Improvements in the Construction of Casings for Gas Meters.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1897-Accepted, 21st Aug., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Casings for Gas Meters.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of London,
Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (which has been
communicated to me from abroad by William Homewood Hopper of 131 West
Walnut Lane, Germantown in the City of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,
United States of America, Gas Meter Manufacturer) and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The main object of this Invention is to simplify and cheapen tho construction of
the casing of a gas meter, an object which is attained by lessening the number of
component parts in the said casing and the consequent number of soldered
joints necessary to secure these parts together. A further object is to stiffen and
strengthen the structure, which object is attained by a special construction of the
flanges whereby the parts are united.
In the accompanying drawings
:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved gas meter casing shewing the
front, one of the "gallery" plates, and the top detached from the body portion ;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the horizontal partition plate or "table" which
separates the measuring chamber of the meter from the chamber containing the
registering apparatus and valve mechanism;
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the meter casing;
Figure 4 is a sectional plan of the same; and
Figure 5 is a section shewing a modification of the invention.
In ordinary gas meters the front and back, the sides, the bottom, the top and the
partition and gallery plates are all composed of sheet metal, and are separate from
each other, hence a great number of soldered joints are necessary for securing these
parts together, the casing is weakened thereby, the cost of making the casing is
heavy, and the risk of leakage due to defective joints is in direct proportion to the
number of joints in the casing.
In carrying out this invention, however, tho bottom A and sides B, B, of the
casing are made from one piece of sheet metal bent into proper shape so that no
joints are necessary at the junction of the bottom and sides of the casing, the
parts A, B, B, being secured in proper position in respect to each other by connection
with the contral vertical partition plate D and horizontal partition plate, or table, F,
which serves to separate the measuring chamber of the meter from the upper
chamber containing the registering devices and valve operating mechanism.
The vertical partition plate D is of rectangular form and has around each of its
four sides a projecting flange a the side and bottom flanges being secured respectively
to the side and bottom portions of the casing, and the top flange being secured to
the semi-tubular channel plate G, the upper edges of which are secured to the
underside of the horizontal partition plate, or table, F, so as to form immediately
beneath the latter, a central conduit such as is usually required in gas meters.
The horizontal partition plate, or table, F has end flanges b secured to the sides
of the casing and said table also has side flanges d similar to the flanges f which

page_text: project inwardly from the edges of the bottom and side portions A, B, B, of the
casing, these flanges d and f completely surrounding the measuring chamber of the
meter and serving for the attachment of the front and back plates I, which complote
the enclosure of the said measuring chamber.
The flanges d and f are preferably grooved or V-shaped in cross section and the
front and back plates I have edge flanges i adapted to enter the grooved flanges d
and to which they are secured by soldering, or brazing, the V-form of the flanges
serving to stiffen the same and hence materially increasing the strength of the
structure.
The side portions B, B, of the casing are continued upwardly beyond the horizontal
partition plate, or table, F, and have edge flanges m, preferably grooved, or
V-shaped, for the reception of flanges n, at the ends of the gallery plates J, which
also have bottom flanges n adapted to the grooved flange d, of the table F, the
flanges n, being secured to the V-shaped flanges d and m by soldering or brazing.
The sides B, of the casing and the gallery plates J, bave at the top inturned
horizontal flanges 8 to which is secured the top K of the meter.
In the modified construction shown in Fig. 5, the front plate I, and gallery
plate J, are in one piece and the table has a straight flange d instead of the
V-shaped flange shewn in Figures 1 and 3, the construction otherwise being the
same.
In constructing a meter casing in accordance with this Invention not only is the
assembling and fitting of the parts facilitated but the strength and security of the
casing are increased, the number of soldered or brazed joints to be formed is
decreased and the expense of constructing the casing is correspondingly diminished,
less skill being required in the operation than is demanded in making an ordinary
casing, thereby effecting an additional saving in cost.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
declare that what I
claim is
Making the bottom and side plates of the casing of gas meters in one piece, and
providing grooved or V-shaped, flanges for the reception of the edges of the front
and rear plates and gallery plates of the casing, substantially as hereinboforo
described and illustrated.