Improvements in Fluid Meters.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fluid Meters.
I, LEWIS HALLOCK NASI, Engineer, a Citizen of the United States, residing
South Norwalk, in the County of Fairfield, in the State of Connecticut, 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:-
My present invention relates to water meters in which a case contains an interior
fixed abutment having alternate projections and recesses or corrugations, and a
piston provided with alternate projections and recesses or corrugations, which co-act
with the corrugation on the abutment to form a plurality of enlarging and contract-
ing measuring-spaces.
My invention consists of certain novel parts and combination of parts particularly
designated in the claims concluding this Specification.
In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated several different forms of meter ;
but my invention is not limited to the forms there shown nor is it limited to the
total combination of elements illustrated in either of said figures, except as
designated in the claims.
Figure represents in vertical section a water meter complete, except the dial
mechanism, taken on the line of Fig. 2. Fig. 1 shows a modification of the
register-connecting device. Fig. 1 shows an enlarged detail sectional view of the
diaphragm joint-forming clamp-grip for the register-connecting device. Fig. 2 is a
horizontal section of the inclosing-case, showing the inlet and outlet ports and
central fixed abutment. Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are horizontal sectional views showing
the piston in different relations to the case and the abutment. Figs. 7 to 13,
inclusive, show modified forms of piston and case. Fig. 14 is a sectional detail of
the lower case-head, taken on the line yy of Fig. 2, Sheet 1, showing the connec-
tion of the ports with the inlet and discharge passages. Fig. 15 shows a modification
in which the bearing projections of the case and abutment are of unequal number
and a piston corresponding therewith. Fig. 16 shows the piston taken from Fig. 2,
Sheet 1.
The following is a description of the accompanying drawings, and the meters
illustrated therein.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the cylinder A is formed with interior
bearing projections a¹ to a, inclosing recess-spaces b' to 6'. The interior abutment B
has projections c¹ to c¹, inclosing and bounding recess-spaces d' to d. Each case
has an inlet-port e to e and an outlet-port f₁ to f, and each recess-space of the
abutment has an inlet port to g¹ and a discharge-port ¹ to h*. The inlet-ports
are supplied from the inlet-passage D, and the discharge-ports 1 to 1 open into
the discharge-passage E. (Shown in full lines, Fig. 1, and in dotted lines in Fig. 2.)
The piston is in the form of a hollow corrugated cylinder having the exterior
bearing projections y' to y, which make perpetual joint-forming contact with the
case recesses to , between which bearing-points are recesses to, in which
the case projections a' to a also make perpetual contact. The interior projections al
to a of the piston make intermittent contact with the walls of the abutment-
recesses to d, while the intermediate abutment-points c¹, &c., make intermittent
contact with the cylinder interior recesses. Thus each case-recess is divided into en-
larging and contracting spaces by the piston projections, and the interior spaces d',
&c., of the piston are also similarly divided by the corrugations of the case
abutment. In its movement each piston projection enters in succession a correspond-
ing case or abutment recess, displacing the water therefrom in succession from
before it, and each space is refilled from behind as the piston moves out of said

page_text: recess-space; hence a description of the action of the piston projections in dis-
placing the water from any one recess-chamber will be a description of their action
in any other similar recess-chamber. When the piston is formed of a thin cylinder,
I prefer to form it with a connecting-web F1, Fig. 1, which also serves as a con-
venient means to connect the registering apparatus; but the latter may be attached
to any other convenient part of the piston in case it is not desired to use the
strengthening web.
I prefer to use the register-connecting device shown, which consists of a gyrating
arm, having a bearing in a plate 7 of the case and its inner end loosely connected
to the piston and its outer end connecting with and driving the registering
mechanism. The inner end of the arm is caused to move in a circular path, and
its outer end will therefore also describe a similar movement, which motion is
communicated to the dial mechanism by differential connecting mechanism. 1
prefer to use for this purpose the differential bevel gearing shown in Fig. 1, which
consists of a driving gear m, secured to the arm, which meshes into and drives a
gear n, secured to the spindle of the dial mechanism. The gears m and n have not
the same number of teeth, and the gear m does not rotate, but gyrates over the
teeth in the gear, so that for each gyration of the gear m the gear n will be moved
a distance equal to the difference in the number of teeth in the two gears.
In Fig. 1 I have shown a simpler means for driving the dial mechanism, which
consists of a crank s, driven directly by the movement of the arm j; but the special
advantage of the differential gear shown in Fig. 1 is that it also forms a speed-
reducing gearing for communicating the movement of the piston to the dial
mechanism with a reduced velocity.
The joint between the arm and the case is formed by a diaphragm, preferably
of rubber, which embraces the said arm-joint and is clamped by a bearing-plase 7
to the case, said arm having a spherical bearing j¹ in said plate. This diaphragm
I prefer to make as thin as possible and to clamp it to the gyrating arm by a nut i,
screwed thereon, as shown in Fig. 1B, Sheet 1. As the peculiar motion of the arm
constantly tends to pull the diaphragm from its clamped point on the arm, to
prevent such opening of the joint the clamping-faces of the arm and nut are made
concave or grooved, so as to form grip-edges i, and thereby make the clamp a
positive hold for the diaphragm, while permitting the latter to have the freest
flexibility with the motion of the arm.
the case.
t is a flexible packing placed in a groove cut in the upper surface of the flange of
When the flanges are not bolted together, the flexible packing extends
above the surface of the metal flange, but when the flanges are bolted it is forced
down into its groove, allowing the metallic faces of the two flanges to come into
close contact. By this means the height of the case-chamber is made certain with
the use of a flexible packing-joint.
Another important feature of my invention is a provision by which the meter is
prevented from being damaged by freezing. For this purpose I form the upper
head of the case so that it shall be very much weaker in thickness at some point, as
at u, than the body of the case, it being, however, made amply strong to sustain the
ordinary pressure of the water to which it will be subjected in actual use, but not
The body
strong enough to sustain the pressure due to the freezing in the case.
of the case is, however, made very strong, so that when the water freezes in the
meter the case will not be injured, but the upper head will yield with the pressure
In order to
of the ice, and thus prevent all excessive strain upon the case.
accomplish this without danger of the case-head changing its form under the water-
pressure and from other causes, I prefer to make the head of sufficient thickness and
then to form a groove u around that portion of the head which it is desired to have
yield to the freezing-pressure. In this way I form a case-head which will keep its
shape under all ordinary conditions of pressure, but which will yield readily to
excessive pressure before the case is in danger of being destroyed. The same effect
can be accomplished by making the upper head of uniform thinness; but for the
reasons given I prefer to form it of unequal thickness.

page_text: Referring now to Figs. 1 to 6 for a description of the specific form and construc-
tion of the co-operating parts therein shown, it will be seen that the interior wall
conformation of the case forms radial projections, terminating in enlarged ends of
the curved form to make the joint with the piston-recesses, while between and by
these radial projections the case-recesses are formed, so that the piston ends will
make joint contact with the walls thereof. The case projections thus formed make
vertical ports, which open into the lower inlet and outlet head ports on each side of
said projections. The fixed abutment has projections, cach standing between
the case-abutments, but not extending to the case-wall, and forming between them
the abutment-recesses. The ports for the abutment-recess spaces are formed on
each side at the ends of the abutment projections, the inlet port g', &c., having free
communication with the inlet-passage D, while the outlet-ports h', &c., are channels
in the case-head and are of an elongated form, so as to allow the water to flow under
the piston in certain positions of its movements to effect the discharge of the water
from the abutment-spaces. The piston is placed between these fixed conformations,
and its interior conformations coincide with the exterior conformations of the
abutment, while its exterior conformations coincide with the case-wall conformations
to operate as described.
I have shown the inlet and the outlet ports as placed only in the lower case-head;
but they may be also placed in an upper head or duplicated in any other suitable
way, which would double the capacity of the ports.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the case-wall projections may be formed by an
inserted cylinder, or they may be cast with the inclosing-case.
The operation of the meter is as follows:
The piston being in position, Fig. 3, water enters the measuring-spaces through
the ports e', &c., g', &c., and escapes from ports f', &c., while the water from space d'
escapes through pass-ports into space, as shown by arrows, driving the piston
in the direction of arrows 2 into position shown in Fig. 4, at which time the space b' has
changed from a receiving to a discharging space. The water from spaced' still escapes
during this time through port ', while the chambers d² d³ d are in free connection
with the supply-ports g², &c. In this way the piston is driven to the position shown
in Fig. 5, at which time the chamber changes from a receiving to a discharging
space. The water now entering and escaping, as shown by the arrows, moves the
piston into the position shown in Fig. 6, from which position the piston is driven, as
Thus in the
shown by arrow 2, back to the original position shown in Fig. 3.
piston's movement all the receiving-chambers 'a', &c., outside of the piston and the
chambers d', &c., inside the piston are successively filled and emptied.
In the modifications shown in Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive, I have shown a variety of
different forms of piston case and abutment, all, however, operating essentially
in the same manner. In Fig. 12, the case has only one bearing projection a', and
the abutment B is in the centre of the horse-shoe-shaped case-chamber. In Fig. 13
two bearing projections are used, and Fig. 15 shows a modification wherein the case
and abutment do not have the same number of bearing projections. In these
several plans the piston is free and has no mechanical connection with the case, since
the pressure of the water serves to keep the piston in contact with the case-walls.
The meter may be made of any desired number of co-acting bearing projections,
and it is not necessary that the piston and case projections should be formed of
circular bearing ends symmetrically placed around the centre of the case, as shown;
but their form may be varied and retain substantially the same mode of operation
described.
I have stated that the contact of the piston with the case is perpetual and
intermittent with the abutment; but in Figs. 12, 13, and 15 such contact is shown
as being perpetual both with the case and with the abutment.
I have stated that the exterior contact of the piston with the case-chamber recess-
walls is perpetual, and the specific construction by which this is effected is illustrated
in Fig. 3, wherein the piston-points y' y' are so widened at the ends as to make
contact with the case-bearing point a before it breaks contact with the case-

page_text: bearing point a'. Therefore each piston-point is always in joint, forming contact
with some portion of the case-recess walls.
Referring to the intermittent contact of the abutment with the piston in Fig. 3,
the abutment-points are not wide enough relatively to the interior conformation of
the piston to make contact at the same time with both sides of the piston-recess, and
hence during a portion of the movement of the piston the contact is not made on
either side of the piston-recess, and therefore such contact will be intermittent in
the figure referred to; but in Figs. 12, 13 and 15 the construction is so modified
that the contact will be continuous both inside and outside of the piston. My
invention, however, is not limited to the specific features above in detail described,
since various modifications may be adopted without departing from the spirit of my
invention or exceeding the scope of the concluding claims. On the contrary, it is
only necessary that there be a meter-chamber having a fixed interior abutment
with suitable exterior recesses or projections, and that there be a hollow piston
provided with suitable interior projections or recesses, which as the piston moves
around within the chamber co-act with the projections or recesses of the abutment
to form a plurality of enlarging and contracting measuring chambers, which
chambers shall be in communication with some suitable ports, which will permit the
water periodically to enter and be discharged from them.
All the pistons illustrated in the drawings revolve around the fixed abutment, but
do not rotate about their own axis. Some of the features of my invention are not
limited to their application with pistons having this motion, but are applicable to
pistons which have other motions-such, for instance, as a motion of rotation about
their own axis. Other features of my invention are applicable to meters having
pistons of construction and modes of operation substantially different from those
described. These points are all indicated by the terms of the claims. Neither is
my invention limited to the use of a hollow piston having both exterior and interior
projections co-acting with projections on the case as well as projections on the
abutment, as it is obvious that the projections on the case and the exterior
projections on the piston may be omitted. This is true of the construction illustrated
in the drawings, or some of them, as the inner and outer sets of ports are separate,
and hence the device will, with obvious modifications, operate with a piston having
only inwardly projecting corrugations.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
:-
1. The combination, with a water meter, of a corrugated interior fixed abutment,
a corrugated inclosing cylinder-wall forming an unobstructed intervening space, a
corrugated piston operating in the unobstructed space between these fixed
corrugations, and suitable inlet and discharge ports, substantially as described, for
the purpose specified.
2. The combination, with a water meter, of a hollow piston having interior and
exterior recess-forming corrugations, a fixed interior corrugated abutment wholly
inclosed by said piston, and inlet and outlet ports for each receiving and discharging
recess for the case and for the piston.
3. The combination, in a water meter, of the case forming the measuring-chamber,
an interior fixed abutment, and a piston having a free movement between them in
every direction within the measuring spaces of the case and of the abutment,
substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
4. The combination, in a water meter, of the case forming the measuring-chamber,
having wall-corrugations an interior fixed abutment having wall-corrugations, and
a piston having exterior and interior wall-corrugations, and a free movement in every
direction between said parts to make intermittent contact with the abutment
projection and perpetual contact with the case projections.
5. The combination, in a water meter, of a corrugated piston having a free
revolving non-rotating motion with a corrugated inclosing-case and a corrugated

page_text: interior fixed abutment, the corrugations of the piston being brought successively
into contact with the case-recesses and with the abutment-recesses moved therein,
and the contact maintained without and within the piston during the inflow and
discharge of the water into and from each corrugation.
6. The combination, in a water meter, of a case having wall-corrugations, a fixed
interior abutment having wall-corrugations, and inlet and discharge ports for each
corrugation, and a corrugated piston having a free revolving non-rotating motion to
operate the said ports.
7. The combination, in a water meter, of a case having wall-corrugations, a fixed
interior abutment having wall-corrugations, and a piston having exterior and
interior corrugations forming co-operating bearing projections inclosing and
bounding measuring-spaces and inlet and outlet ports located on each side of the
bearing projections of the abutment and of the case controlled by said piston.
8. The combination, in a water meter, of a chamber-forming case having one or
more radial bearing-points, an interior fixed abutment, and a hollow piston having
a free revolving non-rotating movement dividing the chamber into measuring-spaces,
with inlet and outlet ports opening into the measuring-spaces both inside and outside
of the piston and controlled by its movements.
9. The combination, in a water meter, of a corrugated cylinder-wall, a corrugated
interior fixed abutment, and a corrugated piston having a free revolving non-
rotating movement dividing the chamber into measuring-spaces, with inlet-ports e',
&c., and outlet ports f¹, &c., opening into said spaces exterior to said piston, the
outlet ports g', &c., opening interior to the piston, and the recess-ports ', &c.,
making communication from one side to the other of the piston.
10. A water meter case having interior wall projections forming measuring-spaces,
an interior fixed abutment having exterior wall projections forming measuring-
spaces, and ports communicating with the said measuring-spaces, in combination
with a hollow piston having exterior and interior projections operating with a
revolving non-rotating movement between the said case ports to control the flow
into and from ports for each said space.
11. The combination, with a water meter, of a register-connecting device con-
sisting of a gyrating arm, and a differential gear consisting of the gears m and n,
having an unequal number of teeth, connecting the said arm with the register
mechanism.
12. The combination, in a water meter, of a register-connecting device con-
sisting of a gyrating arm connecting the meter-moving parts and the register
mechanism with a joint-forming diaphragm, and a clamping nut having grip-edges
for the diaphragm, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
13. In a register-connecting device for a water meter, the combination, with a
gyrating arm and a joint forming diaphragm, of a joint-forming clamp consisting of
a clamping-nut having a concave or grooved face, and a corresponding concave or
grooved shoulder on the connecting device forming grip-edges for holding the
diaphragm.
14. The combination, with a water meter having its chamber-forming case made
relatively strong, of an inclosing-head therefor made relatively weak, whereby to
form a yielding part against undue interior pressure.
15. The cover or inclosing-head of a water meter case having a groove or surface-
recess to reduce the thickness of the inclosing-head over the measuring-chamber,
substantially as described, and for the purpose stated.
16. The combination, in a water meter, of a case having wall-bearing projections
terminating in wide points, and an interior fixed abutment leaving narrow bearing-
points with a hollow piston having wide external bearing-points and an interior con-
formation, as described, and for the purpose specified.
17. The combination, in a water meter of a corrugated cylinder-wall, a corrugated
interior abutment, and a corrugated piston having a free revolving non-rotating
movement dividing the chamber into measuring-spaces with inlet-ports c¹, &c., and
outlet-ports 1 &c., opening into said spaces exterior to said piston, the outlet-

page_text: ports g, &c., opening exterior to the piston, the channel-ports h', &c., and the
communicating inlet and outlet passages D and E, substantially as described, for
the purpose specified.
18. The combination, in a water meter, of a case provided with a fixed interior
abutment having exterior recesses and arms or projections, and suitable inlet and
outlet ports, with a hollow revolving non-rotating piston, having inwardly-projecting
arms which enter and sweep through said recesses to control said ports.
19. The meter-case having a fixed interior abutment having two or more wall-
recesses and inlet and outlet ports, within said recesses, in combination with a
hollow revolving non-rotating piston having arms or projections which enter and
sweep within said recesses to control said ports, as set forth.
20. In a water meter, the hollow revolving non-rotating piston having interior
wall-arms or projections and interior wall-recesses formed by said arms, in com-
bination with a case having inlet and outlet ports, and a fixed interior abutment B,
having an exterior wall conformation corresponding with the interior conformation of
the piston, substantially as described.
21. The combination, with the fixed abutment having measuring-chambers
provided with inlet and outlet ports, of the circular hollow piston surrounding the
abutment and arranged to move freely between the fixed heads of said measuring-
chambers, and having inwardly projecting arms adapted to enter and sweep through
said abutment-chambers, substantially as described.
22. The combination, with the circular hollow piston arranged to move freely
between the fixed heads of the measuring-chambers and having a plurality of
inwardly projecting arms, of the stationary abutment having a corresponding number
of measuring-chambers through which said piston-arms sweep, and provided with
inlet and outlet ports which are controlled by the movements of said piston,
substantially as described.
23. The combination, with the circular hollow piston arranged to operate freely
between the fixed heads of the measuring-chambers and having a plurality of
inwardly-projecting arms, of the stationary abutment having a corresponding number
of measuring-chambers, through which said piston-arms have sweeping movements,
and provided with inlet and outlet ports which are controlled by the movements of
the piston, the said piston arms being held in contact with the walls of said chambers
and caused to sweep through them by the pressure of the water upon the inner
surface of the piston, substantially as described.
24. The combination, in a water meter, of a case provided with a fixed abutment
having a plurality of measuring-chambers having inlet and outlet ports, with a shell
surrounding the abutment arranged to operate freely between fixed heads of the
measuring-chambers and having a number of inwardly projecting arms corresponding
to the measuring-chambers, which are caused to enter and sweep through said chambers
by the pressure of the water upon the inner surface of said shell, and means, sub-
stantially such as described, whereby the movements of said piston are communicated
to the registering mechanism.
25. The combination, with the circular hollow piston arranged to operate freely
between the fixed heads of the measuring-chambers and having a plurality of
inwardly projecting arms, of the fixed abutment having a corresponding number of
measuring-chambers through which said piston-arms sweep, each chamber being
provided with an inlet and outlet port, which are formed in the bottom chamber-
head and are controlled by the movement of said piston, substantially as herein
set forth.
26. The combination of a water meter case having a fixed central abutment
formed with outwardly-projecting bearing-arms and intermediate recess-spaces, with
an annular or hollow piston having inward wall projections or arms co-acting with
the abutment-arms to divide the recesses into enlarging or contracting measuring
spaces, an upper head making joint contact with the upper end of the fixed abutment
and suitable inlet and discharge ports for the measuring-spaces, substantially as
described.

page_text: 27. The combination with the fixed abutment having measuring-chambers
provided with inlet and outlet ports, of the circular hollow piston surrounding the
abutment arranged to move freely between fixed heads of said measuring-chambers,
and having inwardly projecting arms adapted to enter and sweep through said
abutinent-chambers, an inclosing case forming a chamber above said piston, and
register-connecting mechanism arranged within said chamber connected with said
moving piston, substantially as herein set forth.
28. The combination, in a water meter, of a case provided with a fixed interior
abutment having exterior recesses and arms or projections, and suitable inlet and
outlet ports, with a hollow revolving non-rotating piston having inwardly-projecting
arms, which enter and sweep through said recesses to control said ports, and fixed
end plates, between which said piston freely moves.
29. The combination, in a water meter, with a circular hollow piston arranged to
move freely between fixed heads of the measuring-chambers, and having a plurality
of inwardly-projecting arms, of a fixed abutment-block having a corresponding
number of measuring chambers, through which said piston-arms sweep each chamber
being provided with an inlet and outlet port which are formed in a chamber-head.
30. The combination, in a water meter, of a case provided with a fixed interior
abutment having exterior recesses and arms or projections, and suitable inlet and
outlet ports, with a hollow revolving non-rotating piston having inwardly-projecting
arms which enter and sweep through said recesses.
31. The combination, in a water meter, of a case provided with a fixed central
abutment having exterior recesses and arms or projections, and suitable inlet and
outlet ports, with a hollow piston having inwardly-projecting arms which enter and
sweep through said recesses to control said ports."
32. The combination, in a water meter, of a case provided with a fixed central
abutment having exterior recesses and arms or projections, and suitable inlet and
outlet ports, with a hollow piston having inwardly-projecting arms which enter and
sweep through said recesses to control said ports, and fixed end plates, between
which said piston moves.
33. The combination, in a water meter, of a fixed central abutment having
measuring-spaces and suitable inlet and outlet ports, the circular hollow piston
surrounding said abutment and having inwardly-projecting arms, the inclosing-case,
and a registering mechanism and suitable connections between the register and the
moving piston.
Dated this 28th day of November 1890
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.