IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND FOR GOVERNING THE FLOW OF WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Taylor, of the Patent Saw Mills,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND FOR GOVERNING
THE FLOW OF WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS."
Sealed the 5th July 1853, and dated the 4th May 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Taylor
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 4th May 1858.
I, THOMAS TAYLOR, of the Patent Saw Mills, Manchester, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR MEASURING AND FOR GOVERNING THE FLOW OF WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS"
to be as follows:-
My Improvements consist, firstly, in admitting the liquid to be
measured through an orifice or orifices capable of expansion and con-
traction, so as to possess varying areas for the purpose of rendering the
action of the meter more sensitive when a comparatively small quantity
of the fluid is drawn off. The arrangement and construction of this

page_text: apparatus may be varied according to the description of meter to which
it is applied; but I will, for example, suppose that its principle of
action is that of a rotatory wheel, against which the fluid impinges and
moves therewith in a circular direction. During the action of the
meter the motion by which a measurement is obtained will keep the
inlet passage or passages open to the full extent, or nearly so; but if
that motion should cease to take place by an attempt to draw off small
quantities without measurement, or from other causes, then the inlet
orifice or orifices will contract so as to cause the fluid to pass through
a smaller area, and an increased power will be obtained for imparting
motion to the apparatus. Secondly, my Invention consists in an
arrangement and construction of valve for governing the flow of water
and other liquids. One point of novelty of this part of my Invention
consists in forming the valve of metal covered with gutta percha, and
fitting it to its seat by applying the gutta percha thereto in a plastic
state. Another point of novelty is a method of opening and closing;
to effect this the valve is mounted so as to turn upon a hinged centre,
and to it is adapted a link, which at its other extremity is connected to
an arm mounted upon a spindle, which passes through stuffing boxes;
by causing this spindle to be turned either by a floating ball or by hand
the valve will be drawn from its seat, and the liquid allowed to pass.
The valve is kept to its seat mainly by the pressure of the fluid, but in
order to assist this, or retain it when the pressure is taken off, I adapt
a light spring of any suitable material.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Taylor in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 4th November 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
THOMAS TAYLOR, of the Patent Saw Mills, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-

page_text: teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Taylor, Her especial license
that I, the said Thomas Taylor, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Taylor, my executors,
administrators, and 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, ex-
ercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND FOR GOVERNING THE
FLOW OF WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS," upon the condition, amongst
others, that I, the said Thomas Taylor, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and scal, 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 Scal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Taylor, 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 and accompanying drawing (that
is to say):
My improvements consist, firstly, in admitting liquids to meters
through an orifice or orifices capable of expansion and contraction, so
as to possess varying areas for the purpose of rendering the action of
the measuring apparatus more sensitive when a comparatively small
quantity of the fluid is drawn off.
The arrangement and construction of this contrivance may be varied
according to the description of meter to which it is applied. I have,
however, to this my Specification appended a drawing, showing the
improvement in conjunction with a construction of measuring apparatus,
for which a Patent was granted to me on the Fifteenth day of Novem-
ber One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, and the Specification of
which was duly enrolled. Secondly, in an arrangement and construc-
tion of valve for governing the flow of fluids, one point of novelty of

page_text: which consists in forming the valve of metal covered with gutta percha,
and fitting it to its seat by applying the gutta percha in a plastic state;
and another peculiar feature is the method by which a valve is opened
and closed. Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, represent my first improvement;
Fig. 1, being a plan view, with the casing, in section of a meter con-
structed according to my Patent, as aforesaid; and Fig. 2, a vertical
section of the same. Figs. 3, and 4, are detached views of one of the
orifices by which the fluid is admitted, the parts being shewn in two
positions. The principle by which the measurement is effected accord-
the rotation of a
ing to the construction of meter above referred to
wheel provided with vanes, against which the fluid is caused to im-
pinge, so as to effect its revolution. It is evident that however
accurate the construction, a force of fluid, beyond a certain amount,
must impinge upon the vaned wheel before a rotation can be effected,
and consequently before a measurement will be indicated; before this
necessary action, therefore, can be obtained, a certain amount of fluid
may be drawn off without producing any effect; and although this
quantity may be very small in reference to my construction of meter,
it is yet desirable to reduce it, and this I effect by causing the orifices
to contract or expand by a self-acting process accordingly as less or more
fluid is allowed to pass from the meter. In the figures above referred to
the rotatory drum or wheel a, is mounted upon a shaft within a casing b,
the fluid to be measured passing inward through nozzles c, connected
with passages, as described in the Specification of my former Patent
above referred to, and to these nozzles the improved apparatus is
attached. The passage d, by which the fluid enters is provided with a
valve or shutter e, turning upon a centre at f, and to this centre is
The
attached a vane g, extending towards the centre of the drum a.
axis of the valve e, also carries an excentric pulley h, to which is con-
nected one end of an elastic band i, its other extremity, after passing
over a pulley j, being attached to an arm k, which also carries the
pulley by the elastic force, therefore, of this band, the valve e, when
not forced outward, is kept to its seat within the nozzle c, so as to close
the aperture with the exception of a small orifice formed by a pipe 7,
which pipe extends outward so as to deliver a stream of fluid at a point

page_text: almost in-contact with the vanes of the drum a. Suppose the parts to be
in the position shewn at Figure 3, and that a small quantity of fluid
be drawn from the meter, to supply the place of this a like quantity
must pass therein; this will take place through the small orifice of the
pipe 7, the valve being kept to its sent by the elastic band i, and as the
pressure is thus concentrated sufficient force will be exerted to turn
the drum, upon its axis, and consequently register the quantity of
fluid used. The drum a, having been thus put in motion, and a more
considerable quantity being now drawn off, a circular stream of the
fluid will take place, and by acting against the blade g, will turn the
axis of the valve e, upon its centro so as to open the full area of
the passage d, as shewn at Fig. 4; and in order to provide for this
motion a slot m, is formed in the nozzle c, through which the pipe 7,
inay pass. In the foregoing description I have alluded to one induction
orifice only; in the drawing, however, two are shewn, arranged on
opposite sides of the centre of the drum, according to my Patent before
referred to. I would also observe, that although I have described my
improvement as adapted to a certain apparatus for measuring fluids, I
desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to such combina-
tion, for it may be applied to other arrangements in which it is desirable
to register the drawing off of small quantities of fluid. My second
improvement is shewn as applied to a "stand pipe" in the vertical
section, Fig. 5. To the upper part of the pipe is adapted a box al,
within which is placed a valve b, turning upon a joint at c; this valve
is formed of metal, to which a piece of gutta percha d, is affixed, and
having been made plastic by heat is moulded into the seat e. To the
metal plate of the valve is jointed a link f, connected to a short lever g,
fixed to an axis h, one end of which passes through the box a, and is
there provided with a handle i; by turning this, therefore, the valve
will be lifted from its seat, and the fluid allowed to pass through the
orifice j, the pressure subsequently returning it to the closed position.
I have shewn this part of my Invention applied to a "stand pipe;" but,
if desired, the handle i, may be the lever of a float, or the same arrange-
inent of valve may be applied in other forms for governing the passage
of fluids.

page_text: Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it
to be understood that I claim, as secured to me under the above in part
recited Letters Patent, firstly, as applied to meters, the adaptation of
apparatus capable of contracting and enlarging the induction orifice or
orifices by the action of the fluid to be measured. Secondly, as applied
to apparatus for governing the passage of fluids forming a valve by
moulding gutta percha in a plastic state on to the scat thereof. Also
the method, above described, of raising valves to admit the passage of
fluids.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Taylor, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Third day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
THOMAS TAYLOR. (L.S.)