A NEW OR IMPROVED WATER OR FLUID METER, WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE AS A MOTIVE POWER ENGINE OR PUMP
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Johnston, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "A NEW OR
IMPROVED WATER OR FLUID METER, WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE AS A MOTIVE
POWER ENGINE OR PUMP."
Sealed the 23rd April 1880, and dated the 5th November 1879,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Johnston at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th November 1879.
DAVID JOHNSTON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Consulting Engineer. "A NEW OR IMPROVED WATER OR FLUID METER, WHICH
IS ALSO APPLICABLE AS A MOTIVE POWER ENGINE OR PUMP."
This Invention has reference to a new or improved construction of water or
liquid meter which is also applicable as a pumping engine, and which shall be more
sensitive and efficient in its action, and as a water meter register more accurately
and with a more regular and even flow of water, whilst either as a meter or a
pump it is more economical in use and less liable to get out of order by tear and
wear of the moving parts or mechanism than meters or pumps heretofore constructed.
The Invention is further designed so that the pressure and flow of the water
through the meter may be regulated automatically to adapt it for any pressure or
head of water depending on the situation of the meter.
And the nature and novelty of the Invention consist all as follows:-Under one
modification the meter is composed of two cylinders fitted with pistons and cast in
one piece, but having a hollow chamber between them communicating by ports with
both cylinders, and into and through which the water is discharged by suitable
valves after measurement.
The cylinders are formed with a flange at each end to which covers are bolted,
water pressure tight to close the cylinders, and hollow casings or chambers are
formed or fitted outside into which the water is led at either end by a pipe passing
outside the cylinders to both end chambers, and connected by a branch or tube from
the water main or service pipe, these end chambers also enclosing the operating
mechanism for actuating the valves and the counting gear or indicating and
recording apparatus.

page_text: The hollow chambers or compartments communicate with the interior of each
cylinder by means of four perforated tubes screwed or otherwise fixed one near the
end of each cylinder, and which form valve seats or casings for piston valves
reciprocating in them, each pair being in the same axial line, and which admit the
water to the opposite end of their respective cylinders and also allow it to escape in
the same manner, the piston of the one cylinder actuating the valve of the other
cylinder. The valve casings or tubes are open to both the inlet chambers outside
the cylinders and the outlet chamber between the cylinders, and the perforations
in the tubes form a communication between the inside of the cylinders and the
inlet and outlet chambers, which communication is only closed when the piston
valves cover the perforations in moving from one end of their casings to the other,
but when the valve is in a part of its casing or seat between the perforations and
the inlet chamber, the inlet is closed and the outlet is open for the passage of the
water from the cylinders, and vice-versa, when the piston valve is moved to the
other side of the perforations. The covers at each end of the cylinders have recesses
formed in them where they pass over the perforated tubes or valve casings, which
recesses are carried into the cylinders and form the connections or ports between
the cylinders and valve casings, and the water under pressure enters from the
hollow outer chambers through an open valve into one end of one of the cylinders,
driving up the piston of that cylinder before it, the pistons being of metal or other
material and suitably packed with rings or hemp, or fitted with double cup leathers
or other equivalent to prevent leakage of the water past them, and being made
sufficiently long to reciprocate without guides if desired. The piston on reaching
the end of its stroke strikes against and drives out a tappet passing through a
stuffing box in the cylinder cover, preferably at or near its centre, and this tappet
being connected to a lever jointed or centred on a short bracket formed or fixed on
the cover acts on and raises the pair of piston valves, the spindle of which is
connected to the centre of the lever, these valves opening the communicating
passage for the inlet of water to the lower end of the other cylinders, and the
passage for the outlet of water from the upper end at the same time. The water
entering the lower end of the second cylinder drives up its piston until it strikes a
tappet passing through the cover of that cylinder, and acting on the end of a beam
lever centred on a bracket on the cylinder cover and connected at the other end to
the spindle of the second set of piston valves corresponding to the first cylinder,
which valves are depressed by the motion of the lever to allow the water from the
cylinder to escape into the outlet chamber and admit the water from the inlet
chamber to the upper end of the first cylinder, driving its piston back to the original
position where it acts on a tappet and lever actuating the valves, as already
described, of the second cylinder, to admit water above its piston and force it down
until it acts on its lower tappet and lever to recommence the same series of
operations.
The water is discharged into the chamber between the cylinders to be led by a
pipe to the situation where it is to be used, and the volume discharged at each
reciprocation of the pistons is determined by the known capacity of the cylinders
beyond the pistons and is measured in terms of that capacity in cubic feet or gallons
by means of the revolution of a toothed crown or bevil wheel, fitted on a stud or
spindle in one of the end chainbers, on the ratchet teeth of which strikers on one
of the valve levers act to move the wheel round through a part of a revolution
corresponding to half a tooth at every stroke of each piston and rise or fall of
the corresponding tappet.
The spindle of the bevel or crown wheel is carried through a stuffing box in the
outer cover of the end chamber, and by a suitable train of wheels actuates the
counting gear or indicating and recording apparatus, which may be of any of the
well known kinds heretofore used for water meters.
The whole of the working parts and mechanism of the meter are encased in the
chambers at each end of the cylinders into which the water is first admitted, and
these parts work under the full pressure of the water which acts as a lubricant,

page_text: thus dispensing with the use of stuffing boxes, excepting where the tappets pass
through the cylinder covers, and where at every stroke there is a variation of
pressure on the alternate tappets.
Instead of admitting the water under pressure into the chambers at the ends of
the cylinders it may be admitted to the discharge chamber between the cylinders
and the actions of the parts reversed, the meter still working and registering
regularly, and instead of two cylinders a greater number may be used in this meter,
and may be fitted with pistons actuating the valves automatically, as already
described.
In order to equalize the pressure of water passing through and from the meter in
any situation in which it may be placed relatively to the head of water, the flow of
water through the discharge pipe or egress branch is automatically regulated by
means of a differential valve or plunger fitted in a tubular seat communicating
between the inlet and egress pipes or orifices. This plunger is made of small
diameter at the end near the inlet, and which is only separated from the inlet pipe
by a rubber diaphragm, and is made considerably larger at the other end which
enters the discharge pipe or orifice and contracts that orifice when an unusual
pressure in the inlet pipe acts on the rubber diaphragm and small end of the
plunger to drive it outwards, and enlarges or frees the discharge orifice when the
normal pressure at the inlet is reduced.
The new or improved water or fluid meter may also be applied and used as a
pumping engine by removing one of the chambers in which the levers actuating the
valves are placed, and substituting a pump barrel at that end of each cylinder,
having its axis in line with the axis of the cylinder; the tappet and lever arrangement
remaining as described in the chamber at the other end of each cylinder, one set of
valves only being used, and the inlet chamber at the pump end being contracted
between the pump barrels to form the connection through it to the two piston valve
cases. Each piston of the meter or motive-power engine into which it is now
transformed, is connected to a plunger or bucket, reciprocating in its pump barrel
by a piston rod passing through a stuffing box in the cylinder cover, between the
cylinder and pump barrel; and this cover is made of sufficient depth or thickness
to admit of communicating ports or passages between the pump barrels and their
inlet and outlet valve chests or chambers, which are formed by preference between.
the two pump barrels in one or more castings with them, or it may be to the one
side. The valve chest is divided into three separate horizontal chambers the lowest
of which is the suction chamber communicating by a suction pipe to the supply or
water to be raised, and also to the ends of both pump barrels. The suction valves
are fitted in seats, in the division between the lowest and middle chamber, and this
mid chamber is divided vertically into two compartments, one of which is open to
both pump barrels at one end or side of the plungers, and the other is open to the
barrels at the opposite ends. The water drawn through a valve from the supply
pipe into the pump barrels by the motion of the plunger in one direction, is forced
out on the return of the plunger into and fills the compartment corresponding with
the ends of the barrels from which the water flows, and the other compartment is
similarly filled from its corresponding end of the pump barrels, the water forced into
these compartments raising and passing through valve seats fitted in the division
between the middle and upper chambers of the valve chest, into the upper or
delivery chamber, whence it flows through a discharge branch, which may lead
to the same pipe as the actuating cylinders discharge into, or wherever desired
In this application of the meter as a pumping engine the motion of the pistons
and valves is the same as has been explained in describing the action of the water
meter, but instead of the pistons striking separate tappets at both ends of the
cylinders, a small rod is screwed or otherwise fixed into each tappet at the ends of
the cylinders remote from the pump barrels, and each wire passes through a hole in
its piston into the piston rod of the two pistons, which is made hollow or tubular
for the purpose; and this wire or rod has a nut or button fixed on its end in the

page_text: tubular piston rod. The tappet is struck by the piston at the termination of its
stroke in one direction, as before described, but in the return stroke towards the
pump barrel the piston catches on the nut or button on the central wire, and draws
back the tappet and lever at the completion of the stroke, the resulting action on
the valves being the same as in the modification of water meter described.
The same arrangement may also be applied to single acting pumps, in which case
each piston rod is enlarged, and forms the plonger or ram of the pump; and instead
of the stuffing box for preventing leakage of the water from the cylinder into the
pump barrel, or vice versa, the cylinder cover is fitted with double cup leathers or
equivalent packing round the ram, or separate cup leathers may be fitted at the
end of the ram or plunger and at the inner side of the cylinder cover.
The valves of the improved meter may obviously be actuated by one set of
levers, acted on by tappets of the kind described as applied to the pumping engine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said David Johnston in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th May
1880.
DAVID JOHNSTON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Consulting Engineer. "A NEW OR IMPROVED WATER OR FLUID METER, WHICH
IS ALSO APPLICABLE AS A MOTIVE-POWER ENGINE OR PUMP."
My said Invention has reference to a new or improved construction of water or
liquid meter, which is also applicable as a pumping engine, and which shall be
more sensitive and efficient in its action, and as a water meter register more accu-
rately and with a more regular and even flow of water, whilst either as a meter,
pump, or motor, it is more economical in use and less liable to get out of order by
tear and wear of the moving parts or mechanism than meters, pumps, or motors
heretofore constructed. The Invention is further designed so that the pressure and
flow of the water through the meter may be regulated automatically to adapt it
for any pressure or head of water depending on the situation of the meter.
And in order that my said Invention, and the manner of performing the same,
may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended for that purpose a Sheet of
explanatory Drawings representing modifications of my said improved fluid meter
In these Drawings the same
and pumps, which I shall now proceed to describe.
reference letters are used to indicate the same or like parts wherever they are
shown.
Referring to the Drawings, Figure 1 is a horizontal section of a modification of
my improved water or fluid meter taken through the centre of the cylinders, or as
at the line 1-1, in Figure 2, which is a corresponding end elevation as with the
end chamber cover removed, and Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken as
at the line 2-2 in Figure 1; Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a longitudinal
vertical section and transverse vertical section taken as at the lines 3-3 and 4-4
in each other; and Figures 6, 7, and 8 are detached views to a larger scale showing
the valves with their actuating levers and the mechanism for working the counting
gear.
In the modification shown in these Figures the meter is composed of two
cylinders A, A', fitted with pistons B, B¹, and cast in one piece, but having a hollow
chamber A¹ between them communicating by ports a, a, a¹, a¹, with both
cylinders, and into and through which the water is discharged by suitable valves
d, d¹, after measurement. The cylinders A, A¹, are formed with a flange at each
end, to which plain covers A³, A³, covering both cylinders, and having the inlet
and egress ports a, a¹, formed in them, as shown particularly in Figure 3, are bolted
water pressure tight to both cylinders A, A¹, and hollow casings or chambers C, C¹,
are fitted and bolted outside the cylinder covers, one on each end of the cylinders,
into which the water is led and freely admitted at either end by a pipe or tubular
duct c cast on and passing outside the cylinders to both end chambers C, C¹, and
connected by an inlet branch c¹ and an ordinary screwed coupling arrangement or
flange joint at c¹¹ with a branch or tube from the water main or service pipe ;
these end chambers C, C¹, also preferably enclosing the operating mechanism for
actuating the valves and the counting gear, or indicating and recording apparatus,
to be hereinafter described.
These hollow chambers or compartments C, C', communicate with the interior of
each cylinder A, A¹, by means of four tubes or valve seats D, D, D¹, D', perforated
or formed with the ports a, a', continued through them, as shown in Figures 3, and
fixed, one near the end of each cylinder, by forming them of double conical or
tapered shape externally fitting into corresponding taper turned openings in the
end of the cylinder casing A, A¹, and cylinder covers A³, A³, between which these
tubes are firmly held when the covers are bolted to the cylinders, or otherwise they

page_text: might be similarly held by collars formed on them, or by being screwed into the
cylinder ends. These tubes D, D¹, form valve seats or casings for the piston valves
d, d', reciprocating in them, each pair d, d¹, being in the same axial line, and
connected together by the same valve spindle D2, and these valves d, d', admit the
water to the opposite ends of their respective cylinders A, A', by uncovering the
small ports a, a¹, and also allow it to escape in the same manner, the piston B of
the one cylinder A actuating the valves d, d', of the other cylinder A¹. The valve
casings or tubes D, D¹, are open alternately to the two inlet chambers C, C¹, outside
cylinders, and to the outlet chamber A" between the cylinders A, A¹; and the
perforations or ports a, a', in the tubes D, D¹, form a communication between the
inside of the cylinders A or A¹, and the inlet and outlet chambers C, C', and A",
which communication with either the inlet or outlet chambers is only closed when
the piston valves d, d¹, cover the perforations or ports a, a¹, in moving from one
end of their casings D, D', to the other, as shown by the valves d, d', in Figure 4;
but when one of the valves d of one cylinder A is in a part of its travel in the
casing or seat D¹, between the perforations or ports a, a¹, and the inlet chamber C,
the other valve d of the same cylinder A, at the opposite end of the valve spindle D³,
is in a position of its travel between the ports a, a', and the outlet chamber A",
as shown by the upper set of valves in Figure 4, so that the inlet to that cylinder A
is closed and the outlet is open for the passage of the water from the cylinder A,
and vice versa, when the piston valve d or d¹ is moved to the other side of the
perforations. The covers A2, A3, at each end of the cylinders have recesses a, a¹,
formed in them where the perforated tubes or valve casings D, D¹, are inserted,
which recesses are continued over into the ends of the cylinders A, A', as shown
clearly in Figure 5, and form the connections or ports a, a¹, between the cylinders
A, A¹, and the valve casings D, D'. The water under pressure which enters the
inlet duct c, c¹, to the end hollow chambers C, C³, passes therefrom to the end of
the cylinders A or A¹ corresponding to these chambers C or C' through or past the
valve d or d', which is open for the time being, and the pistons B, B', are driven
from end to end of their respective cylinders A, A1, by the inlet of this water behind
them, the measured water in the cylinders in front of the advancing pistons B, B',
being allowed to escape by the ports a or a¹, whilst the pressure water enters
through the ports a¹ or a at the opposite end, and vice-versa, the valves d, d', being
actuated to open or close the ports to the inlet and outlet water by the action of
the pistons B, B¹, through tappets and levers, as will presently be described. The
pistons B, B¹, are made of cast brass or other metal suitably packed with rings b
or hemp, or they may be fitted with double cup leathers or other equivalent to
prevent the leakage of the water past them; but for the purpose of reducing the
friction of the reciprocating pistons B, B¹, I prefer to make these with long bearing
surfaces to work without guides, and establish as nearly as possible an equal pressure
of water on both sides of the pistons.
By the admission of water from the inlet chamber C behind it the piston B is
driven forward towards the other end A³ of the cylinder, and on reaching the end
of its stroke a central boss 62 on the piston B strikes against and drives outwards
one E of four tappets E, E', entering from the inlet chambers C, C', through stuffing
boxes e in the cylinder covers A³, A³, a short way into the cylinder A, preferably
at or near the centre of each cylinder A, A'. The tappets E, E¹, at each end of the
cylinder A are formed with pins in their ends, and are connected by slotted eyes e¹
to the ends of light levers E¹¹, jointed or fulcrumed at their other ends on small
prackets E¹¹¹, formed or fixed on the cylinder covers A2, A³, and these levers E" 5
act on and traverse the pair of piston valves d, d', of the cylinder A', the spindle D
of which is connected at its two extreme or upper and lower ends D³ to the centre
of the lever E". This pair of valves d, d', being thus made to travel over the
ports a, a, in their casings D, D', open the communicating passage or port a, a, for
the inlet of water to the lower or other end A2 of the cylinder A, and the passage 5
a³, a¹, for the outlet of water from the upper or opposite end A³ at the same time.
The water entering the lower end of the second cylinder A' drives up its piston B'

page_text: until it strikes a tappet E¹, passing through its stuffing box e in the cover of that
cylinder A', and this tappet E' is formed with a fork end, jointed to act on one
of a beam lever E³, centred on a bracket E³ on the cylinder covers A2, A³, and
connected or jointed at the other end to the spindle D of the second set of
piston valves d', d', corresponding to the first cylinder A, which valves d, d', are
traversed by the motion of the lever E³ to allow the measured water from the
cylinder A' to escape into the central outlet chamber All by the port a, and admit
the pressure water by the port a from the inlet chamber C' to the upper end of
the first cylinder A, driving its piston B back to the original position at the end A*
of the cylinder A, where it acts on a tappet E and lever E, the same or similar to
those actuating the valves d, d', as already described, of the second cylinder A¹ to
admit water above its piston B¹ and force it down until it acts on its lower tappet E
and lever E to recommence the same series of operations, the tappets pushed
forward by the pistons at the end of the stroke in one direction being brought back
at the end of the opposite stroke of the pistons when these strike the opposite
tappets by means of their spindles D2, D3, connected to the valve levers E¹¹, E2.
The water acting on the pistons B, B¹, and passing through the cylinders A, A1, is
discharged through the ports a, a, a, a¹, into the chamber A" between the cylinders
A, A¹, to be led through an outlet port A11 to a pipe a coupled to it, which
conveys the water to the situation where it is to be used. The volume of water
discharged at each reciprocation of the pistons is determined by the known capacity
of the cylinders beyond the pistons, and is measured in terms of that capacity in
cubic feet or gallons by means of the revolution of a toothed crown escapement
wheel F; or it might be a bevil wheel fitted on a stud or spindle f in one of the
end chambers C¹, on the angled teeth of which pallets or strikers F¹, F", on one of
the valve levers E act, as shown particularly in the enlarged sections Figures 6
and 7, to move the wheel round through a part of a revolution, corresponding to a
tooth at every double stroke of the piston B¹ and rise or fall of the corresponding
tappet E¹. The spindle ƒ of the escapement crown wheel F is carried through a
stuffing box f' in the outer cover of the end chamber C¹, and is fitted with a small
pinion g, outside which by a suitable train of wheels g, G, on small spindles passing
through a dial plate h actuates the counting gear or indicating and recording
pointers h', h¹, which is of any of the well known kinds heretofore used for fluid
meters. The whole of the working levers and mechanism of the valves are pre-
ferably encased in the chambers C, C', at each end of the cylinders into which the
water is first admitted, and these parts work under the full pressure of the water
which acts as a lubricant, thus dispensing with the use of stuffing boxes, excepting
at e, where the tappets E, E¹, pass through the cylinder covers A2, A³, and where
at every stroke there may be a variation of pressure on the alternate tappets.
Instead of admitting the water under pressure into the chambers C, C, at the ends
of the cylinders it may be admitted to the discharge chamber A" between the
cylinders A, A, and the action of the parts reversed, the meter still working and
registering regularly, and being also capable of working with the cylinders lying
horizontally, vertically, or inclined, and although the levers E1, E2, for actuating
the valves have been by preference ranged and shown as working within the close
inlet or outlet discharge liquid chambers C, C', it will be understood that the valve
rods D might work out through stuffing boxes in the cylinder covers A³, A³, and
the levers E, E³, be ranged and actuated outside the cylinders and chambers C, C¹ ;
and although duplex piston valves d, d', on one rod D³ have been shown as preferred
other duplex or double beat valves might be employed for the inlet and outlet of
the water. In the Provisional Specification of my said Invention I described an
improved arrangement for equalizing the pressure of water passing through and
from the meter in any situation in which it may be placed relatively to the head of
water, but I have now found this to be unnecessary and do not desire to retain it
as forming part of my Invention.
Figure 9 on the Sheet of Drawings is a plan and partial horizontal section, and
Figure 10 is a transverse vertical section taken through the irregular lines 5-5,

page_text: 6-6, in the opposite Figures of a modification of my improvements applied to a
double acting lifting or force pump or pumping engine. Figure 11 is a longitudinal
vertical section taken through the centre of the valve chambers L, K, of part of an
improved pump, showing a modified arrangement of the valves, and Figure 12 is a
transverse vertical section of the pump barrels and valve chamber of the same taken
through the line 7-7 in Figure 11, whilst Figures 13 and 14 are respectively a
side elevation and plan, both partly in section of a single acting plunger force pump
of my improved construction.
Referring particularly to Figures 9 and 10, the improved pumping engine consists
essentially of a pair of cylinders A, A', with reciprocating pistons B, B, and valves
d, d, and actuating levers E", E2, forming the engine proper, all substantially
similar to that described in reference to the liquid meter shown in Figures 1 to 5,
but having one of the end chambers C¹ beyond the cylinder cover A³ removed or
contracted, and this replaced by a pair of pump barrels I, I, preferably cast in one
piece, and fitted with an end cover I", but bolted to the cylinder cover A³ at the
other end, so as to have their axes in line with the axes of the cylinders A, A¹, the
tappet and lever arrangement E, E¹, E", E², being retained only in the chamber C
at the other end of each cylinder, and the valves d, d¹, being actuated by the levers
E, E, in that chamber only. The inlet chamber C¹ at the pump end is contracted
or reduced in dimensions to a mere admission port formed in the pump barrel
casting between the pump barrels I, I', to form the connection through it to the
two piston valve cases D, D¹. Each piston B, B', of the motive power water engine
into which the meter is now transformed is connected to a piston plunger or bucket
J, J', reciprocating in its pump barrel I or I' by a hollow piston rod K or K¹
passing through a stuffing box or cup leather all in the cylinder cover A³ between
the cylinders A or A' and pump barrels I, I', the pistons B, B¹, of the cylinders A, A¹³,
and the pump barrel pistons J, J', being packed in this example by double cup
leathers b¹¹, j, secured by annular rings to the solid pistons. The cylinder covers A³
and I are made, as shown, of sufficient depth or thickness to admit of communi-
cating ports or passages i, i, being formed between the pump barrels I, I', and their
inlet and outlet valve chests or chambers L, L, which are formed in this example in
separate castings bolted to the side of each pump barrel I, I'. In this application
of the meter as a pumping engine the motion of the pistons B, B¹, and valves d, d¹,
is the same as have been explained in describing the action of the water meter,
Figures 1 to 8, but instead of the pistons B, B', striking separate tappets E, E¹, at
both ends of the cylinders A, A¹, a small wire or rod ell is screwed or otherwise
fixed into each tappet E, E¹, at the end of the cylinders A, A¹, remote from the
pump barrels I, I, and each wire ell passes through a hole in the end of its piston
B, B¹, into the piston rods K, K¹, connecting the two pairs of pistons B, J, B¹, J¹,
which are made hollow or tubular for the purpose; and this wire or rod e¹¹ has a
nut or button e¹¹¹ fixed and secured by a jam nut on its end within the tubular
piston rod K, K. The tappets E, E¹, are struck by the pistons B, B¹, at the
termination of their strokes in the direction towards the end A2, as before described
in reference to Figures 1 to 8, but in the return stroke towards the pump barrel I, I',
the pistons B, B', catch on the nut or button el on the central wire ell and draw
back the tappets E, E¹, and their levers E", E2, at the completion of the stroke,
the resulting action on the valves d, d¹, being the same as in the modification of
water meter already described and shown in Figures 1 to 8 of the Drawings.
The water to be pumped or raised enters by a common pipe L to the lower
end of the valve chests L, L, which expands into a chamber L' fitted with a
pair of valves l, l, resting on conical seats formed in the valve chests. Through
these valves 1, 1, which are raised by the suction of the pump pistons J, J¹, the
water enters into separate chamber L², and passes as may be required by
the direction of reciprocation of the pistons J, J, through either of two
ducts, leading to the ports i or i¹ at the opposite ends of the pump
barrels I, I¹, and on the return stroke of the piston J or J, the water is forced
back by its compartment of the middle chamber L up through one of a pair of

page_text: valves fitted in seats in each compartment, and into a common delivery
chamber L³ fitted with a discharge branch L, whence all the water raised by the
pumps through the valves ³ is discharged by a duplex pipe L leading to a single
discharge pipe L, and the well or other receptacle into which the water is to be
delivered. In some cases, as when the pump barrels are much smaller than their
corresponding cylinders of the engine, the valve chest may be conveniently fitted
between the pump barrels I, I, and cast in one piece with them, as shown in
Figures 11 and 12 of the Drawings. In this example the valve chest L is
divided into three separate horizontal chambers L¹, L, L³, the lowest of which L¹
is the suction chamber communicating by a suction pipe L to the supply or water
to be raised, and also through the valves 1, 1, and ports i, i, to the ends of both
pump barrels I, I¹. The suction valves 1, 1, are fitted in seats in the division
between the lowest L' and middle chamber L2, and this mid chamber L³ is divided
vertically into two compartments, one of which is open to both pump barrels I, I',
at one end or side of the plungers J, J, and the other is open to the barrels I, I,
at the opposite ends. The water drawn through one valve 7 from the supply pipe
and compartment L2 into the pump barrels by the action and motion of the plungers
in one direction, is forced out on the return of the plungers into and fills the
compartment L2 corresponding with the ends of the barrels I, I¹, from which the
water flows, and the other compartment is similarly filled from its corresponding
end of the pump barrels I, I¹, the water forced into these compartments L2 raising
the valves and passing through the valve seats fitted in the division between the
middle and uper chambers L², L³, of the valve chest L into the upper or delivery
chamber L³ common to both, whence it flows through a discharge orifice L* which
may lead through the branch Lo bolted to it to the same pipe as the actuating
cylinders discharge into, or wherever desired.
Figures 13 and 14 show a modification of my improvements as applied to single
acting plunger force pumps, in which the motive power engines being substantially
the same as that shown in Figure 9, and just described, is broken away. In this
case each piston rod K, K¹, is enlarged and forms the plunger or ram of the pump,
and being made hollow also acts on its tappets E, E¹, and wire ell to actuate the
valves d, d'; the pump barrels I, I, which are comparatively small, are screwed
into a solid part of the outer casing C¹; the pressure water entering the cylinders A, A¹,
through the port a at that end; and for preventing leakage of the water from the
cylinders A, A', into the pump barrels I, I', or vice versa, the cylinder cover A³ is
fitted with double cup leathers a or equivalent packing round the ram or
otherwise; separate cup leathers may be fitted at the ends of the rams or
plungers K, K¹, and at the inner side of the cylinder cover. The water is drawn
into either of the pump barrels I, I, through a valve in the valve chest L by the
suction of the ram or plunger K, K, and on the return stroke is forced out again,
and through an upper valve into a small chamber L³, whence it passes by the
discharge orifice and branch L to the well, the action in this example being
extremely simple.
The valves of the improved meter may obviously be actuated by one set of
levers E, E, acted on by tappets E, E¹, and wires ell, ell, of the kind described
as applied to these pumping engines, Figures 9 to 14, and the pressure water
actuating the pumping engine may also be measured in passing through the
cylinders A, A¹, by fitting a crown wheel escapement and counting or registering
gear at one end similar to that shown in Figure 1. The form of the meter or motive
power engine shown in Figure 9 as actuating a pump may also be applied
for working the bellows of organs or for other purposes for which reciprocating
motive power engines are adapted. The construction and arrangement of the
pistons, valves, and other details are susceptible of modification, such as the
substitution of racks and pinions or segmental toothed levers or sliding crossheads
for actuating the valves c, d, for the admission and egress of the pressure liquid
without departing from the essential features of my Invention, in which the one

page_text: reciprocating piston B or Blais made to open the admission and egress valves for
actuating the other piston B¹ or B.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner in which
the same is performed or put into effect or practice, I desire it to be understood
that I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein described or delineated,
but what. I believe to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general construction or arrangement and combination of the parts of
a duplex cylinder water or liquid meter having reciprocating pistons, each of which
alternately actuates the inlet and outlet valves of the other cylinder, all substantially
as and for the purposes herein described in reference to and shown in Figures 1 to 8 of
the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The construction and use of a double cylinder water or liquid meter or
pumping engine with reciprocating pistons alternately actuating the inlet and outlet
valves of the other cylinder, substantially as herein described in reference to the
Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Third. The construction and use of duplex piston valves (d, d¹,) on one rod for
each cylinder of duplex cylinder water or liquid meters or pumping engines, or
motors admitting and discharging the water simultaneously from the opposite ends
of the cylinders and alternately as reciprocated, substantially as described in reference
to the Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Fourth. The actuating of duplex inlet and outlet valves of duplex cylinder water
or liquid meters or pumping engines alternately from the reciprocating pistons
through tappets E and simple levers E¹¹, E2, ranged in or outside fluid chambers C, C¹,
at the end or ends of the cylinders, all substantially as herein described in reference
to and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Fifth. The arrangement, application, and use of the crown or escapement wheel F
actuated by pallets F¹, F¹, on one of the valve levers E² for transmitting motion to
the train of wheels and their indices or pointers of an ordinary arrangement of
indicator for registering the quantity of water measured by duplex cylinder water
meters, all substantially as herein described in reference to Figures 4, 6, and 7, of
the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. The general construction or arrangement and combination of the parts of
a duplex cylinder water meter or motor with reciprocating pistons actuating their
inlet and outlet valves alternately, as or for directly actuating piston or plunger
pumps for raising or forcing water or liquids, or as reciprocating motors, all
substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in Figures 9 to 14 of
the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Johnston, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
DAVID JOHNSTON. (L.S.)