IMPROVE MENTS IN GAS METERS AND GAS METER CASES
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SMITH, of Snow Hill, in the City of London, Gas Meter Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Third day of March, in the eighth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said William
Smith, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that I, the said William Smith, my exors,
adiñors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Smith, my
exors, adññors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,.
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN GAS METERS AND GAS METER CASES," partly invented and partly com-
municated; in which said Letters is contained a proviso that I, the said
William Smith, shall cause a particular description of the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled
in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more
fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said

page_text: am and by the ionowing description thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon
(that is to say):-
The Invention relates,
First, to the construction of what are called dry gas meters.
Secondly, the Invention relates to apparatus for indicating the quantity of
gas passing through the meter.
Thirdly, the Invention relates to that description of meter called the wet
gas meter generally in use, & which is rendered inoperative by its being
tilted forward.
· Fourthly, the Invention relates to preventing the water being withdrawn
from wet gas meters, in order to cause more gas to pass through than the
register would indicate.
Fifthly, the Invention relates to applying cast metal bases or stands to gas
meter cases, which cases are made of sheet metal.
Sixthly, the Invention relates to making parts of gas meter cases of stamped
metal.
.
But in order that the Invention may be better understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents an internal view, with the front remoyed, shewing the
flexible partition. Figure 2 another internal view, looking towards the front,
with the back removed; Figure 3 a front view; Figure 4 a plan; and
Figure 5 a transverse section; and Figures 6, 7, and 8, some of the parts on
a larger scale of a gas meter constructed according to the first part of the
Invention. a, a, is the case enclosing a flexible partition b, forming the
chambers a', a, within the case a, and it is by the gas passing in first on
one side of the flexible partition b, causing the centre plate b¹ of that partition
to move in one direction, and then by the gas passing in on the opposite side
of the partition b, causing it to move in the opposite direction, that the
gas is
measured, as is always the case in dry gas meters where flexible partitions are
used, and the passing in of the gas first on one side and then on the other of
the partition 6 is governed by a valve, the mode of giving motion to which I
will now proceed to describe. The centre plate 6 of the flexible partition
(the flexible material for which I prefer to be composed of that description of
indian rubber which is at present known by the name of vulcanized, and for

page_text: which a Patent has been obtained by Mr. Hancock) is supported and guided
by the arms c, d; the arm c turns upon an axis c', and is connected to the
plate by the links c², and the arm d is connected to the plate 6' by the links e;
the arm d turns with the axis f,f. That axis passes through a stuffing box f
into the chamber g, from which the gas is excluded, and the axis f is there
connected to the arm h, by which motion is communicated to the valve z¹.
And I would here remark that I am aware that dry gas meters have before.
been arranged to work with only one flexible partition; but in such cases,
owing to the difficulty existing with respect to the means employed for
obtaining the desired rapid motion of the valve, such means being rendered
inoperative if the level of the meter was not maintained, such arrangements
have been abandoned. Now the object of this part of the present improve-
ments is so to arrange the parts giving motion to the valve that it may move
quickly at the time when it is necessary to produce a change in the direction
of the gas. On the end of the arm h is connected by a pin joint h¹ the.
link i, which at its outer end carries a friction roller, which runs on the
surface ; the axis of the roller is prolonged on the under side, and passes
through a slot in the arm j. k is a spring, secured at one end to the arm h,
and at the other it passes between two studs on the link i with a tendency at:
all times to bring the link i in a line with the arm h; but as the arm h travels
first in one direction and then in the other (as is indicated by the dotted lines
in Figure 7) with the motion of the flexible partition, and the roller is con-
trolled to pass over the surface l, the motion of that end of the link i, and
consequently of the arm j, is slow until the roller has passed the point of the
surface, when the spring k which has been bent while the roller ² was
passing up to the point, reacting with a tendency to bring the link i in a
line with the arm h, causes a quick motion to be given to the valve's thro' the.
arm j, and causing the gas to operate upon the opposite side of the partition b,.
when the direction in which the arm h and parts i move will be reversed.
The arm is affixed to an axis m, which passes through a stuffing box m³, and
is supported by the bracket m³, and carries the arm m³, which is formed with
a segmental cross piece (as is clearly shown in the Drawing at Figure 8*) at its
outer end with a slot to receive the studs n, n; the slot allowing of the parts j
and m³ moving for a certain extent without moving the valve z, the motion to
the valvez commencing after the roller 2 has passed the point . The valve z
has rods o, o, which pass through guides p, and the object of having two studs
n, n, is to prevent the position of the valve being shifted, in case of the
meter being lifted. On either side on the spring k is an arm 9, which, taking
into the ratchets of the wheel r on the axis r³, gives motion to a train of

page_text: wheelwork for registering the quantity of gas passing through the meter, as is
well understood. h is a coupling pivot to the arm h, with a right and left
hand screw formed therein to receive the parts of the arm h, and adjust
its length, and regulate the measurement of the meter.
of the surface, there
Figure 9 represents another mode of operating upon the valve, according to
this part of the Invention. In this case the arm h and parts i are similar to
those just described, and are therefore marked with the same letters; but
instead of the roller having to pass over the point
is a curved piece s, over the ends of which the roller 2 passes; this piece s
turns on an axis s2, and so soon as the arm h has passed sufficiently far
in the direction of the arrow to release the link i, the roller will come
in contact with one end of the lever t, which will cause the other end of
that lever to reverse the position of the curved piece s, and also the position of
the lever v, when the position of the valve being changed it will direct the gas
on to the opposite side of the flexible partition, and the arni h being caused to
travel in the direction indicated by the red arrow, the roller will pass
to the
end of the piece s, until being released it strikes the end of the lever v, when the
position of the parts will resume that indicated by the Drawing. With this
arrangement the valve is connected to the guide by a single pin and a corre-
sponding hole, dispensing with the segmental cross piece described with respect
to Figure 8*.
I will now proceed to describe the second part of the Invention. Figure 10
shews a plan; Figure 11, a front view with the front plate removed.
Figure 12, the back plate; and Figures 13 and 14, detail views of the
wheels constructed according to this part of the Invention. a is the lever,
moving freely at its fulcrum b. f is a pall, the use of which will be here-
after described. d is the motion wheel on the axis d,, on which is the
worm wheel d², to which motion is given by a screw wheel in the ordinary
manner. e, e, are two small pegs on the wheel d, the action of which is as
follows: The wheel d being set in motion by the measuring wheel of the
meter it will cause the pegs e, e, to ascend alternately to a vertical position,
being then in contact with the lever a at a', which will be raised as seen
in Figure 11, and the pall fby its own weight falls successively into the teeth
of the ratchet wheel g, as shewn, so as to move that wheel a distance equal to
one tooth so soon as the studs on the motion wheel a have passed from the
front of the line where the peg e is just escaping the end of the lever, and the
pall fis falling into one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and immediately
the lever a is relieved from the peg e the weight of the lever a in its descent
will cause the ratchet wheel 9 to move one tenth, it being divided into ten

page_text: teeth, thereby changing the rotatory motion of the wheel d to a jumping
motion in the next successive wheels. On the same arbor which carries
the ratchet wheel g is fixed a circular plate h, having one tooth formed
thereon, which tooth projects beyond the periphery of the plate, which is
indented on each side of the tooth, as shown. The wheel k, as shewn, has ten
notches cut in it, and between the notches and curves of or about the same
radius as the plate h in Figure 11, and the tooth of the plate h catching into
one of the notches of the notched wheel k, causes it to move one tenth of a
revolution, when the periphery of the plate h acts in the curve of the wheel k,
which prevents it from being turned in either direction until the plate h has
made another revolution, when the tooth again catches one of the notches and
drives it as before. On the same arbor with the notched wheel k is fixed
a plate h, similar to the plate h, with one tooth, which acts in another
wheel 1, and has the same action communicated to it as the wheel k; and it is
obvious that other numbers of wheels, such as are here described, may be
combined to form indexes. It is evident that the sudden motion obtained by
the wheel g will be communicated successively to all the other wheels.
Figure 15 shows an index complete. The figured dials are attached to
their respective arbours, and on the front plate, which conceals part of the dials,
are fixed the hands or pointers, consequently, when motion is given to the
axis d, the figured dials are caused to revolve, and the quantity of gas con-
sumed is known by the figures which are opposite the pointers. Instead of
the pointers or hands being stationary and the dials revolving, the hands might
be affixed to the respective arbors and the dials stationary, when the hands
would have a sudden instead of a gradual motion from one figure to the other,
or the indicating figures only may be shewn. I am aware of other indices
being made with a sudden motion, but the peculiarity of this part of the
Invention consists in the mode of making this index so as to prevent the
wheels being turned either way, except by the motion wheel g. m is a spring
to prevent the ratchet wheel from returning when the pall fis raised. It may
be well to remark that a spring may be used instead of the lever a of the same
length, and which would be fixed at the point b.
I will now proceed to describe the third part of the Invention, which is
shown separately at Figure 16, and applied at Figure 20.. The object of this
part of the Invention is to prevent the frauds which are practised on gas com-
panies to obtain a surreptitious supply of gas. In the ordinary gas meters it
is necessary to have the machine perfectly level; and if it should not be so,
and should be tilted forward so that the base forms an angle of from seven to
ten or twelve degrees, the machine is rendered ineffective, the gas passing

page_text: through without indicating the quantity of gas passing through the meter
To remedy this I apply a valve A to the syphon pipe, which valve is connecte
to a lever A¹, the end of which is weighted, and in the centre it is supported
freely on the axis B. If the weighted end of the lever be made much heavie
than the other end, for the purposes of overcoming the friction in the joint
and also to calculate against the water lightening. (it being immersed in
water), it is apparent that it will maintain a vertical position until the valve
be closed, therefore, if the valve be fixed so that when the meter is tilted
forward to an angle of five or six degrees, the valve will be closed, as shown
by the dotted lines in Figure 16, thereby preventing the further passage of
gas through the meter. It must of course open by means of the weighted lever
when the meter is placed level, therefore, if it should be attempted to obtain
gas by tilting forward the meter, as herein-before described, the valve through
which the gas must pass will be closed by the weighted lever. It may also
be applied to other parts of the meter, but I consider the position herein
described to be the best.
Another mode of preventing the passing of gas through the meter without
such gas being registered is by a novel arrangement of the parts of the measuring
wheel. In wet meters it is found, according to the present arrangement of the
measuring wheel, if a meter is tilted forward, as before described, the gas may
be made to pass from one chamber of the wheel to another, and thence out
from the meter, without the same being registered.
Figures 17, 18, show an arrangement of wheel according to the Invention,
by which this defect may to a great extent be overcome.
It will be seen, by
reference to the Drawing, that the partitions C, C, are soldered together
at D, D, thereby closing any passage at those parts, while the water will be
free to pass from one chamber to another as the wheel revolves through the
apertures C, C¹, and the dotted lines 1, 1, which are intended to indicate the
level of the water when the meter is tilted forward, show that the passages C
will continue to be sealed until the meter is tilted to a very great extent.
Figure 19 shews a slight modification of the above, but as in this case the
parts are so similar to that just described that the same letter of reference are
used to indicate the same parts; the partitions C, C, are soldered at D, D, to
the box E, which must be closed at one end.
I will now describe the fourth part of the Invention, which relates to pre-
venting the water being drawn out of wet gas meters. Figure 20 shows a
front view of a meter with this part of the Invention applied thereto; and
Figure 21, an end view of the same. Ę is the aperture closed by a screw
stop, through which water is fed into the metre as required. And it will be

page_text: seen, by reference to the Drawing, that this aperture instead of opening
directly into the pipe F, as is ordinarily the case, whereby any suitable instru-
ment may be readily applied to withdraw the water and cause an undue
registering, in this case the aperture E opens into the box G, and the
box G has a pipe H passing from it which terminates in the index chamber
as shewn; and as that chamber is not air-tight, if any instrument be applied
to the aperture E to withdraw the water, instead of the water flowing air only
will be drawn through the pipe H.
I will now describe the fifth part of the Invention, which relates to the
applying cast metal bases or stands to meters, the bodies of which are formed
of sheet metal. Figure 22 represents a front elevation of part of a meter
with a stand or base applied thereto; the mode of attaching the same may be
by nuts and screws or any other suitable means. The heads of the nuts
should be afterwards soldered inside the. case to make the same water-tight.
Figure 28 is a plan of the base separately. I do not confine myself to this
particular shape or form, nor to the casting being in one piece, as herein
shewn, but prefer the mode described for simplicity.
I will now describe the sixth part of the Invention, which consists in stamp-
ing in suitable presses a sunk rim round the edge of the front and back plate
gas meter cases, in order to lessen the labour, and, consequently, the expence
of
of construction.
Figure 24 represents one of such discs, and it will only be necessary. to
state that having cut discs of metal of a size suitable to produce the intended
back and front plates, I place them in between dies suitable to produce the
intended rim I, as is well understood by persons employed in stamping metals.
The sunk part I', which is intended to give stiffness to the discs, may be pro-
duced at the same time or otherwise, or a concave or other form may be given
to the discs. And I would remark, that I am aware of back and front plates
of gas meters having been heretofore produced by stamping, but such stamp-
ing has not produced the rim or border as herein described.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein described,
so long as the peculiar character of either part of the Invention be retained.
But what I do claim is,-
First, the giving motion to the valves of meters with one flexible partition
by means of a spring, such spring being caused to react suddenly during the
movement of the flexible partition, as described.
Secondly, I claim the giving motion to the hands or dials of indexes to gas
meters by means of the arrangement of the parts h, h, k, c, l, as herein described.

page_text: Thirdly, I claim the using a valve to cut off the supply of gas through a
meter by its closing in the event of the meter being tilted or inclined, as
described. And also I claim the mode of constructing the measuring wheel
of gas meters so that the aperture communicating from one chamber to
another will remain sealed, although the meter be tilted or inclined, as
described.
Fourthly, I claim the preventing the water being sucked out of gas meters
by having a constant air passage not accessible by its being inclosed within the
index box, which is open to the air, as described.
Fifthly, I claim the applying cast metal feet or supports to gas meters, the
bodies of which are of wrought metal, as described.
Sixthly, I claim the forming a rim for the joint round the backs and fronts
of gas meter cases by stamping, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-five.