IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR ACCURATELY MEASURING WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS DISCHARGED FROM PIPES, SLUICES, OR VESSELS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Barlow, of the Office for Patents, 89,
Chancery Lane, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR
ACCURATELY MEASURING WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS DISCHARGED FROM PIPES,
SLUICES, OR VESSELS."-A communication from Joseph R. Taylor, of the
City and State of New York.
Sealed the 31st October 1854, and dated the 4th May 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Barlow at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
May 1854.
I, CHARLES BARLOW, of the Office for Patents, 89, Chancery Lane, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS
FOR ACCURATELY MEASURING WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS DISCHARGED FROM PIPES,
SLUICES, OR VESSELS," to be as follows:-
The nature of this Invention consists in combining with a hollow cylinder,
provided with induction and eduction pipes, and an inward projecting stop or
segment, having a concentric face, a series of hinged segmental pistons hinged
or jointed' to arms projecting from a central shaft, and so hinged thereto, that
when thrown open their outer ends or the packing thereon shall run in contact
with the inner periphery of the cylinder, and their inner ends rest against the
arms to which they are hinged, to prevent binding against the inner periphery
of the cylinder, and thus' avoid undue friction; and to balance in part the

page_text: resistance of the liquid, that the pistons may turn freely in closing to pass the
segmental stops, and when closed.to pass the segmental stop their outer faces
shall be concentric and run nearly in contact with the said stop, provided
at one end with a cap of leather, to prevent the, passage of the fluid between
them and the stop, and be retained in that position by their inner faces resting
on a rest or projection from the central shaft or arms, and thus leave a free
space between their inner faces and the central shaft, or boss to contain fluid,
and to admit of the free passage of fluid; when they are being closed, instead
of closing into a recess fitting them and made in a central wheel, as in the case
of some steam engines heretofore made, and which, if applied to the measure-
ment of liquids, would prevent the proper and rapid closing of the pistons.
This meter can also be used as a motive power, by attaching to the shaft which
passes through the centre of it a pulley, or any other suitable contrivance, for
purpose of moving any mechanism, the power of the water passing through
the cylindrical box or case furnishing the motive power.
the
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Barlow in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th November 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
BARLOW, of the Office for Patents, 89, Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent; bearing date the 4th day of May, A.D: 1854, in the 17th year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Charles Barlow, Her special license that I, the said Charles
Barlow, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Charles Barlow, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should.at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exer-
cise, and-vend, within the United Kingdom-of-Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
METERS FOR ACCURATELY MEASURING WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS DISCHARGED FROM
PIPES, SLUICES, OR VESSELS," a communication from Joseph R. Taylor, of the
City and State of New York, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Charles Barlow, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and. ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be

page_text: filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Barlow, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, making a
part of this Specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon:-
Figure 1 is an end elevation; Figure 2, a plan; Figure 3, a longitudinal
central section; Figure 4, a cross vertical section; Figure 5, an elevation of
the inside face. of one of the heads of the cylinder; and Figure 6, a central
section thereof. The same letters indicate like parts in all the Figures.
The object of the Invention is the production of a metre which shall
measure the quantity of fluid-discharged, and be operated by the pressure or
force of the column of the said fluid; such an apparatus to be practically
efficient should be simple; not liable to derangement, and work with little
friction, to meet the requirements above enumerated.
The nature of the Invention consists in combining with a hollow cylinder,
provided with induction pipes and an inward projecting stop or segment, having
a concentric face, a seiries of hinged segmental pistons hinged or jointed to
arms projecting from a central shaft, and so hinged thereto, that when thrown
open their outer ends or the packing thereon shall run in contact with the inner
periphery of the cylinder, and their inner arms rest against the arms to which
they are hinged, to prevent binding against the inner periphery of the cylinder,
and thus avoid undue friction; & to balance in part the resistance of the
liquid, that the pistons may turn freely in closing to pass the segmental stop,
and when closed to pass the projecting or segmental stop, their outer face shall
be concentric and run nearly in contact with the said stop, provided with a
cap of leather at one end, and to prevent the passage of the fluid between them
and the stop, and be retained in that position their inner faces resting on a
rest or projection from the central shaft or arms, & thus leave a free space
between their inner faces & the central shaft or boss to contain fluid, to admit
of the free passage of fluid when they are being closed, instead of closing into
a recess fitting them and made in a central wheel, as in the case of some steam
engines heretofore made, & which, if applied to the measurement of liquids,
would prevent the proper & rapid closing of the said pistons.
In the accompanying Drawings, A denotes a cylindrical box or case, of which
a & bare the two circular ends or heads, they being respectively confined to
flanges c, d, extending from the cylindrical shell e of the case; a horizontal
shaft B extends through the centre part of both heads, or through suitable.

page_text: stuffing boxes f, g; from this shaft four or any other proper number of arms
h, i, k, l, radiate, and extend from one circular plate or head m to another one
n, which are fixed or fastened on the shaft, and extend & rotate in circular
or corresponding recesses made in the two heads of the metre case, as seen at
o, p, in Fig. 3, and at p, in Figs. 5 & 6. D, E, F, G, are sectional piston
plates, made with their external surfaces portions of a cylindrical surface, whose
radius is equal to that of each of the plates or heads m, n; they respectively
turn on pins or rods q, r, s, t, made to extend from one head m to the other n,
& through the same; the said rods pass through cylindrical joints u, v, w, x,
projecting from each piston, as seen in the Drawings, & abutting close against
the respective outer ends of the radial arms h, i, k, l; these joints are set out of
the line of the piston, as clearly shewn in the section, by which they are more
casily closed, and with less shock to the parts than if otherwise placed. Each
piston plate D, E, F, G, extends inward beyond the joint which forms the
fulcrum or centre of motion of the piston, and which should be about one-third
of the whole breadth of the piston from the inner end y, as seen in Fig. 4, and
is so arranged and applied as to abut against the side of the adjacent radial
arms, and pack to prevent leakage, and prevent the outer end of the piston
plate from coming in contact with the internal surface of the case A when the
said piston plate is opened to the greatest extent.
To the inner or concave side of each piston plate D, E, F, G, a rectangular
piece or sheet of leather or other suitable flexible material a' is fastened, by
means of screws and nuts (seen at b', b', &c.) and washer or seat plates e, e, &c.
These pieces of leather bear at their outer edges against the inner curved surface
of the case A, and at their ends against the inner faces of the two ends or heads
a, b, of the case A. Each of the pistons is provided with a rest, which extends.
from the shaft B, and supports the piston when thrown down or closed. In
Fig. 4 the piston D is represented as so closed and supported on its rest z. The
case A is provided with an induction opening I, and an eduction passage K,
the water pipe or conduit being-screwed or otherwise properly adapted to the
opening I; a discharge pipe may also be applied to the eduction passage K,
the said two passages being arranged as seen in Fig. 4. Between the passages
I, K, and the rotary system of pistons, a curved partition or segmental stop H
is disposed, as seen in Fig. 4, such partitions being fastened by screws d to the
case. A rectangular piece of leather or other suitable material flexible e is
screwed to the said partition by screws f, f, and a washer plate g, the lower
edge of the said piece of leather being made to extend somewhat beyond the
partition H, and so as to rest in contact with the other surface of each piston
plate D, E, F, G, while the piston is resting on its seat z, and is passing

page_text: directly underneath and by the said partition H. The edge of the leather, by
the superincumbent pressure of the water, is forced closely against the water
curved surface of the piston, and so as to make a joint sufficiently close to
prevent the passage of water between the partition H and the piston. In the
inner surface of one or both of the plates or heads of the case A, a recess or
cavity L is formed and placed with respect to the opening K, as seen in Fig. 4..
As soon as any one of the pistons, during its upward motion toward the
opening K, passes beyond the lower. end of the concavity or depression L, a
free communication takes place between the water on both sides of it; this
removes the pressure from against the inner surface of the piston, so as to
permit it to readily or freely fall by the power of gravity into a vertical
position and towards its rest z, enabling the water which may be in the
chamber between the arms and the under face of the piston freely to pass out
of the opening K without obstruction to the closing of the piston. A spring m
is placed within the case A over the piston G, as seen in the position in Fig. 4;
it is fastened to the case, and so arranged and formed that the piston may
impinge against it, and be closed down upon its rest in time to prevent its
projection y from improper contact with the partition II. A pinion gear his
attached to one end of the shaft B. To this gear, and so as to operate thereby,
a suitable indicating apparatus or clock-work may be applied, in order to
register the number of revolutions of the shaft, and in consequence thereof the
number of cubic feet of water made during any given time to pass through
the meter or case A. To the other end of the shaft a pulley or any other
suitable contrivance may be attached, for the purpose of moving any
mechanism by the power of the water when it is made to pass through the
case A.
The mechanism above described, instead of being used as a water meter,
may be employed as a motive power, or as a measurer of gas or any other
liquid than water. The apparatus so constructed may be used in any part of
a building below the level of the head of water, and be productive of similar
or nearly similar result as when placed at the lowest parts of such building.
From the above it will be seen that the piston plates D, E, F, G, are not
allowed to come in contact with the inner curved periphery of the case A, the
piece of leather a' being caused to rest against the same, and thus to make
a close, and one not liable to wear; the portion y of each piston plate, by
contact with the radial arm to which it is hinged, preventing the plate when
entirely open from touching the said curved surface.
What I claim of the said Invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,
is, combining with a cylindrical case, such as herein described, and provided

page_text: with induction and eduction passages, and with a segmental stop and leather
cap plate for packing, substantially as described, a series of hinged segmental
pistons hinged to arms projecting from a central shaft or hub, and hinged at
about one-third of the distance from their inner ends, so that when thrown
open-their outer-ends shall not bind against the inner periphery of the cylinder,
and when closed to pass the segmental stop they shall be sustained by a
rest projecting from the central shaft, or its equivalent, having a space
between them and the shaft and arms for the free flow of water or other
fluid under the said pistons, to admit of their closing freely, the whole being
made and combined substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Barlow, have heretofore set my
hand and seal, this 4 day of Nov 1854.
CHARLES BARLOW. (L.S.).