IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTRIBUTING AND MEASURING GAS, STEAM, WATER, AND OTHER FLUIDS, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN.
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Hastings Frith, of 101, Lower Gardiner
Street, in the City of Dublin, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTRIBUTING AND MEASURING GAS, STEAM, WATER, AND
OTHER FLUIDS, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN.".
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Hastings Frith
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th April 1867.
I, RICHARD HASTINGS FRITH, of 101, Lower Gardiner Street, in the City
of Dublin, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTRIBUTING AND MEASURING GAS, STEAM, WATER AND
OTHER FLUIDS, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates more particularly to the distribution and measuring
of fluids used for domestic purposes, such, for example, as water, and is
applicable also to the distribution and measuring of water, gas, or steam.
According to this Invention, as applied to the water supply cistern of a
house or manufactory, it is proposed to combine what are known as the supply
and distributing pipes in one, the same pipe which admits water from the
street main into the house cistern serving also to distribute the water from
the cistern to the house, or to outbuildings as may be required. For this purpose
a two-way cock is fitted to the supply pipe, the barrel of such cock having
three or more lateral branches or ducts formed thereon according to the

page_text: In
number of places to which the water in the cistern is to be distributed.
the simplest form of cock the barrel will be provided with three lateral
openings, the first communicating with the supply pipe leading to the main,
the second with a pipe leading direct to the bottom of the cistern, and the
third with a distributing pipe leading to the kitchen, scullery, or other con-
venient part of the establishment. By suitably turning or adjusting the plug
of the two-way cock the water may be admitted direct from the main into the
cistern so as to fill the same (the distributing pipe being at that time shut off),
or the supply pipe may be shut off and the water drawn from the cistern
through the distributing pipe for the house service. In all cases the water from
the main must first enter the cistern before it can be drawn off at the house tap.
Should it be required to supply, in addition to the house, stables or workshops,
then an extra pipe must be connected with the barrel of the regulating cock, and
the two-way thoroughfare through the plug of the cock should be expanded
or bell mouthed, so as to enable a communication to be established between
either one of the two distributing pipes and the pipe leading direct to the
cistern. The upper end of the cistern pipe is connected with a valve chamber
containing a valve opening downwards, so that when such valve is held up it
closes the aperture in the bottom of the cistern and prevents an excess of
water being admitted from the supply pipe. The lower portion of the stem of
this valve, which projects inside the cistern, is made hollow, and is perforated
round its circumference so as to afford a free access of water into the hollow
portion of the valve, which for the sake of distinction I shall call the "stop
valve."
Underneath the bottom of this hollow spindle there is fitted a small
valve or traveller, also opening downwards, and fitting when raised close
against the central aperture in the stop valve. The stop valve has a long
spindle or rod connected to it, and extending from the bottom to the top of
the cistern, where it is guided or maintained in a vertical position by a fixed
support or collar through which it is free to rise and fall; on this spindle
there is fitted a float which rises and falls with the level of the water in the
cistern within a certain range sufficient to effect the full opening or closing of
the stop valve in connection therewith. When the cistern is full the buoyancy
of the float will maintain the stop valve closed, that is to say, it will hold that
valve tight against the under side of the supply aperture in the bottom of the
cistern, so that no further supply from the main can be admitted therein even
when the regulating cock is turned for that purpose. When water is drawn
off through either of the distributing pipes it first flows down through the
hollow valve spindle, the small valve or traveller readily falling and opening
for that purpose so soon as the pressure from the main is cut off, and by the

page_text: time a perceptible lowering of the level of the water in the cistern takes
place the corresponding descent of the float and consequent opening of the
stop valve enables a further supply to be admitted if desired till all the water
in the cistern be drawn off, and the rising of the float closes the stop valve
again. The water may however be drawn off till the cistern is empty, and
may then be filled at one operation till the closing of the stop valve prevents
further ingress of the water. The stop valve is protected from the direct
pressure of the main by an annular shield formed round the interior of the
valve chamber, a series of waterways being formed in the annular space
between the shield and the exterior of the chamber.
In order to measure the quantity of water drawn from the supply cistern a
moveable float is adjusted on the vertical spindle before referred to, which
float is free to move up or down nearly the entire length of the spindle according
to the varying position of the water level; to this float there is attached one
end of a pin-jointed chain, each link of which is curved to correspond to an
are of the circumference of an overhead pulley over which the chain passes.
Teeth or cogs are also formed on one edge of each link, so that the chain
presents the appearance of a flexible rack; a counterweight is hung to the
free end of this chain for the purpose of balancing the weight of the float. The
teeth on the chain engage with the teeth of a horizontal spur wheel, which by
means of a pall-and-ratchet arrangement is free to revolve loosely round its
shaft when the float is rising, so as not to impart motion to such shaft; but
when the float descends by reason of the drawing off of the water, then the
pall and ratchet being engaged together cause the shaft of the spur wheel to
revolve. On the top of this shaft there is fitted a pinion, which gears into
the first of a train of wheels forming a counter, and thereby the amount of
water drawn off is accurately registered, each inch or part of an inch in the
fall of the level of the water being shown on the dial or dials of the counter,
and if the superficial area of the cistern be given the amount of water drawn.
off for each inch or fraction of an inch can be readily calculated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed.
hy the said Richard Hostings Frith in the Great Soal Patent Office on
the 19th October 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD,
› HASTINGS FRITH, of 101, Lower Gardiner Street, in the City of Dublin, Civil
the 19th October 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD,
HASTINGS FRITH, of 101, Lower Gardiner Street, in the City of Dublin, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Iler heirs, and successors, give and grant unto me, the said '
Richard Hastings Frith, Her special license that I, the said Richard Hastings
Erith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Richard Hastings Frith, my executors, administrators, or 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, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN DISTRIBUTING AND MEASURING GAS, STEAM, WATER AND OTHER FLUIDS,
AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition
(amongst others) that. I, the said Richard Hastings Frith, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Richard Hastings Frith, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates more particularly to the distribution and mea-
suring of fluids used for domestic purposes, such, for example, as water, and
is applicable also to the distribution and measuring of gas or steam.
According to this Invention, as applied to the water supply of a house or
manufactory, it is proposed to combine the two pipes hitherto known as the
supply and distributing pipes in one, the same pipe which admits water from
the street main into the house cistern serving also according to my Invention
to distribute the water from the cistern to the house or to outbuildings as may
be required. For this purpose a two-way screw-down cock is fitted to the
supply pipe, through which the water to the cistern is admitted for distribution,
and the barrel of the cock is provided with two openings, the first commu-
nicating with the supply pipe leading to the main, and the second with a pipe
leading direct to the bottom of the cistern. By suitably adjusting the plug or
valve of the two-way cock the water may be admitted direct from the main
into the cistern so as to fill the same (the mouth S of the cock being at that

page_text: time shut off), or the supply pipe may be shut off and the water drawn from
the cistern through the distributing pipe for the house or other service.
Should it be required to supply, in addition to the house, stables or workshops,
then an extra pipe and cock must be connected with the pipe below and
above the fixed cock so as to enable a communication to be established
between the pipes. The upper end of the cistern pipe is connected with a
valve chamber containing a valve opening downwards, so that when such
valve is held up it closes the aperture in the bottom of the cistern and pre-
vents an excess of water being admitted from the supply pipe. The upper
portion of the stem of this valve which projects inside the cistern is made
hollow, and is perforated round its circumference so as to afford a free access
of water into the hollow portion of the valve, which for the sake of dis-
tinction I shall call the "stop valve." Underneath the bottom of this hollow
spindle there is fitted a small valve or traveller also opening downwards and
fitting when raised close against the central aperture in stop valve. The stop
valve has a long spindle or rod connected to it and extending from the bottoni
to the top of the cistern, where it is guided or maintained in a vertical position
by a fixed support or collar through which it is free to rise and fall; on this
spindle there is fitted a float which rises and falls with the level of the water in
the cistern within a certain range sufficient to effect the full opening or closing
of the stop valve in connection therewith; this float is connected at its top a
and open bottom ; at the latter three stays are employed, two of which
marked c are shown in Figure 4, A. When the cistern is full the buoyancy.
of the float and the pressure of the water in the street main will maintain the
stop valye closed, that is to say, it will hold that valve tight against the under
side of the supply aperture in the bottom of the cistern so that no further
supply from the main can be admitted therein even when the traveller I in
the cock is forced downwards for that purpose. When water is drawn off.
from the cistern through the pipe it first flows down through the hollow valve.
spindle, the small valve or traveller readily falling and opening for that
purpose so soon as the pressure from the main is cut off, and any amount of
water required can be drawn from the cistern till it is emptied of its contents,
and may then be refilled at one operation till the rising of the float and closing
of the stop valve prevents further ingress of the water. The stop valve is
protected from the direct pressure of the main by an annular shield formed
round the interior of the valve chamber, a series of waterways being formed in
the annular space between the shield and the exterior of the chamber.
In order to measure the quantity of water drawn from the supply cistern a
moveable float is adjusted on the vertical spindle before referred to, which

page_text: float is free to move up or down nearly the entire length of spindle according
to the varying position of the water level; to this float there is attached one
end of a pin-jointed chain, each link of which is curved to correspond to an
arc of the circumference of an overhead pulley, over which the chain passes.
Teeth or cogs are also formed on one edge of each link, so that the chain
presents the appearance of a flexible rack; a counterweight is hung to the
free end of this chain for the purpose of balancing the weight of the float.
The teeth of the chain engage with the teeth of a horizontal spur wheel, which
by means of a pall-and-ratchet arrangement is free to revolve loosely round its
shaft when the float is rising, so as not to impart motion to such shaft, but
when the float descends by reason of the drawing off of the water then the
pall and ratchett being engaged together cause the shaft of the spur wheel to
revolve. On the top of this shaft there is fitted a pinion, which gears into the
first of a train of wheels forming a counter, and thereby the amount of water
drawn off is accurately registered, each inch or part of an inch in the fall of
the level of the water being shewn on the dial or dials of the counter, and if
the superficial area of the cistern be given the amount of water drawn off for
each inch or fraction of an inch can be readily calculated.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall
refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings.
The machine or apparatus requisite for carrying out my said Invention
consists of a two-way cock, a service pipe connected with the cock and valve,
a cistern valve and float, and toothed chain actuating the meter wheels
measuring the fluid, all which parts are illustrated in the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are sections of the two-way cock I employ (full size),
shewing the plug B in its various positions; this plug B is screwed into the
outer skin T, T, of the cock, and is turned by the lever handle A in order to
rise it to the position shown in Figure 3, so as to connect the waterway of the
cock with the cistern or reservoir and to draw off the water, steam, or gas
therefrom, as the case may be. T is the outer skin of the cock, the lower way
of which is connected by the screw coupling joint Q, Q, to the pipe R leading
to the street main; the upper way of the cock is connected by the screw
coupling X with a pipe P, P, leading to the cistern, both the joints Q and X
being made water-tight by screwing home the couplings on the washers
G is a thumbscrew for forcing down the traveller or valve H
vertically, which moves freely up and down through the lower portion of the
thumbscrew G and of the circular opening Y, Figure 3 A, of the diaphragın,
x, x, x, x.

page_text: Figure 3, in order to admit the water from the street main by the pipe R
through the water passages r, r, Figure 3 A, in the diaphragm z, Figure 3, of
the coupling joint X, X, to the pipe P, Figure 4, of the cock through the
valve L, herein-after described in reference to Figures 4 and 5, into the
cistern. When the cistern is full the screw G and valve H should be returned
to the position shown by Figure 1, which takes off all pressure from the
service or distributing pipe P, and renders the overflowing of the cistern
impossible. This cock may be attached to any convenient board U, and
secured to the wall in such a position as may be required for house service.
Figure 2 represents the traveller H screwed down by depressing the thumb-
screw G, which is shown with the edge in front, thus admitting the water into
the cistern, the fluid passing from the street main through the pipe R, water
passages 1, 1, Figure 3 A, round the traveller H, by the water passage I, I,
direct into the cistern through the pipe P.
Figure 3 shows the plug of the cock in such a position as to allow the fluid
to return from the cistern, passing down the pipe P, which may be assumed to
lead to the kitchen or scullery; in this condition of the cock it will be seen that
the pipe R from the street main is completely shut off. The lobbies and bed
rooms are supplied by pipes connected with the pipe P, such connections being
made from the floors upwards in order to allow of the pipes being emptied,
and thereby prevent bursting in time of frosts. By connecting the pipes P
and R with a second cock similar to the one before described, and placed in a
manufactory, yard, stable, or other locality, the water may be admitted to the
cistern from the street main and drawn therefrom as the case may require,
thus making one cistern available for domestic and manufacturing purposes.
I shall now describe the construction and action of the double-action valve
L, shown in sectional elevations and horizontal plan at Figures 4 and 5
respectively. This valve serves to admit water through the cock into the
cistern from the street main, and also to allow it to flow from the cistern
through the distributing or service pipe to the point of discharge S. I is the
outer case of the valve; E is an internal diaphragm, and in which.are eight
openings C, C, (four of which are shown on Figure 5), the remaining four
are covered by the half plan of the flange of the valve, shaded dark, on
which is shewn half the octagon for screwing home the upper half K, K, to
the lower half F, F, of the outer skins of the valve K and I; these openings
serve for the passage of the fluid to and from the cistern and around the valve
by the passage C, C, Figures 4 and 5; D, D, are webs resting on the outer
skin I, I, of the valve, on which is screwed down the upper half of the valve
K, K, made water-tight by the washers 9, 9; u, u, u, are three. rests or pro-

page_text: jections (two of which are shewn in Figure 4) upon which the small internal
valve or traveller h descends so as to allow the fluid to pass underneath it
through the six radial openings, four of which are partially shown by the
letter a, a, a, a, the remaining two are partly covered by the top of the
traveller h, tinted black, Figure 5; this traveller h works in a chamber J, J,
surrounded by the annular part w, which also forms the hexagonal screw
marked w, w, w, w, w, w, Figure 5, required for connecting the stop screw
L, L, with the annular exterior, marked w, of the chamber J, J, which is
secured to the float rod O by the stop screw L, L, to the projecting portions
marked i, i. The hollow spindle E¹ is made fast by a screw attachment f,f,
to which the float rod O is screwed at S. In Figure 4 the fluid passages H, H,
is shown closed by the lifting of the float, Figure 4 A, caused by the rising
of the water acting on it in the cistern, which is elevated with the rising of
the liquid, and consequently draws up the valve L till the washer 7 on its face
comes in contact with the washer G between the bottom of the cistern or
reservoir m, m, and the flange M, which is secured to the bottom of the
cistern m,m, by five screw bolts, two of these n, n, are shown in Figure 4,
and their position in, the valve flange, shown and marked by the letters
n, n, n, n, n, in Figure 5. The lift of the valve L and valve rod O is about
one-half inch, the latter being guided by the fixed collar N of the valve
at its upper end, its lower stem n¹ working in the socket 9 in the diaphragm
g
E, E, Figure 4. By this mode of guiding the valve its sides will be caused
to rise and fall truly parallel to the shield t, t, of the diaphragm E, E.
The water passes through the openings a, a, when the valve L has closed
the water passage H, H, by washer 1, 1, on its face coming in contact with
the washer G, G, attached to the bottom of the cistern m, m, and in its
ascent presses or forces up the traveller to the hollow part A of the valve
rod, Figure 4, stopping the passage, and disconnecting the fluid in the pipe P
and chamber J, J, from that in the cistern or reservoir. By returning the
thumbscrew G, Figure 2, to the position shewn in Figure 1, and as at G,
Figure 3, the traveller H ascends till the washer m, m, on its face between
the shoulders o, o, of the traveller H and the screw p, p, is forced up by the
pressure of the water in the street main till the washer on its face m, m,
comes in contact with the lower flange of the cock n, n, thereby closing the
passage and removing the pressure from the water in the pipe P, valve, and
cistern; on turning the lever handle A, which is held in its position by the screw
nut D pressing the thumbscrew G, metal washer e, e, and leather washer d, d,
which presses the shoulder joints of the thumbscrew .9, 9, water-tight, the
shoulders b, b, of the plug B will be drawn against the washer c, c, under the

page_text: stop screw d, d, Figure 2, which prevents the plug from being drawn out, and
allows the water to escape only by the mouth of the cock S, Figure 3, the
traveller will then descend to the rests u, u, (the pressure being removed).
followed by the fluid in the reservoir rushing through the circular openings e, e,
into the hollow A of the valve rod, thence over and under the traveller h
through the radial openings a, a, (Figure 5) by the openings C, C, between
the shield t of the diaphragm E and the outer skin K, K, of the valve into
the pipe P to the point of discharge S, Figure 2. After the cistern has been
filled when the fluid descends, say one-half inch in the cistern, the valve will
then be resting on the diaphragm E, and will so remain till the fluid be
exhausted from out of the reservoir and the operation of filling be again
commenced. As the fluid ascends through the chamber S, S, and the:
openings C, C, (Figure 4) the valve will remain on its bed undisturbed, being
protected by the shield t, t, till the fluid reaches within one-half inch of its
maximum height, when the rising of the float, Figure 4 A, by the incoming
fluid, assisted upwards by its pressure through the duct O and socket g on the
projecting stem n¹ of the valve, will draw it up vertically and equidistant from
the sides of its chamber, closing the fluid passage H, H, to the cistern. The
hollow A of the valve rod is afterwards closed or stopped by the rising of the
traveller h, from which duty it is only relieved by the plug B (Figure 2) being.
turned to distribute the water either to the kitchen or other place of discharge,
as shewn by Figure 3, thus the cock may be used at pleasure either as a stop-
supply or discharge cock.
Figure 6 represents a vertical section of the meter machinery for registering
the cubical contents of water, gas, or other fluid that has entered and left a
reservoir. The float A moves vertically on the piston rod B ascending and-
descending with the rise and fall of the water or other fluid; in the reservoir
or cistern is the joint connecting the float A with the toothed chain ; the
fluid enters the cast-iron chamber D through the valve before described (see
Figures 4 and 5), and in its entry lifts up the float A from off the cast-iron
rests h¹, h¹, in the bottom of the chamber, slackening the toothed chain which
is drawn up by the graduated weight O over the drum I, and kept in its place
by the governor g, as the float ascends the pall of the ratchett wheel, falls into
the ratch, holding its centre and pinion fast, and allowing the external toothed
rim of the wheel to return with the rising of the chain h. On the float A-
reaching the stop K. fixed on the valve rod the valve below the chamber D is
lifted and the fluid passage at H, H, closed; on shutting off the fluid by the
valve being raised the pressure forcing the pall into the ratch is slackened,
and as the fluid is drawn off the float descends with the toothed chain h

page_text: which communicates motion to the meter wheel b, the pinion on which
carrying the hand f communicates motion to the adjoining wheel, which
transfers it to the next wheels, each registering by their hands the number of
revolutions they have made; the diameter of the wheels is 3.183, and of the
pinions 3.183 of an inch, so that on the fluid falling ten inches the ratchett
wheel has completed one revolution equal to ten inches, and its pinion will
have turned the adjoining wheel one-tenth periphery, and the next adjoining
wheel one-hundredth of its periphery, and so on as the descent of the fluid
increases. The bands of the several wheels will indicate the total descent in
vertical inches, which being multiplied by the superficial area of the cistern
would give the cubical contents in cube feet of the fluid that has left the
reservoir.
In the example, Figure 7, the hands show an escape of 67,890.46 vertical
inches, which from a cistern service of twelve superficial feet gives 5,657.96
cubic feet, equal to thirty-five thousand six hundred and fifty-two and a
quarter gallons, the quantity of fluid that has left the cistern since its discharge
commenced. The letters i, l, m, n, point out the guard or cover of the
machinery; u, u, are pillars supporting the parallel plates in which the
wheels work; they are protected at the sides and top by glass plates marked
a and c.
Figure 8 is a full-sized Drawing of a portion of the toothed chain showing
the mode of joining or rivetting the teeth or parts together, and Figure 9
shews a transverse section of one tooth taken on the line c, d, in the longi-
tudinal direction of the chain, and exhibiting it with a curve formed by a
radius equal to the radius of the drum I, which revolves on its axle K in the
holdfast J.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the general combination and arrangement of parts constituting my
improved apparatus for distributing and measuring gas, steam, water, and
other fluids, and the mode of operating such apparatus, substantially as
herein-before described and illustrated by my Drawings.
Second, the combination of cistern valve L, hollow valve rod, and tra-
veller g, with a single pipe and two-way cock, serving both as supply and
service pipe, the whole operating substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described.

page_text: Third, the combination with a cistern or reservoir of a moveable float and
toothed chain for the purpose of actuating counting mechanism, with a view
to the measuring of fluids drawn off from such cistern, as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Hastings Frith, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Seventeenth day of October,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
R. H. FRITH, C.E. (L.S.)