Improved Water Meter.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1895--Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1395
Improved Water Meter.
I, JOSEPH BIERMANN, of Venloer Strasse 49 Cologne on the Rhine, Germany,
Merchant, 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 an improved construction of water meter which is very
sensitive and accurate in its action.
Water meters of present construction all suffer from the disadvantage that on a
large quantity of water passing through, they register too high, and when passing
a small quantity, they register too low.
According to the present invention this defect is obviated by substituting, in
place of the vane wheels usually employed for actuating the registering mechanism,
specially constructed turbines with guide channels which have the effect that the
speed of the turbine and the quantity discharged depends only upon the pressure
or weight of the water.
The accompanying drawing shows the construction of the water meter, in which
Fig. 1 shews a side view, Fig. 2 a vertical section, Figs. 3 and 4 shew in side view
longitudinal section and plans one of the turbines employed.
In the side of the casing A are formed channels a¹ of which one passes upward
and the other downward, and which serve to convey the water, entering the
casing A at 1, to the turbines T fixed on the spindle S.
For regulating the spindle S an adjusting screw G is provided in the base C,
screwed to the casing A. In the upper part of the casing the spindle passes
through a vulcanite block K which is carried in an annular groove of the
projection of the cover B screwed on to the casing. The spindle carries at its
upper end a worm H which imparts motion to the registering mechanism M.
The two turbines T on the spindle S are of cylindrical form and have channels 6¹
formed through them, of which, in the arrangement shewn, there are six. These
channels are bent off at an angle at a certain point, and such angular part is formed
narrower, so that the passage of the water entering the straight part of the channels
is restricted, by which means a very small quantity of water passing through will be
enabled to effect the rotation of the turbine.
Regulating screws d project into the side channels a¹ of the casing A, by means
of which the degree of pressure of the water can be regulated at will. On the
casing A is screwed a casing D E which encloses the registering mechanism.
The action of the above described water meter is as follows.
The water entering the meter at 1 first passes through the channels a¹ to the
turbines T where it enters the channels thereof and being deflected into the
narrower angular part, it effects the rotation of the turbines, and of their spindles S,
the motion of which is transmitted to the registering mechanism which measures
accurately the quantity of water passing through.
The main advantage of the improved water meter over those heretofore employed
consists in the employment of the guiding channels & similar to those employed in
motive power turbines, by which means a constant surface is offered to the water
which uniformly surrounds the rotating body and never changes its angle.
Between the two turbines is a free space which prevents the eddying body of

page_text: water contained in the meter from imparting motion to the turbines and counter
after the discharge cock has been closed. This is explained as follows.
The space between the turbines serves as reservoir from which the discharge
flows. The quantity of water contained in the reservoir does not surround the
turbines and cannot act thereon so as to turn them, so that an increased rotation or
an after rotation of the turbines in consequence of the action of the rotating body
of water can consequently not take place.
All the water drawn out of the said reservoir must be replaced from above and
below from the narrow water chambers situated above the upper and below the
lower turbine, and consequently it has to flow first through the vertical part of the
channels hereof and then in flowing through the oblique narrower part thereof it
can only operate by its pressure, which is the same for a rapid and for a slow flow,
for effecting the rotation of the turbine. As soon as the vertical flow and
consequently the pressure exercised thereby ceases, the motion of the turbines will
cease.
The action of the new water meter is considerably increased by the arrangement
of two turbines operating in the same direction. The large amount of rotating
surface offered thereby to the water, render the turbines very compendious, and,
being made of very light metal, they are liable to no detrimental action on account
of their inertia.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
'
A water meter having two turbines mounted on the spindle that actuates the
registering mechanism such turbines being constructed with symetrically arranged
channels extending partly parallel to the axis and partly obliquely round the
same, which offer the entering water a constant surface which surrounds the entire
body uniformly and has a constant angle and preserves the axis from lateral
pressure, a free space being provided between the turbines for preventing the
eddying water from imparting motion to the turbines and registering mechanism
after the discharge cock has been closed, substantially as described.
. 'Dated this 26th day of January 1895.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for Applicant.