IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS."-A communication from abroad
by De Witt Clinton Taylor and Robert Jackson Kimball, Bankers,
both of the City of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, and State of
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 19th October 1875, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act 1852.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 19th October 1875, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Datant Amant cond creating

page_text: my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent
for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has been com-
municated to me from abroad, by De Witt Clinton Taylor, and Robert
Jackson Kimball, Bankers, both of the City of Brooklyn, in the County
of Kings, and State of New York, United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
The object of this Invention is to produce a water meter which by
receiving part of a current of water will measure the whole current,
thereby providing a much cheaper and more convenient means of
measuring a stream of any size than is obtained when the whole stream
passes through the working part of the meter.
The Invention consists principally in applying a valve within the
inlet pipe of the meter in such a manner that the said valve will
regulate two openings, one of said openings leading into the lower part,
and the other into the upper part of the meter. The water passing
through one of said openings will affect the measuring or registering
mechanism within the meter, while the water passing through the other
opening will not affect such mechanism. The said valve is operated,
that is to say, more or less raised or moved by the whole current of
water, and the stronger the current the more will it open the two
apertures above referred to. The particular mechanism described and
represented in Figures 1 to 3 of the Drawing annexed has the upper
opening formed in the body of the valve, but the parts may be so
arranged that the upper opening can be formed in the inlet pipe the
same as the lower.
A modification of the Invention consists in the application of two
valves to one meter, one valve being in the way of the main current
that does not enter the working and registering part of the meter, while
the other valve is in the way of the entrance opening to such working
and registering part of the meter. These two valves are mounted on the 3
same shaft, or otherwise so intimately connected with each other that
the larger valve, which as already described is controlled by the main

page_text: current, will regulate the position of the upper or smaller valve that
controls the entrance of the water into the working and registering part
of the meter. Thus it is that when a full current approaches the meter
it will open the main or larger valve entirely, thereby also entirely
opening the valve that leads to the working and registering part of the
meter, and allowing as full a current as possible to enter such meter,
where as if a smaller current passes through the pipe the main valve
will not be fully opened and therefore a less part of the current will be
admitted into the working and registering part of the meter. Thus the
action of the meter will be influenced by the size of the current passing
by the meter. A spring or counterpoise of suitable kind is applied to
the valves for the purpose of counteracting the force of the current and
closing the valves proportionately against weaker currents.
In the accompanying Drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical central section
of the improved water meter; Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the
same, on the line C, C, Figure 1; Figure 3 is a detail horizontal section
on the line k, k, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a vertical central section of the modification of the
improved water meter; Figure 5, a plan view partly in section of the
same; Figure 6, an end view showing the inlet openings; and Figure 7,
a detail horizontal section on the line C, K, Figure 4.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
With special reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the letter A represents
the shell or casing of the meter within which is mounted on a suitable
shaft B, carrying wings C, C, which wings when struck by the current
of water entering the lower part of the meter will cause the rotation of
the shaft B, and the consequent motion of the registering mechanism
D, D, which mechanism is of suitable kind and construction and not
part of this Invention; E is the inlet pipe extending vertically or in
other direction along the shell A, and made with an opening a, which
leads into the lower part of said shell, so that a current of water passing
through the inlet pipe and through the opening a will reach the
wings C, and cause the same to rotate in the desired manner; F is the
outlet pipe from the meter, the same extending from the upper part of
the shell A; G is a diaphragm or plate which divides the upper part
from the lower part of the body of the meter, and which has an opening

page_text: in it through which the water from the lower part of the meter
can pass into the upper part and thence into the outlet pipe F. The
registering mechanism D is mostly contained above the diaphragm G,
and is protected towards the inlet pipe E by a metallic curtain H, and
on top if desired also by a top plate I. The upper part of the inlet pipe
communicates with the upper part of the meter above the diaphragm G,
so that water will flow directly through the inlet pipe into the upper
chamber of the meter, although part of the current will also pass
through the aperture a. All the water that enters the upper part of the
meter passes to the outlet pipe around the curtain H, and, if the plate I
is applied, over the plate I without affecting at all the registering
mechanism that is contained within the meter.
From the preceding description it will be observed that it must be the
purpose of this Invention more particularly to so regulate the pro-
portionate currents that enter the lower and upper part of the meter,
that they will invariably bear the same relation to each other and to the
entire quantity of water that reaches the meter, so that that portion
which enters the lower part of the meter through the opening a will
invariably represent a given and definite proportion of the entire stream,
the record which it produces being a correct record of measurement of
the entire stream. Now, this adjustment is obtained by means of a
valve J which is introduced within the inlet pipe E, being in the
Drawing represented to be a cylindrical vessel open at the bottom and
closed on top, and fitting properly into the pipe E. A pin 6 extends
from this valve J into and through the opening a of the inlet pipe, its
object being to prevent the valve J from turning, and also to constitute
a stop for its extremes of vertical motion.
If desired the pin 6 may extend into a suitable groove or guide and
not into and through the opening a.
A hole d is cut through the upper part of the valve J, and is larger
than the hole a. A spring e bears on the valve, and has the tendency
to lower it down so as to bring the entire length of the hole d within
the inlet pipe, thereby closing the top of the inlet pipe and the hole d,
and closing also the hole a. But when a current of water enters the
inlet pipe it will raise the valve J more or less, according to the size
and head of such current, and will in that case open the apertures a, d,
to a greater or less extent. Through these apertures the water will

page_text: escape into the meter, the smaller current passing into the lower part
of the meter and operating the registering mechanism, while the larger
current passes into the upper part of the meter and escapes into the
outlet pipe F without affecting the registering mechanism.
In all cases the relative size of the lower and upper openings will
always bear the same proportion to each other, and therefore the meter
will record correctly, providing its registering mechanism is adjusted to
show the entire quantity of water, of which a given portion entering
the lower part of the meter is measured. But for many causes it may
be necessary to specially adjust the size of the openings a, d, and even
also to vary the direction of the currents that pass through such openings
into the meter; and for this purpose a ring f is placed around the inlet
pipe E, where the same is provided with the aperture a, said ring con-
taining an opening g of about the size and form of the aperture a, as
indicated in Figures 1 and 3. When this ring is turned more or less to
one side or the other it will more or less close or open the aperture a,
and the ring may also be raised, if desired, for the same purpose, and
by the side adjustment of the ring the direction of the current passing
through it will also be varied.
) The aperture through the ring may, if desired, be continued in a
short tube that leads into the meter. In the same manner can the size
and direction of the current passing through the aperture d be regulated
by a ring that is fitted into the tubular valve J, said ring / containing
also an aperture of about the size and shape of the opening d, being
6 capable of vertical and of lateral adjustment for the purpose of varying
the size of the said opening and the direction of the current through
the same; thus its power on the valve which is within the inlet pipe is
exerted by the whole stream of water, and yet said single valve causes
said stream to be divided into two currents, of which one will affect tho
0 meter and the other not, though both currents pass through the body
of the meter. As to this, however, the Invention may be carried into
effect with the same result if the upper current instead of passing
through the body of the meter should be carried into the outlet pipe F
by a branch pipe of suitable kind.
The Drowing ronrasanto
5
ovlindrical valve I which regulate the size

page_text: escape opening which is formed in the top of the opening in the inlet
pipc.
This arrangement may be varied mechanically without departing
from the spirit of the Invention by the use of a different style of valve,
regulating the size of the two openings of the inlet pipe, the said valve
being affected and moved by the entire current of water.
Meters have already been made with valves that regulate the size of
the current entering the meter, but in that case the valve never
divided the stream into two currents, one to pass into the registering
part of the meter, the other to pass off without affecting the registering
part.
As to the regulators f and h, their construction and form may of
course be varied at pleasure.
The guard or curtain H is of importance in case the upper part of
the current is let into the body of the meter, otherwise it may be dis-
pensed with.
It is evident that when a meter of different construction is used, this
Invention may apply as well, if the registering mechanism should be
placed in the top or other part of the meter instead of being placed in
the bottom, as shown in the Drawing, but in such case, the relative
positions of the openings a, d, will necessarily also be varied.
With reference to Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, which represent the modi-
fication of the Invention, the letter L represents the body of a water
meter containing within it suitable working, measuring, or registering
devices, which it is not here necessary to describe, since the same do
not constitute part of the present Invention. M is the water inlet
pipe to the meter, being of a size to receive the full current of water to
be measured. This pipe M leads into a chamber N which is directly
opposite the water entrance / to the meter.
The water entrance or aperture 7 has a diameter much smaller than
the pipe M, so that only a part of the current of water passing through
M will enter the body of the meter through the aperture 1. The main
body of the current will pass from the chamber N through a separato
conduit O into the discharge pipe P. The water passing through the
body L of the meter and affecting the registering mechanism R therein a

page_text: escapes finally through a branch pipe m into the discharge pipe P. It
will be seen that by this arrangement the body or working portion of
the meter receives but a small proportion of the current to be measured,
and it is evident that in order nevertheless to correctly measure the
entire current it is necessary that the water in the meter should have a
definite and invariable proportion to the quantity of water passing
through the conduit O. In order to insure this proportionate division
of the water passing respectively through the meter and through the
conduit O two valves S and T are applied, the first between the
chamber N and the conduit O, and the second between the chamber N
and the opening l. These two valves are by preference arranged on the
same spindle n as shown in Figures 4 and 6, and made each in form of
a segment, as more clearly shown by reference to Figures 5 and 7,
Figure 5 showing a section of the upper valve T, while Figure 7 shows
a section of the lower valve S. The lower valve S is so disposed with
reference to the opening from the chamber N into the conduit that its
radius or straight side o will be exposed to the current of water entering
through the pipe M, and said current will therefore have the tendency
to move the valve S in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 7,
and to more or less open the aperture leading from the chamber N into
the conduit O, as indicated in Figure 7.
A spring p, which is connected with the spindle n of the valves tends
to counteract the effect of the current on the valve S and to hold said
valve closed, so that if the current of water slackens the spring will
close the valve in proportion to the reduction of current.
Being mounted upon the same spindle n or otherwise connected with
each other in equivalent manner it is evident that the upper valve T
will be moved whenever by the force of the current as herein-above
described the lower valve is moved to more or less open or close the
entrance to the conduit O, and as said upper valve T is moved by means
of the valve S it opens more or less in proportion to the degree of
motion of the valve S, the aperture leading into the meter proper,
and the amount of water admitted to the meter proper will consequently
always be proportionate to the amount of water passing into the
conduit.
The two valves S and T may be adjustable, and should preferably be
adjustable on their spindle, so that the valves may first be regulated as
to their proper position before the meter is allowed to operate.

page_text: F
To ensure the direct action of the water upon the lower valve an
adjustable diaphragm r is inserted across the chamber N in front of the
valve S, said diaphragm having a suitably sized aperture immediately
in front of said valve.
To fix the limit of closing motion of the lower valve an adjustablo
pin through the said diaphragm may be used.
The entrance to the working part of the meter may be by one or
more passages, as may be deemed desirable; two are shown in the
Drawing.
The seat for the upper valve T may be made movable to change the
direction of the stream that enters the meter body.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as new, and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is,―
1st. In a water meter tho valvo J fitted into the inlet pipe to bo
affected by the entire stream of water, and to regulate the size of two
openings a, d, one of said openings allowing water to enter the registering
part of the meter, while through the other opening water passes through
or past the meter without affecting the registering mechanism, sub-
stantially as specified.
2nd. The combination of the regulator f with the inlet pipe E, which
has an opening a into the meter and with the valve J, substantially as
horein shown and described.
3rd. The combination of the regulator h with the valve J having the
opening d, and with the inlet pipe E of a water meter, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
4th. In combination with a water meter containing the diaphragm G
the curtain or guard h, substantially as herein shown and described.
5th. The tubular vertically movable valve J constructed with the
opening d and combined with the inlet pipe E which has the opening a,
all substantially as specified.
6th. In a water meter, the working and registering part of which
receives a portion of the current to be measured, the combination of the
valve S, which is controlled by the main current of water that does not
enter the working and registering part of the meter with the valve T,

page_text: which controls the portion of water entering the meter proper, sub-
stantially as herein shown and described.
7th. The combination of the valves S and T, spindle n, and counter-
poise or spring p with the body L of the meter and with the water
conduit O, all substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.