Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1886.
Complete Left, 28th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 29th Mar., 1887.
1. GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, of 191 Fleet Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
--
The class of liquid-meter to which this invention relates operates on the "positive"
principle and is of the rotative type.
The apparatus consists of a hollow cylindrical casing closed at the bottom and fitted
at the top with a disc-shaped cover capable of being tightened down upon the rotative
portion of the mechanism which partially occupies the said casing or chamber.
Projecting upwards from the floor of the chamber and downwards from the said cover
are formed similar circular projections, these being concentric with the chamber.
Between these projections and the sides of the chamber are arranged six, or other
suitable number of, rectangular blades disposed vertically and radially. Mounted
eccentrically in the chamber is a circular body or block formed with radial slots
sufficiently deep for the reception of the said blades; the eccentricity of the slotted
block being equal to the difference between its radius and the internal radius of the
enclosing chamber. The upper and lower faces of the block are provided towards
their outer edges with annular projections which extend upwards and downwards to
the face of the cover and to the floor of the chamber respectively. The block is
provided centrally with a vertical spindle carried in bearings in the cover and floor of
the chamber. The lower end of this spindle may be carried in a toe-step adjustable
from the exterior by means of a set-screw. The upper end of the spindle is connected
with and operates the counter which may be of any known and suitable type. The
block and blades are by preference formed of ebonite.
The action of the apparatus is as follows. The liquid to be measured enters the
cylindrical chamber on one side, and, traversing the wider portion of the passage
formed by the space resulting from the difference between the diameter of the rotative

page_text: block and that of the interior of the chamber, escapes at the opposite side. In this
passage, however, are at all times located two or more of the radial blades hereinbefore
referred to as being partly enclosed in the slots formed in the circular but eccentrically
disposed block; and the liquid pressing against the exposed portions of these blades
they are carried round, the slotted block with which they engage being at the same
time rotated. If not being necessary that the outer edges of the blades should remain
in contact with the casing throughout the revolution, only a portion of the casing,
namely, that midway between the inlet and outlet branches, is formed to fit the outer
edges of the blades; this portion being extended sufficiently for to fully embrace or
cover two blades. Opposite hereto a portion of the side of the chamber is formed to
fit the periphery of the rotative block. At other parts of the circumference of the
chamber clearance spaces may be left so as to reduce friction and to avoid throttling.
The volume measured per revolution will correspond with the capacity of the space
formed between the two blades when in contact with the side of the chamber as above
referred to multiplied by the number of blades.

page_text: I, GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, of 191, Fleet Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed (as communicated to
me from abroad by Paoli Milani, of Verona, in the Kingdom of Italy, Engineer)
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
27
The class of liquid-meter to which this invention relates operates on the "positive
principle and is of the rotative type; and, in order that the said invention may be
readily understood, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 represents in vertical section a liquid meter constructed in accordance
with this invention; Figure 2 being a transverse section on the line -y, Figure 1.
The apparatus consists of a hollow cylindrical casing a, closed at the bottom and fitted
at the top with a disc-shaped cover b capable of being tightened, down by means of
screws d, upon the rotative portion of the mechanism contained within the said casing.
The heads of the screws d may be threaded by a wire and locked in the usual manner.
Projecting upwards from the floor of the chamber and downwards from the said cover"
are formed similar circular projections e, these being concentric with the chamber.
Between these projections and the sides of the chamber, a are arranged six or other
suitable number of rectangular blades f, disposed vertically and radially. Mounted
eccentrically in the chamber is a circular body or block f¹ formed with radial slots f
sufficiently deep for the reception of the blades; the eccentricity of the slotted block
may be equal to, but is by preference rather less than, the difference between its radius
and the internal radius of the enclosing chamber a. The upper and lower faces of the
block are provided towards their outer edges with annular projections f³, which
extend upwards and downwards to the face of the cover and to the floor of the
chamber respectively. The block is provided centrally with a vertical spindleƒ4
carried in bearings in the cover and floor of the chamber. The lower end of this
spindle may be carried in a toe-step, adjustable from the exterior by means of a
set-screw a². The upper end of the said spindle is connected with and operates tho
counter, which may be of any known and suitable type; and which, for the purpose of
increasing the sensibility of the apparatus, is submerged in the liquid flowing through
the meter in preference to employing packing with the object of excluding the liquid
therefrom. The blades and the block fare by preference formed of ebonite.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The liquid to be measured, after passing
through the strainer, enters the cylindrical chamber a by way of the aperture g, and
traversing the wider portion of the passage h, formed by the space resulting from the
difference between the diameter of the rotative block and that of the interior of the
chamber a, escapes at the opposite side through the orifice k. In this passage, however,
are at all times located two or more of the radial blades fully or almost fully exposed;
and the liquid pressing against the uncovered portions of these blades, they are carried

page_text: round, the slotted block with which they engage being at the same time rotated. If not
being necessary that the outer edges of the blades should remain in contact with the
casing throughout the revolution, only a portion of the casing a on each side of the
apparatus is formed to make contact with the outer edges of the blades; each of these
portions being extended sufficiently far to fully embrace or cover two blades at the same
time, as indicated in Figure 2. At other parts of the circumference of the chamber
clearance spaces are left between the outer edges of the blades and the side of the
chamber; and there being also clearance between the periphery of the rotative block and
the internal surface of the chamber or its lining, friction is reduced to a minimum and
liquid charged with sand or other solid impurities is enabled to pass through the
apparatus without materially affecting its sensitive action. The volume measured
per revolution corresponds with the surplus capacity of the space formed between the
exposed portions of any two blades when fully projected and in contact with the side
of the chamber, as compared with that of the space formed between them when fully
rtreacted, multiplied by the number of blades.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention, as
communicated, to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, I claim :-
The improved construction of liquid-meter, substantially as herein described; the
same comprising a cylindrical casing, provided with inlet and outlet passages,
furnished with an annular lining, and enclosing a drum mounted eccentrically in the
casing and formed with radial slots in which slides, revolving concentrically with the
casing, move longitudinally to an extent corresponding with the throw of the
eccentrically mounted drum; the rotation of the drum being recorded by means of
suitable counting apparatus submerged in the liquid to be measured.
Dated this 28th day of February 1887.