Improvements in Water Meters.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1898
Improvements in Water Meters.
I, JOHN THOMSON, of 190, Carrolton Avenue, in the City of Brooklyn, King's
County, State of New York, United States of America, Engineer, 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 water meters, more particularly with
the object of preventing damage when frozen, and when subjected to an abnormal
strain, of controlling the action of oscillating discs, and generally, of rendering the
working of water meters better, more sensible and more exact.
The first part of my invention relates to means for preventing damage to water
meters when frozen, and when they are subjected to an abnormal strain.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, represent this part of the invention.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a portion of a water meter showing one portion of
my invention; and
Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of a closing cap or head and means for holding it;
Fig. 3, is a view similar to Fig. 1, of a modification, but with the parts shewn
in the position which they will assume when the water in the meter is frozen.
While these improvements are applicable to various forms and constructions of
water meters, they are more especially adapted to disc water meters, and I have
illustrated my invention in a meter of that kind; but the invention could, of
course, be adapted and applied to other forms of meters by those skilled in
the art.
In the manufacture and construction of these meters it is desirable to arrange
the parts so that they can be quickly assembled or dismounted, and when assembled
maintain water tight joints.
It is well known that water meters are liable to injury from the freezing of
the water; which, on expanding, disrupts one or the other section of the main
casing and distorts the internal casing of the meter unless provision is made to
prevent damage.
I have already invented devices with this object, but those which I am about
to describe below may be said to be improvements thereon.
In the previous constructions, if perchance the water becomes frozen in the
meter, a certain part of the construction must necessarily be disrupted and be
replaced, the meter being however rendered useless until a new part can be
replaced.
By my present improvements I accomplish these results without ine necessity
of destroying any portion of the meter, and furthermore I provide such a construc-
tion that even though the water becomes frozen and the parts are separated by the
expansion of the ice, preventing the bursting of the casings, yet as soon as the ice
melts the parts will automatically be restored to operative position without the

page_text: application of a new part and even without the attention of an attendant. I thus
avoid the necessity of breaking or disrupting any portion of the meter or interfering
with its continued operation after the ice is melted or removed.
Furthermore, my present construction is also advantageous where meters are liable
to be subjected to heavy water rams which would be destructive to the meter, as
the parts will yield to relieve such temporary strains, and will immediately reset
themselves, so as to operate in a proper manner.
My improvement broadly stated, consists in providing a water meter with a
closing cap or head, which is held in position under resilient pressure; which
pressure is sufficient to maintain the parts in proper condition for ordinary opera-
tion, but allows them to yield under extraordinary pressure to prevent the destruc-
tion or injury of the meter, and to thereafter restore themselves automatically to
positon when the excessive pressure is relieved.
This general purpose and object of my improvement can be accomplished in many
and various ways; hence I have shown in the accompanying drawings but two
means, simple yet effective, for accomplishing the result. In said drawings there
is shown a main casing 1, of a conventional form, in which is mounted a disc
casing composed of two sections 2, 3, containing the disc 4, shown, in dotted lines,
ball 5, and spindle 6, the said sections of the disc casing being held together and
also pressed against the shoulder or seat 7; the side bearing, in the edges of the
opening 8, being preferably tapered. This disc casing is held together, as just
described, by the plate, head or cap 9, there preferably being an interposed
gasket 10, between the face of the plate and the disc casing and adjacent face of
the main casing.
•
Suitable means are provided for holding the head 9, in this position against all
ordinary pressure so that the head will be water tight, but at the same time which
will permit it to yield under extraordinary pressures, as water rams, freezing or
otherwise, and for then restoring the parts to their normal positions. This I
accomplish by providing securing devices which are resilient in their action. Thus
I have shown a clamp or clamps formed of one or more parts 11, 12, they being
in this instance made of resilient material, and being secured to the
main casing, as by the bolts and nuts 13, 14, or in any other
desirable way.
When thus secured the bolt-holes are preferably made oblong,
as at 15, to permit the movement of the clamp, as indicated in dotted lines in
Fig. 1.
With this construction it will be seen that when there is an undue hydraulic
pressure on the head 9, from any cause sufficient to overcome the initial tension
imposed upon the head by the resilient clamp, the clamp will yield, allowing the
head to be forced downwards. The disc casing may follow the head, and even
the sections of the disc casing may be driven asunder, but as soon as the cause of
the extraordinary pressure is removed, the parts will be reset to their normal
positions under the resilient action of the clamp; consequently all damage or
destruction to the parts is avoided, and the meter will be in operative condition
after the emergency has passed.
While I have shown a somewhat primitive means in the form of a clamp or
clamps, it is obvious that other forms of resilient devices may be used to accomplish
the same result, they being connected to the meter casing or arranged to bear on
the head of the meter, so as to maintain it in proper operative position under
normal pressures, but to yield under extraordinary pressures and again restore the
parts by their resilient or inherent action; hence it will be obvious that my inven-
tion is not limited to the specific means shown and described. Thus in Fig. 3,
the head 9 has integral arms or projections 9**, engaging the bolts 13, provided
with springs 11 which permit the head and other parts to yield under undue
pressure and restore them to their normal positions.
Modifications having the same general object as the former and relating more

page_text: particularly to the manner of securing the casings to prevent damage when they
are subjected to an abnormal strain are illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.
Fig. 4 being a vertical section of a water meter (of the disc system) showing
an embodiment of one modification, and
Fig. 5 a further modification.
This modification is supposed to be applied to a type of meter in which the dise
casing is separately attached to the interior of one or other of the main casings.
Thus in the drawing, 2ª is the upper and 3", the lower main casing, secured
together by bolts and nuts 4. The disc casing B, composed of two or more
sections, contains the disc and ball 5", and is here shown with flange 6ª, applied to
a recessed seat or bearing 7", of the lower casing. It is to be assumed that the
chambers 8, 9, above and below the disc casing are filled with water; either or
both of these chambers being connected to the inlet or the outlet port of the dise
casing, as the designer may elect.
Heretofore the sections of the disc casing have been fixedly secured together
by screws and the disc casing as a whole has also been fixedly secured to one or the
other of the main casings. The consequence of this when such a meter is frozen and
the main casings burst is to also burst or distort the disc casing and rupture the
retaining screws; all of which I overcome by applying to such screws, as 12, a
spring 13, interposed between the head of the screw and the flange of the disc
casing. The screw may either act to secure the disc-casing sections together only,
as in Fig. 4, or to also secure them to their seat, as when the screw 12, in Fig. 5,
passes through into the main casing, as at 14. Thus, in the event of freezing
the meter, the sections of the disc casing are, first, free to separate, relieving the
pressure within the sections, and second, the disc casing as a whole is also free to
move from its seat or bearing without breaking the screws or affecting the accuracy
of the measuring device.
:
While the foregoing action will take place in the event of the bursting of either
of the main casings, I furthermore, provide means for preventing damage to the
said main casings by applying flange bolts of unusual length or to be more
specific, whose length shall be, say, from twice to three times the thickness of the
two casings, and then reducing the diameter of the bolts, between the head and the
nut, by a smooth cut to the form of a curve, as at 15ª. These bolts may be
applied by forming suitable bosses, as 16, upon the flange, or, and preferably so,
by simply applying a sleeve or tube, between the head and the nut, as 17, 18, in
Fig. 5, either or both as may be desired.
The object of applying bolts of such unusual length and of definitely reducing
their sectional area is to obtain the highest degree of resiliency with but a moderate
margin of safety. In other words, this applies to useful purpose the well-known
difference of action that takes place in a tension member relatively short or
relatively long in which the point of rupture is predetermined by a sharp nick or
a well-rounded fillet. By this construction ample strength is afforded in setting
up the nuts to obtain a tight joint; the bolts will withstand the sharp shocks of
water rams and yet under the persistent cumulative pressure of ice they will slowly
yield, pull apart and save the more expensive structure.
This arrangement is not limited to the precise terms of description or illustration
herein employed, but may be variously modified to suit the different demands of
practice.
Another portion of my improvements in water meters relates to mechanism for
controlling the action of oscillating discs and is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8.
Fig. 6 being a vertical section of a disc chamber casing, showing the essential
features of the improvement, said casing being especially but not necessarily
adapted for insertion in an exterior main casing.
Fig. 7 is a detail view of a portion of the device; and
Fig. 8 is also a detached detail sectional view, showing a modification.
The disc chamber casing is formed of the upper and lower sections 5b, 6b,
indicates
containing the disc 7b, ball 8b, and ball spindle 9b. The dotted outline 10b,

page_text: an exterior casing. All the foregoing parts are of regular construction known in
the art.
The improvement consists in providing means for securing a supplemental
bearing for the controlling block 12b. When necessary, this block is fixedly con-
nected, as by the key 13b, to the driven spindle 14b, whose head 15b is slotted, as
at 16b, or otherwise adapted to connect with a member for transmitting rotary
motion.
The upper surface 17b, of the controlling block has a bearing which is preferably
formed to a hemispherical shape and to which is adapted a hemispherical socket 18b,
or ball bearing of the casing. One or more suitable bearings as 19b, are provided
in the controlling block for the disc spindle.
In assembling the device, a slight amount of end-motion is to be provided
between the head of the driven spindle and the socket-bearing of the controlling
block.
It will now be seen that the oscillation of the disc will rotate the controlling
block and the driven spindle, and that if there is no inward thrust from the disc
spindle, that is to say, tending to vibrate the disc spindle, as from the line X to
the centre Y, the controlling block will not be in contact upon the ball-end of the
bearing. Hence, the journal friction will be at its minimum. This may be said
to be its normal condition. On the other hand, when the disc spindle is caused
to thrust inwardly, the driven spindle (in consequence of being cylindrical and
not parallel to the disc spindle) will be driven upward until the ball and socket
surfaces 17, 18, impinge, when a greatly increased area of bearing is provided
and any further upward movement, or any such tendency is overcome. Thus, a
provisional bearing is provided to resist thrust of high pressure.
Fig. shows the thrust bearings of the controlling block as conical, whose
angle from the vertical, as Z, is equal to that of the disc spindle. While either
arrangement will operate satisfactorily, the spherical is regarded as preferable, in
that greater surface is thus obtained; there is also less tendency to wedge, and
when the bearings are worn the spherical surfaces ensure a better action.
In consequence of the facts just set forth, it has been found advantageous to
also form a spherical socket bearing 20 for the head of the driven spindle, which
sustains the weight of the spindle and the controlling block. This provides greater
bearing surface than a flat face and also ensures a better bearing when the spindle
is worn and the thrust block is being deflected back and forth by the thrust action
of the disc.
Fig. 7 shows partially in dotted outline, how this thrust block is produced, by
first forming it as a cone and then cutting away the unnecessary parts. It may
be used in the form of a hollow frustum, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 8, or it may
be reduced in weight by cutting away, as at 22b, and in such instance it is preferable
to leave the circular portion 23b, as this prevents the disc spindle from being
entered except it takes one or the other of the bearings 19b, provided therefor.
The vertically adjustable plug 24, upon which the driven spindle and thrust-
block are mounted, is not new.
This arrangement is also not limited to the precise construction shown and
described.
I will now describe further portions of my improvements in water meters
referring to Figs. 9 to 15 (inclusive) of the drawings:.
Fig. 9 is an elevation of a disc chamber casing as viewed from the inlet port.
Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the disc and its lower casing.
Figs. 11 and 12 are diagrams to illustrate the principle involved leading to a
peculiar construction of the inlet port.
Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional detail of the lower section of the disc casing.
Fig. 14 is a sectional detail, and
Fig. 15 a part top plan view of the disc and ball.
In the figures of the drawings 6°, 7º, are the upper and lower sections, respectively,

page_text: which together form the disc casing; 8° is the disc; 9° the ball; 10° the ball-`
spindle, and 12° denotes, in dotted outline, an external main casing.
The inlet port A, is preferably milled across the periphery of the disc casing
forming a slot, open top and bottom. The thrust roller of the disc, or other suit-
able projection thereon, is adapted to reciprocate in the port. The outlet port F,
which may be of a width and area equal to or even greater than that of the inlet
port, is also milled in the face of the disc casing but preferably does not pass
entirely across the periphery of the casing, the upper and lower ends 14°, 15°,
terminating at the frustum 16°. In this wise the outlet port may be sealed by
the bearing 17, 18, and ribs 19°, 20°, to discharge into an outlet chamber, as 21°,
of the main casing.
I have already previously invented a novel system for circumferentially guiding
and controlling the disc, in a water meter, to prevent the edges of the slot of the
disc from making contact with the diaphragm. The construction here shown and
now to be described is an improvement on this system.
It is not new to prevent the edges of the slot of the disc, as 22°, from bearing
upon the diaphragm, as 23°, by causing a projection on the disc to operate in a
slot or against a "wall-piece" in the disc casing, or a slot in the disc to operate
against a controlling-abutment" in the disc-casing, whether the slot, or the wall-
piece, or the abutment be disposed remote from or contiguous to the ports.
65
The present improvement consists in providing a narrow vertical port, the side
walls 25, 26, of which, shall be approximately parallel and be adapted to act as
a bearing for the thrust roller, or pin, or projection, or other device on the disc
for guiding or controlling its circumferential movement. In other words, the
diameter or breadth, of the projecting device shall be approximately equal to the
width of the port, but free to reciprocate vertically. In this wise the two edges 22°,
of the slot in the disc are prevented from coming in contact with the sides of the
diaphragm, from which known advantages result.
When the port and thrust bearing are constructed and arranged as just described
it has been found to be advantageous, if not essential, to cause the water to flow
around the periphery of the disc casing, towards the port, in a circular channel,
as 27, and to bevel that edge of the port 28°, which is contiguous to the inflowing
stream. If the port were left square on both edges it would act like a sharp
edged perforation 29° Fig. 11, causing the inflowing water to directly impinge
upon the thrust roller, the disc and the ball, thus producing extra pressure and
friction upon the ball and socket. But by beveling or rounding the nigh-side
of the port 28°, the jet is deflected to strike obliquely upon the diaphragm 23°,
as see diagram Fig. 12, instead of being directed towards and upon the ball. More-
over this produces an oblique impact upon the thrust roller which acts to partially
or wholly counterbalance the circumferential thrust of the disc, due to the flow
through the disc chamber, denoted by the arrows 30°, on the disc, and 32°, at the port,
Fig. 10, and it also acts to counteract the centrifugal thrust upon the thrust
roller 13, (if a roller is used) when the disc is oscillated at high speed.
The consequence of the arrangement and disposal just described is that a port
of much smaller area can be employed than has herefore been deemed essential
to successful operation. In fact, instead of requiring the area of the inlet port to
be equal to or even greater than the cross sectional area of the channel around the
inside of the disc casing (as heretofore practised) its area, when conforming to my
system, need be no greater than that of the service pine. Then too, in this wise
the ports may be readily machined to precise dimensions, instead of being roughly
formed by casting, whence but little if any expense need be incurred in the
calibration of different meters.
While I have in general especially referred to the inlet port as being preferable
(which it in fact is) to that of the outlet port, as a guide for the thrust bearing of
the disc, I have not neglected to duly consider that the meter is operative if the
inflowing stream should be directed to the outlet port F. Neither have I neglected
to take into account that the ports, either or both, may be formed at an angle to the

page_text: vertical, or that the form might be a curve, the latter being so arranged as either
to augment or to minimise the slip of the disc upon the frustums.
Another portion of my improvements in water meters shewn in Fig. 13 consists
in providing means for minute adjustment of the supporting, that is the lower
socket bearing 33°, this being a separate piece of any desired composition of anti-
friction material, or metal, confined in the chamber j, as by the nut 34°. The
socket piece is partially relieved of bearing at the outer portion of its base, as
at 35°, or the result to be described may be accomplished by relieving the upper
face of the nut. Then the upper face of the socket piece is bevelled, as 36°,
meeting a corresponding bevel 37°, formed in the disc casing, both of said bevels
being alike and may preferably correspond with the angle of the frustum 16°.
Assumed that the contour of the socket has been formed to approximate accuracy
but is slightly larger than the ball; or that, as the result of usage, it or the ball or
both have become worn. In such case by forcibly turning in the nut the socket
piece will be sprung upwardly at the bottom 38, and deflected inwardly at 39º,
by the action of the bevels. By such compressive action a satisfactory adjustment
of several thousandths of an inch may be obtained of the most rigid and lasting
character.
A further portion of my improvements in water meters is shewn in Figs. 14
and 15, and refers to the manner of securing the disc to the ball.
When the ball 9° is solid, the groove therein for receiving the disc 8°, is
formed by making two parallel side-cuts, as from 40 to 41° and 42° to 43°; then
a cross-cut is made as from 41° to 43°, to such a depth 44°, that ae aise will pass
beyond the vertical centre 45° of the ball. Now, by drilling through both the
bail and the disc 46°, counterboring top and bottom 47, 48°, inserting the spindle
with shoulder 49 and rivetting it, as 50°, the spindle, the ball and the disc are as
securely locked to each other as if they were formed as a single part.
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. In a water meter, the combination with a closing head of a resilient means for
holding the head in position.
2. In a water meter, the combination with the main casing, the disc casing and
the head, of a resilient clamp arranged to bear upon the head and maintain it in
its proper position.
3. The combination with the main casing, the disc casing and the head, of a
clamp comprising resilient material secured to the casing and pressing upon the
head.
4. The combination with the main casing, the disc casing and the head, loosely
fitting the main casing and bearing against the disc casing, of a resilient clamp
comprising cross strips secured to the main casing and pressing upon the head,
substantially as described.
5. In a disc water meter, the combination of a main casing, a separable disc
casing, a closing head bearing against the disc casing to secure it together and
to its seat, and a resilient clamp attached to the main casing and impinging against
the head, substantially as described.
6. In a water meter, an internal casing whose component sections are secured
together by resilient means.
7. In a water meter, an internal casing attached to its seat in a main casing by
resilient means.
8. In a water meter, an internal casing whose component sections are secured
together and also attached to a seat, or to a bearing, in a main casing, by resilient
means.
9. The combination with the disc casing, of a screw arranged to secure the
sections of the disc casing together, having a spring interposed between its head
and one of the sections of the disc casing, substantially as specified.

page_text: 10. The combination with the disc casing and a section of the main casing, of
a screw arranged to secure the disc casing together and also to a seat, or to a
bearing, in the main casing, having a spring interposed between its head and the
disc casing, substantially as specified.
11. In a water meter, the combination with the main casings, of elongated Hange
bolts whose normal diameters are reduced to the form of a curve, in longitudinal
section, substantially as specified.
12. In a water meter, the combination with the main casings, of elongated flange
bolts, having definitely weakened sections, and a sleeve or tube interposed between
the flange and the head or nut of the bolt, substantially as described.
13. In a water meter, the combination with the oscillating disc and its spindle,
a shaft to be driven from said spindle, and a fixed bearing, of a controlling block
connected with the shaft, having a bearing for the spindle and suspended below
the fixed bearing to be movable to and from the latter, substantially as
described.
14. The combination with the casing, disc, ball and disc spindle, of the driven
spindle, the controlling block suspended thereby, and the fixed bearing on the
casing, substantially as described.
15. The combination with the casing, disc, ball, and disc spindle, of the driven.
spindle, the controlling block suspended thereby, and the spherical bearing faces
on the block and casing, substantially as described.
16. In a water meter, the combination with the casing, disc, ball and disc
spindle, of a controlling block suspended by a spindle mounted in a bearing piece,
the controlling block and bearing piece being provided with bearings arranged to
make contact on the lifting of the block, substantially as described.
17. The combination with the casing having a fixed bearing, of a disc, ball and
disc spindle, and a controlling block having a bearing normally out of contact with
the fixed bearing, substantially as described.
18. In a water meter, the combination with the casing, disc, ball, disc spindle,
and controlling block, of the driven spindle having a spherical bearing face adapted
to a corresponding face of the casing, substantially as described.
19. The combination with the casing, disc, ball and disc spindle, of the con-
trolling block provided with a circular portion, as 23b, as and for the purpose
specified.
20. A disc water meter provided with a port, the side walls of which are
approximately parallel to each other, and adapted to act as a bearing for a roller,
pin, projection or other device on the disc to guide and control the circumferential
movement of the disc.
21. The disc casing, having its inlet port extending crosswise thereof in the form
of a slot, whose side walls are approximately parallel to each other and act as a
thrust bearing for the disc.
22. The combination with the disc casing, disc, ball and thrust roller of the
transverse inlet port having parallel side walls adapted to serve as side bearings
for said thrust roller.
23. The combination with the disc casing, disc and ball of the inlet port con-
structed in the form of a slot and disposed transversely to the horizontal plane of
the casing, a portion of one of the side walls of said slot being bevelled.
24. The combination with the disc casing, ball and disc therein, of an inlet port
having the edge which is contiguous to the inflow bevelled or rounded.
25. In a disc meter, the combination with the disc casing, disc and ball, of a
roller or projection on the disc confined laterally, but free to move vertically,
between the side walls of one of the ports.
26. A disc casing having disc, ball and diaphragm therein and provided with an
external channel and a narrow inlet port, so arranged and constructed as to canse
the inflowing jet to impinge upon said diaphragm.
27. A disc casing provided with an external channel and an inlet port, having
disc, ball and diaphragm therein, and a projecting thrust bearing on the disc,

page_text: the channel and the port being so arranged and constructed as to cause the
inflowing jet to impinge upon the said projecting bearing in a direction opposed to
the flow through the disc casing.
28. The combination with the disc casing, disc and ball, of a socket bearing
confined within a chamber, and resting upon a nut so arranged and constructed
that said socket bearing may be compressed upwardly at its bottom and inwardly
at its upper circumference.
29. The combination with the disc, ball and disc-casing, of a socket bearing
confined in a chamber, its upper face and seat therefor being bevelled, as 36, 37,
and centrally supported by an adjusting nut, as 34°, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
30. The combination of the ball, disc, groove and spindle, the said spindle
passing through both the ball and the disc, locking them together, substantially
as described.
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2004
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent,
For the Applicant.