IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR REDUCING OR REGULATING FLUID PRESSURE, AND FOR MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE PRESSURES AND QUANTITIES OF WATER OR OTHER FLUID FLOWING IN GIVEN TIMES THROUGH PIPES OR OTHER CONDUITS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Melling, of Grassendale Park, Aigburth, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR REDUCING OR REGULATING FLUID PRESSURE,
AND FOR MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE PRESSURES AND QUANTITIES OF
WATER OR OTHER FLUID FLOWING IN GIVEN TIMES THROUGH PIPES OR OTHER
CONDUITS,"
Sealed the 20th December 1878, and dated the 11th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Melling at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th July 1878.
THOMAS MELLING, of Grassendale Park, Aigburth, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR REDUCING OR
REGULATING FLUID PRESSURE, AND FOR MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE
PRESSURES AND QUANTITIES OF WATER OR OTHER FLUID FLOWING IN GIVEN TIMES
THROUGH PIPES OR OTHER CONDUITS."
This Invention relates to apparatus which in a simple form combines the func
tions of,-
(a.) A pressure reducing valve for fluids.
(b.) An "inferential meter" for the measurement of water or other fluid.
(c.) And a "waste-water meter" for detecting leakages or waste of water.
In each of these several capacities I believe it a most reliable instrument, per-
fectly gentle and certain in its action, and not liable to get out of order.
As a reducing valve it is designed to fulfil the following conditions, all of which
are absolutely necessary in a first class instrument for this purpose, namely:-
1st. That whatever the pressure may be on the inlet side of the valve, the pressure
on the outlet side of it cannot at any time (except in the case of the provision for
fire, which will be hereafter described) exceed that to which it is regulated.
2nd. That the valve shall be perfectly tight when closed, so that however high the
pressure may rise on the inlet side of it, or however long the water may lie in the

page_text: mains without any being drawn therefrom (as in the night time, for instance), the
required pressure on the outlet side shall never be exceeded; this could not be
the case with a valve that leaked, even in the slightest degree, but this valve is so
constructed that the higher the pressure on its inlet side may rise, the tighter will
the valve become.
3rd. That the valve in closing shall cause no concussion whatever in nor consequent
damage to the mains or pipes.
4th. That in the event of a fire taking place the valve shall allow the full or
unreduced pressure of water in the main on the outlet side of the valve during the
continuance of the fire, and restore the diminished pressure on its extinction, the
former of these actions to be automatically effected simply by the increased
draught of water from the mains that will then take place, and the latter by its
cessation.
As an "inferential" and "waste-water meter," the apparatus registers the degree
of opening of the valve, the pressure at which the water enters it, and the length
of time which it remains open, thus furnishing data from which the quantity of
water that passes through it can be readily ascertained.
My improved apparatus for effecting the above-named purposes consists as
follows:-
1st. In a chamber out of one side of which the exit pipe proceeds, the said exit
pipe being in free communication with the said chamber.
.
2nd. The said chamber has a valve seating at its upper end, in which is a valve
(herein-after called "the main valve"); this valve is kept almost in equilibrio by
a water-tight piston attached to it, which works on and closes the lower end of the
'said chamber.
3rd. Both the main valve and its piston are fixed upon the same spindle, so that
they are raised and depressed simultaneously; this spindle projects upward through
an outer stuffing box to a lever, to be hereafter described. The water from the
delivery pipe presses upon the upper surface of the main valve and upon the under
side of its piston, and as the area of the former is slightly greater than that of the
latter, the pressure of the water (or other fluid) on the back of it keeps it tight
when closed.
4th. Connected to the exit pipe is another cylinder, the axis of which is parallel
to the axis of the valve spindle before mentioned. In the bottom of this cylinder
there is a valve seating, and below the valve seating an opening, which opening is
in free communication with the exit pipe; this cylinder is fitted with a water-tight
piston (herein-after called "the regulating piston"), which has a rod that passes
through it both upwards and downwards, the upper end of the rod projecting out-
wardly, and the lower end being made conical and passing through the opening in
the bottom of the cylinder. The cone upon the piston rod (which is largest at its
bottom end) as it rises in the opening in the cylinder bottom gradually contracts
'the passage for the water to the under side of the piston above it, and in so doing
acts as a regulating valve, and causes the main valve to be closed with the greatest
gentleness, thereby preventing all concussion in and consequent damage to the
mains. This cone also serves the further important purpose of steadily adjusting
the extent of opening of the main valve to the draught of water from the main for
the purpose of measurement. Under the regulating piston and fixed upon the same
rod is a valve which closes upon the valve seating before named, and cuts off all
communication between the exit pipe and the under side of the said piston when
the main valve is open to its fullest extent, and as this valve (which from its object
and for distinction's sake I call the "fire-valve") is of proportionably smaller area
than the regulating piston above it, it will when once shut remain so, and keep the
main valve wide open until the full pressure is restored in the mains.
To permit the fire-valve freedom in closing and insure its remaining closed during
a fire, there is also a small auxiliary valve, which is opened by the lever, to be
hereafter described, and closed by a spiral spring and the pressure of the water on
the back of the valve; this auxiliary valve breakes the pressure in the cylinder

page_text: under the regulating piston whilst the fire-valve is being closed, and also prevents
the further accumulation of any pressure under the said piston until the fire-valve
is re-opened.
5th. Both the piston rod and the valve spindle previously described are jointed to
a lever which is weighted by moveable weight or weights at one end; their junction
points with the lever are on opposite sides of the fulcrum, and as near as may be
convenient to it.
6th. The mode of working is as follows:-Pressure being exerted on the main valve
by the head of water in the main, the said valve remains closed as long as the water
in the exit pipe is at or about its normal or required pressure, as regulated by the
weight on the weighted lever; the instant however that water is drawn from the
exit pipe the pressure falls slightly, and is no longer able by its pressure on the.
under surface of the regulating piston, together with the unbalanced pressure of
the head of water on the main valve (after deducting the pressure on the piston
under it), to counteract the effect of the weight on the weighted lever, the main
valve consequently opens a little and continues to admit water, so as to keep the
pressure in the exit pipe (acting under the regulating piston) at the required
pressure; the moment however the water ceases to be drawn from the exit pipe,
and the pressure therein rises above the normal pressure, the regulating piston is
raised, the main valve closed, and any further rise of pressure in the main exit pipe
prevented. The action of the main valve whilst being opened and closed is steadied
and controlled by the conical self-regulating valve upon the bottom end of the piston
rod, previously described. On the occurence of a fire however, on opening the
hydrants, the unusually large draught of water from the mains which will then
take place will cause the regulating piston to fall lower in its cylinder, and the main
valve consequently to open wider than they do in ordinary working. The fire valvé
will then close and keep the main valve wide open until the full pressure (in the
absence of all draught therefrom) is restored in the mains, and this it will do
although the pressure of the water flowing through the mains during the con-
tinuance of the fire may considerably exceed that to which the valve as a reducing.
valve has been regulated.
For measuring and registering the quantity of water (or other fluid) flowing
through the apparatus in a given time, I cause the lever or other of the moving
parts to draw a diagram on a cylinder which revolves by clockwork, the degree of
opening of the main valve being adjusted to the draught of water from the main,
and the main valve kept steady during such measurement by the self-regulating
valve, as previously described.
.
Similarly, the pressure of water in the mains on the inlet side of the main valve,
as it varies from time to time, is recorded by a self-registering pressure gauge, which
is connected by a pipe to the main, and which draws another diagram upon the
same revolving cylinder.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Melling in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th January
1879.
THOMAS MELLING, of Grassendale Park, Aigburth, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR REDUCING OR
REGULATING FLUID PRESSURE, AND FOR MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE
PRESSURES AND QUANTITIES OF WATER OR OTHER FLUID FLOWING IN GIVEN TIMES
THROUGH PIPES OR OTHER CONDUITS."
This Invention relates chiefly to improvements in and addition to the valve
mechanism described in my former Patent Specification, No. 2155, of 1876.
The apparatus in a simple form combines the functions of,-
(a.) A pressure-reducing valve for fluids.
(b.) An "inferential meter" for the measurement of water or other fluid.
(c.) And a "waste-water meter," for detecting leakages or waste of water.
In each of these several capacities I believe it is a most reliable instrument,
perfectly gentle, and certain in its action, and not liable to get out of order.
As a reducing valve it is designed to fulfil the following conditions, all of which
are absolutely necessary in a first class instrument for this purpose, namely:-
1st. That whatever the pressure may be on the inlet side of the valve, the
pressure on the outlet side of it cannot at any time (except in the case of the
provision for fire, which will be hercafter described) exceed that to which it is
regulated.
2nd. That the valve shall be perfectly tight when closed, so that however high
the pressure may rise on the inlet side of it, or however long the water may lie in
the mains without any being drawn therefrom (as in the night time for instance)
the required pressure on the outlet side shall never be exceeded. This could not
be the case with a valve that leaked even in the slightest degree; but this valve
is so constructed that the higher the pressure on its inlet side may rise the tighter
will the valve become.
3rd. That the valve in closing shall cause no concussion whatever in nor conse-
quent damage to the mains or pipes.
4th. That in the event of a fire taking place the valve shall allow the full or
unreduced pressure of water in the main on the outlet side of the valve during the
continuance of the fire, and restore the diminished pressure on its extinction.
the former of these actions to be automatically effected by the increased draught
of water from the mains that will then take place, and the latter by its cessation.
As an "inferential" fluid meter, and as a "waste water" meter, the apparatus
registers the degree of opening of the valve, the pressure at which the water enters
it, and the length of time which it remains open, thus furnishing data from which
the quantity of water that passes through it can be readily ascertained.
My improved apparatus for effecting the before-named purposes is shown upon
the accompanying Drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 a
plan thereof.
The same letters of reference apply to the same parts in both Figures.
The said apparatus consists as follows:-
-
Ist. In a chamber A, out of one side of which the exit pipe B proceeds, the said
exit pipe being in free communication with the said chamber.
2nd. The said chamber A has a valve seating C at its upper end, in which is a
valve C (herein-after called "the main valve"). This valve is kept almost in
equilibrio by a water-tight piston C2 which is attached to it, and works in and
closes the lower end of the said chamber. I do not confine myself to any particular
description of piston for this purpose, but the one shewn in section on the Drawing
I find to answer well. It is formed of a cupped leather fixed between two metal
washers, the whole being held together by a collar and nut upon the rod; the

page_text: pressure of the water presses the leather against the cylinder, and thus keeps a
water-tight joint.
3rd. Both the main valve C¹ and the piston C² are generally formed or fixed
upon the same spindle D, so that they are raised and depressed simultaneously.
A continuation of the said valve spindle D or E projects upward through an outer
stuffing box to a lever F, to be afterwards described. The spindle E is not rigidly
attached to the valve C¹, but the latter merely rests or hangs thereon. The water
from the delivery or inlet pipe G presses upon the upper surface of the main
valve C and upon the under side of the piston C³, and as the area of of the former is
slightly greater than that of the latter, the pressure of the water (or other fluid) on
the back of it keeps it tight when closed.
4th. Connected to the exit pipe B is another cylinder H, the axis of which is
parallel to the axis of the valve spindle D. In the bottom of the cylinder H is a
valve seating a, with an opening 6 under it, which opening 6 is in communication
with the exit pipe B. The cylinder H is fitted with a water-tight piston I (herein-
after called "the regulating piston"), the upper surface of which is open to the
atmosphere by an air hole L. This piston I has a rod J, that passes through it
both upwards and downwards, the upper end of the rod projecting outwardly, and
the lower end e being made conical, and passing through the opening b in the
bottom of the cylinder. The cone e (which is largest in diameter at its bottom end,
and reaches to within a short distance from the end of the piston rod where it
becomes parallel, or nearly so) as it rises in the opening in the cylinder bottom,
gradually contracts the passage for the water to the under side of the piston I
above it, and in so doing acts as a regulating valve or governor to the movements
of the said piston I, and by it to the main valve C₁, causing the latter to be closed
with the greatest gentleness and thereby preventing any concussion in and con-
sequent damage to the mains or pipes. The cone e also serves the further important
purpose of adjusting the extent of opening of the main valve C' to the draught of
water from the exit pipe B, which not only keeps the valve steady but is indis-
pensible for the purpose of measurement. Under the regulating piston I, and fixed
upon the same rod J, there is a valve f, which closes upon the valve seating a before
mentioned, and thus cuts off all communication between the exit pipe B and the
under side of the said piston I, when the main valve C¹ is opened to its full extent.
All pressure being thus removed from under it the piston I is thereby rendered
inoperative. And as this valve f (which, from its object, and for distinction's sake
I call the "fire-valve") is of proportionally smaller area than the regulating piston I
above it, it will when shut remain so, and keep the main valve C₁ wide open until
the full pressure is restored in the mains, its action in this respect resembling that
of an ordinary safety valve.
The regulating piston I and the fire-valve f, as shown in section in Fig. 1 of the
Drawing, are formed together; the piston of a cupped leather between two metal
washers (similar to the piston C2, previously described), and the fire-valve simply
by the interposition of a leather washer between the lower metal washer of the
piston and the nut on the piston rod, which binds the whole together.
This arrangement I find economical in construction, and to answer well in practice,
but I do not therefore necessarily confine myself to the kind of either piston or
valve here described.
5th. To permit the fire-valve f freedom in closing, and insure its remaining
closed during the continuance of a fire, there is also a small auxiliary valve 9, which
is opened by the lever F (to be hereafter described), and closed by a spiral spring h
and the pressure of the water on the back of the valve; this auxiliary valve g (the
upper surface of which by a small hole m is open to the atmosphere) breaks the
pressure in the cylinder H under the regulating piston I whilst the fire-valve f is
being closed, and also prevents the further accumulation of any pressure under tho
said piston I until the fire-valve f is re-opened.}
6th: Both the piston rod J and the valve spindle E are connected by the links i, i,
and joint pins (or otherwise) to a lever F, which is weighted at one end by a moveable

page_text: weight or weights J': The junction points with the lever are on opposite sides of
the fulcrum K, and as near as may be convenient to it.
7th. In connection with the lever F is a clockwork and indicator, hereafter
explained. It is better however, before passing to this portion of my apparatus,
to explain the working of the herein-before described valve apparatus.
8th. The mode of working is as follows:-The mains being full of water on both the
inlet and outlet sides of the apparatus, and the main valve C¹ closed, it will remain
so until water is drawn from the exit pipe B, being held in that position by the
water under the regulating piston I and the unbalanced pressure from the head of
water in the inain on the back of the valve itself (C) after deducting the pressure
on the piston (C2) under it. As soon however as the water is commenced to be
drawn from the exit pipe B, the regulating piston I will be depressed by the
weight J¹ on the lever F, and the main valve C¹ opened thereby, the small amount
of unbalanced pressure on the back of the said main valve C¹, as before referred to,
being utterly inadequate to counteract the effect of the weight J. The main
valve C¹ will then continue to admit water to the exit pipe B, so as to keep the
pressure within it (acting under the regulating piston I) at the normal or required
pressure, as regulated by the weight J¹ on the lever F; but when water ceases to be
drawn from the exit pipe B, and the pressure therein rises above the normal
pressure, the regulating piston I will be raised, the main valve C¹ closed, and any
further rise of pressure in the exit pipe B prevented. The action of the main
valve C whilst being opened and closed, is steadied and controlled by the conical
self-regulating valve or governor e upon the bottom end of the piston rod J, as pre-
viously described. On the occurrence of a fire however, and the consequent opening
of the hydrants, the unusually large draught of water from the mains which will
then take place will cause the regulating piston I to fall lower in the cylinder H,
and the main valve C¹ consequently to open wider than they do in ordinary
working. The fire-valve f will thereby be closed, the small auxiliary valve g
opened, and the main valve C¹ kept wide open (as shown in Fig. 1 on the Drawing)
until the full pressure is restored in the mains. The pressure of the water flowing
through the mains during the continuance of the fire will thus exceed that which
would be allowed by the valve when only the usual draught is made from the
mains, and that in the inverse ratio of the area of the exposed under surface of the
fire-valve when closed to that of the regulating piston I. On the cessation of
the fire the increased pressure in the mains, caused by the closing of the hydrants,
will re-open the fire-valve, and bring the apparatus again into operation as a
reducing valve.
9th. For measuring and registering the quantity of water (or other fluid) flowing
through the apparatus in a given time, I cause the lever F or other of the moving
parts to draw a diagram on a cylinder, which revolves by clockwork after the
manner of a steam engine indicator, or in any other of the many well-known ways
of effecting this object, the degree of opening of the main valve C¹ being adjusted
to the draught of water from the main or exit pipe B, and the said main valve C¹
kept steady during such measurement by the self-regulating valve or governor e, as
previously described.
10th. The form of apparatus I prefer for doing this is shown in the Drawing, in
which M-is a revolving cylinder or drum, on which the diagrams are taken on sheets
of paper encircling it. The vertical lines show divisions of time, the horizontal
ones the degrees of opening of the valve. The results are ascertained by calculation
from the ordinates and spaces between them that are formed between the base or
zero line and the fluxional line drawn by a pencil N, hereafter.described; the
cylinder M is fixed on its axis. O is a clock laid horizontally, and having a socket
P on the axis of the hour (or diurnal hand), into which the spindle of the drum M
drops; N is the pencil; it is carried in a horizontal socket formed on the vertical
rod or pencil bar Q.
The pencil is kept in contact with the cylinder by a spiral spring with a washer
at each end of it placed in the socket of the pencil bar, and having a set screw R at
"

page_text: the opposite end to the pencil to regulate the compression of the spring. The
pencil bar Q is square in section to prevent its twisting. At each end it slides
through a bush round on the outside, which bushes are held in position by thumb-
screws, so that when the screws are slackened, the pencil can be turned round from
the drum and adjusted or replaced. The pencil bar Q is raised by the lever F
(which has a fork upon the end of it) as the main valve C is opened, and falls by
its own gravity as the said valve closes. The axis of the cylinder M at its upper
end works in a bush, which passes through a cross head, hereafter referred to, and
projects down through it. This bush is shouldered above the cross head and has a
milled rim at its top. It is secured in its place by a thumbscrew in front of the
cross head. To take out the drum it is only necessary to slacken the thumbscrew
and raise the bush.
The framework for carrying the above clockwork and indicator consists of a base
plate X, two vertical pillars Y, Y, and a cross head Z. The base plate X has
suitable preparations upon it to receive the clock O, the two pillars Y, Y, and the
pencil bar Q, and rests upon a movable stand W, that is stepped in a socket on the
inlet pipe G. The vertical pillars having screwed ends and nuts bind the whole
together. In this arrangement the cockwork and indicator are of course carried by
the pipe, and can be applied to the valve apparatus or removed from it at pleasure.
Where desirable they may however be placed at any convenient distance from the
valve apparatus, so as to protect them from damp, dirt, frost, et cetera. In such
case all that is requisite is to connect the end of the valve lever F (which has a
hole in it for the purpose) to the pencil bar Q, by a chain or wire rope T carried
over suitable pulleys. One of these pulleys, and a standard Y₁ for carrying it, are
indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 on the Drawing. This pulley is shown as
carrying the chain from the pencil bar Q, and the standard Y' having a nut at its
foot, as substituted for the ordinary nut on the top of one of the vertical pillars Y.
11th. To complete the data necessary for ascertaining the quantities of water
flowing through the apparatus in given times, a record must (simultaneously with
that of the opening and closing of the valve) also be made of the pressure, as it may
vary from time to time at which the water enters the apparatus. This I effect by
a self-registering pressure gauge S, which is connected by a pipe S¹ to the inlet
pipe G, and draws another diagram on the revolving cylinder M. This gauge, and
also the other recording apparatus is usually attached by a simple socket or screwed
joint, so that it can be readily removed. By this means one set of recording
apparatus can be made in turn, to test any number of valves in succession.
12th. For the protection of the apparatus and to afford ready access to it,
I usually enclose the whole in a water-tight iron casing, which has a movable lid.
The construction of this casing is facilitated by both the inlet and outlet pipes
of the apparatus being in the direct line of the main. But as such casing forms no
part of the apparatus (being merely an adjunct), and no claim is founded by me
upon it, I have not considered it necessary to show it upon the Drawing or further
particularize it.
Having now described my Invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details shown, as these may be varied indefinitely, but what I believe to be new,
and desire to claim under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The manufacture or use of reducing valves, "inferential" fluid meters, or
"waste-water" meters, with a conical regulating valve or governor, constructed and
applied thereto as herein-before described (or in any mechanically equivalent
manner), in order to steady and control the movements of the reducing or other
valves, or to adjust the degree of opening of such valve to the draught of water
from the mains, or pipes, or to prevent any concussion in, and consequent damage
to the mains by the closing of such valve.
2nd. The manufacture or use of reducing valves with a fire-valve as herein-before
described, which shall close when the reducing valve is opened to its full extent,
and thereby cut off all pressure from and thus render inoperative the regulating

page_text: piston (or ram as the case may be) by which the reducing valve is actuated. The
under surface of the fire-valve will then present a smaller area to be acted upon by
the pressure of the water, and consequently require a higher pressure to open it,
and thereby close the reducing valve, than would otherwise suffice to move the
regulating piston (or ram) for that purpose.
3rd. In reducing valves in conjunction with the before-named fire-valves, an
auxiliary valve as herein-before described for the purpose of breaking the pressure
in the cylinder between the regulating piston (or ram) and the fire-valve, whilst the
latter is being closed, and also of preventing any subsequent accumulation of
pressure between them, and thereby insuring the fire-valves remaining closed, until
the full pressure is restored in the mains.
4th. The manufacture or use in the United Kingdom of the several improvements
in, alterations of, and additions to, my former valve apparatus, substantially as herein
described, no one part being claimed separately by itself, or combined in mechanism
for other purposes, but only when combined so as to form apparatus of the character
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Melling, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
WILLIAM P. THOMPSON,
British & International Patent Agent,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool,
& 323, Holborn.
London, W.C.
THOMAS MELLING. (L.S.)