Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Measuring Liquids.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 7th July, 1894-Accepted, 11th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Measuring Liquids.
We, FRANK SEARCH, Bank Clerk, of Fremont, King Charles' Road, Surbiton,
and FRANK PAYNE of Woodcote Green, Epsom, both in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for measuring liquids and is hereinafter
described as applied for measuring water for house supplies but it will be obvious
that the same apparatus may be used for measuring other liquids. In one form the
apparatus is adapted to be fitted to the supply pipe without affecting the pressure
in which case the measuring apparatus is enclosed in a sealed chamber but where a
cistern is in use the chamber can be dispensed with and a locked box provided for
protection which box need not be air-tight. In one form the measuring apparatus
consists of two tanks or boxes each pivotted so that when it contains a certain
quantity of water it will descend under the weight of the water, a counter-weight
being provided so as to retain the tank in position until the quantity of water
necessary to deflect it has been introduced. Within each of these tanks is rigidly
fitted a syphon adapted at proper intervals to discharge the contents of the pivotted
tanks into the cistern.
Above each of the pivotted tanks is mounted a movable weight also preferably
pivotted so that it may descend into the tank to start the flow of water through
the appropriate syphon as hereinafter described. This weight is at one time
supported on a rod or arm rigidly mounted in the pivotted tank and also by a
detent which may be released by an arm mounted rigidly on the pivotted tank,
these parts being so arranged that when sufficient water is introduced, the tank will
commence to descend and in so doing will remove its support from beneath the
weight leaving the weight for the time being supported by the movable detent
which however at a further part of the downward movement of the tank is released
by the before mentioned detent-operating arm, the weight then being allowed to
fall into the liquid contained in the tank and thereby causing the column to be
completed in the syphon and start the outflow. The detent is so hung or balanced
as to automatically engage with the weight when said weight is raised at the next
upward movement of the tank.
The water supply pipe delivers on to an angular plate which conducts the water
either partly or wholly into one or other of the two pivotted tanks and is so arranged
at this outlet end say by means of a piece of flexible tubing that said outlet may
be moved across the angular plate in order to deliver the water into either of the
tanks, suitable lever arrangements being connected to the tanks and weights to
cause this movement of the supply pipe. By this arrangement when one tank
commences to descend the water supply pipe is moved partly across the angular
plate so as to deliver most of the water into the other tank and reduce the quantity
supplied to the descending tank and afterwards by the descent of the weight to
cause the water supply pipe to be wholly deflected so as to deliver the full volume
of water to the then non-descending tank. This arrangement is considered
preferable because it will be readily understood that when a sudden cut-off is
employed it is very difficult if not altogether impossible to always get a uniform
quantity in the measuring vessel the gradual cut-off provided in the before
described apparatus being especially devised for overcoming this difficulty.
If desired the movable tanks instead of being pivotted in the manner before
described may be supported by weighted chains or equivalent passing over suitable
11

page_text: It may be found advantageous to gradually increase the counter-weight of the
movable tanks so as to provide a slower descent of said tanks; this we may effect
by an arm secured to each tank being adapted to raise a greater or smaller length
of chain which is normally supported on a fixed platform, or any other arrangement
say a telescopic weight may be employed for this purpose.
It is preferred to form the outlet end of the supply pipe so that the water
delivered by it may be more or less divided into two streams so as to facilitate the
proper distribution of the water'to the two movable tanks.
In a second form of apparatus constructed according to the invention we may
employ a fixed tank adapted to discharge its contents into the cistern whenever
sufficient water has accumulated in it. This arrangement consists of a suitable
float adapted to operate a lever having pivotted on it a rocking lever weighted so
that when the float is at its highest position said rocking lever will, independently
of the lever to which it is pivotted, suddenly tilt over into one position and when
the float descends it will suddenly tilt over into the opposite position. This
rocking lever is provided with arms which engage with a lever connected to the
movable bell of a syphon the outlet pipe of which preferably terminates in a
chamber in which a quantity of water is always present so as, as it were, to seal
the lower end of this outlet pipe. The rocking lever is connected to the before
described movable delivery pipe so as to deflect the supply of water from one tank
into a second tank which is a duplicate of that last described.
The action of this apparatus unlike that of the apparatus herein first described,
is sudden by reason of the tilting over of the weighted rocking lever which when
turned over into one position raises the bell' of the syphon and thus starts the
outflow of the water into the cistern and at the same time diverts the supply to the
other cistern and vice versa.
In order that the number of operations of the before described apparatus may
be indicated, any of the movable parts may be connected to registering mechanism
of any well-known type.
The before described apparatus is specially suited for measuring the quantity of
water used for domestic purposes and particularly in connection with a constant
supply and it will be observed that by reason of the measuring apparatus being
enclosed in a hermetically sealed cistern or vessel, the water drawn off by the user
will be supplied at the same or approximately the same pressure as that to which
it is supplied to the house, for this reason that the cistern will never be completely
filled, a charge of air being constantly present. When the level of the water in
the cistern has been raised to such an extent as to bring the air in the tank to the
same pressure as that of the water supply said supply must cease.
As soon
however as water is drawn off from the cistern the pressure is reduced and
consequently more water will be delivered into it from the main.
In another form of the apparatus we provide two weights or floats operating in
conjunction with a rocking lever one weight being heavier than the other. The
lighter weight is connected to the rocking lever by means of a link or rod pivotted
to said lever, and the heavier weight is connected to the lever by means of a hook
or arm slotted so that within certain limits this heavier weight and the lever may
move independently of each other. When the tank is being filled the lever and
lighter weight are prevented from moving by means of a detent which as soon as
the heavier weight is raised high enough by the water is released by said heavier
weight and allows the lighter one to fall and start the outflow through the syphon.
Instead of employing two weights of different specific gravity we may arrange two
similar ones to operate on parts of the lever at different distances from the fulcrum.
When, not very accurate measurement is required, we may employ only one
eistern or box instead of two as herein before described.
Dated this 7th day of September 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Measuring Liquids.
We, FRANK SEARCH, Bank Clerk, of Fremont, King Charles' Road, Surbiton,
and FRANK PAYNE of Woodcote Green, Epsom, both in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, 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 relates to apparatus for measuring liquids and is hereinafter.
described as applied for measuring water for house supplies but it will be obvious
that the same apparatus may be used for measuring other liquids.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which ;-
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of one form of liquid measuring apparatus
constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan of another form of the apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on the line 4-4 of Figs. 2 and 3.
Fig. 5 is a portion of a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of
Figure 2 and
Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing one of the detent devices represented in
Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
Referring first to the apparatus shown in Figure 1 A is a tank or vessel divided
by a mid-rib A³ into two compartments A' A' the mid-rib A³ extending up to
within a short distance of the upper part or flange A* of the tank A.
To the mid-
rib A we pivot as at A³ the inner ends of levers B B' to whose outer ends are
attached the floats B. On the stud or pin A' or on a stud or pin co-axial therewith
we pivot a rocking lever C having at its upper end a weight C and near its lower
end two projections C C the former extending say backwards over the float
lever B and the latter extending say forwards over the float lever B' so that it may
be operated by both of these levers alternately as hereinafter described. The
lever C also carries arms C C adapted to operate respectively levers D D' which
may be pivotted at their outer ends to the tank A the inner ends extending across
rods C extending from the lever arms C₁ C' at right angles thereto. To the inner
ends of the levers D D¹ we connect, as by links E, the syphon bells E¹ E² which
cover the syphon outlet pipes E³, whose lower ends are liquid-sealed as hereinafter
described and ahown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.
To the rocking lever C we may connect as by a swivelled ring or equivalent F,
the supply pipe F which may either be turned over into the position shown in full
lines for delivering liquid into the vessel A³ or turned into the position shown in
dotted lines for delivering liquid into the vessel A'.
In the drawings we have represented the vessel A¹ filled with liquid and the
vessel A³ substantially empty, the liquid through the pipe F being delivered
into A2. The operation of this device is as follows;-
Assuming the liquid to be supplied to A² as indicated in the drawing the float B'
in that chamber when the liquid reaches the proper level, will be raised and the
float-lever B' press against the underside of C3 so as to tilt the rocking lever C
from the position in which it is shown in full lines into that in which it is indicated
in dotted lines, the result of which will be that the supply pipe F¹ will, through the

page_text: ring or equivalent F, move over into the position necessary for delivering liquid
into A', which at that time would be practically empty. At this same operation,
the lever arm C is raised and through the pin or stud C thereof, raises the lever
arm D', and through the link E connected therewith, the syphon bell E³, the
syphonic action through E' E' being thus induced. The liquid from A' is thereby
discharged through E and the float lever B₁ allowed to descend to its lowest
position and move away from the lug or projection C³ of the rocking lever C. The
level of the liquid is now ascending in compartment A', and, when it reaches the
float B' therein, raises the float-lever B which, through the projection C³, moves
the rocking lever over to the right of Figure 1 to such extent that C¹ passes
slightly beyond the vertical line, the weight C effecting the completion of the
movement of the rocking lever C, the supply pipe F by this operation being moved
over to the right of Figure 1 to deliver the liquid into the vessel A'.
In this way
the arm C is raised against the underside of the lever arm D which through the
link E connected therewith raises the bell E' and thus starts the syphonic action
through E and E³ to empty the chamber A¹.
G are pins or studs projecting into the path of the float levers B B¹ to prevent
them descending beyond the required limit..
It will be readily understood that to register the before described operations of
the measuring apparatus a suitable indicating device may be connected with any
desired moving part thereof.
In the apparatus illustrated in Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings we
have shown a cover H secured to the top of the tank or vessel A to protect the
interior mechanism from being tampered with, and at the lower part of the tank A
a further vessel 1 to the bottom of which is fitted an outlet pipe 11 which is also
provided with a perforated floor or plate 12 at some distance above the bottom of I
The plate I may be provided with small vessels 1 into which dip the syphon
outlets E' which extend from the upper part of the vessel A. The vessels I'
always contain a quantity of liquid so as to form a liquid seal around the lower
end of E.
1 are air-pipes passing through the bottom of the vessel I and perforated
plate I to near the bottom of the tank A so as to admit air into the chamber I,
pipes A secured in the bottom of the chamber A serving in the same way to admit
air to the upper part of the chamber A. These pipes I and A' are however so
arranged that no damage can be done by the insertion through them of wires or
other devices which might be used in any attempt to tamper with the meter.
the upper part of the mid-rib A' at each side thereof we pivot somewhat similarly
to the before described example, the arms B or B₁ of a float B³ arranged
conveniently nearer one side than the other of the chamber A; these floats may
be of rectangular form as shown in the drawings or of any other suitable
construction.
Near
J is a lever pivotted on a rod J' projecting horizontally from a lever D or D
both of which levers D D' are pivotted upon a fixed rod D' at a convenient distance
above the mid-rib A³. J³ are weights secured to the outer ends of the levers J so
as to press the inner end thereof upwards against the underside of the movable
shoot K as hereinafter described. Each of the levers D D' at one end is provided
with a weight D' and near the other end has attached to it as by a link E a syphon
bell E or E' which fits over the upper end of the before mentioned syphon outlet
pipe E. The outer ends of the levers D D' we arrange to be engaged with detent
devices each of which comprises a three-armed lever L L L the arm L of which
is provided with a tooth or projection L' to engage with the upper edge of the
lever D or D' which latter is preferably provided with a projection D so as to
enable it, to the required extent, to operate the lever L L L when the
lever D or D' is to be engaged by the detent device. The arm L of the
lever L L L is weighted so as to tend always to move the three-armed lever into
the position in which it is shown in dotted lines in Figure 6 so as to release the

page_text: lever D or D¹. M is a lever catch pivotted to the end of the tank A or cover H
or to a plate connected to either of these parts. This lever catch is adapted to
engage by its notch or tooth M¹ the upper end of the lever arm L as indicated in
full lines in Figure 6 and it is conveniently counter-weighted as at M' though the
preponderance of weight is on the side of the pivot opposite to M².
Each float B carries an arm or projection M' adapted to bear against the
underside of the longer arm of the lever M so as to raise it and thereby release its
tooth M¹ from the upper end of arm L the lever L L' L' being thereby allowed to
fall from the position shown in full lines in Figure 6 to that shown in dotted lines
in that figure, the lever D or D' then being free to operate under the influence of
its weight D; by this means each syphon bell E' or E' is suddenly raised and the
syphonic action caused to take place through it and the pipe E³. Each of the
before mentioned levers J at its outer end is guided in a fork or grooved plate J1
secured to the inner side of the tank A this admitting of the vertical motion of J
but preventing it from moving in a horizontal direction. The inner end of each
of the levers J is adapted to bear against the underside of a reversible shoot K
pivotted conveniently on an inclined stud K' secured to the mid-rib A³, as shown
most clearly in Figure 4. By pivotting the shoot K in this manner its smaller or
discharging end K is caused to move both horizontally and vertically so as at the
central part of its motion to freely clear the upper edge of the mid-rib A³ on either
side of which it is adapted to deliver the liquid.
"
N. is a vertical channel formed in part with the tank A and at the upper part of
which is provided the outlet N' which delivers the liquid on to the shoot K. N' is
the inlet to N, which is preferably some distance below the normal water level in N
so as to prevent any
"wash
or agitation at the upper part of N. E is a passage
or pipe extending from the bottom, inside, to near the top of each syphon bell E¹
or E and connecting at its lower part through the opening E' with a shorter
passage or pipe E* extending upwards at the outside of the syphon bell E' or E.
This passage E' E' E' is provided for the purpose of allowing the air to freely
enter the bell E¹ or E when the liquid has descended to the level of the edge E
of the opening E, the liquid then in the bell E' or E' falling to the bottom of E¹
or E3, and commingling with the liquid still remaining in the tank A so raising its
level which must however not be as high as the top edge of E' otherwise the
liquid would pass over E' and block up E. Unless this device were provided at
the discharge of the syphon the liquid would remain elevated in the bell E¹ or E
the air in the bell being thereby placed in tension so that as soon as the liquid
at the exterior of the bell rises to a sufficient elevation in the tank A the air
contained in E' or E' and E³ will contract and cause the liquid to dribble over the
edge of E3 and thereby again start the syphon.
The inlet N' may be provided with any suitable form of valve.
Gare pins or studs secured in A to prevent the floats B from falling below the
required level and L and M' are pins or studs secured in H for limiting the
movements of the levers L L'L' and M respectively. B³ are holes for ventilating
the floats B' to provide against differences of flotation caused by atmospheric
variations. O are plates extending across the chambers A' A' at the liquid level
and dipping down to any required distance into the liquid (they may extend to near
the bottom of the tank A) for preventing wash or agitation of the liquid in these
vessels or chambers.
The operation of the before described device is as follows;-
The liquid is admitted through N' into N and flows through N' to the shoot K
by which it is delivered into one or other of the chambers AA' according to the
position then occupied by the shoot K; in the drawings the shoot K is shown to
be delivering the liquid into the chamber A'.
We are now assuming that the liquid is being introduced into the tank A both
the floats being down and the levers D D' being engaged by their respective
trigger devices L M etc. the liquid as it ascends in A raises the float B therein

page_text: and brings the projection M³ against the underside of the longer arm of M thereby
releasing the tooth M¹ thereof from the upper end of lever arm L which under
the influence of the weighted arm L' is moved so as to release the tooth L³ from
the lever D or D' which then under the influence of its weight D' is operated so
as to raise the syphon bell E' in tank A and start the syphonic discharge
through E E of the liquid contained in A'. Simultaneously with this operation
the appropriate lever J is operated through arm J' so. as to raise its inner end (the
outer end being weighted as before mentioned) and thereby tilt the shoot K over
into its opposite position the discharge of liquid from K being thus transferred to
the chamber A'.
When the level of the liquid has descended to about half the height of the
bell E the weight of the liquid contained therein draws down the lever D and
causes its outer end to descend against the outside of the arm L and eventually
bear upon the arm L¹ so as to cause the arm L and tooth L* thereof to move
outwards and the latter namely L' to engage with the upper side of the lever D
the lever catch M as soon as the upper end of L has passed the tooth M¹ thereof
engaging with L and holding it in its place until M is again released by the next
upward movement of the float B².
When the liquid in its descent reaches the edge E' of opening E' the suction
within E will draw in air through E' E' E' before the liquid reaches the lower
end of E' the syphonic action being thus terminated.
The liquid rising in the chamber A operates on the float B and through that
and detent device L M etc. releases the lever D' in precisely the same manner as
before described, the two vessels or chambers A' A' acting alternately as long as
liquid flows out through I' and is admitted through N'.
The before described apparatus may be applied to a house or other water service
in any convenient manner and may be enclosed in a cistern or tank or other device.
The apparatus is susceptible of various modifications. within the scope of the
invention, but the arrangement hereinbefore described and shown in Figs. 2 to 6 of
the accompanying drawings is that which we prefer and have found to give the
most satisfactory results.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is;-
1. In a
liquid measuring apparatus the combination with a float lever and
movable portion of a syphon of a weighted rocking lever such as C swinging or
adjustable supply pipe and lever arms such as CD or C' D¹ for effecting the
operation of the syphon substantially as described.
2. In a liquid measuring apparatus having two chambers or compartments such
as A A' the combination with each chamber of a syphon device a weighted lever
such as D or D' trigger or detent device for retaining the lever in position and a
float for releasing the detent and lever and thereby starting the syphonic discharge
substantially as described.
3. In apparatus such as described the employment in combination with two
chambers or compartments such as A'A' of a shoot such as K pivotted on an
inclined pin or stud substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
4. In liquid measuring apparatus having two chambers or vessels such as A¹.A
and two syphon devices the combination with each syphon of a passage or passages
such as E E E substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete apparatus
for measuring liquids substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 1 of the
accompanying drawings.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete apparatus

page_text: for measuring liquids substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6 of
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of July 1801
FRANK
SEARCH.
FRANK PAYNE.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants..