IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING, MEASURING, RECORDING, AND DELIVERING QUANTITIES OF LIQUID
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Mitchell Graham, of Dunbar, in the County of
Haddington, North Britain, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING, MEASURING, RECORDING, AND DELIVERING
QUANTITIES OF LIQUID."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Mitchell Graham at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd June 1880.
MITCHELL GRAHAM, of Dunbar, in the County of Haddington, North Britain,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING, MEASURING, RECORDING,
AND DELIVERING QUANTITIES OF LIQUID."
This Invention relates to apparatus which can be used as an ordinary water
meter for a liquid not delivered under pressure, the apparatus being also specially
adapted for weighing liquids either in a hot or cold state, including chemically
prepared or other liquids, the specific gravity of which may differ from that of
water. The apparatus is fitted with recording mechanism, and also when required
with parts which can be set to stop the delivery of the liquid when any pre-
determined quantity has passed.
The improved apparatus comprises a rocking box made with two weighing
compartments, and supported on knife edges, the partition between the com-
partments being in a plane passing through the knife-edge axis. In the middle
of the partition there is formed a trunk or passage, up through which the supply
pipe passes, this pipe being stationary, and being made with two curved nozzles at
its top, which nozzles are directly over the partition when the box is horizontal,
but which discharge into whichever compartment is uppermost when the box is
tilted over to one side or the other. At the extreme ends of the bottoms of the
compartiments there are valves opening inwards, and when one compartment is
filled sufficiently to overbalance, that end of the box in descending brings its valve
into contact with a stationary projection on the receiving cistern below and causes
the valve to open, so as to discharge the contents of that compartment into the
cistern below, from which cistern the liquid is led by a pipe to any desired point.
The valves or their spindles are in contact with the rods of pistons working in
Danse

page_text: small cylinders formed in or fixed to the cover or other part of the box, and the
cylinders are provided with outlet passages fitted with regulating cocks, the
pistons and cylinders thus acting as cushions, and preventing the too sudden
descent of the end of the box. The descent of one end of the box causes the ascent
of the other end, and the liquid flows into each compartment alternately.
On the cover or top of the rocking box there are two cheeks formed with V-seats
for knife edges on the spindle of a pendulous weight, which is between the cheeks.
This weight is formed with projections, which pass through curved slots in the
cheeks, on the outer sides of which screws are fitted for adjusting the extent of
movement of the weight projections in the slots. When the rocking box is tilted
over to either side the weight rests against the adjusting screws at that side, and
prevents the box from tilting over the other way until the weight of liquid filled
into the compartment is sufficient to overbalance the pendulous weight and part
of the weight of the box acting on the low side. By adjusting the screws the
pendulous weight may be made to counterbalance a given measure or bulk of
liquid, whatever the specific gravity of the liquid may be within the limits for
which the apparatus is constructed.
The quantities of liquid passing through the apparatus are indicated or recorded
by means of toothed wheels and dials similar to those employed in ordinary meters,
the rocking movements of the box being by preference transmitted to the counting
mechanism by means of a star wheel acted on by spring catches or pawls fitted on
one side of the rocking box.
For the purpose of stopping the delivery of liquid on a predetermined quantity
having passed, the spindle of the stop valve on the supply pipe has a spring applied
to it, tending to close it, and when the valve is opened a lever or handle is moved
bebind a spring catch connected with the counting mechanism. This catch is
formed or fitted with a projection, which is at the proper time acted on by a cam
projection on a wheel, so as to draw in the catch and release the handle of the stop
valve, which is then moved by its spring into the closed position. The wheel
having the cam projection on it is connected with the ordinary counting wheels, so
as to be moved by them, but a ratchet wheel forming part of the connection also
allows it to be moved in advance. There is a loose annular ring on the dial of the
counting mechanism, which is marked with numbers representing gallons or other
measures, and is set round by means of a handle to bring any desired number to a
fixed zero point, and when the ring is thus set the tappet wheel will cause the
supply valve to close on the corresponding number of gallons or other measures
having been delivered. There is also a pointer, which can at starting be set to
the zero point of the movable ring, and will show the progress of the delivery of
the liquid.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Mitchell Graham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
December 1880.
MITCHELL GRAHAM, of Dunbar, in the County of Haddington, North Britain,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WEIGHING, MEASURING, RECORDING,
AND DELIVERING QUANTITIES OF LIQUID."
My said Invention relates to apparatus which can be used as an ordinary water
meter for a liquid not delivered under pressure, the apparatus being also specially
adapted for weighing liquids either in a hot or cold state, including chemically
prepared or other liquids, the specific gravity of which may differ from that of
water. The apparatus is fitted with recording mechanism, and also, when required,
with parts which can be set to stop the delivery of the liquid when any
predetermined quantity has passed.
My improved apparatus comprises a rocking box made with two weighing
compartments, and the liquid enters from above the middle of the box into
whichever compartment is higher. On a certain predetermined weight of liquid
being filled into one compartment the box rocks, and as the filled compartment
descends a valve in its bottom opens, and the liquid is discharged. The quantities
of liquid passing through the apparatus are indicated or recorded by means of
toothed wheels and dials similar to those employed in ordinary meters; and for
the purpose of stopping the delivery of liquid on a predetermined quantity having
passed, the spindle of the stop valve on the supply pipe has a spring applied to it
tending to close it, and when the valve is opened a lever or handle is moved behind
a spring catch connected with the counting mechanism. The catch is released
at the proper time by the counting or recording mechanism, which is provided
with parts for the purpose, such parts being adjustable for different quantities.
My improved weighing or measuring apparatus is made with various improved
arrangements and details, which will be most readily understood from the following
particular description of the whole, aided by two accompanying Sheets of
explanatory Drawings, which are hereinafter referred to, and in which the same
reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are
repeated.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a front elevation of my
improved liquid measuring and weighing apparatus; Figure 2 is a plan of the
rocking box; and Figure 3 is a plan of the base of the machine. Figures 4 and 5
on Sheet 2 are vertical sections as at right angles to each other; Figures 6 and 7
are a plan and a front view of the detail which actuates the counting mechanism;
and Figure 8 is a vertical section of the counting mechanism.
The apparatus is made with a hollow castiron base 9, above which there is
placed a rocking box 10, of a generally rectangular form, and made with two
compartments 11, 12, separated by a transverse partition 13 at the middle of the
box. The box 10 rests at its middle on two steel knife edges 14 fixed in sockets
formed for them on the top of the base 9, the parts bearing on the knife edges
being steel V-pieces 15, fixed in sockets formed on the bottom of the box, one at
the front and the other at the back. In the middle of the partition 13 there is
formed a trunk or passage 16, up through which the supply pipe 17 passes, this
pipe being stationary and being made with two curved nozzles 18 at its top, which
nozzles are directly over the two lateral parts of the partition when the box is
horizontal, but which discharge into whichever compartment (12 for example) is
uppermost when the box 10 is tilted over to one side or the other. At the
extreme ends of the bottoms of the compartments 11, 12, there are valves 19, 20,
opening inwards, and when one compartment (11 for example) is filled sufficiently

page_text: to overbalance, that end of the box 10 in descending brings its valve 19 into
contact with a stationary projection 21 on the receiving cistern or hollow base 9
below, and causes the valve to open so as to discharge the contents of that
compartment into the cistern below. The valve seat or opening is made with a
rim or nozzle which enters just within a rim or nozzle formed round an opening 23
in the top of the hollow base or cistern 9, the projection 21 being formed on a bar
or rib which crosses the opening 23. The hollow base 9 is divided into an upper
and a lower compartment 24, 25, by a horizontal partition 26, having in it grated
openings 27, covered with wire gauze or other suitable filtering material, so that
on its passage to the bottom compartment 25 the liquid becomes deprived of
impurities, and it passes from such lower compartment 25 through an outlet 28,
to which a pipe may be attached for conveying it to any desired point. The
valves 19, 20, or their spindles which move in guides formed for them inside the
box 10, are in contact with the rods of pistons 29, 30, working in small cylinders
31, 32, formed in or fixed to the cover of the box 10, and the cylinders are
provided with upper outlet passages fitted with regulating cocks 33, 34. These
pistons 29, 30, and cylinders 31, 32, act as cushions and prevent the too sudden
descent of the end of the box 10. The descent of one end of the box 10 causes
the ascent of the other end, and the liquid flows into each compartment alternately.
On the cover or top of the rocking box 10 there is at the middle a raised hollow
part 35 which covers the nozzles 18 of the supply pipe, and above this there are
two cheeks 36 formed with V-seats 37 for knife edges 38 on the spindle of a
pendulous weight 39 which is between the cheeks 36. This weight 39 is formed
with projections 40, which pass through curved slots in the cheeks 36, on the outer
sides of which screws 41 are fitted for adjusting or limiting the extent of move-
ment of the weight projections in the slots. When the rocking box 10 is tilted
over to either side the weight 39 rests by its projections 40 against the adjusting
screws 41 at that side and prevents the box from tilting over the other way until
the weight of liquid filled into the compartment is sufficient to overbalance the
pendulous weight and part of the weight of the box acting on the low side. By
adjusting the screws 41 the pendulous weight 39 may be made to counterbalance a
given measure or bulk of liquid, whatever the specific gravity of the liquid may be
within the limits for which the apparatus is constructed. A light casing 42, fixed
down on the base 9, encloses the rocking box 10 and other parts.
The recording mechanism is contained in a cylindrical box 43 fixed at the front
of the casing 42, and a star wheel 44, loose on a spindle 45 passing through the
centre of the box 43, receives the impulses due to each tilting movement of the
rocking measuring box 10. The star wheel 44 is fixed to the tubular boss of a
wheel which is inside of the box 43, and forms the first of an ordinary counting
train. The impulses are communicated by two pawls or catches 46, carried on
studs 47, fixed in the front of the rocking box 10. One of these studs with its
pawl is shown enlarged in Figures 6 and 7. The upper pawl 46 propels the
star wheel 44 when the box 10 moves in one direction, the lower pawl doing
so on the return movement. Each pawl 46 is made with a spur, which, when the
stud is moving in the propelling direction, bears against a projection on the stud,
so that it does not yield, but on the return movement the pawl is free to turn on
the pin, on which it is centred so as not to act on the star wheel in the backward
direction.
For the purpose of stopping the delivery of liquid on a predetermined quantity
having passed, the spindle 48 of the stopcock or valve 49 on the supply pipe 50
has a spring 51 applied to it, tending to close it, and when the valve is opened a
lever or handle 52 is moved behind a spring catch 53 connected with the counting
mechanism. This catch 53 is in the form of a latch bolt sliding in a socket in the
counter box 43, and is formed or fitted with a projection 54, which is at the proper
time acted on by a bevilled pin or cam projection 55 on a wheel 56, so as draw in
the catch 53 and release the handle 52 of the stop valve, which is then moved by
its spring into the closed position. The wheel 56 having the cam projection 55 on

page_text: it is connected with the ordinary counting wheels so as to be moved by them, but
a ratchet wheel 57 forming part of the connection also allows it to be moved in
advance. There is a loose ring 58 on the dial of the counting mechanism, which
ring is marked with numbers representing gallons or other measures, and is set
round to bring any desired number to a fixed zero point. When the ring 58 is
thus set a pointer 59 is set to the zero point of the ring, and this pointer being fast
on the spindle 45 turns it and the wheel 56, which is fast on it and has the cam
projection 55, the result being that the handle 52 of the stop valve will be released
whenever the number of gallons corresponding to the position of the ring 58 have
been passed.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and
original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The arranging or combining together of the parts of apparatus for weighing
and measuring liquids, substantially in the improved manner hereinbefore
described.
2. The rocking box (10) made with the middle trunk or passage (16) for the
supply pipe (17), such pipe extending up from beneath the rocking box, as
herein before described.
3. The arrangement of the discharge valves (19, 20) of the rocking box with
their cushioning pistons and cylinders (29, 30, 31, 32), as herein before described.
4. The combining of the pendulous weight (39) with the rocking box (10)
and with the adjusting stop screws (41), whereby the parts can be set to deliver a
particular weight of liquid at each movement of the rocking box, substantially as
herein before described.
5. The herein before described arrangement of parts whereby the rocking box (10)
is made to act on the counting or recording mechanism (43).
6. The combination of a spring stop valve (49) on the supply pipe, with a spring
catch (53) connected with the counting mechanism, such mechanism having parts
for releasing the catch, and thereby stopping the supply whenever the quantity
of liquid delivered reaches an amount for which suitable parts of the counting
mechanism are set, substantially as herein before described.
7. The providing of parts in the counting mechanism of a liquid meter for closing
a valve on the supply pipe on a certain quantity of liquid having passed,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Mitchell Graham, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
°
MITCHELL GRAHAM. (L.S.)