IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID METERS
Year: 1860

page_text: . LETTERS PATENT to Charles William Siemens, of 3, Great George Street,
Westminster, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID METERS."
Sealed the 4th June 1861, and dated the 5th December 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles William Siemens
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petitiou, on the
5th December 1860.
I, CHARLES WILLIAM SIEMENS, of 3, Great George Street, Westminster, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID
METERS," to be as follows:-
The Invention has reference to the class of high-pressure fluid meters acting
by impact of water upon rotating wheels with helical or spiral blades, or by
reaction in issuing from orifices at the circumference of a rotating wheel, and
for meters of which class I obtained Letters Patent, dated 15th of April 1852,
No. 14,060, and further Letters Patent in my own name and that of Joseph
Adamson, dated 24th of March 1853, No. 712, and other Letters Patent in
my own name, dated 29th of November, 1856, No. 2824. In selecting the
reaction wheel as the moving agent, I attach the same to an axis reaching
upward into a chamber usually filled (wholly or partially) with oil, and con-
taining the wheelwork by which the motion of the drum is reduced and
communicated to the hands on the dial of the counter. The water is intro-
duced into the revolving drum from below through a tube. This tube has
וגסי

page_text: annular grooves turned upon its circumference, presentinga number of distinct
circular edges nearly touching a cylindrical neck projecting from the drum,
and serving to check leakage of water from the interior of the drum, which
would form eddies in the grooves. The inlet tube is covered by a disc or
valve, which is properly guided to admit of being raised by the water flowing
upward through the tube, which motion is checked, however, by a stop pinor
otherwise when the opening is sufficient to admit of a full flow of water into
the revolving drum. One or more narrow helical or oblique grooves are
engraved or moulded into the covering disc or into the face of inlet tube, upon
which it rests, by which water is allowed to pass even before the disc is lifted,
but only in exceedingly small quantities. The water issuing through these
oblique channels forms jets directed against the interior of the drum in the
direction of its intended motion; it then passes through the curvilinear
channels of the drum surface, imparting again moving power to it by its
reaction. The double action of the water, by the contracted jets, and by
reaction, cause the measuring drum to be moved by exceedingly feeble
quantities. In proportion as the relative quantities of water passing through
the meter increase, the disc is lifted from its seat, and allows water to issue in
a radial direction all round, thus vitiating the action of the oblique channels or
jets more and more in proportion to the rise of the disc, and the quantities of
water passing. When the disc is lifted to its full extent, the effect of the
oblique jets will have become inappreciable in their action upon the drum.
The weight upon the measuring drum is allowed to rest upon the back of the
disc, covering the inlet tube by means of a step or projecting point. The
axis of the drum has sufficient longitudinal play given to it to allow it to rise
freely with the disc or valve until it is borne up by the pressure of water
inside the drum to a limiting stop in the oil chamber. The drum is provided
with wings or drag vanes to regulate its relative velocity for the various rates
of flow. In order to increase further the sensitiveness or readiness to move
of the measuring drum, I sometimes construct it of aluminium or of hornified
india-rubber, or ebonite, for the sake of lightness. In cases where it is desired
to obtain a very high degree of sensitiveness, I adopt another expedient which
consists in imparting an oscillating motion to the drum in the direction of its
axis, which greatly facilitates its rotation by exceedingly sinall efforts.
I obtain this oscillating motion by providing the inlet tube with a cylindrical
projection, into which the disc or valve, with its oblique channels, sinks, fitting
close round it. No escape of water can take place until the disc is lifted so
high that the oblique channels upon its face clear the edge of the cylindrical
projection. A sudden discharge then takes place, which tends to equalize the

page_text: pressure within and outside of the inlet tube. This causes the disc and the
drum supported by it to fall again by their natural weight, and to close
the water channels in sinking below the edge of the surrounding tube. An
accumulated pressure within the tube, a rise of the disc and drum, a sudden
discharge tending to impart rotation to the drum, are the results, but imme-
diatelyupon this an equilibrium of pressure and the consequent descentof the
measuring drum again follow, and so on. In order to prevent pieces of solid
material from entering the valve and drum, I place a disc of perforated metal
or wire gauze across the meter case immediately below the inlet tube, through
the holes or meshes of which the water passes, leaving the solid parts behind.
I sometimes cover the perforated disc with flannel, felt, or other fibrous
material in order to arrest still smaller particles, and to cleanse or filter the
water. The disc upon the inlet tube also checks or prevents a backward flow
of water, which in many cases is a desideratum. Instead of employing a
reaction wheel to measure the flowing water, a drum with screw vanes may
also be employed. The narrow oblique channels in the valve or seat are
directed against the screw vanes in the direction of their intended rotation.
Another part of my Invention has reference to measuring the velocity of a
vessel through the water, or the velocity of the water in an open stream. In my
Patent of 15th of April, 1852, No. 14,060, I described an instrument of this
description, which was to enable the captain of a vessel or other observer to
read upon a dial in the cabin, or by the side of a stream to observe at any time
the progress of the vessel or current without interrupting the measuring
apparatus, which would always present an account of the total way made
through or by the water from the commencement of the observation. For
this purpose I established a mechanical connection, by gearing or otherwise,
between the measuring apparatus or log and the recording apparatus. My
present improvement consists in relieving the measuring apparatus from the
impeding influence of the connecting gearing by substituting an electric
current. The axis of the measuring drum, which, with its framing, may be
suspended in the water by lines or rods, passes through one of its bearings
into a close chamber; it there carries an eccentric, which, for every revolution
of the drum or wheel, lifts a spring and breaks or restores therebythe metallic
contact between a point surrounded with insulating material, such as india-
rubber or gutta percha, and the metal composing the apparatus. The insulated
metallic point is the termination of an insulated metallic wire reaching from
the measuring instrument to the recording instrument on board ship, and
hence to the earth (or into the water), including into the metallic circuit a
galvanic battery. Whenever the metallic circuit is established by the

page_text: rotation of the measuring drum, an electric current flows through metallic
coils forming part of the receiving instrument,and causes the movement of an
armature, which acts upon a ratchet wheel or other clock work arrangement,
causing the hand upon the dial of the instrument to move a step. The
insulated wire reaching from the one instrument to the other may conveniently
form the core of the rope, by which it is suspended in the water. Or instead
of taking advantage of the earth circuit a purely metallic circuit may be
established by introducing two insulated wires into the rope. The details of
the measuring and recording apparatus are capable of much variation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles William Siemens in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th June 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
WILLIAM SIEMENS, of 3, Great George Street, Westminster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Charles William Siemens, Her special licence that I, the said, Charles William
Siemens, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Charles William Siemens, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FLUID METERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Charles William Siemens, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles William Siemens, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-

page_text: The Invention has reference to the class of high-pressure fluid meters acting
by impact of water upon rotating wheels with helical, spiral, or other blades or
projections, or by reaction in issuing from orifices at the circumference of a
rotating wheel, for meters of which class I obtained Letters Patent dated 15th
of April 18 2, No. 14,660), and further Letters Patent in my own name and
that of Joseph Adamson, dated 24th of March 1853, No. 712, and other
Letters Patent in my own name dated 29th of November 1856, No. 2824.
But in order that my present Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will at once proceed to describe the best means I am
acquainted with of performing the same, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawing.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 representone arrangement of my improved meter in which
the reaction wheel is selected as the motive agent. Figure 1 shews a plan of
the meter. Figure 2 is a vertical section through the same, and Figure 3 is
a sectional plan of the reaction wheel. Similar letters indicate similar parts
in each of the Figures. A is the casing of the meter, which is divided into
two chambers a and b, and connected at X, X, with the conduit pipes in such
a manner that the liquid shall flow through these chambers in the direction
indicated by the arrows. In the partition c is formed an aperture in which
is fixed the small tube d, soas to project into the chamberb. This tube is open
at both ends, but is provided at the top with a disc or valve f, which is free to
move vertically up and down, and thus opens or closes the tube. This valve
is guided in its motion by the ribbed spindle g, which is provided with arms
h, h, to prevent the valve rising beyond a certain height. The under surface
of the valve has a rim i, where it rests on the top of the tube d, and in this
rim are cut or moulded narrow helical grooves j,j, as shewn more clearly in
the sectional plan, Figure 3. kis the reaction wheel resting by means of the
pin on the top of the valve f, and whose cylindrical neck m fits easily round
the outer circumference of the tube d, which is provided with a number of
circular grooves e, e, presenting a number of distinct circular edges all but
touching the neck m of the reaction wheel, thus preventing leakage of water
from the interior of the same, as the water in endeavouring to pass through
would form eddies in the grooves. The reaction wheel k has a number of
curved channels n, n, through which the water that enters through the inlet
tube d issues out into the chamber v, and thus causes the drum to revolve by
its reaction. To the top of the reaction wheel or drum k is attached a spindle
o passing up through the stuffing box p into the chamber q, more or less filled
with oil where it is provided with a worm r gearing into the wheels on the
same spindle with which is the pinion t gearing into the wheel u. This imparts

page_text: motion again to the wheel by means of the worm w, and the motion of
the wheel v, which is thus reduced very considerably from that of the drum k,
is communicated to the hand a on the dial y of the counter through the
spindle z. The motion that is communicated by the drum k to the hand a is
reduced in such a manner that when one thousand gallons of water or
other fluid have passed through the drum, the hand x will have made one
revolution upon the dial y.
By suitable speed reducing gearing the motion of the hand a is commu-
nicated in such a manner to the hands a, b, c, d, e, on the dials f¹, g', h',
,, that one revolution of each indicates respectively ten thousand gallons,
hundred thousandgallons, one milliongallons, ten million gallons, and hundred
million gallons of water or other fluid having passed through the meter.
When an exceedingly small quantity of water passes from the chamber a
into the tube d there is not sufficient pressure to raise the valve f, and the
water is therefore directed into the small helical grooves j,j, in the under
side of the valve f, and issues consequently in two small oblique jets against
the inner surface of the drum k in the direction of its intended motion, and
the effect of these jets, together with the reaction of the water on passing out
of the drum through the curved channels n, n, causes the same to revolve
when exceedingly small quantities of water or other fluid are flowing through
the meter. In proportion as the quantity of water passing through the
meter increases, the upward pressure of the same in the inlet to d lifts
the valvef from its seat, and the water then issues in a radial direction all
round from the annular opening thus formed, and the action of the oblique jets
from the channels 1. j, becomes gradually less and less powerfulin proportion as
the valve rises higher from its seat. When the valve has been lifted to the
full extent permitted by the arms h, k, the effect of the oblique jets will have
become inappreciable in their action upon the drum, and the revolution of
the same will then be solely due to the reaction of the water on passing
through the curve channels 1, n. As the drum le rests on the valve f by
means of the pin 7, it consequently rises with the same, as does also the
spindle o communicating the motion to the wheels of the counter, and a
sufficient distance is therefore allowed from the top of the spindle o to the bot-
toin of the wheel v to allow of this motion. The reaction wheel or drum is
provided with drag vanes 1, 1, to regulate its relative velocity for the various
rates of flow. In order to increase further the sensitiveness or readiness to
move of the measuring drum k, I sometimes construct it of aluminium or of
hornified india-rubber, or ebonite, for the sake of lightness.
When the water or other fluid ceases to flow through the meter, the,disc or

page_text: valve falso acts as a stop-back valve preventing a backward flow of the water
through the meter, which in many cases is a desideratum
I sometimes employ a drum with screw vanes for measuring the flow of
the water or other fluid, instead of the reaction wheel just described, in com-
bination with the arrangement whereby, for very small quantities of water, the
same is caused to flow in oblique jets against the vanes of the drum in the
direction of its intended motion. In Figures 4 and 5 is shewn a meter con-
structed on this principle. Figure 4 is a sectional plan, and Figure 5 shews a
sectional elevation of the meter. A is the casing of the meter through which
the water is intended to flow in the direction of the arrows. The chamber
a is covered at the top with the perforated metal disc b, beneath which is the
disc of felt c through which the water flowing through the meter has to pass,
and thus becomes perfectly filtered and separated from all impurities which
might obstruct the working of the meter. The water enters the inlet tube d
at the bottom, and also through the small holes e, e, at the sides of the same.
On the upper rim of the inlet tube d are cut or moulded narrow helical
grooves j,j, as shewn more clearly in Figure 4. The measuring drum fhaving
the exterior spiral blades g, g, rests with its bottom surface on the top of
the inlet tube d, and thus closes the same, acting as a valve. The cylin-
drical portion of the drum is continued downwards ati over the circumference
of the inlet tubed to such an extent as to cover the orifices of the small helical
groovesj,j, but at one point i¹ it is cut away, so that when during the revolu-
tion of the drum this part passes over one of the orifices j, j, the latter is
uncovered to a certain extent, and the water can flow through the same. The
vanes g, g, are continued down below these openings, as shewn, for the
oblique jets from the channels j,j, to act upon them. To the drum fis
attached the spindle o passing upwards through the stuffing boxp into the
chamber q filled more or less with oil, where it is provided with the worm r
gearing into the wheels, through which the motion is communicated to the
hands on the dial of the counter, in a similar manner to that described
with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The drum guided by the spindle o is
capable of moving up and down vertically, the amount of which motion is
governed by the stop t. When a very small quantity of water is passing into
the meter, it will not find an exit through the tube duntil the pressure on the
under side of the drum raises it, thus imparting rotatory motion to the wheel
s by hydrostatic pressure. The orifices of the small channels j,j, are by
this means uncovered, a small oblique jet of water is then directed against
the vanes g, g, of the drum in the direction of its intended motion, and owing
to the slight vertical motion of the spindle o in its bearings, the friction of

page_text: the same is so decreased that the drum will commence to revolve with the
slightest effort, and without at the time having to impart motion to the
wheels. When the revolution of the drum has brought the notch i¹ over the
orifice of j, and this latter is consequently open to its full extent, or nearly
so, a sudden greater discharge of water will take place through it, by which
the pressure on the under side of the drum will be diminished, and cause
the same to drop downwards towards its seat again, covering the orifices
of the channels i, j, to a greater extent, so that the flow of water is dimi-
nished. The hydrostatic pressure on the under side of the drum fwill then
again raise it, turn the wheel s, and open the orifices of the channels), j,
to a greater extenf. When by the revolution of the drum the notch again
uncovers one of the orifices of the channels i, j, to a greater extent, a sudden
discharge of water,a consequent decrease of pressure and fall of the measuring
drum will ensue, and this will be continually repeated, the effect of the suc-
cessive vertical reciprocating motions of the drum being to decrease the friction
of the spindleoin its bearings, and to render the hydrostatic pressure available
for moving the wheels of the counter, so that the drum is enabled to
revolve with the slightest impulse from the smallest quantities of water.
In proportion as the quantity of water passing through the meter increases,
the drum will be gradually raised by the pressure more and more from the
top of the tube d, and the water will then issue in a radial direction all round
the annular opening thus formed. The effect of the oblique jets from the
channels j. j, will become less and less appreciable, and the revolution of
the measuring drum f will then be caused by the flow of the water through
the spiral vanes g, g. A cylinder u is fixed inside the valve casing, in
which the measuring drum fits easily. I sometimes make the vanes or pro-
jections on the measuring drum straight instead of spiral,and cause the water
to flow in a spiral channel round the exterior of the drum, and thus by
impinging in an obliquedirection against the vanes or projections on the same,
effect its rotation. Or in some cases I find it sufficient to roughen or "mill"
the cylindrical surface of the measuring drum, or even to leave the surface
moderately smooth, the oblique action of the water in the spiral channel upon
such surfaces being sufficient to cause the drum to rotate. In Figures 6 and 7
is shewn such an arrangement of my improved fluid meter. A is the meter
casing, in which is formed a conical seat a for the measuring drum b. In this
seat a is moulded the spiral groove c,through which the water has to pass in
the direction of the arrows. The drum bis formed conical, so as to fit the
seat, and is provided with small projections or roughnesses on its surface.
At top it is provided with a rim d, which rests in the small cylindrical recess e

page_text: at the top of the seat. On the under side of this rim are formed oblique
channels j,j, as shewn in Figure 7. The drum is guided in its rotation by
the small spindle f running in the wood bearing g, serving as lubricator, and
having a small spiral channel formed in it for the water to pass through and
thus prevent incrustation. The spindle o of the drum passes through the
stuffing box p of the chamber q, where it communicates its rotatory motion to
the hands of the counter in the same manner as described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2. To cause the drum to rotate with exceedingly small quan-
tities of water passing through, it is requisite to raise it slightly from its
bearings, so as to reduce the rotatory friction of the drum surface against its
seat. This is effected by the rim d fitting into the recess e, and thus pre-
venting the discharge of any water until the hydrostatic pressure has raised
the drum to such a height that the rim d is clear of the recess e, and the
surface of the drum b is consequently clear of its seat a. 'The water then
issues from the oblique channels i, j, and the effect of its reaction in
them, together with the oblique action of the water moving in the spiral
channel e against the surface of the drum, causes the same to revolve with
very feeble quantities of water. When a greater quantity of water flows
through the meter, the drum is gradually raised until the end of the spindle o
comes against the stop t, and the effect of the oblique channels j,j, will then
be inappreciable. Owing to the conicity of the drum b, it will, when lifted to
the full extent, be a certain distance from the face of the seat a, and a certain
proportion of the water will then be enabled to pass through without following
the spiral channel c.
The water in the spiral channel c will nevertheless be accelerated in due
proportion in consequence of the rim d of the drum b being raised from its
recess e into the conical portion u of the casing, where it will no longer be
supported by hydrostatic pressure, and the weight of the drum will have
become more and more available for acelerating the water in the spiral
channel c. By adding the weight to the drum, the accelerating action may
be so regulated as to obtain a rate of rotation proportionate to the quantity of
water passing.
Instead of forming a spiral channel round the drum as above described, I
sometimes effect its rotation from the flow of the water by letting the same act
only upon a certain portion of its circumference. In Figures 8 and 9 is
shown an arrangement of this nature. A is the casing of the meter; a is the
inlet tube; b is the measuring drum, which is cylindrical, and is provided with
small projections c, c, on its circumference. Part of the circumference of this
druin is enclosed in the casing A in such a manner as to be inaccessible to the

page_text: action of the water, which by impinging against the exposed part of the cir-
cumference causes the drum to revolve. In order to cause the drum to revolve
when very small quantities of water are passing through the meter, a flap d
surrounds part of its circumference. The flap is hinged at e, and is provided
with a balance weight f, which keeps it in the position indicated. The small
quantity of water entering at a penetrates between the flap d and the circum-
ference of the drum, and having to force the flap slightly open in order to
escape, its impact against the small projections on the surface of the drum is
sufficient to cause the same to revolve. When larger quantities of water are
flowing through the meter, the flap d is forced further away from the circum-
ference of the drum, increasing at the same time the leverage of the weight f,
a broader and more rapid stream ofwater is thus produced, tending to accelerate
the motion of the drum in due proportion. The drum b is provided with a
spindleg and worm h, through which it communicates its motion to the dials
or the counter in the usual manner. It is to be understood that in all the
meters herein-before described the precise rate of rotation has to bedetermined
by actual experiment, and to be regulated by the size of the drag vanes 1,1,
as described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying
Drawing, or by the variation of the weight of the drum or of the moveable
flap as described with reference to Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, or by the area of the
various passages.
Another part of my Invention has reference to measuring the velocity of a
vessel through the water, or the velocity of the water in an open stream. In
my Patent of the 15th of April 1852, No. 14,060, I described an instrument
of this description, which was to enable the captain of a vessel or other
observer to read upon a dial in the cabin, or by the side of a stream to observe
at any time the progress of the vessel or current without interrupting the
ineasuring apparatus, which would always present an account of the total way
made through or by the water from the commencement of the observation.
For this purpose I established a mechanical connection by gearing or other-
wise between the measuring apparatus or log and the recording apparatus.
My present improvement consists in relieving the measuring apparatusfrom
the impeding influence of the connecting gearing by substituting an electric
current as the motive agent. In Figure 10 on the accompanying Drawing is
shewn my improved log. The fly or screw drum a, the revolutions of which is
to measure the velocity of the vessel or stream, is fixed with one end of its
axis in the bearing 6 formed in the framing A, while the other end c of its
axis passes into a close chamber d, where it is provided with a screw worm e,
and is carried by the bearing f. The worme is in gear with the wheel h upon

page_text: thesamespindle with which is the smallpinion i; this gears into the wheeljupon
the same spindle with which is the cam k. Upon the circumference of this cam
rests a stud on the spring 1, which by the rotation of the cam is alternately
brought into contact with and removed from the end of the insulated metallic
wire m.
In order to cause the spring to break contact with the wire mas
suddenly as it is brought into contact with the same, a second spring n is
caused to press against the spring 1, and is actuated by another cato o, which
is shewn by dark lines in the Drawing, in such a manner that the moment after
the spring is brought into contact with the insulated wire in it is forced away
by the action of the spring n. The insulated metallic wire m passes from the
log to the recording instrument on board ship, and hence to the earth (or into
the water), including into the metallic circuit a galvanic battery. Whenever
the metallic circuit is established by the rotation of the measuring drum, an
electric current flows through the metallic coils forming part of the recording
instrument, and causes the movement of an armature which acts upona ratchet
wheel or other clockwork arrangement, causing the hands upon the dial of the
instrument to move a step. This recording apparatus is not shown on the
accompanying Drawing, as it is so well understood by electricians that it
requires no further description here. The insulated wire mreaching from the
log to the recording instrument may conveniently form the core of the rope p,
by which it is suspended in the water. The tail B attached to the framing A
serves to maintain the log ina horizontal position and prevent it from revolving
whilst passing through the water. Instead of taking advantage of the earth
circuit, a purely metallic circuit may be established by introducing two insu-
lated wires into the rope.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the best modes
I am acquainted with of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that
I do not limit myself to the exact details as shewu on the accompanying
Drawing, nor do 1 claim generally the application of reaction wheels or
turbines or rotating drums with vaues, projections, or roughened surfaces, for
measuring the flow of water or other liquid, but what I claim is,―
Firstly, the construction of fluid meters wherein the fluid to be measured
when passing in small quantities through the same is caused to flow through
fixed contracted channels, and is by these directed in oblique jets against the
surface of the measuring drum or against the vanes or projections on the
same in the direction of its intended motion, thus imparting considerable
additional rotative power to the drum, aud enabling it to overcome the friction
of the moving parts when the quantity of fluid passing through the meter is so
small as not to be able to move the drum when only acting upon the same

page_text: in the ordinary manner, but which oblique jets are caused to die away and
become inappreciable in their effectin proportion as the flow of liquid through
the meter increases substantially as described in reference to Figures 1, 2, 3,
4 and 5 on the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly, imparting reciprocating motion in the direction of the axis to the
drums of fluid meters by the variations in the hydrostatic pressure caused by
jets being made to act in an intermittent mauner substantiallyas described in
reference to Figures 4 and 5 on the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly, the construction of high-pressure fluid meters wherein variable jets
or contracted streams are directed over the surface of the measuring wheel or
drum, or against the vanes or minute projections on the same, in the direction
of its intended motion, so as to impinge against the same with considerable
energy when the quantity of fluid passing through the meter is comparatively
small, but which jets or contracted streams lose part of their energy to impart
rotatory motion to the drum as the flow of the fluid increases, so as to produce
a rate ofrotation proportionate under all circumstances to the quantity of fluid
flowing through the meter substantially as described in reference to Figures 5,
7, 8 and 9 on the accompanying Drawing.
Fourthly, recording the motion of a rotating drum, measuring the flow of
water, or the rapidity of its own motion through the water by means of electric
currents, which beinginterruptedandre-established at intervals bythe rotatory
motion of the drum, causes each time an armature to be attracted by an electro-
magnet, and a hand or hands to be moved, recording the revolutions of the
drum in the ship's cabin or other distant point, substantially as described in
reference to Figure 10 on the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles William Siemens, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
C. W. SIEMENS. (L.S.)