AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR STOPPING THE FLOW OF GAS THROUGH A METER WHEN ANY DETERMINED QUANTITY HAS BEEN SUPPLIED
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Lacey, of St. Paul's Road, Canonbury,
and Stephen Charles Lacey, of Canonbury Park Square, both
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR STOPPING THE FLOW OF GAS THROUGH A METER WHEN ANY
DETERMINED QUANTITY HAS BEEN SUPPLIED,"
Sealed the 21st February 1871, and dated the 26th August 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Lacey and
Stephen Charles Lacey at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 26th August 1870.
•
We, THOMAS LACEY, of St. Paul's Road, Canonbury, and STEPHEN
CHARLES LACEY, of Canonbury Park Square, both in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR STOPPING THE FLOW OF GAS THROUGH A METER
WHEN ANY DETERMINED QUANTITY HAS BEEN SUPPLIED," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to a supplemental apparatus which is designed
to be arranged in combination with the ordinary index or registering

page_text: apparatus of a gas meter for the purpose of preventing the passage
through the meter of more than a certain quantity of gas which has
been previously determined upon.
The object of the said Invention is the provision of means whereby
the losses now frequently suffered by gas companies from defaulting
consumers may be entirely obviated by the adoption of an effectual and
.satisfactory method of supplying to the consumer a certain and definite
number of cubic feet of gas which shall be paid for in advance, the
supply of gas being stopped by the automatic action of the apparatus
when the quantity paid for or determined upon has been used.
The said Invention consists in the peculiar construction of the said
supplemental apparatus-which-is-preferably_used_in_combination with
the ordinary registering or index apparatus of a gas meter, but which
may be used without such index apparatus if desired. This supplemental
apparatus has a dial or face whereon is marked a series of figures
which correspond with the quantities or numbers of cubic feet to be
supplied, from zero to any desired number. An index hand or pointer
is arranged to move over these figures, and is adjustable by means of a
key or a small milled button or otherwise, so that it may be set to the
figure corresponding with the determined quantity in cubic feet of gas.
The spindle of the index hand carries a toothed wheel which is geared
through an intermediate pinion in connection with one of the wheels of
the ordinary index apparatus of the meter. The wheels are so arranged
that when the hand is adjusted to any number on the face of the dial
the said hand will move backward to the zero point until the quantity
of gas represented by that number has been consumed. The spindle or
the wheel carried thereby is arranged in combination with a lever or
other suitable device, and when the index hand arrives at the zero point
this lever or other device will stop the action of the meter, or will close
a valve and so prevent the passage of any further quantity of gas
through the meter.
Our Invention is applicable to either wet or dry meters of any form
and construction.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Lacey and Stephen Charles Lacey in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th February 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
LACEY, of Saint Paul's Road, Canonbury, and STEPHEN CHARLES LACEY,
of Canonbury Park Square, both in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of August, in the
year, of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said Thomas Lacey and Stephen Charles Laccy,
Her special licence that we, the said Thomas Lacey and Stephen Charles
Lacey, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we,
the said Thomas Lacey and Stephen Charles Lacey, our executors,
administrators, and 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, excrcise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR STOPPING THE FLOW OF GAS THROUGH A METER WHEN ANY
DETERMINED QUANTITY HAS BEEN SUPPLIED," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said Thomas Lacey and Stephen Charles Lacey, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 we, the said Thomas Lacey and Stephen Charles
Lacey, do hereby declare the nature of our 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 accompanying Drawings forming a part of this Specification :-
Our Invention relates to a supplemental apparatus which is designed
to be arranged in combination with the ordinary index or registering
apparatus of a gas meter for the purpose of preventing the passage

page_text: through the meter of more than a certain quantity of gas which has
been previously determined upon.
The object of the said Invention is the provision of means whereby
the losses now frequently suffered by. gas companies from defaulting
consumers may be entirely obviated, and an effectual and satisfactory
method provided of supplying to the consumer a certain and definite
number of cubic feet of gas which shall be paid for in advance, the
supply of gas being stopped by the automatic action of the apparatus
when the quantity paid for or determined upon has been used.
The supplemental apparatus is preferably used in combination with
the-ordinary-registering or index apparatus of a gas meter, but may
be used without such index apparatus if desired. This supplemental-
apparatus has a dial or face whereon is marked a series of figures from
zero to any desired number. An index hand or pointer is arranged to
move over these figures, and is adjustable by means of a key or a small
milled button or otherwise, so that it may be set to the figure on the
dial corresponding with any desired quantity or number of cubic feet
of gas. The spindle of the index hand carries a toothed wheel which
is geared through an intermediate pinion with one of the wheels of the
ordinary index apparatus of the meter. The wheels are so arranged
that by the action of the meter the said hand will move backward from
the figure over which it has been set to the zero point until the quantity
of gas represented by that figure has been consumed. By observing
the approach of the hand to zero the consumer can order a fresh
quantity of gas before the quantity originally supplied has been entirely
used. The spindle or the wheel carried thereby is arranged in com-
bination with a lever or other suitable device, and when the index
hand arrives at the zero point this lever or other device will stop the
action of the meter by interposing an obstruction to some moving part
thereof, or by closing a valve, thus preventing the passage of any further
quantity of gas through the meter.
Our Invention is applicable to either wet or dry meters of any form

page_text: Figure 2 is a plan partly in section of a dry gas meter furnished with
the said apparatus. Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line x, x,
Figure 2, shewing the position of the parts when the meter is stopped
and the supply of gas through the same discontinued. Figure 4 is .an
edge view shewing the parts in the same position. Figure 5 is another
vertical section on the line x, x, shewing the position of the parts when
the meter is working and the gas is passing through the same.
Figure 6 is a back view of our said apparatus illustrating the applica-
tion of the same to a wet gas meter, and shewing the position of the
parts when the supply of gas is cut off. Figure 7 is an edge view
shewing the parts in the same position. Figure 8 is a back view of the
same shewing the position of the parts when the meter is working.
Figure 9 is an edge view of the same.
Figure 10 is a front view of a wet meter illustrating a modification
of our said apparatus, wherein the supply of gas is cut off by closing
the valve. Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the
Drawings.
By reference to Figure 1 the arrangement of our supplementary
index in connection with the ordinary index will be clearly seen. a is
the dial of the said supplementary index which for a dry meter is
preferably placed below the ordinary index b. The said dial is shown
marked with Figures from 0 to 19 and will supply twenty thousand
cubic feet of gas or any less number before cutting off the supply. It
is obvious, however, that the dial may be marked to indicate a higher
number if desired. c is the hand or pointer of the dial ; this hand
is made fast on the spindle c¹ and turns with it, the said spindle being
supported to turn freely in the front and back plates a¹, a, of the
dial a.
The spindle c¹ carries the toothed wheel d, which by means of
the intermediate pinion d* is geared into the wheel of the ordinary
index apparatus. On the back of the wheel d is the wheel e, which has
in its periphery a single notch or recess e¹. The lever f is so arranged
in connection with this notched wheel and with the other parts of the
apparatus that when the hand c reaches zero on the dial the lever will
enter the notch and will be thereby caused to act on the stop and cut
off the supply of gas.
We have shewn in the Drawings several ways of arrranging and
operating the stopping devices. In the dry meter, illustrated in
Figures 2 to 5, we arrange the stop to act on an arm fixed on the top

page_text: of the worm spindle, as shown in Figure 2. The stop g is a swinging
piece, pivotted loosely in the bracket g¹ which is fixed inside the top of
the meter within the path of the rotating arm that is fixed on the
spindle i. j is a vibrating arm whose fulcrum is at and whose free
extremity is in close proximity to the stop g. As long as this vibrating
arm remains in the position shewn in Figure 5 the arm h, which rotates
in the direction of the arrow, Figure 2, will depress the stop g in passing
this point of its revolution, and the action of the meter will not be
interrupted, but when the vibrating arm j is depressed, as shewn in
Figures 3 and 4, it is obvious that the stop g will be locked, and will
not allow the arm h to pass, and therefore the meter will cease to
act. The-said-stop.also_prevents the turning of the arm in the wrong
direction. The necessary connection between the vibrating-arm-j-and
the lever is established through the medium of the short spindle j*, the
slotted arm, and stud f¹. While the end of the lever frests on the
plain part of the periphery of the wheel e the vibrating arm is held up
and the stop is free, but when by the revolution of the wheel the
notch e comes round to the end of the lever, the latter falls into the
notch and through the stud f¹ which enters the slot in the arm ja, the
vibrating arm is depressed, and the stop g is locked. The spindle
of the intermediate pinion d* is made to slide in its bearings in the
plates a, a, to allow the pinion to be drawn aside out of gear with
the wheel ', and thereby disconnect the supplemental index apparatus
from the meter. The said spindle is provided with a small button
whereby it is manipulated. By this means we can readily put the
wheel d, e, out of gear, adjust the hand c to any number on the
dial, and release the stop by turning the button k, and then put the said
wheels in gear again. I is a cover with a socket to fit over the button ;
this cover is hinged at and when the meter is at work is locked or
sealed at, to prevent access to the adjusting devices by unauthorized
persons.
In the adaptation of our Invention to a wet meter, illustrated in
Figures 6 to 9, the worm spindle of the meter is provided with a small
stud or pin m, and the free end of the vibrating arm j acts as the
stop by moving in front of this stud, and thereby stopping the action
of the meter. The said lever has it fulcrum at j¹ and is connected by
the link to the lever o, whose end o¹ lies on the perimeter of the
notched wheel e and enters the notch when the same comes round

page_text: to it in the revolution of the wheel and index hand. So long as the
wheel e presents the plain portion of its perimeter to the lever o the
latter through the link holds the arm j in the position. shewn in
Figure 8 clear of the stud or pin m, and the worm spindle,, which is
geared in connection with the rotating chambers of the meter is free to
rotate, but when the notch e¹ comes round to the lever o, the end o¹
thereof enters the notch and allows the arm j to fall in front of the
pin m, as shewn in Figures 6 and 7, thereby immediately stopping the
meter and preventing any further delivery of gas until the stop has
been again released. The adjustment of the intermediate pinion d*
and the setting of the index hand in this arrangement are effected
in the same manner as that described in connection with the dry
meter.
In the modification of our Invention illustrated in Figure 10 we stop
the supply of gas by closing the valve which admits the gas to the
meter. is the valve which is connected to the float q by the rod q',
on this rod is fixed a projection q. A double-armed lever is fixed on a
spindle which is fitted to turn in a stuffing box fixed in front of the
meter. The arm of the lever lies upon the top of the projection q² on
the float spindle, the other arm o¹ lies in the path of a studs fixed
in the wheel d. This stud should be so arranged as to be in contact
with the arm o² when the index hand c is at zero on the dial a. Then,
when the hand is adjusted to any number on the dial and while it is
moving therefrom to zero there will be no pressure on the lever, and
the float will be free and the valve open, but as soon as the stud s
strikes the arm o' it will depress the float and close the valve. We
prefer to make the arm of with a knuckle joint at o³, so that in adjusting
the index hand, when the wheel is moved in a contrary direction to that
indicated by the arrow, the said arm will yield and allow the stud to
pass completely round.
It is obvious that our Invention is susceptible of other modifications
with regard to the contrivances for stopping the meter at the desired
moment and for adjusting or setting the index hand, and we therefore
wish it understood that we do not limit ourselves to the particular
devices for these purposes herein described and shewn, neither do we
restrict ourselves to any particular construction or arrangement of the
meters to which our Invention is applied, or claim such arrangement
and construction as a part of our Invention, but we claim,-

page_text: First. An apparatus for automatically stopping the flow of gas
through a meter when any quantity previously determined upon has
been used.
Second. The combination of the herein described supplemental index
with the ordinary index of a gas meter for the purposes specified.
Third. In combination with the said supplemental index the stopping
devices herein described and shewn, or other suitable contrivances
which will allow the meter to work until the proper quantity of gas
has been delivered, and will then automatically stop the meter and
prevent any further supply of gas until the index hand has been
readjusted.
Fourth. Connecting the-said-supplemental index with the ordinary
index by means of an adjustable pinion or other suitable contrivances
which will permit the index hand to be adjusted to any desired figure
or number on the dial.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Lacey and Stephen Charles
Lacey, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fifth
day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-one.
Witness, .
W. ROB. LAKE.
THOMAS LACEY.
(L.S.)
STEPHEN CHARLES LACEY, (L.S.)