IMPROVEMENTS IN MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE FLOW OF WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1852

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
KENNEDY, of Kilmarnock; in the County of Ayr, North Britain, Gun Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twentieth day of January,
in the fifteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Kennedy, Her especial licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority; that I, the said Thomas Kennedy; my exors,
adñiors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Thomas Kennedy, my exors,
adiiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE FLOW OF WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS;" in which
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Thomas
Kennedy; by an instrument in writing-under my hand and seal, particularly to
describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what inanner.
the same is to be performed, and shall cause the samé to be enrolled in Her said
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patént.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Kennedy, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by this present Instrument in writing as follows,
reference being had to the Drawings hereunto attached, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to various arrangements of mechanism, apparatus,
or means for effecting the accurate measurement together with the indication
and registration of the flow or the extent of the supply or discharge of any
liquid or aeriform body under pressure, without any material interference with
or reduction of that pressure in the measuring apparatus. And in order that
my said. Invention may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe
the several Figures on the Sheets of Drawings hereunto attached.
Fig. 1, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, represents a front external elevation of
one form or modification of my measuring apparatus or meter adapted for
measuring water or other liquid, shewing the appearance of the meter as
closed up for use.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding vertical section through the meter case, exhibiting
the whole of the details of the measuring mechanism in elevation within it.
Fig. 1, on Sheet 2 of my Drawings, is a detailed view of the same
apparatus, drawn on a larger scale, exhibiting a full-sized elevation of the
indicating apparatus, and a portion of the clockwork or continual mover,
whilst the adjustable water valve is in vertical longitudinal section, on the
scale of one half the real size.
Fig. 2, on the same Sheet, is a corresponding external side elevation of the
same parts, at right angles to Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a detached vertical section of the outer cylinder or chamber of the
adjustable valve, with its internal slotted waterway cylinder in external
elevation; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the valve along the line
a, b, in Fig. 3.
The leading essential feature of my Invention consists in the so connecting
an adjustable valve or waterway with an arrangement of clockwork or other
uniform continual mover, that the quicker or slower rate of flow, or the greater
or less supply of water passing through the waterway, shall be at all times
indicated by variable apparatus worked from the continual mover, or rather
actuated by the, combined motion of the continual mover and the variable
portion of the adjustable valve itself. In the example of the meter which I
have herein represented, the whole apparatus is contained within the rectan-
gular wooden case A, closed on all sides, and fitted with a cover lid B, which

page_text: may be opened as shewn in Fig. 2 on Sheet 1, for examination of the state of
the index. The lower portion of this case contains the adjustable valve C, the
external cylinder of which is secured to the side of the case by short stud
pillars or brackets, having their ends passed through the wood, and secured
outside by the nuts D. Over this, near the top of the case, is a shelf or plat-
form E, to act as a support for the clockwork F, with the indicating
mechanism G surmounting it. Any species of continual mover may be used;
but in the present instance I have adopted an ordinary clock, actuated by the
weight H hung from the first motion barrel I, and driving a train of wheels
terminating at the opposite end in a crown escapement J, working the pallet
spindle K, carrying a four-armed balance wheel L. At M is an additional
wheel in gear with the third wheel N of the train. It is fast on the upper end
of the inclined shaft P, arranged for connecting the clock movement with the
indicating apparatus. The shaft P is supported in an upper bearing on
the framing and in a lower bracket R standing up from the platform E,
and carries a large conical drum S, the longitudinal section of which is
of the form of an equilateral triangle; that is to say, its base, or the end
of the drum, coincides in diameter with the surface length from the base
to the apex. It is so set on an inclined spindle that its upper acting sur-
face shall be in a horizontal line for the convenient traverse upon it of the
indicating apparatus. This apparatus is contained within the two side frame
plates T, T, stayed in the usual way, and containing a train of wheels U,
the spindles of which work indices V, graduated to indicate from 1 to 100,000,
or any other number of gallons, just as a gas-meter indicator points out
the cubic feet of gas. The first motion of this index consists of a pulley or
surface friction wheel W, the spindle of which carries a pinion for driving the
entire train. This pulley rests by its periphery upon the horizontal line sur-
face of the cone S, the whole indicating apparatus being capable of traversing
longitudinally along this line, that is, from X to Y, being guided in a straight
line by a fixed rod Z, supported at one end by the back plate of the clock
framing, and at the other by the standard a, this rod Z being passed through
both the plates T. The traversing index has attached to it a cord b, passing
over a fixed guide pulley c, and thence downwards through the platform to the
adjustable valve beneath, where it is connected at d to the valve spindle. On
the opposite side of the index frame is a similar cord e, passing over a fixed
guide pulley f, and having a counter-weight g attached to its extreme end.
The adjustable valve consists of an external cylinder C, to the lower open end
of which is screwed a cap-piece h, cast in one piece with the tubular piece i,
which terminates in a stuffing box j. The pipe i has a side branch k, to which

page_text: is screwed the end of the supplying pipe 1, passing out through the side of the
containing case. The cap has an inner screwed collar m to receive an
internal bored cylinder n, open at both ends o, p, and accurately fitted with a
delicately moving piston 7. The upper end of the external cylinder is covered
over by a screw cap 1, the upper tubular portion of which is surmounted by a
stuffing box, just as at the bottom of the cylinder. A side branch s forms the
outlet for the water, conducting it into the discharge pipe t, passed through
and attached to the wooden case. The inner bored cylinder n is slotted
through one side longitudinally nearly from end to end, as from u to v,. the
slot, as shewn in the horizontal section, Fig. 5, being cut square for a short
distance from the interior surface, after which it is expanded or bevilled off
cutwards so as to afford the best chance for the escape of any foreign matters
in the water, The piston q: which works nicely within the cylinder, is fast
upon the spindle d, w, which passes through the upper and lower stuffing
boxes of the external cylinder, its upper end being attached to the cord of the
indicating apparatus, as before described, whilst a weight y is hung to its lower.
extremity. When fitted up for use, the pipe communicates with the water
main or reservoir, whilst the pipe t above is similarly connected with the dis-
charge cock by which the water is drawn off. The fluid current follows the course
of the arrows, the water passing in from the pipe i up into the internal cylindern
by its open lower end. There it is met by the piston q, which at the commence-
ment of the supply of water stands at the bottom of its cylinder, where the slot
terminates. The hydrostatic pressure then elevates the piston in the cylinder,
until a portion of the length of the slot in the latter is laid open to the water,
when the latter finds its way through the opening into the external cylinder C,
whence it flows off between the inner and outer cylinders, and through the
branch s to the discharge pipe t. The effect of this rise of the piston, which
must always take place before the least quantity of water can pass through the
valve, is that the pulley W and indicating apparatus is traversed from the
small end of the cone s, at which point the pulley W always stands when the
piston q is at the bottom of its stroke, a corresponding distance towards the
large end or greatest diameter of the cone. This traverse is effected by the
slackening of the cord 6 when the piston rises, permitting the counterweight g
to exert its power in drawing down its corde, and thus traverse the indicating
apparatus in the direction of the arrow. When the piston again falls, from the
diminution of the effective or unbalanced elevating hydrostatic pressure beneath
it, then the larger weight y, which is hung to the valve spindle, overcomes the
weight g, and brings down the piston, re-traversing the indicating apparatus
towards the smaller end of the cone. In this way the driving friction pulley W

page_text: of the indicator is constantly regulated or adjusted in its position on the cone
in accordance with the precise aimount of elevation of the valve piston, that is,
when the piston exposes the entire length of the cylinder slot to the passage of
the water, the indicator stands on the largest end of the cone, gradually
approaching the small end of the latter as the piston descends to cover up its
slot. When the piston reaches the bottom of its stroke the indicator is like-
wise at the end of its traverse towards the small end of the cone, and the stop
arm then comes in contact with the balance L, and stops the clock, there
being no office for it to fulfil when no water is passing through the valve.
Then, as the cone is constantly caused to revolve at a uniform rate during the
action of the ineter by the action of the clock, as already described, it follows
that the friction pulley W will be driven by the cone at a gradually increasing
or diminishing rate, according as it approaches the large or small end of the
cone, and thus the dial indications must always coincide with the exact
quantity of water passing, or the rate of flow through the meter, whether that
quantity is great or small. The weight y hung to the rod n of the piston is
sufficient to keep the piston firmly down upon the rising fluid column at 1 in
the inner cylinder, in addition to traversing the indicator, whilst it moves
freely up or down in obedience to the effect of the unbalanced columnar
pressure beneath the piston. The traverse of the piston in its cylinder is
accurately proportioned to the rate of increase of the cone's diameter, so that
a certain determined length of slot or waterway, which is known to discharge a
certain quantity of water at a given effective pressure beneath the piston, shall
accurately coincide with the relative position of the indicator upon the cone
and the consequent relative dial indications. And I would here remark, that
although the head pressure or the columnar height of the water from which
the supply is taken and passed into the meter may vary, such variation will in
nowise interfere with the accuracy of the measurements of my apparatus; for
it is the amount of effective or unbalanced pressure beneath the piston which
governs the extent of clevation of the piston and the resultant dial indications,
and this elevation depends, not upon the hydrostatic pressure in the main, but
upon the extent of opening of the service cock, which allows the water to pass
through the meter. Thus, when this discharge cock is closed, the fluid pressure
beneath the piston is completely balanced or annihilated, from the effect of the
reacting pressure of the water upon the upper side of the piston, which
reaction occurs from the communication existing between the upper side of
the piston and the head pressure through the annular passage between the
outer and inner cylinders and the open top of the latter. Under such condi-
tions the piston falls to the bottom of its cylinder, and the indicator, as a

page_text: necessary consequence, ceases to act. Then, when the service cock is opened,
the greater or less fluid discharge through it removes more or less of the
reacting pressure from the upper side of the piston, and hence the latter is
subjected to a greater or less effective pressure beneath it, and it consequently
rises in proportion to such effective pressure. Hence it is that the indications
of the quantities of the passing fluid can be made to agree with the actual
discharge of the fluid, whether that discharge is regular or irregular, quick or
slow, the effective pressure of the fluid and the amount of opening of the dis-
charge cock at any given moment being pointed out by the position of the
actuating wheel of the indicator on the cone, whilst the constant mover or
clock indicates the precise increment of time during which each such pressure
or opening is in use. After the water has passed through the adjustable
valve it may be conducted very nearly to the height practically due to the
supplying head of water, the only loss of pressure being a small amount
occasioned by the slight load upon the piston, which load is necessary to keep
the piston firmly down upon the water beneath it.
Figure 3, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, exhibits a detail of another arrange-
ment, whereby the state of the adjustable valve and the consequent flow of the
water may be indicated and registered. This Figure is a plan of another
modification of indicating apparatus to be worked in connection with the clock
or continual mover instead of the cone S, a horizontal disk A being substi-
tuted for the cone. This disk is carried upon the upper end of a vertical
spindle driven by the clock movement at a uniform rate. At B is the pulley,
over which the cord from the adjustable valve passes up to the indicator
C, C, and at D is a second pulley, over which the counterweight cord is hung.
The index train is made precisely the same as that herein-before described, its
actuating friction pulley E being set to rest upon the upper plane surface of
the disk A. Then, as the rise or fall of the piston traverses the indicator
nearer to or further from the periphery of the disk, the dial indications shew a
greater or less rate; that is, when the valve is closed the pulley E is imme-
diately above the centre of motion of the disc, and consequently receives no
motion; and, on the other hand, when the pulley is at the edge of the disc it
indicates the full opening of the valve..**
Figure 4, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, exhibits a side elevation of an
adjustable balance or pendulum action as fitted to the pallet spindle of the
clock, and involving another modification of my arrangements for indicating
the action of the adjustable water valve and the resultant flow of water. In
this instance the valve is made to adjust the clock's rate of going, so that,
instead of being a continuous uniform mover, it goes quicker or slower, in

page_text: obedience to the position of the piston in its cylinder, the quantity of water
passed through the meter being read off from the 'dial indications of the clock
itself, which indicates a greater or less quantity accordingly as it may have
been driven at a quick or slow rate for a greater or less period. In the
view, Figure 4, A is the pallet spindle, having fast upon it a boss B, with an
eye C at each side, to which eyes are jointed the ends of the two pendulous
arms or levers D, having adjustable weights at their opposite ends. Each of
these arms is connected by a short link-piece to a sliding collar F on the
upper end of the pallet spindle, the arrangement being precisely the same as
an ordinary steam engine governor reversed. The collar F is connected in
any suitable manner to the adjustable valve action, as, for instance, by a couple
of cords shewn passing upwards from the collar at G. When in action the
elevation of the piston draws up the collar F, so as to bring the arms D
towards the vertical line, as delineated in the Figure, thus in effect reducing
the effective leverage or pendulous action, or, in other terms, diminishing the
effective diameter of the balance, and increasing the clock's rate. Again,
when the piston falls the arms approach the horizontal line, as dotted at HI,
thus increasing the effective diameter of the balance, and reducing the clock's.
rate.
With such an arrangement the positions of the piston in its cylinder.
are to be carefully set to correspond with the different angles of the balance
arms, so that, when the indications are adjusted to correspond accurately
with a given position of the valve, all other positions and indications may
similarly correspond. Various modifications of this system of rendering
the clock movement mariable as an indicator of the flow of water may be
adopted, as, for example, the valve may be made to act on the balance spring,
and thus cause the clock's rate to vary with the position of the piston,
or the valve may act upon a modification of the common pendulum, to vary
its beats.
Although I have hitherto described my Invention as being worked with a
piston and slotted cylinder as the adjustable valve, it will be obvious to the
practical man that various forms of valves or adjustable fluid passages may be
used for a similar purpose.
Figure 5, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, is a vertical section of another valve
which may be employed. It consists of a conical barrel or chamber A, having
within it a conical piston or plunger B, the diameter of which is such as to fit
the smallest end of the barrel. This piston is carried on a vertical rod C,
passing through each end of the barrel, and connected to an indicating
apparatus in the manner herein-before described.
The water is supplied to
the meter by the lower branch D, and is discharged therefrom by the upper
"

page_text: passage E. When the piston is at the bottom of its travel it fits accurately to
the small end of its barrel, and prevents the passage of any water; but as it
rises, the water escapes all round it through the annular space between the
outside of the piston and the interior of the barrel. The higher the piston is
elevated the wider is this annular space; as indicated by the dotted position of
the piston at F, and it is, therefore, made to indicate the increased flow by
acting on the index mechanism, in the manner herein-before described.
I would also remark, that my apparatus, or modifications 'thereof, may be
employed for registering and measuring the flow of various liquids as well as
gases, and any aeriform bodics, the principle of action being in all cases the
same as I have herein-before described.
Many other modifications of my apparatus may be arranged to secure the
same advantages as I have herein-before pointed out; and, as an example,
I may mention that it may be contrived to take the form of an elegant
pillar. I also dispense with the necessity of the bottom stuffing box of the
measuring cylinder, by continuing the tube i downwards to form a chamber to
receive the counterweight, with its suspending wire; and, to prevent any
further flow of water, should the clock or continuous mover stop from the
running down of the actuating weight, the latter is adjusted to close the
supply or discharge cock as it descends to the bottom of its traverse. And,
as another safeguard, the shield for the winding-up key of the clock is con-
nected by a lever movement, so as to shut off the water supply or discharge
at all times when the key is in its place. And, lastly, a small separate
cylinder and piston is added, to be worked by the water pressure, for giving
a self-acting winding-up motion for the clock.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or
restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had
occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom
without deviating from the principles or main features of my Invention; but
what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part.recited Letter Patent 'is,-
First, the systems or modes of measuring, registering, or. indicating the flow
or passage of fluids and aeriform bodies, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of measuring fluids irrespective of their
pressures, by means of a reaction adjustable valve working in connection with
a 'continual uniform or variable mover, as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use in fluid meters of adjustable reaction valves

page_text: or waterways to negative the effect of variable pressures of the measured fluids,
as herein-before described..
Fourth, the system or mode of measuring fluids by means of a pressure-
indicating valve, the effective pressure within which is governed by the dis-
charge or draw-off' cock in connection with a continual mover, as herein-before
described.
"
Fifth, the application and use of the self-acting cone indicating apparatus
in measuring fluids, as delineated in Fig. 2 on Sheet 2 of my Drawings.
Sixth, the system or mode of measuring fluids by means of a continual mover,
the indications of which are varied by the fluid pressure within an adjustable.
valve.
Seventh, the application and use in fluid-measuring apparatus of my
duplex cylinder valve, as delineated in Fig. 1 on Sheet 2 of my Drawings.
Eighth, the application and use of the conical barrel and piston, as
delineated in Fig. 5 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, for indicating the fluid
pressure in meters.
Ninth, the system or mode of measuring or indicating the passage of fluids
by means of a continual variable mover, as herein-before described.
Tenth, the application and use in fluid meters of the disc indicating appa-
ratus, as delineated in Fig. 3 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings.
Eleventh, the system or mode of measuring fluids, wherein the fluid
pressure in an adjustable valve governs the rate of a clock or continual
indicating mover.
Twelfth, the connecting the actuating weight of the clock or the clock
movement with the supply or discharge valve of the measuring cylinder in such
manner as to close the supply valve when the clock stops.
Thirteenth, the connecting the shield of the winding-up key of the clock
with the measuring apparatus in such manner that no water shall pass whilst
the key is in its place.
Fourteenth, the application and use of a self-acting winding-up movement,
as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Kennedy, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
THOMAS (L.S.) KENNEDY.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Sixteenth day of July, in the
year of our Lord 1852, the aforesaid Thomas Kennedy came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord One.
thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.