US450664A

US450664A - Deyice foe recording the readings of gas meters

Info

Publication number: US450664A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1891-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 1908-04-21

Description

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

D.E.FELT. v DEVICE FOR RECORDING THE READINGS 0F GAS METERS.

No. 450,664. Patented Apr. 21, 1891 65 65: v v I VJQZMLQZWQ -(No Model.) 2 Sheets'-Sheet 2.

v D.E.PELT. DEVIGE FOR RECORDING THE READINGS OP GAS METERS.

No. 450,664, PatentedApr. 21, 18.91

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DORR E. FELT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND GEORGE \V. MARTIN, OF

DEVICE FOR RECORDING THE SAME PLACE. I

READINGS OF GAS-METERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,664, dated April 21, 1891.

Application filed November 11, 1890.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,DORR E. FELT, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, and a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Recording the Readings of Meters, of which the following is a speci fication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the recording or printing device, the meter being in section, and showing the recording device about to be inserted. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the recording device on line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the recording device. Fig. 4 is a detail showing the inking device, and Fig. 5 is a detail showing the dials and pointers adapted to make an impression upon the paper.

This invention relates to devices for recordin g the amounts indicated by a gas-meter, and is designed as an improvement upon the device shown and described in the application of myself and George W. Martin, filed September22, 1890, Serial No. 365,829.

The object of my present invention is to simplify and improve the construction of devices of this class and to cause the recording to be done positively and uniformly; and my invention consists in the several improvements in the devices for causing the record to be made upon paper of the amount indicated by the dials and pointers of the meters, which are adapted to make a record or impression upon such paper.

In the drawings, A indicates a gas or fluid meter, which may be of any of the ordinary forms of construction. This meter A is provided with dials and pointers a, formed as described in the said previous application or in other suitable manner, so that the dials and pointers are adapted to be inked for the purpose of making an impression or record.

B indicates a case formed with or secured to the meter Ain front of thedials and pointers a. The meters A may vary in size and capacity; but where the record is to be made bya single recording device the case B should be of the same size on all sizes of meters. However, if desired, different-sized cases B Serial No. 371,109. (No model.)

may be used, which will necessitate differentsized recording devices, as will hereinafter appear. recording device, hereinafter described. Each case may be provided with a glass or sightopening, through which the dials and pointer may be observed at any time. 7

D indicates the frame of the recording device. sheet metal and is made in suitable form to support the operating parts, as hereinafter set forth.

E indicates an inking-roll, which is provided with journals 6, as best. shown in Fig. 4:. These journals 6 are mounted in springarms 6, as shown in Fig. 4, which spring-arms are secured to a shell F in such position that they will act to press the inking-roller E toward the front of the recording devices whenv the shell F is rotated into operative position, I as hereinafter set forth. The shell F is pivoted in the frame D 011 two journals f and it is provided with a return-spring f, which acts to normally keep it in the position shown in Fig. 2. The shell F has a pin which projects through the frame D in such position that it can be engaged by a projecting edge G, Fig. 1, within the case B of each meter A. The frame D is provided with a recess d, adapted to receive the pin 9 when the shell A is rotated into operative position, as hereinafter setiorth.

H indicates an operating-handle, which is provided with a bail h, which extends downwardly through the frame D. To the bail h on each side is pivoted an elbow-lever J, each of which is pivoted to the frame D upon a pivotj, as best shown in Fig. 2. Upon the lower arms of the elbow-levers J is pivoted a platen K, upon which the cards or slips of paper to receive the impressions are placed in a pack or bunch. The cards or slipsof paper 70 are held in position upon the platen K by means of a spring L, whose ends are coiled around a rod l, secured in the upper part of the frame D. The tension of this spring L is suflicient to hold the papers upon the platen K. This spring L is preferably bent in the form shown in Fig. 3, so that it will securely hold the paper near the points at which the Each case B is adapted to receive a V This frame is preferably made out of impressions are made. The form of the spring, however, may be varied somewhat.

M indicates one or more rods, preferably located in a vertical position upon the outside of the frame D. I have shown two rods M, as for many reasons two are preferable to one; but in some cases a single rod might be used. Each rod M isnprovided with a bent end, which forms a latch m, and the frame D is slotted to permit the passage of this latch, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The platen K or elbow-levers are provided with catches N, one for each latch m, arranged in such position that it will be engaged by the latch when the platen is returned to the inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 2. The rod M is provided with a spring a, which acts to normally press the rod downward, and therefore to keep the latch m in engagement with the 'catch N.

The case B may be provided, if desired, with a springcover O, as shown in Fig. 1.

The person making the records of the meters carries the recording device with him. A number of cards or slips of paper 70 are placed upon the platen K and are then held there by the spring L. The person making the record proceeds to the several meters in succession and at each meter inserts the recordingdevice after raising the lid 0, if such lid is used.

Prior to the time of inserting the recording device into the case Bof each meter the operative parts of said recording device normally occupy the position shown in Fig. 2.

I As the recording device is inserted into a case B, the pin 9 upon the shell F will engage the upper portion of the edge G and cause the shell F to rock on its journals f to expose the inking-roller E, as shown in Fig. 3. The further insertion of the recording device will cause the pin 9 to swing backward into the recess d in the frame D, thereby permitting the recording device to readily descend into the case B. The rocking of the shellF brings an open side (indicated at c, Fig. 2) to the front of the recording device, and thereby brings the inking-roller E into such position that, as the recording device passes downward, the inking-roller E will ink the recording-disks and pointers a of the gas-meter A, thereby fitting them for making an impression or record, as hereinafter set forth. The further insertion of the record-ing device will cause the ends of the rod or rods M to engage with the bottom of the case B, thereby lifting such rods against their springs 02 and releasing the latches m from the catches N. When the latches are thus released from the catches N,

"forward toward the recording-disks and point- "ers a of the meter A. This operation will cause the pointers and dials a, which have been inked by the roller E, to make an imprcssion upon the slips of paper 7.". carried by the platen K. The operator then lifts upward upon the handle H, which will cause the lower arms of the bell-crank levers J to swing backwardly, carrying the platen backward from the recording-disks or pointers a. The springL will assist in swinging the-platen K backward'and insure the removal of the slip of paper which has received the impression from the recording-dials and pointers before commencement of the removal of the recording device from the case B. When the platen K has returned to its inoperative position, the latches at will engage with the catches N, thereby locking it in such position, and further upward movement of the handle H will draw the recording device from the case B. After the recording device has been removed from the case and the pin 9 is removed from contact with the edge G the shell F will be returned to the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of its return-spring f. The inking-roller E will thereby be covered or concealed, so that the recording device can be readily carried by the operator without danger of soiling from the inkingroller. The operator then removes the slip of paper It, which has received the impression, and the device is ready to be used in making the record of a succeeding meter.

The top slip of paper having the impression may be readily withdrawn from beneath the spring L; but in case the tension of thespring L is comparatively great, then the spring L may be slightly lifted.

The device for operating the latches m may be varied. The essential feature is that the platen be held in inoperative position by a.

latch, which will be released byengagement with the case or some part projectingfrom the meter'A when the recording device is inserted in position for making the record.

I do not broadly claim the combination, with a gas-meter having indicating mechanism constructed to be inked, of a case connected with the meter in front of the indicat ing mechanism, a device movable into and out of the said attached case and provided with a paper-carrier, and means whereby the paper is moved to receive an impression of the inked indicating mechanism when said device is inserted into the attached case; nor do I broadly claim the combination, with a case having indicating devices constructed to be inked, of a paper-carrier and means whereby the paper is pressed upon the inked indi eating devices to make an impression thereof upon such paper and thereby record the quantity of gas registered by the meter, and finally I do not broadlyclaim the combination, with a gas-meter and numeral dials and pointers which register the quantity of gas flowing through the meter, of a paper-carrier and devices for pressing the paper against the dials to impress the position of the dial nu merals and pointers on the paper and record the quantity of gas registered by the me ter, as such combinations constitute the subfleet-matter of an application filed by myself and George W. Martin September 20, 1890, Serial No. 365,829. 9

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is Y 1. A device to be temporarily applied for obtaining a copy of the readings of gas-meters, consisting of a frame having a movable paper-carrying platen and means for moving the platen in the frame to cause it to receive an impression of the state of the meter when the frame is held in front of the latter, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a gas-meter having a casein front of the indicating devices or register, of a frame movable into and out of said case and having a movable paper-carrying platen and means for moving the platen when the frame is inserted into the case to cause the paper to receive an impression of the indicating devices or register, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a frame D, adapted to be held in front of recording-disks of a gas-meter, of elbow-levers J, pivoted on said frame, a platen K, carried by said levers and adapted to support slips of paper, handle H, and bail h, pivoted to said levers, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4:. The combination, Withaframe D, adapted to be held in front of recording-disks of a gas-meter, of a movable platen adapted to carry slips of paper for receiving the impression, and a spring L for holding said papers in position and returning the platen to inoperative position, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with a frame adapted to be held in front of recording-disks of a gasmeter, of a movable platen, devices for positively moving said platen, and a latch adapted to hold said platen in inoperative position and to release said platen when the frame is brought into recording position, substantially as specified. i

6. The combination, with a frame D, elbowlevers J, pivoted on said frame D, handle H, bail it, connected with said elbow-levers, and a platen K, adapted to support slips of paper and supported upon said elbow-levers, of catches N, latches m, rods M, and spring n, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination, with the gas-meter having dials and pointers adapted to be inked, of a device for recording amounts indicated by the dials and pointers, a shell containing an inking-roller and mounted upon journals in said recording device, a pin g on said shell, and an edge G on a meter, adapted to be engaged by said pin g, substantially as specified.

DORR E. FELT.

* Witnesses: ALBERT H. ADAMS, HARRY T. J ONES.