IMPROVEMENTS IN WET • GAS METERS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Cochrane, of Harburn, in the County of
Mid Lothian, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WET
• GAS METERS."
Sealed the 30th May 1862, and dated the 5th December 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Cochrane at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
December 1861.
I, JAMES COCHRANE, of Harburn, in the County of Mid Lothian, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN.
WET GAS METERS," to be as follows:
This Invention relates to a peculiar arrangement of wet gas meters whereby
the ordinary existing meters as well as the new meters constructed according
to this Invention are made to comply with the requirements of the Sale of
Gas Act.
According to this Invention it is proposed to surround. the present float of.
the gas inlet valve by a box or partition so as to separate it from the ordinary
water chamber of the meter and to insert the lower end of the water supply
pipe into this box or float chamber in lieu of into the main water chamber as
heretofore. By this means the smallest quantity of water which may be
fraudulently extracted by a syphon or otherwise through the water supply pipe
will instantly affect the position of the float and cause the gas-to be shut off
without affecting in the slightest degree the proper water level in the
measuring chamber.
4

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Cochrane in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th June 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
COCHRANE, of Harburn, in the County of Mid Lothian, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Cochrane, Her special license that I, the said James Cochrane, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Cochrane, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN WET GAS METERS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Cochrane, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six, calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Cochrane, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
_ My-said-Invention-relates to a peculiar arrangement of wet gas meters
whereby the ordinary existing meters as well as the new meters constructed
according to this Invention are made to comply with the requirements of the
Sale of Gas Act.
According to this Invention it is proposed to surround the present float of
the gas inlet valve by a box or-partition so as to separate it from the ordinary
water chamber of the meter and to insert the lower end of the water supply
pipe into this box or float chamber in lieu of into the main water chamber as
heretofore. By this means the smallest quantity of water which may be

page_text: fraudently extracted by a syphon or otherwise through the water supply pipe
will instantly affect the position of the float, and cause the gas to be shut off
without affecting the proper water level in the measuring chamber..
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the annexed Drawing which represents a front elevation (full size)
of my improved wet gas meter with the front plate removed to show the present
improvements...
A is the outer casing of the meter; B, the gas inlet valve, on the spindle C
of which is fitted in the usual manner the float D (shown in its highest and lowest
positions). E is a box or open vessel which is inserted into or formed within
the front 'chamber of the meter and entirely surrounds the float D, separating
it from the main water chamber F. F, F, are two guides attached to the
rod E¹, and serving to guide the spindle of the valve and float; G is the water
supply pipe which communicates directly at its lower end with the float box or
enclosing vessel. E. The remaining portions of the meter are of the ordinary
well-known construction. On supplying this meter with water the cap His
unscrewed and the water poured down the water supply pipe into the float
box E, whence it flows over the edge of the partition H¹ thereof into the water
chamber F till it attains the proper level therein.
These improvements may be readily applied to old wet gas meters by simply
inserting therein a small box for containing the float D, so as to form a separate
chamber or compartment. If preferred, the lower end of the water supply
pipe may be bent so as to enter the float box or chamber at one side near the
bottom thereof in place of dipping vertically and directly therein. If desired,
a small aperture of from 3th to 16th of an inch diameter may be made at a
in the side of the chamber or box E about one inch below the proper water
level, so as to connect this chamber or box with the main water chamber F.
By this means the water level in the chambers E and F, if lowered by
evaporation or otherwise, will very slowly adjust itself. I is the overflow pipe
which opens at its lower end into the waste water box, K, and L is the plug
for drawing off the overflow.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and, the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First, the general construction-and arrangement of wet gas meters, as

page_text: Second, the enclosing of the float of the gas inlet valve in a special chamber
or box which is separate and distinct from the main water chamber of the
meter, and the introduction of the lower end of the water supply pipe into such
special chamber or box, for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Cochrane, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of May, One thousand eight
-hundred and sixty-two.
JAMES COCHRANE. (L.S.)