Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 29th May, 1897
We, HEINRICH MEINECKE, and PAUL MEINECKE, both of the Firm of H. Meinecke,
f 24/30 Garvestrasse, Breslau, in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturers, do
ereby declare the nature of this 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 is an improvement upon the water-meter described in the
Specification of our Application for Patent No. 26,859 of the year 1896, and it
has for its object to render such water-meters more sensitive and secure against slight
frost.
In order that our present invention may be clearly understood, we will describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the improved water-meter with the parts shown in
a position they would assume through the action of a slight frost only, and with
the bottom plate of the main casing of the meter partially moved from its seat.
Fig. 2 shows the coupling between the cranked shaft and the main shaft of the
counter.
Figs. 3 to 5 represent modified couplings for the same purpose.
Figs. 6 and 7 show the inner casing and the disc provided with adjusting
means.
In the specification of our previous patent above mentioned, we have described
an arrangement wherein the frost causes the bottom plate c of the main casing A
of the water-meter to be forced from its seat through the movement of an inner
casing o containing the disc, while at the same time a block or extension on such
inner casing closes the inlet opening to the meter and, besides which, the connection
between the disc and the counter is severed.
It has however been found that a slight frost does not always have the effect of
completely forcing the bottom plate c from its seat b, and it may so happen that
this plate c becomes jammed and keeps the disc casing o in such a position as to only
partly close the water inlet to the meter, although the counter is already disconnected.
It is clear that on a thaw setting in the water would then pass unregistered
through the meter.
We obviate the above defect by firmly connecting the bearing of the cranked
shaft L, which converts the tumbling motion of the disc shaft on to the counter, to
the inner casing of the disc, so as to cause them to move up or down together.
The cranked shaft L is for this purpose connected to the main driving shaft M of
the counter in a manner to enable it to follow the up and down movement of the
casing o without becoming disconnected from the counter.
Various forms of couplings suitable as a movable connection between the meter
and the counter are shown at Figs. 1 to 5, and in Fig. 1 the cranked shaft L is
provided with an additional cranked arm 1, the crank pin of which is long enough
to keep contact always with the crank arm m of the main driving shaft M of the
counter. Figs. 2 and 5 show a coupling in which the square-ended shaft L engages
in the square hole of the driving shaft M of the counter. The coupling shown in
Fig. 3 consists of a slot and pin arrangement, a pin n at the upper end of the
cranked shaft L moving in a longitudinal slot in the shaft M. Or, according to

page_text: Fig. 4, the end of the shaft L may be flattened so as to engage between the prongs
of the forked shaft M.
In
It will be observed that, in all cases, the parts of the couplings are so arranged
as to remain in engagement even at the lowest position of the casing o.
consequence hereof the counter is caused at all times to register the exact quantity
of water passed through the meter, with the supposition however that the disc
is in proper contact with the inner inclined walls of the casing o.
To this end we provide the following means for adjusting the position of the disc
relatively with the casing o. The friction roller P, arranged, as well known, to run
round the guide R, causes the tumbling motion of the disc and keeps the latter
always in an inclined position. If this friction roller P, as shown in Fig. 6, is
placed too far away from the disc, it will prevent the latter from being in proper
contact with the inner walls of the casing o and thereby enable small quantities of
water to pass through the meter unregistered. This we prevent by providing a
screw-threaded end with screw-nuts S, which will enable the friction roller P to
be adjusted on the disc shaft against the pressure of a spiral spring T and thereby
bring the disc into proper contact with the casing o, as shown at Fig. 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a water-meter of the character described and shown in our Specification
No. 26,859, a cranked shaft L for converting the tumbling motion of the disc
shaft into a rotary motion for the main shaft of the counter and having its bearing
in a support firmly connected to the inner or disc casing o, in combination with a
coupling between such shaft L and the main shaft M of the counter to enable the
distance between such parts to vary without their becoming disengaged from each
other, substantially as and for the purpose stated.
2. The means for adjusting the disc in the casing o by altering the distance of
the friction roller P on the tumbler shaft of the disc so as to cause the surfaces of
said disc to fit against the inclined walls of the inner casing, substantially as and for
the purpose stated.
3. The improvements herein before claimed in combination with the water-meter
described in Specification of Patent No. 26859 of the year 1896.
Dated this 29th day of March 1897
M. HORSCHEL,
Agent for the Applicants.