IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bowen, of Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan,
Gas Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS METERS."
Sealed the 9th May 1862, and dated the 1st March 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bowen at tho
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
March 1862.
I, HENRY BOWEN, of Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan, Gas Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS
METERS," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in gas meters has for its object the con-
struction of wet gas meters in such a manner that the level of water in the
meter may be always maintained at the proper height by means of a self-
adjusting syphon arrangement.
In carrying out my Invention, the square frame or front chamber is divided.
into two compartments consisting of the reservoir and float chamber, and a
chamber of communication to the interior or drum chamber of the meter.
The supply of gas goes direct from the main to the chamber of communication,
from whence it passes to the measuring drum through a suitable opening.
The charge pipe from the top of the reservoir communicates with the lower
chamber by a vertical pipe to the water level, this pipe may be placed either
inside or outside of the square box or frame, or the drum chamber. A syphon

page_text: or orifice in the reservoir opens a communication between the reservoir and
the interior or drum chamber of the meter, and compensates for any evapo-
ration of the water that may take place. The communication chamber being
connected with the interior or drum chamber by a suitable opening, the same
level of water is maintained in both chambers. The float is so placed in
respect to the gas supply pipe, that no variation of pressure will affect it, and
the valve of the gas inlet is closed when the water reservoir is empty. The
gas when it enters the meter is not allowed to rush down on the top of the
float, but is conducted along a passage (provided for the purpose) to the
communication chamber. The inlet valve being attached to the spindle of
the float will rise and fall therewith, and consequently when there is a
deficiency of water the valve will drop on to its seat and close the inlet or
supply pipe, which will admit no more gas until the meter is supplied with
water, and the valve opened by raising the float. The valve of the inlet pipe
is fixed outside the square frame or front chamber, so as to be easy of access
for repairs if required, and is placed above, and lifted by the float as above
mentioned. The top of the valve is protected by a shield which is fixed above
in the inlet pipes, so that the valve may not be interfered with or unduly
acted upon by the pressure of the gas on entering. The water communication
between the upper and lower chambers is maintained by a syphon or other
pipe, which will only allow the requisite quantity of water to pass from one to
the other, so that any loss that may arise from evaporation may be compensated
for by a corresponding quantity of water being admitted to the measuring
chamber from the reservoir.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Bowen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
September 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BOWEN, of Cardiff, in the County of Glamorgan, Gas Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Henry Bowen, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Bowen,
my executors, administrators,, and assigns, or such others as the said
Henry Bowen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any

page_text: 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
GAS METERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry
Bowen, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Henry Bowen, 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 following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention of improvements in gas meters relates to the system or mode
of maintaining the proper water level in wet gas meters by compensating for.
the evaporation or other loss of water in the meter.
According to this Invention the square frame or front chamber of the meter.
is divided into two compartments, consisting of a reservoir and chamber of
communication to the interior or drum chamber. The supply of gas goes
direct from the inlet to the chamber of communication, from whence it passes
to the measuring drum. The vertical overflow pipe extends nearly to the top
of the reservoir, and communicates with the lower chamber, and also acts as
an air pipe. The overflow pipe is attached to the pipe which surrounds the
upright shaft or spindle leading to the index, but if preferred, it may be made
separate and fixed in any other part of the reservoir. Its lower end or opening
corresponds with the water line which it is desired to maintain in the meter.
A syphon or orifice in the reservoir is one of the means of communication.
with the interior or drum chamber of the meter. When the water in the
meter descends below its proper level by reason of evaporation or other loss it
leaves exposed the lower end of the overflow pipe, and the inlet pressure of
the gas acting upon the water in the chamber of communication with the.
drum allows the gas to ascend through the overflow or air pipe. The water
from the reservoir passes through the orifice or syphon to the drum chamber.
until the water attains the correct level, when the overflow pipe will be again-
sealed. The float is so placed in respect to the gas pipe that no variation of
pressure will affect it and the valve of the gas inlet will be closed when the
water reservoir is empty. The float has a cylindrical hole made through it,

page_text: and inside this is a tube made gas-tight at the top by means of a screw, which
secures it to the valve seat. The tube and float are submerged in the water
in the reservoir. Across the under side of the float is a bridge-piece and a
weight is attached to the valve rod to bring back the valve to its seat when the
float sinks. The gas when it enters the meter is not allowed to rush down and
press on to the valve, but passes along a pipe or channel provided for the
purpose, and is conducted to the communication chamber; the inlet valve being
attached to the float will rise and fall therewith, so that when there is a
deficiency of water in the reservoir the valve will drop into its seat and close the
inlet or gas supply pipe, and no more gas will be admitted until the meter
and reservoir is supplied with water, when the valve will again be opened.
The valve of the inlet pipe is placed outside the square frame or front chamber,
so as to be easy of access for repairs, and is placed above and lifted by the float
as before mentioned. It is also so placed and protected by a cover that the
rush of gas shall not impinge directly upon the top of the valve and affect its
operation. The overflow box under the square frame is formed of one
chamber.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional
elevation of the meter.
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section through the float, the valve box,
and the reservoir.
Figure 3 is another transverse vertical section of the meter, shewing the
spout leading to the drum, the pipe enclosing the upright spindle, the air and
overflow pipe, the reservoir and chamber of communication, and the waste
water box, and dip pipe.
Figure 4 represents a horizontal section of the square frame of the meter.
In Figure 1, A is the inlet pipe; B, the valve box; C, the valve; D, the
pipe which conveys the gas from the valve through the reservoir into the
chamber of communication K, in which there is a spout or syphon pipe. E
leading to the measuring drum; F is the float; G, the stuffing box pipe, which
surrounds the upright spindle; H is the charge or overflow pipe, by which
the interior of the meter is supplied with water; I is the charge or feed pipe
for supplying the reservoir or water tank J with water; L is the orifice by
which the supply of water from the tank passes into the drum chamber to
compensate for evaporation or alteration of the water level caused by the
pressure of the gas; M is the receiver or waste water box; and N, the dip
or discharge pipe.
In Figure 2, the direction of the gas through the inlet pipe A is indicated.
by the arrows. It passes into the valve box B, and under the valve C as

page_text: indicated by the arrows, and is carried to the pipe D which passes through the
'supply tank to the chamber of communication K, as before mentioned. The
valve spindle O passes through the float F, and at the lower end of the spindle
there is a bridge-piece with a weight P attached, and which assists to bring
down the valve C to its seat when the level of the water sinks in the reservoir J.
A cylindrical hole is made through the float, and inside this is a tube R made
gas-tight at the top by means of the screw Q, which is attached under the
valve seat.
5
In Figure 3, E is the spout or syphon pipe, which conveys the gas from the
chamber of communication K to the measuring drum S, or to the water tank J;
when the lower end of the pipe FI becomes unsealed; M is the receiver or
waste water box; S, the measuring drum; and II, the outlet pipe for the
passage of the gas from the meter after it has been measured. The same letters
refer to like parts in the sectional plan view, Figure 4.
Upon water being supplied to the reservoir or chamber J through the pipe I
it rises in this chamber until it flows over the open end of the vertical tube II
into the chamber of communication K below, in which the water rises until it
reaches the top of the pipe E, down which any excess will pass into the waste
water chamber M below. In the meantime the chamber of the drum S will
be filled through the usual opening, and the orifice or syphon pipe L until it
reaches the level of the pipe E. Gas may now be admitted to the meter through
the pipe A and valve C, and down the channel D into the chamber of com-
munication K, and from thence down the pipe E into the drum chamber S,
where it will be measured in the usual way. Now, supposing the proper level
of the water in the drum chamber and chamber K to be that indicated by the
dotted lines in Fig. 1, it will be evident that upon loss of water from evaporation
or otherwise taking place in the drum chamber and chamber K, such loss will
be compensated from the reservoir or chamber J, through the orifice or syphon
pipe L, a bubble or two of gas being allowed by the unsealing of the lower end
of the pipe H to pass up this pipe from the chamber K to the reservoir J.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be used or carried into effect, I would observe,
that I do not confine myself to the precise details or arrangements shewn and
described; but that which I believe to be novel and original, and claim as the
Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent,
is,―
First, the general construction and arrangement of parts forming a com-
pensating wet gas meter, baving a square frame and two chambers, as herein-
hafa lacruited

page_text: I claim particularly the arrangement and mode of constructing and adapting
the valve box and fountain, and also the conveying the gas from the valve box
direct to the chamber of communication, as shewn.
I further claim the mode of constructing the float and adapting it to the
valve.
I also claim the mode herein set forth of compensating for loss of water in
wet gas meters by evaporation or otherwise, by means of a fountain or
chamber.
And, lastly, I claim attaching the overflow pipe to the stuffing box pipe,
which admits air or gas into the fountain, for the purpose herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bowen, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
HENRY BOWEN. (L.S.)