valve, passes; consequently, whenever the tumbler m3, is moved slightly beyond the centre or vertical position, by the lever m3, the weight, at the upper part of the tumbler m3, will cause the tumbler to move suddenly, and reverse the valves, all which will readily be traced in the drawing. The gas, in passing through the gas-meter, from the point o, passes to the lower part of the meter, into the compartments c, d, the upper part of these compartments being open; consequently, these compartments c, d, will at all times be full of gas, and the vessels k, and 1, will be raised, according as the gas is, by the position of the valves, flowing into the compartments c, or d; and a quantity of gas, equal to the capacity of the rising of the vessel k, or l, will pass out of the chamber c, or d, by the descending of the vessel k, or l, in succession. q, is a float, and r, is a valve, through which the gas must pass, in order to get out at the eduction way or pipe p.

It will be seen, that the way to the pipe p, is shut off from the upper part of the gas-meter, when the valve r, is not open; this will always be the case if the space e, is not properly filled with water or other fluid, to float the float q.

Figs. 3 and 4, shew two sections of another arrangement of gas-meter, many parts of which are similar to that above described. k, and l, are two vessels for measuring the gas. In this arrangement, they have each an independent axis, with an arm and balance weights, as shewn in the drawing. On the axis of the vessel k, is affixed the arm A; and B, is a rod which connects the arm A, with the crank c, affixed on the axis D, of the valves E, F.-A', is an arm, affixed on the axis of the vessel 7; and B', is a connecting-rod, by which the arm A, is connected with the crank c; this crank, by means of the connecting-rod &, of the crank H, gives motion to the train of wheel-work, for registering the quantity of gas passed through the meter.

The axis D, passes through stuffing-boxes, formed in the fixed plates of the valves E, F; and on the outer ends of the axis D, are affixed the revolving plates of the valves E, F. The fixed plates of these valves have each four openings, and the moveable plates have only one opening,

but to such an extent, that that opening extends to two openings of the fixed plate; and, it should be stated, that the upper portion of the meter is divided into two compart ments, separated from each other, as is shewn in the drawing, in which the vessels k, l, work; and the gas in the vessels k, and l, is kept separate by projections n, working in channels, containing water or other fluid, as above explained.

The rising and falling of the vessels k, l, cause the axis D, to revolve, and carry round the moveable plates of the valve E, F.-o, is the induction way for the gas, and P, is the eduction way, when it has been measured.

By the application of the rotatory valves E, F, and other suitable parts, gas is measured by the descending as well as by the rising of the vessels k, l; for it will be seen, that two of the openings of each of the fixed plates E, F, open into and from the gas-meter above the vessels k, l; and the other two openings, of each of the fixed plates of the valves, open respectively into and from the lower part of the meter c, d, and consequently under the vessels k, l, as the moveable plates of the valves E, F, are affixed on the axis D, in opposite directions.

When gas is flowing through the valve E, above the vessel k, the gas, from under that vessel, will be passing off at the valve F; and at the same time gas will be flowing through the valve E, under the vessel 7, and the gas above the vessel, will be flowing off at the valve F; and if the valves be set correctly, to produce this effect, the up and down motion, produced to the vessels k, l, will cause a rotatory motion to the valves E, F, and a constant flow of gas from the eduction way p, provided the valve r, be open, which it always will be, similar to that above described, when it is raised to the proper position, by water or other fluid, in the space e.

Fig. 5, shews another arrangement of gas-meter, constructed according to the third part of the invention: -It consists of an external vessel a, a, having within it two flexible silk bags or cylinders b, c, prepared with cocoa-nut tallow. To the upper part of these bags are affixed dished

plates of tin or other suitable metal b2, c2. The lower end of the bags are affixed to the projecting flanges on the upper part of the cylinders or chambers b1, c', formed on the partition d.-e, is the supply-pipe, which is affixed to the lower part of the meter, there being a pipe or trunk, which passes under the cylinders or bags b, and c, to allow of the gas flowing therein alternately. This is effected by the valves g, h, which respectively move on axes i, i.-j, is a rod, by which the valves g, h, are connected together. Thus, when the valve g, is permitting the gas to flow into the cylinder or bag b, the valve h, will be permitting the gas to flow out of the cylinder c.

It will be seen, that over the openings which permit the gas to flow into the cylinders b, c, small chambers k, l, are affixed, having openings, by which the gas can pass from the pipe e, into the respective vessels, when not covered by the valves g, h. The gas is permitted to flow out of the cylinders b, c, by openings m, n, formed in inclined surfaces, in suitable positions of the cylinders b1, c1; and the valves g, h, are caused to be moved to such an extent, that when the valve g, is off the opening in the chamber k, it will be closed over the opening m; and the valve h, is similarly acted upon, in respect to the openings n, and that into the small chamber 7.

m1, m1, are cranked rods, attached by pin-joints to the tops or covers of the cylinders b2, c2; the other ends of the cranked arms m1, are affixed to the axis n', which moves in suitable bearings in uprights o1;-p', is a slotted lever or arm, affixed to the axis n', for giving motion to the valves, as hereafter described; q, is an arm, affixed on the axis n', there being a projecting stud, which moves the forked end of the lever r. The axis of this lever gives motion to a train of wheels, for indicating the quantity of gas passed through the meter.

. The arm or lever p1, gives motion to the lever s, by an adjusting screw t, passing through the slot in the lever p'; v, is the axis on which the lever s, turns; w, is a weighted tumbler, moving on the axis v, on which is a projecting stud, that is acted upon by the projections s', s1, which

will force the tumbler a little beyond the perpendicular, first one way and then the other; and the weight of the tumbler will cause it to fall quickly, and act upon the valves to change their position, in the following manner :

x, x, is a forked lever, moving on the axis x1; between the upper ends (which are turned at right angles) the tumbler at w, works, and the lever x, works between two studs, projecting from the barj; consequently, when the tumbler w, falls, it will, by means of the lever x, carry the valves g, h, in the same direction, as will readily be understood by examining the drawings; and it will be seen, that the chamber a, of the gas-meter, will, at all times, be full of gas, and a constant supply of gas will flow off therefrom, by the pipe f.

Fig. 6, shews a partial vertical, and fig. 7, a horizontal section of another gas-meter, combined according to the fourth part of the invention, whereby three flexible surfaces are caused to measure gas. a, a, is a six-sided vessel; b, b, b, are three flexible surfaces, made of silk, coated with cocoa-nut tallow; these surfaces are affixed across three of the angles of the vessel a, and connected to the other angles, in such a manner, as to make them gas-tight; c, c, c, are circular plates, affixed to the centres of the flexible surfaces b;-d, d, d, are three bent arms, moving on axes e, the other ends of the arms d, being connected, by pinjoints, to the plates c;-ƒ, ƒ, are rods, which connect the plates c, to the crank g, formed on the axis h; this axis, at its upper end, gives motion to a train of wheels, for indicating the quantity of gas passed through the meter; i, is a partition, under which the gas first enters from the pipe o;-j, is a cylinder, divided into three compartments, from which the pipes k, conduct gas, to act upon the surfaces b, b, b.

On the upper and under ends of the cylinder j, are fixed circular plates, each having three openings. l, m, are two circular plates on the axis h; the lower plate 7, being borne up to its seat by a spring, the revolution of the axis h, will cause the circular plates l, m, to revolve; and as these plates have each a single opening, as shewn in the drawing,

(such openings being set in opposite directions in respect to the axis h,) they will so act, that the gas will be flowing into some one or more of the spaces 1, 2, and 3, and at the same time will be flowing through the plate m, out of one or more of the spaces, into 4. The upper parts of the spaces 1, 2, 3, are enclosed by triangular plates, in order to prevent the gas passing in that direction, and thus render it necessary that the gas should pass back through the pipes k, into the space 4, and away to be burned through the pipe p.

The patentee claims, firstly, the mode of combining the parts, as described, in respect of figs. 1 and 2; secondly, the mode of combining two vessels k, l, in a chamber a, actuating a rotatory valve, and such vessel a, having narrow spaces e, for water or other fluid, as herein described, in respect to figs. 3 and 4; thirdly, the mode of combining two flexible cylinders, or bags, or cylinders b, c, in a chamber a, with suitable vessels and ways, as herein described, in respect to fig. 5; and lastly, the mode of combining three flexible surfaces b, in a chamber a, with suitable valves and ways for the passage of gas, as herein described, in respect to figs. 6 and 7.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, December, 1838.]

To ANTOINE MERTENS, of the London Coffee House, publisher, for improvements in covering surfaces with wood.-[Sealed 22nd January, 1842.]

THE first part of this invention consists in combining small pieces of wood, to form blocks for flooring and pavements.

The pieces of wood (which may be of any shape or form, but must all be of the same depth,) are placed in a frame, side by side, and wedged or screwed together; and on the under surface, from one side to the other, grooves are cut, traversing each piece, and laths or tongue-pieces are inserted in them.

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Other grooves are cut, transversely to those just men