IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO REGULATING THE FLOW OF STEAM
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Lewis at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th February
1866.
I, JOSEPH LEWIS, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
METERS FOR MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS, PART OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO REGULATING THE FLOW OF STEAM," to be as
follows:-
My Invention in meters relates, firstly, to that construction known as the
diaphragm meter. This diaphragm 1 form of india-rubber or other flexible
material which will bear stretching as the fluid presses against it. On each
side and connected with it I place curved shields, which I prefer shall almost
touch the circumference of the cylinder. To these shields the usual rods,
which may be called piston rods, are attached, and during the working the
diaphragm laps thereon.
Secondly, my Invention refers to valves for meters. My improved valve
consists of a plug working in a socket; through this plug an aperture is formed
at each end for the fluid to pass, and between these two apertures a smaller
diameter of the plug constitutes another fluid way. At right angles to each
of the aforesaid apertures the plug is formed flat, or is hollowed to allow
access of pressure and establish an equilibrium. This part of my Invention
is applicable to valves for regulating the flow of steam.
Thirdly, my Invention relates to a spring and other apparatus by which the
necessary change of the valves of meters is effected. For this purpose I

page_text: employ a spring, which becomes charged by the motion of the piston rod.
This spring in process of being charged presses against a lever, which is, how-
ever, prevented from turning by a catch. When, however, the piston rod has
moved through a determined space a lever carried thereby liberates the catch,
and allows the spring to act against the lever by which the valve is shifted,
and on the return motion of the piston rod the same effect takes place by
means of the liberation of another catch. The lever upon the piston rod acts
alternately upon the catches through the medium of set screws, by adjusting
which the stroke of the diaphragm or piston may be altered at pleasure. I
propose to connect the piston rod to the spring at a situation between its
fulcrum and point of action. The spring above alluded to I construct as a
fork, each prong being alternately charged.
Another part of my Invention relates to a diaphragm valve. Around a tube
I form passages for the fluid, which passages are provided with openings com-
municating with the said tube. These openings are situate on both sides of
a diaphragm, and are capable of being opened and closed thereby alternately
as it performs its strokes. An internal tube, to which the diaphragm is
attached, is employed for conveying the fluid to be measured to the induction
or eduction passages.
Another part of my Invention relates to a method of obviating the necessity
for ordinary stuffing boxes for the piston or valve rods of meters. For this
purpose I employ an india-rubber tube attached at one end to the diaphragm
or piston, and at the other to the casing; the rod passes through this tube
and stretches it or allows it to contract during the reciprocating motion; or
if an axial motion of the rod be required, as in the case of the valve above
described, then the flexible tube is twisted instead of being stretched lengthwise
as aforesaid.