NAL DILTIVATION
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVIDIUNAL DILTIVATION
Improvements in Meters for Water and other Liquids.
I, ARCHIBALD EDWARD DOBBS, Master of Arts, and Barrister at Law, of 9, Old
Square, Lincoln's Inn, and 35, Wetherby Mansions, both in the County of Middle-
sex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
--
According to this invention I construct a meter of three or other larger odd
number of cylinders each fitted with a piston and each end of each cylinder
capable of being put alternately into connection with the supply and with the
delivery through suitable valves in such a way that when one end of a cylinder is
open to the supply its other end is open to the delivery. The movement of the
piston of one cylinder I make to shift the position of the valves of the next cylinder
in such a way that say the left hand end of one cylinder is open to the delivery
and its piston is consequently travelling to the left the valves operated by this
piston will be shifted to such a position that the right hand end of the next cylinder
will be opened to the delivery and its piston consequently made to travel to the
right and so on in succession.
One way in which I effect this is as follows:-
I provide a casing preferably cylindrical and divided longitudinally so that it
can be separated into two halves-the ends are closed and an inlet or supply
pipe leads to one end and an outlet pipe passes from the other.
Across this casing is fixed a partition plate parallel with the ends. The partition
plate has three cylinders passed through it, in such way that one half of each
cylinder is on one side of the plate the other on the other side.
The cylinders are side by side and preferably equi-distant from one another
and from the centre of the partition.
Two further partition plates are fixed across the interior of the casing one on
either side of the central partition and between the ends of the cylinders and the
ends of the casing or these partition plates might themselves form the ends of the
cylinders. The space between each of these two partition plates and the centrāl
partition plate is divided radially into three closed compartments.
"
One end of each cylinder opens into one or other of the three closed compart-
ments on one side of the central partition and the other end of each of the three
cylinders open into one or other of the three closed compartments on the opposite
side of the central partition.
Through each corresponding pair of closed compartments that are on opposite
sides of the central partition a fixed tube or pair of fixed tubes is made to pass-
the tubes pass through all the partition plates and are open at their ends. Each of
these fixed tubes has fitting within it an inner tube capable of being moved endwise
to and fro or of being partially rotated on its axis..
If a pair of fixed tubes be used one inner tube of each pair is closed at one end
the other at the other end-one is therefore always open to the inlet end of the
casing the other to the outlet end.

page_text: Ports are formed through the sides of the fixed tubes and through their inner
tubes which by the movement of the inner tubes can be brought to coincide with
one another or not to coincide the ports are so placed and the inner tubes so moved
that when one inner tube is open to the compartment on one side of the central
partition the other inner tube is open to the corresponding compartment on the
opposite side of the central partition.
Each pair of inner tubes may receive an endway to and fro motion from one end
of a rock lever the other end of which is acted on by the piston rod of the piston
of one of the cylinders-not from the piston of the cylinder which opens into the
compartments that the tubes pass through but from the piston of the preceding
cylinder.
Thus as the piston of one cylinder travels from one end to the other of the
cylinder it shifts the valves belonging to the next cylinder and when near the end
of the stroke brings them into position for causing the piston of this cylinder to
travel in the opposite direction from one end of the cylinder to the other and
in so doing to shift the valves for the third cylinder and so on continuously.
If in place of each inner tube being moved endwise to and fro a partial to and
fro rotation is given to it a single fixed tube may be used in place of each pair of
fixed tubes. This single fixed tube might have only two ports formed through it
one opening into each of the two compartments through which the tube passes-
the two ports would then be on opposite sides of the tube. The inner tube would
be divided by a longitudinal partition into two longitudinal channels-one of these
channels would be closed at one end and the other at the other end. From each
channel there would be two ports one capable of being brought at one time to
coincide with the port in the fixed tube opening into one compartment-the other
of being brought at another time to correspond with the port in the fixed tube
opening into the other compartment and so that when one of the ports from one
channel was by the turning of the tube brought into position to be open to one
compartment one of the ports from the other channel would simultaneously be
brought into position to be open to the other compartment.
The partial rotation might be given to the inner tube by a rod extending from
one of its ends having a spiral groove or grooves formed along and around it and
by a pin or pins carried by an arm extending from the piston rod of the piston
which is to give motion to it--the pin or pins entering the groove or grooves of the
rod and giving a to and fro turning movement to the rod as the piston rod travels
endwise to and fro. The pins might be made to project inwards from a collar
embracing the rod the collar being at the end of the arm which extends from
the piston rod or in place of pins being carried by the collar antifriction balls
might be substituted for them.
Recording mechanism is also provided for recording the number of movements
of the pistons. A strainer or strainers may be placed across the inlet end of the
casing so that the water has to pass through the strainers before going through
the meter.
Dated this First day of June 1897
-
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Meters for Water and other Liquids.
I, ARCHIBALD EDWARD DOBBS, Master of Arts, and Barrister at Law, of 9, Old
Square, Lincoln's Inn, and 35, Wetherby Mansions, Earl's Court Square, both in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what 5

page_text: manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:—
According to this invention I construct a meter of three, or other larger number,
preferably an odd number, of cylinders, each fitted with a piston, and each end of
each cylinder capable of being put alternately into connection with the supply
and with the delivery through suitable valves in such a way that when one end
of a cylinder is open to the supply its other end is open to the delivery. The move-
ment of the piston of one cylinder I make to shift the position of the valves of
the next cylinder and so on continuously.
Figure 1 of the drawings annexed is an elevation with the outer casing in
section of a meter constructed in the above manner. Figure 2 is part of an end
elevation, and Figure 3 part of a side elevation of the casing. Figure 4 is a cross
section taken through the cylinder and valve ports at that end of the cylinders
which is towards the inlet end of the casing. Figure 5 is a similar section through
the ports at the opposite end of the cylinders.
Figure 6 is a left hand end view with the casing removed.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of one of the valves, and
Figure 8 a longitudinal section of one of the cylinders.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section of one of the cylinders and the valve of the
next cylinder showing the way in which the piston rod actuates the valve.
Figure 10 is a cross section through the line cd Figure 9.
Figures 11 to 15 show a modified form of the meter in which endway moving
valves are used in place of valves which have a partial rotation given to them.
Figure 11 is a cross section through the cylinders.
Figures 12 and 13 show the end division plates of the casing.
Figure 14 is a longitudinal section through a pair of the valves, and Figure 15
a longitudinal section through one of the cylinders.
In Figures 1 to 10, A is the outer casing of the meter closed at its ends by
end covers A¹ A². The end cover A¹ is formed with an inlet passage A³, and the
cover A2 with an outlet passage A+.
1, 2 and 3 are three cylinders, and 1º, 2º, 3º, are three cylindrical valve shells.
These are all cast together in one piece together with two discs B Cone end of
each cylinder is closed by the disc B the other end is closed by a third disc D.
The edges of the discs fit into grooves formed around the interior of the casing as
shown in Figure 1. The casing is divided longitudinally into two parts as shown
at Figure 3 to allow of the edges of the discs being so inserted into the grooves.
EEE are three radial projections standing outwards one from each cylinder and
fitting against the interior of the casing these divide the space between the
discs B and C and the space between the discs C and D each into three compart-
ments. The cylinder 1 opens through a port 1 into one of these compartments F
at its end which is towards the inlet end of the casing, the cylinder 2 similarly
opens through a port 2* into a compartment F2 and the cylinder 3 through a port 3*
into a compartment F³.
At the opposite end the cylinder 1 opens through a port 1" into a compartment
marked G¹ the cylinder 2 opens through a port 2** into a compartment G³ and the
cylinder 3 through a port 3* into a compartment G³.
The valve shell 1" which passes through the compartments F1 G has also a
port 1 formed through it opening into the compartment F and a similar port 1***
opening into the compartment G¹. Similarly the valve shells 2 and 3ª have
ports 2 2 and 3** 3*** opening into the compartments F3 F3 and G2G³. Into
each valve shell fits a hollow cylindrical plug H1 H2 or H³. Each plug is divided
longitudinally by a partition into two channels one of these marked is open at
its end which is towards the inlet end of the casing so that water can always pass
freely into it from this end of the casing. The opposite end of this channel is
closed. The other channel y is closed at the inlet end and open at the outlet. end.
Each end of each plug has two ports formed in it one r¹ at the inlet end opening

page_text: from the channel the other y¹ opening from the channel y. At the outlet
end there are similar ports ³ y².
By giving somewhat less than a half turn to the valve plug H¹ either one or
other of its ports x¹y can be brought opposite to the port 1 and the ports 2 y²
opposite to the port 1*** and so that when a is opposite to 1 y2 is opposite to 1***
and when y' is opposite to 1,2 is opposite to 1***.
Similarly the valve plugs H2 H3 when they have nearly a half turn given to them
have their ports brought opposite to the ports 2x 3ax 24xx 3xx
Each valve plug HH2H has a cylindrical stem extending from it in which are
spiral grooves H*. Each stem is embraced by a collar at the end of an arm I which
extends from the end of one of the piston rods. Spherical balls I' which lodge in
corresponding hemispherical recesses on the inside of the collar project from these
recesses into the grooves H* or pins might be used in place of balls.
In this way
when the piston of any cylinder is moved from one end of the cylinder to the
other, the valve which is operated by the piston rod of that piston has nearly half
a turn given to it.
The piston rod of cylinder 1 gives motion in this way to valve H2 the piston rod
of cylinder 2 gives motion to valve H3 and the piston rod of cylinder 3 to valve H'.
In the position of the parts as shown at Figures 1, 4 and 5 the piston of the
cylinder has completed its stroke towards the outlet end the piston of the
cylinder 2 is moving towards the inlet end and is shifting the valve H³ into position
to cause the piston of cylinder 3 to move from the inlet end towards the outlet end
and so on continuously.
As seen in Figure 4 the valve H is at this time in such a position that its inlet
channel opens through its port a¹ into the compartment F and is in communica-
tion through this compartment with the port 1 at the end of the cylinder 1 which
is next the inlet end of the casing whilst at the same time as seen in Figure 5 the
outlet channel y of the same valve is open to the opposite end of the cylinder 1.
The same figures also shew that the inlet channel of valve H2 is open to that
end of cylinder 2 which is towards the outlet end of the casing and the outlet
channel y is open to the opposite end of the cylinder the piston of this cylinder is
therefore travelling towards the inlet end of the casing. The valve H³ is in an
intermediate position passing from one of its extreme positions to the other, to come
into position to cause the piston of cylinder 3 to travel away from the end of the
cylinder which is towards the inlet end of the casing, and when the piston
of cylinder 3 travels in this direction it shifts valve H¹. Thus when the piston of
cylinder 1 has moved to the right hand end of the cylinder the piston of the
cylinder 2 moves towards the left hand end of that cylinder and afterwards the
piston of the cylinder 3 moves towards the right hand end and next the piston of
cylinder 1 travels to the left hand end and so on continuously.
The to and fro movement of the piston rod of one or other of the cylinders is
arranged to give motion to recording mechanism to record the number of move-
ments made by it. In Figure 1 the piston rod of cylinder 2 is shewn to have a
pin K extending from it to come alternately against pins L'L' on a lever L and
give to this lever a rocking movement and the lever by a pawl L2 which it carries
gives a step by step rotating movement to a ratchet wheel M on the axis of the
first wheel of a train of recording wheels.
In place of using only 3 cylinders a greater odd number might be used and be
arranged to act in precisely the same way.
In the modification shewn at Figures 11 to 15 three pairs of endway moving
valves are used instead of the three rotating valves H'H² H³.
The cylinders 1, 2, 3 and the outer casing are constructed in the same way as
in the figures before described. NN1, N2 N3, NN5 are the three pairs of valves.
One valve of each pair is closed at the end which is towards the inlet the other is
closed at the end which is towards the outlet. The two valves in each pair are
connected together at N and receive an endway to and fro movement from one

page_text: arm of a lever O the other arm of which is moved to and fro by the piston rod of
one or other of the cylinders.
The action of the valves is just the same as the action of the rotating valves.
When the inlet valve of one pair is open through one of its ports with one end
of a cylinder the outlet valve of the same pair is open to the other end of the
cylinder, and the piston rod of cylinder 1 gives motion to the valves of cylinder 2.
and the piston rod of cylinder 2 to the valves of 3 and so on. Other forms of
valves might be used.
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:-
:―
1. In a meter for water and other liquids the combination of 3 or more
cylinders each fitted with a piston which can move to and fro quite independently
of the pistons in the other cylinders and three separate and independent valve
mechanisms so arranged and operated by the pistons of the cylinders that the move-
ment of the piston of one cylinder operates the valve mechanism of the next cylinder
reversing its position and thereby causing the piston of this cylinder to be driven
from one end of the cylinder to the other and in turn give movement to the valve
mechanism of the third cylinder and so on and mechanism. for recording the move-
ment of the pistons.
2. In a meter for water and other liquids the combination of 3 or a greater
odd number of cylinders each fitted with a piston which can move to and fro quite
independently of the pistons in the other cylinders and three separate and
independent valve mechanisms so arranged and operated by the pistons of the
cylinders that the movement of the piston of one cylinder to the right shifts the
valve mechanism of the next cylinder into such a position that the piston of this
next cylinder will be driven to the left and in turn shift the valve mechanism of
the third cylinder into a position to cause its piston to be driven to the right and
so on continuously and mechanism for recording the movement of the pistons.
3. The combination of cylinders 1, 2, 3 compartments F¹ F³ F³ and G¹G² G³
with which the opposite ends of the cylinders communicate, partially rotating
valves H¹ H2 H3 by which when one compartment F1 F2 F3 is put into communication
with the inlet its corresponding compartment G1 G2 G³ is put into communication
with the outlet and mechanism to which the rotating valve H2 of cylinder 2 is
operated by the piston of cylinder 1 and the valve H³ of the cylinder 3 by the
piston of cylinder 2 and the valve H¹ of cylinder 1 by the piston of cylinder 3.
4. The combination of the outer casing having an inlet at one end and an outlet
at the other three partitions extending across the casing-the space between the
central partition and one end partition divided into as many compartments as there
are cylinders and between the central partition and the other end partition
into a corresponding number of compartments-a cylinder and valve or valves
extending through each pair of compartments-mechanism by which the piston
rod of any one cylinder gives motion to the valve or valves belonging to the next
cylinder and mechanism for recording the movement of the pistons.
5. The combination of the outer casing having an inlet at one end an outlet at
the other three partitions extending across the casing-the space between the
central partition and one end partition divided into as many compartments as
there are cylinders and between the central partition and the other end partition
into a corresponding number of compartments a cylinder and cylindrical valve
shell and valve extending through each pair of compartments a screw or spirally
grooved stem extending from one end of each valve-a collar surrounding and
engaging with each stem and an arm connecting the piston rod of one cylinder
with the collar which engages with the stem of the valve of the next cylinder and
mechanism for recording the movement of the pistons.
6. The combination of the outer casing having an inlet at one end an outlet at
the other three partitions extending across the casing--the space between the

page_text: central partition and one end partition divided into as many compartments as
there are cylinders and between the central partition and the other end partition
into a corresponding number of compartments-a cylinder and cylindrical valve
shell extending through each pair of compartments a cylindrical valve fitting
within each valve shell a longitudinal partition dividing each cylindrical valve
into 2 channels one closed at the inlet the other at the outlet end a port leading.
out from each channel near each end of the valve and ports near the ends of the
valve shell in such a position that when a port at one end of the valve and leading
from its inlet channel is opposite to the port near one end of the valve shell a port
opening into the outlet channel of the valve is opposite to the other port in the
opposite end of the valve shell.
7. The construction of water meters substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 17th dow of Wohmin 1800
ARCHIBALD E. DOBBS.