IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINDLE TUBES OF WET GAS METERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, SAMUEL ROBINSON OGDEN, Engineer and Manager of the Corporation Gas
Works, Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of
my said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINDLE TUBES OF WET GAS METERS,"
to be as follows:-
$6
The object of this Invention is so to improve the construction of the spindle
tubes of wet gas meters, that the water lock or seal may be effective against much
higher pressure of gas than would be balanced by the column of water in the
length of tube usually admissible.
The improved spindle tube is constructed of three or more parts which are
arranged to form an annular water trap or seal round the indicator spindle. The
first part is formed by a short tube which is open at both ends and has a flange on
its lower end. The second part is formed by a tube of large diameter surrounding
the first and closed at the upper end where it is attached to the spindle, the lower
end terminating a short distance above the flange on the first tube. The third part
is formed by a tube of still larger diameter, surrounding the others, and closed at
the lower end by the flange of the first tube, to which it is attached. This last
tube extends upwards to and through the casing of the meter where it is screwed
or soldered to form a gas tight joint. The inner and the outer tube thus form an
annular channel which is closed at the bottom, and this channel is filled with
water or mercury. The intermediate tube which is closed at its upper end dips
into the liquid in the annular channel and forms a trap or seal.
The meter casing is filled to the usual extent with water which passes to the
general level up the central tube. When the pressure of gas exceeds that which
balances a column of water of greater height than the length of the inner tube the
water overflows into the annular space or trap and rises in the space between the
intermediate and outer tubes. The pressure in excess of that which balances
the column of water on the first tube drives up the water in the outer space to a
height at which it is balanced by the column of water in it, and as the outer tube
is of the same or rather of greater length than the first, the pressure of gas in the
meter may be double that ordinarily allowed fór, when single spindle tubes with a
single column of water are used, without causing an overflow. By increasing the
number of tubes and forming two or more annular traps, or by filling the trap
with mercury or other heavy liquid, abnormal pressures may be allowed for without
increasing the usual length of spindle tube and height of meter.
Dated this Twenty third day of January 1884.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
L5.89
I, SAMUEL ROBINSON OGDEN, Engineer and Manager, of the Corporation Gas
Works, Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of
my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPINDLE TUBES OF WET GAS METERS ;" and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my Invention is so to improve the construction of the spindle
tubes of wet gas meters, that the water lock or seal may be effective against much
higher pressure of gas than would be balanced by the column of water in the length
of tube usually admissible.
The Invention is illustrated by the accompanying, Drawings, in which Figure 1
is a vertical section of the inner part of the improved spindle tube, Figure 2 is a
similar view showing the addition of an enclosing tube, Figure 3 is a section of the
☐ complete spindle tube, and Figure 4 is a plan of the saine, showing the gearing.
The improved spindle tube is constructed of three or more parts which are arranged
to form an annular water trap or seal round the indicator spindle A. The first
part is formed by a short tube B which is open at both ends, and has a flange b on
its lower end. The second part is formed by a tube C of larger diameter
surrounding the first, and closed at the upper end at c where it is attached to the
spindle A, the lower end terminating a short distance above the flange on the first
tube. The third part is formed by a tube D of still larger diameter, surrounding
the others, and closed at the lower end by the flange b of the first tube B to which
it is attached. This last tube extends upwards to and through the casing of the
meter at d, where it is screwed or soldered to form a gas-tight joint. The inner
and outer tubes B, D, thus form an annular channel which is closed at the bottom,
.and this channel is filled with water or mercury. The intermediate tube C which
is closed at its upper end dips into the liquid in the annular channel and forms a
trap or seal.
The meter casing is filled to the usual extent with water which passes to the
general level up the central tube. When the pressure of gas exceeds that which
balances a column of water of greater height than the length of the inner tube B,
the water overflows into the annular space or trap and rises in the space between
the intermediate and other tubes C, D. The pressure in excess of that which
balances the column of water on the first tube B, drives up the water in the outer
space to a height at which it is balanced by the column of water in it, and as the
outer tube D is of the same or rather of greater length than the first, the pressure
of gas in the meter may be double that ordinarily allowed for, when single spindle-
tubes with a single column of water are used, without causing an overflow. By
increasing the number of tubes B, C, D and forming two or more annular traps, or
by filling the trap with mercury or other heavy liquid, abnormal pressures may be
allowed for, without increasing the usual length of spindle tube and height of
meter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is,
Constructing spindle tubes of wet gas meters in the manner and for the purpose
herein set forth.