IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WATER METERS." A communication from abroad by François Larmaraud, of
Paris, France.
ealed the 19th December 1876, and dated the 11th July 18
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th July 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS."
"
The improved water meter of this Invention is designed to measure the flow of
water through pipes. It consists mainly of a measuring cylinder containing a
piston, and communicating above and below the piston with a valve casing, in
which are valves governing the inflow and outflow of the water to the cylinder.
The piston is operated continuously by the pressure of the water, and the valves
are opened and closed by the movements of the piston through the agency of
certain mechanism connecting the piston and valve rods. A counter is actuated
by this mechanism to register the number of strokes of the piston, and consequently
the volume of water which has passed through the meter.
I will proceed to describe the Invention more fully with reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1 shows a central section of the apparatus, Figure 2 a plan, Figure 3 a
section on line 1, 2, Figure 1, of the valve casing.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 show details herein-after referred to.
a, water inlet; 1, outlet (see also Figure 5); b, grating to return any matters
which might clog the meter; c is a valve case connected by two passages i, f,
with a cylinder g; e, e¹, distributing valves in tube c; d, d, valve seats (one being
shown detached in Figure 4) above and below the valves e, c¹, which are fixed on
a hollow rod passing through a stuffing box at the top of case c and connected
to a lever t, which is operated by an oscillating weight, as hereafter described, to
alternately open the one valve to the inflow of water, and close the other valve
to the inflow but open it to the outflow of the water. The cylinder g is of cast
iron, with a copper lining 12, and an intervening lining of cement, and is furnished
with a piston h formed of two cupped leathers clamped together upon a piston
rod, as shown.
The piston rod passes through a stuffing box in the cover of the
[Price 10d.]

page_text: cylinder, and has a cross head m attached, carrying two friction rollers n, o,
(Figure 5) is an oscillating weight just behind the piston rod mounted on an
axis upon the cylinder cover. On the face of this weight are two guide flanges p, u,
and at its lower part and in one with it there is a triangular picce q, having lugs 7, 8,
(Figures 6 and 9). By the descent of piston the friction roller n is caused to 5
bear against guide p and thus oscillate the weight, and the piece q, which moves
with the weight, is inade to engage its lug s with the lever t, which is held by the
notch 1 of a locking plate (Figure 7) until friction roller o, also participating in
the movement, bears upon a part y connected at the lower end to plates, and at
the upper end to the guide v, and forces back said parts y and z, thus releasing
the lever t, which being suddenly raised by the weight j reverses the position of
valves e, e¹. On the return stroke of the piston the part is returned by a spiral
spring 2, Figure 6, attached at one end to part and at the other to a frame 3.
On the piston arriving at the end of its up stroke the roller o bears against a
lever 4 pivoted to the guide and connected at its lower end to the part 2, which
is thus forced back as before during the downward stroke. Before the piston
completes its stroke the friction roller n has again oscillated the weight by pressing
on guide u, and thus caused lug to bear on lever t, which is held above the
notch 1 of part (the latter having returned to position before the weight has
fallen upon the lever), and upon the part being moved back by roller o and lever 4
the pressure of the weight forces down the lever and thus again shifts the valves,
and so on.
A spiral spring or other arrangement may be substituted for the
counterweight. The to-and-fro movement of plate also serves to actuate a counter
through a spring claw i, Figure S, attached to a plate 5, by which the locking plate
The claw at each movement of
is supported between the uprights of guide v.
plate engages a tooth of the ratchet 6, mounted in a frame 3, and geared by a
pinion 7 and wheel 8 with an arbor in connection with the dial train of the
counter placed above; 9 is a spring pawl to prevent the ratchet turning in the
contrary direction. On the inside of the cylinder cover 10 are fixed three rods 11
at equal distances apart to prevent the piston striking the cylinder should any
part of the apparatus give way, and the piston rod is prolonged below the piston
with a similar object. The flow of the water on the down stroke of the piston is
indicated by the arrows in the Drawing. The water entering the valve case c
at is admitted by the valve e, which is open, and passage to the cylinder g
above the piston h, which by its pressure it forces down, the water on the other
side of the piston passing out through the passage i and valve c¹ (which is closed
to the inflowing water), and thence either through the hollow valve rod kor
through a passage ¹, shown in Figure 3, to the outlet 1. The piston having
performed its down stroke has its motion immediately reversed by the admission
of water below it by the valves being brought down on their lower.seats, so that
valve e is closed to the inflowing water and opened to allow the water above the
piston to flow out through, whilst valve el is opened to admit water to the lower
part of the cylinder to actuate the piston in its up stroke when the valves are
again reversed, and so on.
Figure 1, Shect 2, of the Drawings shows in front elevation a modification of
the meter in which springs are substituted for the oscillating weight. Figure 2
is a plan, Figure 3 a side elevation, and Figure 4 a vertical section. of the apparatus
taken on line 1, 2, Figure 2. Figure 5 shows separately the springs and mechanism
used in lieu of the oscillating weight. The same letters of reference serve for all
these Figures.
a, water
In this arrangement the valves instead of being double seated are duplicated
there being one pair of inlet valves and another pair of outlet valves.
inlet, which may have a grating as before; b, valve chamber connected by two
inlet passages c, d, with the cylinder j, the inlet c being above and inlet d below
the piston ; c, h, valves mounted on a rod y and closing against seats fi; b, pistor
rod passing through stuffing box m; n, o, outlets from cylinder j; 2, valve chamber
1,8, valves on rod t; u, v, valve seats; a, water exit; y, cross head attached to

page_text: piston rod l, and sliding at upon the upright guide w; 1, lever mounted on a
pivot at 2 in the upright w, and having two inclined surfaces 3, 4, against which
cross head y strikes at each up-and-down stroke of piston. The lever 1 on being
oscillated moves in the direction of the arrow, the cross bar 5 with which it is
connected by the lug 6 entering a notch in cross bar 5. The latter when cross
head y ceases to act on lever 1 is returned to the position shown by two spiral
springs 7 on guide pins 8; 9 is a bolt projecting from cross bar 5, which on the
advance of the latter liberates the two levers 10, 11, to which the valve rods g, t,
are connected; 12, fulcrums of levers 10, 11; 13, friction roller carried by cross
head which during the up-and-down movement raises or lowers a frame 14,
having arms 15, whereby a spiral spring 10 is compressed upon an upright rod 17
through the medium of curved arms 18 fixed to frames 19, upon which the arms 15
act; 20, square blocks sliding on upright 17, connected together by the rods 21 ;
22, is an arm attached to the lower block 20, carrying a pin 23 acting on lever 10;
and 24 is an oscillating lever to transmit the motion in an opposite direction to
lever 11, with which it is connected by pin 28, so that the one lever is raised when
the other is depressed, according as the spring 16 is compressed by the roller 13
against the upper or lower block 20; 25, friction roller, which at each stroke of
the piston presses back part 26 and moves a ratchet 27 connected with a train
of wheels not shown, by which the volume of water passing through the apparatus
is registered; 29, washers against which the blocks 20 strike when the springs 16
are released.
The following is the action of the apparatus:-The water entering at a passes
through, say, valve c, into cylinder j, above piston k, which is thus caused to move
in a downward direction, forcing out the water beneath it through opening n and
valve into chamber p, and thence to the outlet x. By the downward motion
of the piston the roller 13 on cross head y acts on frame 14 and compresses.
spring 16, and the cross head y continuing its movement forces back the incline 4,
which moves part 5 and bolt 9, to liberate the tail ends of levers 10 and 11. The
latter are then operated by the spring 16 through the agency of sliding block 20,
arm 22, pin 23, and lever 24, to reverse the valves in order to admit the water to
the lower part of the cylinder through valve and allow it to escape from the.
upper part of the cylinder through valve 8, and so on continuously.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th January 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS." A communication from
abroad by François Larmaraud, of Paris, France.
The improved apparatus of this Invention is designed to measure the flow of
water through pipes, and is continuous in its action, being operated by the pressure
of the water itself. In consists mainly of a measuring cylinder of cast iron, lined
with copper and closed at both ends, in which moves a piston formed of two cupped
leathers clamped together by discs screwed on the piston rod. A copper or other
metal valve casing is attached to one side of the cylinder by means of flanges. A
valve rod with valves for regulating the inflow and the outflow of the water extends
from end to end of the casing and passes up through a stuffing box, where it is
attached to a lever at the upper part of the apparatus. The piston rod passes up
through a stuffing box, and its upper end, which is provided with friction rollers, is
made to oscillate a weight alternately in opposite conditions for raising or lowering
the lever above described as attached to the valve rod, and thus to shift the position
of the inlet and outlet valves. The valves during this movement are caused to press
against annular seats faced with india-rubber screwed within the valve casing for

page_text: shutting off the supply of water on the one side, and opening it on the other,
whereby the water is alternately admitted on each side of the piston. One of the
friction rollers mounted on the piston rod is made on the completion of the down-
ward as well as of the upward movement of the latter to act upon mechanism for
operating a counter to indicate the quantity of water passed through the meter at
each stroke of the piston. This mechanism is enclosed in a casing which is provided
with a glazed opening for inspecting the dials. A spiral spring arrangement may also
be employed for reversing the valves in lieu of the weight, as will be herein-after
described.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, of the Drawings shows a central section of the apparatus ;
Figure 2 a plan; Figure 3 a section on line 1-2, Figure 1, of the valve casing.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 show details herein-after referred to.
a, water inlet; 7, outlet (see also Figure 5); b, grating to retain any matters
which might clog the meter; c is a valve case connected by two passages i, f, with
a cylinder g; e, e¹, distributing valves in tube c; d, d, valve seats (one being shown
in elevation together with the valve, and screw cap for tube c in Figure 4)
above and below the valves e, e¹, which are fixed on a hollow rod k, passing through
a stuffing box at the top of case c, and connected to a lever t, which is operated
by an oscillating weight, as hereafter described, to alternately open the one valve to
the inflow of water, and close the other valve to the inflow, but open it to the out-
flow of the water. The cylinder g is of cast iron with a copper lining, and an
intervening lining of cement, and is furnished with a piston h formed of two cupped
leathers clamped together upon a piston rod, as shown. The valves e, c¹, are made
to produce a perfectly tight joint, their circular edges being for this purpose
provided with projecting rings or flanges rounded on the edge, which presses against
the seats which are faced with india-rubber washers, indicated in the Drawings by
fine shade lines. The piston rod passes through a stuffing box in the cover of the
cylinder, and has a cross head m attached, carrying two friction rollers n, o; j is an
oscillating weight just behind the piston rod, mounted on an axis upon the cylinder
cover. On the face of this weight are two guide flanges p, u, and at its lower part
and in one with it there is a triangular piece q having lugs 7, s. (Figures 6 and 9).
By the descent of piston h the friction roller n is caused to bear against guide p
and thus oscillates the weight, and the piece q, which moves with the weight, is
made to engage its lug 8 with the lever t, which is held by the notch 1 of a locking
plate (Figure 7) until friction roller o, also participating in the movement, bears
upon a party connected at the lower end to plate z, and at the upper end to the
guide v, and forces back said parts y and z, thus releasing the lever t, which being
suddenly raised by the weight j reverses the position of the valves e, e¹. On the
return stroke of the piston the part z is returned by a spiral spring 2 (Figure 6)
attached at one end to part z, and at the other to a frame 3. On the piston arriving
at the end of its up stroke the roller o bears against a lever 4 pivoted to the guide
v, and connected at its lower end to the part 2, which is thus forced back as before
during the downward stroke. Before the piston completes its stroke the friction
roller n has again oscillated the weight by pressing on guide u, and thus caused lug
to bear on lever t, which is held above the notch 1 of part z (the latter having
returned to position before the weight has fallen upon the lever), and upon the part
being moved back by roller o and lever 4 the pressure of the weight forces down
the lever and thus again shifts the valves, and so on. The to-and-fro movement of
plate also serves to actuate a counter through a spring claw ȧ (Figure 8) attached
to a plate 5, by which the locking plate is supported between the uprights of
guide v. The claw at each movement of plate engages a tooth of the ratchet G
mounted in a frame 3 and geared by a pinion 7 and wheel 8 with an arbor in
connection with the dial train of the counter placed above; 9 is a spring pawl to
prevent the ratchet-turning in the contrary direction. On the inside of the cylinder
cover 10 are fixed three rods 11 at equal distances apart to prevent the pistor
striking the cylinder, should any part of the apparatus give way, and the piston rod
is prolonged below the piston with a similar object. The flow of the water on the

page_text: downstroke of the piston is indicated by the arrows in the Drawing. The water
entering the valve case c at a is admitted by the valve c, which is open, and passage
f to the cylinder g above the piston h, which by its pressure it forces down, the
water on the otlier side of the piston passing out through the passage i and valve e¹
(which is closed to the inflowing water), and thence either through the hollow
valve rod or through a side passage, shown in Figure 3, to the outlet . The
piston having performed its downstroke has its motion immediately reversed by the
admission of water below it by the valves being brought down on their lower seats,
so that valve e is closed to the inflowing water, and opened to allow the water
above the piston to flow out through 1, whilst valve e¹ is opened to admit water to
the lower part of the cylinder to actuate the piston in its upstroke, when the valves
are again reversed, and so on.
Figure 1, Sheet 2, of the Drawings shows in front elevation a modification of the
meter, in which springs are substituted for the oscillating weight.
Figure 2 is a plan; Figure 3, a side elevation, and Figure 4, a vertical section of
the apparatus taken on line 1-2, Figure 2.
Figure 5 shows separately the springs and mechanism used in lieu of the oscil-
lating weight. The same letters of reference serve for all these Figures.
In this arrangement the valves, instead of being double seated, are duplicated,
there being one pair of inlet valves and another pair of outlet valves.
a, water inlet, which may have a grating as before; b, valve chamber connected by
two inlet passages c, d, with the cylinder j, the inlet c being above and inlet & below
the piston ; e, h, valves mounted on a rod g and closing against seats f, i; l, piston
rod passing through a stuffing box m; n, o, outlets from cylinder j; p, valve
chamber; r, s, valves on rod t; u, v, valve seats; x, water exit; y, cross head
attached to piston rod 1, and sliding at upon the upright guide w; 1, lever mounted
on a pivot at 2 in the upright w, and having two inclined surfaces 3, 4, against
which cross head y strikes at each up-and-down stroke of piston. The lever 1 on
being oscillated moves (in the direction of the arrow) the cross bar 5, with which
it is connected by the lug 6, entering a notel in cross bar 5. The latter, when
cross head y ceases to act on lever 1, is returned to the position shown by two
spiral springs 7 on guide pins 8; 9 is a bolt projecting from cross bar 5, which on
the advance of the latter liberates the two levers 10, 11, to which the valve rods g, t,
are connected; 12, fulcrums of levers 10, 11; 13, friction roller carried by cross
head y, which during the up-and-down movement raises or lowers a frame 14
having arms 15, whereby a spiral spring 16 is compressed upon an upright rod 17
through the medium of curved arms 18 fixed to frames 19 upon which the arms 15
act; 20, square blocks sliding on upright 17, connected together by the rods 21; 22 is
an arm attached to the lower block 20, carrying a pin 23 acting on lever 10; and
24 is an oscillating lever to transmit the motion in an opposite direction to lever 11,
with which it is connected by pin 28, so that the one lever is raised when the
other is depressed, according as the spring 16 is compressed by the roller 13 against
the upper or lower block 20; 25, friction roller, which at each stroke of the piston
presses back part 26 and moves a ratchet 27 connected with a train of wheels not
shown, by which the volume of water passing through the apparatus is registered ;
29, washers, against which the blocks 20 strike when the springs 10 are released.
The following is the action of the apparatus:-The water entering at a passes
through, say, valve e, into cylinder j above piston k, which is thus caused to move
in a downward direction, forcing out the water beneath it through opening n and
valve into chamber p, and thence to the outlet . By the downward motion of
the piston the roller 13 on cross head y acts on frame 14 and compresses spring
16, and the cross head y continuing its movement forces back the incline 4, which
moves part 5 and bolt 9 to liberate the tail ends of levers 10 and 11. The latter
are then operated by the spring 16 through the agency of sliding block 20, arm
22, pin 23, aud lever 24, to reverse the valves in order to admit the water to the
lower part of the cylinder through valve hand allow it to escape from the upper
part of the cylinder through valve 8, and so on continuously.

page_text: Figure 6, Sheet 2, shows a modified arrangement of the mechanism for operating
levers 10 and 11, before referred to. In this modification the frame 14 is replaced by
two half frames, the one 30 of which is provided with a lug 32, and the other 31 with
a lug 33, each half frame being employed to alternately compress the spiral spring
16 coiled freely round the rod 17. The half frame 31 has a bent arm carrying a
vertical stirrup piece 31¹, into which the end of a bent arm on the other half frame
30 enters; 34, lever oscillating in rear of bolt 9 and provided with four lugs 35, 35,
351, 351, embracing the levers 10 and 11; the tail end of lever 34 also passes through
the stirrup 31 beneath the arm of the half frame 30. The whole being arranged
as described, suppose the piston to move in the direction of the arrow 30, when
party, Figure 3, arrives at nearly the top of its course it will press back the lug 32
and raise the half frame 30, causing the bottom end of the latter to compress the
spring 16 against the upper end of the half frame 31, which is held stationary by
the tail of the lever 34, the latter through one of the lugs 35¹ being caused to bear
against lever 11, while the tail end of the lever presses on the bottom of stirrup 31.
Immediately, however, the latch 9 is withdrawn the spiral spring 16 expands and
raises the half frame 31, and by the aid of stirrup 31¹ oscillates lever 34 in the
direction of the arrow 37, causing the lugs 351, 35¹, to press upon levers 10 and 11
and reverse their positions, and consequently those of the inlet and outlet valves.
On the descent of the piston cross head y acts on lug 33 and causes half frame 31
to compress the spiral spring, while frame 30 remains stationary, being supported
by the tail of lever 34, which has been previously raised.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, a liquid meter composed of a cylinder
containing a piston operated as described, whose rod is by one or other of the
arrangements of mechanism described caused -to shift the position of the inlet and
outlet valve or valves at the end of each stroke, and is also caused to actuate a
counter or train for indicating the volume of liquid passing through the meter, all
as herein-before shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
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A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)