IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR MEASURING THE FLOW OF WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS, WHICH IMPROVE- MENTS ARE APPLICABLE ALSO IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUMPS FOR AIR, WATER, AND OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Bosch Reitz, of No. 3, Leadenhall Street,
in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS
FOR MEASURING THE FLOW OF WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS, WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE APPLICABLE ALSO IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUMPS FOR AIR, WATER,
AND OTHER FLUIDS."-A communication from abroad by Heinrich Wilhelm
Schneider, at the Helder, North Holland, Mechanician.
Sealed the 1st November 1867, and dated the 3rd May 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Bosch Reitz at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd May 1867.
I, CHARLES BOSCH REITZ, of No. 3, Leadenhall Street, in the City of London,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
METERS FOR MEASURING THE FLOW OF WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS, WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE APPLICABLE ALSO IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUMPS FOR AIR, WATER, AND
OTHER FLUIDS," a communication to me from abroad by Heinrich Wilhelm
Schneider, at the Helder, North Holland, Mechanician, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of apparatus for
measuring the flow of water and other fluids, which apparatus is also capable
of being used with some slight modifications in the arrangement of its details
as a pump for air, water, and other fluids.
The Invention consists in the employment of a disc or diaphragm of india-
rubber or other similar elastic material fitted within a chamber somewhat

page_text: resembing in shape a partially flattened sphere; each such chamber as
employed is perforated at its flattened sides with a number of holes, and has
also at one of its sides a larger aperture through which passes a draw rod;
each such flattened spherical chamber is provided with the elastic disc, as before-
mentioned, the disc being so placed or disposed as to fit one of the flattened
sides of the chamber closely, but not to adhere to it. The draw rod is attached
to the disc or diaphragm at the centre of the same, and passing through the
Jarge aperture is attached by means of a pin to a working lever or beam, the
draw rod being slotted so as to admit of the pin and of the pins working freely
therein. The working lever or beam is so connected with slides that the
pressure of the water upon the disc moving the disc also operates the slide.
In constructing a meter upon this principle it is preferred to use two of
these arrangements of dises and chambers, and so dispose them in the meter
casing that one is on one side and one on the other side of a central
plate or partition which divides the meter into two compartments. By a
suitable arrangement of inlet and outlet passages the two discs are actuated
by the fluid alternately, so that when the draw rod of the first disc is at the
end of its stroke the draw rod of the second disc has commenced to move,
and when the draw rod of the second disc has in its turn arrived at the end of
its stroke the first has again commenced to move, and so on while the fluid
continues to flow through the meter. The motion of the slides is similar to
that in steam engines. The quantity of fluid passed through may be com-
puted accordingly with the internal perimeter of the flattened spherical chamber,
and it is proposed to connect with the working levers or beams attached to the
draw rods of discs any such arrangement of wheelwork as is now used for
similar purposes to indicate the motions of the discs.
In constructing pumps for air, water, and other fluids, and pumps used for
exhausting and ventilating purposes according to this Invention, it is proposed
to use a central elastic disc or diaphragm of india-rubber or other suitable
elastic material, and to attach at each side of the disc two recessed plates, or
plates of the form of a portion of a sphere, the recessed part of each
plate being farthest away from the central dise; through the disc passes a
spindle to which the elastic disc is secured. This arrangement is placed in a
tube, box, or chamber, and suitable inlets and outlets and valves are provided;
then a to-and-fro or up-and-down motion being given to the spindle will draw
and force the fluid by means of the action of the elastic disc, so as to form a
continuous double-action pump or exhauster.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Bosch Reitz in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd November 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
BOSCH REITZ, of No. 3, Leadenhall Street, in the City of London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Charles Bosch Reitz, Her special licence that I, the said Charles Bosch
Reitz, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Charles Bosch Reitz, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN METERS FOR MEASURING THE FLOW OF WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE ALSO IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUMPS FOR AIR,
WATER, AND OTHER FLUIDS," a communication to me from abroad by Heinrich
Wilhelm Schneider, at the Helder, North Holland, Mechanician, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Bosch Reitz, my exe-
cutors 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 per-
formed, 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 Charles Bosch Reitz, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of apparatus for
measuring the flow of water and other fluids, which apparatus is also capable
of being used with some slight modifications in the arrangement of its details
as a pump for air, water, and other fluids.
The Invention consists in the employment of a disc or diaphragm of india-
rubber or other similar elastic material fitted within a chamber so newliat

page_text: resembling in shape a partially flattened sphere; each such chamber as
employed is perforated at its flattened sides with a number of holes, and
has also at one of its sides a larger aperture, through which passes a draw
rod; each such flattened spherical chamber is provided with the elastic disc,
as before mentioned, the disc being so placed or disposed as to fit one of the
flattened sides of the chamber closely, but not to adhere to it. The draw rod
is attached to the disc or diaphragm at the centre of the same, and passing
through the large aperture is attached by means of a pin to a working lever
or beam, the draw rod being slotted so as to admit of the pin and of the pins
working freely therein. The working lever of beam is so connected with
slides that the pressure of the water upon the disc moving the disc also
operates the slide.
In constructing a meter upon this principle it is preferred to use two of
these arrangements of discs and chambers, and so dispose them in the meter
casing that one is on one side and one on the other side of a central plate or
partition which divides the meter into two compartments. By a suitable
arrangement of inlet and outlet passages the two discs are actuated
by the fluid alternately, so that when the draw rod of the first disc is
at the end of its stroke the draw rod of the second disc has commenced
to move, and when the draw rod of the second disc has in its turn arrived at
the end of its stroke the first has again commenced to move, and so on while
the fluid continues to flow through the meter; the motion of the slides is
similar to that in steam engines. The quantity of fluid passed through may
be computed accordingly with the internal perimeter of the flattened spherical
chamber, and it is proposed to connect with the working levers or beams
attached to the draw rods of discs any such arrangement of wheelwork as is
now used for similar purposes to indicate the motions of the discs.
In constructing pumps for air, water, and other fluids, and pumps used for
exhausting and ventilating purposes according to this Invention, it is proposed
to use a central elastic disc or diaphragm of india-rubber or other suitable
elastic material, and to attach at each side of the disc two recessed plates, or
plates of the form of a portion of a sphere, the recessed part of each plate
being farthest away from the central disc; through the disc passes a spindle,
to which the elastic disc is secured. This arrangement is placed in a tube,
box, or chamber, and suitable inlets and outlets and valves are provided; then
a to-and-fro motion or up-and-down motion being given to the spin lle will
draw and force the fluid by means of the action of the elastic disc, so as to
form a continuous double-action pump or exhauster.
In order that the nature of the said Invention may be particularly described

page_text: and ascertained I to this Specification append two Sheets of Drawings marked
I. and II., having figures and letters of reference marked thereupon, the like
letters being used to denote similar parts in each Figure.
This meter, as constructed according to my Invention, contains four
segments of spherical form A. The holes in the segments are shown by the
letters R. The plate B separates each couple of segments; the segments and
plates are secured by screw bolts. In each couple of segments are placed
india-rubber discs C and D, which are pressed along with the segments also
into spherical form. A drawing rod L is connected to the disc C; in this
drawing rod is an oblong opening, which admits of the pin of the lever M
passing through. A drawing rod. S is in communication with the beam T and
disc D. There are four slides, two of which, marked N and N¹, are in com-
munication by a slide rod, and also the other slides U and U¹ are in the same
manner in communication by a slide rod; these slides are in a slide box
No. 2, and they serve to open or to shut the passages F, O, I, V. The water
is admitted into the conduit No. 1, and discharges through the passage W.
The water coming in the conduit No. 1 enters in the slide box No. 2, and
through the canal I passing through the holes R of the segment A; the water
presses upon the disc C, so that it shall be pressed or forced thereby towards
the other side.. The drawing rod L connected to this disc will at the same
be pressed as far as the lever M, which as soon as the pin E of the lever M
enters into the oblong opening of the drawing rod L will also be pushed
on; this motion will be effected before the disc C is entirely transferred in its
spherical form towards the other side. The lever M by its motion pushes the
slides N and N', consequently the passage O is shut and the passage F is open.
It follows that the water enters into the passage F, and also in and through the
holes R of the segment A at the left side and presses upon the disc D; at the
same time the water presses upon the disc D; this disc will press the drawing
rod S which operates the engine beam T; this beam drives on the slides U and Ut
to the left side; at this time the passage I is shut and the passage V is open;
the pressure of the water will thus have transferred the disc D to the other side
in its spherical form. As now the passage I is shut the water cannot enter
into it, and consequently the water that has pressed upon the disc C escapes
internally through under the slide U₁ in the passage W to be discharged. The
flow of the water next takes place through the passage V and presses upon
the india-rubber disc C, but on the other side. The disc will thus be pressed
to the left side and push on the drawing rod L; this drawing rod will push on
the lever M to the left side, and the slides N and N¹ will also be pushed on to
the left side; the passage F will now be shut and the passage O be open.
.

page_text: The water enters into the last-named passage and will penetrate into the
holes R, pressing upon the disc D, which is still at the right side. The water
will press the disc D to the left side; the drawing rod S and also the engine
beam T which are in communication with the disc D will be at the same
time driven on, which will draw the slides U and U¹ to the right side. While
the passage V is shut and the passage I open again the water will internally
escape through under the slide N' to the passage W and discharge itself in
the manner herein-before explained; this alternative motion will be continued
during the flow of the water. The oblong openings in the drawing rods L
and S are for the purpose of allowing of the proper action of the slides so as
to ensure to the water a complete course from its admission to its discharge.
The india-rubber discs are at the centre provided with copper wire to prevent
the drawing rods from being torn out. The edges of the india-rubber discs
where they are pressed between the segments are internally lined with silk or
linen; the india-rubber discs may therefore be used for several years without
risk of their giving way. The friction of the slides is nearly imperceptible as
they are acting constantly in water. No loss of water can take place neither
through the disc nor through the slides. The same system of disc pressure may
be applied to all sorts of double-acting pumps and ventilators or exhausters.
Between two boxes A, A, Figure 5, is an india-rubber disc B, B, of a spherical
form; at both sides of the disc are placed two spherical plates C, C, and
D, D, wherein are made holes. The drawing rod E, E, is placed through the
disc and plates to which it is secured by bolts. The drawing rod runs in a
packing K and in a guide L to give it a straight direction. A ring J is on
the drawing rod to limit its course. The drawing rod may be put in motion
by the lever M or by a crank. If the drawing rod be drawn out the disc
B, B, and plates C, C, and D, D, will be also drawn along with it; from this
motion it will result that the air or water being pressed will escape through
the valve F and come in through the valve G; then the india-rubber disc will
be pressed on the plate D, D. If the drawing rod be pushed in the air or
water escapes through the valve H and enters through the valve I. The disc
will be pressed on the plate C, C. The plates C, C, and D, D, assist the
dise in sustaining the pressure of the water or air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to
be distinctly understood that what I claim is, the construction and application
of the peculiarly formed elastic disc within the peculiarly formed chamber, the
fluid pressure against the said disc causing it to operate or give motion to a
draw rod and working beam or lever by means of an arrangement of inlet

page_text: and outlet valves and passages and slide valves, such motion being used or
employed to give motion to a wheel work or other indicating mechanism so as
to register the flow of fluids.
I claim further the application and use of a similar elastic disc within a
chamber having inlets and outlets, so that by the disc's pressure such an
arrangement can be used effectively as a pump or exhauster.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Bosch Reitz, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
CHARLES BOSCH REITZ. (L.B.)