An Improved ̈LIQUID METER
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Albert Werkmeister, of Berlin, in the Kingdom
of Prussia, Manufacturer, for the Invention of “An Improved ¨LIQUID
METER."
Sealed the 19th July 1870, and dated the 31st January 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Albert Werkmeister
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 81st January 1870.
I, ALBERT WERKMEISTER, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED LIQUID METER," to be as follows:-.
This Invention concerns an apparatus of great importance for the
production and sale of all sorts of liquids, as it measures most accurately
and by self-action any liquid conveyed to it, discharges of itself the
liquid measured, and marks the thus measured quantity which is each
time equal as a unit of volume on an indicator. The apparatus is wholly
enclosed, so that nobody can gain access to the apparatus itself or to the
indicator without injuring, or breaking it. It can therefore be safely
locked and sealed when in use.

page_text: •
The apparatus consists of two vessels of any form, size, or material,
as would be best suitable for the liquid to be measured; these vessels
are so arranged as to supply each other reciprocally and alternately,
by the liquid in either of the vessels rising, and by means of the
floats inside. The reciprocal alternate process is as follows:—
:-Let us
call the two vessels 1 and 2, and suppose the liquid to the measured
to flow in through an opening at the top. The flowing stream of the
liquid to be measured is shiftable by any practicable construction so
that it can be let into vessel 1 as well as into vessel 2 through openings
at the top.
In each of the two measuring vossels there are two floats.
Let us imagine the liquid to be measured streaming into vessel 1. As
soon as this vessel is filled up to a certain mark one of the floats in it
will turn the flowing liquid off vessel 1 and conduct it over to vessel 2.
The fluid rising in vessel 2 now operates upon one of the two floats in the
latter vessel, which by its rising motion serves to empty the filled
vessel 1, as the force of the rising motion of this float will open a cock
or valve or submerge a movable siphon under the level of the liquid.
The vessel 1 will thus discharge its exact measured contents.
Vessel 1 having been emptied 2 will go on filling, but as soon as the
latter is filled up to a certain height the second of the floats in this
vessel 2 will turn the flowing liquid off vessel 2 and again direct it to
vessel 1. The liquid rising in vessel 1 will again operate upon the
second float in it, which serves to empty the full vessel in the way
above described. The foregoing reciprocal and alternate functions con-
tinue so long as liquid flows to the apparatus. Each quantity thus
measured is marked upon an indicator or as one measure by means
of the motion of one of the above floats.
The method of arranging the floats for directing the fluid alternately
into the two vessels, as also for operating the discharge siphons may be
variously modified. Thus in one arrangement for changing the direction
of the fluid the floats in rising actuate levers connected to a pipe or funnel,
into the upper end of which the fluid flows while the lower end is by the
levers moved alternatety to the one or other side of a divided trough, from
each division of which the fluid flows respectively into one of two vessels.
In another arrangement the floats may be made to actuate opposite ends 3
of a tumbling shoot or vessel into which the fluid flows, and according
to the position of which it is directed into the one of the other of the

page_text: vessels. For actuating the discharge syphons the lower branch thereof
passes through and is fixed in the bottom of the measuring vessel
and is connected by a flexible or spiral or jointed tube to the upper
movable branch, the end of which when depressed passes into a recess
formed in the bottom of the measuring vessel so as to entirely empty
the same. This movable branch is connected by a rod to a lever; the
free end of which is actuated by a float in the other measuring vessel,
so that by the rising of the float in the one-vessel the syphon in the
otlier vessel is depressed, and caused to discharge the fluid therefrom.
Or the lever supporting the siphon may be arranged as a weighted
tumbling lever with tappets, which is thrown over into one position
or the other by the float or by a lever moved thereby, so that the
depressing and raising of the syphon shall be effected more quickly.
To one of the levers actuated by the float is connected a rod passing
up into a chamber at the top of the meter. casing containing the
counting mechanism, to which this rod imparts motion by means of a
pawl upon the same in gear with a ratchet wheel. The meter casing
contains a chamber below the measuring vessels into which the fluid
discharged from the latter passes, and which contains a float actuating
a rod connected to a valve or cock on the inlet pipe to the meter, so
that if the fluid should rise beyond a certain point in such chamber
the supply thereof to the meter is cut off. The fluid is conducted from.
such chamber through a pipe to wherever required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Albert Werkmeister in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 21st, July 1870..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALbert.
WERKMEISTER, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Manufacturer,
send greeting.
1
i.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in; the
thirty-third-y
-year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors
give and grant unto me, the said Albert Werkmeister, Her special licence.
that I, the said Albert Werkmeister, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: assigns, or such others as I, the said Albert Werkmeister, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED LIQUID METER,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Albert Werkmeister,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly desoribo
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Albert Werkmeister, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom
panying Sheet of Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say
This Invention concerns an apparatus of great importance for the
production and sale of all sorts of liquids, as it measures most accu-
rately and by self-action any liquid conveyed to it, discharges of itself
the liquid measured and marks the thus measured quantity (which is
each time equal) as a unit of volume on an indicator. The apparatus is
wholly enclosed, so that nobody can gain access to the apparatus itself
or to the indicator without injuring or breaking it. It can therefore be
safely locked and sealed when in use,
The apparatus consists of two vessels of any form, size, or material as
would be best suitable for the liquid to be measured, these vessels are
so arranged as to supply each other reciprocally and alternately by the
liquid in either of the vessels rising and by means of the floats inside.
The reciprocal alternate process is as follows:-Let us call the two
vessels 1 and 2, and suppose the liquid to be measured to flow in through
an opening at the top. The flowing stream of the liquid to be measured
is shiftable by any practicable construction, so that it can be let into
vessel 1 as well as into vessel 2 through openings at the top. In each
of the two measuring vessels there are two floats. Let us imagine tho
liquid to be measured streaming into vessel 1. As soon as this vessel

page_text: is filled up to a certain mark one of the floats in it will turn the flowing
liquid off vessel 1 and conduct it over to vessel 2. The fluid rising in
vessel 2 now operates upon one of the two floats in the latter vessel;
which by its rising motion serves to empty the filled vessel 1, as the
force of the rising motion of this float will open a cock or valve or
submerge a moveable syphon under the level of the liquid. The vessel 1
will thus discharge its exact measured contents.
Vessel 1 having becit emptied 2 will go on filling, but as soon as the
latter is filled up to a certain height the second of the floats in this
vessel 2 will turn the flowing liquid off vessel 2 and again direct it to
vessel 1. The liquid rising in vessel 1 will again operate upon the
second float in it, which serves to empty the full vessel 2 in the way
above described. The foregoing reciprocal and alternate functions
continue so long as liquid flows to the apparatus. Each quantity.thus
measured is marked upon an indicator as one measure by means of the
motion of one of the above floats.
I will now proceed to the explanation of an apparatus constructed
according to my above Invention.
Its construction will be seen from Figures I., II., ÌII., IV., V., Vº.;
VI., VII., VIII., VIII., VILÏ³., IX., X., Xª.
Figure I. is a perpendicular section on the line A, B, of the Figures IV.
and V.; Figure II. is a perpendicular section on the line C, D, of the
Figures IV. and V.; Figure III. is a partial front view of the apparatus ;
Figure IV. is a horizontal section on the line E, F, of Figures I. and II.;
Figure V. is a horizontal section on the line G, H, of Figures I. and II.
Figure V. serves to explain the lever position in Figure V., i.c., it
shows an upper view of the levers to, to'; Figure VJ. is a perpendicular
section of an indicator attached to the apparatus on the line J, L, of
Figure VII.; Figure VII. is a horizontal section of the indicator on the
line of M, N, Figures II., III., and VI.; Figure VIII. is the perpen-
dicular section of another contrivance to guide the moveable. stream of
the liquid in the event of vulcanized india-rubber not being applicable
for the liquid to be measured; Figure VIII. is a design to explain the
3 construction of Figure VIII.; Figure VIII. is a second section to
explain the construction of Figure VIII; Figure IX. is the perpendicular

page_text: "
section of & Loira construction to guide the moveabic stream of the
liquid in the event of vulcanized india-rubber not being applicable for
the liquid to be measured; Figure X is another construction to turn
the movable syphon down in case that a quick and sudden sinking
should become requisite; Figure X. is the side view of the latter
construction. In all the Figures the same letters of reference indicato
the same parts.
a, a, a, a, is the casing of a vessel of any shape or material as required
by the liquid to be measured. The casing has at the lower end the
discharge jet b to convoy the measured liquid to wherever required.
At the upper end it is closed by the lid c, c. In the lid c is inserted
the afflux pipe d for the liquid to be measured; the lid c has an opening
for the lever x of the indicator, as is shewn in Figures V., VI., and VII.
The inner space of the vessel a, a, a, a, is divided into three compart-
ments. The undermost is the reservoir for the liquid measured. In the
middle compartments there are the two measuring vessels e, c, c, e,
and e¹, e¹, e¹, e¹, Figures I., II., IV., and V. In the uppermost com-
partment there are the contrivances to direct the flowing stream of the
liquid by means of the floats and the mechanisms to carry off the liquid
measured. The measuring vessels e, e, e, e, and e¹, e¹, e', e¹, allow free
passage for the rod ff, which is moved by the float g, and serves to
close the afflux pipe d when the reservoir is so full that it can receive
the contents of but one single measure more. Each of the measuring
vessels contains a moveable syphon h, ³. The syphons are moveable
in such manner that they can be lifted and lowered. The moveability
may be attained in various ways, for instance, as with h', by inserting a
pipe of vulcanized india-rubber. With liquids which do not admit of
the application of vulcanized india-rubber the moveability might bo
brought about by a spiral construction, as is the case, for instance, in
the syphon h, Figure 1, or by any other practicable form or material.
In the measuring vessels e and e¹ there are the floats and 7. The rods
of these floats pass through the pipes m and m³ into the upper space,
where they set the levers », », in motion, which have their centre of
motion on the blocks ', u'. By the levers a, a, the syphons h, h', are
moved down. In Figure I. the syphon his marked in the lowest
position, the syphon in the highest. Each measuring vessel has at
the bottom an opening, into which the discharging end of the syphon is
closely inserted; the bottom of each measuring vessel has moreover a

page_text: deepening for the syphon to empty the measuring vessel entirely. The
lid of the measuring vessels is fitted in a waterproof manner, but it
is furnished with one or several tubular openings for the purpose of
affording the rods of the syphons and hand of the floats and l
room for motion. The tubular openings q and q¹ finally afford the
floats and ¹ also room for motion. The conducting piece t, t, Figures
I., II., V., and VI., moveable at the axis s, serves to direct the stream of
the liquid flowing in either to or 1. The deviations of the flowing
liquid are brought about by the levers to, to¹, Figures I., II., V., and V.
The levers wo, w³, an upper view of the position of which is represented
in Figure V., are set in motion by the floats and 7'. The funnel y,
Figure I., II., VI., is so constructed that the liquid to be measured can
only flow off through the pipe u through the funnel to the measuring
vessels. The moveable pipe u conducts the liquid into the funnel z.
The latter is divided in two parts by the partition wall "", Figures II.
and VIII. One compartment conducts the liquid through the pipe =¹
to the measuring vessel e, the other through the pipe to the
measuring vessel e¹. The pipe u is rendered moveable by the insertion
of a piece of vulcanized india-rubber. The alternate direction of the
flowing liquid can likewise be effected by any other means, particularly
with liquids which do not admit of the application of vulcanized india-
rubber. For instance, in Figures VIII., VIII., and VIII., the funnel
itself is moveable at the axis y', and the levers 10, 10³, suitably altered
will effect the requisite direction of the flowing liquid, as is shown in
Figures VIII. and VIII”.
Figure IX. represents another contrivance to turn the flowing liquid.
In this instance the floats r, r², operate direct upon the channel e, i,
moveable at the axis e, i¹. In every case the direction of the flowing
liquid is turned by the liquid rising in the measuring vessels and acting
on the floats. In special cases it might be rendered necessary to have
the syphons h, h³, dipped into the liquid quicker and quite suddenly.
This object may be attained by any practicable contrivance. In Figures
X. and X. such a contrivance is shewn.
The functions of the apparatus are now as follows:-The liquid to be
measured streaming through the pipe d is discharged into the funnel y,
and in the position that the pipe u has in Figures I., II., IV., and V.,
through the pipe u into the funnel z, but as the funnel is divided into
two compartments by the partition wall the liquid will flow into

page_text: below the surface of the full
will fill and then discharge the
vessel c¹. The caliber of the
in the vessel e; thus when the
have reached the highest mark.
that compartment, in which there is the pipe, which will conduct the
liquid into the measuring vessel e. The measuring vessel e is thus filled,
and the floats and r are raised by the liquid to the highest mark. In
Figure 1 the syphon h has reached the lowest position the measuring
vessel e, as the float 11 keeps it down by the lever n. The float Z
(indicated by dotted lines in Figures II., IV., V.) rests at the bottom
of the measuring vessel e. The liquid flowing to e will, however, soon
lift the float and press the syphon
measuring vessel e¹. The syphon
entire contents of the measuring
syphons h, h¹, must be more capacious than that of the afilux pipe d,
so that the measuring vessel e¹ is emptied before the measuring vessel e
is. filled. Consequently the float will have previously sunk to the
bottom and have lifted the syphon
vessel e has filled the syphon h will
The float will meantime have sunk too, and with it the lever to¹, till it
has reached the lowest position, as shewn by the lever w in Figure I.
As soon as the measuring vessel e is full the float r will begin to operate
on the lever w. The lever wo will force the conducting piecot, Figure I,
moveable at the axis & into a contrary position to the left, and the
opening of the pipo u, which I prefer having made in the shape of a
slit, will now convey the flowing liquid into the right-hand partition of
the funnels, and through the pipe to the now vacant measuring
vessel e¹. The float will, however, soon operate upon the syphon h
by means of the lever n; it will submerge below the liquid in e, and
the vessel e will be emptied. As the float will sink, and with it
together the lever wo on the vessels commencing to empty, it is necessary
to load the conducting piece at the upper end t¹, so that it keeps the
position which the float has given it by the lever won account of the
centre of gravity being at the right hand, until it is compelled to take
the contrary position by the float acting upon the lever to. The
measuring vessels e, e', contain together a measure suitable to the
countries in which the apparatus is to be used. The only thing left is
to mark each single operation of discharge of one of the two vessels on,
an indicator. This is effected as shewn in Figures V., VI., VII.; a
lever is added to the lever a, which when lifted will raise the lever .
in Figure V., which in Figure VI. gears in a cog wheel and turns the
latter by one cog, which process is marked upon the dial as one unit,
Figure III. The indicator is properly enclosed. In the latter case it is
0
"

page_text: covered by a pane of glass let into the lid. As every liquid will not
admit of the application of vulcanized india-rubber the arrangement for
turning off the flowing liquid must be suitably altered. The desired
direction of the flowing liquid might, for instance, be achieved in the
manner represented in Figures VIII., VIII., and VIII'. The funnel y
itself is movcable at the axis y', and the levers 10, 10', supply the discharge
end u of this funnel with the requisite alternate motions to conduct the
liquid to e or c¹.
The following Figures may serve as an explanation:-Figure VIII. is
a section, as in Figure II.; Figure VIII. shows the funnel y with the
axis y'; Figure VIII. is a section of the funnel y with the discharge
end u in the direction of the line O, P, of Figure IV.
Still simpler is the construction represented by the section at
Figure IX. The floats r, r³, operate here direct upon a channel c, i,
movable at the axis e, i', which loaded by the ball e, u, will remain each
time in the same position until altered by one of the floats r, r'. In this
case the tubular openings q, q', may simultaneously receive the liquid
flowing in, and the divided funnel with the pipes, ", be omitted.
Figures X. X., represent a construction for dipping the syphons h, h³,
quite suddenly into the liquid; Figure X. is a front view, Figure X". a
side view of this construction. Here the float rod 1 lifts by means of
a moveable lever 2 the arm at the right hand side of the lever 3. As
soon as the lifted arm of the lever 3 with the weight 4 has been pushed
so far aside that it loses its balance it will turn over and fall into the
position marked in Figure X., and thus strike the syphon h¹ down in a
moment. As soon as the syphon ¹ is filled the float rod 1 will lift the
lever 5 by means of the moveable lever 2, and thus return the lever 3
with two arms with the weight 4 to the position marked by dotted
lines 3',4'; 6 is the conducting piece for the float rod 1.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the means
which I adopt in carrying the same into effect, I would have it under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the exact arrangements of parts
shown and described, as various modifications thereof may be employed
without departing from the peculiar character of my Invention; but what
I claim as my Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,―
First. The arrangement of two measuring vessels adjusted at suitable
distances from each other, which are regulated by self-action by the aid
of the liquid falling and rising in them, substantially as set forth.

page_text: Second. I claim the method of self-regulating consisting in the two
measuring vessels filling and emptying each other reciprocally and
alternately, in particular by applying the rising and falling liquid as a
regulating power, substantially as set forth.
Third. I claim the double float construction described by which the 5
power alluded to in the foregoing claim is rendered serviceable for the
regulation above mentioned, in which case it is indifferent whether
the floats are acting on a cock or a valve or any similar construction
for the purpose of filling or emptying the measuring vessels.
Fourth. I claim the peculiar construction described for turning off the 1
stream of the flowing liquid to be measured.
Fifth. I claim the before described arrangement of a moveable syphon
for discharging the liquid measured, by which process an infullably
correct operation of the apparatus is brought about.
Sixth. I claim the employment in combination with the measuring 1
apparatus of a registering apparatus for the registeration of the quantities
of liquid thus measured.
Seventh. I claim the entirely enclosed state of the apparatus, pre-
venting all access thereto or to the indicator without injuring or
breaking it, so that when in use it may be entirely locked up and 20
sealed.
In witness whercof I, the said Albert Werkmeister, have hercunto
set my hand and scal, this Twenty-eighth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.