IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS to be as follows:
Year: 1886

page_text: I, WILLIAM COWAN of Buccleuch Street Works, Edinburgh, North Britain, Gas
Apparatus Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
'IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS to be as follows:-
"
The object of this invention is, to provide improved means for adjusting, and
ascertaining, the level of the water in wet gas meters.
,
1
It has hitherto been usual, to determine the water level, by the height of an
overflow stand pipe, down which, any surplus water might pass to the waste
chamber below, where it would rise to the bottom plug opening, and there escape.
The bottom plug opening, has been either itself "sealed," by means of a pipe led
from it into the water of the waste chamber, or else, the overflow stand pipe has
been directly, or indirectly, continued down into the waste chamber and there
"sealed "in like manner. o Whichever plan has been adopted, the object has been
to prevent the passage of gas at ordinary pressure through the bottom plug
opening, in the event of the plug being out. In either case, the water in the waste
box, has always attained the level of the bottom plug opening, above which, when
unplugged, it could not rise without escaping.
'
During the process of watering a meter, it is desirable, and usual, to close the
main tap, and to open one or more burners, in order to relieve the interior of the
meter from pressure, and to allow the water to attain a uniform level. 'When'
therefore, the proper level has been reached, the surplus water has passed into the
waste box, and escaped from the bottom plug opening, in a full stream. It has
often happened, however, that pressure within the meter has been produced by the
water been supplied more quickly than the gas, (or air), could escape, through
the open burner, or burners, and this has caused a premature discharge of water
from the bottom plug opening, before the waste chamber has received any water
through the overflow stand pipe. This, has frequently misled those who are not
very careful and experienced, and has induced the cessation of watering, and the
replacement of the bottom plug, before the meter has been properly charged.
An attempt has been made to prevent this premature discharge of water, by
employing a syphon, as the means of communication between the waste box and
the bottom plug opening. In this way it has been necessary, not only that the
water should rise to the height of the opening, but considerably above it, so as to

page_text: overtop, and charge the syphon before it could escape. The syphon, has then
removed the water down to the level of the end of its shorter leg, and so, has
prevented the premature escape of water above referred to.
The plan of using a syphon has however hitherto been open to serious objection.
It has been necessary, to provide a constantly open passage between the waste
water chamber and the atmosphere; and also to leave the termination of the longer
leg of the syphon open and unplugged. The reason will be obvious. If there was
no open passage for air the syphon would not work, and if the syphon itself was
not also open to the atmosphere, any water which might pass down the overflow
standpipe, after the syphon had determined the level in the waste box might choke
the spout. The liability to this, is apt to be increased by the use of a syphon in
the waste water box, because the action of the stand pipe in adjusting the level
of the water in the meter, is slow, and uncertain, compared with that of the syphon
in adjusting the level of the water in the waste box. Therefore, with a standpipe
in the meter, and a syphon in the waste box, the work of the latter may be
completed whilst that of the former is still going on, for, although, care may be
taken to adjust the proportion of the syphon to the power of the stand pipe, it is
practically impossible that this should be done, so, that no water will pass down
the stand pipe after the syphon has completed its work. Hence the necessity
which has been found for leaving the syphon open.
The present invention consists, in providing means whereby both the syphon and
the air passage may remain closed against the atmosphere, except during the
process of watering, and in substituting a syphon for the usual standpipe, for the
purpose of determining the water level of the meter; and further, in providing
means for preventing the water level being raised, by the addition of water, (after
the level has been determined), in less quantity than would be necessary to charge
the syphon, and bring into operation, for the removal of such surplus.
The advantage of using a syphon to determine the water level in the meter,
consists, mainly, in this, that it can, with certainty, be made to complete its action
before the waste chamber syphon has ceased to run, and by this means, the
stoppage of the flow from the latter, proves that the water level of the meter has
been definitely adjusted, and that the plug may be replaced with confidence.
In carrying out the invention, the waste box syphon is constructed with a
supplementary air pipe, which reaches up above the top of the syphon, and
terminates at its lower end in a socket, which also receives the end of the longer
leg of the syphon. The ends of both syphon and air pipe, are passed into and
fixed in the socket, and are kept separate from each other, to the extreme, or outer,
end of the socket, which is screwed on its outer surface to receive the cap which
when on, closes both air pipe and syphon against the atmosphere. Hence, when
the cap is off, (during watering), this syphon, and its connected air pipe, act in the
same manner as the open syphon and air channel above referred to, but the present
invention offers, in regard to these the great advantage of allowing both to be
closed, and by one cap.
The syphon which determines the water level of the meter, may be formed in
any convenient way. It may be a stand pipe with its upper end bent downwards
nearly to the level of the water it is intended to determine. Or, it may be a
straight standpipe with a cap of greater diameter over its upper end, the stand
pipe in this case forming the longer leg, and the cap the shorter leg of the syphon.
The syphon, in whatever form, will remove the water more quickly, and
effectually, than a simple stand pipe would do it, and in determining the level,
the final action will be precise and immediate, and not slow and uncertain as is the
case when a mere standpipe is employed.
In determining the water level, the action of a syphon differs from that of a
mere standpipe in another important particular not yet mentioned. Allowing for
the "heaping," due to attraction, the height of the water, determined by a mere
stand pipe, is, practically, that of the stand pipe itself because, any surplus over-
flows into the waste box. But, when the level is determined by a syphon, the

page_text: water stands at a lower level than the entrance to the syphon's shorter leg, which,
of course, makes it possible, by adding water, more or less to raise the level
without bringing the syphon into action for the removal of the surplus. The
possibility of such an addition to the water in a meter, might make it fail to
comply with one of the provisions of the act for regulating measures used in sales
of gas, and I have therefore designed the following simple, and thoroughly effective
means for preventing the addition of any water to the meter less than the full
quantity necessary to bring the syphon into operation and to restore the true level.
For the above purpose, I construct a box or chamber, within, or in connection
with, the upper part of the meter case, capable of holding enough water to bring
the syphon into action when the water in the meter is at, or near, its proper level.
This box, or chamber, receives all the water from the charge plug, whose filling
tube, or "side piece," is "sealed" by dipping down into a trough," or well,"
formed by deepening a portion of the bottom of the box, or chamber. The water
first fills the box, and then overflows into the meter, through an opening near the
top or, in some instances, by a stand pipe. The water, which the box would
otherwise retain, is removed into the meter by a syphon which, the water, by being
above the bend when the box is full, charges. It is thus evident, that no water can
enter the body of the meter until the box has been filled, and also, that no water
can remain in the box after it has been filled. But inasmuch, as the box will
retain all the water that can be put into it, short of the quantity necessary to fill it,
and so charge the syphon, it follows, that any less quantity of water than the
contents of the box, cannot at any time be added to the water in the meter.
It will thus be seen, that no water level above the true one is attainable.
"
To prevent the occurrence of what is known as "syphoning," it is desirable that
the water level syphon should not be too large, and powerful, but, in due proportion
to the admission of air through the minimum opening likely to be allowed during
the process of watering. In like manner, although it is indispensable, that the
water level syphon shall have ceased running before the waste box syphon shuts
off, it is necessary, that this interval should be as short as possible, so, that water
may not accumulate in the waste box to such an extent as to rise and choke the
spout, and in this way to produce "syphoning."

page_text: Improvements in Gas Meters.
I, WILLIAM COWAN of Buccleuch Street Works, Edinburgh, North Britain, Gas
Apparatus Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
" IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS " and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters
and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
"
The object of this invention is to provide improved means for adjusting and
ascertaining the level of the water in wet gas meters.
It has hitherto been usual to determine the water level by the height of an
overflow stand pipe down which any surplus water might pass to the waste
chamber below, where it would rise to the bottom plug opening and there escape.
The bottom plug opening has been either itself "sealed" by means of a pipe led
from it into the water of the waste chamber or else, the overflow stand pipe has
been directly, or indirectly continued 'down into the waste chamber and there
sealed" in like manner. Whichever plan has been adopted, the object has been
to prevent the passage of gas at ordinary pressures through the bottom plug opening
in the event of the plug being out. In either case, the water in the waste box has
always attained the level of the bottom plug opening above which when unplugged
it could not rise without escaping.
During the process of watering a meter it is desirable and usual to close the
main tap, and to open one or more burners in order to relieve the interior of the
meter from pressure, and to allow the water to attain a uniform level. When
therefore the proper level has been reached, the surplus water has passed into the
waste box and escaped from the bottom plug opening in a full stream. It has often
happened however that pressure within the meter has been produced by the water
being supplied more quickly than the gas (or air) could escape through the open
burner or burners, and this has caused a premature discharge of water from the
bottom plug opening before the waste chamber has received any water through
the overflow stand pipe. This has frequently misled those who are not very
careful and experienced, and has induced the cessation of watering, and the
replacement of the bottom plug before the meter has been perfectly charged.
An attempt has been made to prevent this premature discharge of water by
employing a syphon as the means of communication between the waste box and
the bottom plug opening. In this way it has been necessary not only that the
water should rise to the height of the opening but considerably above it, so as to
overtop and charge the syphon before it could escape. The syphon has then
removed the water down to the level of the end of its shorter leg, and so has
prevented the premature escape of water above referred to.

page_text: The pian or using a Bypnon nas however mitherto been open to serious objections.
It has been necessary to provide a constantly open passage between the waste water
chamber and the atmosphere, and also to leave the termination of the longer leg of
the syphon open and unplugged. The reason will be obvious. If there were no
open passage for air the syphon would not work, and if the syphon itself were not
also open to the atmosphere, any water which might pass down the overflow stand
pipe after the syphon had determined the level in the waste box might choke the
spout The liability to this is apt to be increased by the use of a syphon in the
waste water box, because the action of the stand pipe in adjusting the level of the
water in the meter is slow and uncertain compared with that of the syphon in
adjusting the level of the water in the waste box. Therefore with a stand pipe in
the meter and a syphon in the waste box, the work of the latter may be completed
whilst that of the former is still going on; for although care may be taken to adjust
the proportion of the syphon to the power of the stand pipe, it is practically
impossible that this should be done so that no water will pass down the stand pipe
after the syphon has completed its work. Hence the necessity which has been
found for leaving the syphon open.
The present invention consists in providing means whereby both the syphon and
the air passage may remain closed against the atmosphere except during the process.
of watering, and in substituting a syphon for the usual stand pipe for the purpose.
of determining the water level of the meter, and further in providing means for
preventing the water level being raised by the addition of water (after the level
has been determined) in less quantity than would be necessary to charge the
syphon and bring it into operation for the removal of such surplus.
The advantage of using a syphon to determine the water level in the meter
consists mainly in this, that it can with certainty be made to complete its action
before the waste chamber syphon has ceased to run, and by this means the stoppage
of the flow from the latter proves that the water level of the meter has been
definitely adjusted, and that the plug may be replaced with confidence.
In order that the invention may be easily understood drawings are attached
hereto, Fig. 1 being a front elevation of the meter with the front plate removed
and the waste water box in section. Fig. 2 is a section of the pipe H and cap I.
drawn to a larger scale, and Fig. 3 a section through A B of Fig. 1 showing how.
the water when poured into the chamber J is conveyed into the back of the meter.
Fig. 4 is a similar view to that of Fig. 1 exhibiting the mode of adapting the
invention to a meter with side valve arrangement.
In carrying out the invention the waste water box R has a syphon C constructed
with a supplementary air pipe D, which reaches up above the top of the syphon
and terminates at its lower end in a socket E which also receives the end of the
longer leg F of the syphon. The ends of both syphon and air pipe are passed into
and fixed in this socket, and are kept separate from each other to the extreme or
outer end of the socket, which is screwed on its outer surface to receive the cap S,
which when on; closes both air pipe and syphon against the atmosphere. Instead
of the outer end of the socket being screwed on the exterior, it may be screwed on
the inside so as to fit it for being closed by a screwed plug. Both air passage and
water outlet are therefore closed by a screwed cap or plug. Hence when the cap
is off, or plug removed (during watering) this syphon and its connected air pipe
act in the same manner as the open syphon and air channel above referred to, but
the present invention offers in regard to these the great advantage of allowing both
to be closed and by one cap. In the drawing the syphon is shown with the cap
removed, but the cap itself is exhibited as S.
The syphon which determines the water level of the meter the application of
which constitutes an essential feature of this invention, may be formed in any
convenient way. It may be a stand pipe with its upper end bent downwards
nearly to the level of the water it is intended to determine: Or it may be a
straight, stand pipe with a cap like I of greater diameter over its upper end, in

page_text: a similar manner to that shown fixed to the auxiliary pipe H, the stand pipe in
this case forming the longer leg and the cap the shorter leg of the syphon. The
syphon in whatever form will remove the water more quickly and effectually than
a simple stand pipe would do it, and in determining the level the final action will
be precise and immediate, and not slow and uncertain, as is the case when a mere
stand pipe is employed.
I therefore construct the spout and stand pipe G which rises considerably above
the proper water level, and is open both at top and bottom, with a smaller pipe H
attached to it, the pipe being surmounted by the cap I which is fixed to an
adjustable sliding sleeve T by the wires U U, and forms a syphon for determining
the true water line which when adjusted will always stand a little below the top
of the pipe H.
"
.
In determining the water level the action of a syphon differs from that of a
mere stand pipe in another important particular not yet mentioned. Allowing for
heaping" due to attraction, the height of the water determined by a mere stand
pipe is practically that of the stand pipe itself, because any surplus overflows into
the waste box. But when the level is determined by a syphon the water stands at
a lower level than the entrance to the syphon's shorter leg, which of course makes
it impossible by adding water more or less to raise the level without bringing the
syphon into action for the removal of the surplus. The possibility of such an
addition to the water in a meter might make it fail to comply with the require-
ments of a practically perfect measuring instrument, and I have therefore designed
the following simple and thoroughly effective means for preventing the addition
of any water to the meter less than the full quantity necessary to bring the
syphon into operation and to restore the true level.
For the above purpose, I construct a box or chamber J, within or in connection
with the upper part of the meter case, capable of holding enough water to bring
the syphon into action when the water in the meter is at, or near its proper level.
This box or chamber receives all the water from the charge plug K, whose filling
tube (or "side piece") L is "sealed" by dipping down into a 'trough," or
"well" M formed by deepening a portion of the bottom of the box, or chamber J.
The water first fills the box J, and then overflows into the meter, through an
opening N near the top, or in some instances by a stand pipe. The water which
the box would otherwise retain is removed into the meter by a syphon O (the
longer leg of which dips into a conduit P) which the water by being above
the bend when the box is full charges. It is thus evident that no water can
enter the body of the meter until the box has been filled, and also that almost no
water can remain in the box after it has been filled. But inasmuch as the box J
will retain all the water that can be put into it, short of the quantity necessary to
fill it, and so charge the syphon O, it follows that any less quantity of water
than the contents of the box, cannot at any time be added to the water in the
meter. It will thus be seen that no water level above the true one is attainable.
To prevent the occurrence of what is known as "syphoning" it is desirable that
the water level syphon H should not be too large and powerful, but in due propor-
tion to the admission of air through the minimum opening likely to be allowed
during the process of watering. In like manner although it is indispensable that
the water level syphon shall have ceased running before the waste box syphon C
shuts off, it is necessary that this interval should be as short as possible so that
water may not accumulate in the waste box to such an extent as to rise and choke
the spout, and in this way to produce “syphoning.” .
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. The construction of gas meters with a chamber J and syphon O together with
the opening N and conduit Pas herein described and shown on the drawings.

page_text: '
2. The construction of gas meters with a spout and stand pipe G, having an
attendant pipe H with cap I attached to it, as herein described and shown on the
drawings.
8. The construction of gas meters with the pipe H and cap I arranged indepen-
dently of the pipe G as herein described.
4. The construction of gas meters with a waste box R having a syphon C and
air pipe D combined arranged so as to be closed by the cap S, or plug as herein
described and shown on the drawinga.