IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Scholefield, of Paris, France, Gas Meter
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Scholefield at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on tho
3rd June 1858.
I, THOMAS SCHOLEFIELD, of Paris, France, Gas Meter Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
METERS," to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to the class of meters called wet gas meters,
and more particularly to the kind known as the ordinary consumers' meters.
They consist,-
1stly, the partial or entire suppression of the division plate, which in the
ordinary consumers' mieter separates the drum or measuring chamber from
the rest of the meter, or having either the regulating valve and bent arm or
siphon pipe covered over with a bell dipping into the water contained in the
meter, or causing the gas to arrive at once into the said siphon pipe.
2ndly, a special form given to the outside casing of the meter, with the
object of simplifying the manufacture thereof.
Srdly, keeping the water in the measuring chamber of the meter at a
constant height or level by means of a scoop forming one arm of a bell-crank

page_text: lever, the other or short arm of which lever is slotted, and in which slot
works the pin of a crank fixed on the drum shaft; by this means the scoop
at each revolution of the drum carries up a suitable quantity of water from
a reservoir to the measuring chamber, and the parts submitted to friction are
constantly working in the water.
4thly, giving to the entrance of the pipe by which the water is introduced
in the meter a funnel-shaped form, and in a better disposition of the plug for
closing the same.
5thly, a box furnished with a proper division plate is situated beneath the
end of the bent arm or siphon pipe, a tube or arm of which latter dips into
the water with which this box is partly filled, which water may partly be
drawn off from the outside of the meter. This box receives the overflow
water from the reservoir.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Thomas Scholefield
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th December 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SCHOLEFIELD, of Paris, France, Gas Meter Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Thomas Scholefield, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Scholefield, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Thomas Scholefield, my 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 lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Thomas Scholefield, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Scholefield, 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:
These improvements relate to the class of meters called wet gas meters, and
more particularly to the kind known as the ordinary consumers' meter, in
which the true level of the water in the measuring drum is kept up by means
of a water lifting or compensating apparatus, actuated by the drum shaft;
they consist, 1st, in making use in the interior of the meter of a bell, with
bydraulic seal, serving to conduct the gas to the measuring drum; underneath
this bell is the float (which works the valve by which the gas is admitted), and
also the upper part of the siphon or spout. The said bell replaces the upper
part of the division plate which in ordinary meters separates the cylindrical:
compartment containing the drum and measured gas from the front box in
which is the unmeasured gas; 2ly, a special form or shape given to the.
outside casing of the meter, with the object of simplifying the manufacture
thereof, being made in a cylindrical form, the interior of which is partially
divided into two principal parts by means of a segmental division plate, the
back division containing the measuring drum, and the lower part of the front
division forming the supply, waste water, and condensation trough, and
containing further the receiver and remainder of the working parts of the
meter; 3ly, a special arrangement for working the water lifting scoop made
use of in compensating meters, which arrangement consists of a bell crank
lever.
I will now more fully describe the arrangements of the various parts, and
the manner of working my improved meter; and in order to make tho
description better understood, I will refer to the annexed Drawings, in which
Fig. 1 represents a front elevation view of the meter with the front
plates of the casing and receiver removed; and Fig. 2, a horizontal section
of the meter taken over the line A, B, of Fig. 1. In both Figures corre-
sponding parts are indicated by the same letters of reference. In Fig. 1.
various parts are represented partly cut away in order better to show
their construction, and make the entire arrangeinent and working of the
meter more comprehensible. The meter consists of a cylindrical casing
or envelope of cast or sheet iron or other suitable metal or material; a
segmental cross or division plate T divides the casing into two divisions, the
back division containing the measuring drum 8, whereas in the front division,
the lower part of which forms a trough M for the supply waste water and
condensation, is situated the receiver K, and the remainder of the interior

page_text: working parts of the meter, thus doing away entirely with the separate boxes
attached to other compensating meters; R is the entrance pipe for the gas,
and is connected and may be made to form part of the valve box or chamber F,
to the under part of which is securely soldered the bell E (shown in the Drawing
partly cut away), made of any metal, such as lead or tin, not liable to corrosion;
the lower end of this bell is sealed by the water in the receiver K. A hole or
valve G¹ serves to admit the gas from the valve box to the interior of tho bell;
under the bell is a float D, and the upper end of the siphon or spout C; the
float works a valve G in the ordinary manner, shutting off the gas should the
water become too low. A receiver K is fixed to the division plate, and is in
free communication with the back division 3, containing the drum 8, by tho
hole J, and the opening through which passes the bent arm U of the siphon or
spout C. The siphon or spout C (shown partly cut away) is constructed in the
usual manner, having its bent arm U passing into the hood of the drum 8.
Attached also to its lower end is a pipe S, which passing through the bottom
of the receiver K (to which it is soldered water-tight), descends nearly to the
bottom of the trough M; Z is a scoop or gutter closed at its extremity,
and fixed to the bent arm Y of the bell crank lever X 2 Y, having its
fulcrum at in a bracket fixed to the side of the receiver; the other arm
of this lever, which I prefer should be made of copper and covered
with enamel, is provided with a longitudinal slot in which works the
The
pin of a crank V fixed on and revolving with the drum shaft.
whole of the parts submitted to friction are constantly covered with water,
and consequently are not liable to set fast when at rest. N is a bent tube,
soldered at its lower end to the division plate T, and communicating with the
water contained in the back division, and serves to regulate the water therein.
Screwed into its upper part is a small pipe O, which can be raised or lowered
by means of a key passed through a hole pierced in the case or envelope, and
which is afterwards soldered up; by this arrangement the meter can be tested
and regulated in a finished state; P is a bent pipe serving to regulate the
level of the water in the trough M, and communicating with the outsido of
the meter at the screw plug Q. The upper end of the pipe P is placed so
that the level of the water in the trough M shall be below the bent arm of the
siphon pipe C, which is in communication with the trough M by the pipe S.
This disposition allows tho trough M to receive any liquid from condensation.
II is another bent pipe having its end I projecting over the division plate T,
(or, if required, can be conducted over the side of the receiver K,) and the
other or upper ond leading to the outside of the meter, and having attached
to it a small funnel H, closed by a thumb plug II; this pipe II serves to

page_text: conduct the water into the meter, and the funnel is more convenient for
introducing it than the means generally used. The pipes P and H are bent
so as to contain water, and prevent gas passing, should the plugs Q, H³, not
be replaced by negligence. W is a plug to vent the meter when being watered.
The working of the above described arrangements is as follows:-The meter
having been placed in working position in the ordinary manner; and the plugs
H, Q, and W withdrawn, water is poured into the funnel H', and is con-
ducted by the bent pipe H into the back division; as it rises it will flow
through the hole J into the receiver K, and at the same time up the regulating
pipe N until it reaches the level of the top of the pipe O; this being the correct
level of the measuring compartment of the meter, any surplus will fall into the
trough M until it reaches the top of the pipe P, and runs out at the plug Q,
which will indicate that sufficient water is in the meter; the plugs H, Q, and W
being replaced, the meter is ready for the admittance of gas, or in working
order. Gas being now allowed to enter by the pipe R, the same will pass
through the opening or valve G' into the bell E, the valve being lifted up, as
in ordinary meters, by the float D; from this bell the gas passes in the
usual manner, by means of the siphon pipe or spout C, into the measuring
drum, leaving by the ordinary exit pipe. The revolving of the drum causes
the crank V to give to the bell-crank lever X2 Y a reciprocating up-and-down
motion, by which the scoop Z will alternately dip into the trough M, and being
raised to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the water contained
therein drops into the receiver K; this receiver being in free communication
with the back division, the same level will be kept up, and any surplus returned
over the pipe O into the trough M. The object of the pipe S is to clean the
siphon pipe C of any condensation without permitting the unmeasured gas
mixing with tho measured, as its lower end is always sealed by the water con-
tained in the bottom of the trough M. Should any attempt be made to
introduce into the meter more than the proper quantity of water, it will rise in
the trough M, and also in the siphon pipe C, and thus shut off the
gas before
the measurement can be deranged.
The advantages obtained over other compensating meters by this construc-
tion are, 1st, economy in manufacture, the whole of the outer covering being
made in a cylindrical form, the lower part of the front division serving as a
supply, waste water, and condensation trough, and thus avoiding the necessity
of attaching separate reservoirs and boxes, as generally used for these pur-
poses; 2ndly, security to gas companies; there being no unmeasured gas in
contact with the outer casing of the meter, there is less liability to fraud, and the
unmeasured gas being under an incorrodible bell cannot pass from the meter

page_text: without being registered; 3ly, simplicity of construction, and consequently
less liability to derangement; 4ly, working the scoop by a bell-crank lever,
water can be raised from the supply trough situated below the bent arm of the
siphon pipe.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same can be used or carried into effect, I
will observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself to the
precise forms or details of the arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the main features or principles of the Invention; but what
I consider to be novel and original, therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me, consist of,-
1st, the general combination of the various parts of the above-described
arrangements.
2nd, giving to the entire casing or envelope of compensating consumer's
meters a cylindrical form, closed at the ends, in order that the lower part of
the front division may serve as a trough, for the purpose herein-before
described.
3rd, the placing the trough for the supply, waste water, and condensation,
below the bent arm of the siphon or spout.
4th, the application of an incorrodible bell, with hydraulic seal covering the
float and siphon pipe, for the purposes herein-before described.
5th, the working of the water-lifting scoop by means of a bell-crank
lever.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Scholefield, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
JOSEPH WILLCOCK.
THOS. SCHOLEFIELD. (L.S.)