IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING FLUIDS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Orange Wildman Whitehouse, of Brighton,
in the County of Sussex, Surgeon, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR MEASURING FLUIDS."
Sealed the 18th April 1856, and dated the 14th December 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Orange Wildman'
Whitehouse at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 14th December 1855.
I, EDWARD ORANGE WILDMAN WHITEHOUSE, of Brighton, in the County of
Sussex, Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING FLUIDS," to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention relates to a peculiar mode of obtaining, by
means of centrifugal force as hereafter described, a continuous and energetic
movement of rotation from any current or column of fluid in motion, and if
the construction and adaptation of mechanism or apparatus actuated or driven.
in this manner, for the purpose of measuring or registering the flow of any.
fluid.
The second part of my Invention relates to the application of magnetic
force or attraction as a means of "coupling" or "gearing" for transmitting,
mechanical motion, and which may be termed "magnetic coupling.
The principle upon which the first part of my Invention is based, and

page_text: for carrying out which the apparatus is designed and constructed, is the action
of the centrifugal force, which is necessarily developed during the rotation
of any body round a central point or axis, and equally so during the flow
of a liquid made to describe a circle or any are thereof. The action of this
force is ensured by the form and nature of the apparatus, which is such as
to direct the full circumferential force of the fluid in motion upon a wheel
or disc bearing fans and placed in a cylinder, circular chamber, or slotted tube
of ring form, to which the fluid is admitted by a single aperture (at or near
to the circumference thereof), in such a manner and direction as to produce
the centrifugal or whirling motion required. The wheel is carried round by
the fluid "pari passu" in its rotation, and hence becomes, by connecting it
with a "count" or train of wheels, an accurate means for the measurement or
registration of the flow of any fluid. The propelling force besides being
applied in the most advantageous direction (viz. at right angles to the centre
of motion), maintains its action continuously throughout the whole or nearly
the whole of the revolution. I believe that the driving power is in this
manner far more judiciously applied than when used tangentially, as is the
case in other forms of rotatory meters.
The objects of the second part of my Invention, and my mode of carrying
them out, are as follows:-
1. The reduction of friction in fluid meters, by avoiding the use of stuffing
boxes with connecting rods or other usual means of imparting the necessary
motion to the count." The motor wheel driven by the fluid in which it is
immersed has in the second part of my Invention no mechanical connection
with the train of wheels, but runs freely upon points or pivots in oil chambers,
and hence is particularly free from friction and ready to receive and obey
without "slip" the onward movement of the current, whereby greater
accuracy in the measurement is obtained. I have said that there exists under
the second part of my Invention no mechanical connexion between the motor
part of the apparatus and the registering part or "count." There is, however,
placed upon the motor wheel, or fly, or upon some moving part in immediate
connection therewith, and within the cylinder or fluid chamber, a'small magnet
or magnets, or a piece of iron or steel, which in its movement attracts and
carries 'round with it a small magnet, or piece of iron or steel, fixed upon the
axis of the first wheel or pinion of the train or count. The juxtaposition of
these two parts of the apparatus, and the consequent attraction of magnet for
magnet, or that of iron and magnet, mutually effects all that is required in
driving the train of wheels. This attraction is exerted through the metal or
other material of which the cases may respectively be composed.

page_text: 2. The "count" may be enclosed in a separate box or case capable of being
attached to or detached from the motor part of the apparatus, from which it
may be removed for repairs or adjustment or observation, and replaced by
another, without the necessity of taking to pieces or of suspending its action
for a moment.
3. The "count" altogether may be made much lighter than in other meters,
and in consequence of its being entirely removed not only from possible
contact with the water or other fluid, but even from the dampness or moisture
arising therefrom, it may be made with steel pivots and pinions; its lightness
and durability will thus be greatly increased.
The mode above described of transmitting mechanical motion I propose to
call "magnetic coupling," and though specially adapted for the form of meter
already indicated, it is applicable, with the necessary modification in form to
various other meters and hydraulic apparatus. The first part of my Inven-
tion therefore has reference to an improved form of fluid meter, which may
be made to register in the usual manner, or which may be combined with
the second part of my Invention, and may be made to register by means of
"magnetic coupling." It is a distinguishing feature of the second part of
my Invention that the motor part and the registering parts are wholly distinct,
and may be constructed so as to be readily separable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward; Orange Wildman Whitehouse in the Great Seal
Patent Office on, the 14th June 1856.
TO ALL TO: WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
ORANGE WILDMAN WHITEHOUSE, of Brighton, in the County of Sussex,
Surgeon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and. grant unto me,.
the said Edward Orange Wildman Whitehouse, Her special license that I,..
the said Edward Orange Wildman Whitehouse, my executors, administrators,.
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Orange Wildman White-

page_text: house, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
,with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA-
RATUS FOR MEASURING FLUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Edward Orange Wildman Whitehouse, by an instrument in writing
under my hand, and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW, YE, that I, the said Edward, Orange. Wildman Whitehouse,
do hereby declare the, nature, of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described- and, ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference: being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the, letters and figures, marked thereon, that is to say::
My said: Invention relates to a peculiar mode of, obtaining a continuous and
energetic movement of rotation from any current or column of fluid in motion,
and of the construction and adaptation of mechanism or apparatus for the
purpose of measuring or registering the flow of such fluid.
The principle upon which my Invention is based, and for carrying out
which the apparatus is designed and constructed, is the action of a column
of fluid moving round a circular channel or arc of a circle, and operating
upon a number of fans or pallets revolving in such channel and attached
to a measuring wheel or drum rotating round a fixed centre. This
action is ensured by the form and nature of the apparatus, which is such
as to direct the full circumferential force of the fluid in motion upon a wheel
or disc bearing fans or pallets, and placed in a cylinder, circular chamber,
or slotted tube, of ring form, to which the fluid is admitted by a single aperture
(at or near the circumference thereof), in such a manner and direction as to
produce the circumferential or whirling motion required. The wheel is
carried round by the fluid in its rotation, and hence becomes, by connecting
it with a "count" or train of wheels, an accurate means for the measurement
or, registration of the flow of any fluid. The propelling force besides being
applied in, the most advantageous direction (viz., at right angles to the
centre of motion); maintains its action continuously throughout the whole or
nearly the whole of the revolution.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to. describe the same, and for that purpose I shall

page_text: refer to the several Figures on the Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
corresponding Figures.
Figure 1, on Sheet One of the Drawings, represents an external side eleva-
tion of one modification of my improved fluid meter complete; Figure 2 is a
vertical section of the same, taken through the centre thereof; Figure 3 is
a plan of the meter; Figure 4 is a plan of the same, with the upper part of
the meter removed; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the measuring wheel
or drum detached. A is a thin horizontal measuring wheel or disc, to which
is attached the raised boss B. This disc is fitted at its periphery with a
number of fans or pallets C, C, of any convenient shape, which revolve in, and
are formed to correspond to, the annular measuring chamber D. This annular
chamber is of a uniform cross sectional area throughout, and is just large
enough for the fans or pallets to pass freely through it. It is slotted round
its inner circumference to admit of the free passage and rotation therein of the
circumference of the wheel or disc A. In order to reduce the friction atten-
'dant upon the use of stuffing boxes, the count may be driven by the action of
magnetism, as described in the Specification of Letters Patent for England,
granted to Charles William Siemens, on or about the Fifteenth day of April,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two. E, E, are two magnets attached
to the boss B of the measuring wheel A by two screws F, F; G and H are
metal caps or covers screwed to the raised boss B, and serving to protect the
magnets from the action of the water.
The pivot 1 consists of a short spindle secured at its upper end to the top of
the closed cap H; it works at its point upon a steel footstep J, and is steadied
at its upper end by passing through a hole in the top of the inner oil chamber
K. This chamber fits perfectly water-tight at its lower end round the boss L;
which carries the footstep, so that no water can enter therein or mix with the
oil, with which the oil chamber is filled or partially filled, nor can any oil
escape into the water or body of the meter. M is the inlet pipe by which the
water or other fluid to be measured is admitted circumferentially to the
meter; and N is the exit pipe, for the escape of the measured fluid. The
measuring action in this modification of my meter is obtained from the
annular chamber D, since at each revolution of the drum or pallet wheel A,
a certain amount of fluid will be. discharged equal to the capacity of the
annular chamber, less the space occupied by the pallets. The fluid on
entering the annular measuring chamber flows round it in a circular direc-
tion, and by impinging against the fans or pallets C, imparts a rotatory
motion to the measuring wheel, which, through the magnets E, E, herein

page_text: before referred to, gives motion to the count contained in the separate Dox
or register O.
The measured fluid escapes by the annular slot (as shewn by the arrows)
formed on the inner circumference of the measuring chamber, and thence flows
down the exit pipe N. The "count" may be of any convenient construction,
and perfectly, detached and separate from the meter. In the example shewn in
the Drawings, I have adopted seven dials and indicators or hands for regis-
tering the number of gallons passed through the meter, from units up to
millions.
Figure 1, on Sheet 2 of my Drawings, represents an external side elevation of
a modified form of my fluid meter; Figure 2 is a vertical section of the
same, taken through the centre thereof; Figure 3 is a plan of the meter;
Figure 4. is a horizontal section of the same, taken through the measuring
wheel, along the line 1, 2, in Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of
the measuring wheel or drum' detached. In this modification the count is
of the construction described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to
Charles William Siemens; herein-before referred to; it is attached to the meter
by the screwed cap or cover A, in place of being moveable therefrom, as in
the first-described arrangement.
The construction and mode of suspending the measuring wheel B is
modified slightly in this meter, and the fans or pallets C, in place of being
round, are rectangular; but I do not confine or restrict myself to any particular
form of pallets. The measuring wheel in this meter is constructed rather
differently to the measuring wheel of the firstly-described arrangement.
In the former case a single disc is used, with fans or pallets soldered or
otherwise attached to its periphery, whereas in this latter arrangement the fans
or pallets are slipped into grooves formed to receive them inside an annular
channel formed round the periphery of the measuring drum, as shewn by the
detail. Figure 5. on Sheet 2, in which position they may be further secured
by brazing or soldering. With a. wheel or drum of this construction, the
measuring power of: the meter will, be equal to the capacity of the annular
channel. in. the drum, minus the thickness of the pallets which are fitted
therein, and not to the capacity of the chamber in which the drum rotates, as
is the case in the firstly-described arrangement. In the latter arrangement
the chamber in which the drum rotates may be made considerably deeper, if
desired, than the height or thickness of the measuring. wheel or drum; but its
diameter should correspond at the inlet of the meter as nearly; as practicable
to that of the measuring wheel, the periphery of which at the inlet side should
work close up. to, but without actually touching, the internal periphery or cir

page_text: cumference of the chamber, as shewn in Figure 4. The fluid on entering the
meter impinges against the fans or pallets, and imparts a rotatory motion to
the measuring wheel or drum, and fills the spaces between the pallets, so that
at each revolution a certain amount of fluid will be delivered corresponding to
the capacity of the annular space contained in the drum, minus the space
occupied by the thickness of the pallets. D is a vertical spindle secured to the
centre of the measuring wheel, and steadied at its upper end by a collar E;
in the bottom of the oil chamber F, a small steel or agate centre is fitted into
the bottom of the spindle, and rests upon the point of the small stud or pivot
G, fixed to the lower portion of the metal of the chamber H, in which the
measuring wheel or drum rotates. This pivot serves also to steady the
measuring wheel during its rotation, the centre of the wheel being fitted with
a cup projecting downwards, so as to form an oil chamber I, to protect the
steel point of the pivot G from the action of the water. This cup is fitted
with a collar at J, which is passed over and works round the stem of the pivot
to steady the measuring wheel; K is the inlet pipe; and L, the outlet pipe for
the exit of the measured fluid; the outlet pipe, like the inlet pipe, is connected
to the circumference of the chamber H, in place of being in communication
with the centre of such chamber, as in the previously described arrangement.
I may here observe that I wish it to be distinctly understood that I lay no
abstract claim to the use of a paddle or pallet wheel, made to revolve inside a
circular or annular chamber by the action of a column of fluid, for the purpose
of measuring the flow of such fluid, as I am perfectly well aware that such a
principle is old and well known; neither do I lay claim to an annular chamber
having a portion of its circumference contracted, except in so far as it is used
in the manner herein-before described; that is, where the whole of the fluid
to be measured is caused to pass through such contracted portion of the
annular chamber; but what I claim as the Invention secured to me by the
hercin-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First, the peculiar construction and arrangement of apparatus for measuring
fluids, wherein a paddle wheel is made to rotate by the action of the fluid to be
measured inside an annular chamber of uniform area throughout, as herein-
before described, and illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, on Sheet 1 of my
Drawings.
Second, the peculiar construction and arrangement of apparatus for
measuring fluids, wherein the capacity of the measuring drum or wheel itself
constitutes the measuring power of the meter, as herein-before described, and
illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 on Sheet 2 of my Drawings.

page_text: Third, the peculiar construction and arrangement of measuring wheel or
drum, as herein-before described, and illustrated by Figure 5 on Sheet 2 of my
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Orange Wildman Whitehouse,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, the Thirteenth day of June,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six..
EDWARD ORANGE WILDMAN WHITEHOUSE, (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered in the
presence of
J. HENRY JOHNSON,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
Solicitor.