Improvements in Water Meters,
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1899-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Meters,
I, HARRY VAN WARREN ESTILL, of 7513, Reed Street, Moberly, in the County
of Randolph and State of Missouri, United States of America, 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; —
The objects of the invention are; first, to provide a connection by which
the meter may be applied and removed through a single threaded connection;
second, to provide novel means whereby the supply and service pipes may be
connected and used even though the meter is dispensed with; third, to produce
a novel telescopic casing or box for accommodating the meter stationed at
varying depths and also, in so forming the parts, that the joints of the sections
may be calked and rendered water-proof.
Å still further object of the invention is to produce a meter box which will
possess advantages in points of simplicity, durability and efficiency, in order
that the cost of manufacturing the box and the elements co-operating with it,
may be comparatively small.
With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details
of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be herein-
after more fully set forth and specifically claimed.
In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompany-
ing drawings forming part of this specification, wherein like characters denote
corresponding parts in the several views, and in which;
Figure 1, is a vertical, central sectional view of the box with the meter
and its connections shown in elevation.
Figure 2, is a sectional view of the connecting pipes for the meter.
Figure 3, is a sectional view on the line 3, 3, of Figure 2.
Figure 3, is a section on the line a, a, of Figure 1.
Fig. 4, is a sectional view of the cap for use when the meter is removed.
Fig. 5, a plan view of the underside of the cap.
Fig. 6, is an enlarged plan view of the underside of the cover of the meter box.
In these drawings, 1, designates the lower section of the box having a central
aperture 2, in its bottom, this aperture is threaded, for the purpose to be herein-
after explained.
The upper section 4, of the box is slidably fitted in the lower section and
the upper edge of said lower section is flared as at 5, to receive the calking 6,
that the joints may be rendered water tight. At the top of the upper section
are internal lugs, 7 threaded to receive the bolts 8, for binding the cover 9, in
place. The cover has an annular groove 10, corresponding with the upper edge
of the upper section, and after the gasket 11, has been embedded in the
groove, the cover is applied to the upper section with the edge thereof in contact
with the gasket, hence as the bolts draw the cover down, a water tight joint is
formed.
Near the top of the lower section the wall is increased in thickness at pre-

page_text: determined points, as for instance at 12, 12, 12. These thickened portions are
apertured and threaded to receive the binding screws 13, which engage the outer
wall of the upper section when the said upper section has been adjusted to the
desired height.
Of course the calking will not be applied until the sections have been
adjusted and secured as heretofore set forth.
Threaded in the aperture in the bottom of the lower section of the casing is
a pipe 14, having two ways 15, therein, one of which connects with the branch 16,
and the supply pipe 17, and the other way or passage connecting with the
branch 18, and the service pipe 19.
The pipe 14, has a threaded portion 20, which engages the threads in the
bottom of the casing and at the upper end of the double pipe are other
threads 21, to which is coupled the meter connection 22.
The meter connection is formed with two passages 23, 23, one connecting
with the supply passage and one connecting with the service passage of the
double pipe. The branch pipes 24, and 25, are joined to the meter from the
opposite sides. The lower end of the meter connections has an elliptical
recess 26, in which a gasket 27, is fitted and the gasket has holes connecting
with the passages in the meter connection. By having the gasket fitted as shown
the holes will always connect with the passages, since it is impossible for the
gasket to be turned when the parts are being assembled.
As will be seen from the drawing Figure 1, it is only necessary to unscrew
the meter connection from the double pipe, when the meter may be removed.
Of course the meter may be applied in like simple manner from the surface of
the ground in which the meter is embedded.
In order that the water supply may not be permanently interrupted when
the meter is removed, a cap 28, is run on the threads of the double pipe, and the
gasket 29, of the cap will prevent leakage. The head of the cap above the
threads, is hollow and forms a channel for the passage of water from the supply
to the service pipe.
It is my purpose to have the threads 21, and the threads of the meter con-
nection which engage therewith, very fine, that a half turn, more or less may
be made after the parts are in contact, for the purpose of causing the passages
to connect.
The construction, operation and advantages will, it is thought be understood
from the foregoing description and it will be noted that various changes may
be made in the proportions and other details of construction without departing
from the spirit of the invention.
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:-
1. In a device of the character described, a meter casing consisting of an
upper and lower telescopic section, means for binding the sections together,
a cover for the upper section, a double pipe threaded in the bottom of the
casing, branches connecting the double pipe and meter, and supply and service
pipes, substantially as described.
2. In a device of the character described, a meter casing consisting of an
upper and lower telescopic section means for securing the sections together, the
upper end of the lower section being flared and provided with calking, sub-
stantially as described.
3. In a device of the character described, a casing comprising two telescopic
sections, the lower section having a bottom provided with a central threaded
aperture, a double pipe threaded in the bottom and projecting within the casing,
a meter connection, a gasket fitting in an elliptical opening of the meter con-
nection and having holes adapted to connect with the double pipe and meter
connection, substantially as described.

page_text: 4. In combination with a double pipe for a meter connection, a cap adapted
to form a connection between the passages of the pipe when the meter is
removed, substantially as described.
5. In combination, an upper and lower telescopic section forming a meter
casing, the lower section having a flared upper end, a calking lying between the
flared end and the upper section, and a cover for the casing fitted to exclude
water, substantially as described.
6. In combination with a meter, a double pipe, a meter connection fitting on
the double pipe and having branches communicating with the opposite sides of
the meter substantially as described.
+
7. In combination with a meter and its connections, a double pipe to which
the meter connection is threaded, substantially as described.
Dated this 27th day of June 1899
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.