Improvements in Measuring Devices for Supply Tanks.
Year: 1898

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Measuring Devices for Supply Tanks.
I, CHARLES ARTHUR ALLISON, of 52, Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, (which has
been communicated to me from abroad by Ernest William Clement, Manufacturer,
of 11 and 12, Tokey Building, Jamestown, New York, United States of America),
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in measuring
devices for supply tanks, and especially to a construction of self measuring vessels
held within an enclosure having a single supply pipe leading from the tank, and
having a valve connection with a series of measures, whereby one vessel may be
emptied by opening one valve, or the whole series of vessels or a certain set of
measures may be emptied by the operation of a single valve.
To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain, the same
invention further consists in the novel construction, combination and adaptation
of parts as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and then defined in the
appended claims.
I clearly illustrate my invention in the accompanying drawings, which, with
the letters of reference marked thereon form a part of this specification, and in
which drawings similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the
several views in which-
Fig. 1 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view, parts in elevation of this
invention, showing supply tank and receptacle beneath containing the measuring
apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a section in line X-X of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the case showing the handles for operating, and
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of one of the three-way valves.
Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter,
designates
a supply tank mounted on suitable supporting legs B, and c, d, e, f, and g are
measuring vessels mounted on the pipe G by suitable means, and H is a supply
pipe leading from the said tank to the pipes G, and H are valves located at such
intervals in the pipes G that the contents of one measuring vessel may be drawn
off without affecting the contents of the others, or all of the vessels may be drawn
off by operating a single valve.
Leading off from the pipe G from each valve are the pipes K, which empty into
a common pipe M, which carries the contents of the vessel to the outside of the
enclosure, where it may be conducted into a receptacle. Each valve is provided
with a lever N, to the end of which is connected a rod 0, running to the outside
of the enclosure and has suitable knobs as Q, secured at the end of each.
Sare vent tubes extending from the upper end of each measuring vessel up
through the supply tank and opening in the space above the conduits.
The operation of the device is as follows:
The measuring vessels shown in the drawings, being in connection with the

page_text: supply tank will be full when the valves are in position shown in Fig. 1, and
when it is desired to empty the contents of the vessel the farthest to the right, the
valve nearest to the outlet of said vessel is turned so as to shut off the supply,
and at the same time to allow the contents of the vessel to run off through the
discharge pipe, after which the valve is opened or communication again had
with the supply pipe by simply pushing on the rod connected with said valve,
and when it is desired to empty the contents of two vessels the valve second
from the right is turned so as to allow the contents of the two vessels to the right
to escape through the discharge pipe, and when it is desired to empty three
vessels the third valve is operated in a like manner, etc.
Although I have shown but five measuring vessels in use with my apparatus,
as shown in the accompanying drawings, I do not limit myself to the use of any
particular number of such vessels, as it is at once evident that the number may
be varied if desired, or to meet the requirements for which the apparatus is to
be used.
An essential feature of the invention resides in the peculiar form of the measur-
ing vessels, which, as will be seen upon the reference to the drawings, are, at both
their upper and lower ends provided with conical extensions, the ventilating air
pipe S leading upward from the apex of the upper end and the outlet pipe being
connected at the apex of the lower end. By this construction all of the air
within the measure is permitted to escape, and the complete filling of the measure
with oil or other liquid contained within the tank is at all times assured, while
the outlet pipe being connected at the apex of the lower end assures the complete
drainage when the outlet valve is opened.
Since however, the drainage of the pipe M is more or less slow, on account of
its length and a constant dripping from its mouth would result, if no further
means were taken to prevent it, for this reason I place an air inlet pipe Y at the
rear of the pipe M, which extends upwards sufficiently far to prevent the escape
of fluid therefrom, and the outer extremity of the pipe M terminates in the
syphon X, thus removing at once the entire contents of the pipe, and preventing
any dribbling therefrom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
:―
In a self measuring vessel, the combination with a supply tank, a series of
measuring receptacles mounted on pipes having connections with unions, three-
way globe valves interposed between the said unions, vents S extending from
the upper ends of the said measuring receptacles through the supply tank and
opening near the upper portion of the supply tank, of the discharge pipes K and M
communicating with the said valves, the series of rods 0 disposed in a horizontal
plane, and each having connection with a valve lever on the three way valve
stems, the forward ends of the said rods being supported in apertures in the walls B,
and provided with pulling knobs Q, and the syphon X and air inlet pipe Y in the
extremities of the pipe M, substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of August 1898.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.