Improvements in and relating to Fluid Meters.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 27th Jan.,
1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION....
Improvements in and relating to Fluid Meters.-
I, SAMUEL AINSLEY CHESLEY, of Lunenburg, in the Province of Nova Scotia, in
the Dominion of Canada, Lawyer, do 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:-
This invention is designed to provide a water-meter which will allow the free
practically straight, and unobstructed flow of water therethrough with no
abstraction from the force of the current beyond the bare minimum amount
necessary to actuate the registering clockwork; which is free from liability to
become choked or clogged; and in which the end thrust on the rotating shaft
or spindle is reduced to a minimum. Other minor objects of the invention will
hereinafter appear.
I attain these objects by the means shown in the accompanying drawing, which
I will now proceed to describe.
Referring to the said drawing, the letters A, A', designate the rotary part of the
meter, consisting of a spindle or shaft A, having thereon two opposite helical fins
or flanges A¹ of long pitch. These fins or flanges have an angular relation with
the shaft of about thirty degrees. The shaft A, is journaled in a tubular casing,
composed of a main section B, an end section B¹, and a cap-section B², said
sections being united by screw joints. The contracted orifice b, in the end
section B, is internally threaded for connection with a water pipe, as shown,
from which the water enters the meter; and the contracted orifice 6, in the cap-
section B, is similarly threaded for connection with a water pipe, as shown, which
forms the outlet from the meter and leads to the point of consumption. The
two openings b, b¹, are in axial alignment with the shaft or spindle A.
C, C, designate the bearings for the journals a, a, of said shaft or spindle and
consist each of a spider, whose hub-portion is formed with a cup c, to receive a
series of halls, D. The journals a, of the shaft or spindle A, are provided with
cones a¹, which co-operate with the said cups and balls to provide, ball bearings
for said shaft or spindle. The bearing spider C, is seated in the end section B¹,
against an internal shoulder 62, thereof, and is held in place by the end of the
section B, which is screwed down against it. The bearing spider C₁, is seated
in a similar manner against a shoulder 63, in the cap section B2, and is held in
place by the adjacent end of the section B, upon which said cap section is screwed.
The ball bearings and cups are preferably made of glass or lignum vitæ, but may
be of some sufficiently hardened non-corrosive metal.
The shaft A, is preferably made hollow in order that it may be as light as
possible, and it, together with the wings or fins, may be of aluminum, which is
both light and non-corrosive. I may, however, form the wings or fins of any
suitable non-corrosive material, either metallic or non-metallic.
These flanges or fins, it will be observed are of long pitch, each making through-
out its length about or a little less than a one-half turn. They therefore present
but little obstruction to the water, and the end thrust on the bearings is reduced

page_text: to a minimum. Owing to these characteristics, and the extreme freedom of
rotation, I am enabled to make the combined diameter of the shaft and flanges
considerably less than the internal diameter of the tubular casing. It will also
be observed that objects of considerable size can pass freely through the meter
without interfering with its operation; and even eels of considerable size will
not obstruct it.
On the further end of the shaft or spindle A, is a bevel gear wheel G, which
meshes with a similar wheel on a vertical shaft H, at right angles to said shaft
or spindle, and which passes through a wall or partition I, into a chamber K,
(formed by a tubular projection of the section B¹) where it actuates a dial train
of any suitable character."
Having now particularly described. and ascertained the nature of this said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a fluid meter, the combination with a tubular casing, of a shaft or spindle
journaled therein, and having opposite helical fins or flanges, each of which has a
low angular relation with the axis of said shaft, the combined diameter of said
shaft and flanges being appreciably less than the internal diameter of the casing
substantially as described.
2. In a fluid meter, the casing composed of a tubular central section, and tubular
end sections, the internal shoulders of said end sections, the spiders clamped in
place between said shoulders and the extremities of the central section, and the
meter shaft or spindle journaled in hub portions of said spiders, substantially as
specified.
3. In a fluid meter, the combination with a tubular casing having aligned
entrance and discharge openings, of a shaft or spindle journaled in said casing
and provided with opposite helical fins or flanges each of which has an angular
relation with the axis of said shaft of about thirty degrees, and is of comparatively
small breadth, to provide an appreciable interval between its margin and the
interior surface of said casing, substantially as specified.
4. In a fluid meter, the casing composed of a central section and shouldered end
sections, spiders seated in said casing against said shoulders, ball cups in the
hubs of said spiders, a conically journaled meter, shaft and anti-friction balls
between the journals and cups, substantially as specified.
5. In a fluid meter, the combination with a tubular casing, having aligned
entrance and discharge openings, of a shaft or spindle journaled therein in line
with said openings and provided with opposite helical fins or flanges, each of
which has a angular relation with the axis of said shaft of about thirty degrees,
and makes a turn of about one hundred and eighty degrees, substantially as
specified.
6. A fluid meter, comprising a tubular casing, having aligned entrance and
discharge openings, a shaft or spindle journaled in said casing and having
opposite helical fins or flanges of low angular relation with said shaft, and of
short breadth, to leave an appreciable interval between its margin and the
interior surface of the casing, a dial train, and gearing in connection with said
shaft or spindle, substantially as specified.
Dated this 5th day of December 1899.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.