IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND CONTROLLING OR REGULATING THE FLOW OR SUPPLY OF WATER
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Archibald Caldwell, of Strathbungo, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR MEASURING AND CONTROLLING OR REGULATING THE FLOW OR SUPPLY OF
WATER"
Sealed the 22nd June 1877, and dated the 13th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Archibald Caldwell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th March 1877.
ARCHIBALD CALDWELL, of Strathbungo, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND CONTROLLING OR
REGULATING THE FLOW OR SUPPLY OF WATER."
This Invention, which relates to certain improvements in apparatus for measuring
and regulating or controlling the flow or supply of water to the service or discharge
pipes in dwelling houses, factories, or other buildings, is in part a further develop-
ment of the Invention for which Letters Patent were granted to the said Archibald
Caldwell, No. 1013, A.D. 1876.
The apparatus, as constructed in accordance with the Specification and Drawings
filed by the said Archibald Caldwell in terms of a proviso to that effect in the
aforesaid Letters Patent contained, is capable of giving a fixed quantity of water
as a maximum at each discharge, but by the addition thereto of the improvements
constituting the present Invention the said apparatus is capable of yielding different
maximum quantities of water during fixed periods, according to the quantity of
water being drawn.off.
The present improvements consist in connecting both ends of the cylinder with
the water main. In the branch which connects the two ends of the cylinder
together are two valves, which are coupled by a rod or spindle, one end of the
spindle, and by preference that whereat the smaller valve is situated, passing out
through the otherwise closed end of the connecting pipe, and made water-tight
thereat by a cup leather or equivalent packing. At times when but a small
quantity of water is being drawn off the pressure on the small valve keeps it open
and the larger valve shut; but when a larger quantity of water is being drawn off
T

page_text: than the small valve is capable of supplying, then, the pressure in the whole
apparatus being reduced, a weighted lever acting upon the valve spindle forces it
downwards or inwards, at the same time opening the larger valve and closing or
nearly closing the small one. At such time the piston of the measuring cylinder is
brought back very slowly by the small amount of water passing through the small
valve.
Part of the same improvements are applicable as a substitute for ball cocks, or
their equivalents, such as are used for automatically admitting a water supply to
cisterns when they are empty or partly empty, and for cutting it off when they
are full.
In the apparatus as designed for this purpose the second or larger valve herein-
before described is dispensed with, the upper valve (which is the only valve in
this case) being forced open by the inflowing water, and shut down and ultimately
closed by the ball lever as the lever rises. When water has been drawn off the
cistern the valve opens by the ball lever sinking and allowing it to do so, but in
addition to the ball lever the improved ball cock is supplied with a weighted lever,
which at the same instant that the action of the measuring apparatus stops, and
the pressure of the inlet water therefor falls, closes the valve. The valve being
opened again, and the weighted lever thereby raised, so soon as the measuring
apparatus again starts into action the pressure of the inlet water therefor returns.
Another effect of the falling of the weighted lever is to raise the floating lever out
of the water, or partly so, and to return the float to its floating position the
moment the valve is again open.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Archibald Caldwell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
September 1877.
ARCHIBALD CALDWELL, of Strathbungo, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND CONTROLLING OR REGULATING
THE FLOW OR SUPPLY OF WATER."
My said Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for measuring and
regulating or controlling the flow or supply of water to the service or discharge
pipes of dwelling houses, factories, or other buildings, and is in part a further
developement of the Invention for which Letters Patent, No. 1013, were granted to
me, the said Archibald Caldwell, on the 9th March 1876.
The apparatus, as constructed in accordance with the Specifications and Drawings
filed by me in compliance with one of the provisos in the said Letters Patent,
No. 1013 contained, is capable of giving a fixed quantity of water as a maximum
at each discharge, and by the addition thereto of the improvements constituting the
present Invention the said apparatus is capable of yielding different maximum
quantities of water, according to the quantity of water being drawn off.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, inode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
annexed Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say,-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of an apparatus constructed according to my said
former Invention, the subject of the said Letters Patent No. 1013, but with a
regulator constructed according to my present Invention applied thereto, shewing
the valves in one of their working positions; and Figure 2 is a similar section,
shewing the valves in the reverse position.
According to the present improvements both ends of the cylinder A are connected
with the water main F by the pipe H coupling the two ends of the cylinder A

page_text: together through the branches H1, H2, opening respectively into the upper and
lower parts of the cylinder, the branch H¹ being of smaller bore than the
branch H. In the pipe H upon one common spindle I are two valves J, K, the
valve J being above the opening, of the water inain F into the tube H, and the
valve K being below the said opening, the spindle I is continued beyond the
valve J past the opening of the branch H, and carries a cup leather or packing,
which fits closely in a continuation II of the tube H. The spindle I terminates in
a stud L passing through a hole in the said continuation of the tube H on &
fulcrum n (which fulcrum may be formed on the pipe H or any other suitable part
of the apparatus, as for instance on the pipe D) turns a lever M, which lever, being
weighted at the outer end by the weight N, has a tendency to press the valve J
to its seat, and therefore to open the lower valve K. The upper part of the
spindle I is hollow or formed of a short tube, as shewn, and carries a steadying
washer or cup leather o, which fits closely in the pipe H and ensures the true
working of the said spindle. The said hollow top of the spindle has holes 2 formed
in it below the cup leather o, and other holes q above the said cup leather.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When but a small quantity of water
is being drawn off from the pipe G the water under pressure from the main passes
into the pipe EL, thence through the holes p into the interior of the hollow top of
the spindle I and out through the holes q, after which by exerting its pressure upon
the valve J and the cup leather zit overcomes the pressure of the weight N upon
the stud L of the spindle and keeps the said valve J open and the valve K there-
fore closed, as shown in Figure 1; and the piston apparatus, constructed according
to my said former Patent, marked B, C, operates as described in ny former Speci-
fication herein-before referred to.
When a greater quantity of water is being drawn off through the pipe G than
the branch His able to supply, the branch H' being of smaller bore than the
supply pipe G, and the pressure on the interior of the cylinder, and therefore that
in the branch H¹ and under the valve J being reduced, the weight N overcomes
the pressure from the main F, the valve J closes upon its seat, and the valve K
opens. The water is therefore prevented from flowing through the valve J, and the
piston, if not at the bottom of the cylinder, gradually descends thereto. The water
then flows continuously from the main through the branch H into the apparatus,
and passes out through the pipe G, until by the descent of the plunger or piston B of
the apparatus the pipe G is closed by the tubular central projection X scating itself
upon the india-rubber bottom of the cylinder, and thereby closing the entrance to
the pipe, a very small hole Y is formed in the said projection X to prevent n
vacuum in the pipe G.
Figure 2 represents the position of the parts when the plunger B is about to close
the pipe G. When this closure has taken place, which is indicated by the discon-
tinuance of the flow from the supply pipe G, the outlet tap or cock on the said
pipe Ginust be closed, when the pressure from the main will open the valve J, and
the cylinder A will become again filled, the piston B rising to the top of the
cylinder, so that a further supply of water can be gained from the pipe G until the
descent of the piston again cuts it off. By this means a large quantity of water
will pass through the apparatus at such times as the weight N overcomes the
pressure from the main, but when the pressure from the main overcomes the weight,
as for instance at night when but little water is drawn off, the apparatus will act
so as to supply the measured quantity of water for which it has been constructed,
as described in my said former Specification.
Part of the same improvements are applicable as a substitute for ball cocks or
their equivalents. Figure 3 is a section of the apparatus as applied to a ball cock;
in this case the supply pipe is marked H, and H is the outlet pipe to the cistern.
The valve J is forced open by the inflowing water passing through the holes p
and q, as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, until the ball by rising in
the cistern depresses the end of its lever upon the stud L and cuts off the supply
by closing the valve J.

page_text: When I use my improved apparatus, Figures 1 and 2, to supply a cistern, the
supply pipe from the apparatus to the cistern is provided with a ball cock having
a weight on it, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, which will close the valve of
the said cock when the plunger of the apparatus, Figures 1 and 2, shuts the water
off from the pipe G, and when consequently pressure on the valve J has ceased, the
said weight being sufficient to raise the ball out of the water and close the valve,
when the supply through the pipe H ceases. In cases of bib cocks, and other easily
accessible cocks, the valve may be wedged to its seat by a screw, or by a lever and
weight.
.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven- 1
tion, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. The improvements in or additions to the water regulating apparatus
described in the Specification of my former Patent, No. 10137, consisting of a
regulator constructed essentially as herein-before described and illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings for yielding different maximum
quantities of water, according to the quantity of water being drawn off.
Secondly. Constructing ball cocks or their equivalents, essentially as illustrated
in and described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The combination of a weight with the ball cock (when my improved
apparatus is used to supply a cistern) for automatically closing the said cock whilst
the plunger of my apparatus is in its lowest position, and the water therefore ceases
to flow, essentially as herein-before described and illustrated by the dotted lines in
Figure 3.
In witness whereof, I, the said Archibald Caldwell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.