IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR MEASURING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS AND FLUIDS, WHICH CAN ALSO BE EMPLOYED POR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, AND IN TAPS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Aldridge, of Boston, in the County of Lincoln,
Manager of the Boston Waterworks, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN METERS FOR MEASURING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS AND FLUIDS, WHICH CAN ALSO
BE EMPLOYED POR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, AND IN TAPS FOR REGULATING
THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS."
Scaled the 9th November 1855, and dated the 25th May 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Aldridge, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th
May 1855.
I, EDWARD ALDRIDGE, of Boston, in the County of Lincoln, Manager of
the Boston Waterworks, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR MEASURING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS AND FLUIDS,
WHICH CAN ALSO BE EMPLOYED FOR OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, AND IN TAPS FOR
REGULATING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
My Invention in meters consists in the employment of a flexible diaphragm
fitted inside of a spherical or other suitably shaped vessel, into which water or
gas is alternately admitted and expelled through a slide, similar to the slide
valve of a steam engine, and which is worked by a rod passing through a
stuffing box at one side of the vessel and connected to the flexible diaphragm.
The quantity of liquid or fluid passing through the vessel may be registered
by any suitable registering arrangement, worked by the rod which sets the
slide in motion.

page_text: To employ this meter as a motive power engine, the rod passing through
the side of the vessel containing the diaphragm has to be connected to the
machinery to be worked. An engine may have two rods working on the same
line connected to the diaphragm, one passing through one side and the other
through the opposite side of the vessel.
My improvement in taps for regulating the flow of liquids into or from such
meters as aforesaid, and for regulating the flow of liquids generally, consists in
casting upon a shaft, or otherwise fitting thereon or thereto, a cam or eccentric,
which bears upon the spindle of a valve which is kept in its seat and closed by
a pressure of liquid upon it. On turning the shaft, the rise of the cam forces
back the spindle and valve, and opens a small or wide passage for the liquid,
according to the swell of the cam and the amount of turn given to the
shaft.
う
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Aldridge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd November 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
ALDRIDGE, of Boston, in the County of Lincoln, Manager of the Boston Water-
works, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Aldridge, Her special licence that I, the said Edward Aldridge,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward
Aldridge, my executors, administrators, and 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 METERS FOR
MEASURING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS AND FLUIDS, WHICH CAN ALSO BE EMPLOYED FOR
OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER, AND IN TAP3 FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I. the said Edward Aldridge, 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

page_text: Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Aldridge, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:-
My Invention in meters consists in the employment of a flexible diaphragm
fitted inside a spherical or other suitably shaped vessel, into which water or gas
or other liquid or fluid is alternately admitted or expelled through a slide, similar
to the slide valve of a steam engine, and which is worked by a rod passing
through a stuffing box at one side of the vessel and connected to the flexible
diaphragm. The quantity of liquid or fluid passing through the vessel may be
registered by any suitable registering arrangement, worked by the rod which
sets the slide in motion.
My improvement in taps for regulating the flow of liquids into or from such
meters as aforesaid, and for regulating the flow of liquids generally, consists
in casting upon a shaft, or otherwise fitting thereon or thereto, a cam or excen-
tric, which bears upon the spindle of a valve which is kept in its seat and
closed by a pressure of liquid upon it. On turning the shaft, the rise of the
cam forces back the spindle and valve, and opens a small or wide passage for
the liquid, according to the swell of the cam and the amount of turn given
to the shaft.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed I have shewn the manner in which I
construct my improved meter, and also the improved tap for regulating the flow
of liquid or fluid into or from such meter.
Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation, Figure 2 an end elevation, and
Figure 3 a plan, of my improved meter with the cover of the slide removed.
A, A, is a cast-iron bed or base plate, for supporting the working parts of the
meter or engine, when this apparatus is used as such. B, B, is a metal
spheroidal vessel, formed in two parts or halves, bolted together; C is a flexible
diaphragm, the edge of which is inserted between the halves of the vessel B,
and the whole bolted together; D is a rod fixed to the diaphragm C by
means of two plates a, a, tapped and screwed on each side of the diaphragm.
This rod works through a stuffing box E in the side of the vessel, and is con-
nected by the links b to the lever F, centred at c, on a projecting stud pin
fixed in a standard or bracket G, bolted to the base plate A. At the top of
this lever is fixed a balance weight H, having a set screw d passing through it

page_text: to the lever, by means of which the balance weight can be set at any required
position upon the lever, according to the pressure of the liquids. I is a valve
box, fitted on the top of the vessel B; and K, K, are passages, which alter-
nately form the inflow and outlet for the liquid or fluid; L is the valve rod,
which passes through the stuffing box e, and is connected at one end to the
slide valve M, and at the opposite end to the lever F, by means of a cross head
f, working in a double slot g, as shewn, so that the lever may have a greater
stroke than the valve rod L; N is a short lever, working upon a joint fixed
to the base plate A, and fitted with two flexible springs of vulcanized india-
rubber or other material. This lever and springs are to prevent the lever F
from falling over directly it has passed the vertical line, and serve in combina-
tion with the slot g, to keep the valve open until the vessel B is filled with the
liquid or fluid; after which the lever F is liberated from the lever N, and the
sudden jerk caused by the falling of the lever F and balance weight gives to
the cross head of a blow sufficient to reverse the slide, and allow the water or
other liquid or fluid in the vessel to flow out, and a fresh charge to flow in. O
is a rod fixed in a stud pin in the lever F, and is for the purpose of giving
motion to the registering apparatus P; Q is the inlet pipe to the vessel B,
which is fitted with my improved regulating tap; 9 is a spindle or shaft,
having a cam or excentric h cast upon it, or otherwise fitted thereon or thereto.
Figure 4 represents a detached view of this cam. The spindle g works in a
step in the body of the tap, and the top part passes through the screwed cap i.
k is a spindle valve, which is fitted into its seat with the back part towards the
pressure, the spindle of the valve working up against the lower side of the
cam. On turning the spindle g, the rise on the cam forces back the valve, and
thereby admits the inflow of the water. When the cam ceases to act against
the spindle of the valve, the pressure of the liquid or fluid serves to keep the
valve close in its seat. R is the outflow pipe, fitted with a similar valve and
cam to those just before described. To employ this meter as a motive power
engine, the rod D, passing through the side of the vessel containing the
diaphragm, has to be connected to the machinery to be worked. An engine
may have two rods working in the same line connected to the diaphragm, one
passing through one sido and the other through the opposite side of the vessel.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
nummer the same is to be performed. I declare that what I claim i--
First, the improved arrangement and construction of meters for measuring
the flow of liquids and fluids, as herein-before described, and represented in the
Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: Second, I claim the adaptation to and employment of my improved meter,
represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed, as a motive power engine,
arranged and modified in the manner herein-before described.
And, third, I claim the improved construction of tap or valve for regulating
the flow of liquids or fluids, as herein-before described, and represented in the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Aldridge, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of November, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-five.
EDWARD ALDRIDGE. (L.B.)
EDWARD ALDRIDGE. (L.B.)