Improvements in Gas Pressure Indicating Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jnue, 1892
Complete Specification Left. 10th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas Pressure Indicating Apparatus.
I, HENRY PHILLIPS SMITH Gas Company's Officer of 29 Avondale Square
London S.E. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the regulating and indicating of pressure in gas pipes
etc. and consists in a pressure indicator and electrical "tell tale
junction with some simple device for the regulation of the meter pressure.
"
or alarin in con-
The apparatus is designed more especially for use in houses, shops, manufac-
tories or other establishments where it is necessary in order to ensure the maximum
of effective light without waste that a constant and uniform pressure from the
meter should be maintained.
This has heretofore been difficult to effect owing to the frequent varying of
the gas pressure as supplied from the main and the apparatus forming the subject
matter of this invention has been designed to give notice to consumers by means
of an alarm, of any substantial variation in the pressure from a point previously
determined as the one best suited to the lighting requirements of their establish-
ment.
Means are also provided by which the service from the meter can then be
regulated to the amount indicated as necessary.
The apparatus consists substantially of the following parts.
1. An ordinary gas pressure gauge consisting of an U-shaped glass tube con-
taining water alcohol or other sufficiently active liquid.
This tube is connected by one end with the pipe from the meter and
other
supports (in the liquid of the return end) a float of cork pith or
suitable material bearing a light wire lever hereinafter referred to as the float
lever.
This lever rises or falls according as the height of the liquid column is varied
by the pressure of the gas which acts on the liquid in the other tube of the
gauge.
2. A lever balanced on an axis near or at its centre in such a manner as to
be deflected with a seesaw motion by engagement with the float lever above
mentioned.
3. On the same axis as the preceding lever but insulated from it and balanced
laterally with it is a second adjustable lever capable of regulation to any desired
point.
Each of the above two levers carries on its extremity a platinum point which
when, the two levers are moved to a coincident plane engage and form contact with
the current wires of an electrical bell alarm of any simple form.
The second or regulating lever is so designed as to actuate by its rotary motion
a pointer moving over a suitably engraved dial.
It is obvious that the first of the above two levers will be depressed or raised
according to the upward or downward movement of the float lever, and the coincident
plane above referred to can be fixed at any desirable point.
It follows therefore that when the amount of pressure variation allowable has
been determined the pointer is turned to that figure on the dial, carrying with it in
the manner described the second lever bearing the contact point..
Should the pressure then increase sufficiently to cause the liquid column to raise
the float lever, and depress the first balanced lever until the 2 contact points engage,
then the electrical circuit will be completed and the bell rung.
The consumer is thus audibly warned of the waste of gas taking place at the
.

page_text: burners owing to a larger quantity of gas being forced through them than is
perfectly consumed.
The meter output is at once checked either by direct regulation or by means of
suitably arranged wires or lines etc. which may for convenience sake be arranged
immediately adjacent to the alarm, and which can be easily operated by the person
attending to the gauge.
The regulation of the meter causes a corresponding depression in the column of
liquid in the gauge allowing the float lever to face and thus reverse the lever action
previously set up.
The contact pieces are thus severed and the bell ceases to ring.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas Pressure Indicating Apparatus.
I HENRY PHILLIPS SMITH of 29, Avondale Square, Old Kent Road, London,
S.E., Gas Company's Officer, 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 the regulation and indication of the pressure in gas pipes
etc. and consists in a pressure indicator and electrical tell tale or alarm in combina-
tion with some simple device for the regulating of the meter pressure.
The apparatus is designed more especially for use in houses, shops, manufactories,
etc. or other establishments where it is necessary, in order to ensure the maximum
of effective light without waste, that a constant and uniform pressure from the
meter should be maintained.
This has heretofore been difficult to effect owing to the frequent varying of the
gas pressure as supplied from the main and the apparatus forming the subject matter
of this invention has been designed to give notice to consumers by means of an
alarm of any substantial variation in the pressure from a point previously
determind as the one best suited to the lighting requirements of their establish-
ment.
Means are also provided by which the service from the meter can be regulated
to the amount indicated as necessary.
The operating principle of the invention is as follows.
A connecting pipe from the gas service is led into one end of an U-shaped gauge
glass.
The variation of the gas pressure acting on the liquid in the tube causes a float
in the other or return end of the glass to rise or fall.
This float is attached to an oscillating lever centred on an axis and rocks in such
a manner as to make or break electrical contact with a second adjustable point
under the rise and fall of the said float.
This second point is capable of regulation to any desired degree and its position
is shown by means of an ordinary dial and pointer mechanism.
Thus when the pressure acting in the gauge glass rises to a point previously
established as unnecessary (and denoted by the pointer in connection with the
second adjustable contact referred to), the float in the return end of the gauge
rises and allows the rocking lever to which it is attached to complete the circuit
and ring an electric bell.
Thus audible warning
given of the excess pressure from the main and the
meter out put can be then regulated by hand or some simple mechanical means
in connection with the apparatus.
In the drawings
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the apparatus complete in its case.

page_text: Figure 2 represents a front elevation with the dial and pointer removed to show
the actuating mechanism.
Similar reference letters indicate similar parts.
B is the rocking lever centred on axis A and bearing on one end the contact
point C.
Attached to its other end by means of a cord of wire, horsehair, gut, or other
suitable material D is the float E.
The toothed wheel G is centred on the same axis A (but in electrical insulation)
and works in engagement with the smaller toothed wheel F.
The axis of this smaller wheel protrudes forward through the dial and bears a
pointer which shows the relative position of the large wheel G.
This wheel G bears on its inner side the second contact piece with which the
point C coincides.
The action of the apparatus is therefore as follows.
It having been previously determined what amount of pressure is best suited
to the lighting requirements of the establishment, the pointer on the dial is set
turning the small wheel F and thus actuating the larger wheel G which bears
the said contact piece on its inner side (not shown on the drawing).
It follows then that should the gas pressure from the meter which enters the
gauge at the back of the point I rise above the required limit it bears up the
float E in the return end.
The rise of this float then allows the lever B to rock bringing the contact
piece it bears into juxtaposition with the second contact piece on the adjustable
wheel G.
The electrical contact thus made is designed to cause an electric bell in connec-
tion with the apparatus to ring and give audible warning of the waste taking
place at the burners.
Attention thus having been drawn the meter out-put can be instantly regulated
by means of the handle J which actuates a drum in the rear bearing a cord
or wire K attached to the handle or tap of the meter.
It must of course be distinctly understood that I do not limit myself to the
actual mechanism herein described but
Having now described my invention and the best means known to me for
carrying out the same, what wish to claim and secure to myself by Letters
Patent is,
1. In a gas pressure indicating apparatus the method of affording an audible
electrical or other alarm by means of the movement of a float in a gauge glass
acting under the pressure of the gas and in conjunction with a rocking or oscillating
lever bearing a contact point or points to coincide with a second contact point
adjustable to any required position the whole in combination with some simple dial
and pointer mechanism and meter regulator all and for the purpose substantially
as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof I have set my hand this 30th day of November 1892.
HENRY PHILLIPS SMITH.