IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS OR MOTORS, OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE QUANTITY OF WATER OR OTHER FLUID FLOWING THROUGH PIPES OR OTHER CONDUITS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER HYDRAULIC PURPOSES.”
Year: 1880

page_text: «
LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Melling, of Grassendale Park, Aigburth, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
WATER METERS OR MOTORS, OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND
REGISTERING THE QUANTITY OF WATER OR OTHER FLUID FLOWING
THROUGH PIPES OR OTHER CONDUITS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER HYDRAULIC PURPOSES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Melling at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th August 1880.
THOMAS MELLING, of Grassendale Park, Aigburth, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS OR MOTORS, OR APPARATUS FOR
MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE QUANTITY OF WATER OR OTHER FLUID
FLOWING THROUGH PIPES OR OTHER CONDUITS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER HYDRAULIC PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to improvements founded upon and made with the object
of increasing the efficiency of an Invention for which Letters Patent were granted
to me on the 10th day of July 1877, No. 2647, entitled, "Improvements in Water
Meters or Apparatus for Measuring and Registering the Quantity of Water or other
Fluid Flowing through Pipes or other Conduits;" and again on the 9th day of
January, 1879, No. 93, entitled, "Improvements in Water Meters or Apparatus for
Measuring and Registering the Quantity of Water or other Fluid Flowing through
Pipes or other Conduits, and for Generating Motive Power."
In the Specifications of the above recited Patents the actuating power for
changing the position of the valves which regulate the admission of the water to
and its expulsion from the two ends of the measuring cylinder of the meter or
inotor consists of a weight or spring, which by suitable mechanism, as described
in the aforesaid Specifications, is first acted upon (or its power communicated to it)
by the piston of the measuring cylinder, and which at the proper times by its
reaction moves the valves. Hydraulic pressure or pneumatic pressure in conjunction
FD 077

page_text: with similar gearing is also described in the said Specifications as an alternative
arrangement for effecting the same object, but in the Drawing which illustrates
the application of these latter powers (Figure 14, Sheet 3 of the latter Patent,
No. 93, of 1879), such force is shown as acting upon one face of a piston moving
within a cylinder, the other face of which piston is open to the atmosphere.
Instead thereof, I now employ the excess of pressure of the water (or other fluid)
on the inlet side of the meter over the pressure of the water (or other fluid) on the
outlet side thereof, the acting face of the piston which moves the valves being in
unbroken communication with the inlet pipe to the meter, and its other face also
in unbroken communication with with the outlet pipe therefrom. The difference of
pressure on the two faces of the said piston is therefore the motive power for
changing the position of the valves, such piston being in turn acted upon (through
the gearing) by the piston in the measuring cylinder, and when released therefrom
reacting upon the valves in the manner described for a weight or spring, as before
referred to.
In connexion with the above improved method of working the valves I have
also improved the valves themselves. These valves, as described in the Specifications
of the above-recited Patents, are of the piston kind, two in number, and both fixed
on the same spindle; I now place between them (also on the same spindle) a third
piston-valve or shell (being hollow in its interior to allow the water to pass freely
through it). This middle piston-valve works over suitable ports or openings, which
form the entrance to the valve chamber from the inlet pipe, and in meters it serves
the double purpose of cutting the pressure off the said valve-chamber whilst the
valves are being changed in position, and of insuring the valves being carried fully
over the ports before the piston in the measuring cylinder can commence its return
stroke.
In motors this additional or middle piston-valve fulfils another and important
purpose, which I now proceed to describe.
When water meters or water-power engines in which the motive power is
obtained by the pressure of water (or other fluid) acting upon a piston (or ram)
moving within a cylinder as heretofore constructed are applied in the direct action
form to organ-blowing they are found to cause concussion, with its attendant evils of
noise and "wear-and-tear," in the air-valves of the bellows as the latter are opened
and closed at the ends of the strokes of the actuating piston (or ram), and also to
produce an unsteady irregular pressure of air in the receiver or accumulator that
supplies the organ.
These evils I prevent by gradually cutting off the supply of water to or impeding
its exit from the cylinder in which the actuating piston (or ram) works as the
latter approaches the termination of its stroke, and by as gradually restoring such
full supply of water to or its free exit from the said cylinder on the return stroke
of the said piston (or ram).
The supply of water to the cylinder being thus diminished, or its exit therefrom
impeded, causes the piston (or ram) to move with a reduced velocity at both the
commencement and termination of its stroke, and, as a consequence thereof, the air-
valves in the bellows to be opened and closed very gently and the concussion
thereby killed. The pressure of air in the receiver is also preserved steady and
regular.
In effecting the foregoing object by the new middle piston-valve by suitable
proportions of the ports over which it works, and a corresponding proper adjustment
of the valve gearing, I cause it to gradually cut the water off the valve chamber as
the piston in the measuring cylinder approaches the end of its stroke, and to as
gradually turn the water on again as the said piston starts on its return stroke.
As it will, however, be obvious that the checking of the water, as above
described, by which this improvement is effected, may be accomplished in other and
various ways, or by different arrangements of mechanism or apparatus, I now
proceed to describe some of them as follows, namely,-
(a.) A separate cut-off valve may be used to be worked by the piston-rod of the

page_text: meter or motor, or by the bellows or their gearing, and may be placed either in the
inlet-pipe or the outlet-pipe of the meter or motor.
(b.) Or, where the ports from the valve-chamber enter the principal or measuring
cylinder on the side of the latter, the actuating piston (or ram) may be made to
partially pass over and thereby almost close such ports at the ends of the stroke of
the said piston (or ram).
(c.) Or, if the ports from the valve chamber be brought into the principal or
measuring cylinder at the ends of the latter, and be made conical in shape whero
they so enter the cylinder, corresponding cones on the faces of the actuating piston
(or ram) may be made to gradually close them at the ends of the strokes of the
said piston (or ram).
(d.) Or the piston-rod may be made hollow (or tubular), and used instead of an
ordinary port at one or both ends of the principal or measuring cylinder, with
ports or openings into such hollow port or ports of the piston-rod, which ports
being placed at proper distances will, on entering the end or ends of the cylinder,
be gradually closed.
And it is to be noted that although the last three alternative arrangements have
all been described as applied only to the principal or measuring cylinder, or its
actuating piston or piston-rod, yet they are equally applicable to a subsidiary
cylinder or cylinders with their pistons or piston-rods, where such are used for
working the main-valve or that which regulates the inlet and outlet of the water
to and from the ends of the principal or measuring cylinder.
It is also to be observed that although I have, so far, only named " organ-
blowing" as a purpose to which this improvement of reducing the speed of the
actuating piston (or ram) at the ends of its strokes is suitable, and to which I find
it in practice admirably adapted, yet I by no means confine myself thereto, but,
on the contrary, propose also to use it for all other purposes to which it may be
applicable.

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 10th
February 1881.
THOMAS MELLING, of Grassendale Park, Aigburth, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS OR MOTORS, OR APPARATUS FOR
MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE QUANTITY OF WATER OR OTHER FLUID
FLOWING THROUGH PIPES OR OTHER CONDUITS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER HYDRAULIC PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to improvements founded upon and made with the object
of increasing the efficiency of an Invention for which Letters Patent were granted
to me on the 10th day of July 1877, No. 2647, entitled "Improvements in Water
Meters or Apparatus for Measuring and Registering the Quantity of Water or other
Fluid Flowing through Pipes or other Conduits," and again on the 9th day of
January 1879, No. 93, entitled "Improvements in Water Meters or Apparatus for
Measuring and Registering the Quantity of Water or other Fluid Flowing through
Pipes or other Conduits, and for Generating Motive Power."
In the Specifications of the above recited Patents the actuating power for
changing the position of the valves which regulate the admission of the water to
and its expulsion from the two ends of the measuring cylinder of the meter or
motor consists of a weight or spring, which, by suitable mechanism as described in
the aforesaid Specifications, is first acted upon (or its power communicated to it) by
the piston of the measuring cylinder, and which at the proper times by its reaction
moves the valves. Hydraulic pressure or pneumatic pressure in conjunction with
similar gearing is also described in the said Specifications as an alternative arrange-
ment for effecting the same object. But in the Drawing which illustrates the
application of these latter powers (Fig. 14, Sheet 3, of the latter Patent, No. 93,
of 1879) such force is shown as acting upon one face of a piston moving within a
cylinder, the other face of which piston is open to the atmosphere. Instead thereof
I now employ the excess of pressure of the water (or other fluid) on the inlet side
of the meter over the pressure of the water (or other fluid) on the outlet side
thereof, the acting face of the piston which moves the valves being in unbroken
communication with the inlet pipe to the meter, and its other face also in unbroken
communication with the outlet pipe therefrom. The difference of pressure on
the two faces of the said piston is therefore the motive power for changing the
position of the valves, such piston being in turn acted upon (through the
gearing) by the piston in the measuring cylinder, and when released therefrom
reacting upon the valves in the manner described for a weight or spring as
before referred to.
In connexion with the above improved method of working the valves, I have
also improved the valves themselves. These valves, as described in the Specifications
of the above recited Patents, are of the "piston kind," two in number, and both
fixed on the same spindle. I now place between them (also on the same spindle) a
third piston valve or shell (being hollow in its interior to allow the water to pass
freely through it); this middle piston valve works over suitable ports or openings,
which form the entrance to the valve chamber from the inlet pipe, and in meters it
serves the double purpose of cutting the pressure off the said valve-chamber whilst
the valves are being changed in position, and of insuring the valves being carried
fully over the ports before the piston in the measuring cylinder can commence its
return stroke.

page_text: In motors this additional or middle piston-valve fulfils another and important
purpose, which I now proceed to describe.
When water meters or water power engines, in which the motive power is
obtained by the pressure of water (or other fluid) acting upon a piston (or ram)
moving within a cylinder as heretofore constructed, are applied in the direct-action
form to organ-blowing, they are found to cause concussion, with its attendant evils
of noise and "wear and tear," in the air valves of the bellows, as the latter are
opened and closed at the ends of the strokes of the actuating piston (or ram), and
also to produce an unsteady, irregular pressure of air in the receiver or accumulator
that supplies the organ.
These evils I prevent by gradually cutting off the supply of water to or impeding
its exit from the cylinder in which the actuating piston (or ram) works, as the
latter approaches the termination of its stroke, and by as gradually restoring such
full supply of water to or its free exit from the said cylinder on the return stroke of
the said piston (or ram).
The supply of water to the cylinder being thus diminished, or its exit therefrom
impeded, causes the piston (or ram) to move with reduced velocity at both the
commencement and termination of its stroke, and, as a consequence thereof, the air-
valves in the bellows to be opened and closed very gently and the concussion
thereby killed. The pressure of air in the receiver is also preserved steady and
regular.
In effecting the foregoing object by the new middle piston-valve, by suitable
proportions of the ports over which it works, and a corresponding proper adjust-
ment of the valve gearing, I cause it to gradually cut the water off the valve-
chamber as the piston in the measuring cylinder approaches the end of its stroke,
and to as gradually turn the water on again as the said piston starts on its return
stroke.
As it will however be obvious that the checking of the water as above described,
by which this improvement is effected, may be accomplished in other and various
ways, or by different arrangements of mechanisin or apparatus, I now proceed to
describe some of them as follows, namely :-
:-
(a.) A separate cut off valve may be used to be worked by the piston rod of
the meter or motor or by the bellows or their gearing, and may be placed either in
the inlet pipe or the outlet pipe of the meter or motor.
(b.) Or, where the ports from the valve chamber enter the principal or measuring
cylinder on the side of the latter, the actuating piston (or ram) may be made to
partially pass over and thereby almost close such ports at the ends of the strokes of
the said piston (or ram).
(c.) Or, if the ports from the valve chamber be brought into the principal or
measuring cylinder at the ends of the latter, and be made conical in shape where
they so enter the cylinder, corresponding cones on the faces of the actuating piston
(or ram) may be made to gradually close them at the ends of the strokes of the said
piston (or ram).
(d.) Or the piston rod may be made hollow (or tubular) and used instead of an
ordinary port at one or both ends of the principal or measuring cylinder, with
ports or openings into such hollow part or parts of the piston rod, which parts
being placed at proper distances will, on entering the end or ends of the cylinder,
be gradually closed.
And it is to be noted that although the last three alternative arrangements have
all been described as applied only to the principal or measuring cylinder, or its
actuating piston or piston-rod, yet they are equally applicable to a subsidiary
cylinder or cylinders, with their pistons or piston-rods, where such are used for
working the main valve, or that which regulates the inlet and outlet of the water
to and from the ends of the principal or measuring cylinder.
It is also to be observed that although I have so far only named " organ-

page_text: blowing" as a purpose to which this improvement of reducing the speed of the
actuating piston (or ram) at the ends of its strokes is suitable, and to which I find
it in practice adinirably adapted, yet I by no means confine myself thereto, but,
on the contrary, propose also to use it for all other purposes to which it may
be applicable.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed, Sheets 1 and 2 show (in illustration of my
first improvement) a water meter or motor, in which the actuating power for
changing the position of the valves consists of the excess of pressure of the inlet
water upon one face of a piston over that of the outlet water upon its other face,
such piston moving within a cylinder, and acting upon the valves through the
gearing in the manner described hercinbefore, and in the Specifications of my
previous said recited Patents.
The metor, as shown in the accompanying Drawings, is composed of three
principal parts, namely:-1st, the bottom part or measuring cylinder; 2nd, the
middle part, which contains the valves, and the cylinder and gearing by which
they are worked; 3rd, the top part or cover.
Figs. 1 and 2 are vertical sections through the meter; Figs. 3 and 4, vertical
sections through the middle part of it; Fig. 5, a horizontal section, and Fig. 6 a
plan of the meter, with the cover removed, showing the levers that work the valves.
The above named sections are taken respectively on the lines indicated upon the
other views, and the same letters of reference apply to the same parts in all the
Figures, from Fig. 1 to Fig. 6 inclusive.
A is the measuring cylinder, with its piston a, piston-rod a¹, and cap a¹¹, which
works the valves, and gives motion to the clock work. B is the middle part con-
taining the valve chamber C and valves c, c¹, the cylinder D and its piston d for
working the valves, and a chamber E for the inlet water, which chamber E is closed
at the top, and is in unbroken communication with the middle of the valve
chamber Ĉ and the bottom end of the cylinder D. With these exceptions, that is
to say, excepting the chamber for the inlet water E, the space between the valves
in the valve chamber C, and the space under the piston d in the cylinder D, the
whole of the interior of the middle part B is open to the outlet water. F is the
inlet pipe, opening into the chamber E; G, the outlet pipe opening into the middle
part B; H, the cam-lever, which alternately acts upon and is acted upon by a
à roller h, the axis of which roller is carried by the piston d. I is the valve lever,
with counterbalance upon it for the valves. It is moved at the proper times by a
clutch or other suitable appliance, on the cam-lever H, in the manner described
hereinbefore, and in my previously recited Patents. J is a fixed shaft, upon which
the cam-lever and valve-lever ride loose; K the top part or cover of the meter. It
is to be noted that, although I have only shown the water pressure movement in
conjunction with the heart shaped cam and roller, it is equally applicable to the
link motion described and included in the Specification of my aforesaid Patent,
No. 93, of 1879. In the Drawings of the meter, Sheets 1 and 2, I have not shown
"the third piston-valve or shell" herein before referred to, as, for the single purpose
of measurement, I accomplish its object in an equally effectual and more simple
manner, by making the piston valves c, c', (which are upon my improved patented
principle) with double (instead of single) caps. They are consequently so shown
upon the Drawings in Figs. 2 and 3. The "third piston valve or shell" is, however,
shown on Figs. 7, 8, and 9 of Sheet 3, and will be hereafter referred to in the
description of those views.
The "mode of working" has already been described herein and in the
Specification of my former Patent, No. 93, of 1879. With the exception of the
differential pressure water movement being substituted for a spring one for opening
and closing the valves, and such movement being made to act directly upon the
cam-lever instead of through the intervention of a roller-lever, it remains the same
as described in the latter or the Specification of my Patent No. 93, of 1879.

page_text: The registering part or clock work of the meter I have not shown upon the
Drawings, nor considered it necessary to describe it herein, as it contains no
novelty. The position in which it is placed is however marked by the letter L.
Sheet 3 of the Drawings exhibits various modes of effecting my second improve-
ment, or that for preventing concussion when the meter is also used as a motor for
organ blowing or other like purposes. On this Sheet Figs. 7, 8, and 9 represent
my first method, or that by the middle, or "third piston valve or shell," in which A
is such middle valve; B, the bush in which it works; b, b, et cetera, openings
through which the inlet water enters the bush B, and over which the middle piston
valve A passes. One of these openings marked 6' is longer at both ends than the
others, and consequently remains open after they are closed, and on the return
stroke of the valve A is also again opened before them, thus giving a prolonged
but diminished supply of water, and consequent reduced speed to the piston in the
principal or measuring cylinder, both at the termination and recommencement of
its stroke. Or this arrangement may be varied by making a groove in the top and
bottom of the piston valve A, where it passes over one of the openings b, which
openings may then be all of one size.
Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate a second method (a), in which a separate cut off valve
is used; Fig. 10 showing an equilibrium slide valve C; and Fig. 11, one with a
rotary motion D, after the manner of an ordinary stop-cock. The valve in each of
these instances is actuated by the lever that works the bellows.
A third method (b) is shown by Figs. 12 and 13, where the ports from the valve
chamber enter the principal or measuring cylinder on the side of the latter, and
where the actuating piston is made to partially pass over, and thereby almost close
such ports at the ends of the strokes of the said piston. In these views Fig. 12 is a
section of one end of the measuring cylinder, and Fig. 13 the other view of the
port from the valve chamber; E is the cylinder; F, the piston; and G the port,
which is triangular in shape.
A fourth method (c) is shown by Fig. 14, where the ports are brought into the
principal or measuring cylinder at the ends of the latter, and made conical in form
where they so enter the cylinder, corresponding cones on the faces of the actuating
piston being made to gradually close them at the end of the strokes of the said
piston. In this view H represents (in section) one end of the cylinder; I, the
piston; J, J¹, the cones on its faces; and K, the port.
A fifth method (d) is shown by Fig. 15. In this arrangement the piston-rod is
made hollow or tubular, and used instead of an ordinary port at one or both ends of
the principal or measuring cylinder with ports or openings into such hollow part
or parts of the piston-rod, and which ports being placed at proper distances are, on
entering the end or ends of the cylinder, gradually closed. In this view one end of
the cylinder is represented (in section) at L. M is the piston-rod, made hollow at m,
as shown by the dotted lines, and n, n', the ports or openings into 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 hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-·
First. The mode of working or changing the position of the valves in water
meters or motors by a piston moving within a cylinder, and acting through a heart-
shaped cam-lever and roller or through the link motion, the motive power applied
to such actuating piston being the difference between the pressure of the inlet water
applied to one of its faces and that of the outlet water upon its other face, all as
herein before described.
"
Second. The mode of preventing concussion, with its attendant evils of noise and
wear and tear," in the air-valves of the bellows, and of preserving a steady regular
pressure of air in the receiver when water meters or motors are applied to organ-
blowing or other like purposes, as effected in the manner and by the appliances
herein before described or by their mechanical equivalents.

page_text: Third. The general arrangements of water meters or motors, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Melling, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
J. OWDEN O'BRIEN,
Clerk to Messrs. W. P. Thompson & Co.,
Patent Agents,
Liverpool & London.
THOMAS MELLING. (L.S.)