IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY MEASURING APPARATUS WHICH INDICATE THE QUANTITY OF LIQUID OR FLUID ENTERING OR LEAVING THE SAID APPARATUS, CHIEFLY APPLICABLE TO MEASURING HIGHLY INFLAMABLE LIQUIDS OR FLUIDS."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Beeston Tupholme, of Sheffield, in the West Riding of
the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY
MEASURING APPARATUS WHICH INDICATE THE QUANTITY OF LIQUID OR
FLUID ENTERING OR LEAVING THE SAID APPARATUS, CHIEFLY APPLICABLE
TO MEASURING HIGHLY INFLAMABLE LIQUIDS OR FLUIDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Beeston Tupholme at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd December 1877.
BEESTON TUPHOLME, of Sheffield, in the West Riding of the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY MEASURING APPARATUS WHICH INDICATE THE QUANTITY
OF LIQUID OR FLUID ENTERING OR LEAVING THE SAID APPARATUS, CHIEFLY
APPLICABLE TO MEASURING HIGHLY INFLAMABLE LIQUIDS OR FLUIDS "
These improvements relate to apparatus for measuring (chiefly) highly inflamable
liquids or fluids, and consist in the employment of a measuring cylinder or tube,
into which the liquid is forced or passed, in which said cylinder a float is employed
which will rest on the surface of the liquid, the said float having attached thereto,
or formed therewith, on its upper side a graduated index rod or slide, which said
rod will protrude through the top of the measuring cylinder, and with the float will
rise and fall as liquid passes into or leaves the said measuring cylinder. On the
top of the measuring cylinder will be fixed a pointer or other suitable indicator, by
means of which the quantity of liquid entering or leaving the said cylinder can be
ascertained from the graduated slide, and the quantity can be controlled by the
operator. The liquid may be pumped into the measuring cylinder, or enter by
other suitable means, and the liquid may be discharged therefrom by means of a
tap, or valve, or in any convenient manner. An overflow outlet will be placed near
or at the top of the measuring cylinder to allow of the escape of the liquid if too
much is allowed to enter the said cylinder. The said outlet will be connected to
the storage cistern, or other suitable vessel, so that the superfluous fluid will return
thereto and not be wasted, this arrangement constituting the apparatus a "safety”

page_text: one, as from highly inflamable liquids having been allowed to run on to the floor of
a room danger has been incurred.
Two or more measuring cylinders and their connections, as above described, may
be combined so as to form one apparatus
The apparatus can be combined with a storage cistern, and can be placed either
at the top of or underneath the said storage cistern.
In carrying these improvements into effect the apparatus above described can be
made of brass or any other suitable material, or combination of materials, and in
using the said apparatus any desired quantity of liquid that the measuring cylinder
will hold can be passed into the measuring cylinder and will be accurately measured
and indicated, and by opening and closing the discharge valve or tap at the bottom
of the measuring cylinder the whole or any part of the liquid contained in the said
cylinder can be discharged therefrom, and the quantity discharged will be accurately
measured and indicated, and can be controlled by the operator.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Beeston Tupholme in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
June 1878.
BEESTON TUPHOLME, of Sheffield, in the West Riding of the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY MEASURING APPARATUS WHICH INDICATE THE QUANTITY
OF LIQUID OR FLUID ENTERING OR LEAVING THE SAID APPARATUS, CHIEFLY
APPLICABLE TO MEASURING HIGHLY INFLAMABLE LIQUIDS OR FLUIDS."
This improved apparatus consists of a measuring cylinder or vessel, of any con-
venient form, in cross section, into which the liquid is forced or passed, in which
said cylinder a float is employed of the size and shape, or thereabouts, of the cross
sectional area of the said cylinder, and so made and fitted as to move freely therein.
The said float has attached thereto, or formed therewith, a graduated index rod or
slide, which protrudes through or above the top of the measuring cylinder. On the
top of the measuring cylinder is fixed a rod or pointer, by which the height of the
float in the cylinder is shewn on and by the index rod or slide. An overflow pipe
is fixed at or near the top of the cylinder, which communicates with the storeage
cistern or other vessel.
The apparatus is or can be combined with a storeage cistern and ordinary pump.
In using the apparatus the liquid is pumped into the measuring cylinder; or if
the cistern is placed overhead the liquid may enter by gravitation, and the float and
index rod will show the quantity; for instance, if one quart is required to be drawn
from the cistern the operator can pump until the index registers one quart, when
the inlet is stopped and the discharge tap opened, and the float descends, so that
the apparatus is ready for a further similar operation.
If the storeage cistern is overhead the inlet tap of the measuring cylinder is
opened, and when (say) one quart has entered and been indicated the said tap is
closed and the discharge tap opened.

page_text: The apparatus is and can be constructed to measure up to any desired quantity,
and to indicate pints, quarts, gallons, and other liquid measures, and the quantity
required can be measured with the greatest accuracy; and is further so constructed
that the overflow pipe will carry away to the cistern or other vessel the superfluous
fluid if the operator continues pumping or letting in the liquid after the measuring
cylinder is full, thus constituting the apparatus a safety one.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation, Figure 2 is a
vertical section, and Figure 3 is a transverse section through the apparatus, at the
dotted line A, B.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and particularly ascertained
in what manner the same is to be or may be performed or carried into effect, I
wish it to be understood that I claim as novel and original, and secured to me by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, "Improvements in safety measuring
apparatus as herein specified and described, and illustrated in a general manner by
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.”
In witness whereof, I, the said Beeston Tupholme, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.