Improvements in Meters for Measuring Water and Gas, which are also Applicable to Pumps, Blowers, Exhausters, and Engines.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in Meters for Measuring Water and Gas, which are
also Applicable to Pumps, Blowers, Exhausters, and Engines.
1, JAMES DAVIES of Meeting Street Engine Works, Wednesbury, in the County of
Stafford, Mechanical Engineer and Iron Founder, do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention to be as follows
My invention has for its object improvements in meters for measuring water and
gas which are also applicable to pumps, blowers, exhausters and engines and has
particular reference to that class of meters and motors which have a disc working on a
ball bearing on conica! surfaces in a cylinder which is a part of a globe..
In any previous attempts made in this direction considerable difficulty has been
experienced in keeping the various parts water or steam tight besides many other
defects in their practical construction which have kept them out of the market and
which this inventor is intended to overcome. As the construction of sensitive water
meters upon this principle is perhaps the most difficult I shall confine my present
explanation principally to the construction of a water meter as when this is understood
the necessary alterations for its adaptation to pumps blowers and engines will be easy
to those acquainted with the subject.
I make the body or outside part of the cylinder from one casting as the mode of
joining it together in two parts as shewn in my uncle's specification No. 7325 A.D. 1837
gives considerable trouble in fitting and has not been satisfactory in the practical
experiments made. No doubt the reason for making the body in two parts when the
centre of the part globe cylinder came at or about the middle of the length or between
the flanges was the difficulty in putting the disc in position unless the cylinder was
so made in two lengths but this difficulty I am now able to overcome by placing my
inlet and outlet passages in the side of the casting and of nearly the same length as the
length of the casting and between these passages the division piece or partition is
placed which will be hereafter more fully explained. The disc is slotted from an
edge up to the centre ball to fit over this division plate and there is thus a notch in
the edge thereof.

page_text: Now by arranging the metal at the end of one or both passages to be slightly
thinner than the notch is wide I am able to put the disc in its position in the solid
casting which is of very great practical advantage.
In my uncle's specification No. 7688 A.D. 1838 the disc was not at the centre of
the cylinder's length and the end was open therefore the difficulty of putting the
inner parts inside was not so great. The ineter registers much more accurately with
the passages in the side of the cylinder as when the passages were in the bottom or
conical end a portion of the water did pass by without registering.
This new
arrangement of passages is of great importance as the meter is much more sensitive
and one size will answer for several different sized inlet and outlet pipes. The disc
plate I make of solid vulcanite when it is to be used for registering cold or nearly
cold water thereby reducing the weight and friction thereof or the disc may be made
as for measuring hot water from two stampted plates of metal brought together at
their outer edge and tucked in so as to form a strengthening and stiffening internal
flange to the edge of the disc and also a groove to receive packing such for instance
as leather vulcanite asbestos or other suitable packing or otherwise to make the edge
of the ring with a series of of little grooves which will act in the case of measuring water
as water packing as very little keeps the piston or disc tight when moving rapidly.
may use packing in any of the discs whether vulcanito metal or otherwise. In
screwing or otherwise fixing a secondary cover to one end of the cylinder which is
entirely enclosed and through which the driving spindle issues to the indexing or
outer side I so form it as to leave space for a part of the indexing mechanism and by
using say two worms and their corresponding worm wheels I so reduce the friction
upon the spindle before passing through the outer cover as to reduce the wear and
friction in this outer pivot to a minimum. To the first motion or worm I fix my
crank which is connected by an eye to the end of the disc shaft and this crank I cause
to yield to a limited extent by means of a spring fixed thereto that is the crank may by
this elastic action become shorter in its throw thus permitting the disc to pass over
any little object which may come between the disc faces and the conical ends of the
cylinder and indeed generally to make the working action free elastic or capable of
accommodating itself to the solid matter contained in the water or to any imperfections
in the working parts thereof.
After the spindle passes through the aforesaid close cover any class of registering
gear may be attached to index the quantity of water gas or other liquid passing
through.
The division plate or partition before mentioned I construct with an end elastic
shoe to come against the ball of the disc so as to prevent any water steam or other
fluids or gas passing without registering or escaping and by means of a lever or rod
attached to the outer edge of disc plate and working in one of the passages the
tendency of the disc to revolve is counteracted as well as the rub against the partition
plate or a slot or or slides in the enclosed chamber will answer the same purpose.
Generally in the case of meters the shaft is solid or fast with the ball or centre of the
disc and need only project on one side and connected to the crank as before explained
but where the shaft is required to run as a driving shaft as in the disc engine, pump
or blower I have attached a sleeve to the centre of the disc through which the shaft
passes and have sometimes used an inner ball to work in the outer one of the shaft
having one crank. The oppisite side of the ball to the sleeve having a conical
opening to allow the necessary liberty for the irregular movement of the disc on end
of the crank shaft.
Now to reduce the size of this opening I now make a second bend in the shaft
immediately outside the ball centre of the disc at the opposite side to the sleeve
aforesaid. This sleeve is made sufficiently large inside to allow the disc plate to be
forced to a close contact with the cones by means of a bearing placed upon the straight
part of the shaft and brought to press against the sleeve thus forcing the disc to a good
joint upon the cones. Inside the ball of the disc I also place brasses which are
adjustable instead of the inner ball before mentioned which was my old practice thus
enabling me to compensate the wear produced by the thrust.

page_text: I may also place inside the ball of the disc plate a stationary ball to resist the
thrust or wear at this part I also by means of a small hole in or by the ball of disc plate
equalize the pressure of any Fluid or water on each side so as to balance the said
disc and so reduce friction.
I making the juction with the meter and water pipe the brass ferrule is turned
outwardly and a thread run upon it and then the lead pipe is slided over this tinned
spiggot threaded or partly threaded after which I complete and seal the lead pipe upon
the said threaded spiggot by bringing upon the outside of the lead pipe a nut which
has it is brought forward will form its own thread thereon and as the said lead pipe is
enlarged after the nut is slided on it cuts its way the thread of the tinned spiggot
the tapered incline of the lead
pipe forcing the inner part of the said pipe into
aforesaid thus making an almost instantaneous joint of a very perfect kind and which
can be quickly separated without cutting. The water strainer is made from one piece
of perforated metal bent round and formed or brought together at the end by slits
cut therein and then placed in a mould or chill and a metal collar cast upon it so that
the metal of the collar fills the small perforations and keeps it from ever moving.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1886.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in Meters for Measuring Water and Gas, which are
also Applicable to Pumps, Blowers, Exhausters, and Engines.
I JAMES DAVIES of Meeting Street Engine Works, Wednesbury, in the County of
Stafford, Mechanical Engineer and Ironfounder 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 following statement :-
My invention has for its object improvements in meters for measuring water and
other fluids as well as air and gases which are also applicable to pumps blowers
exhausters and engines and has particular reference to that class of meters and motors
which have a disc working on a ball or bearing and on conical surfaces in a cylinder
which is a part of a globe. In any experiments or attempts previously made with this
class of meter or engine much difficulty has been experienced in their practical
construction and in keeping the parts tight and yet easy in the moving parts and this
my invention accomplishes. As the construction of sensitive water meters upon this
principle probably presents the greatest difficulties I shall illustrate the meter more

page_text: fully merely showing the alterations of parts necessary to apply the invention to the
engine, pump, blower or exhauster or other similar purposes whether a driver or motor
by means of steam air water or other means such for instance as engines or turbines
or when driven by another motor as a pump exhauster or blower in fact the range of
application is very wide indeed.
The following drawings will serve to assist the explanation of the details thereof.
Figure 1 is a part section and part elevation of a meter with the indexing portion
not shown as it forms no part of my present invention. The upper part or cover A is
a section on line 1. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow a¹. The lower part or
cylinder B is a section on line 5. 6 Figure 6.
Figure 2 is a cross section through the cover or casing A looking upwards.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the upper part B on line 3. 4. and
looking in the direction of the arrow b¹.
Figure 4 is a cross section of the cylinder B through the division plate K and
looking at the passages or ports 62 and 6³.
Figure 5 is a section through the cylinder B at say port 63 showing how the disc
plate or piston E is placed therein.
Figure 6 is a plan with the upper part or cover A removed thus showing the disc or
piston E in plan while in the position indicated by Figure 1. The disc shaft e¹ is in
section.
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation showing the adaptation of the parts to the engine,
pump exhauster or blower.
Figure 8 is a section of the disc E showing an alternate mode of construction.
Figure 9 is a section of the disc E with its centre or ball made hollow so as to work
upon an internal ball f.
Figure 10 is a section of the elastic division plate K showing the sliding shoe k¹
and internal spring.
Figure 11 is an elevation of the division plate K with the sliding shoe k¹ removed
so that the position of the spring k² may be more clearly seen.
Figure 12 shows one mode in plan by which the friction upon the edges of the disc
plate is reduced from any liability the disc may have to turn by means of the fixed
lever H. This view also shows in greater detail the junction L and the position of
strainer P.
Figure 13 is a section on line 7. 8. showing the lever H in elevation.
Figure 14 shows a mode of increasing the wearing surface of the edges of the
slot in the disc plate E by means of artificial edge pieces ea.
Figure 15 is a section on line 11. 12 through the shaft e¹ showing a little device
used to keep the face of the disc E upon the face of the cover a¹ of the end A and n¹
of the end N.
Figure 16 is a section of the same device as shown by the previous Figure but on
line 9. 10.
'
Figure 17 is a section of the split taper ferrule 13 with the nut ready for
screwing up.
I make the body or cylinder B of one casting which enables me to obtain an exact
inner working surface which is a portion of a sphere without a break or joint and to
overcome the difficulty of placing the disc E inside the cylinder which is smaller in
diameter at 4 and 6 than at the centre 6º. I extend one of the passages 63 Figure 4
towards the edge of the casting so that the slot e² of the disc E Figure 5 will pass
over as there shown to allow the opposite part e to pass the end of the body B when
it may be easily turned into its natural position as shewn at Figures 1. 7 and 13. In
the case of water meters they would generally be fixed to stand as shown by Figure 1
that is with the disc E in a horizontal position and supported upon the small rounded
end of the pin F or it may rest upon the larger bearing of the ball in the hollow n³
of the conical end N.
The upper end of the disc shaft e¹ is connected to the worm spindle R by means of
the arm which may be made somewhat elastic by the spring e which allows the
spindle to yield should any grit or other obstruction get by any means between the

page_text: face of the disc E and the cones. A division plate K is fixed between the cones a¹
and n' and a slot e² is cut into the disc E to pass over it. This serves as a division
between the passages 62 and 63 either of which may be inlet or outlet but in this case
I am treating 63 as the inlet from pipe L and as the outlet to pipe Q. Now as
water enters at the pipe L the position of the disc E is changed so that its inclined
position as now shown is continuously changed all around the whole circle or cylinder
so that the shaft e¹ is carried around the pin a¹ carrying with it the worm spindle R
which gives motion to the wheels which carries the worms' working into the smaller
worm wheels thus giving very slow motion to the spindles which passes through
the cover a² where it is connected to any convenient kind of indexing mechanism which
does not constitute any part of my present invention. By this means the wear upon
the
spindle and in the cover or bearing of a² will be minimized. The disc E Í make
from vulcanite, compressed paper or other such like material for meters where the
temperatures of the water or liquids to be measured are not high. The outer edges
of the disc may have packing placed in a groove or grooves in its edge such for
instance as shown at Figure 9 either in the shape of an elastic ring or rings or
asbestos or other suitable material or a number of small grooves may be made to
constitute water packing as in actual practice practically no contact is required that is
at least no hard contact in the case of meters at any rate. In order to balance the
disc plate so as to reduce the friction on the bearing, the small hole Z Figure 1 is
provided which may pass through the ball or by its side so as to equalize the pressure
on each side of the disc. The discs may be constructed of sheet metal as shown at
Figure 8 for lightness i.e. in two parts made under the stamp or press and then
placed together. A spring ring having grooves cut around its face may then be
inserted or soft packing. The division plate K may be made either in one piece solid
or with an end shoe k' having a spring 2 which constantly keeps it to a bearing
against the centre of the disc and the inner part of the cylinder which are shown in
detail at Figures 11 and 12.
In some cases there may be a tendency for the disc to turn a little thus causing
extra friction or wear at the edges of the slot e' which I may obviate by mounting a
lever H Figures 12 and 13 radiating to centre and fixed in one of the passages say Q
by the pins h¹ and h² and having a slot at the end for pin h¹ or the lever may be fixed
at a tangent as shown in Figure 13.
Or I may fix to one or both sides of the edge of the disc E a shoe e³ Figure 14 in
which case suitable provision has to be made in the cover a¹ n' to allow it to pass.
The strainer P is formed by bending round a piece of perforated metal which is
joined into the required shape when it is placed into a mould or chill and the flange p¹
is cast upon it. The joint L is made as follows:-The lead or other soft or flexible
pipe is opened and placed upon the iron, brass or other pipe 1 and then the metallic
split taper ferrule is brought forward over the end, having been put upon the pipe
and drawn some distance backwards before opening the end and the nut is screwed
forward forcing down the fingers which makes a very superior joint. The end of
pipe may be screwed on the outside and if necessary tinned so as to allow of either
an ordinary screw or wiped joint being formed.
In the case of engines whether the power be steam, water, air or other means which
are shown at Figure 7. I prefer to place the cylinder B horizontally the shaft e² the
equivalent of the arm e is formed by a crank e continuing to e outside the casing to
carry the pulley T and at the other end I carry out the arm e and crank it at elo
carrying it straight out at e through suitable bearings at each end. This shaft
revolves in the bearing W the bearings themselves being kept from turning by any
suitable means such as a pin. The inlet and outlet may be taken as in the case of the
water meter previously explained but in this case I add the device V shewn at
Figures 7, 15 and 16 which bears against the sleeve U which is made sufficiently large
inside to allow the arm liberty therein for the disc plate to be forced to a close contact
with the cones and the said sleeve is made in two halves inside which the shaft e¹ turns
thus there is a constant tendency to make the contact tight between the disc E and
the conical faces a' and n' through the pressure upon the sleeve.

page_text: The extra crank e" is important as the opening in the disc ball may be less in size.
The bearings W are adjustable so as to allow for compensating for the wear produced
by the thrust. It will be clearly understood that either passages may be used for
steam or exhaust so that the engine may be instantly reversed or brought to a stand
and no fly wheel is needed for carrying over centres. Packing rings are generally
necessary in the case of steam. In the case of exhausters pumps or blowers it is only
necessary to drive the disc E through the pully T with the inlets L and Q properly
formed and proportioned for the several uses such for instance as the substitution of
the strainer P for a larger air box in the case of blowers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
First The improvements in meters for measuring water or other fluids and air
or gases which are also applicable to pumps, blowers, exhausters and engines and other
motors consisting of the solid cylinder having passages in its side and a disc plate
working therein substantially as herein set forth.
Second-The construction of disc E hollow from sheet metal stamped or pressed
as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Third: In water ineters the employment of vulcanite, compressed paper or other
such like material in the manufacture of the disc.
Fourth-In dise water meters the mode of hanging the disc upon the centre pin F
or equivalent ball so as to reduce the friction thereof.
Fifth-In disc water meters the equalizing of the pressure on each side of the
disc plate by means of the small hole Z substantially as set forth.
Sixth-In disc water meters the mode of reducing the speed of the shaft s³ before
communicating with the indexing mechanism by means of the worm gearing
inside the casing A.
Seventh-The mode of making the pipe connection or joint by means of a
split ferrule and nut applied outside thereof substantially as set forth.
:-
Eighth The mode of constructing the strainer by means of a perforated sheet
with the collar cast thereon to bind the whole together.
Ninth In disc meters, engines, exhausters, pumps and blowers the mode of
reducing the friction upon the edge of the disc against the division plate by means of
an internal lever or broadening shoe e³.
Tenth -In disc engines, exhausters, pumps and blowers the mode of compensating
for wear of thrust by the adjustable bearings W substantially as set forth.
Eleventh-In disc engines, exhausters, pumps and blowers the double crank shaft
for operating the same.
Twelfth In disc engines exhausters punips and blowers the device V shown by
Figures 7. 15. and 16 for holding the disc to its work.
DL 1
T
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Agent for Applicant.