IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE HOURLY RATE OF GAS CONSUMED BY GAS BURNERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Joslin, of Colchester, in the County of Essex, for
the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE
HOURLY RATE OF GAS CONSUMED BY GAS BURNERS."
Sealed the 16th September 1879, and dated the 19th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Joslin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th June 1879.
GEORGE JOSLIN, of Colchester, in the County of Essex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE HOURLY RATE OF GAS CONSUMED BY GAS
BURNERS."
This Invention has for its object the provision of means for ascertaining the
hourly rate of the consumption of gas by showing in a glass or metal tube or case
the position of a diso supported by the gas at a height corresponding to the quantity
of gas being consumed.
The Invention consists, firstly, of a taper tube of glass, metal, or other material
of round or other form in horizontal section, and increasing upwards in area.
Inside the taper tube is a thin disc of talc, aluminium, or other material, and of
the same form as the horizontal section of the taper tube. The disc or discs are
maintained in a horizontal position by a piece of metal or other material attached
to it, or the discs may be connected together. The taper tube is graduated to
indicate the hourly rate at which the gas will pass the disc or discs. One of the
discs may be coloured so as to show its position in reference to the graduations and
figures. The gas being admitted at the bottom of the taper tube causes the disc or
discs to rise until it arrives at that figure which corresponds with the hourly
rate of the gas passing the disc. After the gas has passed the disc it is conveyed
from the upper part of the taper tube to the burners. The taper tube may be
enclosed in a tube or case, and a rod may be attached to the disc, or other means
may be used to indicate upon the graduated figures the hourly rate of consump-
tion; or the indicator and figures may be placed outside the tube or case before
mentioned, and protected by a glass cover.

page_text: The taper tube may be taper only on the inside, while the exterior sides may be
parallel.
Secondly. Instead of a tapar tube a parallel tube of glass, metal, or other material,
round, or of other horizontal sectional form, may be used, having a parallel slit or
slits made in the direction of its length, or a row or rows of holes made in the same
direction. This tube is graduated to indicate the hourly rate at which the gas will
pass through the slits or holes under the disc, the rest of the apparatus being made
precisely as before described.
The apparatus admits of being varied in size to suit the quantity required
to pass through it, and may be provided with a bye-pass, cock, or valve, if
desirable

page_text: :
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Joslin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th December
1879.
GEORGE JOSLIN, of Colchester, in the County of Essex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE HOURLY RATE OF GAS CONSUMED BY GAS
BURNERS."
This Invention has for its object the provision of means for ascertaining the hourly
rate of the consumption of gas (meaning thereby the rate of consumption at the
time of inspection calculated at the quantity that would pass in an hour at that
rate) by showing in a glass or metal tube or case the position of a disc supported
by the gas at a height corresponding to the quantity of gas being consumed.
The Invention consists, firstly, of a taper tube of glass, metal, or other material,
of round or other form in horizontal section, and increasing upwards in area.
Inside the taper tube is a thin disc of tale, aluminium, or other material, and of
the same form as the horizontal section of the taper tube. The disc or discs are
maintained in a horizontal position by a piece of metal or other material attached
to it; or the discs may be connected together. The taper tube is graduated
to indicate the hourly rate at which the gas will pass the disc or discs. One of the
'discs may be coloured, so as to show its position in reference to the graduations and
figures. The gas being admitted at the bottom of the taper tube causes the disc or
discs to rise until it arrives at that figure which corresponds with the hourly rate
of the gas passing the disc. After the gas has passed the disc it flows from the
upper part of the taper tube to the burners. The taper tube may be enclosed in a
tube or case, and a rod may be attached to the disc, or other means may be used to
indicate by figures upon a graduated scale the hourly rate of consumption; or the
indicator and figures may be placed outside the tube or case before mentioned, and
protected by a glass cover.
The taper tube may be taper only on the inside, while the exterior sides may be
parallel.
Secondly. Instead of a taper tube a parallel tube of glass, metal, or other material,
round or of other horizontal sectional form, may be used, having a parallel slit or
alits made in the direction of its length, or a row or rows of holes made in the same
direction. This tube is graduated to indicate the hourly rate at which the gas will
pass through the slits or holes under the disc, the rest of the apparatus being made
precisely as before described.
The apparatus admits of being varied in size to suit the quantity contemplated
to pass through it, and may be provided with a bye-pass cock or valve, if
desirable.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood, Drawings are
attached hereto, of which is a description:-Fig. 1 is a front sectional elevation
of one form of the instrument. It consists of a tube of glass A, the internal part of
which is taper, or of a gradually increasing diameter from the bottom to the top.
Within the taper tube are placed two thin discs B, B, of aluminium, talc, or other
suitable material connected together by a central stem of wire C. One of these
discs may be coloured so as to see it more distinctly. The glass tube A may be
partially enclosed in a metal case D, an opening being formed in front of the case
to admit of viewing the indications when the instrument or guage is in use. Both
ends of the tube A are made gas tight by metallic covers E, E, of the case being
screwed up against them, an elastic washer being inserted between the glass tube
and the said covers. These metallic caps or covers may be fixed to the ends of the
glass tube, and used alone, thereby dispensing with the metal case D. The scale
on which the figures are marked may be attached to the outside of the glass tube A,
or to the inside of the metal case D.

page_text: Fig. 2 is a section of a taper glass tubo similar to that in Fig. 1, but is longer, so
as to give a greater range, or make the instrument adapted for passing a greater
quantity of gas. In this Figure, too, it will be seen that there is only one disc.
This is kept in a horizontal position by means of a tube G fixed to the disc so as to
admit of both tube and disc rising and falling upon a central wire H, which passes &
through the tube and is fastened to a piece of metal I at each end of the glass
tube A, which may be provided with a metallic case, or otherwise furnished, as
described in the preceding paragraph.
Fig. 3 exhibits a section of instrument similarly constructed to Fig. 2, but has
attached at its back a reflector J, on which the scalo is fixed. This form of instru-
ment is adapted more particularly for fixing to a burner to which a constant
quantity is intended to be supplied, the said quantity being indicated when the disc
rises to a level with the figure on the scale.
Fig. 4 is an instrument in which the equivalent to the taper glass tube A is
represented by either a parallel tubo of glass or metal K, having a parallel slit or 1
opening I made in the direction of its length. Inside the tube Ŕ are two discs
B, B, loosely fitted to the said tube, and connected together by a central stem, as
in Fig. 1, and to this central stem is fixed a wire which passes through the slit and
terminates in a pointer M. The tube K is shown in elevation, but the outer glass
tube N, in which K is enclosed, and the metallic case D are in section; this form 2
of instrument being adapted for use where a considerable quantity of gas is passing
is furnished with an ordinary union O at each end.
In Fig. 5 a similar arrangement to that of Fig. 4 is adopted. The gas however
in this case enters at P, flows into the parallel tube K, and after raising the discs
passes through the slit L into the annular space Q between the tube K and the 2
glass casing N, and then descends in the direction of the arrow to the outlet R.
By turning the thumb screw S the valve T may be drawn away from its seat U,
when the gas will flow from P to R without raising the discs.
In Fig. 6 a parallel tube of glass K is used, but instead of a parallel slit a row of
holes V, V, are made, the operation of the instrument being the same as that of 3
Fig. 1. The graduated scale may be attached either to the outside of K or inside
of the outer glass tube N.
In Fig. 7 K is a parallel tube of glass divided in the direction of its length into
two halves, which are placed close together on one side, and are kept apart on the
other by the insertion of a thin piece of metal at each end, a parallel slit or opening 3
L being thus formed. The principal difference between this and the preceding forms
of instrument is that near the bottom an opening W is formed, the size of the orifice
being adjustable by turning the screw ✗. The object of this is to permit a certain
quantity of gus to flow from the inlet to the outlet, the excess only being indicated
on the scale as fractions of a cubic foot.
The form represented by Fig. 8 consists of a tube of metal K, in which a number
of holes V, V, are made. Inside the tube K is a disc connected by the rod O to
another smaller disc working in an upper glass tubo Y, which is closed at the top.
In this instance the graduated scale is fixed on the outside of the back of the
tube Y. The gas enters at Z or a, and makes its exit at b or a The tube K is 4
enclosed in a metallic case N, as is also the tube Y in a similar case d.
Figs. 9, 10, and 11 represent an apparatus made upon the same principle as the
foregoing, and is intended to be used upon the outlet main of a gas works or large
service.
Fig. 11 is a cast iron or other metallic parallel tube K of the requisite dimensions, 5
and has one or more parallel slits or openings L equal in area to the tube K. One
of the slits has a parallel plate e, which partially covers it, and can be adjusted by
the eccentrics so as to make the quantity of gas passing through the slits agree
with the number of thousands of cubic feet marked on the dial h. Over the openings i
cover plates are fixed, by the removal of which access can be had to the eccentrics. 54
In the tube K are suspended one or two discs B, B, by a cord or chain j, which
passes around a wheel at the back of the dial ¾, and is of the same circumference as

page_text: the length the discs B have to travel. In this case the pointer in connection with
the figures on the dial acts as an indicator. On the same spindle that supports the
wheel just mentioned, and carries the pointer 2, there is a smaller wheel m, shown
in dotted lines. To this wheel is fixed a cord or chain carrying a weight n to act
as a counterpoise to the discs B, and so adjusted as to bring the pointer to zero
when no gas is passing through the apparatus. A suitable casting O is provided
for the purpose of enclosing the large and small wheel m, the only opening to the
atmosphere being the hole in the casting fitted with a stuffing box to allow the
spindle to pass through and carry the pointer in front of the dial h. The gas
enters at p, and after raising the discs and passing through the slits descends in
the space between the tube K and the outside casing q, finally making its exit
at r.
Fig. 10 is a Drawing to a larger scale, showing the manner in which the plate is
adjusted to cover the slit in the parallel tube; and Fig. 9 is a plan of the apparatus
through y,, Fig. 11.
Although in the foregoing the tubes are described and shown as round, it is
obvious that they may be readily made of a square or any other suitable shape or
section. In some of the smaller apparatus a wire gauze disc is inserted both at the
inlet and outlet of the taper or parallel tube, and in all cases where a gas tight
joint is necessary a suitable washer is inserted for the purpose.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details
or arrangements that I have described or referred to, as variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of this Invention,
but what I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The construction and use of apparatus with an internally tapered tube
increasing in diameter upwards, and made of glass or other suitable substance, and
containing or having attached thereto a moveable indicator for the purpose herein
set forth, and as herein described and shown on the Drawings.
Secondly. The construction and use of apparatus with a parallel tube of glass or
metal having a parallel slit or slits made in the direction of its length, or a row or
rows of holes in the same direction, and containing or having connected therowith
a moveable indicator for the purpose herein set forth, and as herein described and
shown on the Drawings.
Thirdly. The construction and use of apparatus with an indicator consisting of
a disc or discs capable of rising or falling within the respective tubes, or of a pointer
and dial, the position of which indicator indicates by the figures attached to the
apparatus the quantity of gas passing_through the tubes at the time of inspection,
as herein described and shown on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Joslin, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Nineteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand