Improvements in Water Meters.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 29th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 27th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Meters.
A communication by LUDWIG VALENTIN, of Frankfort, Merchant.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of a water meter, which when compared with the different
kinds of meters at present in use affords considerable advantages.
Almost all existing water meters have the disadvantage that their axis and
bearings very quickly wear out owing to the great speed with which the winged
wheels revolve.
This objection is done away with by the present invention, which further has this
advantage, that only a small quantity of water is requisite in order to set the
winged wheels in motion, and consequently even small quantities of water will not
escape being measured.
The meter consists of a casing which is divided by means of diaphragms into
three chambers, numbered respectively 1, 2 and 3. The first chamber contains the
winged wheel, while chambers Nos. 2 and 3 are in communication by means of an
opening, which is closed with a valve. The latter is kept constantly closed by
means of its own weight; but can be lifted by the inflowing water when the
pressure is such that it overcomes the weight of the valve. The valve weight is
regulatable, and is provided with screws which can be decreased or increased in
number according to requirements.
In this manner small quantities of water are compelled to take their way through
an opening in the chamber, No. 1, thereby setting the winged wheel in motion,
since they cannot raise the valve. Large quantities of water take a duplex course,
that is to say, on the one hand they raise the valve, whilst on the other they flow
through the inlet openings on to the winged wheel. This latter is provided on its
upper front side with a disc having a concentric cut-away portion. This disc bears
two winged pieces, and the corresponding part of the chamber wall above has a
further opening, the size of which is regulatable by means of an adjustable disc.
At the usual pressure of water, the water runs through the different openings into
No. 1 chamber, where it works in a checking manuer upon the aforesaid winged
pieces; the disc provided with concentric opening will consequently prevent the
inflowing water from producing a disturbing effect on the winged wheel, con-
sequently the number of turns of the same is lessened and the objection hereinbefore
mentioned is avoided. The checking influence of the inflowing water can be
regulated by means of the aforesaid slide in the chamber wall being adjusted to a
suitable extent. Suitable exits are provided for the water to leave the chamber
No. 1. Further it is to be remarked that the water works at it were in a lifting
manner on the winged wheel so that the axis point is released.
Dated the 18th day of July 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Meters.
A communication by LUDWIG VALENTIN, of 25, Liebigstrasse, Frankfort,
Merchant.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Man-
chester both in the County of Lancaster and 323, High Holborn in the County of
Middlesex, Civil 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 :-
This invention consists of a water meter, which, when compared with the
different kinds of meters at present in use, affords considerable advantages.
Almost all existing water meters have the disadvantage that their axis and
bearings very quickly wear out, owing to the great speed with which their winged
wheels revolve.
This objection is done away with by the present invention, which further has
this advantage that only a small quantity of water is requisite in order to set the
winged wheels in motion, and, consequently, even small quantities of water will not
escape being measured.
On the accompanying drawing-
Figure 1 shows an axial section of this improved meter, and
Figure 2, a radial section.
I
The meter consists of a casing a, which is divided by means of diaphragms into
three chambers b, c, d. The chamber contains the winged wheel e, while
chambers c and d are in communication, by means of an opening which is closed,
with a valve f. The latter is kept constantly closed by means of its own weight,
but can be lifted by the water flowing in from when the pressure is such that it
overcomes the weight of the valve. The valve weight is regulatable, being
provided with screws s which can be decreased or increased in number according to
requirements.
In this manner, small quantities of water are compelled to take their way through
an opening i, Figure 2, in the chamber 6, thereby setting the winged wheel in
motion, since they cannot raise the valve. This latter is suitably stayed, as shown
on the drawing. Large quantities of water take a duplex course, that is to say, on
the one hand they raise the valve, whilst, on the other hand, they flow through
the inlet opening i on to the winged wheel. This latter is provided, on its upper
front side, with a disc & having a concentric cut-away portion. This disc & bears
two winged pieces 1, and the corresponding part of the chamber wall above has a
further opening m, the size of which is regulatable by means of an adjustable
slide n.
At the usual pressure of water, the water runs through the openings gi
and m into chamber 6, where it works in a checking manner upon the winged
pieces; the disc will, consequently, prevent the water flowing in at m from
producing a disturbing effect on the winged wheel, consequently, the number of
turns of the same is lessened and the objection hereinbefore mentioned is avoided.
The checking influence of the water flowing in at m can be regulated by means of
the sliden being adjusted to a suitable extent. Suitable exits and u are provided
for the water to leave the chamber b. Further, it is to be remarked that the water
which enters at i works, as it were, in a lifting manner on the winged wheel, so that
the axis point is relieved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
In water meters-
1. An automatic adjustable valve in a chamber situated between the inlets

page_text: and outlets, which valve allows large quantities of water to pass through, whilst
small quantities of water are forced to act on the winged wheel, substantially as
herein before described.
2. The arrangement of parts consisting of a disc k provided with winged
projections 7, on one side of the winged wheel, and a further inlet m corresponding
to these projections and capable of being regulated by means of a slide n, in the
casing, through which inlet water flows and exerts a checking power on the winged
wheel, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 28th day of March 1893.
. WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,.
Agents for the Applicant.