Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring the Flow of Water or other Fluids in Pipes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 7th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 10th Feb.,"1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring the Flow of Water or
other Fluids in Pipes.
I. GEORGE FREDERICK DEACON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to apparatus for measuring the flow of water, or other fluids
in pipes in which a disc diaphragm is placed, and moves in a truncated hollow cone,
the cone being so connected with say a water main that the water passing through
that main will flow through such hollow cone from the smaller towards the larger end;
the disc filling, or partly filling the smaller end of the hollow cone, and capable of
moving in the direction of the axis of the cone towards the larger part thereof so as to
leave an annular waterway increasing in sectional area as the disc recedes from the
position in which it fills, or partly fills the cone. And it also relates to apparatus in
which the parts are arranged conversely with the above, namely an apparatus in which
an annular diaphragm and truncated moving cone are employed.
Apparatus embodying the above described parts and mode of operation is set forth
in other Specifications of Letters Patent already granted to me and numbered
937 A.D. 1873 4264 A.D. 1873 and 105 A.D). 1879 to which the present Invention
also relates.
According to the present Invention for measuring the flow of water in pipes the
cone is placed in the body of the apparatus with its larger end uppermost. When the
disc is in its zero position it is at the smaller end of the cone and fills, or partly fills
that end. The disc constitutes a weight, or is weighted and when water flows it is
pushed up by the pressure upon it due to the velocity of the water and the annular
space between the cone and the disc will increase as the disc is moved upwards. The
inlet and outlet of the body and their sockets, or flanges are arranged opposite one
another and the cone is secured to an annular diagonal diaphragm.
The body is provided with covers above and below; the upper opening of the body
being of such size as to permit of the cone being passed through and secured to its
seat. When it is desired to use the apparatus as a differentiating meter, the clock, drum,

page_text: pen, or pencil differentiating mechanism, or gear are secured to and arranged above the
cover. By the above construction of apparatus a simple and compact form of meter
occupying small space is provided. The pen, or pencil is connected to the disc by
a wire, the requisite amount of tension on the wire being obtained by a small counter
balance weight suspended by a cord which passes over a pulley on the upper part of
the gear.
The disc may he provided with a guiding stem, projecting above and below it. The
lower guide in which the lower stem works is formed by a tube held by and formed
on vanes cast, or secured to the parallel portion of the cone, or the cover.
The upper
stem of the disc works in a guide bearing formed in the top cover.
The pen, or pencil is guided vertically by vertical wires, rods, or cords and laterally
by the disc wire.
The apparatus may be provided with an integrating mechanism in conjunction with
differentiating mechanism, or with an integrating mechanism only. The integrating
mechanism would be operated by a moving surface, or part moved by the clock. The
integrator would be secured to the top cover and mounted above it occupying little
space as above set forth with reference to the differentiating mechanism.
A converse arrangement to the disc and cone may be employed consisting of a
moveable coned body and an annular diaphragm having a parallel water way.
The clocks of the meters-and particularly of large ones such as 12, or 18 inch or
still larger meters-may be constructed to go for a period of eight days, or a month
and the paper may be driven from one drum supplied with a coil of paper drawn past
the pen, or pencil by and onto a second drum. A third drum is preferably provided
in this case over which the paper is passed and which is moved by the clock, the pen,
or pencil marking the paper as it passes over it. This I term the time drum.
Doted this 6th day of A 1007

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring the Flow of Water or
other Fluids in Pipes.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK DEACON of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, 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 :-
This invention relates to apparatus for measuring the flow of water, or other fluids in
pipes in which a disc, ball, or other object, or body is placed in a truncated hollow cone, or
tapered fluidway, such fluidway being so connected with say, a water main, that the
water passing through that main will flow through such tapered way from the smaller
towards the larger end; the disc, or other object filling, or partly filling the smaller
end of the waterway and being capable of moving in the direction of the axis of the
cone towards the larger part thereof, so as to leave an annular waterway increasing in
sectional area as the disc recedes from the position in which it fills or partly fills the
tapered waterway.
"It also relates to apparatus in which the parts are arranged conversely with the
above, namely an apparatus in which an annular diaphragm and cone or tapered body
are employed.
My present invention also relates to certain improvements on previous inventions
for which I have obtained letters patent for the United Kingdom namely, No. 937
A.D. 1873, No. 4264 A.D. 1873 and No. 105 A.D. 1879.
My present invention consists of the combination of certain parts and mechanical
devices arranged to co-act with reference to each other to produce the result herein-
after fully specified, the points of novelty being designated in the claims concluding
this Specification.
"
In apparatus for measuring the flow of water and other fluids in pipes in which it
has been proposed to employ a disc, or body within a tapered waterway, the said
waterway having its larger end uppermost, the recording mechanism has been of the
integrating type. Now this present invention relates chiefly to that type of fluid measur-
ing apparatus termed "differentiating meters" and sometimes called "disc gauges,"
in contradistinction to "integrating "meters, and which are to be employed chiefly
for the purpose of measuring and recording graphically the nature as well as the
volume of flow in mains used for the supply of water to towns, or districts, or to
various sections of a town, or district.
But although my invention is more particularly applicable to differentiating meters
it is at the same time in part applicable to integrating meters, as will be presently
explained. By my present invention in a differentiating meter I so combine the
differentiating and recording mechanism with the disc that it constitutes or directly
bears the weight, or a considerable portion of the weight necessary to give the required
resistance to the flow of fluid past it, (and the coned waterway being placed in the
body of the meter with its larger end uppermost) and I thereby reduce the amount
of stress put upon. the wire actuating the pen, or pencil, and thus diminish its
necessary thickness and consequent friction at the stuffing box, as well as the load and
friction upon the axle of the pulley, so rendering the apparatus more sensitive and
generally more suitable for the work it has to perform.
That this invention may be clearly understood, it will
exactly. For this purpose there are annexed to this
now be described clearly and
Specification three sheets of

page_text: contained, will be sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which it belongs to
make the same. The drawings are marked with figures and letters of reference,
corresponding with those used in the following explanation. Like letters are used to
denote like parts throughout the views.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a differentiating meter constructed according
to this invention in its preferred form.
Figure 2 is a detail of upper gear of same.
Figure 3 is a plan through the gear shown in figure 2 at the line X X.
Figure 4 is a front inside view of pen and weight standard.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are respectively side elevation, front view and plan of pen and
the pen carrier.
According to the present invention for measuring the flow of fluids in pipes the
tapered fluidway A is placed in the body of the apparatus with its larger end upper-
most. The disc C when in its zero position is at the smaller end of the cone A and fills
or partly fills that end. The disc constitutes a weight, or is directly weighted, and
when water flows, it is pushed up by the pressure upon its under side due to the
velocity of the water; and the annular space between the cone and the disc increases
as the disc is moved upwards. The inlet D and outlet D¹ of the body B and their
sockets or flanges are arranged opposite one another, and the tapered waterway A
is secured to an annular diaphragm E.
The body is provided with upper and lower covers F and F¹, the upper opening of
the body being of such size as to permit of the cone A being passed through and
secured to its seat. A pipe and a cock or valve fare provided in the cover F1.
through which, by opening the cock the bottom of the apparatus may be scoured of
any earthy deposits that may accumulate in the lower part thereof. The clock drum a,
pen (or pencil) and other differentiating mechanism or gear are secured to and arranged
above the cover F.
The disc C is provided with a guiding stem c projecting above and below it. The
lower guide in which the lower stem works is formed by a tube d formed on vanes e
cast to a parallel portion of the tapered waterway A. The upper stem of the disc
works in a guide bearing d¹ formed in the top cover F, when the disc is high up in
the tapered waterway. The clock drum a and standard i are enclosed by the case g.
The clock is arranged within the drum a as described in the Specification of my
former patent No. 105 A.D. 1879 and causes the drum with its diagram of paper, or
other material to revolve. The clocks of the meters, particularly of large ones such
as those having 12 inch or 18 inch discs, or still larger meters-may be constructed to
go for a period of eight days or a month or more. The upper centre of the spindle of
the drum a works in a bearing which is secured to the standardi and can be thrown
up as in figure 2 and 4 so as to admit of the drum a being readily removed. The
vanes e beyond serving to support the guide d prevent vortex motion of the fluid in
passing through the meter and thereby obviate inaccuracies of measurement due to
such cause.
The marking pen and the disc C are connected together by the wire 6'. The
upper connection of this wire is made to the pen carrier k by passing it through the
hollow stem of the pen carrier, through the boss k², and securing it to the pin k³.
The lower end of the wire is connected to the end of the disc stem c in any convenient
way. The pen carrier stem k is placed and works in the line of the axis of the
disc stem C. To put the requisite amount of tension upon the wire b¹ a small counter-
balance weight is suspended by a cord which passes over the pulley and is
attached to the boss of the pen carrier k. The disc wire b' passes through the
gland f¹.
To cause the point b² of the pen 6 to press upon the diagram on the drum a its
support is situated in a vertical plane somewhat nearer to the drum than the centre of

page_text: gravity of the pen. This support consists of a bar ko, upon which the hook 63 of the
pen hangs. The pen bis adjusted relatively to the disc C by means of the screwed
rod and nut by turning this nut in one direction or the other the pen is either
raised or lowered. To prevent the two portions of the pen carrier from turning when
adjusting the pen, or at any other time, the upper part of the carrier is provided with
a pin which passes through a hole in the plate of the lower portion of the carrier.
The pen is filled with marking fluid and is constructed and works substantially as
ordinary syphon pens of this type.
The pen is guided vertically by wires m, see figures 2, 4 and 7. It will be seen
that the bars and 48 of the pen carrier k come just in front of the wires m and so the
pen is prevented from turning, whatever the position of it may be vertically. The
lateral guide to the pen is afforded by the disc wire 1, against which the side
of the pen b bears, the direction of the drum a being from right to left as shewn
by the arrow in figure 7. The wires m are fixed to bosses m¹ formed on the
standard i.
I
When the free surface of the water is not much above the top of the meter body,
may elongate the neck e so as to project above the free surface of the water, and thus
remove the necessity for a stuffing box.
With respect of the integrating mechanisms it is to be observed that the indications
of an ordinary integrator, recording quantities varying in arithmetic ratio would only
be applicable to the central portions of the cone, and not to those portions nearest the
ends thereof where the volumes passed are not directly proportional to the spaces
moved through by the disc.
Such an integrator of arithmetic ratios may be applied to the body of the meter
above described, in lieu of the differentiating mechanism, or in addition to the
differentiating mechanism and may be constructed as follows:-
A long toothed pinion is provided and runs loosely on the axis of the wire the
wires and working in line with the axis of the disc and over the pulley . This
pinion gears with and actuates a common counter. On the same axis as the pinion
and fixed thereto is an integrating wheel which traverses a radial line of a plain disc,
driven at a constant rate by clockwork in such a manner that its axis is parallel with
the radial line. This disc may occupy the position of the drum a but with its axis at
right angles thereto. The integrating wheel is adjusted to stand at the centre of this
plain disc when the meter disc C is at its zero position. Under these circumstances
the integrating wheel receives no motion from the revolving plain disc. But when it is
moved by the motion of the meter disc to any other position along the radial line
of the revolving plain disc, it receives rotation therefrom, directly proportional to the
distance traversed by the meter disc, which is equal to the distance travelled by
the integrating wheel from the centre of the plain disc. And the revolutions of the
counting niechanism actuated by the integrating wheel will be proportional to the
volume passing at each instant.
If it is desired to make the radius of the plain clock driven disc less than the stroke
of the disc C, it may be done to any desired extent by working the integrating
mechanism from a smaller pulley on the axle of the pulley 12. The motion of the
integrating wheel though no longer equal to that of the meter disc will be then
proportional thereto.
The above description of integrating mechanism is of known type, and it is there-
fore only necessary to say further that as it is placed directly above and is secured to
the cover F of the meter, the counterbalance weight will act as in the case of the
differentiating mechanism to keep the requisite tension upon the wires and b'. This
arrangement or combination of integrating mechanism and the herein described
meter body, disc and cone, constitutes a simple and compact form of integrating
meter occupying small space and working with a minimum of friction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed what is claimed is :-
First. In apparatus for measuring the flow, of water or other fluids. in pipes, of the

page_text: type herein described, a body B having an inlet D, outlet D¹ and a tapered waterway A
arranged with its larger portion uppermost, and in which works a weighted disc C, in
combination with a differentiating mechanism consisting of a drum a operated as
described, pen or pencil band weight to counter-balance the pen or pencil and its
carrier arranged directly above the body B, as, or substantially as herein set forth.
Second. In apparatus for measuring the flow of water or other fluids in pipes, the
combination of parts by which the fluid to be measured enters and leaves the body B
at substantially the same level, the gauging tapered way A of which is secured to a
diaphragm E and placed within the said body with its larger end uppermost, the
fluid passing through such tapered way in an upward direction, all as, or substantially
as herein set forth.
Third. In apparatus for measuring the flow of water or other fluids in pipes in
which the fluid to be measured passes through the gauging tapered way thereof in an
upward direction, the means set forth for guiding the gauging disc C, consisting of
the guides d and d adapted to receive the stem c of the disc C, the said guide d being
supported by the vanes e as described, and the guide d' being formed in the cover F,
substantially as set forth with reference to the drawings.
Fourth. In a differentiating meter for measuring the flow of water or other fluids
in pipes the combination with a tapered waterway A arranged with its larger portion
uppermost, of a disc or body weighted to resist the flow of fluid past it, a wire ¹,
pen or pencil b, wire or cord and a weight 1 to counter-balance the pen or pencil and
its carrier, whereby the thickness of the wire 6 and friction at the stuffing box f' are
enabled to be reduced, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fifth. In apparatus for measuring the flow of water or other fluids in pipes, the
combination with a tapered waterway arranged in the body B with its larger portion
uppermost as set forth, of a dise or body weighted to resist the flow of fluid past it,
a wire, an integrating wheel and pinion, a wire or cord 1, a wheel 12 and a
weight to counter-balance the integrating wheel and pinion; all arranged and
operating substantially as set forth.
Sixth. In apparatus for measuring the flow of water or other fluids in pipes, of the
type herein described, the combination with the tapered way A thereof, of vanes e,
formed upon and within the smaller end of the said way, whereby vortex motion is
prevented, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. In apparatus for measuring the flow of water or other fluids in pipes, the
combination of the body having a diaphragm E, tapered way A, and cover F, by
which the tapered way can be passed to or from the body at its upper portion,
substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The combination with the cover or end F¹ of the apparatus for measuring
the flow of water or other fluids in pipes, of the type herein described, of a pipe or
passage and a cock or valveƒ³, whereby deposited matter may be scoured from the
apparatus substantially as set forth.
Ninth. In differentiating apparatus for measuring the flow of fluids in pipes, the
combination of the body B having the inlet D and outlet D', diaphragm E and
covers F and F¹, cone A, disc C, wire b', pen b, cord l', pulley 12, tension weight 1,
standard i and diagram drum a, substantially as described' and shewn.
Dated this Sixth day of January 1888.
8.
GEORGE FREDERICK DEACON.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
15, Water Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents.