Year: 1897

page_text: I, JOIN KERSHAW HILL, Engineer, of the West Surrey Water Company,
Walton-on-Thames, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to water meters, and its object is to produce a water meter
having positive action and no dead point, which will be self-adjusting as to wear.
In one method of carrying my invention into effect I provide a circular casing
closed at the top having within it a cylinder, which cylinder is divided by an
internal cylinder so as to produce an annular piston space or ring. This ring
space is divided by a transverse vertical partition, and the ports for admission and
discharge of the water to be measured are arranged on each side of the transverse
partition at the bottom of the cylinder. These ports extend within the annular
space on both sides of the said transverse division, and they are so shaped as to
provide gradual opening and closing as determined by the movement of a ring
shaped piston. This ring shaped piston has a slot across its depth which fits over
the transverse partition, and the ends of the piston at the slot are rounded so as to
enable the ring to fit with some accuracy to the said partition in all the positions
of the said piston. The ring shaped piston fits the whole depth of the annular
space forming the cylinder, and it is sometimes provided with a cover plate which
fits over the top of the cylinder so that the top plate rubs upon the upper end of
the cylinder while the bottom of the piston rubs on the bottom of the annular
cylinder. The water passes in to the annular space on one side of the piston and
the other side alternately, so that the expanding space to be filled with the water
to be measured is alternately formed between the outside surface of the piston and
the cylinder, and the inside surface of the piston and the inner cylinder. The
piston is preferably made of vulcanite, and it is supplied at the centre of its cover
plate with an inwardly projecting conical pin. This conical pin works around
an opposing conical pin, and the piston is caused to describe a path round and
round the cylinder, the inside and outside surfaces alternately having bearing
contact with the opposing surfaces of the annular cylinder. By this arrangement
the piston so moves as to produce extending and contracting spaces, and the ports
are so arranged that no dead point occurs either in admission or exhaust.
By the arrangement I have described the piston works its own joint
top and bottom, and remains always tight. It is to be understood
that the external casing above the piston is closed, so that the piston is floating or
rather is suspended in water.
In another modification, instead of closing the top of the acting cylinder by a
piston cover, I close it by an annular or ring cover, and I project through a slot in

page_text: the cover a bent arm towards the centre of the internal cylinder or ring. This
projection carries the conical pin to which I have referred already, and this pin
operates against a corresponding conical projection. Instead of this arrangement
I may use a similar piston closed on the top from the edge inwards, that is, the
piston is in the form of a cup, but has no outside flanges beyond the outer surface
of the piston, as in the first case I have described. A ring placed above this type
of piston makes the arrangement water-tight, and a conical projection passes
inwards and engages with the conical projection forming part of the internal
cylinder.
By this invention I am enabled to measure in a positive manner small as well as
large quantities of water. My piston has no dead point, and the water cannot
pass without being measured.
It is obvious that the piston might be provided as the fixed part and the cylinder
the rotating part, in which case the cylinder might be super-posed upon the piston.
Dell th
111 3
ear
1007
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.
Improvements in Water Meters.
I, JOIN KERSHAW HILL, Engineer and Manager of the West Surrey Water
Company, Walton Bridge, Walton-on-Thames, 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 water meters, and its object is to produce a water
meter having positive action and no dead point, which will be self adjusting as
to wear.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the different methods of carrying this
invention into effect as follows.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively vertical and horizontal sections of the meter
constructed according to the first modification.
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively vertical and horizontal sections of the meter
constructed according to a second modification.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of the meter constructed according to a third
modification.
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively part sectional elevation and a plan of a modifica-
tion of the piston employed in the meter.
Figures 8 and 9 are respectively vertical and horizontal sections of the meter
constructed according to a fourth modification.
Figures 10 and 11 are respectively part vertical and horizontal sections of a
modification of the inlet and outlet ports as applied to the improved meter.
In the method of carrying this invention into effect as illustrated on Figures 1
and 2 of the drawings a circular casing A closed at the top is provided having
within it a cylinder B, which cylinder B is divided by an internal cylinder C so
as to produce an annular piston space or ring 1). This ring space D) is divided by
a transverse vertical partition E, and the respective ports F and G for admission
and discharge of the water to be measured are arranged on each side of the
transverse partition E at the.bottom of the annular space D as clearly shown in

page_text: the sectional plan Figure 2. These ports extend within the annular space on both
sides of the transverse division, and they are so shaped as to provide gradual open-
ing and closing as determined by the movement of a ring shaped piston H
hereinafter described.
As Figure 1 is a vertical section on the line a, b Figure 2, the ports F, G, are
not seen on that figure, but the admission and outlet passages F G are clearly
shown leading into chambers F, G2, which communicate with their respective
ports while a grid or piece I placed across the inlet passage F¹ prevents the
admission of grit and like substances.
The ring shaped piston H has a slot J across its depth which fits over the trans-
verse partition E, and the ends h, h, of the piston at the slot are so rounded as to
enable the ring piston to fit with some accuracy to the said partition in all the
positions it assumes when in operation. The piston H is of the same depth as
the annular space D, and it is provided with a cover plate K preferably integral
with it as shown, the said cover plate fitting over the top of the cylinder B so that
it rubs upon the upper end of that cylinder while the bottom of the piston H rubs
on the bottom of the annular space Ď.
When in operation the water passes by the inlet passage F1 through the grid I,
chamber F and port F, into the annular space on one side of the piston H and
the other side alternately, so that the expanding space to be filled with the water
to be measured is alternately formed between the outside surface of the piston H
and the cylinder B, and the inside surface of the piston H, and the inner
cylinder C, and as one of the expanding spaces is being filled by water in this
manner the other opposing and contracting space is exhausting the water through
the port G, chamber G, and passage G¹. The piston H is supplied at the centre
of its cover plate K with an inwardly projecting conical pin L. This conical pin L
works around an opposing conical pin M, and the piston is caused to describe a
rolling path round and round the cylinders C, B, the inside and outside surfaces
alternately bearing on the opposing surfaces of the annulus D in the manner herein-
before described. By this arrangement the piston so moves as to produce extending
and contracting spaces, and the ports are so arranged that no dead point occurs
either in admission or exhaust.
The conical pin L is screwed into a suitable bush N and it is evident that by
screwing the pin down an adjustment of the wear on the centres can be obtained.
On the upper part of the pin L is a small extension pin which is attached to
and drives any suitable forms of index or dial mechanism in the upper portion P
of the casing.
By the arrangement described the piston works its own joint, top and bottom,
and remains always tight. It is to be understood that the external casing P above
the piston is closed and as the said piston is constructed of a material such as
vulcanite having a slightly greater specific gravity than water this slight excess
in weight acts downwards and keeps the sliding joint, top and bottom, tight and
also as the piston H descends and automatically takes up the wear.
The vertical partition E is made as thin as possible with the slot in the piston
to correspond, consistent with the necessary strength of the piston to resist fracture
by the water pressure; and the effect of this thinning is that practically the
whole bearing of the pistons circumference takes place on the cylindrical sides of
the annulus and thus prevents leakage.
In another modification, illustrated in section at Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings
the inlet and outlet sides of the meter with their respective ports F G are arranged
on opposing sides and the shape of the outer casing A is altered to suit this con-
struction. Instead of closing the top of the annulus D by a piston cover, as in
the previously described modification, it is closed by an annular or ring cover Q
and through a slot F in this cover which also forms the inlet port for the water
a bent arm R projects towards the centre of the internal cylinder or ring C. This
projection R carries the conical pin L hereinbefore referred to, and this pin ↳

page_text: operates against a corresponding conical projection M. The cylinders B, C, in
this modification are shown partly removed from their main casing A, and as the
plan Figure 4 is a sectional one through a y Figure 3, only the outlet port G is
seen the port F being about the section line. The arrow lines on Figure 3 show
the direction of flow of the fluid but it is quite evident that the flow could be
reversed and the meter worked in the opposite direction without departing from
the subject of the present invention. The other features are similar to that herein-
before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 similar letters denoting similar
parts.
A further modification is shown in section at Figure 5 of the drawings and in
this arrangement a similar piston H closed on the top from the edge inwards is
used, that is, the piston is in the form of an inverted cup, and has no outside flanges
beyond the outer surface of the piston, as in the first described modification. A
ring S placed above this type of piston makes the arrangement water tight, and a
similar projection L passes inwards and engages with the conical projection M
forming part of the internal cylinder C. Instead of making the ring S a stationary
plate attached to the walls of the annular chamber, it may be constructed as a
loose annular piston of any required weight with a groove fitting the partition and
of an outside diameter equal to the annulus so that as the piston wears and descends
the annular piston follows its descending movement and thus keeps the joints
always tight. The inlet and outlet ports are similarly constructed to the first
described modification, the outer case A in this instance not being shown, though
it is also evident that by a slot in the top ring S the inlet and outlet ports could
also be arranged similar to the modification described with reference to Figures 3
and 4 of the drawings. In this modification also similar letters denote similar
parts.
The modification of the piston illustrated on Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings
partly consists in forming a skeleton ring b about which the vulcanite or like
material is moulded to constitute the oscillating piston H. Again on the outer
and inner surfaces of the piston a number, of corrugations d d are provided as
shown; so that grit or the like which may find its way into the meter past the
sieve or grid placed on the inlet pipe may be taken into the depressions and prevent
friction. As the piston surfaces are usually formed of vulcanite and the annulus
walls of bronze in a short time a metallic surface of high polish forms upon the
vulcanite, and renders friction practically negligable.
The modification illustrated at Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings set forth the
construction of a meter in which the working parts can be removed for inspection
and repair without disconnecting the meter from the service pipes. The inlet
passage in this case branches out above and below the annular chamber C and
communicates therewith by inlet ports Farranged top and bottom. Only one
outlet port G is arranged at the bottom side and this leads by a contracted passage
into the outlet chamber G2 and from there to the outlet G¹, the said outlet chamber
being divided from the inlet chamber F¹ by a partition Z. The oscillating piston H
is held in situ by a ring Q in a similar manner to that hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. The casing A contains all the
measuring mechanism (similar portions being similarly lettered to the modifica-
tions hereinbefore described), while a detachable cover PI contains, the index
mechanism. The opposing conical pins L and M are coupled by a link P but
this is only in the case of fast running meters.
At Figures 10 and 11 there is set forth a modification in which the inlet F¹
is diverted by an extension annulus F3 into a double stream top and bottom and
similarly the inlet is divided by an extension annulus G into a double exit top and
bottom. The advantage of this arrangement is that the water rushing in and out
top and bottom of the piston places it more in equilibrium and conduces to the
more perfect working of the meter.
To take up any slight grit which may pass the grid with the water or come from

page_text: 5
ane rubbing surfaces and thus get on the floor of the cylindrica
annulus; a number of semi perforations a a are provided and these are shown
clearly on Figures 1, 3, and 5 of the drawings. The grit falls into these sem
perforations and thus does not interfere with the working of the piston.
One distinct advantage of the arrangement of the conical pins L and M within
the cylinder C in the position shown in all the modifications is that this working
part is removed entirely from the water measured, and therefore does not as in
other meters add to the possible leaking surface.
The applicant is well aware that the water meters with oscillating pistons have
O been proposed, but they have been of an exceedingly complex nature with intricate
central dividing webs and numberless joints so that only large quantities of water
have been measured, a small quantity passing through without operating the
meter; whereas by this applicants construction the working parts and joint sliding
contact surfaces are reduced to a minimum, means for taking up the wear are
5 provided and devices employed to decrease the resistance to motion of the piston,
while keeping the rolling surface in sliding contact; so that the meter registers
small quantities as well as large in a positive manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
-
1,—In water meters of the oscillating piston type in combination, a cylindrical
annulus closed at the bottom but open at the top having a dividing partition the
depth of the annulus, inlet and outlet ports leading to and from the bottom of the
said annulus on either side of the partition, and an oscillating ring piston with
open bottom and closed flange projecting top placed in the annulus so that a slot
in the said piston embraces the dividing partition while the flange projecting top
covers and closes the open end of the annulus, substantially as hereinbefore
described, with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
2,-In water meters of the oscillating piston type, the screw adjusting pin fixed
centrally upon the piston having a conical end riding upon an inverted cone piece
fixed to the casing of the meter, so that by adjusting the screw cone the wear on
the oscillating piston may be readily taken up, all substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 8 and 9 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. In water meters of the oscillating piston type in combination, a cylindrical
nnulus closed at the bottom but open at the top having a dividing partition the
lepth of the annulus, inlet and outlet ports leading respectively to the top and
ottom of the said annulus, an oscillating ring piston open at both ends placed in
he annulus so that a slot in the said piston embraces the dividing partition, an
rm projecting from the top of the piston towards the centre carrying a conical
djusting pin, and a cover for the annulus top while provided with a slot forming
he inlet port and in which the projecting arm carrying the conical adjusting pin
orks, all substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3
nd 4 of the acompanying drawings.
4,-In water meters of the oscillating piston type in combination, a cylindrical
nulus closed at the bottom, but open at the top having a dividing partition the
pth of the annulus, inlet and outlet ports leading to and from the top or the
ttom of the said annulus, an oscillating ring piston with open bottom and closed
p placed in the annulus so that a slot in the said piston embraces the dividing
rtition, and a cover plate attached to the walls of the annulus closing the top
open end of the same, all substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
5,-In water meters of the oscillating piston type in combination, a cylindrical
nulus closed at the bottom but open at the top having a dividing partition the
oth of the annulus, inlet and outlet parts leading to and from the bottom of
said annulus, an oscillating ring piston open at both ends placed in the annulus

page_text: so that a slot in the said piston embraces the dividing partition and an annular
piston cover plate closing the top of the annulus and descending and following
the wear of the ring piston all substantially as described.
Doth dow of Thahmony 1808
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.