of being closed by the surface f¹ of the float when the float rises
unduly bigh. Above this partition there is an opening g', to which is con-
nected a pipe g opening outside of the meter to effect free communication
with the atmosphere, and thus allow of the free action of the float f by the
rising and falling of the water in the chamber g. The float is connected to
the rods f³, which rise upwards through guides g³, and at their upper ends. àre
by the spindle f connected to valves h and i. The valve is of the ordinary
kind for admitting the gas into the meter. The valve i is adapted to regulate
the quantity of gas passing into the meter by the passage d to the measuring
compartments by any undue pressure of gas acting upon the surface of the
water in the meter, causing such water to rise in the compartment g, and
thereby causing the valve i to rise, which, by its form, will reduce the aperture
for the admission of gas by the pipe d, whilst the surface f¹ acting as a valve
will close the passage g² for the atmosphere when from excessive pressure the
water in the meter might be forced out of the compartment g by the pipe g*. .
Figures 3 and 4 show two views of a slight modification of this part of the
improvements in which the compartment c is open to the body of the meter,
and the measuring drum is reversed, so that the gas to be measured enters by
the pipe and passes away by the pipe k. The other parts are marked with
the same letters of reference already employed.
Figures 1 and 2 also show the second part of the improvements applied.
The measuring drum 6 in place of revolving horizontally is supported so that
its axis inclines slightly and with a tendency when the meter is level towards
the back, but it is also capable of sliding forwards, and when the meter is
tilted forwards the axis 6' will with its drum b slide forwards, and then act
directly on the lever arm which turns upon an axis l', and at its other end
carries a valve l" to close the passage m for gas into the meter, or it may be to
close the passage of the measured gas. I also apply a plate 62 to the drum b
with an opening s therethrough around the axis 6', so that in case of the
meter being tilted backwards the water may rise above such opening, and
close the passage of gas through the meter that way.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the means I
adopt in carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do
not claim the separate mechanical parts, nor do I confine myself to the precise
details as shown and described, so long as the peculiar character of the
improvements be retained, substantially as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Shearman, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
GEORGE SHEARMAN. (L.s.)
Witness,
B. J. B. MILLS,
Clerk to William Brookes, Patent Agent.
73, Chancery Lane, London.