IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, JAMES LANDLESS of 25, Nicholas Street, Burnley, in the County of Lancaster,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for " IMPROVEMENTS
IN METERS FOR WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS," and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of my Invention is to construct and arrange simple and effective.
mechanism for regulating the passage of water, oil, beer spirituous liquors, and
other liquids, and in measuring the same.
For the purpose of carrying out my Invention I employ a pair of cylinders
provided with slide valves so arranged that the piston rod of one cylinder actuates
the slide valve in connection with the other cylinder, and it is so timed and
regulated as to do this just before its own piston reaches the end of its stroke,
whereby one or other of the valves are always open, consequently a continuous
flow of liquids is obtained. All the liquid passing through both cylinders is
accurately measured and recorded by means of a suitable arrangement of clock-
work actuated by ratchet wheel and catch operated. at each upward movement of
one of the piston rods.
The size or holding capacity of the cylinders can be altered and regulated - as
required by means of adjustable screws passing through the bottom of each
cylinder which determines the length of the downward stroke which can be altered-
when required.
In order that the Invention may be better understood I herein give reference to
the accompanying Sheets of Drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is.end elevation (partly in.
section) of the apparatus I employ for carrying out my Invention, Fig. 2 plan view
thereof, and Fig. 3 is front elevation partly in section.
A and B are cylinders having pistons D and D¹ and rods E and Ei and slide
valves F and F' somewhat in the same manner as an ordinary steam engine, but
the said valves are operated in a peculiar manner from the piston rods as will be.
understood from the following explanation.
Upon the piston rod E is an arm G one end of which slides upon a vertical.
rod H, connected to a lever I, keyed upon the rocking shaft J, at the other end of
which shaft is a short lever K, connected to the slide valve rod L, so that at each
downward movement of the piston rod E, the arm G thereon will come into
contact with the collar M on the rod H, causing the shaft J to rock or partially
rotate, consequently the short lever K. to rise, lifting with it the slide valve rod L
thereby opening the valve, the return or upward movement of the piston rod
brings the said arm G into contact with another collar C, on the rod H, whereby
an opposite movement is given to all the parts just described.
The piston rod of cylinder B has parts similar to those described in connection
with the cylinder A, and act in a similar manner, the several parts being marked
with similar letters of reference; it will thus be seen that the piston rod of
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page_text: cylinder A actuates the valve of cylinder B, and that the piston rod of cylinder B
actuates the valve of cylinder A both of which are set and adjusted so that there
is always one valve open.
By this peculiar method of operating the valves it will be observed that the
sliding part of the valve cannot stop on crossing the parts on a dead point because
it is being pushed by the opposite piston possessing full power, and when the
piston arrives at the end of its stroke it still has full pressure behind it, and
continues to have until the other piston makes its stroke and changes its valve, and
this is repeated at every change thereby ensuring the cylinders being perfectly
filled with liquid at each stroke.
The apparatus I employ for measuring the liquiḍs comprises a series of wheels N
and dials P shown more clearly in Sheet 3.
On the axis of the pinion R is a ratchet wheel S in the teeth of which is a pawl
or catch T attached to a rod or lever U, which is lifted at each upward movement
of the piston rod E¹ so as to move the ratchet wheel forward a few teeth, and this
is repeated at each upward movement of the piston rod E¹. The motion thus given
to the ratchet wheel is transmitted from one wheel to another as many times as
thought desirable by, which means the measuring can be effected either in units,
tens, hundreds, or thousands and so on.
The finger V on the rod E¹ which strikes the lever U is adjustable, so that the
number of teeth taken up by the catch T can be regulated as required, so far as
regards the upward movement thereof but an adjustable part W is employed which.
determines how far the end of the lever U shall be allowed to lower, the end U
being weighted or made heavy enough to cause it to drop when released by the
finger V.
Ås the machine herein shown and described will be employed for a variety of
purposes I have made arrangements so that the size or area of the cylinder can be
altered as required which is illustrated in Fig. 3 where the piston is shown in
section, but other forms of pistons may be employed.
Through the bottom of each cylinder is a set screw a provided with lock nut b
which can be adjusted as will be well understood; the upper part of this set screw
determines how far the piston shall descend, its upward movement being determined
by the cover of the cylinder.
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
Firstly. The employment of a cylinder and slide valve in combination with a
measuring apparatus in manner and for purposes substantially as herein shown and
described.
Secondly. The means or method herein shown and described for operating the
slide valves whereby a continuous flow of liquid is obtained.
Thirdly. The means or method herein shown and described for altering and
adjusting the size or capcaity of the cylinders.
Fourthly. The general arrangement and combination of parts substantially as
are herein shown and described whereby the passage or flow of liquids is regulated
and measured.