IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH GAS METERS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Green of Preston in the County of Lancaster,
Civil Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH
GAS METERS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Green at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th September 1883.
HENRY GREEN, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Civil Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH GAS METERS;"
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of and in the mode of
supplying water to wet gas meters used for street lamps and for similar purposes
where it is desirable to have the meter fitted underground.
The improved arrangement, which is attached to the front and top of the meter,
is specially formed and fitted so that the upper end of the meter which is fitted
with the usual registering apparatus can be adapted to take the place of a street
curb-stone, or to fit flush with the pavement or causeway.
The improved supply fountain consists of a long or deep and narrow water-tight
vessel which is divided by partitions into four compartments, one a valve chamber
into which the gas from the service pipe enters and from which it passes through
the valve into the second or front chamber of the meter. This front chamber has
direct communication with the back or measuring compartment of the meter. The
third is a chamber to receive the overflow or waste water from the meter, and the
fourth is made to hold the water from which the meter is supplied.
The fourth or
water supplying chamber or compartment is of unusual length, being conveniently
made of inverted L shape, extending partially over the front chamber, while the
lower ends of both are on a common level, and are directly over the overflow or
waste water chamber. In the front chamber of the meter which is fitted with the
usual float attached to the valve in the valve chamber for cutting off the supply
when the water level in the meter is too low, an overflow pipe is fitted with the
opening in its upper end at the maximum height at which it is desirable to
maintain the water level. Into this front chamber also dips a tube or pipe, the
lower open end of which is on a level with or slightly below the level of the
opening in the overflow pipe, and this dipping pipe is carried up through the
[Price 1

page_text: partition dividing the front chamber from the water supply chamber, and extends
close to its upper end. When the level of the water in the front chamber is lower
than the lower end of this dipping pipe, the gas passes up through it and displaces
the water in the supply chamber which has previously been filled. The water thus
displaced passes from the supply chamber into the front chamber through a small
communication between the two near the bottom of the said chamber until the
water in the meter is raised to a sufficient level that it again covers the lower end
of the dipping pipe. The water in the supply chamber is maintained at a higher
level than that in the meter by the vacuum which is formed above it in the close
chamber or fountain until by access of the gas the vacuum is partially broken, and
a small quantity of water is displaced.
The
As a means of indicating whether a sufficient supply of water is maintained in
the supply chamber, and to prevent its being overfilled, by which means water falls
into the waste chamber from which it has to be extracted, a float is fitted around
an open filling tube, which tube extends to within a short distance of the bottom
of the chamber, and passes out through the upper shell of the chamber into a
small box which is fitted with the usual registering mechanism. Attached to the
float is a wire or rod which is bent in the form of a long U, and one leg passes up
the open tube and into the box above where its position can be seen.
registering box is provided with a metal cover and is fitted with a rubber or other
joint, and held down by a screw or similar device. When the cover is screwed
down, the wire and with it the float is kept down; but when the cover is removed
the float immediately rises, and the wire protrudes from the tube if there is a
sufficient supply of water in the supply chamber or fountain. The open tube also
serves for filling the supply chamber or fountain when the supply is deficient. A
second tube passes down from this box through the supply chamber to the overflow
or waste water chamber; and through this tube the overflow water can be pumped
or drawn out.
The entire apparatus may be fitted in a hole dug for it in the street, with the
cover of the registering box on the street level or forming a curb, and the indi-
cations of the registering apparatus, and the level of the supply of water in the
fountain can be ascertained by removing the cover, when also a fresh water supply
may be filled in and the overflow water drawn off.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Green in the Patent Office on the 23rd February 1884.
HENRY GREEN, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Civil Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH GAS METERS
"
My Invention relates to improvements in the construction of, and in the mode
of supplying water to, wet gas meters used for street lamps, and for similar
purposes where it is desirable to have the meter fitted underground.
The improved arrangement, which is attached to the front and top of the meter,
is specially formed and fitted so that the meter may be buried in the earth, the
upper end of it which is fitted with the usual registering apparatus being adapted
to take the place of a street curb stone, or to fit flush with the pavement, causeway,
or ground.
My Invention is illustrated by the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1
is a perspective view, and Figure 2 a plan of a wet meter fitted with my improved
water supply fountain, the front plate of the fountain being removed to show the
internal parts of the fountain, in figure 1.
The improved supply fountain consists of a long or deep and narrow water-
tight vessel A which is divided by partitions into four compartments B, C, D, E,
one B a valve chamber into which the gas from the service pipe b enters, and from
which it passes through the valve F into the second or front chamber C, of the
meter. This front chamber C has direct communication with the back or
measuring compartment G of the meter. The third, D, is a chamber to receive the
overflow or waste water from the meter, and the fourth E is made to hold the
water from which the meter is supplied. The fourth or water supplying chamber
or compartment E, is of unusual length, being conveniently made of inverted
L shape, extending partially over the front chamber C, while the lower ends of
both are on a common level, and are directly over the overflow or waste water
chamber D. In the front chamber C, of the meter, which is fitted with the usual
float F, attached to the spindle of the valve F in the valve chamber B, for cutting
of the supply when the water level in the meter is too low, an overflow pipe H is
fitted with the opening h in its upper end at the maximum height at which it is
desirable to maintain the water level. Into this front chamber C also dips a tube
or pipe I the lower open end i of which is on a level with or slightly below the
level of the opening in the overflow pipe H; and this dipping pipe I is carried
up through the partition A¹, dividing the front chamber from the water supply
chamber, and it extends close to its upper end. When the level of the water in
the front chamber C falls below the lower end of this dipping pipe I, the gas passes
up through it and displaces the water in the supply chamber E which has previously
been filled. The water thus displaced passes from the supply chamber E through
a small opening a near the bottom of the said chamber E into the body of the
meter, until it raises the water in the chamber C to a sufficient level that it again
covers the lower end i of the dipping pipe L. The water in the supply chamber E
is maintained at a higher level than that in the meter by the vacuum which is
formed above it in the close chamber or fountain E. By the unsealing of the end i
of the pipe I, this vacuum is broken, thereby causing water to fall from the
chamber E into the chamber C.
As a means of indicating whether a sufficient supply of water is maintained in
the supply chamber E, and to prevent its being overfilled (by which means water
falls into the waste chamber D from which it has to be extracted) a float J is fitted
around an open filling tube K, which extends to within a short distance of the
bottom of the chamber, and passes out through the upper shell A of the chamber E

page_text: into a small box L which is fitted with the usual registering mechanism M. This
mechanism is operated in the usual way by the spindle m which passes down
the spindle tube m¹ and is fitted with gearing m² connected to the measuring
apparatus of the meter. Attached to the float is a wire or rod j¹ which is bent
in the form of a long U, and one leg j¹ passes up the open tube K, and into the
box L above where its position can be seen. The registering box L is provided
with a metal cover L¹, and is fitted with a rubber or other joint to render the box
water-tight, and is held down by a screw l or similar device. When the cover L'
is screwed down the wire and with it the float J is kept down, and the cover
may also close the upper ends of the tubes, but when the cover is removed the
float slightly rises, and the wire j' protrudes from the tube K to indicate whether
there is a sufficient supply of water in the supply chamber or fountain E. The
open tube K also serves for filling the supply chamber or fountain when the supply
is deficient
A second tube N passes down from this box L through the supply chamber E to
the overflow or waste water chamber D, and through this tube N the overflow
water can be pumped or drawn out.
The entire apparatus may be fitted in a hole dug for it in the street or ground
with the cover of the registering box L on or about the level of the ground or
street, or forming a curb, and the indications of the registering apparatus M and
the level of supply of water in the fountain D can be ascertained by removing
the cover L', when also a fresh water supply may be filled in and the overflow
water drawn off as described.
Having now described my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, I declare that what I claim is,-
First. The arrangement or combination of parts forming the improved supply
fountain for wet gas meters, substantially as described and illustrated.
Second. The combination with a supply fountain for wet gas meters, of the
float J and filling tube K fitted with a protruding wire to indicate the supply
of water maintained in the fountain substantially as herein described and
illustrated.
Third. In combination with a supply fountain for wet gas meters, the box L
containing the index, the waste water tube N, and filling tube K fitted with the
float J and wire j', substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
In Witness whereof, I the said Henry Green have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Ninth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty-four.
TTTזוחזז
ADDN
learn
HENRY GREEN