Improvements in or connected with Gas Meters.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st Mar., 1893-Accepted, 1st Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Gas Meters.
I, WILLIAM BOWMAN DOIG, of 6, Olive Crescent, Tranmere in the County of
Chester, Superintendent Inspector of Gas Meters, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
It is well known that the proper action of wet meters is dependent upon there
being a proper quantity of liquid in them, as an alteration in the height of liquid
will materially interfere with the measurement and quantity of gas delivered per
revolution.
A waste or syphon box is therefore generally employed, into which any surplus
liquid may fall, and it is removed therefrom from time to time by a screw plug.
This plug is a serious source of danger, as if the plug is removed and not replaced,
a serious escape of gas will ensue and great danger to life and property will be the
result.
The object of the present invention therefore is to provide gas meters of the
hydraulic or wet type with a device which enables the surplus liquid to be with-
drawn from time to time from the syphon box without incurring any danger of the
orifice being left open.
In carrying my invention into effect, the plan which I prefer is to form a socket
which is firmly secured in the side of the syphon box. This socket is provided
with passages which communicate with the outside and with the interior of the
syphon box, and it is also provided with a conical plug or valve which is designed
to control the passages aforesaid. The valve is normally pressed upon its seat by
means of a spring, and the pressure of the spring can be adjusted by means of a
screw cap which holds the spring in its place."
To educt the liquid, the valve is pushed away from its seat by the finger, or by
inserting any suitable instrument, which enables the liquid to immediately flow out.
Directly, however, the valve is released, (after the syphon box has been drained)
it flies back on to its seat by the pressure of the spring, thus preventing any escape
gas from the meter.
of
I have mentioned one way in which the valve can be closed after each draining
of the syphon box, but it must be distinctly understood that once given the general
idea other ways may be designed for the purpose.
Dated this 31st day of May 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Gas Meters.
1, WILLIAM BOWMAN DOIG of 6, Olive Crescent, Tranmere in the County of
Chester, Superintendent Inspector of Gas Meters, 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 :-
It is well known that the proper action of wet meters is dependent upon there
being a proper quantity of liquid in them, as an alteration in the height of liquid
will materially interfere with the measurement and quantity of
gas delivered
revolution.
per

page_text: A waste or syphon box is therefore generally employed, into which any surplus
liquid may fall, and it is removed therefrom from time to time by a screw plug.
This plug is a serious source of danger, as, if the plug is removed and not replaced,
a serious escape of gas will ensue and great danger to life and property will be the
result.
The object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide gas meters of the
hydraulic or wet type with a device which enables the surplus liquid to be with-
drawn from time to time from the syphon box without incurring any danger of the
orifice being left open.
The invention will be best understood from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of my invention; and
Figure 2, a similar view of my invention as applied to existing hydraulic gas
meters.
Referring to Figure 1-
A, is a socket firmly secured to the side B of the syphon box, for example, by
screwing the socket into the washer ring 6 soldered to the casing. This socket is
provided with orifices C and G, which form a communication from the interior to
the exterior of the syphon box and provide for the egress of the liquid. D is a
conical plug or eduction valve which is designed to control the communication
aforesaid. The valve D is normally pressed upon its seat by means of a spring E,
and the pressure of the spring can be adjusted by means of a screw cap F which
holds the spring in its place.
To educt the liquid, the valve D is pushed away from its seat by the finger,
or by inserting any suitable instrument through the opening G, which enables the
liquid to immediately flow out through the said opening. Directly, however, the
valve is released, (after the syphon box has been drained) it flies back on to its
seat by the pressure of the spring, thus preventing any escape of gas from the
meter.
In Figure 2, I show how my invention may be applied to existing meters, means
being here provided for screwing the device into the eduction orifice of the syphon
box, that the screw plug has hitherto fitted into. D is the valve: E, the spring
engaging the valve D and also the screw cap F. The latter is provided with a
screwed shank H screwing into the orifice I. The eduction passage C is formed
in this shank. The action is the same as the preceding figure. When the valve is
lifted from its seat, the liquid flows out through the passages C and G, and the
valve, immediately it is released, returns to its seat. The pressure of the spring
can be adjusted by the cap F.
It is obvious that the valve may be of any other suitable form or construction
instead of that indicated above, also that there are other ways in which the valve
can be closed after each draining of the syphon box, such as by the pressure of
the gas, its own weight or otherwise. Such alterations as these are mechanical
equivalents of those I have described and may easily be made without departing
from the principle of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved construction of syphon or waste water box for hydraulic gas
meters, which consists in forming such boxes with an eduction valve, capable of
being lifted by an attendant when required from its seat, to discharge the superfluous
liquid, but to automatically close immediately it is released, whereby the surplus
liquid can be safely withdrawn from time to time without incurring any danger of
an escape of gas from the meter, substantially as described.
2. In a syphon box for hydraulic gas meters, the combination therewith of an
eduction device, consisting of a self-closing valve D controlling the eduction orifice

page_text: of the box, a spring E for pressing the valve on its seat, and means for adjusting
the pressure of the spring, substantially as described.
3. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
improved eduction device substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of February 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.