Improvements in and connected with Water or Liquid Meters.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1891-Accepted, 20th June, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Water or Liquid Meters.
A communication from abroad by THE THOMSON METER COMPANY, INCOR-
PORATED, of Newark, in the State of New Jersey, United States of
America.
I PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55, and 56, Chancery Lane in the County
of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents 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 improvements in disc water meters and consists in
certain constructions fully set forth hereinafter and illustrated in the drawings, in
which:
Figure 1. is a vertical part centre section.
Figure 2. is a top plan of the upper side of the disc casing and lower section of
the exterior casing.
Figure 3. is a top plan of the outer casing, the register box and register
removed.
Figure 4. is an interior plan view of the upper section of the outer casing.
Figure 5. is a combined side elevation and section on the line A, Figure 2.
Figure 6. is a detached bottom plan view of the disc casing.
Figure 7. is a detached sectional detail of register support, disc controlling device
and internal gear casing.
Figure 8. is an enlarged detail view of the crank block and gearing.
Figure 9. is a detached detail view of stuffing-box spindle and gear.
Figure 10. is a detached plan view of disc.
Figure 11. is a transverse centre section of disc.
Figure 12. is an enlarged transverse centre section of disc showing a modified
construction.
Figures 13. to 18. are detail views showing the process of forming gears of the
character herein described and shown.
The several improvements and their objects will be pointed out in the following
sections:
1. The disc casing B, is wholly enclosed by the outer casing comprised of the
sections 10, 11. Although the disc casing as shown is seated in the lower casing
there is one condition which is maintained as if the disc casing were suspended,
namely, that the inlet spud 12, communicates with practically the entire space X,
surrounding the disc casing as indicated by the arrows 13; consequently the disc
casing is maintained in perfect balance as to pressure. The advantages of this
construction are that the separable sections 14, 15, constituting the disc casing, in
consequence of their minimum size, are more readily machined by quick processes
and being entirely enclosed within the outer casing are subject to but very slight
strain and hence may be of the minimum weight.
2. The outlet port 16. of the disc casing is arranged to register with the corre-
sponding port, 17, in the lower casing communicating with the outlet spud 18, 50
as to obtain a downward discharge from the disc casing and which discharge shall
also be outside of the area of section of the disc itself that any foreign substances
which may have been driven or carried into the disc chamber may be the more
readily ejected. The disc casing is firmly secured in position by screws 19.
3. The arrangement of the disc casing in the outer casing is such that no
foreign material can pass to the interior of the disc chamber of sufficient bulk to
damage the mechanism. This is accomplished by simply providing narrow
passages formed by vertical ribs 20, 21, arranged to leave narrow spaces, as 22, 23,
i

page_text: instead of a single wide opening as heretofore. This permits the water to flow
directly to the lower side of the inlet port 24. while the water flows to the upper
side through the spaces 26, Figure 5, which extend around the flange 27, of the
disc casing between it and the inside of the upper outer casing. The dotted
lines 28, Figure 4 indicates the position of the flange 27. As these sinuous slits
extend around nearly the entire circumference of the chamber, the required area is
readily secured by very narrow spaces, thereby retaining within the space C,
below the disc casing any substance which may not properly pass to the disc-
chamber. Another advantage of this arrangement is that although the water at
times will pass these narrow openings at a very high velocity, yet the impact of the
jets is in the spaces outside of and away from the inlet port; hence the flow
through the inlet port to the disc chamber is relatively at a much lower velocity
and favorable to the proper and durable action of the disc and its ball-bearing.
4. The disc casing and the upper outer casing are centered with respect to each
other (involving the proper operation of the disc and gearing) by setting the
disc casing to such a depth in the lower outer casing that a portion of its flange 27,
will project slightly above the face of the annular face 28. of the exterior casing.
Then the four guiding points 29, Figure 4. of the upper outer casing are in position
adapted to the diameter of the flange 27. of the disc casing. The advantage of this is
that the disc casing does not require to be accurately centered to the lower outer.
casing, so that the single operation of turning or finishing the guiding points
insures the proper water way through the intermediate spaces 26, and brings the
vertical centre of the upper casing into absolute alignment with the corresponding
centre of the disc casing.
5. The vertical diaphragm 29, is secured to the casing of the disc-chamber by
attaching to the lip 30, of the diaphragm Figure 5. by the pin 31, the threaded
stud 32, adapted to project through the chamber to be secured by the nut 33. It
is to be observed that the stud lies at a right angle to the horizontal plane of the
disc-chamber. Therefore when the nut is tightened, the diaphragm is drawn
forcibly downward and is also slid outward upon the inclined surface of the
chamber, to its exterior spherical surface. This insures a perfectly tight joint and
durable structure while yet permitting the ready removal of the diaphragm.
Any other suitable form of device for drawing the diaphragm downward may be
used.
6. The action of the disc is controlled by forming a journal bearing 34, projecting
inward from the exterior casing, and mounting thereon a crank block 35. having a
slot 36, to engage the disc spindle; which latter, as it gyrates, causes the revolu-
tion of the crank block, thereby ensuring the proper action of the disc within its
chamber. The crank block is maintained in position by the stud screw or pin 37,
which passes transversely through the block to which it is secured and also passing
freely through the lower end 38, of the gear shaft; the block thus also serving to
transmit the motion of the disc to the gear train and register.
7. The form of the disc 59, Figures 10, 11, from centre to circumference, in
transverse section, is wedge-shaped the thicker portion 60, being towards the
centre, the thinner 61, at the periphery. The advantage of this form is graphically
illustrated by comparison with Figure 12, which indicates the transverse centre of
a disc having parallel sides the tapering form not only yielding an advantage in
requiring less quantity of material to construct the disc, but also, in a given size of
chamber, such as illustrated, giving a greater displacement for each oscillation.
An additional advantage of controlling importance is that the periphery of the
disc the portion travelling at highest speed, is relieved of weight and hence the
disc may be operated more rapidly, with less destructive shock and vibration, than
in the form heretofore employed. The disc may be of different cross-sectional
forms provided the thickness is reduced toward the edge.
8. The disc when made of hard rubber consists of a plate or plates 62. Figures 10, 11,
of metal as steel, iron, aluminium, or bronze alloys, or webs or mats of interwoven
wire interposed between sheets of rubber 63, which is then preferably vulcanized,

page_text: thereby encompassing and imprisoning the plate. To insure the adhesion of the
rubber that all may become as one mass, the plate is perforated as 64, and its
surface may be roughened or under-cut" as by a knurling tool. The plate also
is of lesser diameter than the rubber. In this wise, the plastic rubber, during the
vulcanizing process will surround the plate flow into the cavities and pass through
the perforations, thus uniting the rubber sheets to each other and to the plate as if
my means of rivets. Hard rubber has a peculiarly high efficiency as a wearing
material, particularly where used in water acting against bronze composition, while
on the other hand its brittleness and frequent lack of uniformity in vulcanizing are
serious objections to its use when subjected to heavy strain or shock, such as
water-hammer." The advantage then of this combination is: additional strength
of structure without increasing the bulk or decreasing the efficiency of wearing
surface. But the particular feature of this method of strengthening in dise actions
may be pointed out briefly as follows:-It has been found in practice, as it might be
demonstrated theoretically that the discharge portion of the disc (as see the
quadrant 65) is most liable to yield under heavy duty and that the weakest pon
is at the bottom of the slot, the juncture 66, of the disc and ball. In other words,
the ball may be regarded as a fulcrum and the disc as a lever of universal radii
projecting therefrom. It is evident therefore that the interposed plate exactly
meets the objections pointed out.
9. The hard rubber when united to metal plates for use in disc water meters is
so treated as to decrease the sensibility of hard rubber to the distorting action of
hot water. In the manufacture of articles consisting of rubber and metal which
are to be subjected in use to the action of hot water, it is common to melt or other
wise shape the article to the desired form and to then finish it to the exact shape
required. While by this means the initial shape of the article has been properly
secured, it has been found in practice that the effect of heated fluid is to quickly
distort the rubber. The difficulties incident to this method of construction may be
obviated by again subjecting the article, after having been preliminarily formed
and vulcanized, to the action of the heat, preferably to the action of heated fluid
and thereafter withdrawing and chilling or cooling the same and then finishing or
machining it in the ordinary manner. Discs thus made from hard rubber and metal
may in use be operated in baths of hot fluid without so quickly losing their shape
or proportions as heretofore. The effect of this process of after heating is to
produce inequalities upon the surface of the rubber, indentations and elevations,
analogous to the "shrinkages" which appear in cast metal. The rubber surface of
the disc may then be machined in the ordinary way and if the disc thereafter be
inserted in a hot bath the distortion, if any, is but slight, very much less than
before the first immersion, and will usually not interfere with the proper action or
use of the mechanism. It will be evident that where extreme nicety of operation
is required the disc may be immersed and finished several times until it attains its
ultimate permanent condition. The advantage due to this process is to practically
eliminate the failure of hard rubber discs, due to the back-setting" of hot water,
in the regular house service of disc water meters.
::
10. The modified form of disc shown in Figure 12, is intended for the continuous
measurement of hot water of a higher temperature than the rubber will withstand.
This disc consists of two metal plates 67, 68, divided horizontally at 69, and
The spaces
recessed, leaving one or more circular ribs 70, to stiffen the structure.
so produced are then filled with cork, 71, as may also be the ball 72. The
theoretically best condition is reached when the specific gravity of the entire
structure, in all its section, equal that of the fluid in which it is to be used. A
metal disc so formed may be used at fast speed with satisfactory results where an
ordinary metal disc would soon be destroyed by simple impact against the surfaces
of the disc casing.
11. The crank block, the gear train and the register are mounted as shown, the
crank block being applied as already described, to the inwardly projecting
bearing 34, which however is preferably here shown as a part of the separate cup

page_text: or register support 38. The gearing is contained within the chamber 40 enclosed
by the cap nut 41, in which is formed the stuffing box 42, having the usual stuffing-
box nut 43. The opening 44, through the upper casing is to be large enough to
permit the insertion of the bearing with or without a crank block, from the outside
of the casing, the cup being secured thereto as by means of the screws 45, and a
tight joint obtained by the gasket 46. The lower plate 47, of the register is fitted
to the recess 48, of the cup, so that when the register box 49, is secured to the
cup, the register is locked firmly to its position. The advantages of this arrange-
ment are that the internal gearing is contained within a tight chamber which may
be filled with oil to exclude both water and grit; that the entire device, with the
parts of and connections to the register, may be attached to or removed from
the outer casing without disconnecting the outer casing and without disturbing
the disc casing.
12. The internal gear train which communicates between the disc and the register
is shown to be a train of differential gearing arranged to obtain the utmost com-
pactness and yet to afford the greatest possible area of wearing surfaces with such
a combination of material as to ensure practical immunity from friction thereby
ensuring the maximum results both in durability and sensibility. 50, is the fixed
external gear secured in the chamber 40; 51, is the driven external gear fast to
the stuffing-box spindle 52. These gears together with the spindle are made of
metal. The upper extension 53, of the gear shaft 38, is an eccentric upon which
is mounted the internal driving gears 54, 55. The shoulder 56 of the eccentric
sustains the weight of the gearing, the shaft, the eccentric and the crank block.
The gears 54, 55, are made separately, as they require an unequal number of
teeth but both are fixed to each other and are driven by the eccentric as if one
single gear.
A metal bushing 57, is forced into the gears, tight thereto, and the
spindle extends down through nearly the entire length of the eccentric and shaft.
The crank block, the shaft, the eccentric, and the internal gears 54, 55, are made
of hard rubber or other non-metallic material. The consequence of this arrange-
ment and combination of material is that the well known low specific gravity of
rubber imposes the minimum of weight upon the shoulder 56, while the combina-
tion of hard rubber and metal with concentric bearings afford to the crank block 35,
and bearing 34, a support of ample rigidity and extent to withstand the direct
thrust of the disc spindle, leaving the pin 37, free to transmit simple rotary motion
to the shaft which is guided by the bearing 58, and in turn affords, and also receives
guidance from, the stuffing box spindle, while the metal sleeve 57, provides the
metallic and hard rubber combination between the eccentric and the internal gears,
and the same combination is found between the teeth contact of the internal and
external gearing.
::
13. The external gears 50, 51, is a form of gearing sometimes designated "face
gearing and it is well known to be much more difficult and expensive to
correctly form such teeth by ordinary processes, particularly if of small diameter
than that of ordinary spur gearing. As already pointed out these gears are
particularly well adapted to the present purpose and the objections to their
manufacture are obviated by first punching or milling the edge of a metal disc 73,
to form radial arms 74. A pinch 75, is then provided in which vertical slots 76,
are accurately formed which in cross section correspond to the contour of the teeth
desired in the wheel. The punch is closely fitted in its external diameter to the
cylindrical recess 77, of the die 78. The blank is then placed upon the die
Figure 16, so that the aforesaid radial arms shall register or coincide with the
slots in the punch. Now upon applying pressure, Figure 17, the arms are first
upset to a right angle with the face of the disc and then, second, forced to flow
into the slots of the die, thereby accurately impressing the contour of the slots to
the arms which in fact are merged into teeth and the gear is formed at a single
operation. A contingent advantage of this process is that the working surfaces of
the teeth are burnished and the metal compressed to a degree of smoothness and
density not otherwise attainable. The original accurate construction of the punch

page_text: is of ready accomplishment, as the slots may be formed by ordinary milling gear
cutters. The arms of the blank are shorter than the teeth of the produced gear as
the excess of metal in the arms is forced to flow upward into the slots. But gears
so produced are very uniform one with the other and do not require any additional
machining. For the use and purpose here described the process is peculiarly well
adapted and is an essential part of the system.
It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the construction precisely
as shown but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents I declare that what I claim is:
1. In a disc water meter, a disc casing arranged within an outer casing, the
latter having two spuds, one communicating with the space around the disc casing
and the other with the outlet of the disc casing, substantially as set forth.
2. A. water meter provided with a disc casing and a surrounding outer casing,
with an intervening chamber communicating with the inlet spud, the disc casing
having an outlet port communicating with the outlet spud of the outer casing,
substantially as set forth.
3. The combination in a water meter, of an outer casing provided with an outlet
spud having a port extending to an internal flat face, and a disc casing, having a
flat face adapted to coincide with that of the outer casing, and an outlet port
arranged to coincide with that of the outer casing substantially as set forth.
4. The combination in a water meter, of an outer casing having a seat for a dise
casing and said disc casing confined to the said seat with a surrounding space
communicating with the inlet spud of the outer casing, substantially as described.
5. In a disc water meter, the combination with the outer casing of the disc
casing wholly enclosed by the outer casing seated therein and detachable therefrom,
the inlet spud communicating with the space surrounding the disc casing and the
outlet spud communicating with a port at the bottom side of said disc casing,
substantially as set forth.
6. In a disc water meter the combination of an outer casing in two separable
sections and a disc casing seated between and enclosed within said casing and inlet
and outlet spuds in one section of the outer casing, one of said spuds communi-
cating with the space surrounding the exterior of the disc casing and the other
with the port at the bottom of the disc casing substantially as set forth.
7. In a disc water meter, the combination with the disc and its casing of an
outlet port arranged to discharge downwardly and outside of the area of action of
the disc substantially as specified.
8. In a disc water meter, an inner disc casing and an outer enclosing casing
constructed to leave an intervening chamber, and series of narrow slits forming
communications between the inlet of the outer casing, and the inlet port of the
disc casing, substantially as described.
9. In a disc water meter, in which the disc and its casing are contained within a
separate outer casing, the combination with the inlet port of the disc casing of a
series of ribs arranged to form a series of narrow slits communicating between the
inlet of the outer casing and the spaces leading to the inlet port of the disc casing,
for the purpose set forth.
10. In a disc water meter, in which the disc and its casing are seated in the
lower section of the outer casing, the combination of the guiding points 29, of the
upper casing with the flange 27, of the disc casing, for the purpose set forth.
11. In a disc water meter, the combination with the disc casing of a movable
diaphragm and a securing device constructed to draw the edge of the diaphragm
against the inclined edge of the casing, substantially as set forth.
12. In a disc water meter, the combination with the disc casing and diaphragm
of the stud pivotally connected to the diaphragm to project through the chamber
and be secured thereto by securing means, for the purpose specified.

page_text: 13. In a disc water meter, in which the disc and its casing are contained
within a separate outer casing, the combination of the disc casing disc and disc
spindle with a bearing extending inwardly from the outer casing upon which is
mounted a crank block adapted to receive the disc spindle, for the purpose of
controlling the action of the disc and to transmit its motion to the register.
14. The combination with the outer casing and the disc casing contained
therein, of the cup having a closed chamber containing a system of differential
gearing, provided with a crank-block adapted to control and transmit the motion of
the disc and with a stuffing-box and register seat all connected together and
adapted to be attached from the outside of the casing, substantially as specified.
15. In a disc water meter, the combination with the disc and its casing of the
cup to which is directly connected the crank-block, the eccentric and differential
gearing driven thereby, the stuffing-box spindle, cap nut and stuffing box,
substantially as specified.
16. In a disc water meter, the combination in the differential gear train,
substantially such as described, of the following elements:-The non-metallic
crank-block mounted upon a metallic journal and freely connected, as by the pin 37,
to the non-metallic gear shaft mounted in a metallic bearing, the non-metallic
internal gears secured together and having a metallic bushing to bear upon the
eccentric; the metallic fixed and driven external gears meshing with the teeth of
the internal gears and the metal stuffing box spindle fast to the driven gear and
having a bearing, in the eccentric and shaft, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
17. In a water meter, the combination with the cup, gear chamber, differential
gearing and spindle, of the enclosing cap containing the stuffing box and stuffing
box nut, substantially as described.
18. The combination in a disc water meter, of a casing, disc and central ball, the
disc tapering toward the edge substantially as described.
19. A disc for disc water meters provided with a central ball reduced in
thickness at the edge, substantially as described.
20. A disc for disc water meters composed of hard rubber and an interposed
plate or web of steel.
21. A disc for disc water meters composed of hard rubber and an interposed
metal plate the plate being of lesser diameter than the rubber.
22. A disc, for disc water meters, composed of hard rubber and an interposed
metal plate, the plate being perforated, for the purpose of uniting the sheets of
rubber to each other and to the plate.
23. The method as substantially hereinbefore set forth of manufacturing discs of
hard rubber and metal, the same consisting in vulcanizing the rubber portion, then
subjecting the article to the action of heat, then cooling the same, and finishing the
rubber portion.
24. In a disc water meter, a disc formed by the combination of two hollow
metal plates with cork interposed therein, for the purpose specified.
25. In the manufacture of face gearing for use in disc water meters, the method
substantially as hereinbefore described, consisting in first forming a blank with
radial arms and then bending the arm at right angles to the body of the blank,
and simultaneously compressing the arms causing the metal to flow under pressure
to impart the desired contour to the teeth.
LL
101
1
J
1001
PHILIP M. JUSTICE.