Mechanism for Converting the Reciprocating Motion of Piston and Cylinder Fluid Meters into Continuous Rotary Motion, suitable for Driving a Registering Mechanism or Counter.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1899
Mechanism for Converting the Reciprocating Motion of Piston and
Cylinder Fluid Meters into Continuous Rotary Motion, suitable
for Driving a Registering Mechanism or Counter.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me from
abroad by La Compagnie Generale des Compteurs (Societe Anonyme) of 29,
Rue de la Bougie, Brussels, Belgium, Manufacturers, 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 a construction of mechanism applicable to all
piston and cylinder fluid meters, whereby the reciprocating rectilinear motion of the
piston or pistons is converted into a continuous rotary motion which is imparted to
the registering mechanism or counter so as to obtain in the latter a registration in
correct relation to the movements of the piston or pistons.
We will describe the said mechanism with reference to the accompanying drawing
in which Fig. 1 shows the manner in which the moving part, such as a rack attached
to a piston rod moves the barrel of the counter-mechanism. Fig. 2 shews a plan of
the rack, Fig. 3 an end view of the mechanism at no Fig. 4, Fig. 6 a section on
line - Fig. 4, Fig. 4 a section on line a-e Fig. 6, Fig. 5 a section on
line a-b c-d Fig. 6, and Figs. 7 and 8 are views taken respectively at f g and h j,
Fig. 4, of the discs 5 and 6 carrying the spring pawls 7 and 8.
The barrel 1, having a toothed periphery 2 which engages with the rack r
attached to the piston rod, rotates on a hollow axis and has on its inner periphery
two sets of ratchet teeth 3 and 4 as shewn in Fig. 1, having their inclines in opposite
directions. These teeth engage alternately with the pawls 7 and 8, pivotted on the
plates 5 and 6 respectively. Plate 5 is fixed on one end of an axis 9 which passes
through the hollow axis 10 of the barrel and carries at the other end a pinion 11, so
that 5, 9 and 11 rotate as a whole.
Pinion 11 alternately drives and is driven by a toothed wheel 12 mounted on an
axis 13 which also carries a pinion 14. This last named pinion drives the counter,
which may be of any known construction.
When plate 5 is driven by the barrel it thus drives pinion 14 directly.
Plate 6 turns freely on the hollow axis 10 and carries fixed or formed on its boss
a toothed ring 15 which drives or is driven by the wheel 16 fixed on one end of the
axis 17 which passes through the main support 18 of the mechanism.
This axis 17 carries on its other end a pinion 19 similar to pinion 11 and like 11
alternately driving and being driven by the toothed wheel 12.
The ratchet teeth on the inside of the periphery of the barrel being arranged to
operate in opposite directions as shewn at Figs. 5 and 6, and drive the plates 5 and 6
alternately in one and the same direction accordingly as the rack on the piston rod
moves up and down. From this arrangement it will be seen that when the barrel 1 is
being driven by the rack in the direction in which it carries plate 5 with it, the

page_text: train 3, 7, 5, 9, and 11 drives the wheel 12 and pinion 14 in the direction opposite
to that of the barrel, while when one is being driven in the contrary direction by
it will still drive the wheel 12 in the same direction as before, because the train
4, 8, 6, 15, 16, 17 and 19 now drives the wheel 12 in the same direction as that in
which the barrel is moved, owing to the reversal of motion effected by means of the
wheels 15 and 16.
In this way there is a continuous rotation of the wheel 12 in the same direction,
and consequently also of the pinion 14 and the counter engaging therewith.
The registration thus becomes proportional to the travel of the rack r attached to
the piston rod.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with piston and cylinder fluid meters of a mechanism for
converting the reciprocating notion of the piston or pistons into a continuous rotary
motion suitable for driving a counter which mechanism consists of a barrel 1
engaged by means of a toothed ring with a toothed rack, such as moving to and
fro with the piston, which barrel has two internal ratchet rings 3, 4, arranged in
opposite directions and engaging with pawls 7 and 8 on plates 5, 6, of which 5 is in
connection with the wheel 12 and pinion 14 driving the counter mechanism,
through the train 3, 7, 5, 9 and 11 while 6 is in connection therewith through the
train 4, 8, 6, 15, 16, 17 and 19 so that while 5 and 6 revolve in opposite directions
they effect the continuous rotation of the wheels 12 and 14 in one and the same
direction, and thus transinit such motion to the counter mechanism in correct
proportion to the reciprocating motion of the meter piston or pistons, substantially
as described.
2. Mechanism for converting the reciprocating motion of the piston or pistons
of a piston and cylinder fluid meter into continuous rotary motion suitable for
actuating a counter, arranged and operating as herein described with reference to
the drawings.
Dated thi: 14th dower of Docamhan 1808
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.