IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID METERS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Richards Harding and Thomas Walter Harding,
both of Leeds, in the County of York, Hackle Pin & Comb Manufacturers,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID METERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Richards Harding
and Thomas Walter Harding at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 15th July 1881.
THOMAS RICHARDS HARDING and THOMAS WALTER HARDING, both of Leeds,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
in the County of York, Hackle Pin & Comb Manufacturers.
FLUID METERS."
The recording apparatus at present used in fluid meters employed for measuring
gas or water is the index, consisting of several dials and pointers, familiar to
The record of these indices is
everyone in connection with household gas meters.
very difficult to read off, few being able to do it at all, and those who are
accustomed to reading them frequently making serious mistakes, for it is as likely
that a mistake will be made in the "hundred thousand" dial as in that of "units."
Now according to our Invention we provide fluid meters with numerical counting
and recording apparatus, at once simple and reliable, and perfectly easy to read off
even by a child.
On a suitable frame we mount two shafts parallel to each other, on one of
which are placed several wheels with their peripheries of sufficient width to permit
of figures being engraved or marked thereon No. 0 to 9 equally divided around.
These number wheels have each twenty teeth on one edge, and only two on the
other, and take or gear into pinions which are carried on the second shaft, the said
pinions are formed with two sets of teeth, the number on one side being double
that on the other, and are so arranged that they lock on the surface of the before
named number wheels and prevent their turning, except at the moment when the
two teeth on one side of a number wheel partially turn a pinion so as to move the
next wheel one tenth. This decimal arrangement gives a positive and certain

page_text: counting apparatus which is also very easy to verify. Where it is required to
have as little friction as possible, all the number wheels and pinions may be free
on their shafts, but as a rule we prefer to fix the first number wheel to the major
shaft which therefore revolves with it. The face of the counter is provided with a
slit or oblong opening through which to see the figures, and of sufficient width that
they may be seen when either stationary or on the move. The slit or opening is
made sufficiently long to shew the teeth of the first number wheel, and as there are
ten figures and twenty teeth, and therefore two teeth. to each figure, these teeth
serve to shew the feet and half feet, an arrow or pointer being suitably placed on the
counter face. If a notch be cut or marked between the teeth, then quarter feet
may be ascertained. We connect the major shaft or the first number wheel in the
series direct with the mechanism of the meter by a crown wheel or otherwise. In
order to facilitate the reading of the numbers we prefer to have dark figures on a
light ground, and therefore the number wheels may be made of brass and plated, or
preferably these wheels may be made of white metal or alloy, or again, they may
be made of wood, vulcanite, xylonite, china (earthenware), or similar materials, or
the sides of the wheels bearing the teeth may be made of metal and the centre of
the wheels bearing the figures may be made of some of the before named materials
with the figures printed or impressed thereon. Where the wheels are made of
metal we prefer to have the figures engraved or impressed, sunk or in relief, so as
to prevent their being rubbed off, the main point being to use materials little liable
to oxydise or tarnish, and figures that will be permanently legible.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Richards Harding & Thomas Walter Harding in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th January 1882.
THOMAS RICHARDS HARDING and THOMAS WALTER HARDING, both of Leeds,
in the County of York, Hackle Pin and Comb Manufacturers. "IMPROVE
MENTS IN FLUID METERS."
The recording apparatus at present used in fluid meters employed for measuring
gas or water is the index, consisting of several dials and pointers, familiar to
everyone in connection with household gas meters.
The record of these indices is very difficult to read off, few being able to do
it at all, and those who are accustomed to reading them frequently making
serious mistakes, for it is as likely that a mistake will be made in the "hundred
thousand" dial as in that of units.
Now according to our Invention we provide fluid meters with numerical
counting and recording apparatus, at once simple and reliable, and perfectly easy
to read off even by a child. On a suitable frane we mount two shafts parallel to
each other, on one of which are placed several wheels with their peripheries of
sufficient width to permit of figures being engraved or marked thereon No. 0 to 9
equally divided around. These number wheels have each twenty teeth on one
edge and only two on the other, and take or gear into pinions which are carried on
the second shaft, the said pinions are formed with two sets of teeth, the number on
one side being double that on the other, and are so arranged that they lock on the
surface or peripheries of the before named number wheels and prevent their
turning except at the moment when the two teeth on one side of a number wheel
partially turn a pinion so as to move the next wheel one tenth of a revolution.
This decimal arrangement gives a positive and certain counting apparatus, which
is also very easy to verify..
Where it is required to have as little friction as possible, all the number wheels
and pinions may be free on their shafts, but as a rule we prefer to fix the first
number or "unit" wheel to the major shaft, which therefore revolves with it.
The face of the counter is provided with a slit or oblong opening through which to
see the figures, and of sufficient width that they may be seen when either
stationary or on the move.
The slit or opening is made sufficiently long to shew the teeth of the first
number wheel, and as there are ten figures and twenty teeth, and therefore two
teeth to each figure, these teeth serve to shew the feet and half feet, an arrow or
pointer being suitably placed in the counter face. If a notch be cut or marked
between the teeth, then quarter feet may be ascertained. We connect the major
shaft, or the first number wheel in the series, direct with the mechanism of the
meter by a crown wheel or otherwise.
In order to facilitate the reading of the numbers we prefer to have dark figures
on a light ground, and therefore the number wheels may be made of brass and
plated, or preferably these wheels may be made of a white metal or alloy; or
again, they may be made of wood, vulcanite, xylonite, china (earthenware), or
similar materials, or the sides of the wheels bearing the teeth may be made of metal
and the centre of the wheels bearing the figures may be made of some of the
beforenamed materials with the figures printed or impressed thereon, or printed
slips may be suitably affixed to them. When the wheels are made of metal we
prefer to have the figures engraved or impressed, sunk or in relief, so as to prevent
their being rubbed off, the main point being to use materials little liable to oxydize
or tarnish, and figures that will be permanently legible. In the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings the same reference letters refer to the same or like parts
wherever they occur. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of what is known as a "dry gas
.

page_text: meter,” in this view the face or dial plate B is removed in order to show fully the
counting mechanism A; Fig. 2 is a plan, the front portion being partly in section,
showing the counting mechanism A in position; Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the
upper portion partly in section, also showing the counting mechanism A and the
method of driving the same from the existing working parts of the meter; Fig. 4
is a partial front view of the same meter, with the face or dial plate B in position
through the slit or opening B', in which the figures representing the quantity of
fluid passed through the meter are presented in a horizontal line, and which may
be read off without fear of making a mistake. Fractions of a cubic foot may be
indicated if desired as previously referred to, half a foot being indicated when the
centre of a tooth which is in a line with the lower part of a figure on the first or
unit wheel F comes opposite to the point of the arrow L on the face or dial plate
previously referred to. A quarter of a foot is indicated when the centre of a space
between any of the teeth of the said wheel comes opposite to the aforesaid arrow L.
In the driving mechanism of the counter D is a worm wheel driven by the existing
worm C of the meter. On the other end of the worm wheel shaft is a pinion E
taking into the teeth on one side of and driving the first or unit wheel F of the
counting mechanism or number wheels whose peripheries are divided and numbered
from zero to nine, one edge of these wheels (which we call the front edge) has
twenty teeth, and the other (or back edge) has only two teeth H, H¹, as before
mentioned, and which are more distinctly shewn in the enlarged views of two
wheels and a pinion, Figs. 9 and 10. The locking of the pinions is effected by two
of their teeth I and J (on that side having the least number of teeth) resting upon
the periphery of the number wheels, the releasing of the pinions takes place during
the last tenth part of a revolution of a moving number wheel by the first of the
said two teeth H (which project sideways beyond the back edge of the number
wheels) coming in contact during the time that the pinion is locked with the
tooth K in the pinion on that side having the greatest number, the tooth I on the
other side of the pinion during its now partial revolution passes into the space
between the said two teeth E and H¹, and makes such a portion of a revolution as
to cause the adjoining wheel with which it is in gear to make one tenth of a
revolution, and thus to record or show the amount of fluid passed through the
meter and measured off by the preceding wheel, these movements being continued
through the whole series of number wheels and pinions. F, F1, F2, F³, and F*, are
the number wheels, and G, G, G, and G³, are the pinions; these may be increased
in number as desired and to suit the capacity of the meter. Fig. 5 is a front
elevation of what is known as a "wet gas meter" with the dial plate B removed,
as in Fig. 1, and for a similar purpose; Fig. 6 is a plan partly in section shewing
the counting mechanism A; this is driven from an existing shaft C¹ usual in such
meters. On this shaft we fix a crown wheel D which takes into and drives the
first or unit wheel F of the counting mechanism, the other movements following
this are the same as above described with respect to Figs. 1, 2, and 3; Fig. 7 is a
partial side view with the upper part in section, shewing the counting mechanism A
and the driving crown wheel D; Fig. 8 is a partial front view of the meter
represented by the Figs. 5, 6, and 7, and shews the face or dial plate B in position
with the slit or opening B', through which are read the figures on the counter
wheels, as before described with reference to Fig. 4. It will be evident that the
number of teeth in the worm wheel D and pinion E, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and in the
crown wheel D, Figs. 5, 6, and 7, which respectively connect the mechanism of a
meter to that of the counter, will require to vary according to the capacity of such
meter.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in which
it is to be or may be carried into practical effect, we would have it understood
that what is claimed as secured to us under the Letters Patent hereinbefore in part
recited is,
1. The application of numerical counting and recording apparatus to fluid meters,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.

page_text: 2. The arrangement of mechanism for driving the series of counter or number
wheels from the existing moving parts of fluid meters as usually constructed,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
3. The arrangement of dial with oblong opening or siit to shew the figures when
stationary or on the move, and of pointer in connection with teeth of the first
number wheel to shew fractions of a cubic foot, substantially as herein before
described and illustrated.
4. The application of an alloy of white metal to the manufacture of the number
wheels of numerical counters for fluid meters.
5. The application of non-metallic materials, such as xylonite (cotton pulp),
vulcanite, wood, or earthenware, to the manufacture of the number wheels of
numerical counters for fluid meters.
6. The combination of metal for the sides and teeth with non-metallic substances
for the figured parts of the number wheels of numerical counters for fluid meters, as
herein before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Richards Harding and Thomas
Walter Harding, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourth day
of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
eighty two.
Witness to the signatures of the said
Thomas Richards Harding and
Thomas Walter Harding,
THO. E. CRAVEN, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
24, Victoria Chambers,
South Parade,
Leeds.
THO. R. HARDING.
(L.S.)
T. WALTER HARDING. (L.S.)
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