IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER METERS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MEASURING OF LIQUIDS GENERALLY
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Abraham Ripley, of 34, West Square, Southwark, in
the County of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER METERS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
Sealed the 2nd April 1867, and dated the 8th October 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Abraham Ripley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
October 1866.
I, ABRAHAM RIPLEY, of 34, West Square, Southwark, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WATER METERS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MEASURING OF LIQUIDS GENERALLY," to be as follows,
that is to say-
My Invention consists in the apparatus I employ for measuring and
registering water and other liquids. For this purpose I make use of a
reservoir of any convenient size and shape, and so formed as to contain a
certain specified quantity of liquid. Into this reservoir I conduct the main
pipe from which the supply is obtained. At the mouths or entrances of the
inlet and outlet passages I place a slide or valve in such a way that it covers
both the inlet and outlet passages. When it is wished to fill the reservoir the
slide or valve is moved so as to uncover the inlet passage still keeping the
outlet closed. When the reservoir is filled a further motion of the slide closes
the inlet passage, and opens the outlet passage which communicates with the

page_text: ordinary tap. The lever or handle by which the slide or valve is moved is
connected with an ordinary index or register graduated as wished. At the
top of the reservoir I place a small valve so constructed that while it permits
of the admission and emission of air it will prevent the escape of the water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Abraham Ripley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
April 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ABRAHAM
RIPLEY, of 34, West Square, Southwark, in the County of Surrey, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Abraham Ripley, Her special licence that I, the said Abraham Ripley, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Abraham
Ripley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF WATER METERS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MEASURING
OF LIQUIDS GENERALLY," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Abraham Ripley, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Abraham Ripley, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in the apparatus I employ for measuring and
registering water and other liquids. For this purpose I make use of a

page_text: reservoir of any convenient size and shape, and so formed as to contain a
certain specified quantity of liquid. Into this reservoir I conduct the main
pipe from, which the supply is obtained. At the mouths of the inlet and
outlet passages I place a slide or valve in such a way that it covers both the
inlet and outlet passages.
When it is.wished to fill the reservoir the slide or
valve is moved. so as to uncover the inlet passage, still keeping the outlet
closed. When the reservoir is filled a further motion of the slide closes the
inlet passage and opens the outlet passage, which communicates with the
ordinary tap. The lever or handle by which the slide or valve is moved is
connected with an ordinary index or register graduated as wished. At the
top of the reservoir I place a small valve, so constructed that while it
permits of the admission and emission of air it prevents the escape of the
water.
In order more clearly to illustrate the foregoing description I have appended
to this Specification the accompanying Drawings, which are intended to shew
the best method of carrying out the principles of my Invention, it being
understood that I reserve to myself the right of modifying any or all of the
parts to suit particular circumstances, always providing that I substitute
similar or equivalent parts in order to obtain similar results for different
applications.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation through the line 1-2 of my improved
apparatus; Figure 2 is a plan of the same through the line 3-4, shewing the
form of the quadrant I make use of to act upon the valves; Figures 3 and 4
are views of the quadrant I make use of for actuating the valves. Similar
letters indicate the same or similar parts in the different Figures.
a is the reservoir or cylinder for containing the water or other liquid; b, the
inlet valve which is placed over the passage from which the main supply is
obtained; c, the outlet valve which communicates with the tap in the ordinary
way. It will be seen, reference being had to Figures 1 and 2, that the valves
b and c are circular, and are placed in the plate which forms the bottom of the
reservoir a, which plate also forms the bottom of the base d. The valves
shewn are termed the "three-winged valves," but any convenient form of
valve can be employed, the position and mode of action being clearly shewn
in Figure 1, the inlet valve 6 opening downwards when acted upon by the
quadrant e, and kept in position when the passage is closed by a spiral spring f,
within which is a shank or projection cast with the valve for the purpose of
steadying the spring and keeping the valve in position. The outlet valve c is
of similar construction to the inlet valve, but opening within the reservoir, and
is shewn open, being raised by the action of the quadrant; this quadrant, a

page_text: plan of which is shewn in Figures 2, 3, and 4, is fixed, and rotates with a cone
in the centre of the plate which forms the bottom of the reservoir a, and
tightened by means of a nut and washer in the ordinary way. In this
instance the quadrant is acted on by means of a handle or lever h, and fixed
on the square at the bottom of the cone carrying the quadrant. The action is
as follows: Supposing the reservoir to be empty and so constructed as to
contain a certain specified quantity of liquid, the handle h is moved from k
to 1, which causes the quadrant e to take the position shewn by the dotted
lines (Figure 2), thus bringing the thin part of the quadrant at e over the
valve c, allowing it to drop into its seat and close the outlet leading to the
ordinary tap the same action causes the thick part of the quadrant at e 2 to
come over the valve b, so pressing it down, opening the inlet passage, and
admitting the water when the reservoir or chamber a is filled, and it is wished
to draw off the water the handle h is moved to k, which brings the quadrant
into the position shewn by the plan in Figure 2, which raises the valve c and
opens the outlet passage, closing at the same time the inlet valve b, which is
pressed into its seat by the spring f. A small valve m is inserted in the top
of the reservoir a, which allows free passage to the air to or from the
reservoir whenever the pressure of air within it is less or exceeds that of the
atmosphere, at the same time the water in rising presses against the flat head
of the valve and presses it into its seat, thus preventing any escape of the
liquid. In order to register the quantity of water I make use of a spindle g
which is connected with the quadrant e, and is prolonged through a stuffing
box in the cover of the reservoir a. This spindle is connected with an index of
any convenient description, graduated as wished, and so arranged that at every
movement of the handle h the index shall be acted upon so as to register the
quantity of water used or the number of times the cylinder or reservoir has
been filled and emptied. This index I place preferably in the upper portion
of the reservoir, but it may be fixed in the base or stand and connected with
the cone of the quadrant direct, but so that when the handle h is moved so as
to admit the water or other liquid to the reservoir, the motion shall be com-
municated in the requisite degree to the index. I make use of the same
parts (with the exception of the index) in applying my Invention to the
prevention of waste, only of course the reservoir need not then be constructed
to hold any specific amount, but may be of any convenient size or shape as
wished.
Having now described my Invention and the manner in which the same is
carried out in practise, I wish it understood that I do not bind myself to the
exact form of the details as herein described and illustrated in the Drawings,

page_text: as these may be varied to suit particular circumstances; but what I claim and
desire secured to me by the before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First, I claim the use of valves or slides for the purpose of opening or
closing the outlet and inlet passages of the said reservoir or meter, sub-
stantially as here within described and set forth and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
Second, I claim the method of actuating the said valves or slides by means
of the quadrant, as here within described and set forth and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
Third, I claim the use of the air valve when applied to the said reservoir
for the purpose of regulating the pressure within the same, substantially as
here within set forth and illustrated in the accompanying. Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Abraham Ripley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
A. RIPLEY. (L.B.)