Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 21st July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 23rd Aug., 1887.
I HENRY HERBERT SPORTON of 10 Benyon Road Southgate Road London in the
County of Middlesex Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
This invention relates to improvements in Water Meters of the description called
positive that is to say having a certain capacity in accordance with a relative stroke of
Piston. According to my invention I construct a Horizontal Cylindrical Vessel
closed at both ends by suitable covers, into this Cylindrical Vessel I fit a partition
having having its verticle centre line equidistant between the two end covers before
mentioned. In this partition is fitted Cylindrical Valves one small and the other
large, the smallest Valve is fitted on the top side of the centril horizontal line the
larger Valve is fitted on the bottom side of the horizontal centril line. These Valves
have suitable passages connected to each other in such a way that the smallest Valve
actuates the larger Valve the larger Valve causes the fluid to enter and deliver water
to or from the Pistons each Valve being suitably packed with Leather. The Partition
above described devides the Cylinder into two parts.
In this centril partition and in its horizontal line is fitted a piston Rod which is
suitable packed with Leather or other Packing at both ends of the partition. On the
ends of the Piston Rod is fitted Pistons which are suitabley packed. The ports or
passages in the Cylinder are arranged in a similar manner to that of the ordinary
Steam Engine.
The centril spindle of the small Cylindrical Valve is extended somewhat into the
Cylinder at both ends so that the Pistons in there inward stroke push the Valve a
sufficient distance to open the ports and allow the fluid to pass to the main or large
Valve, also upon one end of the small Valve spindle I fix a lever or catch Pin,
this catch Pin works a lever connecting the recording apperatus and thus gives
motion to the hands of the Dial in the foregoing specification the Valves, Pistons
and Cylinder of this apperatus are refered to as they are generally adopted, but I wish
it to be understood that many of these improvements are applicable to any similar
apperatus if inverted or placed in any other position.
Dated this 5th day of November 1886.

page_text: I HENRY HERBERT SPORTON of 10 Benyon Road, Southgate Road, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby 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 has for its object improvements in Fluid Meters of the description
called positive, that is to say having a certain capacity in accordance with a relative
Stroke of Pistons working within a Cylinder.
According to my Invention, I construct a Horizontal Cylindrical Vessel made in
three parts, closed at both ends by suitable Covers. Into this Cylindrical Vessel I fit
a partition having its Vertical Centre Line about equi-distant between the end Covers
before mentioned, which has also suitable Covers.
In this partition is fitted two Cylindrical Valves which are suitably packed, one
small, and the other large, the small Valve is fitted on the top side of the Central
Horizontal Line, the larger Valve is fitted on the bottom side of the Horizontal
Central Line.
The Cylindrical Chamber in which the smallest Valve is fitted has suitable ports or
passages connecting with the Inlet and Outlet, and also with the ends of the
Cylindrical Chamber in which the larger Valve is fitted.
In the Cylindrical Chamber in which the larger Valve is fitted, has suitable Ports
or Passages, connecting with the Inlet, Outlet, and also to the Cylinders.
In the Partition, and in its central Horizontal Line is fitted a Piston Rod which is
suitably packed with Leather or other packing at both ends of the partition. On the
ends of the Piston Rod is fitted Pistons which are suitably packed with Metallic or
other Packing.
The Central Spindle of the small Cylindrical Valve is extended somewhat into the
Cylinder at both ends, so that the Pistons in their inward stroke push this Valve a
sufficient distance to open the Ports, and allow the Fluid to press on the ends of the
larger Cylindrical Valve alternately, which causes the larger Cylindrical Valve to
travel end on, from end to end of the Central Partition in its Cylindrical Chamber.
This larger Valve causes the Fluid to enter and press on the outer side of one
Piston and on the inner side of the other Piston; and at the same time delivers the
Fluid from the opposite sides of the Pistons to the outlet of the Meter. Thus
the Pistons are acted upon by the Fluid from the Inlet alternately on each side of
the Pistons.
By means of a Clutch or Catch Pin fixed on one end of the Spindle of the small
Cylindrical Valve, this gives motion to a Lever connecting with the recording
Apparatus and thus registers the number of Strokes of the Pistons on the Dial or
Counter.

page_text: In order that my Invention may be fully understood, and readily carried into effect,
I have shown in the Drawing hereunto annexed, a Positive Meter, constructed
according to my Invention.
The annexed Drawing shows a Sectional side elevation with detail parts of my
positive Meter with Letters of reference attached.
A. shows the Body of the Meter which is Cylindrical to which is attached A¹ and A²
which are also Cylindrical, and form a complete Cylinder, and is composed of Cast
Iron or other suitable Metal.
A and A show the Brass or other Metallic Liners fitted within the Cylindrical
Ends A and A2, in which the Pistons traverse to and fro.
C. shows a Cylindrical Partition fitted within the Central portion of the Cylinder A.
which is nearly equi-distant from the two end Covers I and I.
B. shews the small Cylindrical Valve fitted within the Partition C.
B' and B' shew the Cup Leathers on the ends of the small Valve B.
D. shows the large Cylindrical Valve fitted within the Partition C.
D' and D' shew the Cup Leathers on the ends of the large Valve D.
E. shows the Inlet of the Meter in Shadow which is situated in the central portion
of the Body A. on one side of the Meter, and also E¹ the Outlet on the opposite or
further side of the Meter in the central portion of the Body A.
F. and F¹ shew the Covers which seal the ends of the Partition C. and is securely
attached to the central portion of the Cylinder A.
G. shows the Piston Rod which is free to move through the central Partition C. and
is securely packed at each end of the Partition at points G¹ and G².
H. and H are the Pistons securely attached to the Piston Rod G., and is suitably
packed with Cup Leathers, or other suitable packing I. and I are the Covers which
seal the ends of the body of the Meter A¹ and A² and by means of the central
partition before described, it thus forins two complete Cylinders.
K. shows the Clutch fixed on the end of the small Valve B. which gives motion to
the Lever L.
L. shows the Lever and Rod which transmits motion to the Dial or Counter which is
securely packed by Stuffing Box, L'.
M. shows the Inlet Port to the Cylindrical Chamber in which the small Valve B. works.
N. and N¹ show the outlet Ports or passages in the Cylindrical Chamber in which
the small Valve B. works.
O. and O are the Ports or passages which conduct the Fluid from the small
Cylindrical Chamber to the ends of the Cylindrical Chamber in which the large
Valve works.
P. is the inlet Port or passage to the Cylindrical Chamber in which the large
Valve works.
R. and R¹ are the outlet Ports or passages in the Cylindrical Chamber in which
the large Valve works.
S. shows the port or passage which conducts the Fluid from the Cylindrical
Chamber in which the large Valve works to the Cylinders shown at S1 and S2 and
is so arranged that the Fluid is made to act on the inner side of the Piston H.
and on the outer side of the Piston H'.
T. shows the Port or passage which conducts the Fluid from the Cylindrical
Chamber in which the large Valve works to the Cylinders shown at T' and T2 and
is so arranged that the Fluid is made to act on the inner side of the Piston H¹
and on the outer side of Piston H.
The action of my Invention is as follows.
The Fluid enters the Meter at E. and passes through the Inlet Port M. in the
small Cylindrical Chamber in which the small Valve works, and is conducted by
the Valve B. through the Port or passage O. and is thus made to press on the end
of the large Cylindrical Valve D., which causes it to traverse to the other end of
its Cylindrical Chamber, and in so doing it opens the inlet Port P. (in the large
Cylindrical Chamber in which the large Valve D. works) with the Port or Passage S-
which thus causes the Fluid to press on the outer side of Piston H' and at the

page_text: same time on the inner side of Piston H. and thus causing the two Pistons to
travers towards the Cover I. until Piston H¹ comes in contact with the central
Spindle of the small Cylindrical Valve B. (which projects into the Cylinder at each
end) and pushes the Cylindrical Valve B. in the same direction as the Pistons are
traversing until it reaches the end of its Cylindrical Chamber and in so doing it opens
the inlet Port M. with the port or passage O¹ which causes the Fluid to press on the
end of the large Cylindrical Valve D. nearest the Piston H¹ and at the same time
the Cylindrical Valve B. opens the outlet Port N₁ with the port or passage 0.
and thus allows the Fluid from the end of the Cylindrical Valve D. nearest Piston H.
to be delivered to the outlet of Meter, thus-through Ports O. and N¹ and through
Outlet E¹. This causes the large Cylindrical Valve D. to traverse to the end of its
Cylindrical Chamber nearest Piston H. In so doing it opens inlet Port P. with
Port T. which causes the Fluid to press on the outer side of Piston H, and at the
same time on the inner side of Piston H'. At the same time the large Cylindrical
Valve D. opens the outlet Port R¹ with the port or passage S. which allows the Fluid
from the outer side of Piston H' and from the inner side of Piston H. to be conducted
to the outlet of the Meter, thus-through Ports S¹ S² S. R' and E. This causes
the Pistons to traverse in the direction of the Cover I¹ until they come in contact
with the central Spindle of the small Cylindrical Valve B. and causes this Valve to
traverse in the same direction as the Pistons are moving until it reaches the end of its
Cylindrical Chamber, which causes the Fluid to press on the opposite end of the
large Cylindrical Valve, which causes the Valve to traverse to the opposite end of its
Chamber, and thus causes the Pistons to move in the opposite direction they have
previously been travelling as before described. By means of a Clutch on the end of
the small Cylindrical Valve B. motion is given to the Lever and Rod L. which
transmits the motion to the Counter or Dial, and thus records the number of strokes
the Pistons make, and in accordance with the capacity of the Cylinders the Dial is
made to record the quantity passing through the Meter.
Having now described my Invention, and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details shown, as these may be varied indefinitely, but what I desire to claim is
First. The arrangement of the Valves by which means one Valve is made to
actuate the other Valve alternately, and thus cause the Fluid to act upon each side of
the Pistons alternately whether the Valves and the central partition are fitted within
the Body of the Meter, or attached to the Cylinder or Body on the outside.
Second. The arrangement of the packing of the Valves fitted within the partition as
shown at points B¹ B2 D1 and D2 in the accompanying Drawing.
Third. The arrangement of the Pistons and their being securely attached to each
other by one Piston Rod.
Fourth. The mode in which the Pistons are made to actuate the small Valve B.
Fifth. The general construction, combination, and arrangement of my Piston
Meter substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing.
Dated this 21st day of July 1887.