IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Michel and Alphonse Frager, of Boulevard
Vaugirard, No. 16, à Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER
METERS."
Sealed the 1st November 1878, and dated the 1st May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Michel and Alphonse
Frager at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st May 1878.
CHARLES MICHEL and ALPHONSE FRAGER, of Boulevard Vaugirard, No. 16, à
Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS."
The water meter which forms the object of the present Invention, belongs to the
class of cylinder meters combined with a registering apparatus. Our Invention
relates particularly to the arrangement of the motor or measuring apparatus, and to
the control of the register.
The water pressure motor is composed of two cylinders in juxtaposition, each
containing a piston; each cylinder is provided with a slide valve, which at the proper
time displaces the piston in the other cylinder.
The cylinders are for this purpose prolonged at the back part to receive an
arrangement of levers which are put into action by the pistons at the end of their
travel or stroke. There are no tubes for putting the slide valve orifices into com-
munication with the cylinders, these orifices opening directly into the measuring
compartments.
The levers displacing the slide valves turn freely on their pivots without stuffing
boxes; they act in one of the chambers of the box.
The meter's action may be easily stopped for discovering leakages by reason of
the arrangement of the mechanism which puts the piston of one cylinder in con-
nection with the slide valve of the other cylinder.
The two cylinders placed side by side are alternated, and they are interiorly
provided with a copper jacket or lining. An india-rubber washer prevents the
water passing between the jacket and the cylinder.
In each cylinder a piston is displaced, whose rod carries a head guided in a sheath
[Price 6d1

page_text: '
•
held in place by a stuffing box at the back part of the apparatus. Around this
sheath is arranged a sleeve or cylinder, about the middle of which is a cam with a
helicoidal stem.
When the piston arrives at nearly the end of its stroke, the head encounters the
end or flange of the cylinder or sleeve and carries it with it, the cam in the neck of
which is the end of a lever, turns the latter on its axis; an upper lever is acted upon
by this movement. This lever engaged freely in the chamber of the slide valve
box; the slide valve turns around its axis, and the direction of admission and exhaust
of the water are thus changed.
The admission orifices or ports are arranged diagonally, but the exhaust ports are
arranged in the same line parallel to the axis of the cylinder, and are united by a
single tube which is carried outside.
Each slide valve presents a cavity at the exhaust port part, so that in its two
extreme positions it puts one of the admission ports into communication with one
of the exhaust ports.
When the piston returns in the opposite direction, it pushes back the sleeve or
cylinder, and the slide valve thus takes its first position.
The object of the special form given to the cam is to permit of stopping the meter
and to discover escapes. It has been already shown that when the cam is in its
ordinary position, one of the levers is acted upon at each end of the stroke by this
cam; if the sleeve is turned 180°, its cam presents a larger neck, the lever is no
longer acted upon, and the working conditions being modified, the meter stops.
A pin unites the sheath and the sleeve, and according to whether the sleeve is
turned to the right or left, the slide valves will be stopped in one position or in the
opposite position, in consequence of the shape or form of the cam, thus allowing the
four compartments of the two cylinders to be successively examined at each
examination, two compartments remaining under pressure; if there is an escape,
there will be leakage of water.
The meter is put into action again by returning the sleeve and its cam to their
ordinary position; the slide valves will again continue to be acted upon at each end
of the stroke.
It is to be remarked that a single testing apparatus is sufficient, one of the cams
having a helicoidal neck, that of the second cylinder would be straight and per-
pendicular to the rod. This straight cam is preferably that of the sleeve working
the register or measuring apparatus.
The sleeve of one of the cylinders is provided with a cam with a circular neck in
which a button or stud of a lever is engaged. This stud acts as an articulation or
joint to a ratchet which is prolonged, and presents a stop or catch.
The ratchet actuates a ratchet wheel mounted on its axis, which passes vertically
through a stuffing box, and carries outside a toothed pinion which constitutes the
first gearing of the registering mechanism.
When the piston of this cylinder advances, it draws with it at a given moment
the sleeve, and consequently the cam.
The stud of the lever oscillates, carrying with it the ratchet which disengages
the ratchet wheel, but the catch soon touches the axis; the stud continuing to
advance the ratchet oscillates around this same stud, and takes into the next tooth
of a ratchet wheel.
When the piston returns the sleeve also returns, bringing with it the stud and
the ratchet.
The registering mechanism is of great simplicity, and its action certain, because
it carries no spring nor other part susceptible of derangement.
The movement of the slide valve corresponds to a maximum travel of about 22
millimetres from the lever stud, and to a minimum travel of 2 millimetres. In
these two extreme movements, the ratchet must always cause the ratchet wheel to
advance one tooth; and to effect this it is necessary that the ratchet displaces itself
on the ratchet wheel more than one tooth, but less than 2 teeth, so that the hold be
certain.

page_text: For obtaining the necessary travel of the lever, sufficient play is reserved between
the tail of the lever and the cavity of the slide valve; this play should be of a size,
that by adding 2 or 22 millimetres, the lever has an intermediary travel between 1
tooth and 2 teeth of the ratchet wheel.
10
In the apparatus constructed by us, the extreme travels of the ratchet are 1/1, tooth
and 18/10
tooth.
The piston packing is formed by means of a washer with a long flexible tongue,
the washer forms a joint on the circumference, and the water cannot filtrate by the
interior of the washer; the tongue forming a valve in the interior of the piston
under the pressure of the water from the side under pressure.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of an
Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Charles Michel and Alphonse
Frager in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th November 1878.
CHARLES MICHEL and ALPHONSE FRAGER, of Boulevard Vaugirard, No. 16, à
Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS."
The water meter which forms the object of the present Invention belongs to the
class of cylinder meters combined with a registering apparatus. Our Invention
relates particularly to the arrangement of the motor or measuring apparatus, and to
the control of the register.
The water pressure motor is composed of two cylinders in juxtaposition, each
containing a piston; each cylinder is provided with a slide valve, which at the
proper time displaces the piston in the other cylinder.
The cylinders are for this purpose prolonged at the back part to receive an
arrangement of levers which are put into action by the pistons at the end of their
travel or stroke. There are no tubes for putting the slide valve orifices into com-
munication with the cylinders, these orifices opening directly into the measuring
compartments.
The levers displacing the slide valves turn freely on their pivots without stuffing
boxes; they act in one of the chambers of the box.
The meter's action may be easily stopped for discovering leakages by reason of
the arrangement of the mechanism which puts the piston of one cylinder in con-
nection with the slide valve of the other cylinder.
The various characteristic points of our meter will be fully explained with refer-
ence to the annexed Drawing, in which Figure 1 is a transverse section; Figure 2,
a longitudinal section; Figure 3, a plan with the distributing box plate withdrawn.
The two cylinders A and B placed side by side are alternated as shown in Figure
3, and they are interiorly provided with a copper lining a. A layer of india-rubber
b prevents the water passing between the lining and the cylinder.
In each cylinder a piston C, Figure 2, is displaced, whose rod c carries a head d
guided in a sheath f, held in place by a stuffing box e at the back part of the

page_text: apparatus. Around this sheath is arranged a sleeve or cylinder g, about the middle
of which is a cam h with a helicoidal stem; this cam is shown enlarged in Figure 4.
Figure 5 shows an elevation of the piston with the sleeve or cylinder g.
When the piston arrives at nearly the end of its stroke, the head d encounters
the end or flange of the cylinder or sleeve g, and carries it with it the cam h, in the
neck of which is the end of the lever 1, turns the latter on its axis o; the upper lever
(Figures 1 and 3) is acted upon by this movement; this lever i freely engages in
the chamber of the slide valve box, the slide valve turns around its axis, and the
direction of admission and exhaust of the water are thus changed.
The admission orifices or ports p are arranged diagonally, but the exhaust ports q
are arranged in the same line parallel to the axis of the cylinder A, and are united
by a single tube t which is carried outside.
Each slide valve presents a cavity e' at the exhaust port part, so that in its two
extreme positions it puts one of the admission ports p into communication with one
of the exhaust ports q.
When the piston returns in the opposite direction, it pushes back the sleeve or
cylinder g, and the slide valve m thus takes its first position.
It will be observed that (on the Drawing) the piston c of the cylinder A controls
the slide valve of the cylinder B, and reciprocally.
The object of the special form given to the cam h is to permit of stopping the
meter and to discover leakages. It has been already shown that when the cam is
in its ordinary position, one of the levers is acted upon at each end of the stroke
by this cam; if the sleeve g is turned 180°, its cam h presents a larger neck; the
lever is no longer acted upon, and the working conditions being modified, the
meter stops.
A pin 8 unites the sheath fand the sleeve g, and according to whether the sleeve
g is turned to the right or left, the slide valves will be stopped in one position, or in
the opposite position, in consequence of the shape or form of the cam (Figure 4),
thus allowing the four compartments of the two cylinders to be successively examined
at each examination, two compartments remaining under pressure; if there is an
escape, there will be leakage of water.
The meter is put into action again by returning the sleeve and its cam to their
ordinary position, the slide valves will again continue to be acted upon at each end
of the stroke.
It is to be remarked that a single testing apparatus is sufficient; one of the cams
having a helicoidal neck, that of the second cylinder would be straight and perpen-
dicular to the rod. This straight cam is preferably that of the sleeve working the
register or measuring apparatus.
It may be seen on the Drawing that the sleeve of one of the cylinders B is pro-
vided with a cam h with a circular neck, in which the button or stud b' of the
lever is engaged. This stud b' acts as an articulation or joint to a ratchet c', which
is prolonged and presents a stop or catch d¹.
.
The ratchet actuates a ratchet wheel f¹ mounted on its axis ³, which passes
vertically through a stuffing box, and carries outside a toothed pinion k, k¹, which
constitutes the first gearing of the registering mechanism.
When the piston of this cylinder B advances it draws with it at a given moment
the sleeve g, and consequently the cam h¹. The stud b of the lever oscillates,
carrying with it the ratchet c', which disengages the ratchet wheel f¹, but the
catch d¹ soon touches the axis j'; the stud b¹ continuing to advance, the ratchet c'
oscillates around this same stud, and takes into the next tooth of a ratchet
wheel f¹.
When the piston returns, the sleeve g also returns, bringing with the stud b' and
the ratchet c'; this latter brings back the ratchet, which has thus travelled one
tooth.
On the Drawing the full lines represent the piston as entered into the cylinder,
and the dotted lines represent the position of the registering mechanism when the
sleeve has advanced.

page_text: The registering mechanism is of great simplicity, and its action certain, because it
carries no spring nor other part susceptible of derangement.
The movement of the slide valve corresponds to a maximum travel of about 22
millimetres from the lever stud, and to a minimum travel of 2 millimetres. In
these two extreme movements the ratchet c¹ must always cause the ratchet wheel f'
to advance one tooth, and to effect this it is necessary that the ratchet c¹ displaces
itself on the ratchet wheel f¹ more than one tooth, but less than 2 teeth, so that the
hold be certain.
For obtaining the necessary travel of the lever l sufficient play x is reserved
between the tail i of the lever and the cavity of the slide valve; this play should
be of a size that by adding from 2 to 22 millimetres the lever has an intermediary
travel between 1 tooth and 2 teeth of the ratchet wheel. In the apparatus con-
structed by us the extreme travels of the ratchet are 12/10 teeth and 18/10 teeth.
We have not shown on the Drawings the dial register, we have only shown the
first gearing k; the remaining mechanism may be of any system whatever.
The piston packing is formed by means of a washer r, with a long thin flexible
tongue; the washer forms a joint on the circumference, and the water cannot filtrate
by the interior of the washer, the tongue forming a valve in the interior of the
piston under the pressure of the water from the side under pressure.
We may make these meters of any dimensions for measuring water and all kinds
of liquids, and vary the shapes, materials, and dimensions of their constituent
parts.
And having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim as our improved cylinder
water meter,-
First. The arrangement of two cylinders coupled, the piston of one actuating the
slide valve of the other by means of the combined sleeve, cam, and lever mechanism,
as described and shown.
Secondly. The facility of stopping the action of the meter for discovering escapes
or leakages by reason of the arrangement of a testing apparatus realized by the
special form or shape of the cam neck of one of the cylinders.
Thirdly. Direct communication of the admission and exhaust ports with the com-
partments of the cylinders.
Fourthly. Arrangement of the axes of the levers actuating the slide valves without
stuffing boxes, the slide valves being well planed so as to form a good working
surface on the faces of the distribution boxes.
Fifthly. The arrangement described and shown of the water admission and exhaust
ports.
Sixthly. The combination of the register apparatus described and shown, in
which the ratchet wheel advances at least one tooth and not more at each stroke of
the pistons.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Michel and Alphonse Frager, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this First day of November, One thousand
CH. MICHEL. (L.S.)
A. FRAGER.
(L.S.)