A New or Improved Water Meter.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Jan., 1896-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1896
A New or Improved Water Meter.
I, BASTOLOME VANDEESTEEN, of 10, Rue Creuse, Schaerbeck, Brussels, in
the Kingdom of Belgium, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a water meter of the class known as piston water-
meters, and it consists of a suitable casing having a movable cylinder therein
which is adapted to move backwards and forwards on two pistons fixed to the said
casing.
The water to be measured enters a valve-casing or distributing box by a suitable
inlet. In this distributing box there is arranged a slide valve, which, by its
to and fro movement, opens and shuts suitable ports for the entry of the water into
the meter. This to and fro movement effects communication between the said
ports and a suitable discharge outlet.
The two pistons being fixed, the hollow cylinder moves alternately to and fro
under the pressure of the entering water. This hollow cylinder serves as a means
for operating the slide valve through the medium of a rod carrying on its free end
at right angles thereto a rod provided with suitable spring cushioning devices, the
said rod-and therefore the slide valve-receives a to and fro motion by means of
suitable shoulders or stops on the said cylinder. This cylinder is formed with two
compartments separated by a partition. These two compartments are gauged and
serve as measures. When this cylinder has completed its forward or its backward
stroke, it has become full on one side and empty on the other side, through the
piston rods being hollow and which communicate with the distributing box by
means of the slide valve.
The spring cushioning device is intended to cause the slide valve, when the
cylinder is at the end of its stroke, to move a suitable distance so as to open the
inlet port on one side, and to close the inlet port on the other side and at the same
time to make communication between one inlet port and the outlet port in order
that the water may flow away through the discharge pipe or outlet. One of the
springs being compressed, a suitable stop acts by rising, and the slide valve slides
under it by the action of the said spring up to the end of its stroke.
The slide valve has fixed to one of its vertical sides a pivot pin which transmits
motion to a shaft by means of a lever. This shaft passes through the wall of the
distributing box by means of a stuffing box, and imparts its rotary motion to a
pointer or needle working over one or more dials placed in the box. On these
dials the pointer indicates the amount of the discharge in hectolitres or other
predetermined quantities, that is to say, the amount of water which lias passed
through the meter.

page_text: i
A New or Improved Water Meter.
I, BASTOLOMÉ VANDEESTEEN, of 10, Rue Creuse, Schaerbeck-Bruxelles, in
the Kingdom of Belgium Mechanician 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 a water-meter of the class known as piston water-
meters, and it consists of a suitable casing having a movable cylinder therein
which is adapted to move backwards and forwards on two pistons fixed to the said
casing.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the meter in question,
1 Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same.
Fig. 3 a plan view, and
Fig. 4 a partial elevation.
In the Provisional 'Specification concerning this invention mention is made of a
rod provided with suitable spring cushioning devices to operate the slide valve.
These spring devices have been replaced by the particular valve (h) provided with
the cylinders (H) sliding on the fixed pistons (J, J¹) and in connection with the
little slide (M), as shown in the accompanying drawing.
The water enters the distributing chamber through the pipe (E). In this
chamber, the distributing valve (h) is situated, having a reciprocating movement,
alternately opening and shutting the orifices (G, G') which communicate with the
body or outer casing of cylindrical section of the meter. This outer casing is
closed on its ends by two plates. In this casing are situated two fixed
pistons (A, A) connected by hollow rods (D, D¹) fixed in the end plates, with
the pipes (C, C¹) formed in the said plates and which lead the water from the
distributing chamber through the orifices (G, G¹).
The pipes (CC) ascend obliquely, one to the right hand the other to the left,
towards the upper wall of the casing (Fig. 2 & 4) through which they meet
respectively the orifices (G, G').
On the fixed pistons (A, A¹) a cylinder (B) works, divided into 2 equal
compartments by a partition (61) limiting the play of the cylinder between the
pistons (A, A). This cylinder (B) slides in the cylindrical casing.
The cylinder is provided at the upper part with two abutments (b, b') sliding in
a groove of the cylindrical casing and moving the lever (K) which governs or
commands the distribution.
This lever (K) is pivoted to the slide-valve (4) by a pin (L) and with its upper
end works the little distributing slide (M) which is held in order to avoid
displacement by a bar (N). The slide valve, or large slide (h) is provided with
two cylinders (H) of a piece with it in which the fixed pistons (J, J¹) work. The
latter are provided with india-rubber rings, which ensure a much smoother action
than does leather when used to lessen the friction, as the latter substance swells in
the water.
The water flowing through the tube (E) enters the distributing box, passes
through one of the inlets, say (G¹), descends through (C¹ and D¹) and presses
back the cylinder (B) towards the piston (A) exercising a pressure on the
wall (61).
In this case the slide valve (h) is supposed to be at the right hand side and the
piston (J) at the bottom point of its stroke.
The moment the shoulder (61) reaches the head of the lever (K), the latter
pushes the slide M which uncovers the little port (g).
The water passes through the latter, forcing the cylinder (H) and consequently

page_text: the slide (), to return to the left. The water then behind the piston (J¹) flows
out through the port (9¹) and escapes by the discharge pipe (F), by means of a
little groove made centrally on the lower face of the slide M and connecting
alternately the ports (g, g¹) with the discharge pipe F.
When the slide valve (h) covers the opening (G) the water contained between
the wall (6) and the fixed piston (A¹) passes out in the same manner, as for the
slide M, by means of a little groove made on the lower face of the slide (h) so that
each movement of the slide corresponding to a movement of the cylinder B
represents a volume. of water, passed through the meter, equal to the capacity of
one of the compartmouts of the cylinder (B) added to the capacity of one of the
cylinders (H).
The apparatus above described works without stoppage, because as soon as the
large slide covers the opening (G) the lever opens the port (9), and forces back
the slide (k) and reciprocally.
This meter acts at any pressure and gives an absolutely correct indication of the
quantity of water passing through it, however trifling it may be.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1) A water-meter, distinguished by an outer casing closed by a disk, or round
plate, on each side, and within which a hollow cylinder (B), divided into two
compartments by a partition (61), has a horizontal movement caused by the
flow of water introduced alternately by the hollow rods (D, D¹) of the fixed
pistons (A, A¹), so as to fill one of the compartments (A 6, A¹ 611) at the same
time that it empties the other.
2) A water-meter distinguished as specified in Claim 1), and in which the hollow
cylinder (B) is actuated by a distributing device characterised by a slide-valve (h),
provided with cylinders (H), in which slide the fixed pistons (J, J¹) the latter
being furnished with india-rubber friction rings, the said valve or slide having a
lever (K) pivoted on the pin (L) the said lever encountering at one end the
projections or shoulders (6) formed on the cylinder (B) and operating at the other
end, the little slide (M) held by the rod (N) the movement of the said valves or
slides closing the ports (G, G¹) and (g, g) alternately, to allow the water to pass
from the distributing box to the cylinder, the whole as described in the above
Specification and shown in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 21st day of January 1896.
L. DUVINAGE,
Agent for Applicant.