Improvements in and relating to Gas Meters.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Gas Meters.
I, EDMUND WALTER TYRELL RICHMOND, of Summercourt, Romford, in the
County of Essex, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to gas meters in which the measurement of the flow of
gas is accomplished by the determination of the time equivalent of the gas flow,
while a cock remains open.
In time gas meters which have been hitherto proposed, the opening of a gas
cock liberates clock work mechanism, and the closing of the cock stops the clock
work.
In most mechanisms of this class the rate of indication on the clock dial
remains constant, whether the gas cock be opened to a small extent, to pass a
feeble flow of gas, or to a large extent, passing the maximum possible.
It has been proposed to alter the registration of the time rate of flow by using
a pendulum clock, whose length of pendulum was changed with the change in the
rate of gas supply.
The object of my invention is to dispense with pendulum clocks, which are
objectionable for this purpose and to provide an automatic means for varying
the rate of indication, on a dial showing the quantity of gas supplied, with the
rate of supply.
My invention consists in applying to a clock mechanism whose time rate
remains constant means, for automatically varying the rate of indication on the
clock dial, with the quantity of gas being delivered through a cock, controlling
the gas flow.
In carrying my invention into effect according to one modification, I provide
an ordinary balance wheel clock of any known type. On the hour spindle of
this clock I fit a special rate varying pinion which gears with a spur wheel on
an auxiliary spindle capable of longitudinal travel. On this latter spindle I
fix a long pinion which gears with a wheel on a sleeve carrying an indicating
hand moving over a dial, and showing either the quantity of gas supplied or
the number of hours supply to be paid for. The pinion on the hour spindle
has pin teeth of varying length arranged so that at one end the pinion has
twelve teeth, a little further along it has nine teeth, still further along it has
only six teeth, and so on. The rate at which the hand is driven depends on
the longitudinal position of the wheel in gear with the rate varying pinion on
the hour spindle. A ratchet pawl may be provided to prevent rotation of the
hand when it is free on account of the teeth of the wheel not being in gear with
the rate varying pinion during part of its revolution. I provide in connection
with the gas cock an arm which operates a quadrant provided with a centering
contrivance. One arm of the quadrant is provided with a step cam, against
which the end of the auxiliary spindle is pressed by a spring. When the gas

page_text: cock is full open the first step of the step cam is causing the wheel on the
auxiliary spindle to gear with the greatest number of teeth on the hour pinion
spindle. Therefore the registering hand is being driven at its maximum rate.
When the gas is turned down the next step of the step cam is brought opposite
the auxiliary spindle which is then pressed against it by the spring thus moving
its wheel along the rate varying pinion to a place where there are fewer teeth
on the latter's circumference. The rate at which the registering hand is now
driven is less than the maximum rate in proportion to the less quantity of gas
being passed by the cock. A suitable number of steps may be provided corre-
sponding with the various rates of supply decided on to suit different conditions.
A further step on the step cam may be provided to cause the wheel in gear
with the rate varying pinion to, pass endwise out of gear with it. The hand
will then not be driven at all. Where this arrangement is provided the clock
need not be stopped when the cock is shut as the shutting of the cock will have
stopped the indicating hand.
A
The centering contrivance in connection with the step cam is to ensure the
centre of each step being stopped opposite to the end of the auxiliary spindle.
The step cam is provided with an arm carrying a quadrant. The quadrant has
a series of V-grooves corresponding to each of the steps on the step cam.
pawl tooth is pressed by a spring into engagement with one or other of those
grooves. The cock or valve spindle is provided with a forked arm, which, by
its prongs bearing on a pin projecting from the quadrant, moves the quadrant,
and the play of the pins between the arms of the fork, allows the pawl to centre
the quadrant and bring the step cam into position. If it is desired that the
clock should be stopped when the gas supply is shut off, the following arrange-
ment is used:-As the cock is turned full off, a pin provided on the cock plug
operates a spring rod which stops the balance wheel of the clock, and this rod
is arranged to give the balance wheel a starting impulse when the gas is turned
This ensures the starting of the clock when the gas is turned on.
The pin
may alternatively be made to stop and start the clock escapement lever.
Any known form of variable speed gear may be used between the hour spindle
of the clock and the registering hand, without departing from my invention,
although I prefer the form which I have here described.
on,
1000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.
Improvements in and relating to Gas Meters.
I, EDMUND WALTER TYRELL RICHMOND, of Summercourt, Romford, in the
County of Essex, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
--
My invention relates to gas meters in which the measurement of the flow of
gas is accomplished by the determination of the time equivalent of the gas flow,
while a cock remains open.
In time gas meters which have been hitherto proposed, the opening of a gas
cock liberates clock work mechanism, and the closing of the cock stops the clock
work.

page_text: In most mechanisms of this class the rate of indication on the clock dial
remains constant, whether the gas cock be opened to a small extent, to pass a
feeble flow of gas, or to a large extent, passing the maximum possible.
"
It has been proposed to alter the registration of the time rate of flow by using
a pendulum clock, whose length of pendulum was changed with the change in the
rate of gas supply.
The object of my invention is to dispense with pendulum clocks, which are
objectionable for this purpose and to provide an automatic means for varying
the rate of indication, on a dial showing the quantity of gas supplied, with the
rate of supply.
My invention consists in applying to a clock mechanism whose time rate
remains constant means for automatically varying the rate of indication on the
clock dial, with the quantity of gas being delivered through a cock, controlling
the gas flow.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my new clock operated gas measuring device.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same, and
Figure 3 is a detail view shewing the connection of the quadrant G to the
gas cock arm F also shewing a form of clock stopping and starting device.
In carrying my invention into effect according to one modification, I provide
an ordinary balance wheel clock of any known type. On the hour spindle A
of this clock I fix a special rate varying pinion A which gears with a spur
wheel B¹ on an auxiliary spindle B capable of longitudinal travel its position
being controlled by a spring B³ and the step cam G₁. On this latter spindle B
I fix a long pinion B3 which gears with a wheel C¹ on a sleeve C carrying an
indicating hand C³ moving over a dial D, and showing either the quantity of
gas supplied or the number of hours supply to be paid for. The pinion A on
the hour spindle A has pin teeth of varying length some short and some long
arranged so that at one end the pinion has say twelve teeth, a little further
along it has six teeth. If more than two rates of supply, are to be recordeil
further variations of the number of teeth on the pinion at each point will be
provided The rate at which the hand C³ is driven depends on the longitudinal
position of the wheel B in gear with the rate varying pinion on the hour
spindle A.
A ratchet pawl E is provided to prevent rotation of the hand C³
when it is free on account of the teeth of the wheel B¹ not being in gear with
the rate varying pinion A¹ during part of its revolution. I provide in con-
nection with the gas cock F an arm F¹ which operates a quadrant G provided
with a centering contrivance. This centering device consists of a V pawl H
pressed into one of the centering V grooves H by the spring H2. One arm of
the quadrant is provided with a step cam G₁ against which the end of the
auxiliary spindle B is pressed by a spring B³. When the gas cock F is full open
the first step G2 of the step cam G is causing the wheel B₁ on the auxiliary
spindle B to gear with the greatest number of teeth on the hour pinion spindle A.
Therefore the registering hand C³ is being driven at its maximum rate. When
the gas is turned down, the next step G³ of the step cam G is brought opposite
the auxiliary spindle B which is then pressed against it by the spring. B³ thus
moving its wheel B' along the rate varying pinion A¹ to a place where there
are fewer teeth on the latter's circumference. The rate at which the registering
hand C is now driven is less than the maximum rate in proportion to the less
quantity of gas being passed by the cock F. A suitable number of steps may
be provided on the step cam G¹, corresponding with the various rates of supply
decided on to suit different conditions.
A further step on the step cam may be provided to cause the wheel B₁ in gear
with the rate varying pinion A¹ to pass end-wise out of gear with it, or the last
step may be omitted for the same purpose as shewn in Figure 2. The hand C³
will then not be driven at all. Where this arrangement is provided the clock

page_text: need not be stopped when the cock F is shut as the shutting of the cock F will
have stopped the indicating hand by putting the pinion B out of gear with the
pinion A
The centering contrivance in connection with the step cam is to
ensure the centre of each step being stopped opposite to the end of the auxiliary
spindle. The step cam is provided with an arm carrying a quadrant. The
quadrant has a series of V-grooves corresponding one to each of the steps on
the step cam. The pawl tooth H is pressed by the spring H2 into engagement
with one or other of those grooves H¹. The cock or valve spindle F is provided
with an arm F1 which by means of a connecting rod F2 attached by a pin F³ to
the quadrant G moves the quadrant. The play of the pin F in the slot F
allows the pawl H to centre the quadrant G and bring the step cam into position.
If it is desired that the clock should be stopped when the gas supply is shut
off, the following arrangement is used. As the cock is turned full off, a pin
provided on the cock plug operates a spring rod which stops the balance wheel
of the clock, and this rod is arranged to give the balance wheel a starting
impulse when the gas is turned on. This ensures the starting of the clock
when the gas is turned on.
A modified form of this arrangement is shewn on the drawings. The spring I
is provided on the connecting rod F2. This spring I bears on the balance
wheel J of the clock when the cock is shut. When the cock is opened the
spring I gives the balance wheel J a starting impulse. The spring I will be
omitted when the clock is allowed to run on while the gas is turned full off.
The pin may alternatively be made to stop and start the clock escapement lever.
Any known form of variable speed gear may be used between the hour spindle
of the clock and the registering hand, without departing from my invention,
although I prefer the form which I have here described. The apparatus may
be modified to indicate any different rates of supply which may be desired.'
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:
1. A gas measuring device consisting of a clock having a constant rate pro-
vided with a pointer rate varying device causing the index or pointer to move
at different rates as controlled by the gas supply cock substantially as herein-
before described.
2. In gas-meters, depending on the time and amount of opening of a gas
cock, the combination with a rate varying pinion such as A¹ and index con-
necting wheels such as B1 B2 and C¹ of a stepped quadrant such as G operated
by the gas delivery cock, substantially as described.
3. The gas measuring device described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Dotad this 20th of Donah 1000
MARKS & CLERK.
18, Southanipton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.