Improvements in Gas Meters.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan., 1898
[Communicated from abroad by INTERNATIONAL METER COMPANY, of 21, North
Desplaines Street, Chicago, United States of America.]
Improvements in Gas Meters.
I, JOHN LIDDLE, of 154, St. Vincent Street, in the County of the City of Glasgow,
North Britain, Patent Agent, 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:-
Improvements in gas meters, of which the following is a full, clear and exact
description, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings forming a part
of this Specification in which corresponding letters of reference in the different
figures indicate like parts.
My invention relates to that class of gas meters in which the initial action is
obtained by the pressure of the gas acting alternately upon opposite sides of a
movable diaphragm; and it consists more particularly in the valve actuating
mechanism which may be utilized in connection with cases of varying construction,
as well as in the peculiar form of case with which I have caused it to be combined.
The primary object of my invention is to so construct a valve controlling
mechanism of the class described that the valves connected therewith may be
alternately actuated in opposite directions to open and close induction and eduction
ports communicating respectively with the opposite sides of the diaphragm; the
action of said mechanism being such as to shift said valves instantly at the time
when the diaphragm shall have reached its full limit of movement in a given
direction. A further object is to so construct said valve controlling mechanism
that when the valves are seated they may be compressed firmly upon their respective
seats by positive means in addition to the pressure of the springs by which they are
shifted, and there held firmly until the instant of release. Moreover, it is
my purpose to so construct the case and combine the valve mechanism therewith,
that the valves may be readily accessible for repair or adjustment while the gas
may be admitted directly to opposite sides of the diaphragm in lines, substantially
parallel with the plane of the diaphragm instead of being forced through by-passes
cut through the diaphragm, and curved passage ways which tend to complicate the
construction and increase its cost; all of which is hereinafter more particularly
described and definitely pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a gas meter embodying the
features of my invention.
Figure 2, is a sectional view in plan taken upon the line 2-2, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken upon the line 3-3 Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side view in detail of the valve controlling mechanism.
Figure 5 is a plan view thereof.
Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line 6-6 Figure 4,-
viewed in the direction of the arrow there shown.
Figure 7 is a plan view in detail of the valve locking-bar, and

page_text: •
Figure 8 represents a modification of said invention being a side and plan view
respectively of a modified form of said reciprocating bar and valve rod.
Referring to the drawings, a represents the case of my improved meter, which
consists of a shell of cast metal formed in two parts b, c. Said parts are provided
with corresponding flanges d, which are bolted together as shown, and between
them, is interposed, a diaphragm, consisting of a disc e, of leather or other suitable
flexible material, reinforced by a central disc f, of tin or other sheet metal, which
is riveted thereto. The diaphragm separates the shell into two compartments b¹, c¹,
Figures 2 and 3.
At points diametrically opposite to each other, upon the case a, the flanges d,
are cut away and cylindrical extensions g, g, are formed upon said case, said
extensions being threaded, as shown, for the reception of caps h, h, into which are
tapped induction and eduction service pipes i, i¹.
A horizontal extension j, which is integral with the part c, forms a chamber k,
Figures 2 and 3, for the reception of valve controlling mechanism. Attached by
means of screws is a cross-bar 1, Figures 2 to 5 inclusive, on which is cast a
horizontal plate U, having located thereon upwardly projecting studs m, for the
reception of two pairs of anti-friction guide rollers n, between which is inserted
a flat reciprocatory bar o, the axis of which is arranged at right angles to the
plane of the diaphragm. One end of said bar, which I term the "locking-bar"
is free, while the other is attached by means of a shank and nut, as shown at o¹,
to the centre of the diaphragm. Upon opposite sides of the bar o I attach springs
p, q, which are extended in opposite directions and bent outwardly as shown.
Arranged within and near the outer ends of the cylindrical extensions g, are
partitions g, one half of each being formed upon each part of the shell and
between which a portion of the diaphragm is clamped-the_caps h, h, serving
when in position, to hold that portion of the shell together. Upon opposite sides
of the diaphragm are openings or ports into which are preferably tapped adjust-
able cylindrical valve-seats r, adapted to receive valves s s¹t t¹ in the order shown;
the first pair being attached to opposite ends of a valve-rod s¹¹, while the others
are secured to the ends of the valve-rod 11. Said valve-rods are tapped
into stub couplings ¹ at their respective ends which, in turn, are pivotally. con-
nected with the ends of cross-levers u, u, pivoted upon stationary lugs u" formed
upon the partitions g¹. It will thus be seen that the valve rods may be accurately
adjusted to the requirements of the pivotal levers, while the valves themselves may
be adjusted with the utmost accuracy by merely removing the unions and turning
the adjustable valve-seats r to the required positions.
The valve-rod sll is straight; while the valve rod t is bent as shown in Figure 2,
to pass preferably beneath the locking-bar o. Upon the middle of the valve-rod tli
is formed a shoulder or projection v, which is adjusted to engage with one or the
other side of the bar o; and when the latter is in proper position to coincide with
and pass through one or the other of two notches or openings oll formed in said
bar. Said openings are bevelled upon opposite sides of the bar with respect to each
other, as shown at oll for the purpose hereinafter stated. I also prefer to bevel
the opposite faces of the shoulder v for the like purposes.
Preferably attached to the valve-rod t¹¹ is a block w, upon which the shoulder v
is preferably formed and upon the ends of which are upwardly projecting studs
for the reception of anti-friction rollers, x, which are adapted to alternately
engage the springs p, q, according as the bar o is reciprocated.
Any well known form of registering mechanism may be used in connection with
my device; but as such forms no part of my invention, I have not shown it but
have merely indicated suitable means by which it may be actuated. Pivotally
mounted upon a suitable bearing attached to the case is an elbow lever y, Figure 3,
one arm of which is bored out to receive a rod y' which is loosely inserted therein,
the lower end being pivotally attached to the part o¹ connecting the bar o with the
diaphragm, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The other arm yll of said elbow lever
is extended through a casing having a packed joint into a chamber y also

page_text: indicated in Figure 1, in which the registering mechanism is located, and is loosely
connected with pawls y adapted to engage with and actuate an escapement
wheel z mounted upon a suitable shaft by which the usual train of gears connected
with the registering mechanism may be driven.
Having thus described the various parts of my improved device I will now
explain its operation. Referring to Figure 2, and assuming the valves and
diaphragm to be in the respective positions there shown, the gas enters through
the induction pipe i and port controlled by the valve t to the chamber c¹. The
valve being then closed, the inflowing gas presses against the diaphragm and
moves it towards the chamber 61 thus forcing out the gas in that chamber through
the port controlled by the valve s¹ into the eduction pipe -the valve s meanwhile
being closed against the back pressure of the gas from said chamber and also from
that in the induction pipe. The vibration of the diaphragm reciprocates the
locking-bar, causing the compression of one or the other of the springs 2, 9 by
drawing the spring against the anti-friction roller a which causes the shoulder v to
press against the bar o upon the opposite side from that of the spring under com-
pression as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. When the diaphragm has attained its
full movement and the spring is under complete compression, one of the openings
o is brought into registration with the shoulder v, which instantly releases the
valve-rod by permitting the shoulder to pass through said opening, thereby revers-
ing the position of the valve-rod, shifting the valve and causing the inflow-gas
to pass to the opposite side of the diaphragm while that upon the side to
which it had previously flowed is permitted to escape through the educ-
tion pipe.
In Figure 2 I have shown the position of the respective
parts at the instant the valve-rod is shifted past the locking-bar. The
spring I is still under compression while the movement of the locking-
bar is initiated in the direction indicated by the arrow.
This causes
the
bevelled portion o to be brought into contact with the shoulder v, thus supple-
menting the action of the spring q and pressing the valves t¹, s more firmly upon
their respective seats. The valves are thus locked in position as a result of the
contact of the locking bar with the shoulder v, until the locking bar has reached
the limit of its opposite movement when the spring 9, is removed from the stud
by which it is engaged and the spring p is compressed sufficiently to again draw
the shoulder through the opening and reverse the position of the valve-rod.
Instead of passing the valve-rod beneath the locking-bar as I prefer to do, it is
obvious that it may be passed through said bar without departing from the principle
involved. In Figure 8, I have shown a modified construction in which the valve-
rod is passed through a slot o terminating in enlarged openings at the respective
ends of a size to permit the shoulder v, which may be in the form of collar, to pass
through when in registration therewith.
It is manifest that my improved valve controlling mechanism may be employed
in connection with a single valve-rod having valves upon opposite ends adapted
to close double ports arranged to communicate alternately with chambers located
upon opposite sides of the diaphragm.
While it is apparent that my improved valve controlling mechanism may be
advantageously employed either with one or two valve rods, yet I prefer the latter
in that it greatly simplifies the form of the case and lessens the cost of construction.
A case like that above described may be cast without cores while the placing of
the valves at the ends of the cylindrical extensions and the employment of re-
movable caps renders the valve accessible at all times and readily permits their
adjustment or repair. A further and obvious advantage of this construction
which I believe I am the first to employ, is that it permits the gas to flow directly
through the meter.in lines parallel with the plane of the diaphragm.
It is apparent that either notches or openings may be employed in the locking-
bar: and where one of said terms is employed in the claims it is intended to
cover both. It is further manifest that the wedge-like action described between
the locking-bar and shoulder, may be produced by either bevelling the openings

page_text: or the faces of the shoulder or both; and hence I do not confine myself to either
construction.
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 combination with a valve-rod and diaphragm of a gas-meter, of a reci-
procatory locking-bar in operative connection with the diaphragm springs thereon
in operative proximity to a valve-rod having its axis at right angles to that of the
locking-bar, means upon said valve-rod for alternately compressing one or the other
of said springs, a shoulder on said valve-rod for engaging said locking-bar
and holding said valve-rod stationary while the locking-bar is being
moved in a given direction and openings in said locking-bar to permit the
passage of said shoulder when one 'or the other of said openings is brought into
registration therewith, substantially as described and illustrated on the accom-
panying sheets of Drawings.
2. In a valve-controlling mechanism for gas meters the combination with a
movable diaphragm of a locking-bar having one end attached to said diaphragm
and arranged to move longitudinally between suitable guides, a reciprocatory
valve-rod arranged at right angles to said bar, valves upon said bar adapted to
alternately open and close induction and eduction ports communicating with the
opposite sides of the diaphragm, a shoulder or projection upon said valve-rod
adapted to engage with said locking-bar, openings in said bar at points corres-
ponding to its extreme opposite movement to permit the passage of said shoulder
when said extreme movement is reached in either direction, springs attached to
opposite sides of said locking-bar, and studs attached to the valve-rod upon opposite
sides of said bar in position to be engaged by or disengaged from said springs as
said bar is reciprocated, substantially as described and illustrated on the accom-
panying sheets of Drawings.
3. In a valve-controlling mechanism for gas meters the combination with a
movable diaphragm of a reciprocatory locking-bar arranged in guides, a recipro-
catory valve-rod arranged at right angles thereto and provided with valves upon its
ends adapted to control the admission of gas to induction and eduction ports
communicating with the opposite sides of the diaphragm, springs attached to said
bar for reversing the movement of said valve-rod, studs upon said valve-rod for
alternately engaging one or the other of said springs, a shoulder or projection upon
said valve-rod for engaging said locking-bar and locking said valve-rod in an
extreme position pending the movement of the diaphragm, and openings or motches
in said bar in alignment with said projection to permit the passage of the latter
therethrough when the extreme movement of the diaphragm is reached, substan-
tially as described and illustrated on the accompanying sheets of Drawings.
4. In a gas meter, the combination of a reciprocatory valve-rod, having valves
thereon for controlling the admission of gas to induction and eduction ports com-
municating with the opposite sides of the diaphragm, of a reciprocatory locking-bar
arranged at right angles to the axis of said valve-rod, springs upon opposite sides
of said bar for alternately reciprocating said valve-rod, means upon said valve-rod
for engaging said springs, a shoulder upon said valve-rod for engaging said bar
and locking said rod in an extreme position pending the movement of said
diaphragm, and notches or openings in said bar having oppositely inclined wedge-
shaped faces for engaging said shoulder, supplementing the spring action, and
forcing said valves firmly upon their seats pending the movement of said diaphragm,
substantially as specified, and illustrated on the accompanying sheets of
Drawings.
5. The combination with a valve-rod and diaphragm of a gas meter, of a
reciprocatory locking-bar in operative connection with the diaphragm springs
thereon in operative proximity to a valve-rod, a valve-rod having its axis at
right angles to that of the locking-bar, means upon said valve-rod for alternately

page_text: compressing one or the other of said springs, a shoulder on said valve-rod for
engaging said locking-bar and holding said valve-rod stationary against the
action of one of said springs, while the locking bar is completing its movement
in a given direction, said shoulder being bevelled upon opposite sides whereby it
may be caused to wedge against said locking-bar, and openings or notches in said
locking-bar to permit the passage of said shoulder, substantially as described and
illustrated on the accompanying sheets of Drawings.
6. In a gas meter, a casting composed of two parts a flexible or movable
diaphragm interposed and clamped between the two, induction and eduction valve
ports respectively communicating with the chamber formed between the diaphragm
and each of said parts, valve-rods located upon opposite sides of said diaphragm
and parallel with the plan thereof, valves therein for opening and closing said
ports, and means for actuating said rods simultaneously and in opposite directions,
substantially as described and illustrated on the accompanying sheets of Drawings.
7. In a gas meter, a casing composed of two parts, a movable diaphragm
interposed between said parts so as to form separate independent compartments,
induction and eduction valve ports respectively located diametrically opposite
to each other upon the edge of said casting adjacent to said diaphragm communi-
cating with each of said compartments, parallel valve-rods located upon opposite
sides of said diaphragm, valves thereon for opening and closing said ports, a
pivoted lever for connecting said valve-rods, and means in operative connection
with the diaphragm for reciprocating said valve rods in simultaneously opposite
directions with each movement of the diaphragm, substantially as described and
illustrated on the accompanying sheets of Drawings.
8. In a gas meter, a casing provided with two compartments, separated by
means of an intervening movable diaphragm, induction and eduction valve-ports
communicating with each of said compartments, a valve-rod in each of said com-
partments, having valves thereon for opening and closing said respective ports,
means for connecting said rods whereby the movement of one may cause them both
to be reciprocated simultaneously in opposite directions, a reciprocating locking-
bar in operative connection with said diaphragm and arranged to reciprocate in
guides at right angles to the axis of said valve-rods, springs attached to said
locking-bar for causing the reversal of said valve-rods, means upon one of said valve
rods for alternately engaging one or the other of said springs, a shoulder upon said
last named valve-rod for engaging and locking said rod pending the movement
of the diaphragm and openings or notches in said bar in alignment with said
projection, the distance of said openings from each other corresponding with the
length of movement of the diaphragm, substantially as described and illustrated
on the accompanying sheets of Drawings.
9. A gas meter having a case composed of two halves, a diaphragm clamped
between said halves, cylindrical extensions located diametrically opposite to each
other upon the edges or periphery of said casing, partitions therein at or near the ends
provided with induction and eduction ports upon opposite sides of the diaphragm,
removable caps or unions for the reception of induction and eduction service pipe
parallel valve-rods located upon opposite sides of the diaphragm and having valves
therein in operative proximity to said parts respectively, means for connecting
said valve-rods whereby they may be caused to move simultaneously in opposite
directions when one is reciprocated, and valve controlling mechanism in operative
connection with said diaphragm and with one of said valve-rods substantially as
described and illustrated on the accompanying sheets of Drawings.
10. The combination with a valve-rod and diaphragm of a gas-meter of a recipro-
catory locking-bar in operative connection with the diaphragm springs thereon
in operative proximity to a valve-rod having its axis at right angles to that of the
locking-bar, means upon said valve-rod for alternately compressing one or the other
of said springs, a shoulder on said valve-rod for engaging said locking-bar and
holding said valve-rod stationary while the locking-bar is being moved in a given
direction openings in said bar to admit the transverse passage of said shoulder,

page_text: and means for producing a wedge-like action between the locking-bar and shoulder
when the valve-rod is shifted, substantially as specified and illustrated on the
accompanying sheets of Drawings.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
Applicant's Patent Agent,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.