consumers’ gas-meters.

325

On

Fig . 118.

deficiency and maintaining a constantly uniform level; the excess flowing back again throughthe pipe into the surplus reservoir. When the latter becomes wasted by evaporation andbefore the scoops cease to lift a sufficient supply, the float M will descend, bringing thefloat D and valve B with it and cut off the supply of gas until the water is restored,the other hand, should the meter be over-filled, the waterwill rise through the open bottom of the siphon pipe P,and by filling the bend will cut off the supply of gas inthat manner.

Fig. 118 is a plan showing more clearly the action ofthe scoops and of the second float. The same letters in-dicate corresponding parts in each diagram.

Mr. Scholefield, of Paris, has patented a compensating-ineter which, like that of Messrs. Crosley and Goldsmith, retains the water-level by means ofan elevator. In his meter, however, the scoop that raises the meter from the supply-tankdoes not rotate, but is worked by a bell-crank lever, and a reciprocating up-and-down motionis given to the scoop. Fig. 119 represents a front view of the meter, with the plates of thecasing and screen removed. The principal parts of Mr. Scholefield’s meter which he claimsas new are, in the first place, the cylindrical form given to the casing for the purpose of sim-plifying the manufacture. The interior ispartially divided into two principal parts bymeans of a segmental division-plate, theback division containing the measuring- ,jdrum, and the lower part of the front divi-sion forming the supply, waste-water, andcondensation trough. The application of anincorrodible bell, E, with hydraulic sealcovering the float D and siphon-pipe C, isanother part of his invention. This seal is asubstitute for the upper part of the divisionplate, which in ordinary meters separatesthe cylindrical compartment containing thedrum and measured gas from the front boxin which is the unmeasured gas. The prin-cipal part, however, on which the compensa-ting action depends is the scoop Z, attachedto the bell-crank lever X, and worked by acrank fixed to the measuring-drum. Thewater as it is raised from the trough M isemptied through the hole J,into the receiver K, and at the same time up the regulating pipeN, until it reaches the level of the top of the pipe 0. That being the correct level of themeasuring-compartment, any surplus will flow over the pipe into the trough M until itreaches the top of the pipe P. In filling the meter, the plugs H 2 , Q, and W are taken out,

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