Year: 1886

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I, LEWIS HALLOCK NASH, residing at, 379, Gates Avenue, Brooklyn, in the
County of Kings, and State of New York, in the United States of America,
Mechanical 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 :-
i
This invention is directed to improvements in water meters constructed to divide
the influent volume into two streams, each of which passes a definite proportion of
the flowing volume, one of which being measured and the measurement of the
volume of both streams determined by such measured part by a registering device
suited for the purpose.
The object of my improvement is to render the measuring action in a water
meter certain and unchangeable under all the changing conditions which occur in
use, so that the registration of the measuring device will not be affected to any
appreciable extent by the varying resistances to its action caused by foreign
substances in the water; or by the frictional resistances of the moving parts.
The essential matter of my invention consists in a method of measuring water
flowing in divided streams in which provision is made for varying the proportional
areas of the discharge orifices of a water meter for every rate of flow to control the
proportional delivery of both streams, in connection with provision to effect &
definite resistance to the flow of both streams to balance the variable resistances
in the separate streams, and of the measuring device to produce a practically
perfect registration.
The principles of construction and operation of my improved meter I will now
describe :-
The resistances to the flow of the water in the passage through the meter
operating device, are of two kinds:
1
First. The force required to move the working parts of the measuring device and
of the registering mechanism; and Second. The hydraulic resistance to the flow of
the water in the passages.
In the non-metered passage the resistances are all of the second kind. The
influences that tend to vary the amount of these resistances are in the first case,
variations in the frictional resistance of the moving parts due to wear; the deposit

page_text: of sediment, friction of the stuffing box, and other resistances directly due to the
moving parts of the measuring device.
These résistances are different in different positions of the parts of the measuring
device, and they are constantly changing, being greater or less as affected by
minute causes and by the wear of the parts.
These variations in the resistances of the moving parts do not appear to serious
disadvantage in meters wherein the whole volume of the water acts to drive the
moving parts because the force of the flowing current is so much greater than the
resistances of the meter that these variable resistances are of such comparative
insignificance as to be unimportant.
But when a large portion of the water passes through an unobstructed passage
these variable resistances cause a greater or less quantity of water to pass through
the main passage and hence, in a proportional meter, these matters are of vital
importance and their most serious effect is seen when the meter is operating under a
very small rate of flow.
Under such conditions the hydraulic resistances caused by the flow of the water
through the passages becomes very small and hardly perceptible, while the whole
effect of the resistance of the moving parts in the measuring device is exerted in
effecting the registration' of the device.
The resistance of the moving parts of a measuring device of approved design is
very minute, and may be stated in a good example to on the average equal a
hydraulic head of an eighteenth of an inch.
This resistance will alter at different times even under favorable conditions so as
to vary from a sixteenth of an inch head to a quarter of an inch head.
The second kind of resistances due to the hydraulic friction of the flowing
streams, are subject to change from the deposit of sediment or foreign matter in
the passages and they are very considerable under large rates of flow, but become
very small with small rates of flow.
Hence the resistances to be balanced are; in the measured currents viz :-the
resistance of the moving parts plus the resistance of the current, which must equal
the hydraulic resistance in the main passage plus an artificial resistance added to
'balance.
'
When the meter is delivering a large quantity of water the hydraulic resistances
become very great compared to the other resistances so that they are the controlling
forces controlling the delivery of the two streams.
And by causing the two streams to pass through given size orifices so that the
greater part of the resistances of the streams are caused at the orifices, these
resistances will be rendered quite permanent and the meter will be reliable for
large rates of flow.
But as the quantity of water delivered by the meter is lessened, the hydraulic
resistances rapidly decrease until, upon the smaller rates of flow, their influence is
imperceptible and then the only resistance to be considered is that of the meter
working parts.
Since this resistance is liable to change it follows that if a balance is formed
between the resistance of the meter working parts and an equal resistance upon the
main stream, as is the usual practice by regulating the relative size of the discharge
orifices, or causing a resistance to the flow of the main stream, as soon as the
resistance of the moving parts changes from wear or other causes, the registration
of the meter upon the small streams will correspondingly change.
My invention remedies this result by placing a constant resistance upon the
measured stream which is so many times greater than the resistance of the moving
parts of the meter, that the variations in the latter resistance are only a small
proportion of the total resistance in said stream, and hence these variable
resistances cannot affect the registration of the meter to any injurious extent.
An equal resistance is placed upon the flow of the large stream and thus the
flow in the two streams is controlled by causing each stream to overcome an equal

page_text: resistance to its flow, of a magnitude so much greater than the variable resistances
of the two streams, as to overpower the effect of the latter resistances.
To illustrate this point. Suppose that the resistances to the flow of the water in
the measured stream were equal to one eighth of an inch head, and that the main
stream was provided with an equal resistance.
Then, if from any cause, the resistance to the flow in the measured stream should
be increased to one quarter inch head, the water would find a much easier passage
through the main passage in which a resistance of only one eighth of an inch head
had been provided and the meter would only register a small portion of the proper
amount.
But, if as proposed by me, in addition to the resistance to one eighth inch head
I provide an additional resistance of one foot head, then the total resistance to the
flow in the measured stream would be, * + ** 97
37 of an inch head which will be
balanced in the main stream by an equal resistance of, 97.
8
8
If now the resistance of the measuring device increases one quarter head,
the total resistance will be, 98, which is partially balanced by the resistance in
the main stream of, 97. Hence, while in the former case the resistance in the
measured and in the main streams were in the proportion of two to one, under the
same condition by my improvement the ratio would be as, 98, to, 97, conditions
much more favorable to accuracy.
By suitably increasing the resistance any desirable degree of accuracy can be
obtained.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have shown in figure 1, my improved
proportional meter in vertical section, the flow of the divided streams being
indicated by arrows and a swinging weighted valve shown as the means of
carrying out my improved method of proportional measurement.
Figure 2, is a top view, the cover of the case being removed to expose the piston
in the measuring chamber as the meter operating device.
Figure 3, is a vertical section taken on the line x-x, of figure 2.
Figure 4, is an elevation of the end of the meter case having the discharge ports
of the two streams, the chamber forming cover I, and valve being removed.
Figure 5, is a horizontal section taken through the discharge port e, for the
metered stream on the line y-y, of figures 1 and 4.
Figure 6, is a view of the inner side of the flow controlling weighted swinging
valve.
Figure 7, is an edgewise view of the valve, and
Figure 8, is a top view of the divided wing or lip of the valve, by which to
determine the proportional area of the discharge orifices of the two streams.
Any suitable meter operating device may be used with my flow controlli ngvalve.
As shown, such operating device consists of a piston B, made of hard rubber,
having circumferential projections c, and recesses and having also interior annular
communicating ports c, by which it forms a valve.
The measuring chamber is formed in the case A with alternate interior wall
projections a, and recesses and the chamber-forming heads have ports b, so formed
as to cooperate with the piston ports to effect the inlet and discharge and cause the
piston to have an epicycloidal movement about the center of the case in such,
manner as to divide the chamber into receiving and discharging measuring spaces
as the water flows through it.
The piston carries a spindle h, which connects with and drives the registering
mechanism through intermediate gearing contained in the box i, which operates
the gear j, which connects with the dial mechanism, in a well known manner.
The main flow passage C, is formed under the meter case A, and has the flow
controlling valve J, hung at the discharge port f, while the measured stream flows
upward through the lower case-head ports 6, by the central opening d, into and
through the ports c³, of the piston operating it with the movement described and
passes through the top head ports into the central opening d¹, in the top case head;

page_text: and into a chamber F, formed by the cover of the case above the top case-head, as
shown by the arrows.
Thence the metered passage is continued by the vertical passage G, seen in
figures 2, and 4, to the discharge port e, just above and to one side of the discharge
portf, of the non-metered passage C..
The discharge ports f, and e, open into an outlet chamber H, within which the
flow controlling valve is mounted upon knife edge bearings g, to operate the dis-
⚫charge ports.
The valve is open below its knife edge-bearings and is formed of two wings or
flat sides, the one J, formed to operate the main passage port f, and the other J¹, is
formed to operate the small metered passage port e.
Attached to and projecting from the flow receiving side of the valve-port J, is a
divided wing or lip J', designed for co-operating with the valve opening 7, to adjust
the proportional area of the discharge orifices of the two streams, as I will presently
explain.
The valve J, is formed by a heavy weight and its action is to close the ports f, e,
so that no water can pass through them without lifting the dead weight of the
valve, and overcoming the resistance to its flow caused by such weight.
I prefer to form the valve so that its weight shall offer about one hundred times
the resistance to the flow of the water which is offered by the moving parts of the
measuring device and therefore as herein before stated, the effect of the variable
resistances of the moving parts will be only one per cent of the total resistance
to the flow, and the consequent registration of the device will be practically
perfect.
I prefer to hang the weighted valve by a knife-edge bearing .g, as it has the
advantage of durability and no friction, but the valve might be hung with a pivot
bearing with the same action.
The valve is hung at the top of the outlet port f, so that the outflow will cause
the valve to swing away from and open said port, and at the same time open the
opening 1, in the valve just below its point of suspension and above the top edge of
the port f, and to close by gravity.
The case wall 8, which forms the top of said port f, stands down below the valve
bearing g, so as to close the said valve opening 1, when the valve is closed with
the port f, so that the outflow from the main passage must pass under said port
wall when the valve is open to have an outflow through the top opening in said
valve.
The projecting valve attachment J*, is formed of wings L, L, curved at their top
surface so as to conform to an arc struck from the valve bearing and form a contact
joint with the top edge of the port f, so that as the valve swings outside of the
port its divided wing will move within the top of said port so as to form a joint at
three sides or points, viz: at the two vertical walls of the port by the right angled
sides m, and at the port edge 8, by the divided top part.
The wings L, L, are straight at their outer edges and are curved or flaring at
their inner edges in a direction toward the inlet of the case, so that as the valve
moves further into its chamber H, the space or opening r, between the wings L, L,
will increase in area and diminish as it moves in an opposite direction to close the
outlet port.
As shown in figure 5, the valve wing J, stands to one side from the top of the
valve port J, so as to operate the port e, which is at one side of the port f, at its
top and communicates with the chamber F, by the passage G, above the meter
device.
The valve itself forms the weight and its heaviest part is at its swinging end and
it is hung so that in its normal or closed position it will stand vertical with its
opening ỉ, closed by the port wall 8, and the curved wing part L, extending entirely
within the main passage.
The port e, is of less area than the port f, and the two valve ports, are of unequal
Area

page_text: The smaller valve port J', may also be provided with an orifice controlling curved
wing projection like that of the main valve port, but such provision for one valve
will produce the desired result.
The function of the valve curved face extension to vary the proportional area of
the discharge orifices for every rate of flow, is as follows.
If the valve wings L, L, were removed then the valve would operate so that the
areas of the port openings through which the water would escape, would always
bear a definite proportionate ratio to each other.
But I have found in practice that a definite proportion of the flowing volume
will not always be controlled by causing them to pass through orifices that bear a
constant proportional area to each other, and that in order to secure the result of
a definite ratio between the flowing streams it is necessary to provide that the
relative size of the discharge orifices for the two streams having a changing ratio
for different rates of flow, which relation is determined by actual experiment to
be that ratio which will pass the required quantity of water under the given
conditions.
For this purpose the valve face extension must be of such shape as to adjust the
port of the main stream.
This is done as follows.
The valve being in the position seen in figure 1, the water will escape from all
sides of the valve port J, except where the sides m, of the valve extension closes
the opening f; and, as said extension swings under the outlet port edge 8, the area
of the opening r, through which the water can pass through the valve opening 1, is
bounded by the walls n, n, n, 8, figure 5.
By suitably forming the walls m, m, and n, n, n, of the wings L, L, any desired
area may be given for the discharge of the water under the sides of the valve, so
that the relative proportional area for the discharge of the water from the two
streams may be varied for every position of the swinging valve, and such a relation
established as will ensure the passage of the required proportion of the flowing
current.
Within the main flow passage a screen D, of semi-cylindrical form is seated in
cases in the side walls so as to form a flow space E, all round the screen from near
the bottom of said passage and thereby obtain a large screening surface that will
not require
an enlarged space like a flat screen of equal capacity and at the same
time give a full and free flow to the metered passage and prevent substances which
might interfere with the operation of the piston from passing to it.
The bottom of the passage is left smooth so that foreign substances can pass out
with the flow.
Separate and distinct valves may be used instead of the double valve shown, in
which case the weight of each valve must be so proportioned as to cause an equal
resistance to the flow of each stream, and each valve must have its port controlling
curved extension, whereby to effect the two essential things of my invention ;-
that is, an excessive definite resistance to the flow of the water through the
discharge orifices which resistance shall always be the same under the same quan-
tities of flow; and varying the proportional size of the discharge orifices for every
rate of flow so as always to pass the required proportional quantity of water in
each stream under given conditions of flow determined as stated.
Nor is the method of measuring water which I have described dependent upon
the form and specific construction of the valve or its opening shown as vertically
operating co-acting weighted valves may be formed and constructed with ports for
obtaining identical results by identical method and principle of operation.
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 method herein described of measuring water flowing in divided streams
which consists in varying the proportional areas of the discharge orifices of a water

page_text: meter for every rate of flow to control the proportional delivery of the divided
streams, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
2. The method herein described of measuring water flowing in divided streams
which consists in varying the proportional areas of the discharge orifices of a water
meter for every rate of flow, and controlling such variation by co-acting weighted
valves, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
3. The method herein described of measuring water flowing in divided streams
which consists in providing an equal resistance to the flow of each stream, and
regulating the proportion of the flow of each stream by varying the proportional
areas of the discharge orifices to control the proportional delivery of the streams
under every rate of flow, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
4. The method herein described of measuring water flowing in divided streams
which consists in providing a definite resistance to the flow of each stream for
every rate of flow and utilizing such resisting element for varying the proportional
areas of said orifices to control the proportional delivery of the stream under every
rate of flow, as set forth.
5. The combination in a water meter in which the influent volume is divided
into two streams one of which is measured, of a case having a separate outflow
port for each stream, with coacting swinging valves having a determined weight
to offer a definite and unchanging resistance to the flow of each stream, substantially
as described, for the purpose specified.
6. The combination, in a proportional water meter, of a weighted swinging valve
for resisting the flow of both streams, with means substantially such as described
for varying the proportional areas of the discharge orifices to regulate the propor-
tional quantity of water flowing in each stream for every rate of delivery of the
meter.
7. The combination, in a proportional water meter, of the swinging valves J, J¹,
having knife edge bearing, and means for varying the proportional areas of the
discharge orifices for each stream, substantially as described.
8. The combination, in a proportional water meter, of a weighted valve swinging
upon a horizontal axis, with projecting wings or lip-piece for regulating the propor-
tional area of the discharge orifices of the streams, substantially as described.
9. In a proportional water meter, the combined valves J, J, having a knife edge
bearing g, and the divided wing projection operating substantially as described,
for the purpose stated.
10. The combination, with a meter case having discharge ports for a divided
flow, of a swinging weighted valve having an opening 1, and an inwardly pro-
jecting face wing having a flaring or irregular opening r, joining that in the valve
and the outlet port wall 8, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
11. The weighted swinging valve having the opening 1, the side wing J¹, the
projecting curved wings L, L, and the angled sides m, m, in combination with the
case having the port wall s, the chamber H, and the ports e, f, substantially as
described, for the purpose specified.
12. The combination, in a proportional water meter, of discharge orifices of
unequal area, with co-acting swinging valves therefor, one of which is adapted
to permit the outflow under and over it from the port of greatest area, substantially
as described for the purpose specified.
13. The combination, in a water meter in which the influent volume is divided
into two streams, of a case having a separate discharge orifice for each stream, and
a meter operating device operated by one of said streams, with a screen dividing
the metered from the non-metered passages and washed by the flow through the
latter passage, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
14. The combination, with the meter operating device and a case having separate
discharge orifices for a divided flow, of a fixed segmental screen arranged to form
an extended screening surface for the metered passage, as set forth.
15. The combination, in a water meter in which divided influent volume is
measured by the measurement of one division thereof, of a case having a separate

page_text: outflow orifice for each stream, with a fixed segmental screen having a free flow-
space formed by said case around and over said screen communicating with the
metered passage, substantially as described.
16. The combination, with the meter-case having the flow passage C, and the
meter operating device arranged in a chamber communicating with said passage,
of the segmental screen arranged to form the upper walls of said flow passage
having a surrounding flow space E, communicating with said meter operating
device, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
17. The combination, in a proportional water meter, of co-acting swinging valves
operating from a horizontal axis by gravity to control the flow of the separate
streams, substantially as described.
18. The combination, in a proportional water meter, of co-acting swinging valves
arranged to open their respective discharge ports into the discharge chamber for
both streams, and to operate by gravity, as described.
19. The combination, with a water meter having the influent volume divided
into two streams one of which is measured, of a valve or co-valves constructed
and adapted to operate automatically to vary the proportional areas of the discharge
orifices for the two streams for every rate of flow.