IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND INDICATING THE FLOW OF FLUIDS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Mathews, of Whitfield Street, Tottenham
Court Road, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND INDICATING
THE FLOW OF FLUIDS.”
Sealed the 26th April 1876, and dated the 3rd November 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Mathews
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 3rd November 1875.
I, THOMAS MATHEWS, of Whitfield Street, Tottenham Court Road, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of my said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND
INDICATING THE FLOW OF FLUIDS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to apparatus employed for measuring or ascer-
taining the quantity of water or other fluid flowing through a pipe or
like passage, and it has for its object chiefly the obtaining greater
simplicity in the construction of the apparatus without impairing its
efficiency, whereby its cost is reduced, and it is rendered less liable to be
put out of order than when the complicated arrangements of mechanism
frequently adopted are employed.

page_text: In carrying out my Invention, in order to effect these objects, I
construct the apparatus in the following manner :—
According to one modification, which is adapted more particularly for
use as a liquid meter, I employ an archimedean screw consisting of a
long boss or spindle having four or any other suitable number of threads
or webs formed helically or spirally around it with a slow pitch, which
screw boss or spindle is mounted on pivots or centres carried respectively
in two tubes arranged one at each end thereof, and extending, say,
nearly to the centre of the length of the screw, so as to enclose the same
whilst leaving a space between their adjacent ends for the purpose
herein-after mentioned. These tubes are provided at their outer ends
with an internal screw thread for the reception of the outlet pipe and
inlet pipe respectively for the liquid being measured, and with an
external thread for their attachment to the casing of the meter. The
meter casing consists of a central body enclosing a chamber at its upper
part for containing the counting mechanism, and of two tubes or
branches projecting one on each side of the body, and forming a
continuous passage, in which the tubes enclosing the screw are placed
and secured.
The screw is fitted by preference at or about the centre of its length
with a ring having an endless screw thread or worm formed on its
exterior, and in a direction about at right angles to that of the screw
thread or web of the main screw. This endless screw or worm, tho
position of which corresponds with the space left between the adjacent
ends of the tubes, as before mentioned, engages with a worm wheel
mounted on a spindle, whence motion is communicated to a train of
wheelwork constituting the counting mechanism.
In order to admit of the passage of the spindle, and at the same time
maintain a liquid-tight joint, I provide in the casing an aperture which
I make of sufficient size and form with an internal screw thread for the
reception of a hollow screw plug which is screwed therein. This plug.
is formed with a shoulder on its interior, and within it there is placed a
tubular washer composed of leather or other suitable material, and made
of sufficient size at one end to fit into the enlarged interior of the hollow
plug, and also formed with a flange and an extremity of reduced
diameter so as to fit against the flange of the plug and around the
spindle. The hollow plug is also tapped for a portion of its depth for

page_text: the reception of a hollow nut, through the centre of which the spindle
passes, so that by the act of screwing in and tightening the nut the
washer is nipped or jammed between the nut and the shoulder of the
hollow plug, and the required tightness of joint is ensured.
In lieu of employing a washer the spindle may be turned down to a
reduced diameter, and formed with a conical surface, and the joint be
maintained by the simple contact of the nut therewith, the lower side of
the nut being made of a correspondingly bevelled shape, or any other
suitable means may be adopted for the purpose of obtaining a tight
joint.
The measuring screw is pivotted to its enclosing tubes by preference
in the following manner :-I first bore a hole of the required depth in
the boss of the screw at each end thereof, and then enlarge such hole in
the interior of the boss by means of an expanding cutter or other
suitable tool so as to form a chamber or reservoir for containing oil.
At the extremity of the hole I then fit a female centre composed of steel
or other suitable hard material for the reception of one extremity of
a male centre composed of similar material, and the opposite extremity
of which enters a socket or tube made of softer material, and attached
by a nut or otherwise to the enclosing tube. By these means the lubri-
cation of the pivots is constantly ensured, friction is diminished, and a
very high degree of durability is obtained.
The improved apparatus operates in the following manner :- -The
water or other liquid to be measured enters at one end of the apparatus,
and by traversing the spaces formed between the threads or webs of the
measuring screw and the interior of the surrounding tube imparts
motion to such screw, which motion is transmitted by means of the
worm and worm wheel, as before mentioned, to the counting mechanism,
and a suitably graduated disc or dial being employed the quantity of
liquid passing through the screw may thus be ascertained and
indicated.
In constructing the apparatus it is desirable to adjust or regulate the
flow of the liquid with precision to correspond with the indications of
the dial. In order to effect this I fit at the inlet end of the apparatus a
valve consisting of a stationary disc and a rotatory disc pivotted thereto,
both of which are provided with corresponding apertures, so that by
turning the rotatory disc on its centre the aperture of the stationary disc

page_text: may be covered to a greater or less degree at will, and the required
regulation of the speed of rotation of the measuring screw be thereby
obtained.
The solid portions of the discs are made of a pyramidal or double
wedge shape, so as whilst admitting of the surfaces of the two discs
working in contact to prevent the current of the water from being
unduly impeded.
According to another modification I arrange the measuring screw
vertically in lieu of horizontally, in which case it may be enclosed in a
tube formed in one piece with the body of the meter, and supported on
pivots in the casing in the manner herein-before described or otherwise.
Around the tube enclosing the screw I provide an annular chamber in
communication with the inlet branch of the apparatus, the upper end of
which chamber is fitted with a screen of wire gauze or other suitable
material, so that the liquid to be measured is first caused to ascend the
annular chamber and pass through tlic screen, whereby it is freed from
any extraneous matters conducted along with it, after which it descends,
traversing the space between the threads or webs of the screw and the
surrounding tube, thereby imparting motion to the screw, and escapes at
the bottom by the outlet branch, as before. The motion of the measuring
screw is transmitted by means of a worm and worm wheel to the
counting mechanism above in any suitable manner.
According to a further modification, which is adapted for the
measuring of fluids generally, I dispense with the measuring screw,
and substitute therefor the action of diaphragms arranged in the
following manner:-In the centre of the body of the meter I form a
closed hollow cylinder, which is in communication on one side with
the inlet branch, and at the opposite side with the outlet branch of
the apparatus, and is provided with two sets of inlet ports and two
sets of outlet ports, each set of which is in communication with two
of four measuring chambers, hereafter designated chambers Nos. 1,
2, 3, and 4, into which the apparatus is divided. These measuring
chambers are arranged two at each end of the central cylinder, and each
consists of a chamber subdivided into two by a flexible diaphragm,
which is securely attached at its periphery to the annular sides of the
chamber. In the cylinder works a double valve, consisting of two
pistons mounted at a suitable distance apart on a single rod, the
extremities of which extend through the covers of the cylinder into the

page_text: respective adjacent chambers, so as to admit of the valves being operated
by the tappet action of the diaphragms in the manner next herein-after
explained. The valves and their ports are so arranged that when
chambers Nos. 1 and 3 are filling chambers Nos. 2 and 4 are discharging,
and vice versa.
Assuming that the fluid to be measured is in course of
entering chambers Nos. 1 and 3, and that the fluid which has previously
entered chambers Nos. 2 & 4 is being discharged, the diaphragms
which separate chambers Nos. 1 & 2 and chambers Nos. 3 & 4
respectively are acted upon by the entering fluid and pressed towards
and into the respective discharging chambers Nos. 2 & 4. The
diaphragm which separates chambers Nos. 1 & 2 being subjected to
the pressure of the fluid entering chamber No. 1, and expanded into
chamber No. 2 is caused to act upon the end of the piston rod, and thus
change the position of the valves; the direction is then reversed, the
fluid being conducted into chambers Nos. 2 & 4, and exhausted from
chambers Nos. 1 & 3 until by the action of the opposite diaphragm
upon the opposite end of the piston rod the valves are returned to their
former position, when chambers Nos. 1 & 3 will be filling, and
chambers Nos. 2 & 4 will be discharging, and so on in succession.
The motion of the valves is transmitted to the counting mechanism by
a connecting rod and crank or any other suitable means for converting
It is obvious
a reciprocating motion into a continuous rotary motion.
that by suitably modifying the apparatus an ordinary slide valve or
valves or any other description of sliding valves may be substituted for
the piston valves herein-before referred to.
The diaphragms should be constructed in such a manner as to exert a
certain amount of clastic force, or have a spring action upon the valve
rod, in addition to the motion produced by the pressure of the fluid, so
that when the expanded convex surface of the diaphragm is acted upon
by the fluid the convexity will be reversed, and the diaphragm will be
caused to spring to the opposite side by the force of its own inherent
elasticity, and carry the valves past the dead point. For this purpose it
is proposed to construct the diaphragms in the form of buckled or
annularly corrugated metal discs, or of blade springs interposed between
two discs of leather or similar flexible material, or in any other similar or
suitable manner, whereby the before mentioned spring or elastic action
may be obtained.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Mathews in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd May 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
MATHEWS, of Whitfield Street, Tottenham Court Road, in the County
of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Mathews, Her special license that
I, the said Thomas Mathews, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Thomas Mathews, my executors, admini-
strators, or 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 METERS
OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND INDICATING THE FLOW OF FLUIDS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Mathews, my
exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Thomas Mathews, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:―
My said Invention relates to apparatus employed for measuring or
ascertaining the quantity of water or other fluid flowing through a pipe
or like passage, and it has for its object chiefly the obtaining greater
simplicity in the construction of the apparatus without impairing its

page_text: efficiency, whereby its cost is reduced, and it is rendered less liable to
be put out of order than when the complicated arrangements of
mechanism frequently adopted are employed.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several figures on the accompanying Sheets of
Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts
in all the corresponding figures.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of the accompanying Drawings represents a longi-
tudinal section of an apparatus constructed according to my Invention,
adapted more particularly for use in a liquid meter; Figure 2 is a
transverse vertical section of the same; and Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
arc details which will be herein-after referred to.
A is an archimedian screw, consisting of a long boss or spindle
having a suitable number of threads or webs a, a, (four of which are
employed in the example shewn in my Drawings) formed helically or
spirally around it with a slow pitch), which screw boss or spindle is
mounted on pivots or centres b, b, carried respectively in two tubes B, B,
arranged at each end thereof and extending, say, nearly to the centre
of the length of the screw A, so as to enclose the same whilst leaving a
space between their adjacent inner ends at c, c, for a purpose to be herein-
after explained. These tubes are provided at their outer ends with an
internal screw thread for the reception of the outlet pipe and inlet pipe
respectively for the liquid being measured, and with an external thread
for their attachment to the casing C of the meter. The meter casing
consists of a central body enclosing a chamber D at its upper part for
containing the counting mechanism E, and of two tubes or branches e, e,
projecting one on each side of the body and forming a continuous
passage, in which the tubes B, B, enclosing the screw A are placed and
secured.
The screw A is fitted by preference at or about the centre of its
length with a ring F having an endless screw thread or worm formed
on its exterior and in a direction about at right angles to that of the
screw threads or webs a, a, of the main screw A. This endless screw
or worm F, the position of which corresponds with the space left
between the adjacent ends c, c, of the tubes B, B, as before mentioned,
engages with a worm wheel G mounted on a spindle, whence motion is

page_text: communicated to the train of wheelwork E constituting the counting
mechanism.
In order to admit of the passage of this spindle, and at the same time
maintain a liquid-tight joint, I provide in the casing C an aperture,
which I make of sufficient size and form with an internal screw thread
for the reception of a hollow screw plug G' (shewn on an enlarged
scale in the sectional detail view, Figure 3), which is screwed therein.
This plug is formed with a flange or shoulder on its interior, and
within it there is placed a tubular washer H composed of leather or
other suitable material which fits around the spindle f, and is flanged
or made of sufficient seize at its upper end to fit into the enlarged interior
of the hollow plug G', below which it bears against the flange g of the
plug G¹. The hollow plug G' is also tapped for a portion of its depth
for the reception of a hollow nut I, through the centre of which the
upper end of the spindle f passes, so that by the act of screwing in and
tightening the nut I the washer His nipped or jammed between the
nut I and the shoulder g of the hollow plug G¹, and the required
tightness of joint is ensured.
•
In lieu of employing a washer the spindle may be turned down to a
reduced diameter and formed with a conical surface, and the joint be
maintained by the simple contact of the nut therewith, the lower side
of the nut being made of a corresponding bevilled shape, or any other
suitable means may be adopted for the purpose of obtaining a tight
joint.
The measuring screw is pivotted to its enclosing tubes by preference
in the following manner, reference being had to the detail, Figure 4,
which represents on an enlarged scale a portion of one end of the meter.
I first bore a hole of the required depth in the body of the screw A at
each end thercof, and then enlarge such hole in the interior of the
body by means of an expanding cutter or other suitable tool, so as to
form a chamber or reservoir K for containing oil. At the extremity of
the hole K I then fit a female centre h composed of steel or other
suitable hard material for the reception of one extremity of the male
centre or pivot 6 composed of similar material, and the opposite
extremity of which is screwed into a piece M formed on the enclosing
tube B, a set nut i being employed in order to maintain the centre b in
position. By these means the lubrication of the pivots is constantly

page_text: ensured, friction is diminshed, and a very high degree of durability is
obtained.
The improved apparatus operates in the following manner :-The
water or other liquid to be measured euters at the end L of the apparatus,
and by traversing the spaces formed between the threads or webs a, a,
of the measuring screw A and the interior of the surrounding tube B,
imparts motion to such screw, which motion is transmitted by means of
the worm F and worm wheel G to the counting mechanism E, and a
suitably graduated disc or dial being employed the quantity of liquid
passing through the screw and discharged at L' may thus be ascertained
and indicated.
In constructing the apparatus it is desirable to adjust or regulate the
flow of the liquid with precision to correspond with the indications of
the dial. In order to effect this object I fit at the inlet end L of the
apparatus a valve (shewn in detail in Figures 5, 6, and 7), consisting of
a stationary piece or disc M and a rotatory disc N pivotted thereto by
being mounted upon the centre or pivot b, both of which discs are pro-
vided with corresponding apertures so that by turning the rotatory disc N
on its centre the apertures of the stationary disc may be covered to a
greater or less degree at will, and the required regulation of the speed
of rotation of the measuring screw be thereby obtained.
Figures 5 and 6 show respectively the regulator open and closed to
the fullest extent. The solid portions of the discs are made of a
pyramidal or double wedge shape, as shewn in Figure 7, so as whilst
admitting of the surfaces of the two discs working in contact to prevent
the current of the water from being unduly impeded.
Figure 8 represents a sectional elevation of a meter constructed
according to a modification of the preceding arrangement; and Figure 9
is a transverse vertical section of the same. The archimedian measuring
screw A is surrounded by an endless screw or worm F as before, which
imparts motion through the intervention of the worm wheel G mounted
on the spindlef to the counting mechanism E contained in a detachable
casing or cover D above.
In lieu however of the screw A being pivotted in tubes B, B, the
latter are dispensed with and the pivots b, b, are carried in end plates
.M, M', respectively depending from a carrier plate G', which arrange-

page_text: ment admits of the mechanism being lifted out bodily after the removal
of the cover D.
Another modifaction is illustrated by Figures 10 and 11, Sheet 2,
which represent respectively a sectional elevation of the meter and a
plan with the upper part removed. According to this modification I
arrange the measuring screw A vertically in lieu of horizontally, and
support it on pivots b,f, in the casing C, as shewn, or otherwise. The
screw A is enclosed in a tube B formed in one with the casing C, around
which tube I provide an annular chamber O in communication with the
inlet branch L of the apparatus, the upper end of which chamber is
fitted with a screen P of wire gauze or other suitable material so that
the liquid to be measured is first caused to ascend the annular chamber O
and pass through the screen P, whereby it is freed from any extraneous
matters conducted along with it, after which it descends, traversing the
space between the threads or webs a, a, of the screw A and the
surrounding tube B, thereby imparting motion to the screw, and escapes
at the bottom by the outlet branch L' as before. The motion of the
measuring screw A is transmitted by means of the spindle f and suitable
gearing to the counting mechanism contained in the chamber D above.
According to a further modification which is adapted for the measuring
of fluids generally I dispense with the measuring screw and substitute
therefor the action of diaphragms arranged in the manner herein-after
described, reference being had to Figures 12, 13, and 14 (Sheet 3),
which represent respectively a longitudinal, a horizontal, and a transverse
section of a meter with my Invention applied thereto. Q is the body of
the meter, in the centre of which I form a closed hollow cylinder R,
which is in communication on one side with the inlet branch S by its
port 1, and at the opposite side with the outlet branch T by its ports
m, m', and is provided with two other inlet ports n, n', and two other
outlet ports o, o¹, in communication with four measuring chambers,
numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4, into which the apparatus is divided, the inlet
port and the outlet port o being in communication with chambers
Nos. 1 and 3, and the inlet port n¹ and the outlet port o' being in
communication with chambers Nos. 2 and 4. These measuring
chambers are arranged two at each end of the central cylinder R, and
consist of chambers U, U¹, subdivided into two by a flexible diaphragm
V, V', respectively, which is securely attached at its periphery to the
annular sides of the chambers U, U. In the cylinder R works a

page_text: compound valve consisting of three pistons 5, 6, and 7, mounted at a
suitable distance apart on a single rod W, the extremities p, p', of which
extend through the covers X, X', of the cylinder R into the respective
adjacent chambers, Nos. 2 and 3, so as to admit of the valves being
operated by the tappet action of the diaphragms V, V, in the manner
next herein-after explained. The valves and their ports are so arranged
that when chambers Nos. 1 and 3 are filling chambers Nos. 2 and 4
are discharging, and vice versa.
In the position of the ports shewn in the Drawings the fluid to be
measured is assumed to be in course of entering chambers 1 and 3 from
the cylinder R through the port n, the fluid which has previously
entered chambers 2 and 4 being discharged from such chambers into
the cylinder R through the port o' and then through the discharging
port m to the outlet T, as indicated by the black arrows. The
diaphragms V, VI, which separate chambers Nos. 1 and 2 and
chambers Nos. 2 and 4 respectively, are acted upon by the entering
fluid and pressed towards and into the respective discharging chambers
Nos. 2 and 4. The diaphragm V which separates chambers Nos. 1
and 2 being subjected to the pressure of the fluid entering chamber
No. 1 and expanded into chamber No. 2 is caused to act upon the
end p of the piston rod W and move the pistons 5, 6, 7, from the position
shewn by the black lines to that indicated by the red lines; the direction
is then reversed, the fluid being conducted into chambers Nos. 2 and 4
from the cylinder R through the port n', and exhausted from chambers
Nos. 1 and 3 through the ports o, m, to the outlet T, until by the action
of the opposite diaphragm V₁ upon the opposite end p¹ of the piston.
rod W, pistons 5, 6, 7, are returned to their former position, as indicated
by the black lines, when chambers Nos. 1 and 3 will be filling and
chambers Nos. 2 and 4 will be discharging, and so on in succession.
The motion of the pistons is transmitted to the counting mechanism Y,
either as shewn in the Drawings by a tappet 2 carried on the first
motion shaft of the counting mechanism or by any other suitable
means for converting a reciprocating motion into a continuous rotary
motion.

page_text: The diaphragms should be constructed in such a manner as to exert a
certain amount of elastic force or have a spring action upon the valve
rod in addition to the motion produced by the pressure of the fluid, so
that when the expanded convex surface of the diaphragm is acted upon
by the fluid the convexity will be inverted and the diaphragm will be
caused to spring to the opposite side by the force of its own inherent
clasticity and carry the valves past the dead point. For this purpose I
construct the diaphragms either in the form of buckled or annularly;
corrugated metal discs, as shewn at V in the sectional detail Figure 15,
or of blade springs interposed between two discs of leather or similar
flexible material, or in any other similar or suitable manner, whereby
the before-mentioned spring or elastic action may be obtained.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would obscrve in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part Letters Patent is,-
First. The employment of an archimedian measuring screw mounted
on pivots or centres and in communication with the inlet pipe and
the outlet pipe in combination with an endless screw or worm carried on
the measuring screw and engaging with a worm wheel mounted on a
spindle, transmitting the motion of such measuring screw to the counting
mechanism, the whole fitted, arranged, and combined substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by my Drawings.
Secondly. The mode or method of pivotting the measuring screw for
the purpose of ensuring constant lubrication, diminishing friction, and
increasing the durability of the pivots, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated by my Drawings.
Thirdly. The mode or method of adjusting or regulating the flow of
the liquid to correspond with the indications of the dial of the counting
mechanism by the aid of a stationary disc and a rotatory disc pivotted
thereto, and both provided with apertures and arranged and combined
substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by my Drawings.
Fourthly. The combination in a fluid meter of the vertical measuring
screw with suitable counting mechanism, and the annular chamber
with its upper screen, both arranged in connection with an inlet pipe and

page_text: an outlet pipe, substantially in the manner hercin-before described and
illustrated by Figures 10 and 11 of my Drawings.
Fifthly. The combination in a fluid meter with a chamber or
cylinder having inlet ports and outlet ports controlled by compound
valves of two measuring chambers in communication with the ports,
and each divided into compartments by flexible diaphragms directly
actuating the valves, the whole arranged so as to operate together, sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described and
as illustrated by my Drawings.
Sixthly. In fluid meters in which the measuring is effected by the
admission of the fluid alternately into chambers at opposite sides of
expanding diaphragms, the employment of diaphragms constructed and
fitted to the chambers in such a manner that an inherent spring or
clastic action is obtained which is utilized so as to co-operate with the
entering fluid in inverting the convexity of the diaphragms and reversing
the valves, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Mathews, have to this my
Specification set my hand and scal, this First day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.