Year: 1885

page_text: 5
Page 1, line 30, and again line 34, after the word "
point" strike out
(h³)"
My reasons for making his amendment areas
It is doubtful whether the claims are not in too general a form and consequently
include matters which were not novel at the date of the said patent and are other-
wise unintelligible as to what is the invention described and intended to be claimed
and that said claims may be construed in a sense substantially different from the
meaning I intended to convey thereby and to correct certain clerical errors.

page_text: In the Matter of an Application by Donald Fergusson for leave to amend the
Specification relating to his Application for Letters Patent N° 12,285 of 1885 :
I hereby grant leave to the above named Donald Fergusson to amend the said
Specification in the manner proposed.

page_text: I, DONALD FERGUSSON of Her Majesty's Dockyard, Portsmouth in the County
of Hants, Clerk of the Works do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
In order that my improvements may be the better understood, I have appended
hereto a drawing of the same, of which Fig. 1 represents a plan view, and Fig. 2 a
sectional elevation of parts of such apparatus.
In carrying out these improvements I employ means after the manner of a
balance and scales (a) and steelyard (a¹) combined which are enclosed in a suitable
chamber (b.). The steelyard action is obtained by the scales being suspended at
intermediate points (c.) between the centre (c) and the extreme ends (c²) of the
balance (a2), and the weights (d) being transferrable alternately from the centre (c')
of the balance (a) thereof, or from the ends (c2) to the centre (c¹) where one (d')
remains passive holding the levers (g.) in position, whilst the other (d²) acts as a
counterpoise until overcome by the weight of water in the opposite scales (a³), and
their positions are again reversed.
The balance (a2) is formed with racers (e) for the weights (d), which are cylin-
drical and preferably coupled (f.), so as to insure simultaneous and alternate motion
in such manner as described. The ends (c²) of the balance are intercepted and
seated (b) so as to confine its action within a certain radius.
The alternate shunting of the supply pipe (h), to the scales (a), is performed
and regulated by the action of the weights (d.) upon the levers (g.) attached and
suspended to a rocking gudgeon (gl) with quadrant (g), actuating a similar one (g³)
above it the end of which is cranked at (g), and attached to the supply pipe (h.),
which is flexible at (¹), and thus receives an opposite motion to that of the
levers (g.), and counterpoise (d2), and may be kept in this position with the aid of
a spring clutch, until thrown back by the action of the return weight (d) upon the
corresponding lever (g). The flow being shunted in the course of the movement
upon the point (44) (g'). This end can also be preferably accomplished without
the rocking gudgeon (g³), and the quadrant movement (g³), by placing the crank
upon the rocking gudgeon (g¹) as described, when the supply pipe will work
parallel with the levers (g) and the shoots (n.) are reversed and crossed under
the point () (g¹).
The alternate discharge of the scales is obtained by means of the weight
valves (i.), which are of larger waterways than the supply pipe (h), and formed
with sliding rods (i¹) working in the guide frames (2) so that when a scale is
suspended as (at) (a³) the valve (3) is closed and the lower portion of the rod (¿³)
projects through the bottom of the scale (a³), which on being brought down the
rod (2) impinges on a projection (c) on the bottom of the casing (b.) and the
valve (23) is opened as (5) the scales being seated as provided for at (¹).

page_text: The water on leaving the chamber (b.) at (1) will lead into a store or regulating
tank or cistern (n.) (m.), which may be attached to the apparatus as shown and
form a portion of it, but it may also be placed quite apart in another portion of
the building, but on a level sufficient for gravitation. The overflow will be placed
so as to admit of one or two extra discharges from the apparatus so as to prevent
waste.
The supply pipe (h.) will pass through the store or regulating tank or cistern (m)
and will have the usual ball-cock arrangement attached at h so as to regulate the
supply.
The quantity measured or weighed at each discharge being known, the same will
be indicated in the usual way by the index arrangement, which may be actuated
by the rocking centre gudgeon (c¹) at (n).
Having thus described my invention, and means by which the same is carried
into effect, I would have it understood that, what I claim is the arranging or
combining parts of water meters in which :-
1. The balance and weights including the steelyard action.
2. The scales and method means of retention and discharge.
3. The means for effecting the shunting of the supply and diversion of the water
races or shoots.
Onnet