An IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MAKING OR CONSTRUCTING OF GAS METERS
Year: 1832

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MILES
BERRY, of 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Draftsman and Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the
Fourth, by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain,
bearing date at Westminster, the Nineteenth day of March, in the third
year of His reign, and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and thirty-three, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant..
unto me, the said Miles Berry, His especial licence, full power, sole privi-
lege and authority, that I, the said Miles Berry, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Miles Berry, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned,.
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,.
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "An
IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MAKING OR CONSTRUCTING OF GAS
METERS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the
said Miles Berry, shall cause a particular description of the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
inrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar-
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will.
more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Miles Berry, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained by the following description thereof, (reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon
(that is to say):
This Invention of an Improvement or Improvements in the Making or
Constructing of Gas Meters consists of a novel kind of apparatus or instrument
for measuring and registering the quantity of gas passed through the same, from
the gas main, or street pipe, to the burner, and is of that class or description
of gas meters commonly called "dry meters,”—that is, in which there is not
any water or other liquid used to retain or retard the escape of the gas.
through the meter, and to cause its expansive force to work or set in motion
the apparatus as in metres of the rotary or common construction. Dry gas
meters have been made before, but have failed in their desired effect, from
the friction and complication of the parts of the apparatus. One of the
desired features of this Invention is that it shall work with as littlo friction
as possible, so that the least possible opposition shall be offered to the gas as.
it passes through the meter; so that gas at a very low pressure shall be capable
of passing through it, and at the same time the quantity of cubic feet shall
be measured and registered correctly.. This improved construction of meter.
is formed as a hollow chamber or vessel perfectly air-tight of itself, and
divided or separated into two portions or chambers by a moveable and flexible
partition or diaphragm'; that is, the partition is connected by a flexible medium
placed around its edges to the chamber, so that the partition will be allowed,
to vibrate or move from one side of the chamber towards the other, and yet
form a gas-tight partition between the two sides or chambers; one of these.
portions or chambers is constantly open to the supply pipe from the gas main
and the other open to the gas burners. The vibratory movements of this
partition are diaphragm are registered by a pall and ratchet wheels with a
train of gear wheels, dials, and indexes, similar to those used in gas meters
of the common construction; and at the time the diaphragm or partition
vibrates and has arrived at the extent of its motion, it is made, by means of a.
lever and spring, to open and shut or change instantaneously the apertures.
or ways in the cock which connect the gas pipes with the meter and burner.
The cock has four ways or passages connected to it, two of which lead from
the gas pipe or main, and the other two are individually connected to the two.
portions or chambers. As many different variations may be made in the form
and arrangement of the parts of this improved construction of gas meter, I

page_text: have shewn in the accompanying Drawings two different forms of meters,
one having the works inside of the casing or chamber, and the other on the
outside.
Figure 1 in Sheet 1 is a front view of one of these improved gas meters,
the dial with its indexes and part of the train of gear, which being removed
to shew the pall and ratchet wheel which communicates the motions from
the flexible partition or diaphragm to the registering indexes on the dial:
Figure 2 is a vertical section, taken through the metre, shewing the partition
or diaphragm at its extent of motion, and the cocks, springs, and levers, in
the position they would be in immediately before the change of the passages
of the cock is effected. Figure 3 is a section; taken horizontally through the
same. Figure 4 is. another similar section to Figure 2, shewing the flexible
partition or diaphragm at its extent of motion, on the opposite side to that
in Figure 1; the same letters being used to denote similar parts in all these
and the following Figures:-a, a, a, is the case or vessel divided into two
portions or chambers A and B, by the flexible partition or diaphragm b, which
is mounted to turn on a hinge joint at c, near the 'bottom of the case. The
case or vessel is in this instance represented as of an egg-like figure, and
may be made of cast iron, or other metal or material, in two parts, and
joined together by flanges and screws, with the edges of the flexible partition
or diaphragm placed between them; and slight packing of leather may also be
used to render the joint air-tight. d is the pipe leading from the street pipe
or gas main; and e, the pipe leading from the meter to the burner; f is the
four-way cock; g is a spring coiled round the end of the plug of the cock'
which throws or changes the ways of the cock, and alters the passages for
the gas into and from the meter; h and i are two levers fixed on to the other
end of the plug of the cock; k is a projecting arm fixed on to the partition b;'
which acts alternately in conjunction with the levers h and i, the lever h
acting against its under and the lever i acting against its upper surface;
Z is another arm projecting from the partition, having a pin on its end, which
works in the slot formed by the double end of the coiled spring g; m is a
short lever fixed on to the partition near the hinge joint, and which commu-
nicates the movements of the partition through the pall or lever n to the
ratchet wheel o, and that through the train of toothed wheels to the dial
and indexes; p and q are two apertures or pipes opening into the two
chainbers A and B, for the escape of the gas from the chambers to the
burners.
Figures 1 and 2 in Sheet 2, represent two sections, taken through the
cock, for the purpose of shewing the ways or passages. Figure 1 representa

page_text: the ways of the cock in the position they would be in, as at Figure 2, Sheet 1;'
that is, with the passage, to the burner open for the escape of the gas from.
the portion or chamber B, the gas being then in the act of escaping to the,
burner in the direction of the arrow through the aperture or end of the pipe
at p, and up that pipe and through the plug of the cock f and pipe e to the
burner. As the gas is consumed from the chamber B, the other chamber A
is filling from the gas main or street pipe through the pipe d and cock, in
the direction of the arrow, and entering the chamber at the aperture q. The
expansive force of the gas being disseminated over the whole surface of the.
flexible partition or diaphragm, will cause it to vibrate or move from one
side of the chamber towards the other, and bring it with the levers, springs,
and arms, into the position shewn in Figure 2, Sheet 1; that is, with the
bent arm of the lever h pressing upwards upon the under surface of the arm
k, at the same time the pin on the end of the arin 1, acting in the slot
on the end of the spring g, has forced the spring to uncoil in a slight degree;
but the spring is prevented from turning or shifting the plug by the bent
end of the lever h pressing upon the under side of the arm, but the
moment the bent end of the lever h has passed the end of the arm k, the.
spring.g is free to recoil, and its tension throws or shifts the plug of the cock:
instantaneously into the position shewn in the two side views, Figure 5 and
6 in Sheet 1, and in the section, Figure 2 in Sheet 2; thereby instantaneously.
cutting off the connection of the chamber B with the burner, "and opening
a communication with it and the gas main, and at the same time forming a
communication from the chamber A to the burner, and the gas will imme-
diately begin to escape from the chamber A through the aperture 9, and
through the cock f and pipe e, to the burner. And when the proper quantity
of gas has been consumed, the pressure from the main will have brought the.
flexible partition in the position shewn in Figure 4, Sheet 1; then the pin
on the arm will have forced the spring to be coiled somewhat tighter than
when it is out of tension, which will cause the bent end of the lever i to
rest upon the upper part of the arm k, as shewn in Figure 4; and as soon
as the bent end of the lever i has passed the end of the arm k, or the bent
part nearest the partition, the spring will be again free to throw or shift the
cock back again in its former position, as shewn in the two side views,
Figures 7 and 8, Sheet 1, and Figure 1 in Sheet 2, and so on. It will be
therefore seen that the length of the arm k, or the extent which the ends of
the two levers h and i travel on its upper and under side, will determine the
.extent of vibration or movement of the partition, and the quantity of gas
consumed between the extreme point of such movement or vibration will b

page_text: the quantity measured and registered by the indices and dial, the lever m and'
the pall n only moving the ratchet wheel one tooth during two vibrations. It'
will be evident that the space or extent of vibration of the flexible partition'
may be adjusted to measure any quantity required to be registered, and
that gas of any pressure may be passed rapidly through the meter, the
gas having no way of escaping but through the cock, and all that passes
through it must be measured. i is is small cup or reservoir screwed air-
tight upon the end of the pipe p which projects through the case, and is there
placed for the purpose of receiving any acid refuse or other extraneous: matter
which may escape from the gas main, and is intended to prevent its getting.
into the meter. This cup may be removed and emptied from time to time as
required.
The several Figures in Sheet 3 are représentations of another of these
improved gas meters, of a different form to that shewn in Sheet 1, in which'
the working parts or mechanism for registering the quantity of gas consumed,
and for changing the ways or passages of the cock, is placed on the outside of
the case or vessel, and is of a somewhat different arrangement, though similar
in effect, to that shewn in Sheet 1, and for the convenience of reference I have
used the same letters to denote similar or corresponding parts; as in the former.
Figures.
:
Figure 1 is a side elevation; Figure 2 is a representation of the front end
of the meter; Figure 3 is a vertical section, and Figure 4 is a plan view of
the same, the moving parts being shewn in the same situation as in Figures 2
and 3 in Sheet 1. a is the case. b, the flexible partition, which turns upon'
a hinge joint c; the pin or axis of the joint is fixed to the partition, and works
at one end in a small bearing on the inside of the back end of the case, the
other end projects through a small stuffing box on the front end of the case,
and has a pall m fixed on its extremity, which communicates the motion of the
flexable partition to the ratchet wheel o, and indices. d is the pipe leading
from the main; e, the one leading to the burner. p is the pipe leading to and
from the chamber B; q; a similar pipe belonging to the chamber A. f'is the
four-way cock. In this gas meter there is but one lever h fixed upon the end
of the plug of the cock, and the spring 9 is made of a straight form. I is a
long lever which is fixed on to the end of the axis c of the partition, and
extends upwards between the two service pipes p. and g. The upper end of
this lever is connected by a small chains to the end of the spring g, and as the
expansive force of the gas moves the flexable partition from one side to
the other, the lever 1, by means of the chains and spring 9, will alternately
bring the lever h in contact with the pins t and on the short arms of the

page_text: lever l, as shewn in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 shews the lever h and spring
in the position they are in just before the diaphragm arrives at the end of its
vibration, when it has done so the end of the lever h slips off the pin t and the
spring 9 will be released and immediately throw the lever into the position
shewn by dots in Figure 2, when the passages of the cock will be changed and
the connection between the chambers and gas pipes reversed, when the expan-
sive force of the gas will cause the flexible partition to return into the situation
shewn in Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is another end elevation, shewing the parts
in the reverse position to Figure 2; Figure 6 is a section taken through the
same; and after the end of the lever h has slipped off from the pin u the spring
will throw the lever into the position shewn by dots in Figure 5, and then the
force of the gas will move the lever into the position shewn in Figure 2, and so
on. v, v, are small pipes extending downwards through the case, with plugs
on their ends, and are intended for the same purpose as the cups or reservoirs
in Sheet 1.
As there are many different kinds of cocks or valves which may be
employed in this improved gas meter with good effect, it will not be necessary
for me to describe all the varieties, but I have shewn in Sheet 2 several other
figures of different sorts of cocks which may be used with advantage.
Figure 3 is a section taken through a cock of the same description as
Figure 1 and 2, but which is more simple in its construction, the plug f having
only a partition extending across it to form the two ways or openings.
· Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, are representations of another kind of cock or
valve, and consist of a barrel with four ways or chambers in it, and has a cover
with only two chambers, being divided by a partition working upon it. f is
the barrel, with the passages d, e, and p, q, as in the other Figures. wis the
cover; the surfaces of the barrel and cover fit upon one another air-tight, and
are kept together by the screw x, see Figures 4, 5, and 6, upon which the
cover turns as an axis. h, i, are the levers, and g is the spring fixed on to the
cover, by which means the cover is made to turn one quarter of a revolution
at each time the flexible partition arrives at the end of its extent of vibration,
and by such movement will alternately change the passages of the gas to and
from the meter, as will be fully understood from the description of the Figures
in Sheets 1 and 3. Figure 4 is a front view of the cock or valve. Figure 5,
a side representation.. Figure 6 is a section taken through the valve, shewing
passages p and e connected together. Figure 7 is a section taken through
the barrel of the cock, shewing the ways or passages. And Figure 8 is a
detached representation of the cover.
Figures 9 and 10 are representations of another description of valve which

page_text: may be applied to this improved construction of meter, and consist of two pipes
with T-shaped ends or cross heads, one pipe being for the admission of the gas
to the meter, and the other for the purpose of conveying it away to the burner."
One of the ends of each of the cross pipes enters the chamber A, the other
ends enters the chamber B. Upon each of the apertures of these cross pipes'
are mounted valves, which are worked by the movement of the flexible parti-
tion, and are made alternately to open and close the passage to and from the
meter by means of levers and springs, as before described.
1
'
Figure 9 is a plan view of the pipes and valves, shewing the passages from
the
gas main to the chamber B open, and the passages from the chamber A
to the burner, also open.. Figure 10 is a side view of the same.
d is the pipe
leading from the gas main. e, the pipe leading to the burner. b, b, is the flexable
partition or diaphragm. p is the aperture for the admission of the gas into
the chamber B; and q the aperture for its exit from the chamber A to the'
burner. p is the opening from the gas main to the chamber A; and q*, the
aperture for the escape of the gas from the chamber B to the burner. Each
of the apertures or ends of the pipes are alternately closed by valves or plugs
connected together by rods passing through, the 'cross pipes, which work in
small bearings within the pipes. Opposite the ends of the pipes is situated
the small shaft !*, which turns on pivots on its ends, and having a cross
piece x near its lower extremity; the ends of this cross piece are connected to
the valves, and communicates any motion received from the shaft to them.
Upon this shaft is also mounted the coiled spring g, and the levers h and i,
which are worked by the arms k and l*, extending from the flexable partition.
These levers, arms, and springs act in the same way as those described in
Sheets one and 3, and turn the shaft l a part of a revolution backwards and
forwards at each end of the vibrations of the diaphragm, which motion is
communicated by the cross arms to the valves, and cause them to open and
close the ends of the cross pipes.
Having now described this Invention of an improvement or improvements
in the making or constructing of gas meters, I have only to remark, in conclu-
sion, that the case of the meter may be made of copper, brass, iron, or other
metal, either wrought or cast, or of earthenware, or any other material which
is air-tight; and that the partition may be made of wood, tin, copper, or other
metal; and the flexible material may be animal bladder, leather, parchment,
indian rubber, air-tight cloth, silk, or other fabric which will answer the
purpose, and form an air-tight flexible partition between the two chambers A
and B of the meter. And although I have shewn it as working when placed
in an upright position, yet it will work horizontally, or in any other position

page_text: required. And that the cocks or valves may be made of brass or other metal,
with metal or glass plugs, or may be made wholly of glass if it should be
thought desirable.
And I verily believe that this my Specification does, in all other respects,
comply with the proviso contained in the above in part recited Letters Patent. 5
In witness whereof, I, the said Miles Berry, have hereunto set my.
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-three.