IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Hunt, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Hunt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th February 1877..
CHARLES HUNT, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN GAS METERS."
This Invention has for its object the construction of meters in such a manner as
to admit of their being worked at an increased pressure and beyond their normal
speed without affecting the accuracy of the registration and the steadiness of the
lights.
The Invention consists,―
Firstly. In either removing the division plate between the front or float chamber
and the drum chamber, or by making a communication between the two by one
or more holes above the water line, so that the inlet gas passes at once from the
inlet pipe into the drum chamber and enters the drum by the slits in the hoods.
The measured gas finds its way into the hollow cover and leaves the drum by the
bent tube or spout on its way to the general outlet of the meter, which may be
placed either at the side or top of the apparatus; in other words, the gas passes
through the drum in the opposite direction to that ordinarily the case.
Secondly. The dividing the front or float chamber in two portions, the inner one
being a communication with the drum chamber, and the other one serving as a
water reservoir. Attached to the upright spindle of the meter is an eccentric or
cam, which causes a spoon to rise and fall, and at each elevation to lift a small
quantity of water and deposit it in that portion of the front chamber which is in
communication with the drum chamber; by these means the correct water level is
constantly maintained. The float chamber has also a transverse partition reaching
up to the top of the float, but having a sinall opening near the bottom of the
division so as to allow of a communication for the water between it and the other
portion from which it is divided. The object of this partition is to prevent any
alteration of the level of the float by a sudden influx of water. There is also a

page_text: waste water box below the previously described front chamber, into which the
bottom of the outlet conduit passes and dips into a seal cup, so as to prevent the
extraction of unregistered gas by pricking the outer case.
In order to make the ordinary index available for this description of meter, which
is driven in the opposite direction, the worm on the drum shaft and worm wheel
on the upright spindle are cut the reverse way.
The arrangement whereby the gas is driven through the meter in an opposite
direction to that ordinarily done is not new, neither is the arrangement for main-
taining a constant water level in the manner before described new, but the com-
bination of the two, as described herein, is new, and constitutes the present
Invention, whereby a more accurate measurement of the gas and greater steadiness of
lights are ensured.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Hunt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th August
1877.
CHARLES HUNT, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick.
GAS METERS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention has for its object the construction of meters in such a manner as
to admit of their being worked at an increased pressure and beyond their normal
speed without affecting the accuracy of the registration and the steadiness of the
lights.
The Invention consists,―
Firstly. In either removing the division plate between the front or float chamber
and the drum chamber, or by making a communication between the two by one or
more holes above the water line, so that the inlet gas passes at once from the inlet
pipe into the drum chamber and enters the drum by the slits in the hoods. The
measured gas finds its way into the hollow cover and leaves the drum by the bent
tube or spout on its way to the general outlet of the meter, which may be placed
either at the side or top of the apparatus; in other words, the gas passes through
the drum in the opposite direction to that ordinarily the case.
Secondly. The dividing the front or float chamber in two portions, the inner one
being in communication with the drum chamber, and the outer one serving as a
water reservoir. Attached to the upright spindle of the meter is an eccentric or
cam, which causes a spoon to rise and fall, and at each elevation to lift a small
quantity of water and deposit it in that portion of the front chamber which is in
communication with the drum chamber; by these means the correct water level is
constantly maintained. The float chamber has also a transverse partition reaching
up to the top of the float, but having a small opening near the bottom of the
division, so as to allow of a communication for the water between it and the other
portion from which it is divided. The object of this partition is to prevent any
alteration of the level of the float by a sudden influx of water. There is also a
waste water box below the previously described front chamber, into which the
bottom of the outlet conduit passes and dips into a seal cup, so as to prevent the
extraction of unregistered gas by pricking the outer case.
In order to make the ordinary index available for this description of meter,
which is driven in the opposite direction, the worm on the drum shaft and worm
wheel on the upright spindle are cut the reverse way.
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 meter, with the front plate of the square box or
float chamber removed; and Fig. 2 is a transverse or side sectional elevation.
In Fig. 1 A is the outer case of the meter; B, the inlet pipe for the gas; C, the
float, which is free to rise and fall in the float chamber D. This chamber is.

page_text: divided from the rest of the outer chamber by the partition E, but this partition
is not essential. The gas having passed into the body of the meter finds its way
through an opening or openings in the case above the water line, as at W, into the
drum F, by the slits in the hoods at the back, and from thence through the drum
to the hollow cover G. Here it descends by the spout or bent tube H, and either
passes up the tube I into the conduit J, and so on to the outlet K at the top of the
meter, or when the outlet is placed at the side of the meter the gas, instead of going
by way of the conduit J, flows through the pipe L to the outlet M. If thought
desirable the gas may be conveyed from the pipe I to the outlet M by an alternative
pipe or conduit, shown by dotted lines and marked X; N is the filling pipe, or
pipe by which the meter is charged with water; O is a pipe for carrying off any
water that may accidentally get into the spout, and so lead it to a well or seal
cup P placed within the waste water box Q; and R is a pipe for drawing off any
accumulation of water within the waste water box; S is the cam attached to the
upright spindle; and T, the spoon lever, which on being raised lifts water from the
water reservoir U and pours it into the chamber V, which is in communication with
the measuring chamber; Y is an opening provided with a screw plug for emptying
the meter.
The arrangement whereby the gas is driven through the meter in an opposite
direction to that ordinarily done is not new, neither is the arrangement for main-
iaining a constant water level in the manner before described new, but the com-
bination of the two, as herein described, is new, and constitutes the present
Invention, whereby a more accurate measurement of the gas and greater steadiness
of lights are ensured.
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
therein 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 arrange-
ment of the various parts so as to admit of meters being worked the reverse of the
ordinary way in combination with the means for securing a constant water level, as
herein described and shown on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Hunt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
CHARLES HUNT. (L.S.)