Year: 1886

page_text: I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication from
Daniel A. Sutherland residing at Lynn Massachusetts United States of America)
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object to provide means whereby the quantity of
water or other fluid taken from a reservoir or pipe and delivered at some near or
remote point of delivery may be conveniently and accurately determined. The
nature and the construction of this invention are fully described and specifically
claimed hereinafter.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification Figure 1
is a side elevation of this invention complete; this view comprises the distributing
device in vertical central section, the necessary connecting pipes for conducting the
fluid to and from the same, also a tank, a float, and connecting mechanism for opera-
ting the distributor and a measuring device, all of these parts are more specifically
shown and described hereinafter. Figure 2 is a plan view of a section of the
distributor made on dotted linex of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a side elevation
representing the measuring buckets and connecting mechanism for marking the
indicator (not shown). Figure 4 is a perspective of the measuring buckets
detached. Figure 5 is a side elevation of the distributor detached and partially
sectioned to show the interior chamber thereof and directly above the distributor
is also shown in this view the follower or spigot that operates in the interior
chamber of the distributor. Figure 6 is also a side elevation of a modified form of
distributor.
The distributor A is preferably composed of non corrosive metal. It is formed
with an interior chamber B leading into which is an induction part a and leading
from which are two or more preferably a series of eduction parts e The eduction
parts are preferably made equal to each other in size as shown in Figure 5. The
bottom half of this distributor is enclosed in a conical shaped shell or casing E as
Di Q71

page_text: shown in Figure 1. The supply pipe F passes through the side of this shell and
enters directly into the part or channel a thereby conducting fluid directly into the
chamber of the distributor from which it escapes through the eduction parts e into
the chamber of the shell E and passing downward is carried off by a suitable
delivery pipe H to the point of delivery. Communicating with one of the eduction
parts e is the pipe M by which all liquid that exhausts through such part is con-
ducted to a measuring device (to be described hereinafter) and the quantity thereof
being ascertained by measurement we have only to multiply this quantity by the
number of eduction parts to get the whole amount thus passed through the
distributor when this meausured quantity passed through the pipe m.
The interior chamber of the distributor is formed to receive the follower or spigot N.
and the top of the chamber is closed by a cover or cap P, the follower is allowed to
permit slight movement vertically in the chamber when the cap is screwed down.
This follower is designed for opening and closing the induction and the eduction
parts of the distributor. When the follower is lifted (as in Figure 1) the parts are
all wide open and obviously when the follower is down the said parts are all closed
and as the parts are made of equal size vertically at least they will be opened and
closed simultaneously in whole or in part by the upward and downward movement
of the follower. It is only necessary for the follower to be moved enough to cover
and uncover the parts and if it is limited to this movement the durability thereof
must be great. The follower is provided with an annular groove 21 in its bottom
face that corresponds with a similar groove formed in the bottom of the distributor
this groove is designed to prevent a water bammer when the follower is depressed
suddenly. Beneath the follower is a washer 20 composed of hard rubber or other
similar material that serves as a cushion for the follower. Connected with the
follower and extending therefrom upward through the cap P, is a rod or spindle, 4,
on which is a spring 5 which spring bears one end upon the cup P and with its
other end bears upward against a collar on the rod and thus it operates to lift the
rod and with it the follower whenever required as hereinafter stated to open the
parts of the distributor. Mounted in the end of rod 4 is a wheel that bears
upward on the periphery of cam 6, which is suitably mounted on a rock shaft 7.
This shaft is journalled in a suitable supporting frame 8, as shown, and from the
cam is extended the rod 9 having on its lower end the float 10 which is located in
the tank T and may be lifted by the raising of water in the tank so as to turn
the cam 6, thereby depress the rod 9 and consequently the follower N and close the
parts of the distributor. Obviously when the water in the tank is lowered away
from the float the follower will be again lifted by the spring 5 as before. The
tank T is connected by a pipe S with the delivery pipe H and from the foregoing
description it will be understood that when the fluid enters the distributor through
the induction part a it passes out through the parts e and thence down through the
case E into the delivery pipe H. If the delivery pipe exhaust is closed the water
will flow upward into the tank T and will accumulate therein till it raises sufficiently
to lift the float 10 and turn the cam 6 and depress the follower N and thus close
the parts of the distributor. But suppose that water is now drawn at the delivery
pipe exhaust, the water will first exhaust from the delivery pipe H then from the
tank T (passing through pipe S) until the water in the tank is lowered away from
the float 10 and the spring 5 lifts the follower N and opens the parts of the
'distributor. The fluid will then pass through the distributor until the faucet or
opening in the delivery is closed and sufficient water has accumulated in the tank
to again lift the float and depress the follower thereby closing the parts of the
distributor as before. The water that passes through the part and pipe M may be
measured by any suitable measuring device but the mechanism which I employ
for this purpose and would recommend to others is fully shown in the accom-
panying drawings and the same I will now proceed to describe. This mechanism
comprises two buckets adjacent to each other and both mounted on a rock shaft 14
as fully shown in Figure 4. These parts arranged as shown in said Figure 4
are placed in a suitable casing 15 see Figure 1 and 3. The shaft is journalled to

page_text: permit rocking motion for tilting the buckets and the amount of such motion is
limited and regulated by a stop-screw as shown. The buckets are balanced by a
weight 16 that is adjustable on the spindle 17 and may be located on this spindle
at a point where it will just balance a given quantity say one ounce more or less of
water in the bucket and any excess of liquid in the bucket will depress it, turn
the shaft over and allow the bucket to exhaust its contents. These buckets
are located under the pipe M. (see Figure 1) in such manner that when either'
of the buckets tilts over to exhaust, the other bucket is by this operation
brought up under the pipe M to be filled and vice versa. In this way all water
that passes through the pipe M will be measured in one or the other of the buckets
which will be continuously filling and emptying so long as the fluid continues
running through the distributor.
The fluid empties from the buckets directly into the case 15 and is conducted
therefrom by a suitable pipe and exhausted into the delivery pipe H as shown. Or
instead of this it may be exhausted into the tank T and thus allowed to enter the
delivery pipe indirectly.
Connected with the case and the rock shaft 14 is a mechanism consisting of the
usual ratchet and pawl registering mechanism as fully shown in Figure 3. This
mechanism is common and will not be described. It operates to register the move-
ments of the shaft 14 and indicates this upon an indicator (not shown) of the usual
make. Referring to the distributor shown in Figure 5 it will be observed that the
eduction parts e are similar in form and equal to each other in size. This is the
most desirable form and manner of making these parts as with this arrangement
and formation the frictional conditions of passage of liquid through the parts are
always the same and equal to each other and the most accurate measurement can
be secured by this construction.
In Figure 6 of the drawings, however, I have represented a modified form of
distributor. This differs from the one represented in Figure 5 only in having
one small and one large eduction parts. These parts are formed so that the water
or liquid which passes through the smaller part shall be one one hundredth or other
certain proportional part of as much as passes through the larger part at the same
time. To this end due allowance must be made for the added friction developed by
fluid passing through the small hole. That is to say the friction developed by
fluid passing through the small hole will be more than one one hundredth times as
much as that of one hundred times as much fluid passing through a hole one
hundred times larger. Therefore to get anything like exact measurement the
parts must be out of proportion sufficiently to compensate for this unproportional
friction. This allowance may be easily figured when the size of either part is
determined upon and with the proper gradations of size the conditions of passage
may be rendered quite nearly equal and good measure be secured though as stated
before I prefer the parts to be made of equal size. The vertical measurement of
the larger part (in Figure 6) is the same as that of the smaller part this is done to
insure the continuation of the gradation while the follower is passing up and down
to partially open or close the parts. It will be observed that the supply pipe and
distributor are located above the delivery pipe. This arrangement obviates the
usual "back pressure" and further, allows the measured fluid to be exhausted back-
into the delivery pipe at a point below the measuring device as shown in Figure 1
and described above.
The object of this invention is to ascertain the quantity of fluid taken from a
supply pipe or reservior and delivered at the point of exhaust. To this end we
regard the quantity passed through the measuring part, as the unit of measure and
if the eduction parts, are of equal size we have only to multiply this quantity by
the number of parts and get the result desired.
But if the eduction parts are of unequal size then we must multiply the quantity
passed through the smaller part by the product of the size of this part (less all
allowance required to compensate for the frictional conditions of passage described,)
divided into the size of all the eduction parts added together.
•

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is,
1. The described method of ascertaining the quantity of fluid taken from a
reservior or pipe, which consists in discharging the fluid from the reservior, under
pressure, through two or more independent parts simultaneously said parts being
of equal size or of unequal size are graded relatively to each other as described
whereby the conditions of passage through the parts are rendered substantially
equal, then measuring the quantity of fluid discharged through one of the parts
and multiply this as a unit of measure by the whole number of eduction parts
if they are of equal size and if they are of unequal size then by measuring the
quantity that passes through the smallest part and multiplying this as a unit of
measure by the size of this part (less all allowance made to effect the grading of
the parts as described) divided into the size of all the eduction parts added together
substantially as described.
2. A device for distributing fluid having an induction part for receiving fluid
and two or more eduction parts for discharging fluid said parts being equal to each
other in size or being unequal to each other in size and graded in size relatively to
each other whereby they are adapted to discharge proportional quantities of fluid
under substantially equal conditions of passage combined with means for regulating
the flow of liquid through said parts or for shutting it off altogether, in whole or
in part, substantially as described.
3. A device for distributing fluid having an induction part for receiving the fluid
and one or more eduction parts arranged substantially as described whereby they
are adapted to discharge the fluid under conditions of passage substantially equal
and means for regulating the flow of fluid through said parts and for shutting it
off altogether and a measuring device connected with one of said eduction parts
and adapted to measure the quantity of fluid discharged therefrom substantially
as described.
.
4. A device for distributing fluid, having an induction part for receiving fluid,
two or more eduction parts formed relatively to each other substantially as
described and adapted to discharge liquid under substantially equal conditions of
passage, means for regulating the flow of fluid through said parts and for shutting
it off altogether, said means being adapted to set in motion when the delivery pipe
is opened and automatically operate to open the distributing parts and also set in
motion and automatically close the distributing parts when the delivery is closed
substantially as described.
5. The combination of the distributor A baving induction parts and eduction
parts as described, the follower N and means whereby the follower is auto-
matically operated to open and close the parts of the distributor, substantially as
described.
6. The combination of the distributor A having induction and eduction parts as
described, the follower N and the described means, consisting of spring 5, float 10,
tank T and connecting rods for effecting the movement of the follower to open and
close the parts substantially as described.
7. A device for distributing fluid having an induction part for receiving fluid and
eduction parts of equal size adapted to discharge the fluid under conditions of
passage substantially equal as stated, in combination with means for varying
equally the size of all the discharge parts or for closing them altogether, and a
measuring device connected with one of said parts and adapted to measure the
quantity of fluid discharged therefrom, substantially as described.
8. A device for distributing fluid, having an interior chamber and an induction
part leading to the same and eduction parts leading therefrom and arranged to
discharge fluid under conditions of passage substantially equal, as described, and
means located within said chamber, and adapted to be operated to stop the flow of
fluid through the eduction parts in whole or in part simultaneously as set forth
and a measuring device communicating with one of said eduction parts and

page_text: adapted to measure the quantity of fluid discharged therefrom, substantially as
described.
9. In combination with the buckets and the rock shaft 14 I claim the balancing
weight 16 arranged substantially as and for the purpose described.
10. The combination of the distributor A and the case E and means for regulating
the flow of liquid through the distributor, substantially as described.
11. In combination with the distributor having parts and interior chamber as
described the follower N having annular groove 21 substantially as described.
12. The combination of the follower, the distributor- and the cushion 20 all
substantially as described.
13. In an organized mechanism of substantially the construction described and
in combination substantially as described the following elements a measuring
device for measuring fluid, a distributing device for distributing fluid having an
induction part for receiving fluid and eduction parts for discharging the fluid a
supply pipe communicating with the induction part and a delivery pipe communi-
cating with all but one of the eduction parts and an independent collateral exhaust
pipe communicating with this one eduction part and adapted to receive the fluid
discharged therefrom and convey it to the measuring device and thence return it
directly or indirectly to the delivery pipe, said elements being located and arranged
relatively to each other substantially as de cribed, whereby back pressure from
water in the delivery pipe is avoided, substantially as and for the purpose stated.
14. In an organized mechanism of substantially the construction described and
in combination a distributing device for distributing fluid, having an induction
part for receiving fluid and eduction parts for discharging the fluid, a supply pipe
communicating with the induction part and a delivery pipe communicating with
all but one of the eduction parts, a measuring device communicating with this one
eduction part, and adapted to measure the fluid discharged therefrom, a tank
communicating with the delivery pipe and adapted to receive fluid therefrom,
mechanism communicating with the distributing device and with the fluid in the
tank and adapted to be set in motion by the rising and falling of the fluid in the
tank and operated to open and close the parts of the distributor, substantially as
described.