IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR MEASURINg Gas and otHER FLUIDS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smith, of Snow Hill, in the City of London,
and Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, of Gloucester Terrace, Park Walk,
Chelsea, Gas Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS
FOR MEASURINg Gas and otHER FLUIDS."
Sealed the 23rd November 1855, and dated the 24th May 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Smith and
Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 24th May 1855.
We, WILLIAM SMITH, of Snow Hill, in the City of London, & NATHANIEL
FORTESCUE TAYLOR, of Gloucester Terrace, Park Walk, Chelsea, Gas Engi-
neers, , do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN METERS FOR MEASURING GAS & OTHER FLUIDS" to be as follows:-
The improvements relate, first, to forming the valves & valve seats of
meters for measuring gas so that each valve cover in action has a partial
rotary motion on its seat, & in forming the seat (for two measuring com-
partments of the meter) with four passages or ways of two unequal sizes,
whilst each valve cover is formed with two compartments & two blanks; the
two compartments in the valve cover correspond in dimensions with the two

page_text: larger passages, & the two blanks with the two smaller passages of the valve
seat. Supposing the larger passages in the valve seat to be those employed to
conduct the gas to & from the valve, the two smaller passages will then be
employed to conduct the gas to or from the measuring compartments, and
the valve in its partial rotary motion will alternately open those for the passage
of the gas to & from the measuring compartments.
The improvements relate, secondly, to a mode of arranging an indicator, for
indicating the level of the water in water gas meters. The end of a lever
passes through a slot on the top of the float, or is otherwise connected to it,
whilst the other end of the lever is attached to an axis, which axis also carries
a pointer to indicate upon a scale any variation from the mean level of the
water in the meter. The axis of the lever arm and pointer is supported in
suitable bearings, & passes through a horizontal stuffing box, to prevent the
escape of gas from the interior of the meter.
Thirdly, the improvements relate to meters for measuring water or other
fluid. In this case the valves are semi-rotary, and each admits the water
or other fluid alternately to & from two measuring compartments; and, by
preference, we employ in each meter two valves and two pairs of measuring
compartments. The valve covers are supported in chambers in connection
with the pipe of supply, whereby the pressure of the fluid to be measured will
tend to keep the valve covers to their seats. Each valve cover is formed with
a passage through it for the supply, & with a chamber to conduct the fluid
alternately from one or other measuring compartment through the passage in
the valve seat when measured. The passages for the fluid away from the
measuring part of the meter are all inclined upwards, to avoid accumula
tions of air. The partial rotation of the valve is obtained from the movements
of the partitions or diaphragms between each pair of measuring chambers.
The partitions & discs of the measuring compartments are formed of tinned
iron or other suitable metals, & the materials intended to be used for the
flexible part of the measuring chambers may be any such of a waterproof
nature suitable for the purpose.
Fourthly, the improvements consist in forming the inlet & outlet pipes
with the screws and flanges thereof, as also the valve box with its parts, as
applied to meters for measuring gas & other fluids, of cast malleable iron.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Smith and Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 24th November 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
SMITH, of Snow Hill, in the City of London, and NATHANIEL FORTESCUE
TAYLOR, of Gloucester Terrace, Park Walk, Chelsea, Gas Engineers, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said William Smith and Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, Her special
licence that we, the said William Smith and Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
William Smith and Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, our 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 law-
fully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR MEASURING GAS AND OTHER FLUIDS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said William Smith and
Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, by an instrument in writing under our hands
and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, should particularly
describe 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 we, the said William Smith and Nathaniel
Fortescue Taylor, 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, that is to
say:
The improvements relate, first, to forming the valves and valve seats of
meters for measuring gas so that each valve cover in action has a partial
rotary motion on its seat, and in forming the seat (for two measuring compart-

page_text: ments of the meter) with four passages or ways of two unequal sizes, whilst
each valve cover is formed with two compartments and two blanks; the two
compartments in the valve cover correspond in dimensions with the two larger
passages, and the two blanks with the two smaller passages of the valve seat.
Supposing the larger passages in the valve seat to be those employed to
conduct the gas to and from the valve, the two smaller passages will then be
employed to conduct the gas to or from the measuring compartments, and the
valve in its partial rotary motion will alternately open those for the passage of
the gas to and from the measuring compartments.
The improvements relate, secondly, to a mode of arranging an indicator for
indicating the level of the water in water gas meters. The end of a lever
passes through a slot on the top of the float, or is otherwise connected to it,
whilst the other end of the lever is attached to an axis, which axis also carries
a pointer to indicate upon a scale any variation from the mean level of the
water in the meter. The axis of the lever arm and pointer is supported in
suitable bearings, and passes through an horizontal stuffing box, to prevent the
escape of gas from the interior of the meter.
Thirdly, the improvements relate to meters for measuring water or other
fluid. In this case the valves are semi-rotary, and each admits the water or
other fluid alternately to and from two measuring compartments; and although
we have shown only one pair of measuring compartments, we sometimes
employ in each meter two valves and two pairs of measuring compartments.
The valve covers are supported in chambers in connection with the pipe of
supply, whereby the pressure of the fluid to be measured will tend to keep the
valve covers to their seats. Each valve cover is formed with a passage
through it for the supply, and with a chamber to conduct the fluid alternately
from one or other measuring compartment through the passage in the valvo
seat when measured. The passages for the fluid away from the measuring
part of the meter are all inclined upwards, to avoid accumulations of air.
The partial rotation of the valve is obtained from the movements of the
partitions or diaphragms between each pair of measuring chambers. The
partitions and discs of the measuring compartments are formed of tinned
iron or other suitable metals, and the materials intended to be used for the
flexible part of the measuring chambers may be any such of a waterproof
nature suitable for the purpose.
Fourthly, the improvements consist in forming the inlet and outlet pipes,
with the screws and flanges thereof, as also the valve box with its parts,

page_text: But that the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner we carry the
same into effect, may be fully understood, we will proceed to describe the
Drawings annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a plan of the interior of the upper part or valve chamber of
a dry gas meter, with improvements according to the first part of our Invention.
It will be seen there is a central axis a, to which rotary motion is given by the
movement of the diaphragms of the meter; as, however, the method of giving a
rotary motion to such axis is well understood, we have not thought it necessary
to enter into any details of these parts. Figures 2, 3, and 4 show separate
views of one of the valves separately. 6 is the seat of the valve; and c, the cover
thereto; whilst e is the inlet passage for gas to the meter; and the gas in passing
by this passage is conducted by the passages e, o, e, to the respective valves,
and in each case the gas will rise into the valve by the passage b' in the seat,
thence it will be conducted by the compartment c' of the valve cover alternately
through one or other of the passages b², b³, to one or other diaphragm in con-
nection with that particular valve; and the gas having been thereby measured,
passes back again through a passage 62 to the compartment of its cover c, by
which it is thence conducted by a passage f¹ to the outlet f. are blanks
in the valve cover, which serve to close the ways 6* when the valve is passing
the centre of its motion.
Figure 5 shows a side view, partly in section; Figure 6, a plan, also partly
in section, of a water gas meter, arranged with improvements according to the
second part of the Invention; Figures 7 and 8 show parts separately. 9 is
the float, which by floating upon the surface of the water causes a valve g¹ to
be lifted from its seat to allow of the free passage of gas therethrough, as is
well understood, when the meter is properly charged with water. According
to present arrangements of meters, the float does not indicate externally any
excess or want of water in the meter; but according to our improvements the
valve is by its stem connected to the lever arm h in such manner, that whatever
variation of level of water there may be in the meter so as to raise or sink,
the float g will cause corresponding movement to the lever arm h. 'The arm h
is affixed to the axis h', which passes through a stuffing box i to prevent the
escape of the gas; and at its other end this axis h' has affixed to it another

page_text: arm h, whose outer end is formed into a pointer, to indicate the variation from
the neutral point in the height of water in the meter.
Figures 9 and 10 show two sectional views of a meter for measuring water
or other fluids, according to the third part of our improvements. In this case
the valve is very similar in its construction and mode of operation to that
described under the first head of our improvements, except that the cover c is
enclosed in a case or chamber, and it has a hole through it to communicate
with that chamber, by which the force of the water or other fluid passing into
the meter presses equally on each part of the valve.
The water or other fluid to be measured passes through the valve in a
similar manner to what is described with respect to gas under the first head of
the Invention, thence to one or other of the compartments j, j, whose covers j¹
are by links k connected each to one end of a lever 1, which turn on axes 1,
and at their upper ends are connected together by a link m, upon which are
formed tappets m³, m', which act alternately upon a stud nupon the lever
arm n¹, which is affixed to the axis n, and at its outer end is formed into
aT piece, each outer end of which has a stud n³ in it, which alternately acts
upon the lever arm o, affixed to the valve cover c, to give motion thereto.
Upon the axis 22 is also affixed another arm n', to which is connected one
end of the spring p, which serves to throw the lever n' into a position of rest
after it has assumed a vertical position. The water or other fluid as measured
occupies the exterior of the measuring chamber, and is thence capable of being
drawn off by the tap g.
In carrying out the fourth part of the improvements, we do not confine our-
selves to any particular method of producing the parts referred to, so long as
they are formed of cast malleable iron.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the best means
we are acquainted with for carrying the same into practice, we would have it
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details shown and
described, as these may be varied; but what we do claim is,-
First, the method of forming valves and valve seats of gas meters as
explained.
Secondly, we claim the method of arranging apparatus for indicating the
level water in water gas meters as explained.
Thirdly, we claim the arranging and combining parts of meters for
measuring water and other fluids, as explained.
Fourthly, we claim for forming the inlet and outlet pipes, with the screws

page_text: and flanges thereof, as also the valve box with its parts, as applied to meters
for measuring gas and other fluids, of cast malleable iron.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Smith and Nathaniel
Fortescue Taylor, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-
fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
0
Witness,
WILLIAM BROOKES,
WILLIAM SMITH.
(L.S.)
NATHANIEL F. TAYLOR. (L.S.)
73, Chancery Lane, Patent Agent.