New or Improved Machinery or Apparatus for Testing Water Meters, Valves, and other Articles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1592
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Machinery or Apparatus for Testing Water Meters,
Valves, and other Articles.
I, ERNEST COLLINS, of "The Gables," Wedderburn Road, Hampstead, N.W.
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to new or improved machinery or apparatus more especially
applicable to testing the accuracy of measurement and registration of the flow of
water through water meters, and to testing the tightness and strength of water
meters and valves by hydraulic pressure; but the said improved machinery or
apparatus is also applicable to the testing of other articles by hydraulic pressure.
My improved machinery or apparatus consists of the following arrangements:-
On a strong cast-iron or other suitable bed plate are mounted and secured two
headstocks placed opposite to one another and at a suitable distance apart. On the
top of one of these headstocks, which may for convenience be called the front
headstock, is secured a cylinder the axis of which is in line with the centre of a
face plate formed on or secured to the other which for convenience may be called
the back headstock. The aforesaid cylinder is provided with a hollow ram open
at the front end which passes through a stuffing box at. the front end of the cylinder.
The ram is provided with a mut or screw-thread into which takes a screw the rear
end of which passes through a stuffing box on the cover of the rear end of the
cylinder and carries a hand wheel, or is provided with other means whereby it can be
turned so as to propel the ram outwards in its cylinder, that is towards the back
headstock, or inwards in its cylinder, that is away from the back headstock.
Instead of actuating the ram by means of a screw as above described, it may
actuated by hydraulic pressure, or otherwise if preferred. Suitable valve arrange-
ments are provided in connection with the aforesaid cylinder and ram whereby
water or other liquid can be admitted to the interior of the ram for the purposes
to be hereinafter explained.
be
The
The face-plate on the back headstock has bolted to its back a stop valve and
has a hole at its centre corresponding to the size of such stop valve which is itself
proportioned to the maximum size of meter for example it is intended to test.
aforesaid stop valve is connected by suitable piping or otherwise to a tank of
definite capacity intended to measure the quantity of water passing through the
meter under test in a given time. This tank is provided with a gauge for indicating
the level, and consequently the quantity, of water contained in it at any given
moment, and also with a suitable outlet or waste valve for emptying the tank after
each test.
In the bed plate at a point situated between the two headstocks, and in the
vertical plane of their axes, is arranged a hydraulic press the ram of which carries
on its upper end a table adapted to raise into proper position and to support therein
the meter, valve, pipe, or other article to be tested.
It will now be understood that when it is desired to test a meter, valve, or other
article, by hydraulic pressure, it is placed on the table of the hydraulic lifting press,
and is thereby raised into the desired position between the two headstocks so that
its centre line coincides more or less exactly with the centre line of the two head-
stocks. The ram of the cylinder on the front headstock is then moved outwards
by its screw or other actuating appliance so as to press the meter, valve, pipe, or
other article, between its own end and the face plate on the back headstock india-
rubber washers being interposed between the flanges or other ends of the meter,
valve, pipe, or other article, and the end of the ram on the one headstock and. the

page_text: face plate on the other. The stop valve at the back of the face plate being now
closed, water under pressure is admitted to the hollow ram in the cylinder of the
one headstock and passes thence into the meter, valve, pipe, or other article to be
tested.
When it is desired to test the accuracy of measurement and registration of a
meter, the stop valve on the back headstock, which communicates with the
measuring tank, opened and water admitted to the hollow ram in the front head-
stock whence it flows through the meter and aforesaid stop valve into the measuring
tank, its rise in which is indicated by the gauge connected therewith so that the
index of the meter can be compared with the quantity that has passed into the tank
at any moment.
In order to facilitate the making of watertight joints between the article to be
tested and the face plate on the one headstock and the end of the moveable ram on
the other headstock, especially in cases where the ends of the article are not faced
true, I sometimes employ conical metallic nozzles on the face plate and end of the
ram respectively, provided with indiarubber conical washers which enter the inlet
and outlet openings of the meter, valve, pipe or other article and make water-
tight joints with great facility between the apparatus and the article to be
tested.
The two headstocks may be tied together by suitably placed stay or tension rods
to assist in resisting the test pressure which tends to separate them; and in small
machines or apparatuses these tension rods may be employed alone to tie the head-
stocks together without the use of a bed-plate, and such tension rods may be utilised
as guides for the ram in the front headstock.
The hydraulic press for supporting the article to be tested may be applied to the
apparatus or not according to circumstances.
Dated his 11th 1...
1001
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Machinery or Apparatus for Testing Water Meters,
Valves, and other Articles.
I, ERNEST COLLINS, of The Gables, Wedderburn Road, Hampstead, N.W.
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement that is to say :-
This invention relates to new or improved machinery or apparatus more especially
applicable to testing the accuracy of measurement and registration of the How of
water through water meters, and to testing the tightness and strength of water
meters and valves by hydraulic pressure; but the said improved machinery or
apparatus is also applicable to the testing of other articles by hydraulic pressure.
And in order that my said improved machinery or apparatus may be fully understood,
I will now proceed to describe the same with the aid of the accompanying two sheets
of drawings, in which
Figure 1 is an elevation, Figure 2 a plan and Figure 3 a section taken on the
line 1-1 of Figure 2, of one arrangement of the machinery or apparatus and
Figures 4 and 5 are respectively an elevation and a plan of a modified arrange-
ment suited more especially to the testing of small meters or other small articles.
On a strong cast iron or other suitable bed-plate A are mounted and secured two
headstocks B and C.placed opposite to one another and at a suitable distance apart.
The upper part of the headstock B, which may for convenience be called the front
headstock, has formed thereon or secured thereto, so as to form part thereof, a
cylinder D the axis of which is in line with the centre of a perforated face

page_text: plate E forming part of the other headstock C which, for convenience, may be
called the back headstock. The aforesaid cylinder D is provided with a hollow
ram F open at the front end which passes through a stuffing box at the front
end of the cylinder D. The ram F is provided with a nut or screw thread F' into
which takes a screw H the rear end of which passes through a stuffing box I on
the cover D of the rear end of the cylinder D and carries a hand wheel J, or is
provided with other means whereby it can be turned so as to propel the ram Fout-
wards in its cylinder, that is towards the back headstock, or inwards in its cylinder,
that is away from the back headstock. Instead of actuating the ram F by means
of a screw as above described, it may be actuated by hydraulic pressure, or
otherwise if preferred. K is a valve actuated by the hand wheel K for admitting
water or other liquid from an overhead tank or other source of supply to the afore-
said cylinder and ram for the purposes to be hereinafter explained.
The face-plate E on the back headstock C has bolted to its back a stop valve L
and has a hole at its centre corresponding to the size of such stop valve which is
itself. proportioned to tlie maximum size of meter, for example,
is intended to
test. The aforesaid stop-valve L is connected, by a suitable pipe M or otherwise,
to a tank N of definite capacity intended to measure the quantity of water passing
through the meter under test in a given time. This tank N is provided with a
gauge O for indicating the level, and consequently the quantity of water contained
in it at any given moment, and also with a suitable outlet or waste valve P operated
by the handle P¹ from outside the tank N for emptying the tank after cach test.
In the bed plate A at a point situated between the two headstocks, and in the
vertical plane of their axes, is arranged a hydraulic press Q the ram Q1 of which
carries on its upper end a table Q adapted to raise into proper position and to
support therein the meter, valve, pipe or other article to be tested.
It will now be understood that when it is desired to test a meter, valve, or other
article, by hydraulic pressure, it is placed on the table Q2 of the hydraulic lifting
press and is thereby raised into the desired position between the two headstocks
so that its centre line coincides more or less exactly with the centre line of the
two headstocks. The ram F of the cylinder of the front headstock is then moved
outwards by its screw H or other actuating appliance so as to press the meter,
valve, pipe or other article, between its own end and the faceplate E on the back
headstock indiarubber washers being interposed between the flanges or other
ends of the meter, valve, pipe, or other article, and the end of the ram Fon the
one headstock and the face plate E on the other. The stop valve L at the back of
the faceplate E being now closed, water under pressure is admitted through the
valve and pipe V to the cylinder D of the headstock B and passes thence
through holes F¹ in the ram Finto the meter, valve, pipe, or other article to be
tested. A pressure gange is provided.
When it is desired to test the accuracy of measurement and registration of a
meter the valve V is closed and the stop valve L on the back headstock C, which
communicates with the measuring tank N is opened, and water admitted through
the valve K to the cylinder D and hollow ram in the front headstock B whence
it flows through the meter and aforesaid stop valve I into the measuring tank N,
its rise in which is indicated by the gauge O connected therewith, so that the index
of the meter can be compared with the quantity that has passed into the tank at
any moment.
R is a drain cock or valve to allow of the escape of the water from the cylinder D
when required. S is an air cock for the escape of air from the cylinder D as the
water enters it. T is a cock or valve to admit water through pipe Q³ from the
accumulator or other source of water under pressure (the connections with which
are not shown) to the hydraulic press Q. U is a waste cock or valve for the
escape of water from the press Q through pipe Q4. V is a valve for the admission
of water or other liquid under pressure from the accumulator or other source to
the cylinder D and ram F through the pipe VI. W is a bye-pass with valve W

page_text: to be used when small meters are being tested and it is not necessary or desirable
to open the large valve L. The valves K L and W₁ are all preferably provided
with divided scale plates K L and W2 respectively and index fingers K³ L
and W respectively to indicate the quantity of water passing in any given time.
In order to facilitate the making of watertight joints between the article to be
tested and the two headstocks, especially in cases where the ends of the article
are not faced true, I sometimes employ conical metallic nozzles X X screwed into
the face plate E and end of the ram F respectively provided with indiarubber
conical washers Y which enter the inlet and outlet openings of the meter, valve,
pipe or other article and make water-tight joints with great facility between the
apparatus and the article to be tested.
The two headstocks may be tied together by suitably placed stay or tension
rods A' to assist in resisting the test pressure which tends to separate them; and
in small machines or apparatuses these tension rods may be employed alone to tie
the headstocks together without the use of a bedplate as shown in the modified
apparatus Figures 4 and 5 and such tension rods, when used in the apparatus shown
in Figures 1, 2 and 3, may be utilized as guides- for the ram F in the front head-
stock B.
I have found it convenient to make the bedplate A with a lip A³ round its
upper surface so as to form a tray for the reception of any water that may escape
from the stuffing boxes, or from the parts being tested, or from the open parts of
the apparatus after a test has been made, provision being made to conduct such
water from the tray to a drain or otherwise to waste. By these means the waste
water is prevented from soaking into the ground in the neighbourhood of the founda-
tions of the machine.
+
In the modified arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 5 the headstocks B and C
are secured to.and carried by two tension bars or rods A' which maintain the two
headstocks at a constant distance apart without the use of a bedplate such as A. in
Figures 1 and 2, the parts being secured on the top of a tank A adapted to receive
water escaping from the parts of the apparatus, or from the article being tested
when the same are separated after the test is completed, such water running away
to waste from the tank A. as from the tray formed by the bed plate A in Figures
and 2. In this case the cylinder D is not secured to the headstock B but is
provided with a crosshead D² the ends of which are guided by and slide backwards
and forwards on the tension rods A. The screw H is hollow, one end of it turns
in a stuffing box I on the headstock B, being prevented from moving endwise by
means of a collar against which the packing in the said stuffing box bears. The
other end, after passing through a stuffing box D³ at the rear end of the cylinder D,
is screwed and takes into an internal screwed thread in the cylinder D so that as
the screw H is turned by the hand wheel J the cylinder D is caused to move
towards or away from the headstock C. The latter is also hollow and connected
by a pipe C to a stop valve L which is connected to the measuring tank N by the
pipe M. K is the valve for admitting water at ordinary pressures when testing
meters for quantity. M' is a cock or valve connecting the pipe C' through the
pipe M to the small measuring chamber N¹ which may be of comparatively small
diameter. The tanks N and N₁ are both preferably provided with gauges like the
tank N in Figures 1 and 2. This small tank N¹ is used to measure the quantity of
water passing through very small meters for example. V is a cock or valve for
admitting water or other liquid under pressure to the interior of the headstock B,
screw H and cylinder D. A hydraulic press Q may be fitted at the bottom of the
tank A the ram Q₁and table Q2 of which supports the object to be tested in
the manner already explained in connection with Figures 1 and 2. The adjacent
ends of the cylinder D and headstock Care adapted to make liquid tight-joints
with the article to be tested when the latter is inserted between them, and the
cylinder D is pressed forward by the screw H so as to clamp the said article between
the end of the cylinder D and the headstock C.

page_text: The hydraulic press Q, for supporting the article to be tested, may be applied to
either of the apparatuses or not according to circumstances.
Similar letters of reference relate to like parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
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 :-
:-
First The new or improved testing machinery or apparatus consisting of two
hollow headstocks mounted opposite to one another on a bed plate or on tension
bars or rods and adapted to receive between them the meter or other article to be
tested, one of the said headstocks being provided with means for pressing the said
article between itself and the opposite headstock so as to make liquid tight joints
between the said article and the said headstocks; one or more measuring tanks, and
suitable cocks er valves and connections for the admission and discharge of water
or other liquid, all arranged, combined and operating substantially as hereinbefore
described, and illustrated in the drawings.
Second-In combination with the new or improved testing machinery or apparatus
forming the subject of the first claiming clause hereof, the use of a hydraulic press
and ram placed between the two headstocks, and adapted to raise the article to be
tested, and to support it in position between the two headstocks while the test is
being applied, as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 of
the drawings.
Third The new or improved testing machinery or apparatus constructed,
arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in
the drawings.
Dated this II day of repruary 1892.
E. COLLINS,
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.