Improvements in and relating to Gas Meters.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Gas Meters.
1, CHARLES HOUR, of 7 Rue St. Anastase, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to gas meters and has for its object to enable proprietors
or managers of hotels and other more or less similar establishments to resell to
travellers, and to their customers in general, the gas which these latter may require
more particularly for supplying heating apparatus, and to ensure to the buyers a
certain control, while permitting the customers to pay only for the quantity of gas
which is really consumed, and to use this gas in any space of time by providing
them with means for regulating and interrupting the supply at will. These
results applicable in all other cases are obtained with the aid of my improved
apparatus.
This apparatus is composed in principle of a cock included in the gas pipe in
combination with a clock-work or a spring mechanism. The characteristic feature
of the relation between the gas cock and the clockwork lies substantially in the
interposition of a balance for regulating the clockwork and in the direct relation,
resulting from the accessory mechanisms of the apparatus, between the supply of
the gas and the movement of this balance. When the cock is closed the balance
stops, and each time there is a passage of gas through an opening of any kind of
the cock the balance is in motion; on the other hand to a variable supply of the
cock corresponds a variable length of the balance so that to a large opening
corresponds a short length of the balance and consequently a great velocity of the
clockwork.
I obtain a modification of the gas meter thus defined by providing for a constant
opening of the cock which corresponds to a constant length of the balance; to the
closed position of the cock in this general case of course corresponds the stoppage
of the balance, and to the open position of the cock corresponds the movement at a
constant velocity of the balance.
In case I utilize a balance of variable length, that is to say when I wish to have
a variable supply, the apparatus is set in motion by completely opening the cock,
but this movement is possible only after introducing into the box of the meter a
coin of definite weight and form the value of which represents exactly that of the
gas which the apparatus permits to be utilized before introducing a fresh coin; the
apparatus being in motion I may at will regulate its supply by acting with
the hand upon the lever which operates the cock, but to each opening of the cock
corresponds a definite length of the balance regulating the clockwork and
consequently also a definite velocity of the hands or poiuters of this clockwork.
The dial upon which the pointers are displaced will thus indicate at each moment
the fraction of the money which has been spent in gas and the fraction which is
still left to be spent.
When on the contrary I utilize a balance of fixed length (generally a circular
balance with spirals), that is to say when I am content with a constant supply, the
apparatus is also set in motion by opening the gas cock with the hand, thereby
causing the movement of the clockwork. I may also in this case have a variable
opening of the cock without stopping the movement of the meter, but as the

page_text: movement of this meter takes place at a constant velocity it is desirable to
constantly receive the maximum quantity possible of the gas, because it is this
maximum quantity which it will be necessary to pay for. The quantity of gas
consumed then becoming proportional to the time spent, instead of having a
graduation for quantities I have a graduation for hours; the dial on which the
pointers move is therefore divided into 24 equal parts, each of them corresponding
to a supply lasting one hour. For enabling the apparatus to supply gas for several
24 hours without control, I add to the hour meter a totalizing device for the time,
which will indicate the number of times which the gas has flown out twenty-four
hours during the supply. This number of hours thus determined, augmented by
the number of hours marked on the hour-dial by the pointers, will give at each
moment the total duration which the apparatus has supplied gas. In the two cases
the results previously mentioned are obtained with a very simple apparatus having
very small dimensions.
With a meter for a variable supply and also with a modification of this meter
for a constant supply my apparatus is arranged upon the pipe which supplies each
apparatus for heating an apartment, an hotel room, a shop or the like by gas. The
cock and the clockwork or spring mechanism are enclosed in a box of suitable forms
and dimensions. The current of gas may flow in any direction. The plug of the
cock traverses the front wall of the box, and it is provided outside with an
operating handle of any form. The principles of the two modifications of my
meter being thus set forth I will now succinctly describe the essential parts
composing the same with reference to their object and operation.
In the case of a meter provided with a balance of variable length or with a
variable supply the length of the balance of the clockwork or spring mechanism is
rendered dependent on the sectional area of opening of the cock in order to obtain
a velocity of the clockwork in conformity with the quantity of gas supplied by the
cock, and for this purpose I make use of a device which consists of a grooved
sector secured upon a prolongation of the plug of the cock and on which is wound.
up and attached a cord whose other extremity is connected to a movable lens of
the balance in such a manner that through the intervention of this cord the length
of the pendulum varies proportionately to the degree of closing of the cock, and
that the clockwork will effect the complete automatic closing of this cock
only when the previously determined quantity of gas has passed through the cock.
For preventing any opening of the cock with the introduction into the box of
the apparatus of a coin, on the prolongation of the plug of the cock is provided a
tappet which in the closed position is above the groove formed in a wheel loose
upon the axis of the cock. In order that the cock can open it is necessary that the
tappet shall be able to move the wheel and consequently a wheel keyed upon the
axis of a spring; now this last-mentioned wheel is provided with a tappet which
before the introduction of the coin butts against a corresponding tappet on a lever
adapted to oscillate about a fixed point under the action of the additional weight
of its arm.
The opening of the cock before the introduction of the coin is therefore
impossible, but after this introduction the coin bearing on the said arm causes the
lever to turn, and the tappet of this lever no longer interferes with the rotation of
the said wheel so that the opening of the cock becomes possible.
By completely opening the cock at the commencement of the movement the
aforesaid spring for driving the clockwork is wound up and also an antagonistic
spring with the aid of the tappet which turns the before-mentioned wheel
and consequently turns two other wheels mounted upon the same axes as the two
springs.
One of these springs when expanding actuates the clockwork, whilst the
antagonistic spring can expand only when the pointer has made a complete turn on
the dial, for when it has been put under tension a lever mounted upon the same
axis as one of the said wheels has passed with its nose below a nose on another
lever operated by the spring and the disengagement can take place only when a
cam mounted upon an axis actuates the said lever, that is to say when the pointer

page_text: has made a turn on the dial. This lever carries two noses for producing the
tension the second time. At the moment when the disengagement takes place the
cock is closed and the whole apparatus will come to rest again, the coin as will be
seen falls above the lever adapted to turn upon the fixed point as before
stated.
For this purpose one of the wheels of the clockwork mounted upon the axis of
the cam carries a pin which after a complete turn will bear upon the extremity of
a bent lever having a horizontal axis, whose other extremity acts upon a spring
which kept the coin in its place concurrently with the before-mentioned lever;
the spring moves back and the coin supported only by one side drops.
For preventing fraud, that is to say keeping up the outflow of the gas after the
disengagement by fixing the lever at the extremity, the plug of this cock is divided
transversely into two parts. The first part secured to the operating lever carries
a wheel keyed upon a square part of its axis and the second part carries a wheel
of the same diameter keyed upon it, but the axis of the first part turns freely in
the second. The two wheels connected by a pinion whose engagement and
disengagement depends on the positions of the before-mentioned lever so that when
the coin falls and when the lever turns, the two wheels placed in the interior of the
box are no longer connected and the said operating lever may be turned without
acting upon the cock.
In the case of a meter provided with a balance of constant length and designed
for a constant supply, the movements of the cock and of the clock are in correlation
through the medium of a rod carried by the gas cock and stopping the clockwork
by exerting a pressure upon the rim of the fly wheel mounted on the same shaft as
the circular balance with spirals of the clock when the cock is closed, and setting
the clock in motion again by tangential impulsion on the fly wheel when the cock
is opened.
The totalizing device combined with the ordinary hour-meter comprises a sector
with several teeth, which is actuated only each time the hour-pointer has made a
turn on the dial by a single tooth carried by the same axis as the hour-pointer;
each time the tooth acts upon the sector the latter uncovers a number corre-
sponding to the multiple of twenty-four hours during which there has been a supply
of gas.
The axis of the sector carries in the interior of the box a rod which passes from
the-box of the clock through a slot and which enables the totalizing device to be
very quickly moved back by hand to zero when the apparatus is at the end of its
course and it is wound up.
To make sure that the customer may not act upon the apparatus the device for
winding up the clock and moving the totalizing device back to zero is arranged in
the interior of the box. For enabling the winding up to be effected by the owner
of the gas the clock is fixed upon the plate adapted to move about a hinge
and connected to the box by a safety lock to which only the proprietor has
the key.
I
may wind
up the clock from the front, and dispense with the said hinge on
condition of covering the pointer and the axis of the winding device by a glass
plate fixed to the box on the one hand by a hinge and on the other hand by a
padlock or any safety locking device.
The dial upon which the sector of the totalizing device moves may either be
placed in that of the hour-meter or completely separated therefrom; moreover the
sector may be dispensed with and replaced by a pointer operated by interior wheels
and adapted to be displaced upon a small dial whereon each division represents
twenty-four hours of supply.
لبحر

page_text: Порготсщецию
111
1, CHARLES HOUR, of 7 Rue Ste. Anastase, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Manufacturer, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to enable the owners or managers of hotels or
other similar or more or less analogous establishments to retail to travellers, or to
their customers generally, such quantities of illuminating gas us they require,-
more particularly to feed heating apparatus ;-and the invention further affords
such gas retailers reliable means of checking the supplies of gas; while it permits
the consumers of gas to make sure that they only pay for the amount of gas they
have actually used, leaving them the option of extending the consumption of a
given quantity of gas over any convenient period of time, they being at liberty to
turn on, cut off or control the supply at pleasure.
The apparatus mainly consists of a cock or controllable valve inserted in the
gas-pipe and suitably combined with clockwork, or with a main spring enclosed in
its barrel or case.
The characteristic feature of the relation existing between the gas cock and the
clockwork mainly resides in the interposition of a pendulum, adapted to regulate
the operation of the clockwork, and also in the direct proportion or ratio (maintained
by accessory mechanism) between the gas-supply and the motion of the said
pendulum. While the cock is closed, the pendulum remains at rest; whereas,
whenever any gas is passing, no matter through which port or aperture of such
cock, the pendulum will be set in motion; and, on the other hand, the variable gas
supply, through the cock, is made to correspond to the variable length of the
pendulum, in such a manner that a short length of pendulum corresponds to a wide
opening of the cock; and, consequently, the wider the opening, the greater will be
the speed of motion of the clockwork.
The improved gas-meter, the essential features of which have been thus defined,
may be modified by making the aperture of the cock or valve constant, so that it
corresponds to an equally constant length of pendulum. It will be understood that
here, as in the general case stated above, the "closed" position of the cock
corresponds to the position of rest of the pendulum, while the " open" position of
the cock corresponds to a pendulum motion at a constant speed.
Where a pendulum is employed, the length of which is capable of variation,-
i.e. where the gas supply is required to be variable-the apparatus is set in motion
by fully opening the cock. This, however, is only feasible after having previously
inserted into the meter case a coin of a predetermined shape, size and weight, the
value of which exactly represents that of the gas which the meter, thus set in
operation, will admit of being utilized, before a fresh coin is inserted. Having
once set the apparatus going, its supply may be controlled at will by operating
(by hand) the lever which actuates the cock. But to whatever extent the cock
may be opened, the resulting aperture will proportionally determine the length of
the pendulum which regulates the clockwork, and also, consequently, the speed of
motion of the index hands operated by such clockwork. The dial whereon each
hand moves will accordingly at all times indicate what part or fraction of the
amount of gas represented by the coin has, till then, been consumed, and how much
more remains to be consumed to exhaust the sum paid.
Where, on the other hand, a pendulum is used, the length of which does not
vary (such as a circular spiral spring balance, or in other words, where the supply
of gas need not be variable, the apparatus is also set in operation by opening the
gas cock by hand, which ensures the movement of the clockwork. The quantity

page_text: a
of the gas used then becomes proportional to the time spent ; instead of having
graduation in quantities I have a graduation in hours; the dial on which the
hands move is divided into twenty-four equal parts, each of them corresponding to
one hour's supply. In order to enable the apparatus to supply gas, unchecked, for
several periods of 24 hours I add to the "hour" meter, a "time totaliser" designed
to indicate for how many periods of 24 hours each the gas supply has lasted. By
adding to the number of hours thus recorded the number of hours markel off on
the hour-dial by the index hands I obtain the total length of time, during which
the apparatus has been supplying gas. In either case, the results stated are
obtainable by means of compact apparatus of an exceedingly simple construction.
In the accompanying drawings Figures 1 to 12 relate to the meter for a variable
supply, and Figures 13 to 17 to the modification of this meter wherein the supply
is constant.
Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the meter adapted for a variable supply, the rear
cover being supposed to have been removed;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1, the cylindrical casing being broken off
to show the interior mechanism ;
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the meter adapted for a variable supply in its
closed position;
Figure 4 shows more particularly the device designed for connecting the
pendulum with the plug of the cock. The full lines and dotted lines correspond to
two different positions of the pendulum and operating lever;
Figure 5 is a side elevation partly in section of the apparatus showing the device
designed to enable the coin to be expelled at the desired moment, and showing also
that the two parts of the plug of the cock are connected by means of the pinion
which gears with the toothed wheels keyed upon each of these parts;
Figure 6 is an interior front view of Figure 5 showing the same devices as that
figure;
Figure 7 represents the operating lever and the system of levers for engaging
the mechanism in their position of rest;
Figure 8 is a corresponding view of the same levers in their operative position,
that is to say after the engagement ;
Figure 9 is a section taken on the axis of the cock, showing especially that the
plug of this cock is made in two parts;
Figure 10 is a transverse section of the return-motion spring;
Figure 11 is a partial section taken on the line 1-2 of Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a side elevation and front view respectively of the device for causing
the fall of the coin at the desired moment, this device being represented at the
moment when the coin is liberated.
Figure 13 is an elevation of a modified form of meter, when it assumes the shape
of a parallelopiped.
Figure 14 is a plan of the same meter, with the top plate-forming one of the
sides of the parallelopiped-removed, the dotted lines indicating the position which
is taken up by the clockwork-carrying cylinder when it is turned on its hinge-pin
or pivot.
Figure 15 is an inverted plan or bottom view of the meter.
Figure 16 is an elevation of the meter which is supposed to be laid down
horizontally on its left side, this position being preferred where the apparatus is
of cylindrical shape.
Figure 17 is a side elevation at right angles to Figure 16, part of the outer
casing being cut away, so as to clearly show the internal arrangement thereof;
the dotted lines indicating the situation of the clockwork while it is being
wound up.
The improved apparatus is, in either case, connected to the pipe employed to
feed each gas stove or heater in a room or apartment of an hotel, warehouse or the
like. The cock or valve and the main spring clockwork are located within a case
of suitable size and shape. The gas current may flow in any desired direction.

page_text: The plug of the cock passes through the front wall of the casing and is provided
externally with an operating handle of any suitable shape.
Having thus indicated the principles underlying both modifications of my
improved meter, I shall now proceed to describe the essential component parts
thereof and to state the object and method of operation of each.
In the meter having a pendulum variable in length and arranged for a varying
gas supply, the motor of the clockwork is of the usual construction, that is to say
placed between two plates d d connected by posts, it comprises a spring placed in
ifs casing or barrel which, through suitable intermediate wheelwork, can transmit
the movement to the spindle of the escape-wheel of a pendulum regulator.
The spindle of the wheel r having a long rod, that is to say of the pinion
gearing with the crown of the casing or barrel extends through the front of the
box a and carries on the outside a hand or pointer e which turns upon a dial e¹
furnished with graduations, see Figure 3. For the sake of greater simplicity
I will hereinafter explain the devices not described concurrently with the operation
of the apparatus.
The cock of the distributor being completely closed its operating lever c
occupies for example the position indicated in full lines in Figures 1 to 3. This
cock may be open by reason of the arrangement of an engaging device, the
engagement being disestablished only by introducing a coin of definite weight and
form into the slot f formed in the front of the casing.
With this object I arrange upon a prolongation of the plug of the cock a
wheel which is loose upon the said prolongation and gears with a wheel, also
loose upon the spindle of the barrel k, but carrying a pawl h² which gears with a
ratchet wheel 3 keyed upon the spindle k. When the wheel turns in the desired
direction it moves the spindle k¹ of the barrel. When however the said wheel h
turns in the opposite direction it will not act upon this spindle. The wheel his
moreover provided with a stop or tappet h' which in the position 1 have supposed
to be occupied by the plug of the cock butts against a corresponding tappet or
projection on a lever i, Figures 1, 2 and 7, adapted to turn upon the pivot i
(upon which it is rigidly fixed) under the action of the coin. When this turning
movement takes place the lever i passes from the position indicated in Figures 1, 2
and 7 to that represented in Figure 8; the tappet moves out of the path which
the tappet has to traverse, and consequently nothing opposes the opening of
the cock.
In order to open the cock it is necessary to turn the lever c so that it will occupy
the position indicated in full lines Figure 4.
By this movement I effect the following operations independently of the complete
opening of the cock: (1) I wind up the spring for actuating the barrel mechanism;
(2) 1 effect the engagement of the mechanisms; (3) I give automatically to the
pendulum p of the barrel mechanism a minimum length; (4) I put under tension
a'special spring 9 which at the desired moment returns all the parts to the position
of.rest.
The winding up of the motor spring is effected as follows:
The wheel which is loose upon the prolongation of the plug of the cock has
a circular slot g' in which can be displaced a tappet o³ connected to a sector o
which is secured upon the plug of the cock. Before the winding up of the spring
the sector o is in the vertical position, and the tappet o³ occupies the upper end of
the circular slot 9' as represented in Figure 1.
Therefore if I raise the operating
lever the sector o which is keyed upon the plug of the cock turns from left to
right Figure 1, and its tappeto acting upon the end of the groove g¹ moves the
wheel J. The latter gearing with the wheel will, through the intervention of
the pawl 2 and the ratchet wheel h³, move the spindle k¹ of the barrel k, the result
being that the winding up of the spring is effected when the operating lever c has
reached the upper end of its movement.
At this moment the sector o will be horizontal and its tappet of still occupies the
bottom end of the groove 9', Figure 4.

page_text: The engagement or locking of the mechanism is effected by the following means:
The wheel 9, loose upon but operated by the tappet o³, gears with a pinion 1, the
spindle of which carries a lever m furnished with a nose m¹ which during the
rotation will be placed below the abutment n¹ of a lever n; this lever nis
pivoted at n² and is under the action of a spring 3; it therefore follows that the
spindle of the barrel is fixed and can no longer turn in the opposite direction.
The operative parts hereinbefore described are brought to rest by a spiral
spring, one extremity of which is fixed upon the spindle and whose other
extremity is attached to a fixed point Figure 10. It is put under tension by the
rotation of the pinion and can expand only when the engaging device with the
nose mis liverated.
The shortening of the length of the pendulum takes place by means of the device
represented in detail Figure 4. The axis of the plug carries a grooved sector o,
fixed thereto as stated and upon which is wound and attached a cord o' passing
upon a guide roller o² and attached by its other end to the movable bob pl of the
pendulum constituting the regulator of the clockwork. The hob pl can be moved
upwards and downwards along the rod p.
From the foregoing it will be easily seen that by opening the cock the sector o
passes from the position of rest represented in Figure 1 to the opposite extreme
position represented in full lines in Figure 4; consequently the cord o' following
this movement exerts upon the bob a traction having the effect of moving this
bob upwards and bringing it to its upper limiting position represented in full lines
in Figure 4.
It will also be seen from Figure 4 that in general, to any degree of opening of
the cock corresponds a single and perfectly determined length of the pendulum.
When the cock is completely open, the engaging device m'n' preventing the
automatic return of the various parts to their positious of rest, I can diminish at
will the section of passage of the cock, that is to say regulate the supply of gas,
by acting upon the operating handle c without this operation having any other
result than to lengthen the pendulum ppl in proportion.
In fact if lower the lever c by turning it through any angle the sector o
secured upon the plug is moved, but the tappet o³ traverses the circular slot g' of
the wheel g without acting upon this wheel which remains fixed.
The length of the pendulum varying in inverse ratio with the supply of gas the
rotary velocity of the axis of the wheel having the long rod and which carries
the hand e indicating the supply, corresponds to the quantity of gas which has
traversed the cock. The diameter of the wheel r, is calculated so that this wheel
makes exactly one turn during the variable time of the passage of a determined
quantity of gas through the cock of the apparatus. Consequently the hand e
passing over the divisions of the dial indicates at every moment the quantity of
gas consumed and that which remains to be used. The spindle ¹ carries a cam
which at the moment when its spindle has made a complete turn will act against
an appendix or projection n on the lever n and, pushing it aside, liberate the
nose m from the abutment n'; consequently under the action of the return-motion
spring the whole system will be returned to the position of rest.
In fact the rotation of the spindle upon which the spring q is wound and fixed
causes the rotation of the wheel g with which the pinion gears. On reference to
Figure 4 it will be seen that the wheel which then turns from right to left acts
by the bottom end of its groove upon the tappet o³ and moves the sector o and
consequently the plug of the cock until it is completely closed.
On the other hand, from the moment when the cock is closed by the automatic
disengagement of the mechanism it must be impossible to open the same again
from the outside unless a fresh coin be inserted into the slot f. To obtain this
result I fix upon the wheel keyed upon the spindle r'a tappet s which at the
precise moment when the disengagement is to be effected will act against the
extremity of a rocking lever t; this lever is pivoted at t¹ and its other extremity
acts against a plate spring u retaining the coin in the position wherein it causes

page_text: the engaging lever i to be held, in its lower position Figures 5 and 6. This action
is such that the plate spring u which is fixed upon the channel conducting the
coin upon the lever i will be pushed towards the front part of the box a, and that
the coin having no longer the lever as a point of support drops into an
appropriate receptacle (not represented in the drawing) and consequently liberates
the lever i. This lever i therefore returns to its position of rest Figures 1 and 7,
and the tappet is returned to the path of the tappet h', the locking or engage-
ment of the cock being effected again. As soon as the cock is closed the hand e
which has made a complete turn upon its dial should not be allowed to continue to
turn. For this purpose a rod T bent to a square is fixed to the rocking-lever i
and will be placed in the path of the pendulum when this lever i is raised to
take its position of rest. When the lever i is lowered under the weight of a coin a
the rod T liberates the pendulum p. In order to prevent anyone by holding the
operating lever e from the outside at any point of its movement, from continuing
the supply of gas indefinitely after the clockwork is stopped and no longer indicates
the quantity supplied the plug of the cock Figure 9 is composed of two independent
parts, of which is connected with the operating lever c, whilst the part 66 is
connected with the sector o and is in connection with the barrel mechanism through
the medium of the tappet o³ and the wheel 9.
The parts and are furnished respectively with the wheels 67 and 8 which are
concentric and similarly toothed, and are placed between the dial and the large
plate d.
One of these wheels 8 is mounted to rotate with the plug of the cock
while the other is independent thereof. In Figure 9 of the drawing I have shown
that the spindle upon which the wheel is keyed turns loosely in a part of the
plug of the cock which forms the nave of the wheel 68 secured to the plug by
a key.
The connection of the two wheels 7 and 8 can be established only by a long
pinion mounted loosely upon a spindle of a lever arm secured upon the
movable spindle or pivot of the engaging lever i. From the foregoing it will
be observed that during the whole time a coin rests upon the lever i the long
pinion, gearing with the two wheels 67 and 68, connects the two parts 65 and 66 of
the plug of the cock. But even if the lever c is fixed from the outside, the coin
drops as soon as the hand e has made a complete turn. Now the fall of this coin
causes the lever i to move upwards to its original position and causes the pinion it
to leave the wheels and . The plug of the cock becomes independent of the
lever and this plug is closed automatically at the desired moment under the action
of the return-motion spring 9 even when the lever c may have been stopped.
€
Referring now to the meter with a pendulum of constant length, for a constant
gas supply, a relation is established between the operation of the cock and that of
the clockwork by means of a rod d, Figure 14, supported by the gas cock and
adapted to arrest the clockwork by exercising pressure upon the rim of the fly
wheel mounted upon the same spindle with the circular spiral spring balance of
the clockwork, when the cock is closed, while it sets the clockwork in motion by
giving a tangential impulse to the said fly-wheel c* when the cock is opened.
The totalising mechanism combined with the ordinary, time-counter comprises a
segment e provided with a number of teeth, which segment is only operated when-
ever the hour hand has completed a revolution round the dial, it being operated
by the single tooth j mounted in the same spindle as the said hour hand.
Whenever the tooth j operates the segment e, such segment uncovers a figure
expressing the number of periods of 24 hours each during which gas has been
supplied.
The spindle or pivot of the segment e is provided, within the case f, with a rod v,
which issues from the clockwork case through the groove and enables the
totalizer to be very quickly brought back by hand to zero, when the apparatus has
completed its movement and is being wound up.
To obviate any possibility of the apparatus being tampered with by the
customer, the mechanism which serves to wind up the clockwork and bring the

page_text: totaliser back to zero is located within the case f. But in order to enable the owner
of the meter (who supplies the gas) to wind up the clockwork, this portion of the
apparatus is secured to the plate hinged ate and connected to the case f by a
safety lock, for which none but the owner possesses a key.
The clockwork may, if desired, however, be wound up in front, in which case
the hinge would be dispensed with, and the index-hands and the winding-up
spindle would have to be covered with a glass, secured to the case by means of a
hinge on one side and by a padlock or other safe fastening device on the other
side.
The dial on or against which travels the segment of the totaliser may be placed
within the dial of the hour-recorder; or it may be entirely separate therefrom,
and the said segment may, if desired, be dispensed with and replaced by a hand
operated by internal wheel gearing and revolving on a small dial, each division
of which represents a gas supply lasting for a period of 24 hours.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1.) Apparatus for supplying and recording a predetermined volume of gas,
the supply of which may be either continuous or interrupted, mainly consisting of
the combination of a cock inserted into gas piping with mainspring clockwork the
cock and clockwork being connected by suitable devices, so that to any opening of
the cock invariably corresponds the movement of the clockwork, and that to the
closing of the cock invariably corresponds the stoppage of the operation of the
clockwork, substantially as hereinabove described.
(2.) In apparatus for supplying and recording predetermined volumes of gas;
mechanism for rendering the length of the pendulum of the clockwork dependent
upon the area of the aperture of the cock, and consisting of a grooved sector or
segment rigidly secured on to an extension of the plug of the cock, whereon is
wound, and to which is attached, a cord, the opposite end of which is connected to
the adjustable bob of the pendulum, substantially as described and illustrated in
the drawings.
(3.) In combination with the mechanism for rendering the length of the
pendulum dependent upon the area of the cock aperture, engaging and releasing
mechanism, for stopping the plug of the cock from being operated prior to the
insertion of a coin of pre-determined value, size and shape into the apparatus, and
consisting of a swinging lever provided with a stop, catch or tappet adapted to
obstruct, or check the motion of the cock, through the medium of suitable inter-
mediate devices, substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
(4.) Mechanism for winding up the mainspring of the clockwork and also the
counteracting or antagonist spring whereby the arrangement is brought back to its
initial position, consisting of a toothed wheel which is provided loosely upon the
plug of the cock and hub an arc shaped slot, and which is connected at the desired
moment with the plug of the cock by a stop which belongs to a sector fixed upon
the plug and which is displaced in the arc-shaped slot of the wheel the said wheel
effecting through the medium of a lever having a nose the engagement of the
antagonistic spring and the fixing of the spindle of the barrel, substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
(5.) Mechanism for causing the coin to drop at a pre-determined period of time
and for moving the engaging lever back to its original situation, consisting of a
tappet connected with the wheel rigidly secured to the spindle r¹ and acting upon
a lever adapted to push on one side the device or part of the mechanism which
retains the coin in place, substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
(6.) In apparatus for supplying and recording a predetermined volume of gas,
an arrangement connecting the operating lever and the plug of the cock only

page_text: whilst the coin rests upon the engaging lever, and consisting in providing both the
said operating lever and the plug of the cock with a toothed wheel each, which
wheels may be brought into communication by means of a pinion, the engagement
and disengagement of which depend upon the positions of the engaging or
releasing lever, substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
(7.) In apparatus for supplying and recording pre-determined volumes of gas,
a device supported by the gas cock and capable of so influencing the clockwork of
the meter as to arrest its motion as soon as the cock is closed, and to start the
clockwork afresh as soon as any gas passes through; such a result being attained
by pressure upon the rim of the fly-wheel of the clockwork, at the moment of the
stoppage, and by a tangential impulse given to the said fly-wheel at the moment
of the starting, substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 13 to 17 of
the drawings.
(8.) In gas counting and distributing apparatus, in combination with the device
supported by the cock and influencing at a given moment the clockwork, a time
totalizer, combined with an ordinary time counter or meter and indicating the
number of periods of 24 hours each during which gas has been supplied, and
consisting of a sector operated only every 24 hours, when it uncovers the corre-
sponding number, substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 13 and 16
of the accompanying drawings.
(9.) In a gas meter, in combination with the device connecting the gas cock
and the clockwork, and in combination with the time totalizer and hour meter,
mechanism for bringing the time totalizer back to zero, comprising a rod in direct
connection with the spindle of the totalizing sector, such rod being capable of
being operated direct, by hand, when the clockwork is being wound up.
Dated this 7th day of May 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.