IMPROVEMENTS IN PUBLIC LIGHT GAS METERS, THE RECEPTACLES FOR CONTAINING THEM, AND CONNEC- TIONS TO THE SAME.
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas Sugg, of Vincent Works, Vincent Street,
in the City of Westminster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUBLIC
LIGHT GAS METERS, THE RECEPTACLES FOR CONTAINING THEM, AND CONNEC-
TIONS TO THE SAME.'
"
Sealed the 1st September 1876, and dated the 6th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas Sugg at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th March 1876.
"
WILLIAM THOMAS SUGG, of Vincent Works, Vincent Street, in the City of West-
minster. IMPROVEMENTS IN PUBLIC LIGHT GAS METERS, THE RECEPTACLES FOR
CONTAINING THEM, AND CONNECTIONS TO THE SAME."
This Invention has for its object the construction of gas meters and the connec-
tions thereto, specially adapted to ascertain the consumption of gas in public lamps,
and in the receptacles for containing the said meters so that they may be conveniently
accessible for replenishing with liquid, for adjustment, for repair, and for ascertaining
their registration.
The apparatus consists of a meter wheel or drum of comparatively shallow depth
but large diameter, mounted on a frame attached to an enclosed front chamber, the
front of which is made removable. This frame and chamber is enclosed in another
case or chamber capable of containing the liquid in which the drum may revolve.
On the top is fixed the index, filling tube, and draw-off tube, together with the inlet
and outlet for gas.
The whole of the foregoing constitutes the meter, which is placed within a cast-
iron receptacle, to be embedded in the ground, the receptacle being provided with a
cover having a glass plate through which to view the index, and cross bars, lugs,
and screws, whereby, with the aid of india-rubber packing, the case may be made
securely gas and water tight. The inlet and outlet connections are fixed to the
exterior of this case, and are arranged in such a manner that the gas may be shut off
therefrom and the pipes cleared should any obstruction occur therein without the
necessity of disturbing them from the surrounding soil. On the inside the inlet and
outlet connections with the meter are made of flexible tubing [by preference of the
kind for which I obtained Letters Patent, No. 2842, dated August 12, 1875] and
metallic couplings. The upper part of the outside case consists of a frame and

page_text: hinged flap door cast separate from the other parts, but capable of being attached
thereto and adjusted in such a manner as to make the upper surface correspond in
level or inclination with that of the pavement.
The whole of the cases are made of cast iron, and the flap door before mentioned
is secured by means of a lock or fastening, which, while it admits of being easily
opened by a suitable key, is not likely to become fixed with dirt.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Thomas Sugg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st Sep-
tember 1876.
WILLIAM THOMAS SUGG, of Vincent Works, Vincent Street, in the City of West-
minster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUBLIC LIGHT GAS METERS, THE RECEPTACLES FOR
CONTAINING THEM, AND CONNECTIONS TO THE SAME."
This Invention has for its object the construction of gas meters and the connec-
tions thereto, specially adapted to ascertain the consumption of gas in public lamps,
and in the receptacles for containing the said meters so that they may be conveniently
accessible for replenishing with liquid, clearing out the supply and service pipes, and
for adjustment for repair, and for ascertaining the quantity of gas consumed by the
lamps to which they are attached.
The apparatus consists of a meter wheel or drum of comparatively shallow depth
but large diameter, mounted on a frame attached to an enclosed front chamber, the
front of which is made removable. This frame and chamber is enclosed in another
case or chamber capable of containing the liquid in which the drum may revolve.
On the top of this case is fixed the index, filling tube, and draw-off' tube, together
with the inlet and outlet for gas.
The whole of the foregoing constitutes the meter, which is placed within a cast-
iron receptacle to be embedded in the ground, the receptacle being provided with a
cover having a glass plate through which to view the index, and cross bars, lugs,
and screws, whereby, with the aid of india-rubber packing, the case may be made
securely gas and water-tight. The inlet and outlet connections are fixed to the
exterior of this case, and are arranged in such a manner that the gas may be shut
off therefrom and the pipes cleared should any obstruction occur therein, without the
necessity of disturbing them from the surrounding soil. On the inside the inlet
and outlet connections with the meter are made of flexible tubing [of the kind for
which I obtained Letters Patent, No. 2842, dated August 12th, 1875], and metallic
couplings. The upper part of the outside case consists of a frame and hinged flap
door cast separately from the other parts, but capable of being attached thereto and
adjusted in such a manner as to make the upper surface correspond in level or
inclination with that of the pavement.
The whole of the cases are made of cast-iron, and the flap door before mentioned
is secured by means of a lock or fastening, which, while it admits of being easily
opened by a suitable key, is not likely to become fixed with dirt.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood Drawings are attached
hereto, of which the following is a description:-
:-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus showing the lid open, the fronts of the
cases or chambers removed, and removable lid of the meter, with its glass plate in
section.
Fig. 2 is an elevation with the backs of the cases or chambers removed.
Fig. 3 is a back elevation showing the exterior connections to the meter.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation with the sides of the cases or chambers removed and the
removable lid and glass plate in section.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the meter with the upper and lower lids removed.
Fig. 6 is a plan of the meter with the upper lid removed and the lower lid in
position; and Fig. 7 is a plan of the uper part or outer lid of the apparatus,

page_text: The meter itself, or measuring part of the apparatus, is that known as Sugg's
compensating meter, and in Fig. 1 A is the inlet for the gas, B the float, and C the
measuring drum or wheel; D is the spoon for lifting water from the front
chamber so as to keep up a constant liquid level in the back or measuring chamber;
E is the tube containing the upright spindle which gives motion to the index F,
which consists of only two wheels and two worins; G is the outlet for the gas; H
is a filling funnel, having connected to it a tube I which passes to the lower part
of the back chamber; J is the sealed tube through which any superabundance of
liquid may be pumped off; K is the case of the meter, and L, L, L, are three screws
for the purpose of levelling the meter with accuracy; M is the outer case of the
apparatus, and N its removable lid that is fastened to the said case by means of two
cross bars O, which are hooked at the lower extremity so as to take on to studs
P, P, and are provided with screws R, R, for producing pressure upon the lid and
bringing it into close contact with the case, an india-rubber packing intervening;
S, S, is the frame of the upper and outer lid T. It will be seen that it rests upon
lugs or projections U cast on the outer case, and by means of the bent arms or
screws and nuts V can be set to any angle to suit the inclination of the pavement.
The frame can also be lifted, turned round, and made to occupy the reverse position
to that shown when it is desirable. Attached to the lid is a lock or fastening con-
sisting of two arms W pivotted at X and retained in close contact by means of the
spring Y. A recess is cut in the arms to receive a stud fixed to the inside of the
frame. On the inserting and turning of a wedge-shaped key through the key-holo
%, Fig 7, the arms of the lock W are distended and the lid released, when it may be
opened. On removing the key and allowing the lid to fall it will by its own weight,
when coming in contact with the stud, cause the arms to distend and subsequently
clasp the stud, thus securing the lid.
On looking at Fig. 2 it will be seen that on taking away the cross piece a, which
is made removable for the purpose, and the worm on the front end of the shaft, tho
drun or measuring wheel may be taken out for cleansing or repairs. b, b, are the
unions for connecting the inlet and outlet of the meter to the service connections
and d, of Figs. 3 and 4, c being connected to the service from the main and d to the
service of the lamp. These service connections are made of incorrodible metal, that
is to say, of an alloy of tin, lead, and antimony. The barrel of the cock h is also
made of this metal, but the plug is of brass in order to prevent the same froin
sticking.
In Fig. 5 the flexible inlet and outlet pipe junctions before referred to are marked e, c.
In Fig. 6 the lower lid is shown in plan, as is also one of the cross bars O. At P, P,
the studs on to which a second cross bar is hooked are shown. f is the glass plate,
and g the face of the index. In Figure 7 the small circles indicate studs or bosses
cast upon the surface of the lid to prevent slipping, and Z is the key-hole.
It will be seen that the foregoing mode of making lamp meters offers great
facilities for placing the meter in proper position for cleaning out the service pipo
from the gas company's main, and the supply pipe to the lamp burner when they aro
obstructed by water or naphthaline without breaking up the ground, for removing it
and taking it to pieces for cleansing or repairing, and for testing it in situ.
The service connections c and d are made so that they can be turned round to
suit any inclination or direction the services may require; the inlet o is also
furnished with a cock h and screw plug openings and j. For testing the meter
in situ, all that is necessary is to close the cock hand attach by flexible tubing the
screw plug opening with the inlet of the test meter, and the screw plug opening j
with the outlet of the test ineter, when the gas will pass first through the test meter
and then through the meter to be tested without the necessity for breaking any of
the connections.
The measuring drum of the meter, the float, the compensating apparatus, the
index, the inner lid N and glass cover are old, but the rest of the apparatus as
herein described and shown on the Drawings is new.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details
or arrangements herein described or referred to, as variations may be made there-
from without deviating from the principles or main features of this Invention, but
what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the combination
of the various parts arranged as herein specified to form the apparatus herein-
bofore described and shown on the Drawings.
In witness thereof, I, the said William Thomas Sugg have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
WILLIAM T. SUGG. (L.S.)

page_text: 00
Ο
0
Οι οι
3000
ז' --