Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating or Recording the Level of Water and other Liquids.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating or Recording the Level
of Water and other Liquids.
I, HENRY ALBERT CUTLER, of Municipal Buildings, in the City and County of
Cork, Ireland, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of electric apparatus for indicating
or recording at any convenient position the level of water or other liquid at some
distant place.
1
Apparatus for this purpose according thereto comprises a transmitter at the
place where the water or other liquid level is to be ascertained and an indicator
or recorder in any convenient position, the two being electrically connected together
and so constructed that the rise and the fall of the liquid-level will respectively
cause, by means of the transmitter momentary currents, produced by a suitable
generator, to flow in opposite directions between the transmitter and the indicator
or recorder and thereby bring about movements in opposite directions of the pointer
of the indicator or the pencil of the recorder.
Such apparatus may be constructed in various ways.
The transmitter, in one example, comprises a disc made of electrically non-
conducting material fixed on a suitably mounted axle provided with means
whereby the rise and the fall of the liquid-level can respectively rotate it in
opposite directions. For this purpose there may be secured on the axle a chain
wheel or drum round which passes a chain having attached to it at one end a
float supported by the liquid and at the other a counterweight. The disc is formed
of two similar circular plates separated by distance-pieces. A radial arm is
mounted on the axle between the two plates so as to be free to move thereon to
an extent limited by the distance-pieces, which may be arranged to allow it to
move through one quadrant; its outer end projects beyond the periphery of the
disc, and is weighted and provided with a two pronged contact-spring arranged
to bear simultaneously on two contact-strips secured on the edges of the plates
respectively. On opposite sides of the axle there are arranged two sets of contact-
springs, each set consisting of four springs, one connected to earth, another to the
line to the indicator or recorder, and the third and fourth respectively to the
positive and negative poles of a local battery. These contact-springs are arranged
to rub on two pairs of rubbing-strips inserted into the outer sides of the respective
plates concentrically therewith and, on each side of the disc, and to come into
contact with two pairs of short contact-pieces in line with the rubbing-strips,
the contact-pieces on one plate being opposite to those on the other. The contact-
strips on the edges of the plates are each permanently connected to one contact-
piece of each pair of contact-pieces on their respective plates and the remaining

page_text: contact-pieces of opposite pairs are likewise permanently connected together.
The arrangement of the contact-springs on one side of the axle is different from
that on the other side, and this arrangement and that of the various contact-pieces
and contact-strips is such that when the axle is rotated by the rise of the liquid-
level, and the arm is carried to its highest position, one set of contact-springs
is in contact with two opposite pairs of contact-pieces, and, on. the further rotation
of the arm and consequent fall thereof, its forked contact-spring travels along,
and beyond, the pair of contact-strips on the edges of the plates and thereby causes
a current momentarily to flow between the transmitter and the indicator or
recorder, further rotation of the disc in the same direction causing the short
contact-pieces just mentioned to pass out of contact with the respective contact-
spring before the contact-strips again come into contact with the contact-spring
carried by the arm; whereas when the axle is rotated by the fall of the liquid-
level the other opposite pairs of short contact-pieces are connected by the contact-
spring on the arm in a similar manner and thereby a current is caused momentarily
to flow between the transmitter and the indicator or recorder in the direction
opposite to that caused by the rise of the liquid-level.
It is obvious that if desired more than one arm may be used, each provided
with its own contact-strips and contact-pieces and arranged to operate as above
described.
The indicator or recorder may comprise two armatures arranged within an
electromagnetic or a permanent magnetic field and adapted to rotate a pointer in
front of a dial or to move a recording pencil arranged opposite to a clockwork-
operated roll, in one or other direction according to the direction of the current
passing through the indicator or recorder. If a permanent magnetic field is
used the current from the line may pass through the conductor of the armatures.
If an electro-magnetic field is used the transmitted current may pass through a
relay and then either through the field-magnet conductor or through the armature-
conductor, the relay completing a circuit of a separate local battery which causes
a current to flow through the armatures or the field-magnet respectively.
The armatures, in one example of indicator or recorder, are mounted to rotate
freely on an axle, being separated from each other by a small washer fixed to the
axle. Fixed to the two ends of the axle respectively are two ratchet-wheels having
their teeth pointing in opposite directions. To each armature is secured an arm,
which can be moved between an adjustable and a fixed stop and which carries a
pawl, adapted to engage with one of the ratchet-wheels and to be disengaged
therefrom by means of projections when the corresponding arm is in its normal
position of rest against its stop. The arrangement is such that current flowing
in the direction indicating a rise or a fall of the liquid-level causes one or other
of the armatures to rotate and carry with it its arm until the latter is arrested
by its adjustable stop, the other armature being prevented from rotating by its
fixed stop. In this way a unit-movement in the proper direction is imparted io
the pointer or pencil as the case may be. After being operated as described,
the arms are brought into their initial position by gravity or spring-force.
Catches, normally kept out of the way by gravity or spring-force, are arranged to
be operated by the arms so as to come into the way of pins on the respective ratchet-
wheels and so prevent the pointer or pencil from being carried beyond the proper
position by the momentum of moving parts.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating or Recording the Level
of Water and other Liquids.
I, HENRY ALBERT CUTLER, of Municipal Buildings, in the City and County of
Cork, Civil Engineer, 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 the construction of electrical apparatus for indicating
or recording at any convenient position the level of water or other liquid at some
distant place.
Apparatus for this purpose according thereto comprises a transmitter at the
place where the water or other liquid level is to be ascertained and an indicator
or recorder in any convenient position, the two being electrically connected together
and so constructed that the rise and the fall of the liquid-level will respectively
cause, by means of the transmitter momentary currents, produced by a suitable
generator, to flow in opposite directions between the transmitter and the indicator
or recorder and thereby bring about movements in opposite directions of the pointer
of the indicator or the pencil of the recorder.
An example of a transmitter constructed according to this invention is shown in
Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. 1 is a side view,
Fig. 2 a sectional plan, and Fig. 3 an end view thereof.
The transmitter shown comprises a disc made of electrically non-conducting
material fixed on a suitably mounted axle A on which, for the purpose of being
rotated in opposite directions by the rise and the fall of the liquid-level, is fixed a
chain-wheel A round which passes a chain A2 having attached to it at one end
a float (not shown) supported by the liquid and at the other a counterweight (also
not shown). The disc is formed of two similar circular plates B separated by distance
pieces C. A radial arm D is mounted on the axle A between the two plates B
so as to be free to move thereon to an extent limited by the distance-pieces C,
which are arranged to allow it to move through one quadrant; its outer end
projects beyond the periphery of the disc, and is weighted and provided with a
two pronged contact-spring E° arranged to bear simultaneously on two contact-
strips H secured on the edges of the two plates B respectively. On opposite sides
of the axle there are arranged two sets of contact-springs E L P N, each set con-
sisting of four springs, one, E, connected to earth, another, L, to the line wire
leading to the indicator or recorder, and the third P and fourth N respectively
to the positive and negative poles of a local battery. These contact-springs are
arranged to rub on two pairs of rubbing-strips K inserted into the outer sides
of the respective plates concentrically therewith and, on each side of the disc,
to come into contact with two pairs of short contact-pieces F F and G G¹ in line
with the rubbing-strips K, the contact-pieces on one plate B being opposite to
those on the other. The contact-strips H on the edges of the plates B are each
permanently connected to one contact-piece F and one contact-piece G of the two
pairs of contact-pieces F F1 and G G¹ on their respective plates B and the remain-
ing contact-pieces F1 and G₁ of opposite pairs are likewise permanently connected
together. The arrangement of the contact-springs EL PN on one side of the
axle is different from that of the contact-springs E L P N on the other side (the
contact springs E and L on opposite sides are shown arranged to rub the same
contact-pieces, but the contact-springs P and N on one side are shown arranged
to rub the contact-pieces rubbed by the springs N and P respectively on the other

page_text: side), and this arrangement and that of the various contact-pieces and contact-
strips is such that when the axle is rotated by the rise of the liquid-level, and
the arm D is carried to its highest position (indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1
and 3), one set of contact-springs E L P N is in contact with two opposite pairs
of contact-pieces G G¹ (say), and on the further rotation of the arm and conse-
quent fall thereof, its forked contact-spring E° travels along, and beyond, the pair
of contact-strips H on the edges of the plates and thereby causes a current momen-
tarily to flow between the transmitter and the indicator or recorder, further
rotation of the disc in the same direction causing the short contact-pieces G G¹
just mentioned to pass out of contact with the respective contact-springs E L P. N.
before the contact strips H will again come into contact with the contact-spring E
carried by the arm D; whereas when the axle is rotated by the fall of the liquid-
level the other opposite pairs of short contact-pieces F are connected by the
contact-spring E° on the arm D in a similar manner, and thereby a current is
caused momentarily to flow between the transmitter and the indicator or recorder
in the direction opposite to that of the current caused by the rise of the liquid-
level. EL NI PI are binding-screws for the purpose of attaching the
contact-springs E L P N to their respective wires.
It is obvious that if desired more than one arm may be used, each provided with
its own contact-strips and contact-pieces and arranged to operate as above
described; and also that suitable multiplying gearing may be interposed between
the chain-wheel and the disc axle if it be desired to indicate very small fluctuations
of liquid level.
The indicator or recorder may comprise two armatures arranged within an
electromagnetic or a permanent magnet field and adapted to rotate
a pointer in front of a dial or to move a recording pencil opposite
to a clockwork-operated roll or disc in one or other direction according
to the direction of the current passing through the indicator or recorder. If a
permanent magnet field be used the current from the line may pass through the
conductor of its armatures. If an electromagnetic field be used the transmitted
current may pass through a relay and then either through the field magnet con-
ductor or through the armature conductor, the relay completing a circuit of a
separate local battery which will cause a current to flow through the armatures
or the field magnet respectively.
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate an example of such an indicator or recorder, in which
the armatures A A¹ are mounted to rotate freely on an axle B which may either
carry a pointer L adapted to rotate in front of a dial as shown or be connected
by any suitable means with a recording pencil; the armatures A A¹ are separated
from each other by a small washer C which may be fixed to the axle B. Fixed to
the two ends of the axle B respectively are two ratchet-wheels D D¹ having their
teeth pointing in opposite directions. To the armatures A A¹ are secured arms E E¹
which can be moved between adjustable stops G G¹ and fixed stops F F¹ which
carry pawls H H¹ adapted to engage with the ratchet-wheels D D and to be dis-
engaged therefrom by means of projections J and J¹ when the arms are in their
normal position of rest against the stops. The arrangement is such that current
flowing in one or the other direction indicating either a rise or a fall of the liquid-
level causes one or other of the armatures A A¹ to rotate and carry with it its
arm E or E until the latter is arrested by its adjustable stop G or G¹, the other
armature being prevented from rotating by its fixed stop F or F¹. In this way a
unit-movement in the proper direction is imparted to the pointer or pencil as the
čase may be. After being operated as described, the arms are brought into their
initial position by gravity in the example shown, but spring-force may be used
for this purpose if desired. Catches M M¹, mounted on pivots 0 and 0¹ and
normally kept out of the way by gravity (spring force may be used in lieu of
gravity), and arranged to be operated by the arms E E by means of the upper
portions of their pawls, so as to come into the way of pins N on the respective
ratchet-wheels and so prevent the pointer or the pencil from being carried beyond

page_text: the proper position by the momentum of the moving parts connected thereto
which are normally restrained from movement due to slight causes, by pressure
as of a spring, upon a suitable part such as one of the ratchet-wheels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. For indicating or recording the level of liquids, apparatus comprising a
transmitter which causes momentary currents to flow in an electric circuit in one
or the other direction according as the liquid level is rising or falling, and an
indicator or recorder which is connected in the said circuit and moves an indicating
pointer or a recording pencil in one direction or the other in conformity with the
momentary currents received from the transmitter.
2. In apparatus for indicating the level of liquids, transmitters in which bodies
rotated in one or the other direction by the rise or the fall of the liquid level carry
round with them contact-making devices which, after being raised to their highest
positions, are moved by gravity into and out of contact with insulated contact
surfaces attached to the said bodies and thereby electrically connect stationary
contact-pieces so as to transmit momentary currents in an electrical circuit in
one or the other direction according to the direction of rotation of the said bodies.
3. Apparatus for indicating or recording the level of liquids, comprising three
magnets two of which have their motion restrained in one direction in each case
but can be moved in other and mutually opposite directions by momentary currents
passing through the apparatus, and when so moved will operate an indicating
pointer or a recording pencil in one direction or the other according to the direction.
of the said currents.
4. For indicating or recording the level of liquids a transmitter and an
indicator or recorder constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as herein-
before described with reference to and shown respectively in Figs. 1, 2, and 3,
and in Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
בד
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Dated this 7th day of February 1899.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.