IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS PARTS OF WHICH ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert Frost of Manchester in the County of Lancaster
Engineer and Manager of the Manchester Water Meter Company Limited for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS PARTS OF WHICH ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert Frost at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st May 1883.
HERBERT FROST of Manchester in the County of Lancaster Engineer and
Manager of the Manchester Water Meter Company Limited IMPROVEMENTS IN
WATER METERS, PARTS OF WHICH ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
My invention relates to meters of the principle and construction known as
piston meters used for measuring water or other fluids, and is an improvement
upon the meter for which Letters Patent were granted to me on the seventh day
of May A.D. 1874 number 1619.
The objects of my invention are first, to improve the valves for admitting and
discharging the fluid to be measured and to actuate the movable parts of these
valves in a more satisfactory manner than has hitherto been accomplished and,
secondly, to improve the method of packing and guiding the piston rod of the
measuring cylinder.
In performing the first part of my invention I make a suitably shaped metal
block casting, having ingress, and egress, and discharge ports, passing from its
upper to its under side, for communicating with the main cylinder or measuring
chambers, and also similar ingress and egress and discharge ports, passing from the
front to the top side of the metal block for admitting fluid by means of a front
slide valve, which is operated by the main piston. Fluid passes into and out of
the two supplementary cylinders fixed on the top side of the metal block. The
pistons in the two cylinders are secured to one rod, recessed and connected loosely
to the cover of the main slide valve, which it operates, and thus controls the
admission and discharge of fluid to and from the cylinder or measuring chambers,
when the pistons are put in motion by the pressure of the fluid to be measured

page_text: In carrying the second part of my invention into effect, instead of the stuffing
box and packing usually adopted for guiding the piston rod and preventing the
passage of fluids past the rod, I employ a smoothly bored tube and make a part of
the piston rod near the centre to fit the interior easily; a cup or other shaped
piston of leather, india rubber or other material being fixed on the rod, and made
to move with it in the tube thus the passage of the fluid is prevented and the
piston rod is guided in a straight line in a more efficient manner than formerly,
and the stuffing box ordinarily used around the piston rod is dispensed with
The above improvements of the combined valvular arrangements and packing
and guiding the piston rod are also applicable when the apparatus is used as a
motive power or water engine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Herbert Frost in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th November 1883.
HERBERT FROST, of Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Engineer and
Manager of the Manchester Water Meter Company, Limited. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WATER METERS, PARTS OF WHICH ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
"
My invention relates to meters of the principle and construction known as
piston meters used for measuring water or other fluids and is an improvement
upon the meter for which Letters Patent were granted to me on the 7th day of May
A.D. 1874. N° 1619.
The objects of my Invention are first to improve the valves for admitting and
discharging the fluid to be measured and to actuate the movable parts of these
valves in a more satisfactory manner than has hitherto been accomplished and
secondly, to improve the method of packing and guiding the piston rod of the
measuring cylinder.
In performing the first part of my Invention I make a suitably shaped metal
block casting, having ingress and egress and discharge ports passing from its upper
to its under side for communicating with the main cylinder or measuring chamber
and also similar ingress and egress and discharge ports passing from the front to
the top side of the metal block for admitting fluid by means of a front slide valve
which is operated by the main piston. Fluid passes into and out of the two
supplementary cylinders fixed on the top side of the metal block. The pistons in
the two cylinders are secured to one rod recessed and connected loosely to the cover
of the main slide valve, which it operates and thus controls the admission and
discharge of fluid to and from the cylinder or measuring chamber when the pistons
are put in motion by the pressure of the fluid to be measured.
:
In carrying the second part of my Invention into effect, instead of the stuffing
box and packing usually adopted for guiding the piston rod and preventing the
passage of fluids past the rod I employ a smoothly bored tube and make a part of
the piston rod near the centre to fit the interior easily a cup or other shaped
piston of leather, india-rubber or other material being fixed on the rod and made
to move with it in the tube, thus the passage of the fluid is prevented and the
piston rod is guided in a straight line in a more efficient manner than formerly
and the stuffing box ordinarily used around the piston rod is dispensed with.
The above improvements of the combined valvular arrangements and packing
and guiding the piston rod are also applicable when the apparatus is used as a
motive power or water engine.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings reference
being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the meter, partly in section, through the line AB
Fig. 4. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, through the line C D. Fig. 4.
Fig. 3 is an elevation, showing the inlet for water or other fluid and Fig. 4 is a
plan with the cover removed. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are a plan, a section and a front
view, respectively, of the metal block containing the valve ports and passages and
Fig. 8 is a detached view of the piston, piston rod, packing, and guide tube.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The outer metal casing a of the meter is shown constructed in three pieces
bolted together in any convenient manner: b is the measuring cylinder and b¹ the
passage leading from the upper part of the meter to the bottom of the cylinder b:

page_text: 62 is the piston and 6 the piston rod: the metal block c contains on its upper
side three ports c¹ cc of which c¹ communicates through the passage b' to the
lower part of the measuring cylinder and the port c² to the upper part of the
measuring cylinder above the piston. The middle port c³ is connected direct to
the outlet or discharge pipe. The recessed sliding valve cover d is connected
loosely to and is operated by a horizontal piston rod d¹ which is provided with
pistons dd one at each end fitted in the supplementary cylinders e e' which are
open at one end and secured to the metal block c. On the front face of the metal
block care ingress, egress and discharge ports f f¹ f' respectively, similar to the
three ports c¹² c3 already described the upper port f communicates with the
cylinder e, the port f¹ with the cylinder e¹ and the port f' with the outlet or
discharge pipe. The recessed sliding valve cover g is loosely connected to a valve
mover g with a projection on the top by which it is lifted by a collar b on the
main piston rod when the piston has almost finished its upward stroke, and is
lowered by another collar 65 on the top of the piston rod when the piston has
nearly reached the end of its downward stroke. The main piston rod b³ passes
through and is guided in a smoothly bored tube secured to the middle part of
the casing and instead of a stuffing box, there is fixed on a part of the rod b³ near
its centre a packing 66 (see Fig 8) of leather, india-rubber or other suitable
material by which the passage of fluid is prevented and the piston rod guided in
a more efficient manner and is capable of working with greater ease than when a
stuffing box is employed.
Water or other fluid to be measured is admitted to the middle part of the meter
through the inlet pipe i and discharged through the outlet pipe k.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When the piston is at the bottom of
the measuring cylinder b as shown in the drawings and water or other fluid under
pressure is admitted to the meter it flows through the open port f and fills the
small cylinder e: water also flows through the open port c¹ and down the passage b'
into the bottom of the measuring cylinder 6 causing the piston b² to rise and as
the piston rod b³ nears the end of its upward stroke the collar comes in contact
with the projection on the valve mover g' moves the valve cover g upward and
opens the port f', this admits water under pressure to the supplementary cylinder c¹
which forces the piston d' outward moving the piston rod d', slide valve cover d
and opening the port c². When the piston d³ is forced outward, the piston d³ is
driven inward and expels the water from the cylinder e through the port f under
the recessed valve cover g, through the port f³ communicating with the discharge
pipe k. The main piston having reached the top of its stroke and the port c² now
being open, water flows through the port c² into the top of the measuring
cylinder b and forces down the piston 2: this drives the water up the passage bl
through the port c' under the recessed valve cover d down the port ca into the
discharge pipe k. As the piston rod approaches the bottom of its stroke the
.collar comes in contact with the projection on the valve mover g' moves it and
the valve cover g downward and opens the port f: this admits water under
pressure through the port f into the cylinder e which forces the piston d outward,
moving the piston rod d' and sliding valve cover d, thus opening the port c¹ again
reversing the stroke.
Water flows into the bottom of the measuring cylinder 6 and the piston b²
again rises and expels the water above it from the measuring cylinder b up the
passage and through the port c² under the recessed valve cover d and down through
the port c³ and passage communicating with the discharge pipe : as the piston
rod nears the end of its upward stroke the port f' is opened and water admitted
to the supplementary cylinder el again reversing the stroke, forcing down the
piston band, driving the water below it up the passage 61 as previously
described.
The apparatus as above described may be employed either as a fluid meter or
as a water motor: when used as a meter to measure water or other fluid, the

page_text: wheel work of the index or indicator is connected to or actuated by the piston
rod b³ or any convenient moving part of the apparatus. When used as a water
motor the rod 63 of the piston 68 is brought through the top casing or cover
or through the bottom of the measuring cylinder b and suitably connected to the
parts to which the power is intended to be applied.
Having stated the nature of my Invention and described the manner of
performing the same
I declare that I claim.
1. The improvements in apparatus whether used as a meter for measuring
water or other fluids or as a water motor, substantially as and for the purposes
herein shown and described.
2. The construction and combination of the metal block c formed with ports
(fitted with sliding valve covers d and g respectively) and passages with the
cylinders and e¹ and pistons d and d³ forming the valvular apparatus for
actuating the valves of fluid meters and water motors, substantially in the manner
herein shown and described.
3. The improved method of guiding and packing the piston rods of fluid
meters and water motors in combination with the other parts, substantially as
herein shown and described.
In witness whereof I the said Herbert Frost have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty seventh day of November One thousand eight hundred and
eighty three
HERBERT. FROST (L.S.)