IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE SUPPLY OF WATER AND REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF FLUIDS
Year: 1855

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LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Atkin, of Basford, in the County of Notting-
ham, and, of St. Mary's Place, in the Town and County of the Town of
Nottingham, Lace Manufacturer, and Marmaduke Miller, of Vernon
Terrace, in the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham aforesaid,
Steam Guage Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR MEASURING THE SUPPLY OF WATER AND REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF
FLUIDS"
Sealed the 27th March 1855, and dated the 26th January 1855..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Atkin and Marma-
duke Miller at the Office of the Commissioners, of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 26th January 1855.
We, ISAAC ATKIN, of Basford, in the County of Nottingham, and of Saint
Mary's Place, in the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Lace
Manufacturer, and MARMADUKE MILLER, of Vernon Terrace, in the Town and
County of the Town of Nottingham aforesaid, Steam Guage Maker; do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
MEASURING THE SUPPLY OF WATER AND REGULATING THE SUPPLY OF FLUIDS
to be as follows:-
"
This Invention consists of a peculiar combination of apparatus for measuring
the supply of water and regulating the supply of fluids. The water or other
fluid from the main enters a cylinder or other form of chamber, within which
is a second cylinder or compartment, having an opening at each of its two ends,

page_text: within which second cylinder or compartment is a valve rod, having thereon
two valves which fit the openings at the ends of this compartment, one valve
being arranged to open inwards and the other outwards. The valve rod is
supported and moved by a lever passing through the side of chamber, the open-
ing for which is made fluid-tight. From the second cylinder or compartment
proceeds the outlet pipe, which has connected with it on one side a branch,
across which is a flexible partition or diaphragm of vulcanized india-rubber,
against which is a rod which is connected to the lever which supports and
moves the valve rod, and there is a coiled spring to the rod, which resists the
diaphragm, being moved outwards, and according as this spring or the length
of the lever is adjusted, so will be the resistance offered to the diaphragm.
When the pressure of the fluid overcomes and presses the diaphragm out-
wards, the rod acts on the lever, and the valves are caused more or less to
close the openings. The quantity of water passing from the outlet is measured
by means of a wheel in a cylinder, into which the water flows from the outlet
of the regulating apparatus, and such wheel gives motion to a counting
apparatus, which records the number of revolutions of the wheel, and thus
is at all times indicated the quantity of the water which has passed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Isaac Atkin and Marmaduke Miller in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 16th July 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, ISAAC
ATKIN, of Basford, in the County of Nottingham, and of St. Mary's Place,
in the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Lace Manufacturer, and
Marmaduke Miller, of Vernon Terrace, in the Town and County of the Town
of Nottingham aforesaid, Steam Guage Maker, send greeting.
year
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of January, in the
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Isaac Atkin and Marmaduke Miller, Her special licence that
we, the said Isaac Atkin and Marmaduke Miller, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Isaac Atkin and Marma-
duke Miller, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,

page_text: exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE SUPPLY OF WATER AND REGULATING THE SUPPLY
OF FLUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Isaac Atkin
and Marmaduke Miller, by an instrument in writing under our hands and
seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, 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 Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Marmaduke Miller, on behalf of myself
and the said Isaac Atkin, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that
is to say:-
This Invention consists of a peculiar combination of apparatus for measuring
the supply of water and regulating the supply of fluids. The water or other
fluid from the main enters a cylinder or other form of chamber, within which
is a second cylinder or compartment, having an opening at each of its two ends,
within which second cylinder or compartment is a valve rod, having thereon
two valves which fit the openings at the ends of this compartment, one valve
being arranged to open inwards and the other outwards. The valve rod is
supported and moved by a lever passing through the side of chamber, the
opening for which is made fluid-tight. From the second cylinder or compart-
ment proceeds the outlet pipe, which has connected with it on one side a
branch, across which is a flexible partition or diaphragm of vulcanized india-
rubber, against which is a rod which is connected to the lever which supports
and moves the valve rod, and there is a coiled spring to the rod, which resists
the diaphragm, being moved outwards, and according as this spring or the
length of the lever is adjusted, so will be the resistance offered to the dia-
phragm. When the pressure of the fluid overcomes and presses the diaphragm
outwards, the rod acts on the lever, and the valves are caused more or less to
close the openings. The quantity of water passing from the outlet is measured
by means of a wheel in a cylinder, into which the water flows from the outlet
5 of the regulating apparatus, and such wheel gives motion to a counting appa-
ratus, which records the number of revolutions of the wheel, and thus is at all
times indicated the quantity of the water which has passed.
Description of regulator, Figure 1 :-The water or other fluid enters by the
inlet into the cylinder A, A, A, then passes through the valves C, C, into an

page_text: inner compartment or cylinder B, B, from which there is a free outlet into a
meter or elsewhere; from the outlet pipe is a smaller pipe D, to which the
lower of two flanges: K, K, is screwed. Between the flanges a diaphragm
E, E, of india-rubber or other flexible material is secured fluid-tight, against
which the fluid presses. On the other side of the diaphragm is a flat spiral or
other spring: FF, which works in a cavity in the upper flange. To this spring
a short rod G is attached, which rod is connected to a lever H passing through
a fluid-tight packing J, J, into the inner cylinder B, B, where it is attached to
the valve spindle I, I. L, L, are two guides for the valve spindle I, I; M, M,
an outer case covering the whole.
'
Figure 2 shows a section of the fluid-tight packing JJ Figure 3, plan;
Figure 4, the lever, and mode of securing the packing between flanges, which
are shown, in section. This packing consists of a flat plate or disc with a
central short pipe or nozzle of india-rubber or other flexible material, through
which pipe the lever is passed, and the pipe fastened to it by a binding of
copper wire or other means; or the flat portion of the packing may be screwed
between flanges or nuts, as seen at Figure 6* It will be seen by the descrip-
tion that in proportion as the pressure in the outlet pipe increases, the
diaphragin and spring are deflected; and, by raising the rod G, close the valves
C, C, by means of the lever H. When we 'use the regulator in connection
with the measuring of. water; after the water has passed the regulator, it is
admitted into a drum or cylinder, Figure 5; in which a fan or axle with radial
plates is made to revolve by the passing of the water from the inlet at the side
of the drum to the outlet at the bottom, by the revolution of which fan'motion
is communicated by means of a crank on the axle to a lever packed fluid-
tight (Figure 6), which lever, by means of a catch, operates on a ratchet
wheel gearing to the wheel-work, and registering the quantity passed through
the drum in the ordinary manner. The outlet from the drum is shewn in
Figures 5 and 6..
T
In witness whereof, I, the said Marmaduke Miller, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 'Ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five