IMPROVEMENTS IN WET GAS METERS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James John Shedlock, of King's Road, Camden
Town, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WET GAS METERS."
Scaled the 24th August 1869, and dated the 9th March 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James John Shedlock
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th March 1869.
I, JAMES JOHN SHEDLOCK, of King's Road, Camden Town, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WET GAS METERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the mode or method by which the water
level is maintained at the proper height, thereby ensuring correct
registration. For this purpose a tube is provided having a partition
fixed diagonally in the interior, and two apertures made therein one on
either side of the partition. The tube is held vertically at its ends by
two stuffing boxes fixed in the upper and lower parts of the chamber

page_text: in which the tube is placed. The upper end of the tube communicates
with the square front of the meter, and the lower end with the overflow
or waste water chamber. The lower part of the chamber containing the
tube communicates with the drum case below the water level, and the
upper part of the tube chamber with the gas passage from the inlet pipe.
The float carrying the inlet valve is adjusted to the proper height by
means of a nut fixed in the lower part, and a screw, on the upper part
of which is fixed the valve. The index has motion transmitted to it by
the ordinary method.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James John Shedlock in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 9th September 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
JOHN SHEDLOCK, of King's Road, Camden Town, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James John Shedlock, Her special
licence that I, the said James John Shedlock, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James John
Shedlock, my 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, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WET GAS METERS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James John Shedlock, my ex-
ccutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James John Shedlock, 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 :-
This Invention relates to the mode or method by which the water level
is maintained at the proper height, thereby insuring correct registration;
for this purpose a tube is provided having a partition fixed diagonally
in the interior, and two apertures made therein one on either side of
the partitions. The tube is held vertically at its ends by two stuffing
boxes fixed on the upper and lower parts of the chamber in which the
tube is placed. The upper end of the tube communicates with the
square front of the meter, and the lower end with the overflow or waste
water chamber. The lower part of the chamber containing the tube
communicates with the drum case below the water line, and the upper
part of the tube chamber with the gas passage from the inlet pipe. The
float carrying the inlet valve is adjusted to the proper height by means
of a nut fixed in the lower part, and a screw, on the upper part of which
is fixed the valve. The index has motion transmitted to it by the
ordinary method.
And in order to better explain the nature of my Invention I will pro-,
ceed to describe the Drawing hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section, and Figure 2 a scc-
tional plan of a gas meter, the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts throughout all the Figures.
A is the tube by means of which the water level is regulated. B the
diagonal division fitted therein. C and D, the apertures. The aperture C
allowing any excess of water to pass into the overflow chamber I, and
the aperture D allowing gas to pass up into the square front H, when the
water falls below the correct level. Upon gas passing into the square
front H it displaces the water and allows it to pass into the drum case T
by the orifice S, until the aperture D is closed by reason of the water
rising to its proper level. The tube A is securely held by the stuffing
boxes E, E, which are attached to the upper and lower parts of the
chamber F, F. The chamber F, F, communicates with the drum case T
by the opening K, and with the inlet pipe M, by the pipe L, and the
waste water box J. The tube A is regulated from the exterior of the
square front H by means of the rod R. When the water in the square
front II falls to the same level as that in the drum case T the inlet

page_text: valve O closes by reason of the float N, to which it is attached, following
the water in its descent. The float N is regulated from the exterior of
the square front H at the opening U, the valve rod Q being made to
screw into the nut P attached to the lower part of the valve N. The
index is worked in the ordinary manner.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the mode of
carrying it into practice, I would have it understood that what I claim
and desire to be secured to me is,-
First. The combined arrangement of the parts of gas meters as herein-
before described.
Second. The regulating tube having a diagonal partition and apertures.
Third. The method of arrangement of the regulating tube and the
pipes and chamber connected therewith.
In witness whereof, I, the said James John Shedlock, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
JAMES JOHN SHEDLOCK. (L.S.)