Improvements in Gas-meters.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 11th May, 1805
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas-meters.
I, HENRY HEZEKIAH SPRAGUE, Architect, of 115 South Capitol Avenue,
Indianapolis, in the County of Marion, and State of Indiana, United States of
America, 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:-
My invention relates to that class of meters in which a flexible diaphragm,
actuated by the pressure of the gas, is employed to actuate the mechanism which
controls the movement of the valves.
It consists of mechanism by which the slow even pulsation of the diaphragm is
translated into a quick, positive movement of the valves by means of a swinging
frame actuated by the movement of the diaphragm which throws the valve first in.
one direction and then in the other through the medium of two springs which are
brought alternately into tension.
It further consists of details of construction and operation hereinafter more fully
described and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my meter the casing and diaphragm being shown
in section.
Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of the valve disks and stem in perspective.
Figure 3 is a similar view of the hinged frame which carries the springs.
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of Figure 1 showing different positions of the parts
in dotted lines.
A represents the casing of the meter, B the diaphragm, C the valve stem, D the
swinging frame which carries the springs E, E; F the bracket upon which the
moving parts are supported, G the spring upon which frame D is hinged,
H the valve disk, I the lug or stop upon the valve stem, J the lug or stop upon
the frame D; K the link which connects the diaphragm and the frame D,
L (Fig. 2) the lug upon the valve stem which slides in the slot M in the bracket F
and prevents the valve stem from turning, and N the screw by which the bracket
is attached to the casing. A¹ represents the inlet spud and B¹ the outlet spud.
The arrows indicate the direction of the flow of the gas through the meter.
The operation of my meter is as follows: The gas entering upon the outer side
of the diaphragm B forces it inward and thereby carries the frame D into the
position shown in Fig. 1 or in dotted lines Fig. 4. This throws the valve stem
downward closing one set of valve ports and opening another, and thus reversing
the direction of the flow of the gas. The gas then enters on the inner side of the
diaphragm forcing it outward and carrying the frame D into the position shown in
Fig. 4, and the direction of flow is again reversed. The valve stem is reciprocated
by the swinging of the frame D through the medium of the springs E, E.
One end of each of these springs is attached to the valve stem and the other to
au arm of the swinging frame.
When the frame swings to one side one of the springs is brought into tension
and the other one released, and as it swings to the other side the second one is
brought into tension and the first released. In this manner the valve stem is
moved first in one direction and then in the other.
If there were no other controlling mechanism the movement of the valve stem
from side to side would be slow and even. But in order that the pulsations of the
diaphragm be even and uniform it is necessary that the valves be retained upon

page_text: their seats and the flow continue in one direction until the diaphragm reaches a
fixed point, and then instantly reversed and retained in the new position until the
opposite limit of its movement is reached. In order to accomplish this I place a
lug or stop I upon the valve stem and another one J upon the swinging
frame D.
These lugs engage one another during the middle portion of the stroke and
slide off at each end of it, and in this way the valve is held down upon its seat
while the frame is swinging from one side to the other and one spring being
released and the other brought into tension. In the position shown in Fig. 1 the
valve stem has just been thrown downward, and the under side of the lug J comes
in contact with the upper side of the lug I. As the frame reaches the position
shown in full lines Fig. 4 the lugs slide off of one another, and the valves are
thrown upward. Then, as the frame D swings back, the upper side of J comes
in contact with the under side of I, and the valves are held upon their seats until
they slide off at the other side.
The size and shape of these lugs is such that the release of the valves will take
place at the proper position of the diaphragm.
The frame D is mounted upon the spring arm G. This gives a yielding contact
between the lugs, which allows them to slide over one another more smoothly and
keeps the valve securely upon its seat, requiring a less perfect adjustment of the
parts and taking up any slight wear there may be between them.
The bracket F carries the moving parts, the spring arm G being attached to it
by the set-screw 9, and the valve stem C having bearings at f,f. It is attached to
the casing by the screw N. By removing this screw all of the mechanism may be
removed from the casing when necessary to adjust or repair the parts.
The springs E, E, where attached to the frame or valve stem at e, e, are hinged
so as to swing loosely and prevent throwing tension upon the spring.
The arms d, d, are so located and of such a length as to give to the outer ends
of the springs equal or equivalent motion.
The lever which operates the registering mechanism may be attached to any
part of the swinging frame. Preferably it is attached where the link k is
attached.
The valve disks H are made of solid rubber clamped between metallic disks,
and vibrate between the two valve seats striking first on one face and then on
the other.
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
consider novel and desire to claim is :-
:-
1. The herein described gas-meter consisting of the combination of the valve
stem, the swinging frame actuated by the pulsations of the diaphragm, the springs
carried by said frame by which said valve stem is impelled first in one direction
and then in the other, and the lugs or stops by which the valve is held upon its
seat while said frame is swinging from one end of its stroke to the other and the
spring tension is being reversed, all substantially as shown and described.
2. The herein described gas-meter consisting of the combination of the valve
stem C, the lug I located thereon, the swinging frame D actuated by the pulsations
of the diaphragm, the lug J located thereon, and the springs E, E, carried by said
swinging frame, all substantially as shown and described.
3. The herein described gas-meter consisting of the combination of the valve
stem C, the lug I located thereon, the swinging frame D, the lug J located thereon,
one or both of said lugs having a spring or yielding mounting, and the springs E, E,
carried by said swinging frame, all substantially as shown and described.
4. The herein described gas-meter consisting of the combination of the valve
stem C, having the lug I thereon, the swinging frame D mounted upon the spring
arm G and having the lug J thereon, and the springs E, E, carried by said
swinging frame, all substantially as shown and described.

page_text: 5. The herein described gas-meter consisting of the combination of the valve
stem C, the lug I located thereon, the swinging frame D, the lug J located thereon,
the springs E, E, one end of each being attached to said swinging frame, and the
other end to said valve stem, all substantially as shown and described.
6. The herein described gas-meter consisting of the diaphragm actuated by the
pressure of the gas and the mechanism actuated thereby for controlling the movement
of the valves in the manner shown and described.
Dated this 11th day of March 1895.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.