Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1887
Complete Left, 2nd Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 6th Apr., 1888
1, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more especially to water meters used for measuring the
quantity of water supplied through pipes for domestic or other purposes, and for
indicating such quantity; but it is also applicable to the measurement of other fluids
as well as water. It relates to apparatus in which two cylinders are used in which
pistons are made to reciprocate by the pressure of fluid passing through them, and
more especially to such apparatus operating upon the principle and in the manner
which has been well known and used for more than twenty years, in which the pistons
working in the cylinders and the passages connecting the two cylinders together are so
arranged that "each one acts as a piston valve to the other, thereby giving a recipro-
cating motion the one to the other without the use of tappets or valves of any
kind."
By my present invention apparatus of the kind described is greatly simplified, no
piston rods or stuffing boxes of any kind are used, the two pistons being quite uncon-
nected and working entirely independently of each other, in such a manner that during
the time when one is making its stroke the other is absolutely at rest for more or less
of such time, and vice versa, no cranks or revolving shaft of any kind being used, and
the meter being very simple and easily made, cheap, and effective, durable and
accurate.
I arrange the two cylinders, preferably of metal bored out accurately, of the same
or different diameters either side by side or in any other convenient position and
distance apart, and I cover them with ends or covers bolted or screwed to them.
Each cylinder is fitted with a piston fitting the cylinder and of sufficient length. The
construction of these two pistons is dissimilar as hereinafter explained.

page_text: -
At the centre of the length of each cylinder is made an opening communicating
with a delivery or discharge pipe, and upon each side of this opening is made another,
nearer the ends of the cylinder, each of the two latter communicating with the corre-
sponding end of the other cylinder, (the three openings resembling the steam and
exhaust ports of an ordinary steam engine).
One of the pistons is made as follows:-When it is at one end (say for convenience
the bottom) of its stroke, a transverse opening or passage through it near its upper
end communicates at one end with the port leading to the upper end of the other
cylinder, and at the other end with a port in the cylinder, through which water under
pressure is admitted. At the same time a recess in the piston, nearer to the centre
of the length of the latter, covers the other two ports and thus opens a communica-
tion from the lower end of the other cylinder to the discharge pipe ;—the piston in
fact acting in a manner similar to an ordinary slide valve. The piston in the other
cylinder accordingly takes a down stroke, upon arriving at the end of which it acts
in the same way as a slide valve to the first cylinder, the piston of which in turn
makes a stroke at the end of which a transverse passage through its lower end opens
a communication between the port leading to the lower end of the second cylinder and
a second inlet passage for water under pressure, whilst a second recess in the piston
(or a continuation of that first described) covers the discharge port and the port
leading to the upper end of the second cylinder, the piston of which takes an up stroke,
and the movements proceed continuously, each piston taking a stroke in turn, so long
as the discharge pipe is open, and water under pressure is supplied through the inlet
pipes.
Each of the inlet passages through the second piston must communicate not with
the port directly opposite to it but with the port leading to the opposite end of the other
cylinder, the passages through the piston being bent or curved accordingly. Instead
of two inlet passages for water as described to each cylinder, one central one only may
be used, the passages through each piston being bent or curved so that the outer end
of each in turn communicates with the inlet port at the ends of the stroke.
In the arrangement of the cylinder and piston described it will be seen that each
piston operates like the slide valve of an ordinary steam Engine to reverse the direc-
tion of motion of the piston in the other cylinder. In a modified form of arrangement
I use an ordinary four way cock for the same purpose, each piston operating like the
plug of such a cock to reverse the direction of movement of the piston in the other
cylinder.
For this purpose at the centre of the length of each cylinder is made an opening or
port communicating with the inlet pipe through which water under pressure is to be
supplied to the apparatus, and at a point opposite to each such opening is made a
corresponding one on the opposite side of the cylinder, communicating with the outlet
pipe through which the water is delivered from the apparatus.
Two other similar ports or openings are also made in each cylinder at or near the
same point in the length of the cylinder but opposite to each other and at right angles
to those already described.
.
One of the two last described openings in the cylinder communicates by means of
a channel cast in the side of the cylinder and through a passage in the cover of the
cylinder with one end of the other cylinder, and the other of the openings com-
municates by a similar channel and passage with the other lower end of the other
cylinder.
Through the pistons near one end are made two transverse passages (as in the plug
of an ordinary fourway cock) the four openings communicating with the openings in the
cylinder just described, so that water from the inlet passage enters one of the passages
thence through one of the lateral openings to one end of the other cylinder, whilst
the other end of the latter communicates with the other lateral opening and through
the other passage in the piston to the discharge pipe.
Near the other end of the piston are made two similar passages, exactly like those
just described and parallel with the latter, so that if the piston is moved to the other
end of its stroke and is turned one quarter round upon its axis, the water under

page_text: pressure passes to the other lateral opening in the cylinder and to the other end of the
other cylinder, the water in which can pass out through the first described lateral
opening in the first cylinder which is now connected with the discharge pipe.
.
The other piston is (in this form) precisely similar and acts alternately in exactly
the same way, and in order to turn the pistons (which constitute the plugs of fourway
cocks as already explained) one quarter round backward and forward as they make
their strokes, I make a longitudinal central passage through them extending from one
end nearly to the other, and fitting upon a twisted bar or screw of very quick pitch,
the end of which is fixed to the cylinder cover. In this way the pistons are caused to
turn sufficiently upon their axes as they make their stroke, and the action of the
apparatus continues automatically. Instead of turning as described upon their axes,
the passages through one end of the pistons may be arranged at right angles to those
at the other end, the passages at each end being in all other respects exactly alike, and
each piston consisting of the plug of an ordinary fourway cock in which the reversal
of the passages is effected by moving the plug endways instead of turning it round.
Or the two passages through the piston at one of its ends may be continuous with the
two at right angles to them at the other end, the passages taking a helical turn of one
fourth of a revolution from one end to the other of their length, the circumferential
width of the parts of the piston between these passages may be greater than that of
the latter, so that during the centre of the length of stroke of each piston the alternate
piston is absolutely at rest. I prefer in this form of arrangement to make the edges
of the ports in the cylinders inclined so as to correspond with the passages in the pistons.
The several ports or openings in the pistons may be of the same size (in the direc-
tion of the length of the cylinders) as those in the cylinders, or of greater length so
that the inner edges of those at each end of the piston are brought nearer together.
The pistons must not be connected together in any way, for each remains absolutely
stationary for the whole or part of the time during which the other is making its stroke.
The inconvenience and expense of stuffing boxes, piston rods, and cranks, connecting
rods or their equivalents, and revolving shaft, or other equivalent means for connecting
the two pistons together, are avoided, and the cylinders being of known capacity it is
only necessary to count the number of strokes in order to determine the quantity of
water passing through the apparatus, and this may be done by a registering device of
any of the usual well known kinds, actuated by a lever or pin passing through an
opening in one of the cylinders or covers and struck by the piston as it travels back-
ward and forward, or by a rod or spindle connected to the piston and passing out
through one of the covers, or by a lever or stud entering the cylinder through a small
opening and working in a slot in the piston by which it is moved backward and forward
or by other suitable means. For instance, a toothed rack may be inserted in the side
of the piston, driving a corresponding toothed wheel which enters a slot in the centre
of the cylinder and by its revolution backward and forward transmits motion by a
pall to the registering device.
In the different arrangements the inlet opening may be used as the outlet or
discharge, and the outlet as the inlet, without affecting the working of the apparatus.
In those forins of the improvements in which the piston does not turn upon its axis,
I provide a guide consisting of a pointed screw or pin, fitting in a longitudinal groove
in the side of the piston, to prevent the latter from turning round.
The apparatus described may be modified more or less to suit varying circumstances
and conditions. Instead of the passages described through the pistons themselves,
they may be formed through a separate piston working in a separate cylinder provided
with openings and passages described and connected to the main or measuring pistons
by a rod passing through a stuffing box or such separate pistons may be made in the
form of four way cocks turning upon their axes instead of pistons.
Or, the pistons may have openings and passages as described, at their centre only
instead of near both ends, the cylinder being provided with double sets of the ports
and passages described, properly arranged at a sufficient distance apart, so that the
passages in the piston communicate with them alternately at the opposite ends of its
stroke.

page_text: This method of construction necessitates a greater length of cylinder.
The apparatus may be made of any desired size and materials, and may be arranged
in any convenient position, but I prefer that the cylinders should be horizontal or
nearly so and parallel.
I sometimes use a lever turning upon a centre, or a bar, having bevelled ends enter-
ing the two cylinders at the centre of their length. Corresponding notches or recesses
are made near the ends of the moving pistons, so that when either is at the end of its
stroke it is prevented from commencing its next stroke until the alternate piston has
reached the end of its stroke and allowed the end of the lever or bar to enter the notch
in it and the other end to be withdrawn from the first piston.
It is evident that where regularly intermittent motion is admissable, the apparatus
described may be used as a motive power engine as for instance for the purpose of
driving pumps a piston rod being connected to the piston and brought through a
stuffing box at the end of the cylinder. It is essential, however, that the piston rods
should not be connected in any way, by cranks or gear, and they may be provided at
their ends with packing rings of leather or other suitable material in the usual way.
Or the centre of the cylinders may be provided with such rings through which the
pistons work. The cylinder covers may be provided with screws passing through them
by which the stroke of the pistons can be regulated.
Instead of water air or other elastic fluid may in some cases be used.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1887

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring Water or other Fluids,
also Applicable to other Purposes, such as Motive Power
Engines.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, 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, and accompanying drawing, (that is to say) :-
This invention relates more especially to water meters used for measuring the
quantity of water supplied through pipes for domestic or other purposes, and for
indicating such quantity, but it is also applicable to the measurement of other fluids
as well as water. It relates to apparatus in which two cylinders are used in which
pistons are made to reciprocate by the pressure of fluid passing through them, and
more especially to such apparatus operating upon the principle and in the manner
which has been well known and used for more than twenty years, in which the pistons
working in the cylinders and the passages connecting the two cylinders together, are
so arranged that "each one acts as a piston valve to the other, thereby giving a
reciprocating motion the one to the other without the use of tappets or valves of
any kind."
By my present invention apparatus of the kind described is greatly simplified,
no piston rods or stuffing boxes of any kind are used, the two pistons being quite
unconnected and working entirely independently of each other, in such a manner
that during the time when one is making its stroke the other is at rest for more
or less of such time, and vice versa, no cranks or revolving shafts of any kind being
used, and the meter being very simple and easily made, cheap, and effective, durable
and accurate.
The accompanying drawings are in illustration of my invention, Figure 1 being a
longitudinal section and figure 2 a transverse section shewing the apparatus.
In order to put my invention in operation I arrange the two cylinders a, b,
preferably of metal bored out accurately, of the same or different diameters either side
by side as shewn or in any other convenient position and distance apart, and I cover
them with ends or covers c, d, bolted or secured to them.
Each cylinder is fitted with a piston e, f, fitting the cylinder and of sufficient length.
The construction of these two pistons is dissimilar as hereinafter explained and
shewn.
At the centre of the length of each cylinder is made an opening g, g', communicating
with a delivery or discharge pipe, and upon each side of this opening is made
another h³, nearer the ends of the cylinder, each of the latter communicating
with the corresponding end of the other cylinder, (the three openings g h and hi
and g and h³ respectively resembling the steam and exhaust ports of an ordinary
steam engine).

page_text: One of the pistons (e in the drawing) is made as follows:-When it is at one
end (say for convenience the top) of its stroke, a transverse opening or passage i through
it near its lower end communicates at one end with the port h¹ leading to the lower
end of the other cylinder, and at the other end with a port k in its own cylinder,
through which water under pressure is admitted from a supply pipe at l. At the
same time a recess m in the piston, nearer to the centre of the length of the latter
covers the other two ports g and h, and thus opens a communication from the upper
end of the other cylinder b-ath to the discharge pipe; the piston e in fact acting in
a manner similar to an ordinary slide valve. The piston in the other cylinder b
accordingly takes an up stroke, upon arriving at the end of which it acts in the same
way as a slide valve to the first cylinder a, the piston of whiche in turn makes a down
stroke at the end of which a transverse passage n through its upper end opens
a communication between the port h leading to the upper end of the second cylinder b
and a second inlet passage k¹ for water under pressure, whilst a second recess m¹ in
the piston e (or a continuation of that m first described) covers the discharge port g
and the port h¹ leading to the lower end of the second cylinder b, the piston f of
which takes a down stroke and the movements proceed continuously each piston
taking a stroke in turn, so long as the discharge pipe is, open, and water under
pressure is supplied through the inlet pipe.
ん
The second cylinder fis also provided with two inlet openings 2 and 3 supplied
with water under pressure through 1.
Each of the inlet passages in through the second piston must communicate not
with the port directly opposite to it but with the port leading to the opposite end of
the other cylinder (communicating with 2 and n' with ³), the passages in',
through the piston being bent or curved accordingly as shewn. Instead of two inlet
passages for water as described to each cylinder, one entrance only may be used, the
passages through each piston being bent or curved so that the outer end of each
in turn communicates with the inlet port at the ends of the stroke, as shewn (atl) in
figure 3. In the arrangement of the cylinder and piston described it will be seen
that each piston operates like the slide valve of an ordinary steam Engine to reverse
the direction of motion of the piston in the other cylinder.
The parts of the pistons which contain the ports and recesses may be made separate
and inserted into openings into the body of the pistons, as indicated in dotted lines in
figures 1, 2, and 3.
In a modified form of arrangement I use an ordinary fourway cock for the same
purpose, each piston operating like the plug of such a cock to reverse the direction of
movement of the piston in the other cylinder, as illustrated in figures 4 and 5.
For this purpose at the centre of the length of each cylinder a and b is made an
opening or port communicating with the inlet pipe through which water under
pressure is to be supplied to the apparatus and at a point opposite to each such
opening is made a corresponding one g g¹ on the opposite side of the cylinder
communicating with the outlet pipe through which the water is delivered from the
apparatus.
Two other similar ports or openings are also made in each cylinder but opposite to
each other and at right angles to those already described.
One of the two last described openings in the cylinder communicates by means of
a channel cast in the side of the cylinder and through a passage in the cover of the
cylinder with one end of the other cylinder, and the other of the openings
communicates by a similar channel and passage with the other lower end of the other
cylinder. This arrangement is the same as that described and shewn in the
specification and drawing of Letters Patent granted to me December 2nd 1886 and
numbered 15784.
Through the pistons near one end are made two transverse passages (1 and 2,
figure 5) as in the plug of an ordinary fourway cock-the four openings com-
municating with the openings in the cylinder just described, so that water from
the inlet passage enters one of the passages thence through one of the lateral openings
to one end of the other cylinder, whilst the other end of the latter communicates with

page_text: the other lateral opening and through the other passage in the piston to the discharge
pipe.
Near the other end of the piston are made two similar passages exactly like those
just described and parallel with the latter (instead of at right angles, as in my said
former Letters Patent), so that if the piston is moved to the other end of its stroke and
is turned one quarter round upon its axis, the water under pressure passes to the
other lateral opening in the cylinder and to the other end of the other cylinder, the
water in which can pass out through the first described lateral opening in the first
cylinder which is now connected with the discharge pipe.
The other piston is (in this form) precisely similar and acts alternately in exactly
the same way, and in order to turn the pistons (which constitute the plugs of fourway
cocks as already explained) one quarter round backward and forward as they make
their strokes, I make a longitudinal central passage through them extending from
one end nearly to the other, and fitting upon a twisted bar or screw o o¹ (figure 4) of
very quick pitch, the end of which is fixed to one of the cylinder covers.
In this way the pistons are caused to turn sufficiently upon their axes as they make
their stroke, and the action of the apparatus continues automatically.
The several ports or openings in the pistons may be of the same size (in the
direction of the length of the cylinders) as those in the cylinders, or of greater
length so that the inner edges of those at each end of the piston are brought nearer
together.
The pistons must not be connected together in any way, for each remains absolutely
stationary for the whole or part of the time during which the other is making its
stroke. The inconvenience and expense of stuffing boxes, piston rods, and cranks,
connecting rods or their equivalents, and revolving shaft, or other equivalent means
for connecting the two pistons together, are avoided, and the cylinders being of.
known capacity it is only necessary to count the number of strokes in order to
determine the quantity of water passing through the apparatus, and this may be done
by a registering device of any of the usual well known kinds, actuated by a lever
or pin passing through an opening in one of the cylinders or covers and struck by
the piston as it travels backward and forward, or by a rod or spindle connected to the
piston and passing out through one of the covers, or by a lever or stud entering the
cylinder through a small opening and working in a slot in the piston by which it is
moved backward and forward or by other suitable means. For instance, a toothed
rack may be inserted in the side of the piston, driving a corresponding toothed wheel
which enters a slot in the centre of the cylinder and by its revolution backward and
forward transmits motion by a pall to the registering device.
In the different arrangements the inlet opening may be used as the outlet or
discharge, and the outlet as the inlet, without affecting the working of the apparatus.
In those forms of the improvements in which the piston does not turn upon its axis,
I provide a guide consisting of a pointed screw or pin, fitting in a longitudinal groove
in the side of the piston, to prevent the latter from turning round. Or, a square or
other suitably shaped bar may be fixed to the cover of each cylinder, and fit in
corresponding openings made nearly through the pistons.
The apparatus described may be modified more or less to suit varying circumstances
and conditions. Instead of the passages described through the pistons themselves,
there may be formed through a separate piston working in a separate cylinder
provided with openings and passages described and connected to the main or
ineasuring piston by a rod passing through a stuffing box or such separate pistons
may be made in the form of fourway cocks turning upon their axes instead of
pistons.
The apparatus may be made of any desired size and materials and may be arranged
in any convenient position, but I prefer that the cylinders should be horizontal
or nearly so and parallel.
It is evident that where regularly intermittent motion is admissable, the apparatus
described may be used as a motive power engine as for instance for the purpose

page_text: of driving pumps a piston rod being connected to the piston and brought through a
stuffing box at the end of the cylinder.
The pistons may be provided at their ends with packing rings of leather or other
suitable material in the usual way. Or the centre of the cylinders may be provided
with such rings through which the pistons work. The cylinder covers may be
provided with screws passing through them by which the stroke of the pistons may be
regulated.
Instead of water, air or other elastic fluid may in some cases be used, as a motive
fluid for the pistons.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
-
1. The two pistons, one having a transverse passage through it near each end, and
two recesses (or a single long recess) between the inner ends of the transverse
passages, the other having two bent or curved transverse passages through it and two
recesses outside the inner ends of the transverse passages, in combination with two
cylinders provided with covers and each having two inlet openings a certain distance
from the centre, of their outer sides, a central opening communicating with a discharge
passage at the centre of their inner sides, and two openings upon their inner sides
one upon each side of the central opening, each of such two openings communicating
with the corresponding end of the other cylinder, substantially as described and
illustrated in figures 1 and 2.
2. The modified method of arrangement in which each cylinder has a single inlet
opening at the centre of its outer side, each of the two pistons having two bent
or curved transverse passages through it, and one of them having a recess or recesses
between the inner ends of the transverse passages, and the other having recesses
outside the inner ends of the transverse passages, substantially as described and
shewn in figure 3.
3. The combination of two cylinders and two pistons, with ports and passages 80
arranged that each piston acts as an ordinary slide valve to the other cylinder,
substantially as described.
4. The two cylinders, each having inlet and outlet ports and passages, in
combination with two pistons each having openings, or passages near each end parallel
with similar openings or passages near the other end, and twisted or helically grooved
bars or their equivalents by which each piston is caused to make a partial revolution
upon its axis during its stroke substantially as described and shewn in figures 4
and 5.
D
1
1 1
1000