Improvements in Water-meters.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Aug., 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water-meters.
1, JULES EUSEBE ABDON BEL, of Pasaje Bacardi Barcelona, in the Kingdom
of Spain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to a water-meter which is very accurate, simple and.
inexpensive. The construction of this water meter is based upon the use of a
membrane serving as a measuring device, which membrane is adapted to move
between two hemispherical grates or bells perforated with holes and which
consequently displaces a constant volume as it passes from one grate to the other.
The water which moves the membrane passes through one or through the other of
the perforated bells according as two pairs of pistons combined with a distributing
slide valve send it through suitably arranged orifices or channels to one or the
other of the parts of the chamber wherein are contained the grates limiting the
movement of the said membrane.
This improved water meter comprises three parts preferably made of cast iron
and connected together by means of bolts so as to form tight joints between them ;
their relative positions are ensured by pins fixed in one of the three parts and
passing without play into corresponding holes in the opposite part. The connected
parts form two principal compartments, that is to say an upper compartment which
is provided in the first part and is reserved for the distribution of the water, and a
lower compartment which is constituted by the second and third parts and encloses
the measuring device. The latter is substantially composed of two bells or
hemispherical grates between which is held a flexible membrane. The bells and
membrane have their edges clamped between the second and third parts, between
which a tight joint is made by the edges of the said membrane. Upon the upper
surface of the second part is fixed a rectangular box, which I will call a distributor,
having its back pierced with two series of three rectangular orifices or ports which
are precluded by partitions cast in one piece with the said box from communicating
with each other.
Upon the back of this distributor move two box slide valves provided on their
back with ribs by means of which they embrace two rods, each rod connecting two
pistons adapted to move in cylinders permanently fixed upon the upper face of the
second part. This face of the second part is pierced with two orifices one of which
sets the first of the four cylinders in communication with the upper part of the
membrane, while the other orifice sets the second cylinder in communication with
the lower part of the membrane through a channel. The first series of three ports
covered by the first slide valve communicate, the one in the middle with the water
outlet through an orifice and a discharge channel; another with the fourth
cylinder through an orifice and a channel; and the third with the third cylinder
through an orifice and a channel.
On the other hand the second series of three ports of the distributor covered by
the second slide valve communicate, the one in the middle with the water outlet
hrough an orifice and a channel; another with the upper part of the membrane
hrough an orifice; and the third with the lower part of the same membrane through ..
n orifice and a channel.
In this arrangement the first pair of pistons and its slide valve operate the
econd pair of pistons and its slide valve, and these latter control the admission
and discharge of the water above and below the membrane. Accordingly this

page_text: membrane is perfectly isolated from the distribution no part of which is in contact
with it.
Upon the rod of the first pair of pistons is mounted an oscillating finger which
according to the direction of its movement engages with a toothed wheel mounted
upon a vertical axis passing through a stuffing box. On this axis is keyed a lever
which in its movements carries away a pin mounted upon a disc keyed on the same
axis as a pinion which, by its connection with toothed wheels suitably arranged in
a metallic box secured on the first part of the apparatus actuates a pointer or hand
designed to indicate the outflow of water in litres, decalitres, cubic metres or the
like. The said first part has a pipe cast in one piece with it, through which the
water passes into the meter after having traversed the meshes of a wire gauze or a
perforated plate which retains any materials which may be held in suspension in
the water and prevents them from passing into the distributing device which they
might deteriorate.
In order to explain the operation of my improved meter 1 will first consider the
various parts in the position which they occupy when the first slide valve uncovers
the third port and the second slide valve the sixth port. Through the third port
is introduced the water which arrives in the apparatus through the inlet pipe.
This water passes through an orifice and a channel into the third cylinder wherein
it moves the piston and causes it to uncover by the second slide valve the sixth
port of the distributor. At this moment the membrane is in its lower position in
contact with the lower grate. The water introduced through the sixth port passes
through an orifice and a channel below the membrane and raises the same until it
comes in contact with the upper grate, and in proportion as the water which is at
its upper part flows through an orifice and the fourth orifice of the distributor it
passes into the interior of the second slide valve in order to escape from the meter,
passing through the fifth port communicating with the discharge channel through
an orifice. When the membrane occupies its upper position the water which is
introduced into a channel will at this moment act upon the second of the first pair
of pistons as it passes through an orifice. This piston is moved and the first slide
valve covers the third port again and uncovers the first port through which the
water is introduced. This water passes through an orifice and a channel into the
fourth cylinder wherein it moves the piston; the second slide valve again covers
the sixth port and uncovers the fourth port, the water passes into the distributor
through this fourth port and an orifice in order to act upon the membrane which is
lowered at the same time as the water flows out which fills the space comprised
between the upper and lower bells through a channel and an orifice whence it
passes into the interior of the slide valve in order to leave through an orifice and a
channel.
When the membrane has come in contact with the lower grate the water passing
through an orifice acts ouly at this moment upon the first piston of the first pair
which it moves. The first port is then covered again by the first slide valve, and
the third port is uncovered in order to allow the passage of the water which
passes through an orifice and a channel and acts upon the first of the second pair
of pistons. At this moment the pistons and the slide valves are in the positions
where they were at the beginning and the phases hereinbefore explained are
reproduced in the same order as long as water is allowed to pass into the meter.
During the movement the oscillating finger in each stroke of the pistons is
caused to engage with one of the teeth of a wheel which it turns through a certain
angle, and this wheel sets in motion the indicating mechanism above set forth.
To each stroke of the pistons corresponds a complete displacement of the
membrane which is operated only by the discharge from the apparatus of a volume
of water exactly equal to the volume comprised between the two bells minus that
of the said membrane.
It will be seen that the water acts upon the membrane and upon the first pair of
pistons. Now as a certain pressure is needed for moving the pair of pistons and
its slide valve while only an insignificant height of water is required for displacing

page_text: the membrane, it follows that it is only when the membrane is completely forced
against the grate that the pressure of the water becoming insufficient moves the
first pair of pistons as above stated. The latter, carrying away its slide valve
changes the admission of the water to the second pair of pistons and compels it to
move with its slide valve, whence results the admission of the water on the other
side of the membrane.
In other words the first two cylinders being in communication through the water
separated by the membrane there will be no difference of pressure between them as
long as the membrane performs the part of a simple movable diaphragm, but as
soon as, being applied to the bell or grate, it constitutes an obturator the equilibrium
of pressure between the two cylinders is destroyed and the first pair of pistons
is displaced with its slide valve.
As this slide valve controls the second pair of pistons and its slide valve the
latter moves and reverses the direction of the admission of the water to the
membrane.
According as the flow of water is greater or smaller or as the membrane is
mounted for moving up and down, or horizontally to and fro, I modify the arrange-
ment and also the dimensions of the belis or grates and of the other parts composing
the water meter.
Dated this 7th day of November 1802
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
I, JULES EUSEBE ABDON BEL, of Pasaje Bacardi Barcelona, in the Kingdom
of Spain, 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 :-
My invention relates to a water-meter which is very accurate, simple and
inexpensive.
The construction of this water meter is based upon the use of a membrane
serving as a measuring device, which membrane is adapted to move between two
hemispherical grates or bells perforated with holes and which consequently displace
a constant volume as it passes from one grate to the other. The water which
moves the membrane passes through one or the other of the perforated bells
according as two pairs of pistons combined with a distributing slide valve send it
through suitably arranged orifices or channels to one or the other part of the
chamber wherein are contained the bells limiting the movement of the said
membrane.
In order that my invention may be better understood I will proceed to describe
a water meter constructed according to the same with reference to the accompanying
drawing, in which,
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved water meter.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-4 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a plan of the ports and
Figure 5 is a plan of the distributing slide valve.
This improved water meter comprises three parts a b c preferably made of cast
iron and connected together by means of bolts d d so as to form tight joints
between them; their relative positions are ensured by pins d' d' fixed in one of
the parts a b c and passing without play into corresponding holes in the opposite
part. The connected parts abc form two principal compartments, that is to say

page_text: the upper compartment which is provided in the part a and is reserved for the
distribution of the water, and a lower compartment which is constituted by the
parts and c and encloses the measuring device. The latter is substantially
composed of two bells or hemispherical grates e e¹ between which is held a flexible
membrane, The bells and membrane have their edges clamped between the
parts b and c a tight joint being made by the edges of the membrane f. Upon
the upper surface of the part 6 is fixed a rectangular box g, which I will call a
distributor, having its back pierced with two series of three rectangular orifices, or
ports g¹ g² 93 and 9 g g which are precluded by partitions cast in one piece with
the box g, from communicating with each other, as shown in dotted lines in
Figure 5.
Upon the back of this distributor move two box slide valves and i provided on
their back with ribs by means of which they embrace the rods and i' which
connect four pistons ³, two and two being coupled together by these rods,
and the said pistons being adapted to move in cylinders k k¹ k² ka permanently fixed
upon the upper face of the part b. This face of the part b is pierced with orifices
and one of which, l, sets the cylinders k in communication with the upper part
of the membrane f, while the other orifice l¹ sets the cylinder ¹ in communication
with the lower part of the membrane through the channel 12. The ports gʻ g° gʻ
covered by the slide valve communicate, the one in the middle, g, with the water
outlet through the orifice m and discharge channel m'; the port g' with the
cylinder through the orifice n and channel n'; and the port g with the cylinder k²
through the orifice o and channel o³.
On the other hand the ports g1 92 9² of the distributor 9 covered by the slide
valve communicate, the one in the middle g with the water outlet through the
orifice m and channel m¹; the port g' with the upper part of the membrane f
through the orifice p; and the port g³ with the lower part of the same membrane f
through the orifice q and channel 9.
In this arrangement the pistons 2 and 3 and their slide valve h operate the
pistons and and their slide valve i, and these latter control the admission and
discharge of the water above and below the membrane f. Accordingly this
membrane is perfectly isolated from the distribution no part of which is in contact
with it.
Upon the rod of the pistons and ³ is mounted an oscillating finger r which
according to the direction of its movement engages with a toothed wheel mounted
upon a vertical axis passing through a stuffing box. On this axis is keyed a
lever which in its movements operate the pin mounted upon a disc keyed on
the same axis as the pinion which, by its connection with toothed wheels suitably
arranged in a metallic box s secured on the part a actuates a pointer or hand &
designed to indicate the outflow of water in litres, decalitres, cubic meters or the
like. The part a has a pipe t cast in one piece with it, through which the water
passes into the meter after having traversed the meshes of a wire gauze or a
perforated plate u which retains any materials which may be held in suspension in
the water and prevents them from passing into the distributing device which they
might deteriorate.
6
In order to explain the operation of my improved meter I will first consider the
various parts in the position which they occupy in the drawing. The slide valve h
has uncovered the port 9 and the slide valve the port g. Through the port o
is introduced the water which arrives in the apparatus through the pipe t. This
water passes through the orifice o and the channel o¹ into the cylinder k wherein
it moves the piston 2, causing it to occupy the position in which it is represented
in Figure 2, and causes it to uncover by the slide valve i the port of the
distributor g. At this moment the membrane f is in its lower position in contact
with the grate e'. The water introduced through the port 93, passes through the
orifice 9, and channel g, and below the membrane f and raises the same until it
comes in contact with the upper grate e, and in proportion as the water which is
at its upper part flows through the orifice p and the orifice g' of the distributor,

page_text: it passes into the interior of the slide valve i in order to escape from the meter,
passing through the port g2 communicating with the discharge channel m' through
the orifice m. When the membrane occupies its upper position the water which
is introduced into the channel will at this moment act upon the piston ³ as it
passes through the orifice . This piston is moved and the slide valve covers
the port g again, uncovers the port 9 through which the water is introduced.
This water passes through the orifice n, and the channel n' into the cylinder k
wherein it moves the piston ; the slide valve i again covers the port g³ and
uncovers the port g', the water passes into the distributor 9 through this port g',
and the orifice p in order to act upon the membrane f which is lowered at the
same time as the water which fills the space comprised between the bells e and e¹
flows out through the channel q' and the orifice q whence it passes into the interior
of the slide valve i in order to leave through the orifice and the channel m'.
9.
When the membrane has come in contact with the lower grate e¹ the water
passing through the orifice acts only at this moment upon the piston * which it
moves. The port g is then covered again by the slide valve h, and the port g is
uncovered in order to allow the passage of the water which passes through the
orifice o, and channel o' and acts upon the piston . At this moment the pistons
and the slide valves are in the positions where they were at the beginning and the
phases hereinbefore explained, which are reproduced in the same order as long as
water is allowed to pass into the meter.
During the movement the oscillating finger r, in each stroke of the pistons, is
caused to engage with one of the teeth of the wheel which it turns through a
certain angle, and this wheel sets in motion the indicating mechanism above set
forth.
To each stroke of the pistons corresponds a complete displacement of the
membrane which is operated only by the discharge from the apparatus of a
volume of water exactly equal to the volume comprised between the two bells e
and eminus that of the said membrane f.
It will be seen that the water acts upon the membrane f and upon the two
pistons. Now as a certain pressure is needed for moving the double pistons
and their slide valve h while only an insignificant height of water is required for
displacing the membrane, it follows that it is only when the membrane is completely
forced against the bell e that the pressure of the water becoming insufficient moves
the two pistons h³ ³ as above stated. The latter, carrying away their slide valve
change the admission of the water to the pistons 3 and compel them to move
with their slide valve i, whence results the admission of the water on the other side
of the membrane.
In other words the two cylinders k k¹ being in communication through the water
separated by the membrane there will be no difference of pressure between them
as long as the membrane performs the part of a simple movable diaphragm, but
as soon as, being applied to a bell or grate e, it constitutes an obturator the
equilibrium of pressure between the two cylinders is destroyed and the pistons h* *
are displaced with their slide valve h. As this slide valve controls the pistons ³ ³
and their slide valve i the latter moves and reverses the direction of the admission
of the water to the membrane, and so on.
According as the flow of water is greater or smaller or as the membrane is
mounted for moving up and down or horizontally to and fro I modify the
arrangement and also the dimensions of the bells or grates e and e¹ and of the
other parts composing the water meter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A water meter having juxtaposed a measuring chamber and a distributing
chamber, and in which the measuring device is formed of a membrane f which,
being arranged in the measuring chamber between two fixed grates or bells e el

page_text: perforated with holes and limiting its movement, is moved by the automatic
operation of double pistons adapted to be displaced in separate
cylinders kkkk, each of these double pistons actuating a distributing slide
valve i or h for covering or uncovering alternately the ports of a distributing box
the orifices of which are arranged in such a manner that one of the double pistons
follows the movement of the other double piston and vice versa, causing the water
to pass to the measuring chamber on one or the other side of the membrane, the
registering mechanism being operated by an oscillating finger r arranged on the
rod of one of the double pistons 12 h and acting upon a registering mechanism of
known construction, the arrangement being such that the displacements of the
membrane from one bell to the other effect the measuring of the water traversing
the meter without the membrane having to raise or carry away any part for causing
the change of motion of the double pistons and their slide valves, which change
takes place automatically by the pressure of the water to be measured, substantially
as herein before set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1894
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.