Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring Water or other Fluids, also Applicable as a Motive Power Engine.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1886.
Complete Left, 2nd Sept., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 4th Oct., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring Water or other Fluids,
also Applicable as a Motive Power Engine.
1, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more especially to water meters used for the purpose of
measuring the quantity of water supplied through pipes for domestic or other purposes,
and for indicating such quantity, but it is also applicable to the measurement of
quantities of other fluids as well as water. It relates more especially to apparatus in
which two cylinders are used in which pistons are made to reciprocate by the pressure
of water passing through them, and has for its object improvements by which no
piston rods or stuffing boxes of any kind are required, the two pistons working
entirely independently of each other, and in such manner that when one is niaking
its stroke the other is absolutely at rest, and vice versa, no cranks or revolving shafts
of any kind being used, and the meter being very simple and easily made, cheap and
effective, durable and accurate.
For this purpose I make use of the principle which has been well known and used
for many years, in which two cylinders are employed side by side, the pistons working
in the cylinders and the passages connecting the two cylinders together being so
arranged that each one acis as a piston valve to the other, thereby giving a recipro-
cating motion the one to the other without the use of tappets or levers of any
kind.
I arrange the two cylinders, preferably of metal bored out accurately of the same

page_text: or different diameters, side by side or in any other convenient position in relation to
each other, and I provide them with covers or ends screwed or bolted to them. Each
cylinder is fitted with a piston made as light as consistent with the requisite strength,
and of a length somewhat more than half the length of the bore of the cylinder.
The pistons are unprovided with piston rods but are absolutely independent and are
made to fit freely but sufficiently watertight in the cylinders, along which they can
travel from end to end backward and forward. At the centre of the length of each
cylinder is made an opening or port communicating with the inlet pipe through which
water under pressure is to be supplied to the apparatus, and at a point exactly opposite
to each such opening is made a corresponding one on the opposite side of the cylinder,
communicating with the outlet pipe through which the water is delivered from the
apparatus.
Two other similar ports or openings are also made in each cylinder at the same
point in the length of the cylinder but opposife to each other and exactly at right
angles to those already described. One of the two last described openings communi-
cates by means of a channel cast in the sides of the cyclinder, and through a passage
in the cover of the cylinder, with one end of the other cylinder, and the other of the
openings communicates by a similar channel and passage with the other end of the
other cylinder.
Near each end of the pistons which fit the cylinders as described, are made four
narrow openings round the piston at equal distances apart corresponding with those
described in the cylinder, in such manner that when the piston is at either end of
its stroke the openings through it correspond with those in the cylinder.
The opening at one end of the piston which corresponds with the inlet opening
in the cylinder communicates by a passage in the piston with one of the openings
at right angles to it and with the channel or pipe communicating with one end of the
other cylinder as described, whilst the opposite opening in the piston which corre-
sponds with the outlet opening in the cylinder communicates through another
passage in the piston with the channel or pipe at right angles to it communicating
with the other end of the other cylinder. The openings near the other end of the
piston also serve to make communication by means of two passages in the piston
between the opposite inlet and outlet openings in the cylinder and the channels or
pipes at right angles to them leading to the ends of the other cylinder respectively,
but though the openings are in exact line with and precisely similar to those at the
other end of the piston, the passages are arranged in alternate positions so that the
inlet and outlet openings communicate with different ends of the opposite cylinder to
those with which they communicated when the piston was at the other end of its
stroke.
The two cylinders and pistons are made and arranged in the way described, and I
prefer to form the channels or pipes in the sides of the cylinders and in the covers
by which the latter are closed, but they may consist of separate pipes if preferred.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Supposing that the pistons are at
opposite ends of their strokes, one being considered (for convenience) to be up and the
other down. The water passes from the inlet through the upper passage in the piston
which is down and thence through the lateral channel or pipe at right angles with it
to the upper end of the other cylinder the piston in which it forces down, the water
beneath being expelled through the opposite lateral channel or pipe and through the
upper passage in the first piston to the discharge passage exactly opposite the inlet.
During this time the first piston does not move. When the second piston has
thus reached the bottom of its stroke, one of the passages in its upper end opens a
cominunication through the channel or pipe at right angles with it to the lower end of
the first cylinder, the piston of which is put in motion and begins to rise, the water
above it being expelled through the channel or pipe and through the second upper
passage in the second piston to the discharge pipe at right angles with it. The second
piston during this time does not move.
When the first piston has thus reached the top of its stroke, the passage at its
lower end comes opposite the inlet pipe and opens a communication through the

page_text: corresponding channel or pipe with the lower end of the second cylinder, the piston
in which is then put in motion and forced up whilst the water above it is expelled
through the second passage at the lower end of the first piston which remains
stationary to the discharge or delivery pipe. When the second piston has reached
the top of its stroke, the passage at its lower end admits water from the inlet opening
through the corresponding channel or pipe to the upper end of the first cylinder the
piston in which is then put in motion and forced down whilst the water under it is
expelled through the corresponding channel or pipe to the second passage through
the lower end of the second piston which remains stationary, and to the discharge or
delivery pipe. The two pistons are then in their original positions and the series of
movements is repeated and so on continuously as long as the discharge pipe is open
and water under pressure is supplied through the inlet pipe.
Whilst each piston is making its stroke the other piston remains stationary so that
the ports and passages are opened to their full extent at the commencement of each
stroke and remain so during the stroke, at the extreme ends of which they close
gradually as the piston comes to rest.
By this method of arrangement, the several ports can be made very narrow (in the
direction of the length of the cylinders), and the pistons and cylinders can be very
much shorter and lighter than if both pistons were made to move simultaneously,
great advantage being thus obtained.
The cylinders being of known capacity it is only necessary to count the number of
strokes of the pistons in order to determine the quantity of water passing through
the apparatus, and this inay be done by a registering apparatus of any of the usual
well known kinds, actuated by a lever or pin passing through an opening in one of the
cylinders or covers and struck by the piston as it travels backward and forward, or by
a rod or spindle connected to the piston and passing out through one of the covers, or
by a lever or stud entering the cylinder through a small opening and working in an
opening or slot in the piston by which is is moved backward and forward or in any
other convenient way.
The inlet pipe described may be used as the outlet, and the outlet pipe as the inlet,
as may be found convenient.
I provide a guide, consisting preferably of a pointed screw fitting in a longitudinal
groove in the side of the piston, in order to prevent the latter from turning round
upon its axis.
The apparatus described may be modified more or less to suit varying circum-
stances and conditions. Instead of the passages described through the pistons
themselves, they may be formed through a separate cylinder provided with openings
and passages as described and connected to the main or measuring piston by a rod
passing through a stuffing box. Or such separate pistons may be made in the form of
fourway cocks, turning upon their axes, instead of pistons.
The apparatus may be made of any desired size or materials, and may be arranged
in any convenient position, but I prefer that the cylinders should be horizontal or
nearly so, and parallel.
I sometimes use a lever turning upon a centre, or a bar, having bevilled ends entering
the two cylinders at the centre of their length. Corresponding notches or recesses
are made near the ends of the moving pistons, so that when either is at the end of
its stroke it is prevented from commencing its next stroke until the alternate piston
has reached the end of its stroke, and allowed the end of the lever or bar to enter the
notch in it and the other end to be withdrawn from the first piston.
It is evident that where regularly intermittent motion is admissable the apparatus
described may be used as a motive power Engine, as for instance for the purpose of
driving pumps, a piston rod being connected to the piston and brought through a
stuffing box at the end of each cylinder. It is essential, however, that the piston rods
should not be connected together in any way, by cranks or gear, as in such case the
port through which the water is admitted to the moving piston would close soon
after the piston containing it began to move, and the apparatus would accordingly
cease to operate. Instead of water air or other elastic fluid may in some cases be used.

page_text: It will be observed that the pistons are alike at each end, and I prefer to make
them of light metal tubes, having ends inserted into them containing the passages
described which connect the several ports. They may also be provided at their ends
with packing rings of leather or other suitable material in the usual way. Or the
centre of the cylinders may be provided with such rings through which the pistons
work.
The cylinder covers may be provided with screws passing through them by which
the stroke of the pistons can be regulated.

page_text: also Applicable as a Motive Power Engine.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil 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 and accompanying drawing, (that is to
say)
:-
This invention relates more especially to water meters used for the purpose of
measuring the quantity of water supplied through pipes for domestic or other purposes,
and for indicating such quantity.
It relates more especially to apparatus in which two cylinders are used in which
pistons are made to reciprocate by the pressure of water passing through them, and
Ias for its object improvements by which no piston rods or stuffing boxes of any kind
are required, the two pistons working entirely independently of each other, and in
such manner that when one is making its stroke the other is absolutely at rest, and
vice versa, no cranks, or revolving shafts of any kind being used, and the meter being
very simple and easily made, cheap and effective, durable and accurate.
For this purpose I make use of the principle which has been well known and used
for many years, in which two cylinders are employed side by side, the pistons working
in these cylinders and the passages connecting the two cylinders together being so
arranged that each one acts as a piston valve to the other, thereby giving
reciprocating motion the one to the other without the use of tappets or lovers of any
kind.
al
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention, figure 1 being a
longitudinal section, figure 2 an end view, and figure 3a transverse section.
I arrange the two cylinders a, a, preferably of metal bored out accurately of the
same or different diameters, side by side or in any other convenient position in relation
to each other, and I provide them with covers or ends b, c, screwed or bolted to them.
Each cylinder is fitted with a piston d, d', made as light as is consistent with the
requisite strength, and of a length somewhat more than half the length of the hore of
the cylinder.
The pistons are unprovided with piston rods but are absolutely independent and are
made to fit freely but sufficiently watertight in the cylinder, along which they can
travel from end to end backward and forward.
In each cylinder is made an opening or port e, e', communicating with the inlet.
pipe through which water under pressure is to be supplied to the apparatus, and at a
point opposite to each such opening is made a corresponding one g, g, on the opposite
side of the cylinder, communicating with the outlet pipe through which the water is
delivered from the apparatus.

page_text: Two other similar ports or openings are also made in each cylinder at or near the
same point in the length of the cylinder but opposite to each other and at right angles
to those already described. One of the two last described openings in the cylinder a
communicates by means of a channel i (figure 1) cast in the side of the cylinder, and
through a passage in the cover of the cylinder with one end (strewn the upper one in
the drawing) of the other cylinder a', and the other of the openings & communicates
by a similar channel and passage with the other lower end of the other cylinder a.
In the same way one of the openings in the cylinder a' communicates by the channel i
with one end of the cylinder a, and the other opening by the channel with the other
end of the cylinder a.
The covers and passages through them are shewn (on a smaller scale) in figures 9
and 10.
Near each end of the pistons which fit the cylinders as described, are made four
narrow openings 1, 2, 3, 4, as shewn in figures 4, 5, and 6) round the piston at equal
distances apart corresponding with those described in the cylinder, in such manner
that when the piston is at either end of its stroke the openings through it correspond
with those in the cylinder.
The opening at one end of the piston (as shown in section in figure 5) which
corresponds with the inlet opening in the cylinder communicates by a passage 1, 2,
in the piston with one of the openings at right angles to it and with the channel or
pipe communicating with one end of the other cylinder as described, whilst the
opposite opening in the piston which corresponds with the outlet opening in the
cylinder communicates through another passage 3, 4, in the piston with the channel
at right angles to it. communicating with the other end of the other cylinder. The
openings near the other end of the piston (as shewn in figure 6) also serve to make
communication by means of two passages in the piston between the opposite inlet and
outlet openings in the cylinder and the channels and passages at right angles to them
leading to the ends of the other cylinder respectively, but though the openings are in
exact line with and precisely similar to those at the other end of the piston, the
passages are arranged in alternate positions so that the inlet and outlet openings
communicate with different ends of the opposite cylinder to those with which they
communicated when the piston was at the other end of its stroke.
55
and the
upper
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Supposing that the pistons are at
opposite ends of their strokes, one being considered (for convenience) to be
other (figure 1) down. The water passes from the inlet f, e, through
passage 1, 2, in the piston d which is down and thence through the lateral channel or
pipe, at right angels with it to the upper end of the other cylinder a' the piston
in which dit forces down, the water beneath being expelled through the opposite
lateral channel k, k, and through the other upper passage 3, 4 in the first piston d
to the discharge passage g exactly opposite the inlet c.
During this time the first piston d does not move.
When the second piston has thus reached the bottom of its stroke, one of the
passages in its upper end opens a communication through the channel at right
angles with it to the lower end of the first cylinder a, the piston d of which is put in
motion and begins to rise, the water above it being expelled through the channel and
through the second upper passage in the second piston d¹ to the discharge pipe hat
right angles with it.
The second piston d during this time does not move.
When the first piston d has thus reached the top of its stroke, the passage at its
lower end 1, 4, comes opposite the inlet opening e and opens a communication through
the corresponding channel, k, with the lower end of the second cylinder a¹, the
piston in which is then put in motion and forced up whilst the water above it is
expelled through, i, and the second passage 2, 3, at the lower end of the first piston d
which remains stationary to the discharge or delivery pipe h. When the second
piston has reached the top of its stroke, the passage at its lower end admits water
from the inlet opening e through the corresponding channel to the upper end of the
first cylinder a the piston d in which is then put in motion and forced down whilst the

page_text: water under it is experied through the corresponding channel to the second passage
through the lower end of the second piston which remains undisturbed and to the
discharge or delivery pipe h.
The two pistons are then in their original positions and the series of movements is
repeated and so on continuously as long as the discharge pipe is open and water
under pressure is supplied through the inlet pipe Whilst each piston is making its
stroke the other piston remains stationary so that the ports and passages are opened to
their full extent at the commencement of each stroke and remains so during the
stroke, at the extreme ends of which they close gradually as the piston comes to rest.
By this method of arrangement, the several ports can be made very narrow (in the
direction of the length of the cylinder), and the pistons and cylinders can be very
much shorter and lighter than if both pistons were made to move simultaneously,
great advantage being thus obtained.
By this improved method of construction, there is little or no leakage, ample cover
or space being always provided between ports acting as inlet and those acting as outlet
openings.
The cylinders being of known capacity it is only necessary to count the number of
strokes of the pistons in order to determine the quantity of water passing through the
apparatus, and this may be done by a registering device of any of the usual well
known kinds, actuated by a lever or pin passing through an opening in one of the
cylinders or covers and struck by the piston as it travels backward and forward, or
by a rod or spindle connected to the piston and passing out through one of the covers,
or (as shewn in figures 7 and 8) by à lever or studentering the cylinder through
a small opening and working in an opening or slot in the piston by which it is
moved backward and forward or in any other convenient way. For instance a toothed
rack may be inserted in the side of the piston, driving a corresponding toothed wheel
which enters a slot in the centre of the cylinder, and by its revolution backward and
forward transmits motion by a pall to the registering device.
The inlet pipe described may be used as the outlet, and the outlet pipe has the
inlet as may be found convenient.
I provide a guide, consisting of a pointed screw m (figure 2) fitting in a longitudinal
grooven (figures 4, 5, and 6) in the side of the piston in order to prevent the latter
from turning round upon its axis.
The apparatus described may be modified more or less to suit varying circumstances
and conditions. Instead of the passages described through the pistons themselves, they
may be formed through a separate piston working in a separate cylinder provided with
openings and passages as described and connected to the main or measuring pistons
by a rod passing through a stuffing box. Or such separate pistons may be made in
the form of fourway cocks turning upon axes instead of pistons.
Or, in a different arrangement, the pistons may have openings and passages as
described, at their centre only instead of near both ends, the cylinders being provided
with double sets of the ports and passages described, properly arranged at a sufficient
distance apart, so that the passages in the piston communicate with them alternately
at the opposite ends of its stroke. This arrangement is illustrated in figure 11, which
shews a cylinder and piston constructed in the manner described. This method of
construction necessitates a greater length of cylinder.
The apparatus may be made of any desired size and materials, and may be arranged
in any convenient position, but I prefer that the cylinders should be horizontal or
nearly so, and parallel.
I sometimes use a lever turning upon a centre, or a bar, having bevilled ends
entering the two cylinders at the centre of their length. Corresponding notches or
recesses are made near the ends of the moving pistons, so that when either is at the
end of its stroke it is prevented from commencing its next stroke until the alternate
piston has reached the end of its stroke and allowed the end of the lever or bar to
enter the notch in it and the other end to be withdrawn from the first piston.
It is evident that where regularly intermittent motion is admissible the apparatus
described may be used as a motive power Engine, as for instance for the purpose of

page_text: driving pumps, a piston rod being connected to the piston and brought through a
stuffing box at the end of the cylinder. It is essential, however, that the piston rods
must not be connected together in any way by cranks or gear.
It will be observed that the pistons are alike at both ends and they may be provided
at their ends with packing rings of leather or other suitable material in the usual way.
Or the centre of the cylinders may be provided with such rings through which the
pistons work.
The cylinder covers may be provided with screws passing through them by which
the stroke of the pistons can be regulated.
The several ports or openings in the pistons may be of the same size (in the
direction of the length of the cylinders) as those in the cylinders, or of somewhat
greater length.
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 :
1. The two pistons, entirely independent, and unconnected with each other, having
passages through them near each end and exactly alike, and working in cylinders
each having four openings, that is to say an inlet and outlet opening exactly opposite
to each other, and two ports or passages at right angles to the former, arranged and
operating so that one piston remains absolutely at rest whilst the other is making its
stroke, substantially as described and shewn.
2. The two pistons, entirely independent and unconnected with each other, having
passages through their centre only, and working in cylinders each having eight
openings, that is to say two inlet openings at a sufficient distance apart and exactly
opposite to two outlet openings, and four ports or passages at right angles to the inlet
and outlet openings, substantially as described and shewn.
3. In combination with the pistons, the guides for preventing them from turning
upon their axes when reciprocating.
4. The separate covers or ends for the cylinders, having inlet and outlet passages
through them, and passages by which when fixed in their places, the water passes
through them to the pistons and cylinders, substantially as described and shewn."
Dated this 2nd day of September 1887.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Patentee.