Apparatus applicable to Gas and other Meters for Arresting the same when a Determined Quantity of Gas or other Fluid has: Passed.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 1891-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1891..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus applicable to Gas and other Meters for Arresting the
same when a Determined Quantity of Gas or other Fluid has:
Passed.
I, HENRY GREEN; of The Gas Works, Preston, in the County of Lancaster,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to apparatus to be applied to gas or other meters.
and which can be so set as to arrest the meter to which it is applied after a given
quantity of gas or other fluid previously paid for shall have been recorded by the
meter.
For this purpose a suitable moving part of the meter, such for example as the
upright spindle in the case of a wet gas meter, is caused through suitable star
wheels (some of which have on one arm a lateral pin or projection to cause partial
rotation of the next wheel) to impart intermittent motion in a rotary sense to a
screw on which there is a nut that carries projections. This nut is able to travel
in a direction parallel with the axis of its screw but, by any suitable means such as
Ccn-
a couple of pins embracing a fixed tie rod, is prevented from rotating.
veniently the projections may be formed with, and, the pins attached to, a piece
constructed to surround the nut, pivotted thereto, but having its play limited by stops
on the nut. By this arrangement I ensure each projection coming fairly into,contact
with its corresponding annular stop.
Parallel to the axis of the screw are mounted two sets of stops of annular form
with breaks or intervals one in each stop. Conveniently each set of such stops, may.
be a series of annular projections around a cylinder, with parts cut away to allow the
projections of the before mentioned nut to pass, when the two sets of stops are so
relatively situated that one of each set presents a break, for the passage of the
corresponding projection of the.nut.. Each set of stops is provided with a finger or
pointer and an index is so arranged in relation to each of these as to enable the two
sets of stops to be from time to time readily adjusted in accordance with a suitable
key to allow of the supply by the meter of the desired quantity of gas. When
the meter is arrested by one. pair of stops,, the key will afford a guide to
the resetting of the stops to allow another quantity to pass through the meter,
and so on::.
The stops when; set are locked. An arrangement for this purpose, is as
follows:
The before mentioned screw is tubular; through it there passes a rod having at
one end projections, adapted to engage with projections or recesses at the ends of the
cylinders or bodies on which the annular stops are formed.. On the other end of
the rod (which is prevented from moving in a rotary sense) is a screw thread, with
which gears a nut that can be turned by an arm or projection attached to it, so as to
move the projections into or out of engagement as the case may be, with those of
the stop cylinders or bodies.
In order to guard against tampering with the, apparatus a locking lever is
provided that serves as a stop to the star wheels and hollow screw, when the annular
stops are unlocked. This locking lever is moved clear of the star wheels in the act
of locking the annular stops by a cam, formed with or attached to, the, nut that works
the locking rod before, mentioned..
To prevent undue strain upon the tubular screw, instead of causing it, to, take all
the strain of arresting and, preventing, the, working. of the meter, I may use it and

page_text: the nut to bring other parts into position for arresting the operation of the meter.
An arrangement for this purpose is as follows:-
Upon a loaded pivoted lever I mount one of the star wheels. Upon the shaft of
this star wheel is fixed a disc with a ratchet tooth or teeth adapted to engage at
certain times with a tooth on a stop lever pivoted to the frame work of the apparatus.
With this arrangement when rotation of the star wheel under notice is retarded
owing to the nut being arrested by two of the annular stops, this star wheel tends
to rise upon the one next to it, thus raising the end of the lever that supports it, and
bringing a ratchet tooth of the disc into contact with the tooth of the stop lever,
which thus serves to arrest the meter. It is set free in the act of unlocking the
annular stops by the cam of the locking nut. At the same time a shoulder on
the locking rod causes the tubular screw to travel slightly endwise sufficiently to
move the projections of the stop nut just clear of the annular stops that have last
arrested it.
In some cases I provide in connexion with apparatus such as above described
means for giving an indication, it may be by an electric bell, before the
quantity of gas or other fluid for which the apparatus is set, has been entirely
consumed.
As will be evident apparatus according to my invention may be applied to meters.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus applicable to Gas and other Meters for Arresting the.
same when a Determined Quantity of Gas or other Fluid has
Passed.
I, HENRY GREEN of The Gas Works, Preston in the County of Lancaster,
Civil Engineer, 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:-
This invention has reference to apparatus to be applied to gas or other meters
and which can be so set as to arrest the meter to which it is applied after a given
quantity of gas or other fluid previously paid for shall have been recorded by the
meter.
For this purpose a suitable moving part of the meter, such for example as the
upright spindle in the case of a wet gas meter, is caused through suitable star wheels
(some of which have on one arm a lateral pin or projection to cause partial rotation
of the next wheel) to impart intermittent motion in a rotary sense to a screw on
which there is a nut that carries projections. This nut is able to travel in a
direction parallel with the axis of its screw; but by any suitable means, such as a
couple of pins embracing a fixed tie rod, is prevented from rotating. Conveniently,
the projections may be formed with, and the pins attached to a piece constructed to
surround the nut, pivoted thereto, but having its play limited by stops on the nut.
By this arrangement I ensure each projection coming fairly into contact with its
corresponding annular stop.
Parallel to the axis of the screw are mounted two sets of stops of annular form,
with breaks or intervals one in each stop. Conveniently, each set of such stops may
be a series of annular projections around a cylinder, with parts cut away to allow
the projections of the before mentioned nut to pass when the two sets of stops are
so relatively situated that one of each set presents a break for the passage of the
corresponding projection of the nut. Each set of stops is provided with a finger or
pointer and an index is so arranged in relation to each of these as to enable the two
sets of stops to be from time to time readily adjusted in accordance with a suitable

page_text: key to allow of the supply by the meter of the desired quantity of gas. When the
meter is arrested by one pair of stops, the key will afford a guide to the resetting
of the stops to allow another quantity to pass through the meter, and so on.
-
The stops when set are locked. An arrangement for this purpose is as follows:-
The before mentioned screw is tubular; through it there passes a rod having at
one end projections adapted to engage with projections or recesses at the ends of the
cylinders or bodies on which the annular stops are formed. On the other end of
the rod (which is prevented from moving in a rotary sense) is a screw thread with
which gears a nut that can be turned by an arm or projection attached to it, so as
to move the projections into or out of engagement as the case may be with those of
the stop cylinders or bodies.
In order to guard against tampering with the apparatus a locking lever is pro-
vided that serves as a stop to the star wheels and hollow screw when the annular
stops are unlocked. This locking lever is moved clear of the, star wheels in the
act of locking the annular stops by a cam formed with or attached to the nut that
works the locking rod before mentioned.
To prevent undue strain upon the tubular screw, instead of causing it to take all
the strain of arresting and preventing the working of the meter, I may use it and
the nut to bring other parts into position for arresting the operation of the meter.
An arrangement for this purpose is as follows:-
Upon a loaded pivoted lever I mount one of the star wheels. Upon the shaft of
this star wheel is fixed a disc with a ratchet tooth or teeth adapted to engage at
certain times with a tooth ou a stop lever pivoted to the frame work of the apparatus.
With this arrangement, when rotation of the star wheel under notice is retarded
owing to the nut being arrested by two of the annular stops, this star wheel tends
to rise upon the one next to it, thus raising the end of the lever that supports it,
and bringing a ratchet tooth of the disc into contact with the tooth of the stop
lever, which thus serves to arrest the meter. It is set free in the act of unlocking
the annular stops by the cam of the locking nut. At the same time a shoulder on
the locking rod causes the tubular screw to travel slightly endwise sufficiently to
move the projections of the stop nut just clear of the annular stops that have last
arrested it.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing an apparatus, constructed according to this
invention, fitted upon a gas meter part of which only is shown.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation without the case, and
Fig. 3 a vertical section on the linear Fig. 2 showing the arrangement of the
parts, the sets of stops being removed and the position of one star wheel indicated in
dotted lines.
Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 show details hereinafter described.
A is the upright spindle of a wet gas meter; A' A' are the projecting ends of a
pin on the spindle. B is a star wheel driven intermittently by A. B¹ is a pin on
the said star wheel which in each rotation of that wheel acts upon and partially
rotates the second star wheel C. C' is a pin on wheel C, adapted to act in each
rotation upon and impart intermittent motion in a rotary sense to D¹ which is a
star wheel fast on the tubular screw D. E is a nut on screw D. F is a piece
surrounding the nut and somewhat loosely pivoted thereto by the pivot pins F¹.
E E are upper and lower projections on the piece F. E are pins that pro-
ject from F one on each side of a tie rod of the instrument to prevent rotation of
the nut about its axis and thus cause the same to travel on the screw.
GG are
sets of annular stops parallel to the axis of the screw and formed with brakes or
gaps G one in each stop, to allow the projections E' E' to pass. These projections
being on the pivoted piece F can readily adjust themselves to bear evenly on an
upper and a lower stop at the same time.
HH are fingers or pointers, one on the pivot g of each set of stops, and I I are
indexes by which the stops G can be adjusted, in accordance with a key or table,
to bring a gap G' opposite each of the projections E' to permit the nut E to travel

page_text: on the screw D and thereby to allow of the supply by the meter of the desired
quantity of gas, and such adjustments can be effected until the whole of the stops
are passed.
.K is a non-rotating rod passing through the tubular shaft D (see Fig. 4) provided
at one end with a piece L carrying projections L' shown more clearly in Fig. 6
and having at the other end a screw thread K' on which works a nut K² that can
be turned in either direction by an arm K³ attached to it, so as to move the rod K
end wise, thereby throwing the projections L' into or out of engagement as the case
may be with the lateral projections G2 at the end of each set of stops G. The
arrangement of the projections G2 is more clearly shown in Fig. 7. At the same
time a shoulder K on the locking rod K causes the tubular screw D to travel
slightly end wise with the rod K sufficiently to move, when unlocking the stops, the
projections E of the stop-nut clear of the annular stops that have last arrested it,
the projections E' being brought back to their first position by the action of locking
the stops.
The above described apparatus affords great security against fraud, as the
removal of the projections E' from the stops G caused by this slight endwise
movement of the screw D has the important effect of preventing the proper
positions of the stops being found by mere touch; and renders it essential to possess
the proper key or table in accordance with which the stops G must necessarily be
adjusted before the said projections will be able to pass.
M is a loosely pivoted locking lever which tends to fall and so bring its lateral
projection M (adapted to serve as a stop) between the teeth of the star wheel C
or behind the lateral pin of the said wheel, (a pin M³ on the said lever entering at
the same time between the teeth of the star wheel D₁) but is moved. clear of the
said star wheel, in the act of locking the annular stops, by a cam M' formed with
or attached to the nut K that works the locking rod before mentioned. N is a
loaded or heavy rocking arm, the movement of which is limited by a pin N
projecting into a slot in the rear thereof. The star wheel B is mounted upon this
lever and a disc O provided with ratchet teeth O' is carried on the spindle of this.
wheel. P is a stop lever mounted on the spindle of the star wheel C.
When the nut E is arrested by the annular stops G the star wheel. B tends to
rise upon the next wheel C thus bringing a ratchet tooth O' of the disc O into
contact with the tooth P.of the stop lever P, and so arresting the meter without
urdue strain upon. the screw D and other parts. The meter is set free in the act
of unlocking the annular stops by the cam M' of the locking nut Kwhich is
arranged to act upon and depress a tail P2 of the lever P, thereby raising the
tooth P out of engagement with the tooth O!.
Where it is desired to provide in connection with apparatus such as above
described incans for giving an indication before the quantity of gas or other fluid
for which the apparatus is set has been entirely consumed, an electric bellor alarm
is according to one arrangement used in combination with a circuit closer adapted
to be operated from a moving part of the meter which is arranged to bring the
circuit closer into action at the proper time thereby completing the circuit in and
operating the electric bell or alarm.
After the apparatus has been fixed. to the meter the operator can only obtain
access to the index and pointers or fingers, inasmuch as the rest of the apparatus is
Tenclosed by a cover so. that the operator.cannot ascertain by. inspection of the
internal machinery how to setithe.index.
When the nut E has passed the whole set of :stops the apparatus.is removed
and replaced by another adjustable in accordance with a different key or table or
the stops are removed and other stops inserted in their place. If the stops only
are removed and replaced the nut mustibe put back to its starting position ready
to again travel forward between the stops. The apparatus or stops so removed may
be transferred and fitted to other meters prepared to receive the same according to
my invention.
Star-wheels-arranged as described are used to transmit motion-from the spinile A

page_text: to the screw D with the object of avoiding the strain on the parts that would arise
if ordinary toothed gear wheels were employed.
In the arrangement of apparatus illustrated only two sets of stops G are shewn,
but I do not confine myself to that number.
As will be evident apparatus according to my invention may be applied to meters
of various kinds.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In an apparatus applicable to gas and other meters for arresting the same
when a determined quantity of gas or other fluid has passed, the combination of
sets of stops, made adjustable in accordance with a pre-arranged key or table, a
movable part adapted to travel in a path in which in certain positions of the stops
it will be arrested, and means for imparting movement to the said parts from the
meter whilst it is working; the arrangement being such that the arrestation of the
said movable part by the stops will cause stoppage, of the meter which will not
again work until adjusted in accordance with the key or table applicable to the
stop that caused the said stoppage, as set forth.
2. In an apparatus such as referred to in the preceding claim, the combination of
star wheels such as B, C, D', screw D, the nut E with projections, stops G with
gaps, and the locking arrangement for preventing operation of other parts as set
forth during the adjustment of the stops G.
3. My hereinabove described apparatus applicable to gas and other meters for
arresting the same when a determined quantity of gas or other fluid has passed.
Dated this 20th day of July 1891.
W. Lloyd Wisc,
HENRY GREEN.
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.