Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1886.
Specification Accepted, 28th Jan., 1887.
I, EMIL SOHRABETZ, of 2 Deutschmeisterplatz, Vienna I, Austria, Civil Engineer
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 gas-meters which operate by means of an obstructing liquid
and a rotary drum, and has for its object to render the indications of the gas-meter
independent of the level of the liquid in the meter, so that the registering mechanism
invariably indicates the quantities of gas which have really passed through the meter,
not only when the liquid is at its so-called normal level, but also when the level of the
liquid is sinking and until the float valve inserted in the gas supply is closed.
The said object is attained by inserting in the transmitting mechanism which
communicates the motion of the drum to the registering mechanism at a suitable rate,
two rotary bodies rolling upon one another, whose relative position and therefore the
ratio of their radii from the point of contact, and the consequent ratio of transmission
between the drum and registering mechanism, are made dependent upon the level of
the liquid in the gas meter by a second suitable transmission.
The shapes of the rotary bodies inserted have to be such that the ratio of
transmission, which is determined by the two radii R from the point of contact, is
changed by the displacement according to the volume passing through the meter at
the different levels of the water.
The accompanying drawings shew examples of arrangements, which, as regards the
shape of the rotary bodies used, and the manner of both ways of transmission, can be
variously modified in any desired manner.
In all these figures the rotary bodies A and B are placed on the shafts and
The motion of., A, B y is preferably transmitted directly to the registering
mechanism, of which represents the first wheel; but any transmitting elements can
be placed between y and . To the connection between y and must be ensured a
certain capability of movement without interfering with the transmission itself, for
which purpose the worm and all kinds of toothed wheels are best adapted.
S is the float which may also be the ordinary valve-float, and which falls and rises
with the level of the liquid; and s, a, b, c, d, e are transmitting elements for the second
way of transmission in which the displacement of B relatively to A, or A relatively
to B, is effected by the float S. Axles and joints are clearly distinguished from each
other in the drawing.
In the arrangement shewn in Figure 1, the shaft is supposed not to be displaceable,
го

page_text: and the shaft y to be displaceable; the shaft & can, however, be made displaceable, and
the shaft y movable only, so far that B always bears upon A, as represented-by way
of example in Figure 2.
The shaft y can also (see Figure 3) directly and firmly be connected with the float S.
One or both shafts can also be made swinging as in the example Figure 4.
Both shafts can also be displaced by one float or by a separate float for either, in the
same manner, which would however, only complicate the arrangement.
The simplest arrangement. would appear to be that in which the rotary bodies A
and B are constructed as discs, as indicated in Figure 5. In this case the transmission
is changed so as to be nearly proportional to the travel of the float, inasmuch as the
displacement of y is only very slight, and the adjoining clements as hereinafter set
forth, can suitably be placed perpendicular to one another so that the arc-way of the
joints need not be taken into consideration.
Now although the increase of volume of the gas passing through the gas meter is
theoretically not exactly proportional to the change in the level of the liquid as
indicated by the travel of the float S, this is of no importance in the practical
construction of the apparatus, because, by the exact adjustment and setting of the
apparatus for the extreme levels of the liquid which are necessary in any case, the
faults for the intermediate levels become very slight indeed. If the connection
between S and B and A is such that the indications of the gas-meter are correct when
the level of the liquid is highest (0) and lowest (V) the indications will also be right
for all the intermediate positions of the float.
Figure 6 shews--by way of example-the transmissions of the motion to y through
the medium of a toothed segment which can also be employed at other points whereby
the effect of the arc-way would likewise be invalidated.
Figure 7 shows the transmission of motion by means of a thin drawing wire c which
is passed over the pulley d, from the arme of which the shaft y is suspended.
These examples are quite sufficient to illustrate precisely the nature of the described
invention, and it will be easy for any expert to devise and work out from this a great
number of modifications and different mechanism for transmitting motion from the
float to the rolling bodies A or B respectively without departing from the nature of this
invention.
As in the practical construction it would hardly be possible to obtain faultless
dimensions for the transmitting mechanism between S and B or A respectively,
adjusting devices become necessary. These devices have for their primary object to
change for the level O of the liquid, the length of one element of this transmitting
mechanism, and then, for the level V, that of a second element, or the angle included
by two joint elements on one axle.
These changes can also be spread over several joint elements.
The adjustment can also commence in the position V.
In general, the second correction will partly invalidate the first, and this correction
will have to be repeated, until finally by approximation the fault can be disregarded.
If, for the correction in the positions O and V, such elements are used that the
second correction does not impair the first, the approximation process will be dispensed
with. This is attained if the correcting elements are arranged perpendicularly to the
adjoining elements, and are in the first correction kept at least nearly in such a
position as shewn-by way of example-in Figure 5.
}"
The first correction for the proportion of R, can be performed by s, cory; the
second correction for the proportion of R¹, by a, b, d or e; and all kinds of
modifications can here be made.
As the travels of the connections of the elements, with the exception of s, a and
also the corrections are very small, the fact that for instance when prolonging d the
connection m Figure 8, in the position II passes to n, and when a returns to the
position 1, n will then be lower than m was previously, may be disregarded in practice.
But even these faults can be obviated if the correcting element is connected with
the adjoining element, not by a joint but in such a manner that one element is guided
rectilinearly and offers to the correcting element a line of application which is at a

page_text: right angle to its own, or in the direction of the correcting element, which arrange-
ments are shewn in Figures 9 and 10 by way of example.
The respective correcting element, d or e, is at a right angle to c or y and engages
with a double disc o or embraces a single disc p.
In Figure 7, e engages with a double disc o.
The adjustment is perfected by making a third element capable of correction,
for the purpose of obtaining the perpendicular position of a correcting element to the
adjoining element. If for instance in Figure 9 the corrections are effected by the
elements y and d the adjustment begins by means of y by which B is set in the right
position, whilst has to remain perpendicular to c; but as the float S will have
displaced c and thus also d, o is rendered adjustable upon c, that is to say c can be
regulated, in order to set d perpendicular to c.
C
When applied to Figure 7 the vertical position of e relatively to y is obtained by
sliding upon d and subsequent fixing then the first correction is performed by y that
is to say, by the displacement of the disc o and the second correction by the setting of e.
Instead of the elements (Figures 5 and 7) may, for instance, be taken as the
third element. As a correction for this purpose, if commenced in the position O, the
level O of the water may be changed by regulating the overflow.
In the same manner the adjustment is effected if A is in relation with S and also in
any other constructions according to my invention, and by these examples the manner
of the same is quite clearly set forth.
The connection of the several clements, the support of the axles and shafts, the
detail construction of the adjusting devices and the like become quite an ordinary
problem for the mechanician, which can be solved in the most varying manners.
It may therefore be observed by the way, that the screw can with advantage find
application in the adjusting devices for prolonging or shortening several elements; that
it is advantageous to support the shaft y between points in a frame Figure 11, the
adjoining element acting upon the latter that the disc B can be provided with a scale
to indicate small quantities of gas, in which case a hand might suitably be arranged
on the frame which does not rotate in Figure 11; and that furthermore it is
advantageous to place the parts A and B, and in general as much as possible of the
whole arrangement-outside the reach of the gas and water. The outlets of the
respective parts are closed tightly in the known manner by leather or other packing,
membranes, hags, or by boxes closed by grease or mercury or the like. The bodies A
and B can be composed of metal, alloys, horn, bone, ebonite, wood, india-rubber,
glass, porcelain, resin, stone, paper, or other substances, either singly or in
combination, without affecting the nature of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The transmission of the motion from the drum-shaft of a wet gas-meter having
a rotary drum, to the first wheel of the registering mechanism. through the medium of
two rotary bodies A and B rolling one upon the other, and whose relative positions
are dependent on the position of the float or the level of the liquid in the gas-meter for
the purpose of causing the velocity of the registering mechanism, even when the level
of the liquid varies, to correspond with the quantities of gas passing through the meter.
2. The combination of the rotary bodies mentioned in the preceding claiming clause
with the described transmitting mechanisms or their equivalents, and the well known
arrangements of wet gas-meters for the purpose mentioned in the specification.
3. In a wet gas-meter provided with the arrangements described the mode of the
adjustment and the devices therefor.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.