IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Willmer Pocock, of No. 4, Claverton
Street, Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING
WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS."
Scaled the 27th May 1870, and dated the 30th November 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Willmer Pocock
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 30th November 1869.
I, ALFRED WILLMER POCOCK, of No. 4, Claverton Street, Pimlico, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING
WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction and employment of
apparatus for measuring the quantity of water and other liquid, and
is intended for indicating the quantity supplied to dwelling houses,

page_text: factories, and other places in which the quantity furnished is to be
charged for or where it is required to ascertain the quantity used.
The Invention consists in fitting two cylinders or cases side by side.
Both cylinders are supplied with water or other liquid at each end. The
area of each cylinder and the stroke of each piston being of determined
dimensions, so that at each stroke of the pistons a given quantity is
passed into the outflow pipe, while at the same time the number of
strokes are registered on a dial or other indicating medium, thus
indicating at a glance the number of gallons or other determined quantity
supplied within a fixed period. The registering apparatus may also be
furnished with index hands showing the amount necessary to be paid
for the quantity used. The pistons are provided with rods, which are
connected with cranks on a shaft or axle, on which a valve plug or key
of peculiar construction is fixed, and which rotates with the shaft to
direct the incoming water into channels leading to one end of the
cylinders, and to direct the effluent water from the other ends of the
cylinders to the outflow pipe, there being a division in the plug or key
to separate the incoming from the outgoing water. The plug or key of
the valve is formed of two discs fixed or cast concentrically to one
another upon a bar which holds them a convenient distance apart, and
which passes diametrically across each. Each disc has a hole through
it at right angles to its plane, the hole in one disc being on the opposite
side of the separating bar to the hole in the other disc. The plug is
turned to fit its seating, in which it is placed in such a manner that the
openings of the ports in the seating shall be enclosed between the discs
of the plug. The liquid is admitted to one side of the plug (in the case
of the valve being made taper I prefer admitting the liquid to the larger
end) when it passes through the hole before described into the space
between the discs on one side of the separating bar, and from thence
passes through the ports that may be in communication with that side
of the plug at the time being and acts upon the pistons, causing the
liquid on the opposite side of the pistons to issue from the ports in com-
munication with the other side of the plug, and so out of the hole in
the second disc into the outflow pipe. I do not wish to confine myself
to the above described mode of leading the water through the plug, as
the entrances may be at the edge and the outlets at the back and front.
The shaft or axle can be fitted with a toothed wheel for actuating the
dial and registering mechanism.

page_text: Although it would be inferred from the foregoing description that
horizontal plugs are employed, I in some cases fit the plugs to work
vertically, in that case I secure a bevil wheel on the shaft, and cause it
to gear into a pinion on the plug head.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Willmer Pocock in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th May 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED-
WILLMER POCOCK, of No. 4, Claverton Street, Pimlico, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of November, 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 Alfred Willmer Pocock, Her special licence that
I, the said Alfred Willmer Pocock, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Willmer Pocock, 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 METERS OR APPARATUS FOR MEASURING WATER AND OTHER LIQUIDS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Willmer Pocock,
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 Alfred Willmer Pocock, 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,

page_text: t
hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
CACHO BOIngat to the Drawings
This Invention relates to the construction and employment of
apparatus for measuring the quantity of water or other liquid, and is
intended for indicating the quantity supplied to dwelling houses, factories,
and other places in which the quantity furnished is to be charged for or
where it is required to ascertain the quantity used.
The Invention consists in fitting two cylinders or cases side by side.
Both cylinders are supplied with water or other liquid at each end.
The area of each cylinder and the stroke of each piston being of
determined dimensions, so that at each stroke of the pistons a given
quantity is passed into the outflow pipe, while at the same time the
number of strokes are registered on a dial or other indicating medium,
thus indicating at a glance the number of gallons or other determined
quantity supplied within a fixed period. The registering apparatus may
also be furnished with index hands showing the amount necesssary to be
paid for the quantity used. The pistons are provided with rods which
are connected with cranks on a shaft or axle, on which a valve plug or
key of peculiar construction is fixed, and which rotates with the shaft to
direct the incoming water into channels leading to one end of the
cylinders, and to direct the effluent water from the other ends of the
cylinders to the outflow pipe, there being a division in the plug or key
to separate the incoming from the outgoing water. The plug or key of
the valve is formed of two discs fixed or cast concentrically to one
another upon a bar which holds them a convenient distance apart, and
which passes diametrically across each. Each disc has a hole through it
at right angles to its plane, the hole in one disc being on the opposite
side of the separating bar to the hole in the other disc. The plug is
turned to fit its seating in which it is placed in such a manner that the
openings of the ports in the seating shall be enclosed between the discs
of the plug. The liquid is admitted to one side of the plug (in the casc
of the valve being made taper I prefer admitting the liquid to the larger
end) when it passes through the hole before described into the space
between the discs on one side of the separating bar, and from thence
passes through the ports that may be in communication with that side
of the plug at the time being and acts upon the pistons, causing the
liquid on the opposite side of the pistons to issue from the ports in

page_text: communication with the other side of the plug, and so out of the hole in
the second disc into the outflow pipe. I do not wish to confine myself
to the above described mode of leading the water through the plug, as the
entrances may be at the edge and the outlets at the back and front.
The shaft or axle can be fitted with a toothed wheel for actuating the
dial and registering mechanism.
Although it would be inferred from the foregoing description that
horizontal plugs are employed, I in some cases fit the plugs to work
vertically, in that case I secure a bevil wheel on the shaft, and cause it
to gear into a pinion on the plug head.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood I annex
the accompanying Drawings and the following detailed description to
show clearly how I carry it into effect.
Figure 1 is a sectional. elevation of two cylinders A, B, placed side by
side on the foundation or sole plate C. Each cylinder is provided with a
piston D, E, which rises and falls alternately by the pressure of the water
which is admitted into the tops and bottoms of the cylinders through the
valve. The pistons have rods F, F, and G, G, on them which pass
through stuffing boxes H, I, on the cylinder ends and ensure the pistons
working in a direct up-and-down manner. The outer ends of the pistons
are furnished with a slotted bar or cross head J, seen clearly in Figure 2,.
in which a block K of a crank arm L is free to slide, and as the pistons
work up and down the cross heads produce a circular motion of the
cranks and the shaft or axle M on which they are mounted. Each
revolution of the shaft M carries the valve plug or key N round with it,
which allows the water from the supply chamber O to pass into the
cylinders cither above or below the pistons in such a manner that when
the supply division of the valve plug has passed the ports then in com-
munication with it those ports become closed against the supply and
opened to the outflow pipe; at the same time the ports which were in
communication with the outlet division of the plug become closed
against the outlet and opened to the inlet. The pressure of the
water admitted causes the pistons to move in the required direction.
In the positions of the pistons shown in Figure 1 the water is entering
the space below the piston D in the cylinder A, and shut off from the
cylinder B by the openings being closed by the separating bar of the
plug. As the piston D rises by the action of the water the crank arm L

page_text: causes the axle to rotate, which, carrying the plug with it, the port
leading to the bottom of the other cylinder B becomes open, and water
flowing into that cylinder lifts the piston E at the same time as the
piston D is being lifted, but before the piston E has arrived at the end of
its stroke the rotation of the plug has shut off the supply to the bottom
of the cylinder A and has opened it to the top of the cylinder A, thus
causing the piston D to commence its down stroke before the piston E
has completed its up stroke; the action of the piston E is then reversed.
The further rotation of the valve plug has cut off the supply from the
bottom of the cylinder B and has opened it at the top. Before the
piston E has completed this stroke the action of the piston D has been
reversed, thus bringing it to the point as indicated in the Figure.
Figure 4 is a plan of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is
a sectional view taken through the line 1-2, Figure, to show the
passages leading from the bottom of both cylinders; and Figure 6 is a
half face view of the seating with the half cover removed. It will be
observed that the openings in the casing Q are securely packed to prevent
leakage. In case of repairs or a stoppage of the plug or in any of the
passages the cap R is easily removable by unscrewing the bolts or
nuts S. The passages and ports by which the water enters the cylinders
become in their turn the outlet passages and ports. In some cases I
provide means of protecting all the working parts from being tampered
with or injured as well as for obviating the necessity of stuffing
boxes for the piston rods by fitting a jacket T above each of the
cylinders, as shown in Figures 7, 8, and 9. When jackets are fitted
I use the spaces in them as a portion of the spaces above the pistons
for the reception of water, and in order to lessen the size of the apparatus
as much as possible and to make it direct acting I centre the lower
end of the piston rods to the pistons upon pius U, so that the rods
are free to oscillate and follow the movements of the cranks. These
Figures shew the pistons as having only one rod to each of them. To
steady the pistons in their up-and-down movements I fit an additional
an ring or collar on them to increase their thickness and ensure the free
working of them in the cylinders.
Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13 represent a meter or measuring apparatus
in which the pistons are provided with a trunk V, working through
stuffing boxes in the cylinder covers. I prefer to attach the crank rod to

page_text: a standard W, fitted in the trunk as shown, but the rod may be attached
to the bottom of the trunks if found convenient. The shaft or axle in
this construction of meters is provided with a bevil wheel X, which gears
into a pinion Y on the head or square of the valve plug, which in this
case is fitted in a vertical manner. The valve plug is made in a similar
manner to the one described in the arrangement previously mentioned,
and the passages and ports are similarly arranged. In the above forms
or constructions of meters, gratings, or other apparatus may be fitted in
the passages or cylinders to prevent the entrance of straw or other
foreign matter to affect the efficient action of them. In some cases I fit
sponge, charcoal, or other filtering medium in the cylinders or in some
other part of the apparatus for filtering the water. The indicating or
dial mechanism may be actuated by a pinion being fitted on the axle M
on the outside of either of the apparatus shown in the Figures, and made
to gear into a train of wheelwork leading to fingers or pointers on a dial
plate or counting apparatus, or it may be worked by a ratchet and paul
arrangement as found most convenient.
In some cases it will be necessary to fit the pinion on the axle and in
the inside of the casing P or K, and to show clearly how this may be
accomplished I have in Figures 14 and 15 represented in part section
and part elevation an apparatus in which the casing is made taller to
give room for the pins a and b to revolve in. The pinion a is on the axle
of the shaft M, and gears into the pinion 6, whose axle passes through a
screw socket or brass nut c, so that the rotation of the pinions can be
communicated direct to the registering mechanism. All the apertures
and screw holes of the casings are carefully packed to prevent the escape
of the water or other liquid through them.
Figure 16 shows a sectional plan of the apparatus represented in
Figures 14 and 15, and illustrates by dotted lines the ports and passages
for the water into and from cach cylinder to the outlet. The arrange-
ment of the ports or passages is different to the arrangement referred to
in the previous Figures. Here the liquid enters by the opening d and
enters the plug or key N in a similar manner to that before explained to
find its way to the respective passages leading to the top or to the
bottom of one or other of the cylinders until it finds its outlet by the
delivery port e.

page_text: In the foregoing description I refer to the discs being formed with a
hole in each of them for the passage of the water or other liquid, and I
do not in any way limit myself to the size of the hole as shown in the
Figures, as in some instances the hole may be extended so that only a
ring or portion of a ring may be left, or the ring may in some cases be
entirely dispensed with when only a half disc would be required on each
end of the plug or key.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
Firstly. The general arrangement and construction of apparatus for
measuring water and other liquids, as herein-before described and
represented in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The arrangement of the ports and passages for leading the
water into and out of the cylinders, in the manner herein-before described
and shown in the Drawings annexed.
And, thirdly. The construction and employment of a valve plug com-
posed of two concentric discs and a bar which passes diametrically
across them, and provided with ports or passages in the manner and for
the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred William Pocock, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of May,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
ALF. WILLMER POCOCK. (L.S.)