IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID METERS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon and
Morgan-Brown, Engineers & Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FLUID METERS." A communication from abroad by John Dunckler Gould
and Clarence Austin Chandler, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th April 1880.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown,
Engineers & Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue
Laffitte, Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID METERS." [A communication from
abroad by John Dunckler Gould and Clarence Austin Chandler, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to fluid meters of that class in which the operation of the
valve or valves is controlled by a float, and the Invention consists essentially in the
combination in a meter of a double acting counter balanced float, it operating
the moveable part or valve of a four-way valve contrivance, as hereinafter
described.
Figure 1 represents in front elevation a fluid meter containing the Invention, one
face of the case being removed to shew the interior parts, the full and dotted lines
shewing the float in two different positions.
Figure 2 is a vertical section taken back of the float support; and
Figure 3, a detail of the connection between the valve-stem or arm and the
tripper.
The case a of the meter, preferably of cast metal, is divided by partition b into
two chambers r, s, in which moves the float e, made preferably as a shell and of
sheet metal, such as copper.
This float has attached to it a leg or support e³, which at a point intermediate of
its length is mounted upon the axle g.
The lower end of the support e² is enlarged or weighted, as at h, to counter
balance the weight of the float, thus permitting it to be easily moved by the fluid
as it, rising in the chamber 7 or 8 then being filled, acts upon the end of the said
float.

page_text: That portion of the meter case between the chambers r, 8, the interior wall i of
which forms what I shall hereinafter call the valve-seat, is provided with four
ports 3, 4, 5, and 6.
The inlet for the meter caso is designated at j.
The port 3 at the lower side of the partition 6 permits the fluid to enter the
chamber like space within the valve seat. The ports 4 and 6 communicate
respectively with the chambers 7 and 8, and the port s is the outlet for the fluid.
In connection with this valve-seat is employed a valve 2, made as a plate mounted
on an axle m, one arm or stem of which, as at m³, is extended upward so as to be
acted upon by suitable projections on the valve-tripper n, herein shown as a loose
arm sustained by the said axle, and provided with a weight n², the said tripper
being free to move with relation to the said axle when acted upon by projections on
the support or counter balance c², to thereby permit the said tripper to be moved
through the instrumentality of the float in advance of the movement of the valve
and its axle or stein.
The tripper has in it a valve-moving projection n³, herein made as a loop (seo
Figure 3), it being so formed as to afford a certain amount of lost motion between
it and the said stem m², to enable the tripper to be lifted by the float into substan-
tially vertical position, after which any further movement of the tripper will place
it under the control of its weight ³, which will move it forward suddenly with
more or less force, according to the specific gravity or size of the weight, causing
the loop or valve-moving projection to strike the arm or stein m³ of the valve as
with a blow, and turn axle m and valve quickly, such blow starting the valve
promptly and carrying it to its next position.
The counter-balanced part his provided with two pins 8, 9, to act upon the
tripper at the proper times, and lift it into vertical position and a little past its
centre of gravity.
When the parts are as in Figure 2 the fluid will pass through ports 3, 4, into
chamber, act upon the end of the counter-balanced float in the said chamber, turn
it in the direction of the arrow 10, and cause the opposite end of the float e then
resting on and in contact with the fluid in chambers to force the fluid from this
latter chamber c out through the ports 6 and 5.
In the Drawing the space between the float and the case a and partition bis
exagerated to avoid confusion of lines, but in practice it will be understood that
the float will never be made as a fit to the space between the parts a, b, but will
be of such size as will just permit the float to move therein with the smallest
practicable amount of air space, so as to enable an air communication to be kept up
between the two chambers 7 and 8.
This air space is made available in the discharge of the fluid from the meter, as
the fluid in the chamber to be exhausted is, by the air communication kept up.
between the said chambers, subjected to the same pressure as that in the receiving
chamber.
Instead of the loop n³ it is obvious I might use two projections, or one projection
in a slot in the tripper n, and so also the tripper might be placed upon an
independent axis.
Tho valve is of a thickness to cover the port holes when opposite them, and the
valvol and valve-seat form what might be called a four-way valve.
Any usual registering apparatus may be suitably attached, and derive its motion
from that of the valve arın or of the float.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
Sth October 1880.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown,
Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue
Laffitte, Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID METERS." A communication from
abroad by John Dunckler Gould and Clarence Austin Chandler, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
This Invention relates to fluid meters of that class in which the operation of the
valve or valves is controlled by a float, and the Invention consists essentially in
the combination in a meter of a double acting counterbalanced float, it operating
the moveable part or valve of a four-way valve contrivance, as herein after
described.
Figure 1 represents in front elevation a fluid meter containing the Invention, one
face of the case being removed to show the interoir parts, the full and dotted lines
shewing the float in two different positions.
Figure 2 is a vertical section taken back of the float support; and
Figure 3, a detail of the connection between the valve-stem or arm and the tripper.
The case a of the meter, preferably of cast metal, is divided by partition b into
two chambers 7, 8, in which noves the float e, made preferably as a shell and of
sheet metal, such as copper.
This float has attached to it a leg or support e³, which at a point intermediate of
its length is mounted upon the axle
J.
The lower end of the support e³ is enlarged or weighted, as at h, to counter
balance the weight of the float, thus permitting it to be easily moved by the fluid
ns it, rising in the chamber 7 or 8 then being filled, acts upon the end of the said
float.
That portion of the meter case between the chambers 7, 8, the interior wall i of
which forins what I shall hereinafter call the valve seat, is provided with four ports
3, 4, 5, and 6.
The inlet for the meter-case is designated at j.
The port 3 at the lower side of the partition b permits the fluid to enter the
chamber like space within the valve scat. The ports 4 and 6 communicate respec-
tively with the chambers 7 and 8, and the port & is the outlet for the fluid.
r
In connection with this valve seat is employed a valve l, made as a plate mounted
on an axle m, one arm or stem of which, as at m², is extended upward so as to be
acted upon by suitable projections on the valve tripper n, herein shown as a loose
arm sustained by the said axle, and provided with a weight n², the said tripper
being free to move with relation to the said axle when acted upon by projections
on the support or counterbalance e², to thereby permit the said tripper to bo moved
through the instrumentality of the float in advance of the movement of the valve
and its axle or stem.
The tripper has in it a valve-moving projection n³, herein made as a loop (sec
Figure 3), it being so formed as to afford a certain amount of lost motion between
it and the said stem m² to enable the tripper to be lifted by the float into substan-
tially vertical position, after which any further movement of the tripper will place
it under the control of its weight n², which will move it forward suddenly with
more or less force according to the specific gravity or size of the weight, causing
the loop or valve moving projection to strike the arm or stein m² of the valve as
with a blow, and turn axle m and valve quickly, such blow starting the valve
promptly and carrying it to its next position.
The counter-balanced part h is provided with two pins 8, 9, to act upon the

page_text: tripper at the proper times, and lift it into vertical position and a little past its
centre of gravity.
When tho parts are as in Figure 2 the fluid will pass through ports 3, 4, into
chamber r, act upon the end of the counter-balanced float in the said chamber, turn
it in the direction of the arrow 10, and cause the opposite end of the float e then
resting on and in contact with the fluid in chambers to force the fluid from this
latter chamber c out through the ports 6 and 5.
In the Drawing the space between the float and the case a and partition b is
exaggerated to avoid confusion of lines, but in practice it will be understood that
the float will never be made as a fit to the space between the parts a, b, but will be
of such size as will just permit the float to move therein with the smallest practicable
amount of air space, so as to enable an air communication to be kept up between
the two chambers r and 8.
This air space is made available in the discharge of the fluid from the meter, as
the fluid in the chamber to be exhausted is, by the air communication kept up
between the said chambers, subjected to the same pressure as that in the receiving
chamber.
Instead of the loop n³ it is obvious I might use two projections, or one projection
in a slot in the tripper n, and so also the tripper might be placed upon an indepen-
dent axis.
The valve is of a thickness to cover the port holes when opposite them, and the
valve and valve sent form what might be called a four way valve.
Any usual registering apparatus may be suitably attached and derive its motion
from that of the valve arm or of the float.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,―
First. In a fluid-meter the combination with the case, and valve to control the
passage of the fluid through it, of the double-acting counter-balanced pivoted float,
substantially as described.
Second. In a fluid meter the counter-balanced float and valve to control the flow
of water through the meter, combined with the tripper actuated by the float to act
upon and turn the valve, substantially as described.
r
Third. In a fluid meter provided with two chambers 7 and 8, the pivoted double-
acting float placed in the said chamber, and proportioned in size with relation to
the said chambers, as herein described, to always ensure an air communication
between the said chambers in all positions of the float, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
W. MORGAN-BROWN. (L.S.)