Air to Users in Systems for Motive Power Distribution and other Purposes.
Year: 1884

page_text: Air to Users in Systems for Motive Power Distribution and
other Purposes.
I, JOHN STURGEON of 3 Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, London, S.W.
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN METERS FOR REGISTERING THE. SUPPLY OF COMPRESSED AIR TO USERS IN
SYSTEMS FOR MOTIVE POWER DISTRIBUTION & OTHER PURPOSES, to be as
follows:-
In measuring the Supply of Compressed Air to users, for Motive Power &
other purposes, it is necessary to ascertain the value of the Compressed Air
delivered in terms of pressure as well as in terms of volume. Heretofore such
Meters have measured volume only, irrespective of pressure. According to my
invention, I attach to the counting gear of a volume meter an arrangement of
integrating gear constructed as follows. A. friction wheel or equivalent contrivance
driven by the counting gear, is caused to revolve against the face of a disc, or its
equivalent, which carries round the hands of the indicator, and at the same time
is arranged to slide across the surface of the disc, so that at one time it is nearer
to the centre, & drives the disc, & consequently the hands, quicker, and at another
time it is further from the centre, & drives the hands more slowly. The sliding
motion of the driving wheel is effected by means of a small piston or its equivalent,
.which is forced in one direction against a spring by the air pressure, like an
ordinary steam engine indicator, as the air pressure rises, & returned by the pressure
of the spring as the air pressure diminishes. The variations thus produced in the
angular velocity of the disc will be proportionate to the variations in pressure, and
the volume of air registered will thus be more or less; according to the pressure-
value, or quality, of the air delivered through the meter.
Thin Climaauth Jof Th
1001

page_text: Air to Users in Systems for Motive Power Distribution and
other Purposes.
I JOHN STURGEON of 3 Westminster Chambers Victoria Street London S.W.
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:-
In measuring the supply of compressed air to users for motive power and other
purposes it is necessary to ascertain the value of the compressed air delivered in
terms of pressure as well as in terms of volume. Hitherto such meters have
measured volume only irrespective of pressure. According to my invention I
attach to the counting gear of a volume meter an arrangement of integrating
.gear constructed as follows:-
A friction wheel driven by the counting gear is caused to revolve against the face
of a disc or its equivalent which carries round the hands of the indicator and at the
same time is arranged to slide up and down over the surface of the disc, so that at
one time it is nearer to the center and drives the disc and consequently the hands
quicker, and at another time it is further from the centre, and drives the hands
more slowly. The sliding motion of the driver is effected by means of a small
piston or its equivalent which is forced in one direction against a spring by the air
pressure, like an ordinary steam engine indicator, as the air pressure rises,—and
returned by the pressure of the spring as the air pressure diminishes..
The variations thus produced in the angular velocity of the disc will be pro-
portionate to the variations in pressure, and the volume of air registered will be
more or less according to the pressure value or quality of the air delivered through
'the meter.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a vertical cross section of an ordinary
fluid measuring apparatus and Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of same as adapted
to the requirements of my invention and with counter or indicator connected
'thereto. Figure 3. is an end view of the counter. Figure 4 is, a sectional end
view of a modified arrangement.
i
In the shell A, of the fluid measuring apparatus Figures 1, 2 and 3 is mounted
eccentrically the drum B which is provided with a piston C in two parts which are
held apart and against the interior of the shell A, in the example here shown, by
two pins with curved blocks c on each side working in circular grooves a formed
in the end covers of the shell A, or it might be in the usual manner by means of
helical spring or springs placed in the piston C. D is a pin fixed centrally in one-
end of the drum B and having its bearing in the corresponding end of the shell A
and also in the end plate of the counter case E enclosing the counting gear and
indicating gear. X is a pawl which gears with a pawl wheel Y on the end of the
drum B to prevent it from turning in the wrong direction...
The counting is effected by means of the aforesaid spindle D which is provided
with endless screw that gears with and rotates the worm or skew wheel F which
latter gears with the skew wheel G. This latter is fixed on the spindle H which

page_text: has an endless screw I.that communicates motion to the worm wheel K on the
spindle L. By means of a friction wheel J fixed on the spindle. L the revolving
motion of the counting gear is at a greatly reduced speed (because of the
aforesaid worm wheel gear) transmitted to the disc M which directly and by tooth
wheel gearing N. O. P. Q carries round the hands R and S respectively of the
indicator against the dial T which is marked in the usual manner. Or the trans-
mission of revolution from the friction disc M to the hands S and R may be effected
in any other suitable or usual manner; so also as regards the transmission of
revolution from the drum B to the friction wheel J.
The worm wheel K is so mounted on the spindle L that the latter can slide up
and down in the wheel K while revolving therewith. For this purpose the spindle L
may be formed square in this part as here shown and the wheel K with a corre
sponding square hole. The wheel K is at the same time held in place between lugs
on a bracket or bridge U fixed to the inside of the casing E. The friction wheel J
is arranged to slide up and down over the surface of the disc M all according to
the pressure of the air to be measured, so that at one time the wheel J is nearer
to the centre of the disc M and drives it and the hands S and R quicker, and at
another time it is further from the centre and drives the hands more slowly.
The sliding motion of the driving spindle L and wheel J is effected by means of a
small piston V. This piston is in this example on the piston rod L' which is
swivelled to the spindle L. The piston V works with a good easy fit in the
cylinder E¹ screwed onto the casing Ẻ but by preference separated from its interior
by stuffing box and gland L2 as shown. The piston V is forced outwards or
downwards and the friction wheel J thereby towards the centre of the disc M
by the air pressure in the air cylinder E¹ (which by the pipe V is in communi-
cation with the interior of the shell A) against the spring W, as the air pressure
rises, and is returned upwards (and the friction wheel J thereby brought towards
the rim of the disc M) by the pressure of the spring W as the air pressure
diminishes. The friction wheel J may be of ebonite or other suitable material for
ensuring the needed slight friction without too much impeding the radial sliding
motion.
The variations thus produced in the angular velocity of the disc M will bó
proportionate to the variations in pressure, and the volume of air registered will be
more or less according to the pressure value or quality of the air delivered through
the meter.
M³ is a disc against which the side of the wheel J opposite to the disc M can
act causing it to revolve freely on a spindle M' which fits easily in the end of the
spindle on which the disc M is mounted or in the nave of the disc M, its other end
being fixed in a step bracket M³ fixed to the end plate of the case E.
M' is a
helical spring which keeps the disc M' up against the wheel J. The spindle M¹ is
formed with an eye as shown for the spindle L to pass freely through. By means
of the disc M2 and spring M* I also prevent a one sided strain against the
spindle L.
Instead of the spring W various other well known equivalent appliances may be
used such a weight suspended in such a manner by well known appliances as to
vary its leverage effect in accordance with the varying air pressure. Instead of the
piston I may use a diaphragm or bellows in connection with a helical spring.
Or I may as shown in the part view Figure 4 use a "Bourdon" spring tube E¹
which by the pipe Y' communicates with the interior of the shell A and at its two
movable ends is connected to spindle L by means of links L¹ which are jointed to
a swivelling socket L' on the rod L. The action is precisely the same as in the
previous example, viz as the air pressure increases in the shell A and tube V₁ the
ends of the latter are forced apart and the spindle L with wheel J fixed thereon
will slide down radially on the disc and thus communicate a quicker speed to the
disc M. Or the connection between the "tube V₁ and spindle L may be effected in
many other ways. The skew wheel K has a feather which can work up and down
in a corresponding groove in the round spindle L.

page_text: .
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
".
First. The manufacture and use for measuring and recording the delivery of
compressed air of apparatus consisting in a volume measurer of any suitable
construction which drives a friction wheel actuating a friction dise in connection
with any suitable construction of indicating gear with hands and dial, said friction
wheel being capable of sliding radially on the disc according to the pressure of the
compressed air exerted on a piston or other yielding surface against the effort of a
spring, or its equivalent for the purpose of ascertaining and recording the value of
the compressed air delivered in terms of pressure as well as in terms of volume,
substantially as set forth.
Second. In an apparatus for measuring and recording the delivery of compressed
air in terms of pressure and in terms of volume the friction wheel J fixed on a
spindle provided with piston V which works in a cylinder communicating with the
volume meter and against the counter pressure of a spring, said wheel J being
driven from the volume measurer and driving the friction disc M which is
connected with suitable indicating gear with hands and dial substantially as set
forth.
!
Third. In an apparatus for measuring and recording the delivery of compressed
air in terms of pressure and in terms of volume the friction disc J fixed on a
spindle provided with piston V which works in a cylinder communicating with the
volume meter and against the counter pressure of a spring, said wheel J driving
the friction disc, M and counterbalancing friction disc M2 and being driven from the
volume measurer by worm and worm wheel gear substantially as set forth.
"
Fourth. In an apparatus for measuring and recording the delivery of compressed
air in terms of pressure and in terms of volume the friction wheel J fixed on a
spindle which is connected to the ends of a Bourdon" gauge spring tube commu-
nicating with the volume meter, said wheel J being driven from the volume
measurer and driving the friction disc M which is connected with suitable indicating
gear with hands and dial substantially.as described with reference to Figure 4.
Fifth. The combination of parts forming the integrating compressed air meter
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dotad this 17th day of Sentowber 1885