AN IMPROVED GAS METER
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Walker and Andrew Walker, both of
32, Brougham Road, Dalston, in the County of Middlesex, Gas
Meter Makers, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED GAS METER."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Peter Walker and Andrew
Walker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition and Declaration, on the 8th November 1869, pursuant to
the 9th Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, PETER
WALKER and ANDREW WALKER, both of 32, Brougham Road, Dalston,
in the County of Middlesex, Gas Meter Makers, send greeting.
WHEREAS we are in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
GAS METER," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto us, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the
same, and have made solemn Declaration that we are the true and first
Inventors thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Peter Walker and Andrew
Walker, do hereby declare that the following Complete Specification,

page_text: under our hands and seals, fully describes and ascertains the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to that class of gas meters known as dry meters
and consists in a wholly improved construction whereby increased
simplicity and efficiency are combined and the cost of manufacture and
repairs greatly reduced, whilst the meter being much smaller than other
descriptions of meters constructed for registering a like consumption of
gas economy of space is also effected.
In order that our Invention may be clearly understood and readily
carried into effect we will proceed to describe the same with the aid of
the accompanying Drawings, reference being had to the figures and
letters marked thereon. In each case the same letter wherever it occurs
indicates the same part.
Fig. I. is a front elevation of our improved gas meter; Fig. II. is
also a front elevation with the front half of the case removed, and
the diaphragms C, D, in section at the line a, b, Fig. III.; Fig. III.
is a side elevation with the cap I removed in order to shew the
mechanism within by which the said diaphragms communicate motion
to the mechanism within the valve box I above; Fig. IV. is a plan
of the said valve box shewing the valve seats and valves K, and the
double crank T for working the same; Fig. V. is a plan of the meter
with the top cover Y removed in order to shew the mechanism
beneath; Fig. VI. is a plan of the said valve box shewing the position
of the arms R and double crank T when the valves K are in an exactly
reversed position to that shewn in Fig. IV.
A is the case or body of the meter mounted on feet Z, and divided
into two equal and seperate compartments by a partition B, each of
which compartments is again subdivided by a diaphragm C, D, composed
of a disc C and leather D fixed as herein-after described to allow of the
disc moving in a forward and backward direction within its compartment
of the case A. The case A is made in four distinct portions, as shewn
in Fig. II., and marked respectively 1, 2, 3, 4. The leathers D of the
diaphragms C, D, overlap the portions E of the divisions 2, 3, of the
case A and are firmly bound thereon by means of rings F, thus making
the joint perfectly gas-tight. The said leathers D are also fastened to
the discs C by rings G, which are firmly soldered or otherwise fastened

page_text: down. The remaining portions 1, 4, of the case A are then attached by
soldering or otherwise in the positions shewn in Fig. II., thus forming a
distinct and completely gas-tight compartment on each side of the said
diaphragms. The portions 1, 4, of the case A are provided, as shewn in
Fig. III., with openings to allow of easy access to the mechanism within..
These openings have caps H soldered or otherwise fastened over them
when the meter is in working order. The four said compartanents of the
case A communicate with the valve box I above by means of passages,J,,
which also serve to connect the said valve box with the body of the.
meter, and the flow of gas through which is regulated by slide valves K
which are worked in the manner hercin-after described. The gas
entering the meter through the inlet or supply pipe L flows through the
passages M to the valves K, and thence through the open valves and
their respective communications J into their respective compartments
of the said body of the meter, thereby imparting motion to the discs C,
which are supported in the required working positions by arms N. The
motion of the discs C is imparted to levers O, the lower ends of which
are centered to the case A, whilst the upper ends are provided with
cross heads which work in guides A' attached to the discs C. These said
levers O take into links P which are attached by swivel joints to spin-
dles Q, and thereby impart a semi-rotary motion to the said spindles Q
which pass through stuffing boxes into the said valve box I above, and
to which are attached the levers R, which receiving motion from the
spindles Qimpart motion to the crank shaft S and thence to the double
crank T which actuates the valves K in the ordinary way, reversing
them to allow of the gas entering on the opposite sides of the diaphragms
to continue the rotary motion of the crank shaft S, which is provided
with a worm or endless screw U, thus imparting by means of the spur
wheel V motion to the spindle W, which passes out through a stuffing.
box and actuates an ordinary index. The gas as it is forced out from
the several compartments by the pressure of the gas being admitted on
the opposite sides of the diaphragms enters the said valve box, and flows
thence through the outlet pipe X.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
our said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to or may be
performed, we would have it understood that we do not confine ourselves
to the precise details and arrangements herein described, as the same
may be somewhat modified without departing from the principle or

page_text: main features of our said Invention; but what we claim as novel and
original, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
First. The method of fixing the leathers of the diaphragms both to the
body of the meter and the discs of the diaphragms, substantially in the
new or improved manner herein described and shewn in the accom-
panying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The fixing of the diaphragmns opposite an opening in the body
of the meter, substantially as herein described and shewn in the accom-
panying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof..
Third. The method of attaching the valve box to the body of the
meter, substantially in the new or improved manner herein described
and shewn in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification
thereof.
Fourth. The relative positions of the slide valves and likewise the
double crank for working the same, substantially in the new or improved
manner herein described and shewn in the accompanying Drawings, or
any mere modification thereof.
Fifth. The mechanism for transmitting the motion from the diaphragms
to the double cranks for working the slides, substantially in the new or
improved manner herein described and shewn in the accompanying
Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, we, the said Peter Walker and Andrew Walker,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixth day of November
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-ninc.
Witness,
JOHN W. GRAY,
Patent Agent,
23, Billiter Street,
London, E.C.
PETER WALKER..
(L.S.)
ANDREW WALKER. (L.S.).