A COUNTING AND CONTROLLING COOK FOR LIQUIDS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Eugène Canton at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th March
1867.1
I, EUGENE CANTON, of La Rochelle, in the Empire of France, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "A COUNTING AND CONTROLLING
COOK FOR LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
My improved apparatus is illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing
forming part of this my Provisional Specification. It is composed (see
Figures 1 and 2) of a bucket (K) enclosed in a casing (G) furnished at its
lower part with a spout, by which the liquid being drawn off may issue freely.
A cylinder (I), Figures 2 and 3) having two horizontal and diametrically
opposed slits is fixed to the part (J) of the bucket (Figure 2). The extremity
or bottom of this cylinder is pierced with a circular hole, in which penetrates
the spindle (d) of a cock herein-after mentioned. The opposite side (J, J,)'
of the bucket is provided with a small shaft, which passing through the
casing G, which serves as a bracket for it, sets the meter or register at work.
The bucket (see dotted lines Figure 1) possesses at its fore part a small elastic
pad (i), which in the tipping of the bucket strikes against a rod (h) covered
with india-rubber and traverses the casing (G). This rod has for object to limit
the journey of the bucket, and the pad fixed to this latter to deaden the shock
against the rod and avoid noise. A similar pad (1) is placed interiorly at the

page_text: top of the casing, and like the preceding has for object to deaden the shock
and prevent the noise which might result from the sharp touch of the knob (m)
against the side of the casing on the return of the bucket to which the said
knob is fixed. A cock (N) fixed to the casing (G) (Figure 2) permits by
the aid of the key (a) the introduction of the liquid into the cylindrical
chamber (P), which may be in the cylinder (I) of the bucket, and like this
latter possess two openings or slits of the same dimensions and arranged in
like manner. The cock being open and the bucket at rest the liquid therefore
passes into the chamber (P) and by the openings (q, w,) and (s, t,) (Figure 3)
arrive in the bucket, which filled to a level fixed by the float which I will
shortly indicate falls over in the casing (G), sets the clockwork in motion,
and of itself resumes its original position. This return movement of the
bucket is rendered instantaneous by a counterweight placed at its lower part.
It remains very evident that during the overfall or inclination of the bucket
this latter and the chamber (P) of the cock can no longer be in communication,
the openings (q, u,) and (s, t,) being no longer opposite each other. The float,
as indicated by the Figures 2, 4, and 5, is composed of a rod (a, a,) turning
on an axle (c). One of the ends of this rod possesses a counterweight, and
the other an air chest of a spherical form. The rod (T), which may slide at
will in the sheath (U), is fixed by the screw (*) at the requisite height for
permitting the escape of the hook or catch which holds the bucket at rest.
Lastly, a socket (V) sliding on the tie piece (R) fixed to the bucket permits
the lowering or raising of the float in order to regulate the quantity of liquid
to be admitted into the bucket to cause it to overbalance. The thin rod (Z)
(Figures 2 and 5) serves to limit the journey of the float and to keep it
constantly at a suitable position of parallelism with the bottom of the bucket.
The hook (y) fixed to the casing (G) (Figure 1) is jointed so as to move
itself from bottom to top; its fore part is terminated by a lengthened catch,
which is uplifted by the rod (T) of the float and falls again by its own weight
after the escape of the bucket. The bucket in its return movement strikes in
sliding on the hook, which it compels to rise and finds itself held by this latter,
which immediately falls. again. The counter or register properly so called,
that is to say, the clockwork movement which is to indicate the expenditure
of the liquid, is composed of a series of wheels acting the one on the other in
the following manner:-Each wheel is provided with ten teeth, the first wheel
on the right, intended to mark the units of the overfalls of the bucket, receives
by means of the shaft fixed to the bucket the attack, which it transmits to the
other wheels each time that it has accomplished an entire revolution around
its axis. The second wheel indicating the tens act in an analogous manner

page_text: on the third, and so on with the others, the number of which depends on the
quantity which it is desired to shew by the meter or register before its return
The outer plate is provided with as many dials as there are wheels,
and each of the wheels carries an index, so that each movement of the wheels
is indicated on the dials by the hands which travel over them. No Drawing
is given of this clockwork movement, as I deem it independent of the system
for which I seek protection, and is so simple as to require no further
illustration.
This registering cock may be used as a water meter in private houses or
larger establishments, and will register the exact quantity supplied. It may
be used for liquids of every description, and when applied to a cask like an
ordinary cock by registering the exact quantity withdrawn it necessarily
indicates the quantity remaining in the cask, presuming its capacity to be
known.