Improvements in Devices or Apparatus for Ascertaining the Capacity of Hollow Vessels.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, '1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Feb., 1894-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices or Apparatus for Ascertaining the
Capacity of Hollow Vessels.
A communication by GEORG VÖLLNER and F. LEHMANN, of 29, Eberswalder-
strasse, and 103*, Potsdamerstrasse, both of Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In order to accurately ascertain the capacity of vessels, especially barrels for
holding spirits, petroleum, etcetera, it has hitherto been the custom to either take
the weight of the barrels in question before and after being filled with a liquid of
known specific weight, or, where such was not convenient, the barrels were filled
full and then again emptied, the liquid being discharged and collected in vessels of
known capacity.
This invention relates to a device which renders it possible to utilise rotary water
meters of the usual form of construction for the purpose of ascertaining the capacity
of vessels by causing water or other suitable liquid to flow from a water pipe, or
other suitable receptacle, into another receptacle by automatically shutting off the
inflow when the operation of filling has been completely finished so that any
overflow is avoided, the capacity of the vessel in question being then taken by a
reading of the index of the water meter which is placed before each measurement
at zero.
Water meters, of the usual form of construction, are not suitable for exact
determinations of capacity, the alterations in the pressure of the inflowing liquid
causing considerable errors in the measurement; to remove this source of error is
the object of this invention.
This is attained by inserting, between the water meter and those vessels from
which the liquid is to be drawn and measured, a regulating vessel in which the
liquid is maintained at a constant level so that it flows through the water meter at
an always steady rate of speed, and objectionable alterations in the revolution of
the water wheel cannot take place.
It is preferable in order to complete the apparatus, to arrange a device which, as
soon as the filling of the barrel, the capacity of which is to be taken, is completed,
automatically closes the water meter, as well as the regulating vessel, so that the
liquid still flowing from the supply reservoir cannot affect the result of the
measurement.
This
Such an apparatus serving for ascertaining the capacity of barrels would have a
case enclosing the measuring apparatus on which the water gauge glass and the
dial for reading off the quantity of water flowing through the apparatus, are
arranged. There would also be a water meter of any suitable pattern, the float
wheels of which, when revolving, set in operation an indicating device.
water meter is connected at the top by means of a pipe with the regulating vessel
into which the liquid which is to be measured is conveyed through a pipe. The
water meter is extended underneath to form a pipe, above which a second pipe, the
covering pipe, is adjustably arranged, this latter being inserted (as far as a flange
on its lower end) in the bung hole of the cask or vessel, the capacity of which is to

page_text: be taken. By thus having two pipes, adjustably arranged, they can be pushed
together or drawn apart according to whether the apparatus or the vessel which is
to be measured, stands higher or lower.
In order, when the filling of the barrel is completed, to obtain an automatic
shutting off of the water meter, a float is inserted in the under part of the covering
pipe which float, in its highest position, that is to say when the same is raised by
the liquid, closes the lower opening of the covering pipe by means of a ring and
thus shuts off the supply. The float is arranged on a lever, the outwardly
projecting arm of which when the float assumes its lowest position, presses against
one arm of a second two armed lever and retains the same in its position acting
against the pressure of a spring connected therewith. The other arm of this
second lever, which is provided with an eyelet, is connected by means of a chain, or
the like, with a lever attached to the top of a cock inserted in the supply. pipe of
the apparatus. The arm of this latter lever bears, when the cock is opened, that is
to say when in, a horizontal position, against one arm of a lever arranged on the
regulating vessel and maintains the same in such a position that the valve, which is
arranged at the end of the arm and which projects into the regulating vessel, does
not close the supply pipe to the water meter. An overflow pipe is also provided
which has for its object to always maintain the liquid in the regulating vessel at an
equal height.
In order when the apparatus is not at work to allow of all the water being
removed from the regulating vessel of the apparatus, a discharge pipe is also
provided. Further, a water gauge glass is arranged on the regulating vessel. so
that it may easily be seen from the outside whether the inflow of water is too great
or too little, the inflow may then be regulated by means of a second cock arranged
in the inflow. pipe.
The mode of working and handling of the apparatus hereinbefore described is as
follows-
I
After the lower end of the covering pipe has been inserted in the vessel, the
capacity of which is to be taken, the float with its allied levers, as well as the lever
of the tap and therewith the lever with the closing plug are arranged in position.
The levers of the float and tap are then connected with one another by means of
the chain, but not too tightly. The cock is then opened so that the water can run
in; the water flows then into the regulating vessel and passes from there through
the pipe into the water meter, setting the float wheel and thereby the indicating
device in motion, and it reaches the vessel through the exit pipe and its covering
pipe. When the latter is filled to within a short distance of the bung hole, the
float rises and thus brings its two allied levers out of connection. The spring then
comes into action and turns the two levers connected by means of the chain in a
direction whereby the inflow of water to the regulating vessel is shut off as well as
the inflow to the water meter through the downward movement of the lever which
has a closing plug at its end. The water still contained in the water meter after
the shutting off of the tap can flow into the barrel until the latter is completely
filled, whereupon the outflow opening and the covering pipe are also closed by
means of the float. The amount of liquid indicated by the index which has passed
through the water meter is then read off from the dial, and thus an exact estimate
of the contents of the vessel or barrel is obtained.
Dated this 1st day of May 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Devices or Apparatus for Ascertaining the
Capacity of Hollow Vessels.
A communication by GEORG VÖLLNER and F. LEHMANN, of 29, Eberswalder-
strasse, and 1034, Potsdamerstrasse, both of Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester
both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil 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 :-
In order to accurately ascertain the capacity of vessels, especially barrels for
holding spirits, petroleum, etcetera, it has hitherto been the custom to either take the
weight of the barrels in question before and after being filled with a liquid of
known specific weight, or, where such was not convenient, the barrels were filled full
and then again emptied, the liquid being discharged and collected in vessels of
known capacity.
This invention relates to a device which renders it possible to utilise rotary
water meters of the usual form of construction for the purpose of ascertaining
the capacity of vessels by causing water or other suitable liquid to flow from a
water pipe, or other suitable receptacle, into another receptacle by automatically
shutting off the inflow when the operation of filling has been completely finished,
so that any overflow is avoided, the capacity of the vessel in question being then
taken by a reading of the index of the water meter, which is placed before each
measurement at zero.
Water meters, of the usual form of construction, are not suitable for exact
determinations of capacity, the alterations in the pressure of the inflowing liquid
causing considerable errors in the measurement; to remove this source of error is
the object of this invention.
This is attained by inserting, between the water meter and those vessels from
which the liquid is to be drawn and measured, a regulating vessel in which the
liquid is maintained at a constant level, so that it flows through the water meter at
an always steady rate of speed, and objectionable alterations in the revolution of
the water wheel cannot take place.
It is preferable, in order to complete the apparatus, to arrange a device which,
as soon as the filling of the barrel, the capacity of which is to be taken, is com-
pleted, automatically closes the water meter, as well as the regulating vessel, so
that.the liquid still flowing from the supply reservoir cannot affect the result of the
measurement.
In the accompanying drawing, this improved water meter is represented in
Figures 1 and 2 in partial section and front elevation respectively.
The apparatus serving for ascertaining the capacity of barrels has a case ↳
enclosing the measuring apparatus on which the water gauge glass f and the dial
for reading off the quantity of water flowing through the apparatus are arranged.
There is also a water meter a of any suitable pattern, the float wheels g of which,
when revolving, set in operation au indicating device. This water meter is con-
nected at the top by means of a pipe c with the regulating vessel into which the
The water meter is
liquid which is to be measured is conveyed through a pipe k.
extended underneath to form a pipe over which a second pipes, the covering
pipe, is adjustably arranged, this latter being inserted (as far as a flange on its
lower end) in the bunghole of the cask or vessel, the capacity of which is to be

page_text: taken. By thus having two pipes, adjustably arranged, they can be pushed together
or drawn apart, according to whether the apparatus, or the vessel which is to be
measured, stands higher or lower..
In order, when the filling of the barrel is completed, to obtain an automatic
shutting off of the water meter, a float n is inserted in the under part of the covering
pipe, which float, in its highest position, that is to say, when the same is raised by
the liquid, closes the lower opening of the covering pipe by means of a ring and
thus shuts off the supply, The float is arranged on a lever », the outwardly
projecting arm of which, when the float assumes its lowest position, presses against
one arm of a second two armed lever p and retains the same in its position acting
against the pressure of a spring y connected therewith. The other arm of this
second lever, which is provided with an eyelet, is connected, by means of a chaine
or the like, with a lever attached to the tap of a cock inserted in the supply
pipe of the apparatus. The arm to of this latter lever bears, when the cock is
opened, that is to say, when in a horizontal position, against one arm of a lever
arranged on the regulating vessel b and maintains the same in such a position that
the valve, which is arranged at the end of the arm of the lever and which projects
into the regulating vessel, does not close the supply pipe to the water meter. Au
overflow pipe
d is also provided which has for its object to always maintain the
liquid in the regulating vessel at an equal height.
In order, when the apparatus is not at work, to allow of all the water being removed
from the regulating vessel of the apparatus, a discharge pipe e is also provided.
Further, a water gauge glass f (Figure 2) is arranged on the regulating vessel b,
so that it may easily be seen from the outside whether the inflow of. water is too
great or too little, the inflow may then be regulated by means of a second cock m
arranged in the inflow pipe k.
The mode of working and handling of the apparatus herein before described is as
follows:-
с
:-
After the lower end of the covering pipes has been inserted in the vessel, the
capacity of which is to be taken, the float n with its allied levers o and p, as well
as the lever o of the tap and therewith the lever with the closing plug i, are
brought into the position shown in Figure 1. The levers pand v of the float and
tap respectively are then connected with one another by means of the chain a, but
not too tightly. The cock m is then opened, so that the water can run in the
water then flows into the regulating vessel b, and passes from there through the
pipe c into the water meter a, setting the float wheel 9 and thereby the indicating
device in motion, and it reaches the cask or barrel through the exit pipe and its
covering pipe 8. When the latter is filled to within a short distance of the bung-
hole, the float n rises and thus brings its two allied levers o and p out of connection.
The spring then comes into action and turns the lever p as well as the lever o
which is connected with it by means of the chain e in a direction whereby the
inflow of water to the regulating vessel is shut off as well as the inflow to the
water meter a through the downward movement of the lever which has the closing
plug at its end. The water still contained in the water meter after the shutting
off of the tap can flow into the barrel until the latter is completely filled, where-
upon the outflow opening of the covering pipe is also closed by means of the
float n.
The amount indicated by the index of liquid which has passed through
the water meter is then read off from the dial, and thus an exact estimate of the
contents of the vessel or barrel is obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
:-
1. A device for measuring the contents of vessels or barrels, consisting of a
rotary water meter a and of a regulating vessel inserted between this meter
and the vessel employed for measuring the liquid, in which regulating vessel 6
an overflow pipe is arranged for the object of maintaining the height of the

page_text: liquid in the regulating vessel at a constant level, so that the water meter
always works at the same speed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. A form of the device such as described in Claim 1, consisting of a pipe r
arranged at the exit point of the water meter a, a covering pipes adjustable on
this piper, a float n arranged at the end of the pipes and attached to a lever o,.
which float is connected with the lever p provided with a tension spring q, a lever
attached to the tap of a cock inserted in the supply pipe k, one arm of which
lever is connected by means of a chain with the lever p, and its other arm w with
the lever carrying a valve or closing plug i, for the object of causing an
automatic shutting off of the supply to the regulating vessel b, to the water meter (
and to the vessel which is to be measured by means of the float n at the moment
when the vessel which is to be measured is filled, substantially as and for the
purpose. set forth.
Dated this 1st day of February 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.