Improvements in Gas Meters.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas Meters.
I, BERNARDUS PETRUS MOORS, of Riouwstraat 24, The Hague, Holland, Chief of
the Hague Gauge Office, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in wet gas-meters of the ordinary well
known kind, and according thereto the defects incident to these apparatus such as the
possibility of taking unmeasured quantities of gas from the meter, the inconstant
water-level in the meter, which renders it impossible to measure in an exact manner,
and the lamps are caused to flicker when the syphon becomes filled; the repeated.
filling of the gas meter and the uncertainty as to the water-level are obviated.
By applying the hereinafter described improvements the water-level of the gas-
meter is rendered constant and the measuring operation may be effected with nearly
mathematical exactness; the descent of the water-level caused by the evaporation
of the water in the gas-meter is continuously compensated by the water contained
in the reservoirs arranged in the fore-compartment of the gas-meter; and the rising
of the water level caused by condensation of water vapour is prevented by a tube
that leads the superfluous water into the water-box.
The height of the water-level in the gas-meter may be observed at any moment,
whilst there are no apertures through which unmeasured quantities of gas can be
taken from the meter. In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I
will proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
Fig. 1 is a front view of the gas-meter having the front wall of the fore-compartment
and the water-box removed.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line A-B of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the fore-compartment on line C-D of Fig. 1;
and
Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 6ª show details of the gas-meter partly in section.
The back-chamber A with the drum of sheet metal B, the shaft a of the latter
carrying, on its part projecting into the fore-compartment, the worm with the
toothed wheel e, the spindle c in the socket d and the counting device g with the
wheel and those parts on which the above named organs rotate, are constructed in
the same manner as in the well known wet gas-meter; whilst some other details
that are not shown in the drawing for the sake of clearness, are also of known
construction.
Underneath the fore-compartment C is, as usual, the water-chamber D com-
municating directly, through the bent tube E, with the said compartment C. The
mouth of this tube is situated as close as possible to the partition wall and very near
the lowest allowable water-level in the gas-meter, which is indicated in the drawing
(Fig. 1) by the line X X. The tube E which is made of easily flexible metal,
is secured in the bottom of the box and suspended by means of the rod F on the cover
of the compartment C.
At both sides of this tube on the cover of the fore-compartment C are arranged two
water reservoirs G and H.
The reservoir H projects deeply below the water-level and contains a float K,
whilst the other reservoir G is above the water-level and serves for filling the gas
a constant
meter and for maintaining the water-level in the gas-meter at
height.
In the upper part of the reservoir H is a pipe K¹ having a square section and
leading from the mouth of the gas supply pipe, which is furnished with a cock M,
to the valve chamber N, which is at the right hand of the reservoir H and projects

page_text: like that reservoir below the water-level. The valve is supported in the valve
chamber N by a circular seat, under which is situated the mouth of the syphon P.
The latter as in wet gas-meters of usual construction, extends deeply into the water
chamber D, whilst a knee-pipe adapted to the said syphon passes through the
partition wall and projects through an aperture in the drum B above the water-level
into the fore-space of the drum.
By this means a direct connection is established between the valve chamber N and
the fore-space of the drum B. It is therefore impossible for any quantity of gas to
penetrate, without being measured, into the fore-compartment or into the water
box D).
The valve O is, by means of a hinge, fastened to a rod R (see Fig. 1) passing
through an opening arranged in the bottom of the chamber N, whilst the other
end of the rod R is secured to a beam or balance S not far from the fulcrum of the
latter.
The float K is connected by the rod R¹ with one end of the beam S. For this
purpose a small opening O' is arranged in the bottom of the reservoir H through
which the rod R¹ passes. The other end of the beam is connected to the rod R² that
passes through the reservoir G and projects into a small closed air-tight box H'
where by means of a lever hit rotates the shaft a carrying the hand W and moves
the latter on a dial-plate arranged in front of the box H.
The socket K2 which is made of sheet metal and surrounds the rod R² projects
below the water-level X X and is hermetically cut off from the reservoir G.
The float K which is of cylindrical shape has a flat or somewhat hollowed
bottom; it is firmly secured to the rod R¹ and moves between vertical guide-
rods s s.
The reservoir G is provided with an orifice through which the gas-meter is filled.
The orifice is closed by a filling screw, V.
To the bottom of this reservoir is fastened a short pipe di projecting below the
water-level XX; a chamber containing the pipe E is arranged in the reservoir G.
One end of the pipe E made of casily flexible metal, is secured in the vertical
wall and discharges into the reservoir, whilst the other end, which is bent, is
connected, like the pipe E, with the rod F and extends about 1, 5 m above the
mouth of the pipe E. The two pipes E and E' are in this way firmly connected
with the rod F and the height of the saine is adjustable between certain limits. After
the said pipes have been adjusted by experiment and after the nut on the upper end
of the rod F and this rod itself having been soldered to the cover of the fore-
compartment C, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the position of the pipes E and E¹
cannot be altered by removing the gas-meter from one place to another or other
cause.
The pipe d, situated above the cover of the fore-compartment (in the counting
box puts the two reservoirs G and H in communication with each other, so that
the pressure in the reservoir G is equal to that in the reservoir H.
The connection between the fore- and back-compartments is established by means
of a small opening 02 arranged in the lower part of the partition wall; all the
other openings in the latter below the water-level, as the opening through which
the shaft a passes are as small as possible. By this means a difference of the water-
level in one of the two compartments cannot be transmitted immediately to the other
compartment.
The measured gas flows through the openings 08 (Figs. 1 and 2) in the upper
part of the partition wall from the back-compartment A into the fore-compartment C
and thence through the pipe E into the water-chamber D. The gas-delivery pipe
provided with a cock M' is situated at the top of the back-compartment A.
As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 a rectangularly bent tube a x is horizontally
arranged at a suitable height Y Y (Fig. 1) on the front wall of the water-chamber D.
Fig. 4 shows a top view of the tube a which is closed at a and is provided at
its lower side with a small opening 2 whilst at a the tube is closed by means of a
screw-stopper V¹.

page_text: At a short distance from the opening a² a vertical partition wall m n is arranged in
the tube, it does not extend entirely up to the horizontal axis of the tube and its
purpose is to prevent the opening from being accessible from the outside whereby
the water-level in the water-chamber D could be properly influenced.
Near the mouth x a small conical overhanging pipe p is arranged on the tube xa¹,
through which air is introduced into the water-chamber D, when water is flowing
out therefrom.
Should the pipe p be choked it may easily be cleaned after the screw-stopper V₁
has been screwed off.
As will be more fully described hereinafter the gas-meter works in such a manner,
that, when used by confidential persons, the valve O with the rod R may be dispensed
with. But in this case a device must be applied for sealing the filling screw V or
for rendering it inaccessible.
For this purpose a flange z with holes i is arranged above the opening and the
filling screw is provided with threads for screwing thereon a hollow screw-head V2
such as represented in vertical section in Fig. 5. The screw-head is provided with a
similar flange also having 3 or 4 holes i.
For sealing the opening a lead-rod may be drawn through the holes i they being
situated one over the other, and the ends of the said rod may be connected with each
other by means of a seal.
In gas-meters now in use the counting device is soldered to the gas-meter, so that
the gauger cannot examine the counting apparatus.
1 employ an arrangement by which the counting apparatus can be readily and
easily removed and examined.
Fig. 6 is a front view partially in section of the counting device, and Fig. 6ª a side
view of the same.
Two flat bars e¹ el connecting the two plates 9 of the counting device with each other,
are each provided with two conical holes r r. Upon the cover of the compartment C
are arranged at a suitable distance two vertical supports uu each of which is provided
with two round vertical conical points. The two holes receive these conical points.
A sideways movement is thus prevented. In order to prevent a rising movement
between the two rods of each support u a strong spring g is arranged provided with a
triangular cam g' (Figs. 6 and 6") which hold the horizontal bars down on the
supports u u.
By these means the counting device is firmly secured upon the fore-compart-
ment and it may easily be removed in order to be revised by bending sideways
the springs 9 9.
To put this gas-meter in action and to fill the same, the cocks, M and M¹ are
closed and the screws V and V₁ are taken off. The water poured in flows then
through the reservoir G into the fore-compartment C and thence through the
opening O2 into the back-compartment A; as soon as the water has risen up to the
line X X it passes through the pipe E into the water-chamber D until it flows over
at x, whereupon the opening at a is closed.
On more water being now poured in, the level of the latter will rise by the height
of the convex meniscus formed at the mouth of the pipe E, the mouth of the pipe E¹
which is considerably higher, is closed. The air is then compressed in the compart-
ments and the water will rise in the reservoirs, until it flows over at V. This
opening is then closed and water which may still have entered the water-chamber D
through the pipe E is evacuated through V. In the meantime the float K is raised
by the water mounting in the reservoir H and has opened the valve O, so that when
the cock M is opened, the gas is free to enter. After having opened the cock M' the
gas-meter is put in action.
When from any cause, such as indicated in the beginning of this specification
the water-level in the fore-compartment C has fallen just below the lowest allowed
level XX, the convex meniscus at the mouth of the pipe E will be broken and
gas will pass into the reservoirs, forcing the water out of the latter. Water will enter,

page_text: then from the reservoirs into this chamber until by the rising water-level the convex
meniscus is formed again at the mouth of E¹.
When the water-level rises higher than the height of the meniscus at E, the excess
of water will flow into the water-chamber D. The limits between which these two
levels move, are very narrow so that the level may be considered as almost a constant
one. I am enabled by this means to measure the gas very exactly. The dimensions
of the reservoirs are so chosen that the differences produced by evaporation need be
compensated only about every six months.
As it is not probable that in well-constructed gas-meters the water-level will fall
below the line X X and that the reservoirs G and H will become entirely empty,
and as the gas-meter is to be filled only once a year the valve O and the rod R may as
already mentioned be dispensed with, when the gas-meter is in the care of trust-
worthy persons. The cost of manufacturing the gas-meters are thus considerably
reduced.
But in this case the screw V must be covered with the above described screw head
(see Fig. 5) and their flanges and a sealed together. Should however within this
time the water fall below the line X X, the hand W connected to the beam S will
immediately indicate this and the reservoirs are then to be filled again in the above
described manner.
Unmeasured gas cannot enter the fore-compartment C or the water-chamber D or be
taken out from the latter through openings therein; furthermore the gas lamps are
prevented from flickering as the water cannot ascend to the point where the two
branches of the syphon P meet. A decrease of gas-pressure cannot take place in this
gas-meter more than in an ordinary one.
The method above described of fixing the counting apparatus enables the gauger to
revise and examine the apparatus very easily, whereby a security is afforded
against a faulty construction of the apparatus and exact measuring can be attained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claiin is-
1. In the fore-compartment C of a wet gas-meter of the usual construction the
arrangement of two reservoirs G and H capable of rendering the water-level in the
gas-meter constant, one of which (H) projects deeply below the water-level (XX)
whilst the other reservoir (G) is arranged above it, the two reservoirs being put in
communication with each other by the pipe d² arranged above the fore-compartment C
in the counting box g, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth and
shewn in the accompanying drawings.
2. In combination with the reservoirs referred to in the preceding claim a float K
located in the reservoir H and connected by the rod R¹ with the balance beam S and
actuating, through the intervention of the latter, by means of the rod R, the valve O,
and by means of the rod R2 the hand W, in such a manner that at a low water-level
in the reservoirs the valve O will be closed and the hand W will indicate this on
a dial plate in front of H', substantially as for the purpose hereinbefore set forth
and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
3. In combination with the reservoirs referred to in claim 1 the arrangement
of a valve-chamber N located against a sidewall of the reservoir H and extending
below the water-level XX, and connected by the pipe K¹ with the gas supply pipe
provided with the cock M the said valve chamber being in communication with the
fore-compartment only through a small opening arranged in the bottom through which
passes the rod R substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth and shewn
in the accompanying drawings.
4. In combination with the valve-chamber N the arrangement of a valve O located
in it and below the latter the mouth of the Syphon leading the unmeasured gas
directly into the front space of the drum B, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth hereinbefore and shewn in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 5. In combination with the reservoirs G and H, the arrangement of two pipes E
and E¹ the mouths of which, located at a suitable distance from each other between
both reservoirs, close to the partition wall, are firmly connected with the rod F
and held by the latter at a suitable height, the pipe E putting the fore-com-
partment C in communication with the water chamber D, and the pipe E'
arranged in the free space of the reservoir G, discharging above the water-
level XX, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth and shewn
in the accompanying drawings.
6. In combination with the water-chamber D the arrangement of the horizontal
rectangularly bent pipe a¹ in the front wall of the chamber and there closed
by a screwed stopper V1, the other end a being closed and provided only at its lower
side with a small opening 2, and near this opening the vertical partition m n extending
not quite up to the horizontal axis of the pipe and the small tube p upon the pipe xx¹,
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth and shewn in the
accompanying drawings.
7. In combination with the float K and valve O on the cover of the fore compart-
ment next to the counting device the arrangement of the hand W indicating, by
means of the balance beam S, the rod R2, the lever hand the shaft a¹ on the
graduated dial plate in front of a small air tight box H', the movement of the float K
and in consequence the height of the water-level in the reservoirs, substantially as
above described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
8. In combination with the reservoir G the arrangement of an aperture on the
cover of this reservoir, closed by the screw V and in the bottom of the said reservoir
the arrangement of a short pipe d¹ projecting below the level X X, substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
9. In combination with the cover with aperture the screw head V2 (see Fig. 5)
screwed over the filling screw V and connected with the latter by means of the
flange provided with the holes i i, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
set forth and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
10. In combination with the counting device of the usual construction upon the
cover of the fore compartment the arrangement of two vertical supports u u the conical
points of which fit into conical holes of the cross bars e e¹ of the counting apparatus
with which is connected the spring a furnished with cams q¹ substantially as and for
the purpose hereinbefore set forth and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Datal this 0th day of Santambor 1980
B. P. MOORS,
Per L. W.