Improvements in and connected with Water Meters.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 19th Apr., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Water Meters.
I, JOHN THOMSON of 190 Carrolton Avenue, Brooklyn, State of New York, United
States of America, 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 relates principally to disc water meters and improvements related
thereto, though parts of same are applicable to other meters than those of disc
form.
In the drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a vertical centre section through the caps or exterior casing on the line of
the pipe openings, as also a portion of the register box, the register plate, and the
register support or standard, the disc-chamber being exposed in full lines.
Fig. 2 is a complete bottom plan view developed from Fig. 1, the lower section of
the casing removed.
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modification but with the stuffing box and
disc chamber also in section, the disc being in full lines edge view and showing a
modification in the arrangement of the casing and the register support.
Fig. 4 is a complete top plan view developed from Fig. 3, the register support and
upper cap being removed.
Fig. 5 shows another modification and is a part centre section through the casing,
at a right angle to the pipe openings, this being to particularly represent a front view
of the inlet and outlet ports in the disc-chamber. There is also here shown the usual
means of applying the register.
Fig. 6 is a top plan view in detail of the lower section of the disc-chamber.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the stuffing box with spindle, gear
plate, register plate, register box and combined clamping nut and register support.
Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the disc, and
Fig. 9 an edge view thereof, with the diaphragm to illustrate an improvement in the
form of the slot.
Fig. 10 is a detached view in partial plan and section of the strainer showing the
mode of its application in the pipe.
Fig. 11 is a side elevation of ineter showing a portion of the exterior casing broken
away exposing an edge view of the disc and a central vertical section through the disc
chamber and the outlet port thereof, to illustrato a special arrangement of couplings
and an auxiliary seat, all in proper relative position for setting disc meters at an angle
from the horizontal, and in
Fig. 12 is a detached detail view of such coupling showing a modification
thereof.
The particular objects of this invention are to obtain such a construction and
disposal of the parts as to effect reduction in the cost of material and manufacture over
previous designs; to facilitate sectional construction and adaptation for foreign trade;
to reduce the frictional resistance of the stuffing box; to avoid the possibility of
cramping between the disc and the diaphragm; to make the assembling and final
adjustment of the meter more uniformly exact and certain; to increase the facility
for repair and maintenance in regular practice; to make it commercially practicable
to apply strainers with water meters, particularly of the smaller sizes, to prevent the
introduction of matter liable to damage or interfere with their action, and to provide
a cheap and ready means for setting disc water meters at an angle from the horizontal;
whereby should any foreign matter be carried in by the current to the interior of the
disc chamber there will still be a chance for such matter to gravitate out again.

page_text: As the operation and general detail of this type of meter have already been fully
described in previous specifications of patents granted to myself and others (as for
instance in Specifications to Patents No. 17,579 of 1887 and 6932 of 1888) the
present specification will refer as closely as may be only to what is regarded as new
in the art.
The disc chamber is comprised of two sections, the upper 20, and the lower 21,
these being firmly screwed together by the screw 22, and within the said chamber is
the disc 23. To the upper section is secured, as by the screws 24, the lower gear
plate 25, and to this is attached by the pillars 26, the upper gear plate 27. Between
these plates are the internal gears leading to the stuffing box spindle 28, which latter
is riveted to the final gear 29 of the internal train. Formed upon and as a part of
the upper gear plate is the stuffing box 30, the lower and greater diameter of which
is adapted to a bearing or opening 31, formed in the centre of the upper cap 32. The
upper part of the stuffing box is of the lesser diameter and is threaded for a regular
stuffing box nut 33. The diameters of the lower threaded portion 34, as also the
bearing 31, in the cap, are greater than of the said stuffing box nut.
It is to be observed at this stage, that the structure so far as described can ho
completely assembled, even including packing the stuffing box and the application of
the stuffing box nut, and that the entire operating mechanism may also be tested
before being attached within the casing.
Referring primarily to Figs. 1 and 2, it is shown that the inlet (35,) and the
outlet (36,) pipe openings, are placed diametrically opposite each from the other in
the upper cap 32, in which the cylindrical portion is finished to an exact internal
diameter 37. The seated flanges 38, and 39, of the disc-chamber, which centre these
parts to each other, are cut away in sections as at 40, and 41. The inlet port 42, of
the disc chamber is open, and formed equally in both of the disc chamber sections,
but the outlet port 43, as here preferably shown, is covered over or "housed-in" by
the swelled portion 44, of the upper section; hence the discharge is entirely through
the side of the lower section. This port is surrounded by the walls, see Figs. 5, and 6,
as side 45, lower 46, and upper 47, the peripheral faces thereof being finished to a
cylindrical diameter equal or nearly so to that of the interior finished cylindrical
portion 37, of the cap.
The mechanism is now ready for attachment, of which the process is as follows:
1. Apply the plastic washer as 48, over the stuffing box to secure a water-tight
joint.
2. Place the completely assembled mechanism within the upper cap, the stuffing
box passing up through the bearing or opening 31.
3. Secure the stuffing box to the upper cap by the combined clamping nut and
register standard 49.
4. Attach the lower cap 50 thus completing the assemblage to the register.
In so placing the disc chamber within the cap it is necessary only to observe
that the wall surrounding the outlet port of the disc-chamber shall encircle the
outlet opening in the cap, when the conditions of operation are completo; the entire
working mechanism being simply suspended within the cap by the stuffing box and
clamping nut alone.
The inflowing water first passes to tho compartment formed around the disc-
chamber by the caps, and as indicated by the arrows, is free to circulate around
the chamber entering the inlet port with equal facility from above, below or
sidewise. The exceedingly important. feature of dynamic balance is thus ensured.
By this construction and disposal no great exactness is required in the manu-
facture of the caps and the operations (plain turning) are of the simplest character;
the entire structure is self-centering, so to speak; it is not required to bring the
two caps in line one with the other; the lower cap, performing the simple function
of resisting pressure and being the cheaper, may also be the weaker of the two,
hence the first to yield under destructive pressure, and as not a single scrow is
required excepting only the service connections, it becomes feasible to form them
from cast iron and also to treat them by the oxidizing process for prevention of

page_text: rust. So, too, great compactness is obtained. In event of disarrangement, the
entire working apparatus, by simply disconnecting the register clamping nut and
flange bolts, may be drawn like a piston valve.
A simple reversal of these conditions in the casing will result in the arrangement
shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the disc chamber being constructed and suspended precisely
as before described hut having its water connections in the lower cap: the upper
cap being centered to the lower but acting only to suspend the chamber. In the
instance of meters of large capacities this arrangement presents the single advantage
of being able to remove the disc chamber, as before, but without disconnecting the
service pipes.
It will also be evident, without additional illustration, that modifications, in no
wise affecting the dominant features hereof, may be made in the arrangement of
the disc chamber; as for instance the outlet may be made the inlet; or the outlet
port may be formed in the upper section of the disc chamber or equally in both
sections thereof.
Returning again to the combined clamping nut and register standard 49, this in
fact may be a simple nut, as shown in Fig. 5, provided it is desired, as there illus-
trated, to attach the register and register box directly to the cap by the usual auxiliary
standards and screws, as 51. But by the simple expedient of extending the nut
outwardly, somewhat cup-shaped or hemispherical in form 52, and finishing the rim
or flange 53, a firm and accurate support is provided for the attachment in the usual
manner of the register, register plate 68, and its casing or box 54. In such form this
effects an enclosure of the stuffing box nut desirable in some localities as a protection
against meddlesome interference. And by the use of a gasket, as 69, a tight joint
may be made between the register box and its seat to prevent introduction of dirt or
muddy water to the register. The register plate 68, is also in this wise secured to its
recess 69ª, without additional means and with perfect accuracy as the recess is turned
from the same centre and at the same time as the thread for connecting to the stuffing
box. Hence its accuracy of location is ontirely independent of the casing, while the
register box simply acts as a clamp. But if desirable this standard may be left open,
like a ring, as shown in Fig. 3.
To prevent the detachment of the register and standard entire, a small set screw 55,
is placed in the hub thereof which may be reached before attaching the register ;
which, when snugly forced downward will lock the combined nut and standard to
the cap.
The proper relative position of the register and register box with respect to the
inlet and outlet pipes, may be determined by inserting a thin washer or washers
between the exterior of the cap and the clamping nut, or by the employment of a
sufficiently elastic packing 48, to permit the nut to be turned to the required place.
Now bearing in mind what has already been pointed out with respect to the
construction and disposal of the caps and disc chamber, it only remains to indicate
that by being thus able to completely assemble the entire mechanical, or essential
parts of the meter (the parts involving accurate machining and skill to assemble) to
test the working and then by simply unscrewing from the stuffing box the clamping
standard with its attached register and box (both of which may again be connected
without further pulling down of their parts) it becomes entirely practicable to ship
such parts to points of distribution where the more cumbersome and easily manu-
factured casings may be made and applied.
As in the described arrangement of the stuffing box and gear plates it is necessary
that the primary or driving pinion 56, of the train shall lie in the same axial line as
the final gear and spindle (which would deprive this, the pinion of fastest motion, of
its usual upper bearing), I provide additional bearing surface by projecting the hub
of the slowly rotating stuffing-box spindle downwardly as 57, and form therein an
additional bearing for the rapidly turning upper pivot 58, of the primary pinion 56.
The sensibility of disc water meters, and the durability of the internal gearing,
depend to a considerable degree upon the freedom of action of the stuffing box

page_text: spindle. I have accomplished the reduction of such friction to a degree which
renders it of no practical importance in either instance, by the construction and
material now to be described.
As shown, the stuffing box counterbored as at 59, see Fig. 7 to nearly its entire
depth. There is first inserted one or more washers 60, preferably semi-elastic, as of
cork, leather or asbestos, although cotton or hemp wicking etc., will serve; above this
is forced in a combination of plumbago and paraffine wax 61, then there is again
applied one or more washers as in the first instance; the latter standing above the
surface of the box. The stuffing box nut is finally screwed down snugly as far as it
will go. The consequence of this is to force the compound of plumbago and paraffine
into overy interstice around and between the several washers and to subject the entire
packing to a degree of initial compression greater than that usually received from
ordinary water pressure. Such material is practically a solid, repellant to water and
at the same time an excellent lubricant. Experiment has shown that a spindle
inch diameter, packed as described and tight under 300 lbs. pressure to the square
inch, could still be turned with perfect freedom between the finger and thumb.
In preparing the said compound of plumbago and paraffine wax, the wax should be
reduced or "tempered" to about the consistency of ordinary putty by the application
of vaseline and be then heated to as high a temperature as will not char or burn,
when the plumbago should be added to the capacity of the melted wax to absorb.
When cool there is a slightly plastic mass of plumbago in which the paraffine acts as
the bond.
In Figs. 8 and 9, a detail improvement is shown in the form of the disc slot which
embraces the diaphragm 62, consisting in cutting away the bearing edges 63, on both
sides for about half of their distance outward from the wall, leaving a line of contact
on each side but at the outer portion of the slot. The angles 64, of the sides of the
slot are to permit the vibrating action of the disc at this section and it will be
observed that the clearance thus made does not extend beyond the original face
contact, as lines 65, of the flat surfaces of the disc. Now bearing in mind that
during a uniform flow the thrust of the disc will be constantly in one direction, as
see arrow 66, maintaining a single bearing edgo against the diaphragm, and that the
intensity of this thrust will be greater as it approaches the centre of the ball, as in
the common example of leverage, it appears as follows: That the wear will be
greatest towards the centre; that any cause which would tend to place the diaphragın
or the slot at an angle with respect to each other, as indicated by the line 67, would
thus permit contact upon both sides of the diaphragın, one towards the centre and the
other towards the exterior, and that such a double contact would cramp the disc,
resulting either in its complete damage or rendering the meter less sensible at low
deliveries. And such consequences may result if the bearing lines of the slot extend
parallel from the ball, or if the ball and socket wear to a loose fit, or if the diaphragm
should be twisted or bent, as from excessive water-hammer shocks and rapid rates of
flow. But when the thrust bearings of the slot are relieved as shown and described
such difficulty is obviated.
In the application of strainers to water meters it is essential that the cost shall be a
minimum and that certain objections heretofore held to their use shall be avoided,
among which may be noted that many water works engineers and superintendents aro
often opposed to their employment even when conceding the probability of increased
durability of the meter, in that when the strainer is applied within the casing of the
meter and becomes clogged, it is necessary to pull down the meter in order to get
at the obstruction; which process is usually troublesome and expensive. Then if the
strainer is applied with the pipe, a permanent enclosed fixture, the flow is still
liable to be interrupted with no ready means for removal of the cause; or if provided
with separate "dirt boxes," having hand holes for cleansing etc., then the additional
expense of such apparatus is an effectual barrier to their application except in meters
of large capacity.
In the drawing, Fig. 10, 70 represents the inlet spud of a meter. The nut 71, the

page_text: То
sleeve 72, and washer 73, together comprising one type of a regular coupling.
the sleeve of the coupling the service pipe 74, is connected leading to the regular
service stop-cock 75.
It is the usual practice to place such service stop-cocks about twelve inches or so
from the meter, between the meter and the main.
The strainer 76, is made from a perforated sheet of brass, or braided wire, first cut
to the required dimensions as a blank, next simply coiled or wound upon a conical
mandrel and then the end pinched together to effect a closure; thereby producing
the cone, or frustum, as illustrated. The blank is cut to such dimensions that one
side as 77, preferably laps the other about a quarter of an inch and preferably the
line of this lap may be somewhat spiral, following around the cone, as illustrated
in the figure. The outside diameter of the base of the strainer, or cone, should
be slightly greater than the insido diameter of the sleeve.
Now, the parts being assembled as described, the strainer is inserted point first
into the inlet side of the coupling and the pipe; and as the lapped joints will
yield, like a spring, a joint sufficiently close for all practical purposes will be then
made between the base of the strainer and the inside of the sleeve. 'The water
will then impinge against the point of the strainer, be deflected on all sides, passing
to the interior thereof through the perforations and hence on through the meter.
If the bore in the spud is greater than that of the sleevo, the strainer is retained
in place against the pressure of the water by the washer, as shown.
This strainer may be made from regular market stock even when its length is equal
to ten or fifteen times its diameter; therefore it ineets the desirable features of low
cost; great area in the perforations, presenting the minimum obstruction to flow; a
considerable space for detention of foreign material, and is exceedingly convenient to
apply.
But the final and particular feature of this system is shown in the dotted outline 78
of the figure which shows that when the strainer becomes clogged, (which will
gradually appear in the discharge from the meter,) to overcome such difficulty it is
simply necessary to act as follows:-
-
1. Turn the service stop-cock, and thus shut off the pressure.
2. Disconnect the nut from the meter and slide it back on the sleeve.
3. Force the pipe aside, "out of line," as indicated.
4. Again turn the stop-cock and let on the pressure which will blow out not only
the collected debris but the strainer as well, as see the arrow 79.
Finally, after cleansing the strainer, replace it in position, force the pipe back in
line and couple up to the meter, all as at first described. From this it will be seen
that the objections cited are entirely obviated, while among the contingent advantages
may be mentioned the feasibility of introducing strainers with smaller perforations
than would be justifiable were the strainer inconvenient to get at.
If Fig. 11 of the accompanying drawing be revolved towards the right hand,
through an arc of 30°, it will then represent the usual position in which the disc
water meters are set and which has been assumed in the preceding Figures. From
this it will be seen that the inside of the lower section 21 of the disc chamber forms a
circular pocket, sufficient to retain at low rates of flow, particles of sand, etc., which
may have been carried in at rapid rates of operation. This has been demonstrated in
practice as the upper section 20, of the disc chamber seldom shows any serious
evidence of sand-grinding.
A simple remedy for this is to incline the meter, the ports in the disc chamber being
at the lower position, so that any matter once brought in will be free either to roll
back and out or will be carried through the circuit of the chamber by the slightest
movement of the current. But this makes the attachment of the meter inconve-
nient, the connections being out of line, the outlet below that of the inlet in the casing.
In the drawing, the meter is shown as having been rotated towards the left hand,
the ball being the centre through an arc of 30°; the inlet being thus elevated and
the outlet correspondingly depressed. This carries the register forward and down-
ward; but as the cover in regular usage opens towards the inlet, as shown, the register

page_text: may still be read nearly if not quite as conveniently as in the horizontal position.
Now as the angle of the frustums, 80, in this representation of the disk chamber, is 20°,
from the horizontal this rotation of 30° will bring the right hand side of the lower
frustum up to an angle, as seo line 86, of 10° above the horizontal. Consequently
there is now no pocket and any material of greater specific gravity than water will
tend either to roll back to the inlet port-and thence to the dirt space below the disc
chamber, or will pass on and out through the outlet port 43, and thence to the pipe.
In muddy or gritty water this is an advantage, and to enable users of these meters to
properly set them to the necessary angle to obtain the desired result and still be able
to insert the meter in a straight circuit of service pipe, and without in any manner
complicating the regular manufacture or shipment of the motor itself, I provide a
pair of curved spuds or connections 88, each of which is a. duplicate of the other, and
which when attached to the meter, the extremity of one tending downward, as at 89,
and that of the other tending upward, as at 90, will draw the outer faces 91, at a
right angle to and in axial line with the service pipe 74, the disk chamber being thus.
brought to the desired angle for automatic clearance.
In Figure 12 a modification of the coupling is shewn, here appearing as a regular
"union," in which the conditions are reversed to indicate the adaptations that may be
made to meet different arrangements of piping or the requirements of different localities.
To still further facilitate such setting of disk meters a separate base 92, is provided
having two short prongs 93, projecting upwardly, and one long prong. 94, the point
of the latter being at an angle with respect to the horizontal, of 30° from the shorter.
These prongs and their base are for the purpose of supporting the meter, hence it will
be properly and firmly supported by the three contacts of the standards and the
setting of the meter as a whole will involve no extra skill and will incur but a trifling
additional expense over that of regular practice.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a disk water meter,, the combination of the disk chamber, disk therein,
internal gear train, and stuffing box connected together, the said disk chamber and
gear train being entirely enclosed by and suspended within a casing to which aro
connected the inlet and outlet pipes, substantially as described.
2. In a disk water meter, the disk chamber and disk therein, internal gear train,
stuffing box, clamping nut and upper cap connected together, in combination with a
casing, the said disk chamber and gear train being suspended therein and the disk
chamber being adapted to properly connect with the inlet and outlet openings formed
in the said casing, substantially as specified.
3. In a disk water meter, the combination with the internal gear train, disk chamber
and disk therein, of the casing entirely enclosing the said parts, the arrangement and
construction being such that the inflowing water passes through an opening in said
casing directly to the interior thereof, thence passing from above and below, to the
inlet port, then circuiting the chamber to the outlet port and finally to the opening
in the casing enclosed by the walls of the said outlet port of the chamber, substantially
as specified.
4. The combination with the upper cap, of the clamping nut and stuffing box to the
stuffing box being directly connected and the entire internal gear train, tho. disk
chamber and disk therein thereby suspended, substantially as described.
5. The combination of the upper cap, stuffing box, register plate, register box, and
the combined clamping nut and support, substantially as described.
6. The combination with the register box and detachable support, of the register
plate adapted to a recess in the support and to be clamped thereto by the attachment
of the register box, substantially as described.
7. The combination with the upper cap, register box, and register plate, of a
detachable register support adapted to be secured to the stuffing box and to enclose
the same, substantially as described,

page_text: S. The combination with the upper cap, stuffing and detachable register support,
adapted to enclose the stuffing box, of the register plate, register box and gasket,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
9. The combination with the upper cap, of the clamping nut, stuffing box, internal
gear train and disk-chamber connected thereto, the diameter of the bearing in the cap
being greater than that of the stuffing-box nut, whereby the stuffing box may be
packed and the nut applied before the structure is inserted and attached to the said
cap, substantially as described.
10. In a water meter, a counterbored stuffing box in which is applied in the
following order, a semi-elastic packing (as one or more washers, of cork, leather, or
asbestos) a plastic compound of plumbago and paraffine wax, additional semi-elastic
packing and finally a nut to compound and retain all in position, substantially as
described.
11. In a water meter, a stuffing box to which is applied a packing comprised of
semi-elastic washers, or their equivalent, and a plastic compound of plumbago and
paraffine wax, for the purpose set forth.
12. In a water meter, the combination with a counterbored stuffing box, nut and
spindle, of semi-elastic packing applied at the top and bottom of the counterbore, the
intermediate space being filled with a plastic compound of plumbago and tempered
paraffine wax, substantially as specified.
13. In the internal gear train of water meter, in which the stuffing box spindle is
in axial line with the primary or driving pinion of the train, the bearing in the said
spindle to which is adapted the upper pivot of the said primary pinion, substantially
as described.
14. In a disk water meter, the combination with the disk chamber and diaphragm
of a disk in which the contacting edges of the slot embracing the said diaphragm are
relieved from contact therewith from the ball outward to about half the length of the
slot, substantially as set forth.
15. The method of applying strainers in pipes, which consists in the employment
of a coiled conical strainer capable of being inserted point first, within tho inlet
coupling and service pipe leading to a water ineter, after the said meter has been set
in position, the arrangement and construction being such that by thereafter discon-
necting the said coupling and forcing it and the pipe aside, the strainer may be
subjected to the full pressure of the water and be ejected for the purpose of cleansing
the strainer and pipe without other interference with the pipe or meter, substantially
as specified.
16. In a disk water meter, the combination therewith of attachable connections,
each a duplicate of the other, their form and construction being such that when the
extremities are in axial line with a straight horizontal service pipe, the disk chamber
will be at an angle to automatically discharge to its inlet and outlet ports any foreign
material of greater gravity than water, substantially as specified.
17. In a disk water meter, the combination therewith of attachable connections
adapted to be attached to a straight servico pipe, whereby the disk chamber will be
rotated to an angle from the horizontal greater than the angle of the frustum forming
a part of said disk chamber, substantially as described.
18. In a disk water meter, the combination therewith of attachable connections
adapted to be attached to a straight service pipe, thereby to bring the disk chamber
at an angle from the horizontal and an auxiliary standard designed to properly support
the meter at the corresponding angle given it by the said connections, substantially as
described.
Dated the 10th I
1. 1800
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Applicant's Agent.