IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY FLUID METERS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Sturge, of Kennington, in the County of
Surrey, and Alfred Sturge, of Northfleet, in the County of Kent, Engi-
neers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY FLUID METERS."
Scaled the 9th September 1856, and dated the 13th March 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Sturge and Alfred
Sturge at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 13th March 1856.
We, JOSEPH STURGE, of Kennington, in the County of Surrey, and ALFRED
STURGE, of Northfleet, in the County of Kent, Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY FLUID METERS,"
to be as follows:-
The first part of our Invention consists in adapting a modification of a
screw in such a manner that its revolutions on its axis shall be the measure of
the quantity of fluid passing through a tube or case.
The second part of our Invention consists in so forming the tube or case
that the fluid shall pass in straight or nearly straight lines throught it, causing
the revolutions of the screw vanes to be a correct measure of the quantity of
fluid passing. We use one or more vanes attached to a spindle, forming a
portion of a screw of one or more threads. The spindle to which these vanes
are attached is placed perpendicularly in a case rather larger in diameter than
the diameter of the vanes; the lower end of the spindle rests upon a centre.
upon which it freely turns, and the other end passes through the top of the
case, and is furnished with a worm for communicating motion to the dials.
The case is formed of any suitable material. It consists of a cylinder, the
bottom and top being covered with a perforated plate. In the bottom plate a
centre is fixed, of metal or suitable hard material, for the spindle to revolve on;

page_text: the top plate, has a hole in the centre to allow the spindle to pass loosely
through it. The fluid is admitted underneath the bottom plate, and whatever
motion the fluid may have, is changed into a perpendicular motion by passing.
through the perforated plate or plates. The advantages claimed for this meter
are,―
First, its simplicity and comparative freedom from danger. of derangement.
Secondly, the small wear and tear, the working parts being extremely light,
and the weight of the vanes and spindle being in most cases balanced by the.
ascending column of fluid.
Thirdly, the action being independent of the amount of pressure, and not
dependent on individual adjustment, no wearing of the parts can sensibly affect
the registration of the quantity of fluid passing.
Lastly, the diminished cost of the instrument.
The dials preferred for registering are those in common use for gas and other
purposes, but for this no claim is made.
What we claim is, the use of a blade or blades forming parts of a screw of
one or more threads, the axis of which is placed perpendicularly in a chamber
through which a column of liquid is made to flow.
Secondly, we claim the use of perforated plates placed at the bottom or
top of the case, or both, causing the fluid to flow in perpendicular lines, but
we do not confine ourselves to the shape or dimension of the perforations, or
in all cases to the use of both plates.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Sturge and Alfred Sturge in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 12th September 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOSEPHI
STURGE, of Kennington, in the County of Surrey, and ALFRED STURGE, of
Northfleet, in the County of Kent, Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Thirteenth day
of March, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, and in the nineteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said Joseph Sturge and Alfred Sturge, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, Her special license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that
we, the said Joseph Sturge and Alfred Sturge, our executors, administrators'

page_text: and assigns, or such others as we, the said Joseph Sturge and Alfred
Sturge, our executors, administrators, or assigns, should. at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of
years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and the Isle of Man, our Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY
FLUID METERS," upon the condition, amongst others, that we, the said Joseph
Sturge and Alfred Sturge, our executors or administrators, should particu-
larly describe and ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under our
hands and seals, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said in part recited Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Joseph Sturge and Alfred Sturge,
hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the present Specification thereof, and the Drawing hereunto annexed, that is
to say:-
Firstly, our Invention consists in adapting a modification of a screw in such
a manner that its revolutions on its axis shall be the measure of the quantity
of fluid passing through a tube or case.
Secondly, our Invention consists in so forming the tube or case that the
fluid shall pass in straight or nearly straight lines through it, causing the
revolutions of the screw vanes to be a correct measure of the quantity of fluid
passing. We use one or more vanes (A) attached to a spindle, forming a
portion of a screw of one or more threads. The spindle to which these vanes
are attached is placed perpendicularly in a cylindrical case (B), rather larger
in diameter than the diameter of the screw; the lower end of the spindle rests
upon a centre upon which it freely turns, and the other end passes through the
top of the case, and is furnished with a worm for communicating motion to
the dials. The upper end of the spindle is furnished either with a collar, which
works against the top of the case, or with a centre at the extreme end of the
spindle. We prefer the last-named method.
The screw can be made by casting the whole of metal in a mould properly
struck, or by stamping each separate vane in a die or dies, and afterwards con-
necting them to the spindle by means of a metal boss or central block cast on
to them, or any other method of forming a perfect screw. The case (which is
shewn in the annexed Drawing) is formed of any suitable materials. It con-
sists of a cylinder (B, into the upper and lower end of which is introduced a

page_text: 'perforated plate or grating (C). A centre of metal or other suitable hard
material for the spindle to revolve upon is fixed either to the lower perforated
plate or grating, or to the bottom cover of the cylinder; the upper plate or
grating, as also the top of the cylinder, has a hole in the centre to allow the
spindle to pass freely through it. The worm, or the spindle, and the works
immediately connected; are covered by a close fitting cap or cover, which can
be filled with oil, and on the top of which are affixed the dials for registering
the quantity of fluid passing through the meter. The fluid is admitted under-
neath the lower perforated plate or grating, and ascends through the upper
plate or grating, and whatever motion the fluid may have, is changed into a
perpendicular motion by passing through the perforated plates or gratings.
The advantages claimed for this meter are:-
First, its simplicity and comparative freedom from danger of derangement.
Secondly, the small wear and tear, the working parts being extremely light,
and the weight of the vanes and spindle being in most cases balanced by the
ascending column of fluid.
Thirdly, the action being independent of the amount of pressure, and not
dependent on individual adjustment, no wearing of the parts can sensibly affect
the registration of the quantity of fluid passing.
Lastly, the diminished cost of the instrument.
The dials preferred for registering are those in common use for gas and other
purposes, but for this no claim is made.
What we claim is, the use of a blade or blades forming a part or parts of a
screw of one or more threads, the axis of which is placed perpendicularly in a
chamber through which a column of liquid is made to flow.
Secondly, we claim the use of perforated plates or gratings placed at the
upper or lower ends of the case, or both, causing the fluid to flow in perpendi-
'cular lines, but we do not confine ourselves to the shape or dimension of the
perforations or openings, or in all cases to the use of both of the plates, and
we prefer that the length of the perforations should be at least twice their
diameter.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joseph Sturge and Alfred Sturge,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Twelfth day of September,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
TAANDE
JOSEPH STURGE. (L.S.)
ALFRED STURGE. (L.S.)