Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1898-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1899
I, LEWIS HALLOCK NASII, of 47, Elmwood Street, South Norwalk, Fairfield
County, Connecticut, United States of America, Engineer, 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 drawings, that is to say:
My present invention consists of improvements in the type of water meter now
known to the trade as the empire meter, and it consists of certain novel parts,
or combination of parts, particularly pointed out in the claims concluding this
specification.
The empire meter, to which the improvements which are the subject of this
patent relate, belongs to that class of structures which are described in British
Patent to Joseph Maudslay, No. 13,921, A.1. 1852. Such structures consists
essentially of an annular cylindrical measuring chamber provided with a radial
abutment, a cylindrical piston slit to straddle said radial abutment, and ports
on both sides of said abutment to permit the entrance and escape of the fluid
passing therethrough. The centre of the piston describes a circular path. The
chambers on one side of the abutment are constantly enlarging, and these are
connected through suitable ports with the inlet passage. On the other side of
the abutment, the chambers are constantly decreasing in size, and these are
connected to the outlet passage. At each complete oscillation of the piston, the
measuring chamber is filled and emptied. The cubic contents of the chamber
being fixed, and the number of oscillations of the piston known, the quantity
of water passed may be computed. This computation is done automatically by
the registering mechanism connected with the piston in the well-known manner.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a horizontal section on the line 1, 1,
(Fig. 4) looking downward and against the top-plate of the measuring chamber.
Figs. 2 and 3 are horizontal sections on the line 2, 3 (Fig. 4) looking downward
against the bottom-plate of the measuring chamber, showing the piston in two
different positions. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the meter shown in the
other figures. Fig. 5 is a plan, and Fig. 6 an edge view of the piston detached.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention embodied in the
form at present preferred by me, but it will be understood that various modifi-
cations and changes may be made in details of construction without departing
from the spirit of my invention, and without exceeding the scope of the con-
cluding claims.
The following is a description of the structure shown in the accompanying
drawings:
Referring to Fig. 4: 7, is the inlet pipe, and 8, the outlet pipe. 9, is a
case enclosing the measuring chamber 10, with a water space or passages
between the two. 11, is the piston, which is provided with a downwardly pro-
jecting stud 12, and an upwardly extending pin 13. 14, is a roller carried on
877

page_text: a fixed projection attached to the lower head-plate of the measuring chamber.
15, 15, is a cylindrical fixed abutment in the centre of the measuring chamber.
The pin or stud 13, projecting from the piston travels around in the path of
an arm 16, attached to spindle 17, which is connected with the train of speed-
reducing gear 18. 19, is the spindle on the train connecting with the dial
mechanism, by which the amount of water passing through the meter is
recorded in the usual or any suitable manner. 20, is an outlet port in the upper
head of the measuring chamber.
The piston in detail is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. It is provided with a central
partition 21, perforated with holes 22, and is slit at 23, to straddle the radial
abutment or bridge 24", in the measuring chamber (Figs. 2 and 3). The piston
is also provided with perforations 25, (see Figure 6) through its cylindrical side
walls on the inlet side in the region of the slit 23. If desired, similar perfora-
tions might be placed on the outlet side. The piston is also provided with
notches 26, 26, at the sides of the slit 23, which not only establish communica-
tion between the two sides of the piston, but also prevent jamming at its edges
by the presence of gravel in the meter or imperfect fitting.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. 20", is the outlet port in the top-plate,
which establishes communication between the interior of the measuring cham-
ber and the outlet pipe, and 21%, is a groove or depression on the outlet side in
the lower head-plate of the measuring chamber, which establishes communica-
tion between the interior and exterior of the piston on the outlet side. 22ª, is
the inlet port in the bottom head-plate establishing communication between the
inlet pipe and the interior of the measuring chamber 10; and 23", is a groove
or depression in the upper head-plate on the inlet side, establishing communi-
cation between the interior and exterior of the piston. The grooves 21ª and 23",
do not, therefore, completely penetrate the shell of the measuring chamber.
Both the inlet and outlet ports in the top-plate against which the piston chiefly
bears (by reason of the fact that the water is admitted below and exhausted
above), have bridges thrown across them level with the major surface of the
plate, forming additional rests or bearing surfaces for the piston, and diminish-
ing the strain upon it. The port 22", on the lower head-plate has a similar
bridge thrown across it, while the groove 21", is shown as not bridged, because
its circumferential extent is smaller; but a bridge might likewise be thrown
across this port also, if desired.
The blind passages or grooves 21°, and 23ª, as well as the perforations 25,
and notches 26, establish communication between the interior and exterior of
the piston and tend to diminish differences of pressure in these chambers which
would impose undue work and wear upon the piston and its attendant parts.
In order still further to reduce the liability of breakage of pistons of this sort,
when made of comparatively fragile material-such as hard rubber-I provide
vertical grooves 28, 28, in the side walls of the chamber on the outlet side at
the juncture of such walls with the radial abutment 24", which grooves give a
freer exit to the water as the piston on this side is closing one of its chambers
(as the interior chamber, Fig. 2), when the port area is comparatively small
and the rate of decrease in the size of the chamber comparatively rapid. The
grooves are confined to the outlet side where their effect is beneficial in aiding
the piston to retain the desired joint-forming function, and are not present on
the inlet side, where, if present, they would give rise to a tendency to throw the
piston away from joint-forming contact.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: -
1. In a water meter provided with an oscillating piston, an outlet port pro
vided with depressions or grooves at or near the juncture of the radial abutment
and the case walls.

page_text: 2. In a water meter provided with an oscillating piston, one or more ports
in the head-plate thereof, provided with a bridge across the same, forming a
bearing surface for the edge of the piston.
3. In a water meter provided with an oscillating piston, one or more perfora-
tions or openings through the cylindrical sides of the piston, establishing com-
munication between interior and exterior chambers.
4. In a water meter, an oscillating piston provided with notches at the edges
of the slit where it straddles the radial abutment in the case.
5. In a water meter, the combination with an oscillating pistou of a blind
port or ports in the head-plate or head-plates thereof of the measuring chamber.
6. In a water meter with an oscillating piston, inlet and outlet ports in oppo-
site head-plates, and a free passage for water through the interior of the piston.
Dated this 21st day of October 1898.
EDWARDS AND CO.,
Chartered Patent Agents,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.