Improvements in and relating to Liquid Meters.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th July, 1892-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Liquid Meters.
I, MATTHEW CRANSWICK GREENHILL of No. 8 Romola Road, Tulse Hill, in
the County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to produce an appliance for accurately measuring
the flow of fluids, liquids and free flowing substances or materials carried by
suspension in liquids from a main source of supply and such as shall be automatic
in action, cheap in construction and not liable to become deranged.
To effect this object I employ a receptacle supported in such a manner that it
shall be free to oscillate within a given arc.
In one arrangement, according to my invention, said receptacle is divided longi-
tudinally or laterally so as to form two chambers of equal capacity, each of which
is alternately filled and discharged at each oscillation or vibration; and, in order
to ensure accuracy in the quantity of fluid, liquid or materials to be measured.
I may adapt to the measuring receptacle a counterweight of a suitable free
flowing liquid, substance or material as, for instance, water, a metal ball, metal
balls, mercury, sand or equivalents moving within an enclosed chamber, or, in
substitution of the counterweights above mentioned, I may employ one or more
pendulums to meet the same requirements.
I may however dispense with the employment of counterweights and so form the
two chambers of the oscillating receptacle that the liquid or other free flowing
medium, as it flows into one of the chambers shall serve as its own counterweight.
In order to secure absolute accuracy in the quantity of fluid, liquid or other free
flowing medium to be measured, I employ means for altering or varying the arc
through which the receptacle should. oscillate, so that it may tip over only at the
moment the full quantity is received into the chamber then being filled.
A mechanical or electrical counter or indicator, or both conjointly, is or are
employed to register the number of oscillations of the receptacle, and consequently
the quantity of liquid, fluid or other free flowing medium (suspended in the liquid)
received therein and discharged therefrom.
Deted this 13th day of October 1891
M. C. GREENHILL.
.COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Liquid Meters.
1, MATTHEW CRANSWICK GREENHILL, of No. 8, Romola Road, Tulse Hill, in
the County of Surrey, Engineer, 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 my invention is to produce an improved appliance for measuring
the flow or quantity of liquids--or free flowing substances, contained therein (sewage
matter for instance),--such as may be delivered from a main source of supply to the
apparatus. The apparatus is automatic in action, cheap in construction, and not
liable to get out of order.
The apparatus consists of a receptacle containing two divisions, and made of cast
or sheet metal or other suitable material, supported on pivots or axles at its bottom
or lower portion in such a manner as to be capable of oscillation upon the said
pivots. By adjusting the point of the pivotal supports relatively to the receptacle,
[ Price 8d. 1

page_text: the latter is adapted to oscillate, within a given arc, so that the length of the arc
may be varied to vary the amount of liquid passed at each oscillation. Liquid is
admitted to each division alternately, and by means of suitable valves the liquid to
be measured is discharged at each oscillation. By a suitable integrating or counting
device, the number of oscillations or volumes of liquid, are shown or recorded on
dials or otherwise. The receptacle is mounted within a tank or casing having steps
or bearings for the pivots or axles; and the tank may also connect to the liquid
supply and discharge pipes.
In the further description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the
apparatus; Fig. 1 being taken on the line A-B shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. 3 is a sectional diagram of an arrangement of a meter where a rolling or
sliding weight, or moving liquid, is free to move from one end to the other in a
space separate from the liquid to be measured ;
Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 3, also in diagram; and
Fig. 5 is a sectional diagram of a meter having an upper weight vertically
adjustable to a fixed rod.
Fig. 1 shows a vertical section through an oscillating receptacle or meter a
partially supported on pivotal rods b, b, upon a step c beneath each rod. The
steps c,, are situated at or near the bottom of a tank or casing d, having an outlet
pipe to carry off the liquid after it has been measured in the meter a and
discharged therefrom. At the bottom of the tank d are sometimes placed a resting
plate or surface facross each end for the edge of the meter a to rest upon, and also
striking plates, g. One of these striking plates is placed beneath the spindle of a
valve situated in each of two compartments ij (shown in Fig. 2) formed in the
meter a. These compartments are arranged longitudinally, and of equal capacity,
but as regards the outline of their ends are not necessarily symmetrical. In the
plan, Fig. 2, the compartment i contains water, and it is shown as being made wider
at the right hand half than at the left. The partition plate forming the two com-
partinents is bent transversely in the centre k, of the meter a, to connect the wide
end of the compartment with the narrow end, and reversely as regards the other
compartment. The partition at k is not carried up quite so high, and is without
the roll or capping shown on the edge of other top portions of the sheet metal. A
pipe, with a bent end is suspended over the centre of the meter a and the partition
plate k, and the liquid to be measured is supplied through the same.
The action of the meter is as follows. Water, or other liquid, is admitted through
the pipe l, to the compartment immediately beneath it, (in Figs. 1 and 2 shown as i),
and it rises therein until the centre line of gravity is gradually shifted from the left
or narrow side towards the right. As soon as a sufficient weight of water has
accumulated on the right side of i to overcome the weight on the left, and to shift
the centre of gravity beyond the line joining the pivots b, b, the meter a tilts over to
the right and falls upon the right hand resting plate f. At the same time the spindle
of the right hand valve h strikes upon its striking plate g, thus lifting the valve from
its seat, and liberating the liquid from i into the tank d, from which it escapes
through the outlet pipe e.
While the contents of the compartment are escaping in the mauner just
described, the other compartment j is filling up from the supply pipe 1, and this
continues until the centre line of gravity is shifted past the pivots, b, to the left.
and the meter tilts over to the left again-the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. At
each oscillation the supply of liquid is accurately cut or split by the thin partition
plate at the centre of oscillation, so that an equal quantity of liquid is supplied to
each compartment. Any adjustment for quantity is made by screwing the pivotal
rods b, b, within the nut o, which is made fast to the meter a so as to alter its angle
(and length of arc)-and therefore the level and volume of the liquid--at the
moinent of tilting. At every oscillation, a pin m, on the outer part of the meter a,
(Fig. 2), serves to actuate a suitable counting or integrating device, and the

page_text: amount of liquid discharged being known, the number of such discharges will indicate
the quantity passed.
The partition plate may extend directly across the meter a along the line
between the two pivots b, b; or in a diagonal direction; but the arrangement shown
in Fig. 2 is preferred. The point at which tilting takes place may be controlled or
modified by a moving counterweight P as in Figs. 3 and 4, or by a fixed counter-
weight p as in Fig. 5. The latter weight is adjustable for height only, to vary the
quantity of the liquid, but the counterweight pin Figs. 3 and 4 may take the form
of a liquid, or sand, or shot, or a solid weight moving in a channel or compartment
attached to the meter a. An axle in a suitable bearing may be substituted for each
pivot and step c, if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. A liquid meter consisting of a vessel containing two compartments, with a
discharging valve in each compartment, supported in unstable equilibrium upon two
pivotal points, and adapted to be alternately tilted over or oscillated from one
resting point to another by a change in the centre line of gravity produced by the
rise of the liquid to be measured, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown
and described.
2. An oscillating vessel of two compartments moveable upon two adjustable
pivotal points of support centrally placed beneath the said vessel, substantially as
and for the purpose herein shown and described.
3. An oscillating vessel divided by a partition into two compartments, of equal
capacity, each compartment having a discharged valve adapted to be automatically
opened by the movement of oscillation, substantially as and for the purpose herein
shown and described.
4. An oscillating vessel having two compartments with a discharge valve in
each compartment, supported upon two adjustable pivots centrally placed beneath
the said vessel, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.
5. An oscillating vessel having two compartments with a discharge valve in
each compartment, supported on pirots centrally placed beneath the said vessel
with a moveable or adjustable counterweight, substantially as and for the purpose
herein shown and described.
6. In combination, an oscillating vessel having two compartments with a
discharge valve in each compartment, supported upon pivots centrally placed
beneath the said vessel, a tank containing steps to receive the said pivots, an
inlet supply pipe placed over the centre of the said vessel, and an outlet pipe
from the said tank, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and
described..
7. In combination, an oscillating vessel having two compartments with a
discharge valve in each compartment, supported upon pivots centrally placed
beneath the said vessel, a tank containing steps to receive the said pivots, an inlet
supply pipe placed over the said vessel, an outlet pipe from the said tank, a pin m
and counting device n adapted to indicate the oscillations of the said vessel or the
quantity of liquid discharged therefrom, substantially as and for the purpose herein
shown and described.
DL: 101 1
2 T1
2000
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicant.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicant.