Improvements in Fluid Meters.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fluid Meters.
1, FRED WILLIAM HOLT, St. George New Brunswick, Canada, Civil Engineer,
lo 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 invention relates to improvements in fluid meters, and it consists of a,
cylinder, a piston moving therein, an outwardly projecting rod operated by the.
piston and a registering and a valve operating mechanism which are set in motion
by the rod, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly
referred to in the claims at the end of the application.
My improved meter is of the piston type, and the invention therein contained
refers more particularly to the novel manner in which the cylinder valves are
operated by the mechanism herein shown and described, in which the power for
throwing the said valves is derived from a spring held in torsion.
The object of my invention is to construct a meter which will measure the
quantity of fluid passing through it with great accuracy; the mechanism for
accomplishing this result being extremely sensitive and capable of a very exact
adjustment.
Referring to the accompanying drawing,
Fig. is a side elevation of my improved meter a portion of the same being shown
in section.
Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.
Fig. 3, is a plan view of the registering and valve operating mechanism.
A, represents the cylinder, A' the cylinder heads and B the tubular piston guide
which extends through the centre of the cylinder, and in which between its centre
and each end are formed the longitudinal slots B', B²; C represents the piston head
which moves within the cylinder A, upon the guide B.
Within the guide B, is the piston rod D, having a transverse pin E, secured to
its inner end which extends through the slot B', in the guide B. The said rod is
constructed with a longitudinal slot D', near its centre, and toward the outer
projected end of the rod is formed the slot D².
Surrounding the outer end of the rod D, and extending into the guide B; past
the slot B2, is the sleeve. F, and extending through said sleeve and the slot B, is
the transverse pin E'.
Also secured to the sleeve F, and extending through the slot D², are the pins
or projections G, G. The outer end of the sleeve F, is screw threaded and
swivelled as shown upon the outer end of the rod D, is the inwardly extending
interiorly screw threaded cap H, which engages the said screw threaded end of
the sleeve F, and by this means the sleeve is adjusted on the rod D, and the
distance between the pins E, E is thus regulated.
The piston head C, moving on the guide Bengages the said pins in its recipro-
cating movement which moves the rod D back and forth which in turn operates
the valve throwing mechanism presently to be described.
From the above it will be observed the length of the piston stroke will be
regulated by the distance between the pins E, E, and this distance is regulated as
described above.
Extending outward from the end of the cylinder are the bearings I, II, and
journalled therein respectively and in a line with each other are the short shafts J.
and K. Rigidly secured to the shaft J, is the horizontally extending arm L. the
tree end of which passes between the pins G, G, on the reciprocating valve rod D
:

page_text: Also secured to the shaft J, and extending downward and outward therefrom is the
trip operating arm M.
The adjacent ends of the shafts J, K are connected by the torsion spring N
which is secured thereto at its upper and lower end respectively by the
clamps J, K.
Extending outward from the lower edge of the end of the cylinder, and opposite
the bearing I, is the support O, having downwardly projecting stops O', at its inner
and outer ends as shown. Pivoted to the opposite sides and ends of the support
are the L-shaped trips or latches P, Q, which are notched upward at their outer
ends as shown at R. These trips are pivoted at their angles to the support O, and
the horizontal arms thereof being larger than the vertical arms, their tendency is
to sag downward and thus draw the vertical arms towards each other. Springs P
are also employed as shown pushing the said vertical arms toward each other.
When the horizontal arns thus sag, an angular space is formed by the notches R,
and the projections O¹.
'Mounted in the upper ends of the vertical arms of the trips P, Q are the
inwardly projecting set screws Q', and extending between these set screws is the
outer end of the arm M.
Secured to the lower end of the shaft K, is the horizontal arm S, which extends
outward beneath the supports O, and the trips S, and secured to the upper face of
this arm immediately below the support O is the stop or projection S¹.
T, represents the valve operating rod, which is provided with projections T",
near its outer end between which the outer end of the arm S, extends. Located
directly beneath the cylinder A is the inlet chamber U which communicates at
its ends with the opposite ends of the cylinder through the ports U. The vertical
passage V, also places the ports in communication with the outlet chamber V
The valves W, are pivoted at their lower ends to the bottom of the chamber U,
directly beneath the centres of the ports U¹, so that by moving the upper ends of
the valves to one side the cylinder and outlet chamber are placed in communication,
and by moving them to the opposite side the cylinder and chamber are connected
as will be readily understood. The said valves are connected by a link Y, pivoted
thereto at its opposite ends, and the inner end of the rod T, which extends through
the wall of the passage V, is connected to one of the valves by a short link Y,
thereby completing the union between the valves and their operating mechanism.
Secured to the upper end of the shaft J, is the transverse pin 2 and pivotally
connected to the ends of this pin, on opposite sides of the said shaft, are the arms 3
notched at their outer ends. Secured to the end of the cylinder is a registering
mechanism 4, of any preferred construction, which is set in motion or operated by
the horizontal worm shaft 5. This shaft is mounted on the upper side of the
bearing I, and secured thereto are the heads 6, and upon the inner faces of these
heads, are the inwardly projecting pins 7, which are engaged by the notched ends
of the pivoted arms 3.
The shaft J, being vibrated the toothed drums will be pushed forward or
rotated by one of the arms 3, while the other arm is being drawn backward
for a new hold and vice versa, so that in each vibration of the shaft J, the worm
shaft 5, is caused to partially revolve which movement actuates the registering
mechanismi.
The operation of the meter being the same whether the fluid be admitted in
the right or left hand end of the cylinder, the movement of the various parts
will be followed when the inlet chamber U, is in communication with the left
hand end of the cylinder and the cylinder's right hand end connected with the
outlet.
The valves being thus placed, as shown in Figure 1, the outer end of the valve
throwing rod is drawn inward and with it, the outer end of the arm S. While in
this position the stop S¹, on said arm is confined in the angular space formed by
the notch R, on the trip Q, and the inner projection O. The said arm is thus
locked and prevented from moving to the right.

page_text: Fluid entering the left hand end of the cylinder forces the piston C, to the right
bringing it in contact with the pin E¹, secured to the rod D. The pressure con-
tinuing, the rod is moved also to the right and with it the free end of the arm L.
By this means the shaft J, is partially rotated. The shafts J, and K, being
connected by the spring N, and the last named shaft being held rigid by the
locked arm S, it will be seen that the shaft J, being thus rotated will twist the
spring.
The arm M, being connected to the shaft J, will have the same movement as
the arm L, and in being carried to the right as the rod D, moves in that direction,
its free end will be brought in contact with the screw Q', on the upper end of the
trip Q. The movement continuing the trip will be tilted and the free end of its
horizontal arm raised releasing the stop $, on arm S. The latter being thus freed
will be thrown to the right by the contraction of the spring N, drawing outward
with it the valve rod which movement throws the valves so as to release the fluid
contained in the left hand end of the cylinder and place its right hand end in com-
munication with the inlet or supply. The operation is then reversed, the arm S,
being held to the extreme right by the trip P, the outer stop O', until released by
the inward movement of the arm M.
The shaft J, being oscillated, the registering mechanism is set in motion as above
described.
The object of the screws P, Q, is to regulate the tension of the spring; and
this having been adjusted the length of the stroke of the piston is made to conform
thereto by means of the adjustable sleeve on the rod.
The amount of fluid required in either end to move the piston the length of its
stroke can be calculated and the registering mechanism being moved alike by every
partial rotation of the shaft J, it will be seen that the amount of fluid which has
passed through the meter can be ascertained with precision.
To avoid noise all the pins and loose connections are covered with washers or
cushings of suitable yielding tubing.
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 I
claim is :-
1st. In a meter, the combination with a cylinder, a slotted hollow guide therein
and a piston moving on said guide, of a projecting rod which reciprocates in the
guide, a stop secured to the inner end of the rod, an adjustable sleeve on said rod,
a stop secured to the sleeve, both of said stops being engaged by the piston, a
registering and a valve throwing mechanism which are operated by the rod, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
2nd. In a meter, the combination with a cylinder, a slotted hollow guide therein,
arid a piston moving on said guide, of a projecting rod which reciprocates in the
guide, a stop secured to the inner end of the rod, a sleeve on said rod, a stop secured
to the sleeve, both of said stops being engaged by the piston, an interiorly screw
threaded cap swiveled to the outer end of the rod and which engages the outer end
of the sleeve whereby the latter is made adjustable in relation to the rod, and a
registering and a valve throwing mechanism which are operated by the rod,
substantially as shown and described.
3rd. In a meter, the combination with a cylinder, a reciprocating rod and a
piston, of a shaft journaled to one side of the rod, an arm secured to said shaft
which is loosely connected to the rod, a registering mechanism which is actuated by
the shaft, and a valve throwing mechanism, which is also operated by the shaft,
substantially as shown and described.
4th. In a ineter, the combination with a cylinder, a reciprocating rod, a piston
and a partially revolving shaft which is operated by the rod, of a laterally pro-
ecting pin in the upper end of the shaft, arms loosely connected to the opposite
ends of the said pin, a worm shaft, heads secured thereon which are engaged

page_text: alternately by the said arms, a registering mechanism which is operated by the
worm shaft and a valve throwing mechanising substantially as shown and described.
5th. In a meter, the combination with a cylinder, a reciprocating rod and a
piston, of a shaft. which is partially rotated by tlie rod, a second shaft adjacent the
first named: shaft, a spring which is clamped at its opposite ends to the adjacent
ends of the shafts, a valve throwing mechanism which is operated by the said shafts,
and a registering mechanism, substantially as shown and described.
6th. In a meter, the combination of a cylinder, a reciprocating rod and a piston,.
of a shaft J, which is partially rotated by said rod, arm M, on said shaft, shaft K,
a spring which connects the adjacent ends of the shafts, arm S, secured to shaft K,
a valve throwing rod which is reciprocated by the arm S, a locking mechanism for
said rod which is operated by the arm M, and a registering mechanism, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
7th. In a meter, the combination with a cylinder, a reciprocating rod and a
piston, of a shaft J, which is partially rotated by the said rod, arm M, shaft K, a
spring connecting the adjacent ends of the shafts J, K, arm S, a valve throwing rod
reciprocated by the arm S, pivoted latches which lock the said rod at the ends of
its stroke and which are engaged by the arm S, and a registering mechanism,
substantially as shown and described.
8th. In a meter, the combination with a cylinder, a reciprocating rod and a
piston, of shaft J, which is partially rotated by said rod, arm M, shaft K, a spring
which connects the said shafts, arm S, a valve throwing rod which is operated by
said arm, pivoted latches having notebed ends which engage the arm S, at the end
of its throw, inwardly projecting set screws on the opposite ends of the latches and
which are engaged by the arm M, and a registering mechanism, substantially as
shown and described.
9th. In a meter, the combination with a cylinder, a reciprocating rod, and a
piston, of shaft J, which is partially rotated by said rod, arm M, shaft K, a spring
connecting said shafts, arm S, a valve throwing rod operated by said arm,
support O, having projections O₁, L-shaped latches pivoted to said support and
having notched lower ends which engage and hold the arm, S, at the ends of its
throw, set screws in the upper ends of the latches, which are engaged by the
arm M, and a registering mechanism, substantially as shown and described.
10th. In a meter, the combination with a cylinder, provided with ports at its
opposite ends and an inlet and outlet chamber arranged beneath the cylinder which
are in communication with said ports, of valves pivoted to the bottom of said inlet
chamber directly beneath the ports and which are adapted to close either the inlet
or outlet chamber, a link extending through the inlet chamber and pivotally con-
nected at its ends to the valves an outwardly extending valve operating rod, a
piston a reciprocating rod and a registering mechanism actuated by said rod,
substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 10th day of Tul, 1905
F. W. HOLT,
By L.. W., per F. B.