Improvements in Air or other Fluid Meters.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 31st Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Air or other Fluid Meters.
We, ANNIBAL LÉGÉ and ANDREW THEAKER JOB, trading as A. Lege & Co.,
at 31 Kirby Street, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex, Scientific
Instrument Makers, and Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Invention relates to certain improvements in meters for measuring air, gas or
other fluid; and consists essentially in the combination of two or more cylinders
with a suitable valve for regulating and controlling the flow of the air or gas into
and out of the said cylinders.
These cylinders, in the case of air or gas meters, are united at their lower ends
by a chamber; their upper ends being closed by a cover, on which is formed the
valve chamber, together with the inlet and outlet branches for the passage of the
air or gas.
Within each cylinder, which is partly filled with water or other fluid, is a float
made preferably of copper or other suitable metal, connected at its lower end by a
rod to a rocking shaft below and provided on its upper side with a projecting rod or
guide piece.
From this rocking shaft, which is arranged to work within the lower connecting
chamber, a lever extending in an upward direction, operates the regulating valve.
The rod or guide piece on the upper surface of the float engages with the valve
stem at each stroke, in such a way as to hold the valve in check until such time as
the float is permitted to fall by the discharge of the fluid within.
In operation the action is as follows:-
Air entering through the valve into the upper portion of one of the cylinders,
drives out the water or its equivalent, through the lower chamber up into the
adjoining cylinder until the falling of the float due to the receding of the water
causes the valve, through the operation of the rocking shaft and lever, to be moved
from its position.
Immediately this is effected the current of air or gas is caused to enter the
second cylinder, whilst that contained within the first cylinder is permitted to
escape through the outlet passage, the process being repeated as soon as the second
cylinder becomes filled.
In order to ascertain the exact quantity of air or gas passed through the meter, a
counter may be connected to the rocking shaft or valve in combination with a
differential gauge by means of which, allowance can be made for air or gas of
varying density.
Our improved meter can also be readily adapted for the measurement of water,
by inverting the cylinders and valve box; a special valve in this case being fitted
for the regulation of the water supply.
1
1 1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Air or other Fluid Meters.
We ANNIBAL LEGE and ANDREW THEAKER JOB, Engineers and Scientific
Instrument Makers of 31 and 32 Kirby Street Hatton Garden London, 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 :-
Our invention relates to certain improvements in meters for measuring air, gas or
other fluid and consists essentially in the combination of two or more cylinders
provided with floats and having a suitable valve for regulating and controlling the
How of the air or gas into and out of the said cylinders.
The cylinders in the case of air or gas meters are united at their lower ends by a
chamber or channel, their upper ends being closed by a cover on which is formed
the valve chamber or box, having inlet and outlet branches for the passage of the
air or gas.
Within each cylinder, which is partly filled with water or other fluid,
is a float, made preferably of copper or other suitable metal or material, connected
at its lower end by a rod to a rocking shaft below, and provided on its upper side
with an adjustable rod or guide piece.
From this rocking shaft, which is arranged to work within the lower connecting
chamber, a lever extending in an upward direction operates the regulating valve;
or we may effect the same by the use of a spring-rod or weight.
The adjustable rod or guide piece on the upper surface of the float, engages
with the valve stem at each stroke, in such a way as to hold the valve in check
until the float is permitted to fall, by the discharge of the fluid within its
cylinder. This adjustable rod is screwed within the float, and can readily be
lengthened or shortened when the caps or covers are removed, for the purpose
of regulating and adjusting the stroke of the floats; and in order that our
invention may be the better understood we will now proceed to describe the same
reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, upon which
Fig. 1. is a longitudinal section through a meter shewing the general arrangement
and construction of the same.
Fig. 2. is a transverse section shewing the construction of the index or counter
for same.
Fig. 3. is a plan as seen from above.
Fig. 4. is a plan shewing the arrangement of the valve stem and guide bar.
A. A' are the cylinders.
B. the channel or passage uniting the same.
C. the valve chamber or box.
D. the valve.
E. inlet.
F. outlet.
G. G passages or ports in valve D.
H. H the floats.
I. adjustable rod or guide bar attached to upper side of float.
K. rocking shaft.
L. rod attached to underside of float.
M. vertical rod or spring lever for operating valve.
N. valve stem or spindle.
O. removable caps or covers.
P. counter.
Q. disc.
R. roller.
S. spiral tube.
T. spindle.
IT

page_text: In operation the action is as follows :-
Air entering the inlet E, passes through the valve D into the upper portion of one
of the cylinders A A' driving therefrom the water or its equivalent out, through
the lower chamber or channel B up into the adjoining cylinder A until the falling
of the float H, due to the receding of the water, causes the valve D, through the
operation of the rocking shaft K and lever M, to be moved from its position.
Immediately this is effected, the current of air or gas is caused to enter the
second cylinder A' whilst that contained within the first cylinder A, is permitted
to escape through the passage or port G¹ in the valve D to the outlet F, the process
being repeated as soon as the second cylinder becomes filled.
In order to ascertain the exact quantity of air or gas passed through the meter, a
counter l' may be connected to the rocking shaft K or valve D, in combination
with a differential gauge, so constructed as to automatically control the movement
of the index under varying pressures.
To accomplish this we prefer to drive the counting mechanism P by means
of a disc Q and roller R motion, the roller being so arranged as to be capable of
being moved in or out from the axis of the disc Q, and so varying the relative
motions of the valve D or rocking shaft K and the indicator as required. In
order to automatically regulate the movement of the roller R we connect the
closed end of a spiral tube S to a spindle T, furnished with a toothed pinion U;
which gears with the roller R in such a way that by the twisting of the
spindle T the roller R is caused to move in or out, the required extent.
other end of the spiral tube S being rigidly secured and left open to the outer
atmosphere. The whole is enclosed within the casing of the meter where the
pressure of the air or gas operating upon the exterior of the spiral tube S,
causes it to contract or expand, and this in its turn imparts a proportionate
twisting motion to the spindle T; or we may arrange for the pressure to he
exerted within the spiral tube S.
The
Our improved meter can also be readily adapted for the measurement of water by
inverting the cylinders and valve box; an additional valve in this case being fitted
for the regulation of the water supply.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare, that what we
claim is :-
(1) In air, gas or water meters the combination of two or more cylinders com-
municating with each other and having floats connected to a rocking shaft substan-
tially as and for the purposes described.
(2) In air, gas or water meters, the use of a spring-bar or weighted lever
for the purpose of operating the valve, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
(3) In air, gas or water meters the arrangement of the adjustable guide rod in
combination with the valve rod, as and for the purposes described.
(4) In air, gas or water meters the use of an elastic spiral tube in combination
with an adjustable index or counting mechanism substantially as described and set
forth.
(5) Air, gas or water meters, arranged combined and constructed substantially
as described in the accompanying Specification and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 4th day of December 1890.
Dated this 4th day of December 1890.
For the Applicants,
VICTOR J. FEENY,
7, Queen Victoria Street, E.C., Agent.