Improvements in Meters for Measuring and Registering Fluids, Gases and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 13th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Meters for Measuring and Registering Fluids,
Gases and the like.
I, WILLIAM JOHN GURD of the Town of Sarnia, in the County of Lambton,
Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, Gentleman do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:--
My invention consists of a measuring chamber formed of two circular concave
sections connected peripherally together by bolts or by a channeled strap over-
lapping the joint, and provided at the ends with a lug and a connecting screw to
draw the strap tight over the joint, a strip of packing material underlying the strap
to make the joint air-tight.
The measuring chamber is divided by a flexible diaphragm held in place
preferably by intervening the peripheral edges of the said two connected sections.
To the centre of the diaphragm is secured a circular inflexible disk, having a hollow
arm extending at right angles into a valve chamber exterior to the one section of
the measuring chamber and the other section of said measuring chamber has an
exterior chamber or a hub from which projects a rod on which slides reciprocally
the hollow arm when the diaphragm is pulsated, and by said pulsation the valve
mechanism and registering apparatus are operated. The two divisions of the
measuring chamber are connected by a pipe or passage way exterior to the
diaphragm, and the inlet and outlet pipes of the meter connect respectively with
two ports of a four-way valve-seat, the other two ports connecting with ports
leading one to the valve chamber and the other to said passage way. Against said
valve-seat oscillates a cylindrical valve sleeved on an axle fixed through said valve-
seat and valve chamber, and said valve is oscillated by a tripping mechanism
consisting of a yoke sleeved on said axle, a gravitating weight and arm in con-
nection with said yoke, a loose wheel sleeved on said axle and operating said yoke,
and said wheel is rocked by the reciprocation of the arm of the diaphragm when
pulsated, whereby at each semi-pulsation, the valve is tripped to admit the gas or
fluid to one section of the measuring chamber and cause the diaphragm to pulsate
and force the fluid or gas on the opposite side of the diaphragm out through the
passage way and outlet pipe. Reaction of the valve by the tripping mechanism
closes the open ports and opens the closed ports, so that the gas or fluid will flow
from the inlet through the passage way and cause the pressure of the main to be
exerted to pulsate the diaphragm, whereby the gas or fluid on the opposite side of
the diaphragm will be expelled through the valve chamber and outlet pipe. A
registering device connected to the meter is operated by the tripping mechanism
aforesaid or by the pulsation of the diaphragm in any suitable way.
The measuring capacity of the meter is regulated by a plate sliding to limit the
fall of the gravitating weight, whereby the pulsation of the diaphragm is quickened
or slowed as adjustment may require, and said plate is moved flatwise slidingly by
a screw engaging therewith, and said screw is turned by a screw driver in a tube
which is provided with a spiral spring to retract the screw driver after adjustment
has been effected, so that the screw driver shall not interfere with the operation of
the tripping mechanism of valve, and yet be always in place for operating the screw
as aforesaid.
Dated this 10th do of December 1890
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: 1, WILLIAM JOHN GURD of the Town of Sarnia in the County of Lambton
in the Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, Gentleman, 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 :-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of one side of my improved meter.
Fig. 2 is a like view of the opposite side.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation.
Fig. 4 is a section on line ae Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the valve gear enlarged.
Fig. 6 is an edge view of the same.
Fig. 7 is a section of the same on line
yy Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a section of a four-way valve enlarged, and
Fig. 9 is a section of the same showing the stuffing-box, spiral spring and packing
for the valve-stem, enlarged.
Fig. 10 contains face and edge views of the adjustment rings and
Fig. 11 shows similar views of the yoke for operating the rings.
My invention has for its object to provide a meter which shall be simple in
construction and accurately measure the gas, water or other fluid passing through
the meter and register the quantity measured.
The invention consists of a meter having a measuring chamber divided by a
flexible diaphragm into two compartments, a conduit exterior to said diaphragm,
and connecting the compartments, the diaphragm at the centre, having an inflexible
disc carrying perpendicular to its face a hollow arm into which enters a rocking
shaft journalled in an exterior section of the chamber and having a spirally twisted
portion entering the hollow arm and passing through a counterpart aperture in the
disc of the diaphragm, the shaft operating automatically a valve-gear tripping
device controlling a four-way valve, whereby the fluids admitted to the measuring
chamber from opposite sides of the diaphragm alternately, will cause pulsation of
the diaphragm and operate the valve-gear valve and registering mechanisms, as will
be hereinafter more fully described.
In the accompanying drawings, A represents the induction pipe or passage for
the admission of the fluid to be measured, and B the eduction or outlet pipe or
passage for the discharge of the measured fluid.
G is the measuring chamber constructed of two circular concave sections
peripherally secured together the chamber being provided with a screw plug C
through which sediment or foreign material may be drawn off.
On one side of the measuring chamber G is formed an exterior chamber E
integral with the case or shell G, the chambers G and E being divided by a wall
or plate F provided with perforations F¹ to allow of the flow of the fluid from one
chamber to the other.
D is a passage-way or conduit connecting the chamber E with the opposite side
of the measuring chamber, the conduit being exterior to both chambers, and the
fluid ebbing and flowing through the conduit, to cause pulsation of the flexible
diaphragm.
His a conical valve seat provided with four openings or ports a, b, c, d, and J is
a valve therein connecting two ports as in an ordinary four-way cock or valve the
valve having a valve-stem K to engage with a tripping device or valve-gear
presently to be described. M is the valve-casing exterior to and integral with the
body of the meter and having four passages severally connecting with the inlet and
outlet service pipes, the conduit or ebb and flow passage, and the inlet to onę
division of the measuring chamber and the outlet.

page_text: H is a flexible diaphragm of suitable material secured between the peripheral
flanges of the measuring chamber or sections G¹and dividing the measuring chamber
into two compartments. W is a disc which may consist of two plates of inflexible
material embracing the central part of the flexible diaphragm. To the disc is
rigidly attached a reciprocating hollow arm R closed at its outer end and projecting
from the disc at right angles for the reception of the free end of a rocking shaft L
having a spirally twisted portion L' which passes through a counterpart opening
in the disc W for the purpose of partially rotating or rocking the shaft. The
hollow arm has its seat or bearing in a bushing N in which it reciprocates by the
motion of the diaphragm H when forced to and fro or pulsated in the chamber G
by the fluid passing through the meter the reciprocation of said arm rocking the
spiral Land shaft L so as to operate the four-way valve J by the valve-gear next
to be described.
The rocking shaft L is journalled through the wall or plate F and projects into
the chamber E and carries the valve-gear which in the present instance consists of
a gravitating tripping weight O hung to the shaft by a hub O¹ carried upon the
short tube screwed or otherwise fixed to the plate F. Fixed to the hub O' are
two lugs and 9 which are engaged by a lifting projection Q, extending from the
collar T which is secured on the end of shaft L so that when the shaft is rocked
by the pulsation of the flexible diaphragm the tripping and gravitating weight is
lifted by the engagement of Q with the projections and g so as to pass the zenith
and the weight in falling operates the cranked valve-stem K and thus turns the
valve J so as to connect the respective ports, whereby the inflow and outflow from
alternate sides of the diaphragm will be automatically changed to cause a continuous
flow through the meter. After the weight has gravitated, the shaft L is turned by
the diaphragm in the reverse direction and again lifts the weight past the zenith
and it again gravitates and operates the cranked valve stem opening and closing the
respective ports.
The adjusting of the meter to make it measure accurately may be effected by
altering the relations between the diaphragm and the tripping weight so as to cause
the latter to close the fluid inlet sooner or later, thereby quickening or slowing the
pulsation of the diaphragm and admitting more or less fluid into the measuring
chamber at each pulsation and such regulation of the valve-gear may be effected
or timed by any suitable mechanism preference being given to the following
means.
2,3 are two concentric rings sleeved loosely on the hub 01 of the gravitating
weight each ring provided with a trippet or lug for g and a pin which passes
through a slot i in a yoke 5 which straddles the rings, and in front of a projection 6
integral with the hub or weight and having a slot or elongated opening 7. The
yoke is provided with a backwardly extending arm or nut & through which passes a
screw 8 which moves the yoke upwardly or downwardly as may be desired such
movement slightly rotating the rings in opposite directions, whereby the lugs f and g
will be moved nearer to or farther from each other whereby the lug Q will strike
them later or earlier in relation to the progress of the diaphragm across its chamber
and by thus advancing or retarding the weight O in its circular path change the
inflow of the fluid at a longer or shorter period before the diaphragm has entirely
completed its stroke. The lug g of the ring 3 is shown with a recess g¹ to accom-
modate the ring 2 when both are in position upon the hub O'.
10 is the registering mechanism preferred enclosed by a casing 11 on the outside
of the meter near the valve-seat, the mechanism being operated by a valve-stem 12
projecting through the valve-casing which has a stuffing box 13 screw-threaded on
the outside with a cap or gland 14 screwing thereon; a spiral spring 16 surrounds
the valve-stem or spindle and a washer or dise 19 seated on the packing 15 in the
stuffing-box, so that the spring will keep the valve closely up into its seat and also
spread the packing and compress it to make a tight joint, but this may be
replaced by or combined with other registering mechanisms as may be required.

page_text: 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 fluid meter the combination with a measuring chamber divided by a
pulsating flexible diaphragm into two compartments connected by a conduit outside
the diaphragm of a four-way valve at the inlet to the meter and controlling the
passages into the measuring compartments and conduit to cause ebb and flow
through said conduit a shaft carrying a valve-gear and operated by a hollow arm
secured to the centre of the diaphragm at right angles thereto and a registering
mechanism substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. A fluid meter consisting of a measuring chamber divided by a flexible
diaphragm into two compartments connected by a conduit and said diaphragm
having a hollow arm extending at right angles from the centre a shaft operated by
said hollow arm and carrying a valve-gear in a chamber exterior to the measuring
chamber a four-way valve controlling ports to the measuring compartments and a
registering mechanism operated by said valve substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a fluid meter the combination with a diaphragm such as H of a hollow arm
and spiral such as R and L' substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. A gas or fluid meter composed of a measuring chamber divided by a flexible
diaphragm into two compartments connected by a conduit outside the diaphragm
said diaphragm having a central disc having a hollow arm at right angles thereto a
rocking shaft having a spiral portion operated by said disc said shaft carrying a
tripping device or valve-gear and operating a four-way valve controlling the inflow
and outflow to and from the measuring chambers to cause pulsation of the flexible
diaphragm and a registering mechanism substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
5. In a gas or fluid meter the combination with a gravitating tripping weight
such as having an arm 6 and hung to a rocking shaft operated by the pulsation
of a flexible diaphragm in a measuring chamber of two concentric rings such as 2
and 3 having trippet projections and a yoke 5 straddling the rings and a screw 8
connecting the arm and yoke whereby the trippets will spread or contract for the
purpose of adjustment to obtain correct measurement substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In a fluid meter having a registering index operated by a valve-stem 12 a
valve casing such as 11 having a stuffing box 13 containing elastic packing 15 and
a cap 14 screwing on to said stuffing box and a spiral spring 16 between the head
on the end of the valve spindle and the packing to draw the valve up into its seat
and compress the packing to make a tight joint around the valve spindle substan-
tially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of October 1891
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.