IMPROVEMENTS IN CURRENT METERS, WATER METERS, AND SHIPS' LOGS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Theophilus Moore, of Elm Lodge,
Spring Grove, Isleworth, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CURRENT METERS,
WATER METERS, AND SHIPS' LOGS."
Sealed the 17th March 1874, and dated the 1st December 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Theophilus
Moore at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 1st December 1873.
.
I, BENJAMIN THEOPHILUS MOORE, of Elm Lodge, Spring Grove,
Isleworth, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare.
the, nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CURRENT METERS,
WATER METERS, AND SHIPS' LOGs," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in current. meters,
water meters, and ships' logs.
I employ in the first place a; hollow cylindrical casc free to move
about pivots at its extremities in the line of its axis. This hollow case

page_text: is water-tight, and contains within itself a small framework which carries
a train of wheels; this framework is suspended from an axle, or upon
pivots within the case and fixed to it, and the train of wheels is con-
nected by an endless screw, a toothed wheel, or otherwise with the axle
or pivot, or with the case, so that when the case is made to rotate the
train of wheels is set in motion, the framework remaining at rest or nearly
SO. Thus the number of revolutions of the case can be registered by the
train of wheels within it.
The case is made of metal, or glass, or a combination of metal and
glass, so that the wheels can be seen within without opening the case.
The case is provided with screw blades on its outside, which when
acted upon by water in motion relatively to the case cause it to rotate.
For the current meter I support the case in a light frame provided
with a rudder-like tail, and suspended by a stirrup and chain, in such a
manner that it will remain horizontal or nearly so in still water.
When the machine is lowered into running water it takes a position
such that the axis of the revolving case is in the same direction as the
stream; thus the train of wheels registers the speed of the current at
any depth to which the machine may be lowered.
The machine is provided moreover with a brake by which the rotation
of the case can be started or stopped at any instant while under water.
This brake consists of a spring carried by the suspending stirrup, and
having upon it a block which it presses against the exterior of the case.
When the machine has been lowered it is started by relieving the
pressure of the brake block on the case by tightening a line passing from
it to the hand of the operator, and when the machine has run the time
during which it is desired to continue the experiment the line is
released, and the brake block again comes in contact with the case and
stops its rotation.
For the ships' log the framing may be dispensed with, the spindle
being attached by a swivel joint to the log line; but a better arrange-
ment consists in mounting the rotating spindle inside a hollow cylinder,
open or partially open at front, and provided with a tail or rudder and
blades to prevent rotation of the outer cylinder.
For the water meter I place the rotating spindle within a water-tight
box into which the water passes by a pipe at one end, and out again by
a pipe at the othér.

page_text: The revolving case is in a horizontal position, and the box is provided
with a plate of glass at the top through which and the water the
registering wheels can be seen. To make all the water act upon the
blades of the case I enclose them within a case which extends either to
the entrance or exit pipe; I also employ blades fixed within the box
against which the wäter impinges.
I further employ a tell-tale or detector so arranged that if by any
accident the case should stop or be retarded and so not register the
water passing through the box, the tell-tale immediately begins gradually
to close a valve which permits the passage of the water; attention is
thus drawn to the meter. I effect this by placing on the axle of the
revolving case and outside it a small light wheel with screw blades
which is in loose connection with a valve; on the axle is a screw thread,
and within a portion of the navel of the wheel is a corresponding thread.
So long as the case revolves properly this small wheel revolves with it
at the same or a slightly less rate, and the valve is not affected; but if
the case stops or is retarded the wheel immediately engages the screw
on the axle of the case and begins to close the valve.
7)
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Benjamin Theophilus Moore in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 1st June 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
THEOPHILUS MOORE, of Elm Lodge, Spring Grove, Isleworth, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Benjamin Theophilus Moore, Her
special license that I, the said Benjamin Theophilus Moore, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Benjamin Theophilus Moore, my éxecutors, 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

page_text: .
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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN CURRENT METERS, WATER
METERS, AND SHIPS' LOGS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Benjamin Theophilus Moore, my executors or administrators;
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly 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 Benjamin Theophilus Moore, 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: -
This Invention has for its object improvements in current meters,
water meters, and ships' logs.
I employ in the first place a hollow cylindrical case free to move
about pivots at its extremities in the line of its axis. This hollow case
is water-tight and contains within itself a small framework which carries
a train of wheels; this framework is suspended from an axle or upon
pivots within the case and fixed to it, and the train of wheels is con-
nected by an endless screw, a toothed wheel, or otherwise with the axle
or pivot, or with the case, so that when the case is made to rotate the
train of wheels is set in motion, the framework remaining at rest or
nearly so. Thus the number of rotations of the case can be registered
by the train of wheels within it.
The case is made of metal, or glass, or a combination of metal and
glass, so that the wheels can be seen within without opening the case.
The case is provided with screw blades on its outside, which when
acted upon by water in motion relative to the case cause it to rotate.
In the current meter I support the case in a light frame provided with
a rudder-like tail, and suspended by a stirrup and chain in such a
manner that it will remain horizontal or nearly so in still water.
When the machine is lowered into running water it takes a position
such that the axis of the revolving case is in the same direction as the
1

page_text: stream. Thus the train of wheels- registers the speed of the current at
any depth to which the machine may be lowered.
"
The machine is provided moreover with a brake by which the rotation
of the case can be started or stopped at any instant while under water.
This brake consists of a spring which presses against the exterior of tho
case. When the machine has been lowered it is started by relieving the
pressure of the brake on the case by tightening a line passing from it to
the hand of the operator, and when the machine has run the time during
which it is desired to continue the experiment the line is released, and
the brake again comes in contact with the case and stops its rotation.
For the ship log the framing may be dispensed with, the spindle being
attached by a swivel joint to the log line; but a better arrangement
consists in mounting the rotating spindle inside a hollow cylinder, open
or partially open, and provided with a tail or rudder and blades to
prevent rotation of the outer cylinder.
For the water meter I place the rotating spindle within a water-tight
box into which the water passes by a pipe at one end, and out again by
a pipe at the other.
The revolving case is in a horizontal position, and the box is provided
with a plate of glass at the top through which and the water the
registering wheels can be seen. To make all the water act upon the
い
blades of the case I enclose them within a case which extends either to
the entrance or exit pipe, I also employ blades fixed within the box
against which the water impinges.
I further employ a tell-tale or detector so arranged that if by any
accident the case should stop or be retarded and so not register the water
passing through the box the tell-tale immediately begins gradually to
close a valve which prevents the passage of the water. Attention is
thus drawn to the meter. I effect this by placing on the axle of the
revolving case and outside it a small light wheel with screw blades
which is in loose connection with a valve; on the axle is a screw thread,
and within a portion of the travel of the wheel is a corresponding thread.
So long as the case revolves properly this small wheel revolves with it at
the same or a slightly less rate, and the valve is not effected, but if the
case stops or is retarded the wheel immediately engages the screw on the
axis of the case and begins to close the valve.

page_text: unto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
On Sheet 1 is represented a current meter constructed according to
my Invention. Figure 1 is a side elevation; Figure 2 is a front
elevation; Figure 3 is a back elevation; Figure 4 is a longitudinal
section; and Figure 5 is a plan partly in section.
a,.a, a, is the frame, consisting of three flat bars, two horizontal, and
one vertical; b is a shield, cylindro-conical in form, to which the bars a
are all secured; c is a band semicircular in form which unites the three
bars a near the middle of their lengths. This band c carries two studs
or pivots d, about which the whole instrument can turn when supported
by a handle or stirrup e; c¹, c¹, are brackets, which also connect the
three bars a near their rear end; f, f, are horizontal and vertical thin
plates firmly attached to the frame a, a, a; g is a hollow cylinder with a
ḍome shaped cover g¹, which screws on to the end of it, forming a water-
tight case. This case is free to turn upon two pivots h, h, the back pivot
h being adjustable and fixed by a guiding nut h¹. The case g is provided
with screw blades k, k, k; at its front end it has a watertight window of
glass 7. Within the case is a small spindle m, with its axis coincident
with that of the case. This spindle turns with the case when the case
revolves. From this spindle m a light frame p is suspended from two
bearings p¹ at its ends, so that when the case g and spindle m revolve
together this frame p remains at rest or nearly so. The weight of the
frame and wheels, and of the wheels which it carries tending to keep it
below the spindle; q, q, q, is the train of wheels placed within this
frame, the first wheel being connected by a worm wheel with an endless
screw upon the spindle m. When the case g is made to rotate upon
its bearings this train of wheels is thus set in motion, and the number
of rotations is indicated by the revolving dials s.
These dials are
seen through the glass window without the necessity of opening the
case.
In Figure 1 the instrument is seen suspended by the handle or stirrup
e, the pivot d being placed in such a position that in still water the axis

page_text: Figure 1 represents the upper part of the handle.
In Figure 5 the case and shield are in section shewing the machinery;
part of the frame is in elevation.
Figure 6 shews an end view of the machinery and frame when the
dome-shaped cover g' is removed from the case g.
Figure 7 is a section of the case 9 and the frame p, shewing the wheel
work and glass window 7.
Figure 8 shews the dials with their pointers, the frame p being partly
broken away. t is a spring fixed to the frame a by a screw; it embraces
firmly a portion of the cylinder g acting upon it as a friction break and
preventing its rotation. At the top of the handle e is a swivel u, to which
a cord can be attached. w is a projecting piece with a small hole in it,
through which a fine line or cord x passes, and which is attached to the
end of the spring t. This corda has a stop y upon it, which prevents
the spring being overstrained when the cord is drawn up, as will be
afterwards explained.
The method of using the instrument is as follows:-A cord is attached
to the swivel u of sufficient length to lower the instrument to the depth
required, and another lighter cord is attached to the ring at the end of
the cord x. When the instrument is at the required depth the running
water, acting upon the plates f, f, immediately causes the instrument
to place itself with the axis of the case 9 parallel to the stream. The
time then being noted the spring t is disengaged from the cylinder g by
drawing up the lighter cord, when the running water, acting on the
screw blades k, sets the cylinder g in rotation with an angular velocity
proportional (or nearly so) to the velocity of the stream at the depth in
question; the instrument is stopped again at any instant by letting go
the spring t.
The reading of the dials is noted before the instrument is lowered into
the water and again after it is drawn up, the difference giving the
number of rotations in the observed time, and from this the velocity of
the stream is immediately found when the rate of the instrument is
known. The first dial indicates ten revolutions of the cylinder, the
second a hundred, the third a thousand, and so on, the whole train
registering a hundred thousand revolutions.

page_text: Invention.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and Figure 2 is a plan. a, a, is a
strong tube of brass, with a pointed cover 6 screwed into the front of
it. This cover is filled or partially filled with lead c. A strong spindle d
turns in bearings e and e¹ fixed to the tube a. To this spindle a hollow
tube f is firmly attached. This tube has a cover f¹ screwed into it, and
the case is made water-tight throughout. It is provided with four or
more screw blades g. A frame containing a train of wheels similar to
those of the current meter is suspended from a spindle k, which is sup-
ported by two discs 7 and 1x, connected together by two bars 1, 1. The
disc / fits the case of water-tight like a piston, and the whole frame slides
into the case when the cover f¹ is removed. This case may be pro-
vided with glass as a current meter. When the log is drawn through
the water the blades o cause the case f to rotate about its axis, and the
wheel work is set in motion in the same manner as in the current meter.
The blades and wheel work are so adjusted that the first dial indicates
1 sea mile, the second 10, and so on for each revolution.
The pull upon the spindle d is sustained by a conical collar d' at its
front end, to which it is secured by a nut and cotter. The friction
caused by the pull between the collar d¹ and the bearing e¹ may be
reduced by using friction rollers, but I prefer to overcome this friction
by increasing the power of the blades g. This log may be drawn by a
ring attached to its front end, as is usual, or any other simple swivel-
like connection may be made between the log line and the spindle, but
I make use of two rings or eyes m, m, attached to the tube a in such
position that when the log is suspended from them in still water its axis
will be horizontal, as in the current meter. By this arrangement the
log has not the same tendency to rise to the surface as when drawn from
the front, but will travel at some depth below the surface.
By using two flat blades or rings p, p, fixed to the tube a and inclined
slightly downwards towards the front the log may be made to travel at a
still greater depth below the surface.
Figure 3 represents a longitudinal section of another form of log;
Figure 4 is a back elevation. a, a, is a strong tube with pointed end 6
screwed into it and filled or partly filled with lead. This tube a is
rigidly connected with a larger and lighter tube c by four strong bars d

page_text: at right angles to each other, and a similar cross frame d'is fixed to the
end of it. This frame terminates in a ring e, into which another ring
with cross bars can be screwed.
This frame carries a pivot 9 screwed into it, and a corresponding
pivot g¹ is screwed into a ring frame h fixed inside the tube a near its
front end. A tubular case k, k, water-tight and strengthened by
diaphragms and 7 rotates about these pivots g and g₁ clear of the outer
tube a. This case / contains a frame and wheelwork as before described,
and is set in rotation by screw blades m and m when the log is drawn
through the water. Any number of blades may be used, but I prefer
five or more.
The tube a has a sliding or hinged shutter, and the case k
a glass window similar to that in the current meter, the shutter and glass
being so arranged that the dials can be seen through the glass when the
shutter is opened. This log is drawn opposite the opening. This log is
drawn through the water in the same manner as before. The blades m
are attached to a tube, which slides over the case k, and is prevented
from rotating upon it by a pin. When the frame f is removed the
case can be drawn out through the ring e, leaving the blades within
the cylinder c. p, p, is a truncated hollow cone slipped over the front
end of this log and resting against the four arms d. This cone is per-
forated all over so as to allow water to pass freely through the tube c, c,
but to throw off weed or other floating matters, which may impinge
against it.
The instruments shewn in Figures 3 and 4 is intended to be used as a
deep-sea current meter as well as á log. For this. purpose the case k is
made very strong and without a glass window, and it may be filled with
oil or other liquid to prevent collapse; the same blades and the same
machinery are employed. As it is important that the instrument when
used as a deep-sea current meter should not register the rotation of the
case while it is descending in the water or while being drawn
up I
stop the motion of the wheelwork in the following manner :---On the
spindle which supports the frame containing the wheelwork I fix a small
wheel a!, Figures 5 and 6, having a few coarse teeth; immediately below
this wheel a¹ is a small disc 6' attached to a boss c³, which turns freely
upon a pivot secured to one side of the suspended frame.. This disc is
weighted on one side by a bob d*, and hangs on the pivot like a
pendulum. The opposite part of the disc is cut away, as shewn in
Figure 5, so that the wheel a' may rotate freely. when the instrument
.

page_text: does not deviate considerably from the horizontal. When however it is
descending in the water or being drawn up its axis is so much inclined
from the horizontal that the disc in either case passes between the teeth
of the wheel a, and the frame which carries the wheelwork thus becomes
locked to the spindle and rotates with it and with the case k, and the
wheelwork does not register. When the descent of the instrument is
stopped it immediately becomes horizontal, or nearly so, the disc b¹ is
disengaged from the wheel a', and the wheelwork is set in motion. This
mechanism for starting and stopping the instrument may also be applied
to the current meter shewn on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, the spring
brake being dispensed with.

page_text: a cover p¹ screwed upon the end of it: This cover supports a pivot m¹
exactly opposite the pivot m. A cylindrical case q, q, having a cover q'
screwed into one end and a spindle attached to this cover, is supported
on the pivots m and m', about which it can rotate freely. This case has
a glass tube 8 let into it, leaving five or more openings, as shewn, and is
water-tight both where the glass is attached and at the cover q². Within
this case a frame and train of wheels may be placed as in the current
meter, the dials in this case having their faces horizontal so as to enable
them to be seen from above through the glass plate d and the glass
cylinder 8. By means of these dials the number of revolutions of the
cylinder q may be counted.
•
But for the water meter I prefer another arrangement of the
machinery, which I will now describe: -t and u are two bars, to which
two parallel spindles w and x are firmly attached at their ends; w carries
a series of wheels and discs, and x a series of wheels and pinions. The
first of these disc wheels y is rigidly connected with the wheel y¹, but not
with the second disc wheel, and the wheel z and pinion & are attached to
the same short tube which rides loosely on the spindle x, and the same
arrangement holds good for all the other discs, wheels, and pinions in
the series. a¹ is a small wheel and pinion which connects the series of
wheels and pinions just described with another pinion 6¹. This pinion 6¹
is part of a bearing or pivot c¹, which supports one end u of the frame,
the other end being supported by a pivot d' attached to the end of the
cylinder q. The axes of these pivots c and d coincide with the axis of
the case q, c¹ being supported by a movable bar 6*..
The frame with the machinery just described turns freely upon the
pivot c¹ and d¹³, and remains at rest, or nearly so, when these pivots are
caused to rotate by the rotation of the case q upon its bearings at m and m³,
but the wheel a¹ being in gear with the pivot 6' the whole of the wheel-
work is then set in motion. The wheelwork is so arranged that the
first disc makes ten revolutions for one of the second, the second ten for
one of the third, and so on. The case q has a series of blades ¹ enclosed
by an outer ring, the water passing between the rings / is diverted by a
series of fixed blades, which cause it to impinge upon the blades k¹ by
which the case q is set in motion. The form of these blades is shewn in
Figure 6, which is a developement of them upon a plain surface. In
order to make all the water pass through these blades an elastic water-
tight joint is employed. This consists of a trough-like flange / fixed to

page_text: the outer of the rings k. A fine ring o is placed within this flange, and
is pressed tightly against a projecting plane surface o' upon the ring
which encloses the blades /¹ by spiral or other springs, not shewn in the
Drawing, and the water is prevented from passing between this ring o
and the case by a cupped leather ring, as shown in Figure 2. The
pressure of the water on the back of the ring o renders this joint more
secure. The blades ¹ are so constructed and the wheelwork so adjusted
that when the cylinder q is set in motion by water passing through the
meter the first wheel y makes one revolution for every 10 gallons, the
second one for every 100, and so on. The reading of these wheels is dis-
tinctly visible through the glass plate d and the glass cylinder s while
the latter is in rotation.
In the event of any accident happening to the meter whereby the
rotating cylinder q might be stopped the water would flow through
without registration. To prevent this I employ a small hollow cylinder
a² provided with screw blades 62, which rides loosely upon the spindle 1,
upon which a screw thread is cut, and a corresponding thread is formed
in the nave of the cylinder a². A curved cross head c² has two small
rods d² attached to it, which pass through small holes in the cover p¹ of
the cylinder p, and are rigidly connected with an equilibrium valve e²
fitting easily inside the cylinder p. The blades 62 are so formed that the
cylinder a² shall rotate in the same direction as the case q, but with less
angular velocity. When however the case a stops or its rotation is much
retarded the cylinder a² continues to rotate and engages the screw upon
the spindler, and thus moves slowly away from the case q, moving the
valve e so as to prevent the passage of the water through the openings
in the cylinder p. Attention is then drawn to the meter. This small
rotating cylinder and valve are not essential parts of this water meter.
It may be omitted altogether, the spindle r being made much shorter
and the pivot m¹ supported by a bar attached immediately to the tube g.
a³ are straight water guides. These guides prevent the rotation of the
water after it has passed through the blades k and k¹.
.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that I
claim,――
1. The construction of current meters, water meters, and ships' logs
with a close water-tight_case, which when in action is caused to revolve

page_text: by means of external blades, and which contains within it a pendulous
frame carrying the train of counting wheels, substantially as described.
2. The construction of current meters and ships' logs with points of
suspension so placed that the instrument hangs horizontally or nearly so
in still water, substantially as described.
3. The construction of current meters, substantially as shewn in the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
4. The construction of water meters, substantially as shewn in the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
5. The means, substantially as described, of arresting the flow of
water through the meter when the meter ceases to record.
6. The construction of ships' logs, substantially as shewn in the
Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Theophilus Moore, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of May, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.