IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER-METERS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE QUAN- TITY OF WATER OR OTHER FLUID FLOWING THROUGH PIPES OR OTHER CONDUITS, AND FOR GENERATING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Melling, of Grassendale Park, Aigburth, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN
WATER-METERS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND REGISTERING THE QUAN-
TITY OF WATER OR OTHER FLUID FLOWING THROUGH PIPES OR OTHER CONDUITS,
AND FOR GENERATING MOTIVE POWER."
Sealed the 4th July 1879, and dated the 9th January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Melling at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th January 1879.
THOMAS MELLING, of Grassendale Park. Aigburth, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING
AND REGISTERING THE QUANTITY OF WATER OR OTHER FLUID FLOWING THROUGH
PIPES OR OTHER CONDUITS, AND FOR GENERATING MOTIVE POWER."
This Invention relates to improvements founded upon and made with the object
of increasing the efficiency of an Invention for which Letters Patent were granted
to me on the Tenth day of July 1877, No. 2647, entitled Improvements in Water
Meters or Apparatus for Measuring and Registering the Quantity of Water or other
Fluid Flowing through Pipes or other Conduits." In the Specification of that
Patent the piston valves are described as so arranged that one valve must be closed
before the other is or can be opened." This provision was made with the view the
better to secure accuracy of measurement, but in practice I find that it is not required
owing to the manner in which the valves are changed in position by my improved
gearing for working them, as described and claimed in the Specification of my pre-
viously recited Patent. In my further improved apparatus made according to this
my present Invention, which forms the subject of this Specification. I make the
valves narrower than the ports, which I find preferable, as offering less interruption
to the flow of water or current in the pipes leading to and from the meter. The
piston valves also which I now propose to use are in some respects different in con-
struction from those described in detail in the Specification of that Patent. The
valves employed according to my present Invention art simply as pistons, and not
as double beat valves.
I have also modified the gearing employed as described in my former Specifica-
tion, and improved the general arrangement of the respective parts constituting the
meter, which is now a very effective instrument, the principles of its valves and

page_text: gearing being such as to adapt it to working at a speed considerably higher than
that ordinarily in use for meters of the reciprocating class, and thus render a smaller
cylinder and shorter stroke in it as effective as larger cylinders and longer strokes in
other meters have previously been.
I also propose to utilize the motive power obtained by my improved measuring
apparatus by applying. it in any convenient manner for the purpose of giving motion
to machines of various kinds, or for other purposes, where the power generated may
be applied with advantage.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Melling in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th July
1879.
THOMAS MELLING, of Grassendale Park, Aigburth, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING
AND REGISTERING THE QUANTITY OF WATER OR OTHER FLUID FLOWING THROUGH
PIPES OR OTHER CONDUITS, AND FOR GENERATING MOTIVE POWER."
16
This Invention relates to improvements founded upon and made with the object
of increasing the efficiency of an Invention for which Letters Patent were granted
to me on the 10th day of July 1877, No. 2647, entitled Improvements in Water
Meters or Apparatus for Measuring and Registering the Quantity of Water or other
Fluid Flowing through Pipes or other Conduits."
In the Specification of that Patent the piston-valves are described as 50 arranged
that one valve must be closed before the other is or can be opened." This provision
was made with the view the better to secure accuracy of measurement, but in prac-
tice I find that it is not required owing to the manner in which the valves are
changed in position by my improved gearing for working them, as described and
claimed in the Specification of my previously recited Patent. In my further
improved apparatus, made according to this my present Invention, which forms the
subject of this Specification, I make the valves narrower than the ports, which I find
preferable, as offering less interruption to the flow of water or current in the pipes
leading to and from the meter. The piston-valves also which I now propose to use
are in some respects different in construction from those described in detail in the
Specification of that Patent. The valves employed according to my present Inven-
tion act simply as pistons, and not as double-beat valves.
I have also modified the gearing employed as described in my former Specifica-
tion, and improved the general arrangement of the respective parts constituting the
meter, which is now a very effective instrument, the principles of its valves and
gearing being such as to adapt it to working at a speed considerably higher than
that ordinarily in use for meters of the reciprocating class, and thus render a smaller
cylinder and shorter stroke in it as effective as larger cylinders and longer strokes in
other meters have previously been.
I also propose to utilize the motive power obtained by my improved measuring

page_text: apparatus by applying it in any convenient manner for the purpose of giving motion
to machines of various kinds, or for other purposes, where the power generated may
be applied with advantage.
My Invention is best described by aid of the accompanying Drawings (and in the
following Specification I have shown my latest improvements to more fully illustrate
my Invention), in which,-
Figure 1 is an external elevation of the meter.
Figure 2, a plan thereof. In this view the casing over the gearing is shown in
section, and for the sake of clearness the cover over the top of side-pipe is removed,
and the roller lever and its fulcrum are also omitted.
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the meter showing the valve
gearing, the registering apparatus, as shown in Figure 10, being removed.
Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section through the meter.
Figure 5, a vertical longitudinal section through the valve-box and side-pipe.
Nota Bene. The sections shown by these last three Figures (3, 4, and 5) are
respectively taken on the lines indicated on the plan (Figure 2), and are marked
with corresponding letters of reference.
Figure 6 is a horizontal section through the measuring cylinder and side-pipe
taken on the line referred to on the vertical transverse section, Figure 4.
Figure shows in section one of my improved pistons (or piston valves) with a
single cup.
Figure 8 is a section of another of these pistons (or piston-valves) with doublo
cups; and
Figure 9 a section of one of them constructed with an expanding cone.
Figure 10 is a front view of the registering apparatus of the meter; and
Figure 11 a vertical end section through the same.
Figure 12 shows a view of the link motion as a substitute or alternative arrange-
ment for the "heart"-shaped cam and roller.
Figure 13 represents a weight substituted for a spring for changing the position
of the valves; and
Figure 14 shows a method of effecting the same by fluid or aeriform pressure.
The same letters of reference apply to the same parts in all the Figures.
The general description of my improved water meter is as follows, and, subject
to the improvements and modifications therein that will be hereinafter described,
its leading features, it will be perceived, remain the same as those of my previous
Invention, for which Letters Patent were granted to me as bereinbefore referred to;
these leading features consist in,-
I.. A measuring cylinder with its piston and rod.
II. Two piston-valves and the side-pipe in which they are contained.
III. The gearing by which the said valves are worked; and
IV. The clock-work for registering the quantity of water measured.
I. A is the measuring cylinder; it is truly bored, or it may be lined with brass
or other suitable material. B is the cylinder cover with a stuffing box a in it,
through which the piston-rod works. Cis the piston, which is of an improved kind,
as will be hereafter described; and D the piston rod.
II. E, E, are the piston valves for regulating the admission to and the expulsion
of the water from the two ends of the measuring cylinder; these piston valves (like
the piston in the measuring cylinder) are of an improved kind, as will be hereinafter
described; but it may now be stated that they are made narrower than the ports in
the side-pipe over which they pass, so as not to check the flow of water or current
in the pipes leading to and from the meter whilst the valves are being changed in
position. This arrangement however (with the form of valve I use and the rapid
action of my improved valve gearing) does not affect the accuracy of measurement
of the meter. The valves E, E, are fixed upon the spindle by the nuts c, c'. F
is the side-pipe containing the valves; it may be cast in one piece with the mea-
suring cylinder, as shown upon the Drawings, or be made loose and bolted thereto;
it contains three semi-annular chambers, the top and bottom ones d, d, forming in

page_text: their continuation ports to the two ends of the measuring cylinder, and the middle
one € being connected to the inlet pipe to the meter f, by which the water is intro-
duced between the valves. The outlet water is conducted from the ends of the
valves by a side-port g to the outlet-pipe of the meter h. G is a bush of brass or other
suitable material inserted in the side-pipe F, in which the valves E, E', work; this
bush or valve-casing has four openings i, i, in it opposite each of the three chambers
d, d', and e, the material between such openings forming mid-feathers or guides for
the pistons to pass over, and also making the bush continuous or in one piece. The
size and number of such openings, and consequently also of the mid-feathers or
guides between them, can be varied or made more or less; but for the smaller-sized
meters find them when made as hereinbefore described to work satisfactorily.
This bush (G) may however be altogether dispensed with if a lining for the side-
pipe of other material than its own be not required; in such case all that is necessary
is to form mid-feathers or guides across the three chambers d, d, and e.
The improved pistous and piston-valves which I
use, both in the measuring
cylinder and for the valves, as herein before referred to (but to which I do not
necessarily confine myself), are shown more in detail in Figures 7, 8, and 9 of the
Drawings. These pistons (or piston-valves) are made of a material well known to
manufacturers of articles of indiarubber, and commonly called vulcanite," so
formed into cups or thimbles as to be kept tight automatically by the pressure of
the water within them. And as the material (vulcanite") possesses but a limited
amount of elasticity, and works well in water, these pistons (or piston-valves) are
not only tight, but move with very little friction, and are easily worked. I conse-
quently find them to answer well in practice, and subject to little " wear and tear."
Figure 7 shows in section a piston (or piston-valve) of this kind, formed with a
single cup or thimble, and made in one piece. Figure 8 is a section of another of
them, with double cups, also made in one piece. And Figure 9, a section of one
constructed with an expanding cone, by which its diameter can at any time be
enlarged, so as to compensate for wear and tear," ct octera. In this Figure (9) E
is the vulcanitering, the inside of which is in the form of the frustrum of a
E is a corresponding frustrum of a cone, formed upon the spindle or rod.
E, a washer bearing upon the vulcanite ring; and E, nuts upon the spindle, by
turning which the vulcanite ring is pressed upon the cone, and expanded in size.
Whenever required, either by the wear of the vulcanite cup (or thimble), or of
the cylinder lining, or of the bush (or valve-casing), I enlarge the outside diameter
of the piston or piston valves, as the case may be, to compensate for such wear as
aforesaid. This I do by the use of the expanding cones (or maundrells) as previously
described, both the cones (or maundrells), and the vulcanite cups (or thimbles)
being slightly warmed before commencing such process of expansion, or before
pressing in the cones that act internally upon the cups (or thimbles), and increase
their outside diameter. This having been done till they are of the required size, 1
then immerse the whole in cold water, when the vulcanite cup (or thimble) of the
piston (or piston valve) will remain set' or fixed in its so enlarged size, and this
operation can be repeated as often as required, id est, so long, of course, as the
thickness of the vulcanite in the piston (or piston valve) will permit. In the piston
valves I generally form the cones for expanding such cups (or thimbles) on the
spindles of the said valves, but in the cups (or thimbles) of the pistons of the
measuring cylinders I use an expanding cone (or maundrell) apart therefrom, for the
purpose previously described, and this I do both for convenience and as a saving of
weight and cost, although, if desired, the expanding cones might be formed in these
pistons themselves (as well as in the piston-valves), for the expansion of their cups
(or thimbles) as aforesaid.
cone.
"
66
"
III. The valve gearing or mechanism for changing the position of the valves at
the end of each stroke of the piston in the measuring cylinder, consists as
follows, in,
(a). A cap (II) fixed upon the top of the piston-rod D. The upper part of this
is of link-form, and carries two tappet-rollers j, j', which tappets are formed of
сар

page_text: leather, between brass washers.
actuates the registering apparatus.
It has also a toothed rack upon its face, which
(b.) lever 1 (hereafter called the cam-lever "), which is raised and depressed
by the tappet rollers j, j this lever is of hell-crank form, having formed upon it at
right angles to the arm which the piston-rod works a heart-shaped cam. This
lever (1) rides loose upon the valve-shaft (to be hereafter described), and has a
segmental clutch / upon its inside face or that next to the side-pipe."
(c.) A lever (hereafter called the roller lever "), one end of which carries a
roller, that bears against the heart-shaped cam k, and the other end of which
is attached to a spring J, which spring, as will be hereafter described, changes the
position of the valves E, E'.
To protect it from oxidation the spring J is encased in a cylinder containing oil,
as seen in Figure 3 of the Drawings.
The centre or fulcrum of the lever Jis below that of the cam-lever 1, and on one
side of it. In the Drawings this fulcrum is shown formed by a standard K, which
is affixed to the upper flange of the measuring cylinder.
Nota bene.-A weight may be substituted for the spring J, as shown in
Figure 13.
6.
Ür, the same purpose may be effected by hydraulic pressure, as represented in
Figure 14, where the pressure of water bears upon the upper surface of the piston.
Or, pneumatic pressure, or other mechanical equivalent, may be used instead.
In like manner, for the heart-plate or cam kand the roller J' the link-motion
shown in Figure 12 may be substituted. In this arrangement a bell-crank lever I
is substituted for the cam-lever. This lever (I) is connected by a link J and two
joint pins, k, to the lever J, to the other end of which lever (J) the spring J (or
its mechanical equivalent) is attached.
(.) A lever L (hereafter called the valve lever ") and a weight M to counter-
balance the weight of the valves. Both the valve-lever L and the weight M are
fixed upon the valve-shaft. The weight M has a segmental clutch upon one of
its faces, which corresponds with the clutch / upon the cam-lever I, by which the
valve lever L is alternately raised and depressed. Chase or traverse is given
between these clutches, so that whilst the cam-lever I is moving the valves E, E',
remain at rest until the clutch / upon the cam-lever I (at the proper time) comes
in contact with the clutch m upon the balance weight when it carries the valve-
lever Lalong with it, and moves the valves. The valve lever L is connected to the
valves E, E, by the link and the cross-head o.
Fis the
(c.) is the oscillating valve-shaft. It is carried by a pipe to be hereafter
described, and has its outer end steadied by the frame of the clock-work.
pipe so referred to. It forms a continuation of the side-pipe F (which is cast upon
the cylinder), and has a cover or bonnet and a stuffing-box 7, through which the
valve-shaft N passes. O, O', are elastic buffers, fixed, as shown upon the Drawings,
in the ends of the side-pipe F, F. for stopping the valves E, E, in their proper
positions on the termination of their up and down strokes.
IV. The clock-work by which the quantity of water measured is registered is
shown in Figures 2, 4, 10, and 11 of the Drawings. It is actuated by the piston-
rod D, and is so arranged as to take its indications from the space travelled by the
piston in the measuring cylinder (C), not from the number of its strokes. This
lock-work consists of a series of dials P, the hands of which are moved by the
usual train of wheel-work. Motion is communicated from the piston-rod D to the
dials by the rack upon the piston-rod-cap H and the pinion Q, the worm Rand
worm wheel S, and another worm and worm wheel between the dial plates, as seen
more particularly in Figure 4 in the Drawings. The pinion Q (which acts upon
the clock-work only when turning in one direction) transmits its motion by a
ratchet-wheel T to the shaft r upon which the worm R is formed. Another ratchet
wheel prevents the shaft from "backing" when the ratchet-wheel T is not
engaged. Both the ratchet-wheels T and are fitted with double clicks, as shown
in Figure 11, to ensure accuracy of registration. The worm wheel S is fixed upon

page_text: an upright shafts, which has a worm upon it at its lower end that gears into a
worm-wheel between the dial plates, as before stated. The whole of the clock-work
is carried by a frame V, and is independent of the other works of the meter, and
also of the casing. It can consequently be affixed to the meter or removed there-
from in one piece. The frame V is secured in position by two of the cylinder cover
bolts and nuts t, t. The said frame V also serves to guide the piston-rod-cap H at u,
and to steady the end of the valve-shaft N at v.
This
For their protection the whole of the upper works of the meter are enclosed in a
casing W, which is in one piece, and dropped over them like a dish-cover.
casing is secured to the upper flange of the measuring cylinder by four bolts and
nuts w, w, and made water-tight by an india-rubber ring y. Injury from dust,
oxidation, et cetera, being thus prevented, the meter may, if required, be placed in
the street, or in other wet or dump situation. To guard against improper inter-
ference, the nut of one of the bolts has a sealed ring passed through it, so that
the casing cannot be taken off or the meter tampered with without the knowledge
of the duly authorized inspector.
The mode of working is as follows:-The piston C being at the bottom end of
the measuring cylinder A, and the two piston-valves E, E, also at the lowest point
of their stroke in the side-pipe F, as shown upon the Drawings, the bottom end of
the cylinder A (below the piston C) will be open to the inlet pipe f, and the top
end of the said cylinder (above the piston C) will similarly be open to the outlet
pipe h. The inflowing water will then enter the bottom end of the cylinder, below
the piston, and force the latter upwards. In its ascent, the piston rod will, by the
lower tappet-roller coming in contact with the cam lever 1, raise the latter, and
the cam & will of course at the same time depress the roller Jon the roller lever J,
and thereby compress the spring J. But when the point of the heart-plate (or
cam) has passed the centre of the roller J the spring J2 will re-act, causing the
said roller to run up the other side of the cam k and thereby completing the stroke
of the cam-lever 1; or, more briefly, the motion of the cam lever I, until the point
of the cam has passed the centre of the roller J, is effected by the piston rod D,
and the remainder by the spring J And as the clutch on the cam lever I is
arranged to come in contact with the clutch on the balance weight M as the
point of the heart-plate k is upon the roller J', the valves (which have pre-
viously been at rest) are instantaneously changed in position by the spring Jas
soon as such point has passed the centre. The down stroke of the piston is effected
in like manner to the up stroke, and a quantity of water, corresponding with the
contents of a cylinder, generated by the area of the piston, and the distance which
it has travelled having been thus measured and registered by an up-and-down
stroke of the piston C it is ready to re-ascend.
In utilizing the motive power obtained by my herein before described measuring
apparatus, it may be taken direct from the piston rod if only a reciprocating recti-
linear motion be required, or, where necessary, it may be converted into circular or
other kind of motion by any of the well known ways of effecting such objects.
Having now described my Invention, and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details shown, as these may be varied indefinitely, but what I believe to be new,
and desire to claim under the herein before recited Letters l'atent is,-
1. The manufacture and use in water meters or in water-power engines of
closely-fitting piston valves made of the material commonly called "vulcanite," or
other preparation of india rubber having equivalent properties for the purpose, so
formed into cups or thimbles as to be automatically kept tight by the pressure of the
water within them, as herein before specified. Also the construction of such piston-
valves with expanding cones for enlarging their sizes when desirable, as herein
before specified.
**
2. The manufacture and use of a link motion as an alternative arrangement for
the heart-plate and roller in the valve-gearing of my improved water meter, as
herein before described.

page_text: 3. The general arrangement of water meters or motors, substantially as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Melling, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thou-
sand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
DAVID ROBERTS,
16, Fortescue Street,
Liverpool.
ΟΙΚΟΠΙ
(L.S.)