IMPROVEMENTS IN LIQUID METERS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to, Ann Brooman, of Camberwell, in the County,
of Surrey, Widow and Sole Administratrix of the late Olinton
Edgcumbe Brooman, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Com-
pany, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents,
for the Invention of" IMPROVEMENTS IN LIQUID METERS OR APPARATUS FOR
MEASURING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS."-A communication to the said
Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman from abroad, by Michel Greyveldinger.
and Company, of 23, Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris, France.
sealed the 25th March 1870, and dated the 9th October 1869..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Clinton Edgcumbe
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 9th October 1869.
I, CLINTON EDGCUMBE BROOMAN, of the Firm of Robertson, Broo-
man, and Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LIQUID METERS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS,"

page_text: (a communication from Michel Greyveldinger and Company, of 23,
Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris, France,) to be as follows:-
Hitherto it has been deemed almost impossible to construct a perfect
acting water meter, but the present Inventor believes himself to have
contrived one which will fulfil all the requirements of an apparatus of
the sort, viz., precision in measuring the liquid, delicate yet strong
mechanism, a regular and continuous action, and lastly, convenience in
taking the apparatus to pieces for repairs.
The general disposition of the apparatus and its mode of action are as
follows: The most important parts of the apparatus are two movable
cylinders, each divided into two equal parts by a transverse partition.
They are disposed parallel to one another, and receive from the water
which acts upon their partitions, which thus serve as pistons, an
alternating rectilinear movement which is employed by special trans-
mission or gearing apparatus to effect continuous rotation to clockwork
attached to a dial and index hand; each of these cylinders forms a sleeve
with two cylinders fixed concentrically with it, and to which it is united
by elastic means which permit it to slide to and fro upon the other
cylinders and make a perfectly tight joint with them. The moving
capability is equal to the sum of the interior volumes of the two fixed
cylinders. The two interior cylinders have their outer ends pierced with
two angular openings, the one free and the other serving for the entrance
of a branch water supply pipe, and both closed alternately by a valve in
the form of a sector. There are four branch pipes all proceeding from
one supply pipe, and the four free openings debouch into a chamber or
main cylinder which envelops the apparatus, and which by enclosing it
from the air prevents all sudden shocks. The two valves of the fixed
cylinders on one side of the apparatus are reciprocally commanded by
the movement of the other cylinder; the two cylinders proceed nearly
always in the same direction with one a little in front of the other. It
follows therefore that the entrance orifices for the water are opened one.
after another on the same side while the water escapes at the other end.
The action of the system has this peculiarity that the water in acting
upon the partition of the movable cylinder at the end of its course
makes, it abut against the opposite fixed cylinder and displaces the
volume of water contained in the one half of the cylinder, whilst water
itself fills the other half, to be dislodged in its turn by the same action.
Two double courses. of the cylinders will cause a rotation of the dial

page_text: mechanism corresponding to the total capacity of the two cylinders.
By conveniently calculating the wheels of the clockwork the dial may
be caused to, register a round number of quarts, 100 for example, for
convenience of reading.
I now proceed to describe the construction of the apparatus more in
detail, laying stress on three important points, viz., the elastic apparatus
uniting the movable cylinders with the fixed cylinders, the command of
the valves of one cylinder by the other movable cylinder, and lastly,
the special transmitting apparatus serving to transform the rectilinear
alternating movement of the cylinders into a continuous rotation, of the
registering mechanism..
The whole apparatus is fitted in a frame formed of plates of metal.
Upon this frame four measuring tubes are fixed and arranged by bolts. or
other means into pairs following two parallel axes.
A movable cylinder
slides upon each pair of tubes under the impulsive action of the water, as
will be presently understood. I can indifferently use one or the other of
two methods for attaching the movable cylinders, viz., either by means
of two rings of india-rubber or with two capsules or pierced sockets also
of india-rubber. These elastic fittings form a perfectly tight joint and
greatly facilitate the action of the apparatus. The movable cylinders
are formed either of one piece or preferably of several pieces firmly
adjusted and united together in order to render the taking to pieces and
putting together of the apparatus as easy as possible. One of the
cylinders carries two journals, upon which are articulated two crank
rods turning at their other end upon the button of a crank, the axis of
which is attached to the frame. The other cylinder is provided with two
similar journals, around which move other crank rods attached at their
other end to the button of a second crank. The two cylinders carry
besides two little sliding buffers which respectively draw two levers, and
in consequence make two other and two larger levers oscillate. These
larger levers, as will be presently explained, cause the alternate opening
and closing of the valves already described attached to each measuring
cylinder. Each of the small levers is provided at both of its ends with
slot holes, into which the ends of cranks which govern the movement of
the valves of the four measuring cylinders respectively engago. Two
oblong openings are made in the end plate for each cylinder, and these
openings are alternately opened and closed by valves or movable
sectors turning upon centres under the action of the cranks. In cach

page_text: cylinder one of two other openings serves for the entrance of the supply
pipe which conducts the water, while the other is free and allows the
liquid to flow out into the outer envelope or casing of the meter. Upon
the pin of one crank is fixed another crank which causes a vertical rod
for the transmission to the indicating dial to turn in relation to a fixed
needle. Any convenient system of transmission may be used for the
purpose, having regard to the capacity of the measuring cylinders and
their relation to the unit of measure adopted. Any convenient arrange-
ment for converting the alternating rectilinear motion of the movable
cylinders into a continuous circular motion of the dial may also be
adopted either by double gearing, or cams, or other means. The
arrangement of united crank rods has the effect of causing the movement
of each cylinder to complete the course of the other, which arrives
forcibly to the end of its course. It will be readily understood from
what precedes that the water on arriving by the supply pipe enters by an
opening in the measuring cylinder and forces the movable cylinder back
and прод the other cylinder. This movement of the cylinder causes by
its crank rod which it carries the rotation of the other cranks, and in
consequence the movement of the second crank rod of the movable
cylinder upon its measuring cylinders. There results from the move-
ment of the levers which directly command the action of the valves that
the water leaves one measuring cylinder at the same moment that it
enters into the other one from which the cylinder is sliding. The water.
before finally leaving the meter proceeds into the outer envelope or
casing around the apparatus described, where a reservoir of air is formed,
which regulates the stream of liquid, which is therefore continuous and
without sudden shocks, and possesses all the initial pressure of the
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Ann Brooman in the Great Seal Patent Office 30
on the 9th April 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANN
BROOMAN, of Camberwell, in the County of Surrey, Widow and Sole
Administratrix of the late Clinton Edgcumbe Brooman, of the Firm of
Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City 35
of London, Patent Agents, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty.
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Ann Brooman, Her special licence that I,
the said Ann Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Ann Brooman, 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, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIQUID METERS OR APPARATUS
FOR MEASURING THE FLOW OF LIQUIDS," (communicated to the said Clinton
Edgcumbe Brooman from abroad by Michel Greyveldinger and Com-
pany, of 23, Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris, France,) upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Ann Brooman, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, 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 Ann Brooman, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, that is to say:-
Hitherto it has been deemed almost impossible to construct a perfect
acting water meter, but the present Inventor believes himself to have
contrived one which will fulfil all the requirements of an apparatus of
the sort, viz., precision in measuring the liquid, delicate yet strong
mechanism, a regular and continuous action, and lastly, convenience in
taking the apparatus to pieces for repairs.
The general disposition of the apparatus and its mode of action are as
follows: The most important parts of the apparatus are two movable
cylinders, each divided into two equal parts by a transverse partition.
They are disposed parallel to one another, and receive from the water
which acts upon their partitions, thus serving as pistons, an alternating

page_text: rectilinear movement, which is utilized by special transmission or gearing
apparatus to effect a continuous rotation of clockwork attached to a dial
and index hand. Each of these cylinders forms a sleeve with two cylinders
fixed concentrically with it, and to which it is united by elastic means
which permit it to slide to and fro upon the other cylinders and make a
perfectly tight joint with them. The moving capability is equal to the
sum of the interior volumes of the two fixed cylinders. The two interior
cylinders have their outer ends pierced with two angular openings, the
one free and the other serving for the entrance of a branch water supply
pipe, and both closed alternately by a valve in the form of a sector.
There are four branch pipes all proceeding from one supply pipe, and
the four free openings debouch into a chamber or main cylinder, which
envelops the apparatus, and which by enclosing it from the air prevents
all sudden shocks. The two valves of the fixed cylinders on one side of
the apparatus are reciprocally commanded by the movement of the other
cylinder. The two cylinders proceed nearly always in the same direction
with one a little in front of the other. It follows therefore that the
entrance orifices for the water are open one after another on the same
side while the water escapes at the other end.
The action of the system has this peculiarity that the water in acting
upon the partition of the movable cylinder at the end of its course
makes it abut against the opposite fixed cylinder and displaces the
volume of water contained in the one half of the cylinder whilst water
itself fills the other half, to be dislodged in its turn by the same action.
Two double courses of the cylinders will cause a rotation of the dial
mechanism corresponding to the total capacities of the two cylinders.
By conveniently calculating the wheels of the clockwork the dial may
be caused to register a round number of quarts, 100 for example, for
convenience of reading.
I now proceed to describe the construction of the apparatus more in
detail and with reference to the accompanying Drawings, laying stress
on three important points, viz., the elastic apparatus uniting the movable
cylinders with the fixed cylinders, the command of the valves of one
cylinder by the other movable cylinder, and lastly, the special trans-
mitting apparatus serving to transform the rectilinear alternating
movement of the cylinders into a continuous rotation of the registering
mechanism.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the meter with the outer envelope or

page_text: also with the outer envelope removed. The whole apparatus is fitted
in a frame formed of plates a, a, of cast iron or other suitable metal.
Upon this frame four measuring tubes b, b, 6, 6, are fixed and arranged
by bolts or other means into pairs following two parallel axes, as seen in
the plan view Figure 3. A movable cylinder c, c³, slides upon each pair
of tubes 6, 6¹, under the repulsive action of the water, as will be presently
understood.
Figures 4 and 5 show two longitudinal sections of the two methods I
employ for attaching the movable cylinder c upon the two measuring
tubes b, b. I can indifferently use one or the other either by means of
two rings of india-rubber d, d, Figure 4, or with two capsules or pierced
sockets ff, Figure 5, also of india-rubber. These elastic fittings shown
in the two Figures form a perfectly tight joint and greatly facilitate the
action of the apparatus. The movable cylinders c, c³, are formed either
of one piece or preferably of several pieces firmly adjusted and united
together in order to render the taking to pieces and putting together of
the apparatus as easy as possible. One of the cylinders c carries two
journals 9, g, upon which are articulated two crank rods h, h, turning at
their other end upon the button of a crank i, i, the axis of which is
attached to the frame. The other cylinder c¹ is provided with two
similar journals 9, 9, around which move other crank rods h¹, h¹,
attached at their other end to the button of a second crank k, k. The
two cylinders c, c', carry besides two little sliding buffers (buttoirs à
reglage), which respectively draw two levers m, m, and in consequence
make two other and two larger levers n³, n³, oscillate. These larger
levers n', n', as will be presently explained, cause the alternate opening
and closing of the valves already described attached to each measuring
cylinder. Each of the small levers n, n', is provided at both of its ends
with slot holes, into which the ends of the cranks o, o¹, o¹¹, o", which
govern (as shown in Figure 2) 'the movement of the valves of the four
measuring cylinders respectively engage. Figure 2 also clearly shews
the action of the valves upon each plate at the ends of the cylinders.
Two oblong openings p, p, are made in the end plate for each cylinder,
and these openings are alternately opened and closed by the valves or
movable sectors q, q', turning upon centres 1, 7, under the action of
the cranks o, o¹, o", o". In each cylinder one of two other openings p
serves for the entrance of the supply pipe 8, which conducts the water,

page_text: while the other p' is free and allows the liquid to flow out into the outer
envelope or casing of the meter. Upon the pin of one crank i is fixed
another crank t (see Figure 1), which causes a vertical rod u for the
transmission to the indicating dial to turn in relation to a fixed needle.
Any convenient system of transmission may be used for the purpose,
having regard to the capacity of the measuring cylinders and their
relation to the unit of measure adopted. Any convenient arrangement
for converting the alternating rectilinear motion of the movable cylinders
into a continuous circular motion of the dial may also be adopted either
by double gearing, or cams, or other means. The arrangement of united
crank rods has the effect of causing the movement of each cylinder to
complete the course of the other, which arrives forcibly to the end of its
traverse. It will be readily understood from what precedes that the
water on arriving by the supply pipes in the direction of the arrow,
Figures 1 and 2, enters by the opening p in the measuring cylinder, and
forces the movable cylinder c back and upon the other cylinder, this
movement of the cylinder determines through the crank rod /¹ which it
carries the rotation of the other cranks i and k, and in consequence the
movement of the second crank rod and of the movable cylinder c
upon its measuring cylinders. There results from the movement of the
levers m, m³, and n, n', which directly command the action of the valves,
that the water leaves one measuring cylinder at the same moment that it
enters into the other one from which the cylinder is sliding. The water
before. finally leaving the meter proceeds into the outer envelope or
casing around the apparatus described, where a reservoir of air is formed
regulating the stream of liquid, which is therefore continuous and
without sudden shocks, and possesses nearly all the initial pressure of the
atmosphere.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,—
First. The general construction and arrangement of the liquid meters
or apparatus for measuring the flow of liquids, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The elastic apparatus for uniting the movable cylinder c
with the fixed cylinder as herein-before described and illustrated in
the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: cylinder is commanded by the other cylinder, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the annexed Drawings.
And, fourthly, The arrangement for transmitting the rectilinear alter-
nating movement of the cylinders to the registering mechanism, and for
transforming it into a continuous rotary motion of the latter, as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ann Brooman, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of April One thousand eight
hundred and seventy.