IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS-METER INDEXES
Year: 1885

page_text: I SAMUEL LINDLEY Gas-works South Hylton in the Township of Ford, Parish
of Bishopwearmouth County of Durham, Gasworks Manager do hereby declare the
nature of this my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS-METER INDEXES to be as
follows:-
This invention consists of a figured dial without pointers, The figures, ten in
number, radiating towards the centre, the dials being fixed on the axles on which
the pointers are usually fixed. In front of this, on the same axle, a loose circular
covering plate is placed, having a slot cut in its upper part, and it revolves freely
with the least application of force. This covering plate is made heaviest on one
side, and has a tooth, fixed on its front face. Then, I fix on the same axle-n ten
toothed pinion, by which a paul depending from the axle of the adjoining dial is
raised and lowered-and thereby catching the tooth on front face of loose covering
plate, carries it forward the tenth part of a circle, when the paul is liberated and
the covering plate falls back, revealing the next higher number. Thus it will be
seen that, only the numbers to be seen, can be taken, and will thus simplify, and
prevent mistakes.

page_text: SAMUEL LINDLEY, Gas-works South Hylton in the Township of Ford, Parish of
Bishopwearmouth, County of Durham Gasworks Manager I do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for IMPROVED GAS METER INDEX and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
I take an ordinary gas meter index, the wheels of which may be arranged in
various ways, I do away with the present dials and pointers, and on the axles
where the pointers are usually fixed, I place a flat disc, having ten teeth or
projections on its periphery. This disc has ten numbers on its flat face, placed at
equal distances round a line struck on the face of the disc, These numbers radiate
to the centre and may be upright when at the top or bottom of the circle. I prefer
them upright at the bottom. I then fasten a narrow strip of brass, or other metal,
to the upper part of the frame of the index, I next place on this narrow strip, a.
small pivot above each numbered disc, from these pivots I suspend over each
numbered disc, a thin piece of sheet metal or other, material, which I call the cam
or covering plate, each cam moves freely on its pivot and covers the disc.over
which it is suspended. I then cut a hole, or slot, in the lower part of the cam, and
thereby expose one of the numbers on the disc behind,
(On the face of these cams are printed the value of the figures on the discs
behind them).
I then drill a small hole through each cam in such a position, that when I fasten
a pin in this hole, the pin is in contact with the bottom of one of the teeth of the
disc. When the numbered disc revolves, the cam with its slot, or hole, travels
with the figure, but, the radius of the cam from the pivot to the pin, being greater
then the radius of the numbered disc, they seperate on travelling the tenth part of
the circle, when the cam instantly falls back and reveals the next number.
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:
The manner in which the figures are alternately concealed and revealed by
means of the said cam or covering plate.
This said cam or covering plate is suspended from a small pivot fixed at a proper
distance above the numbered ten toothed disc, this cam or covering plate moves
very freely on the pivot from which it is suspended, and is of such form as to cover
all the numbers on the disc behind it until a hole or slot is cut in its lower part of
such a size as only to reveal one figure at a time; Then by means of said small
pin on the cam coming in contact with the teeth of said numbered disc, the said
cam or covering plate is carried forward, the hole, or slot moving with the figure
until it has moved its proper distance, when it is liberated, and instantly falls back
again onto the next tooth, and so reveals the next number.
Dated this 22nd day of April 1886.