IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING, REGULATING, AND PREVENTING WASTE WHEN SUPPLYING FLUIDS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Josiah George Jennings, of Holland Street, Black-
friars, and Thomas Culpin, of 25, Royal Hill, Greenwich, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING, REGULATING, AND
PREVENTING WASTE WHEN SUPPLYING FLUIDS."
Sealed the 31st December 1858, and dated the 3rd July 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Josiah George Jennings
and Thomas Culpin at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 3rd July 1858.
We, JOSIAH GEORGE JENNINGS, of, Holland Street, Blackfriars, and THOMAS
CULPIN, of 25, Royal Hill, Greenwich, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING, REGULATING. AND
PREVENTING WASTE WHEN SUPPLYING FLUIDS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for measuring,
regulating, and preventing waste when supplying fluids.
For these purposes a cylindrical or other suitable form of vessel is used,
which is mounted on axes, on one of which is formed the plug. of the supply
cock, which is so formed that the inclining of the vessel first in one direction
and then in the other, causes the direction of the flow of water to be reversed...
and the plug or valve is so formed that it will not quite close the passage, by

page_text: which three will be a constant flow even when the vessel is changing its direc-
tion of motion. In large apparatus provision is made to prevent a shock in
bringing the vessel to rest when it changes its position. Within the vessel
there is a weighted piston, moving fluid-tight, by preference by the aid of
cupped leathers where a cylinder is employed:, but in some cases flexible dia-
phragms are used. The weighted piston moves on a piston rod, which works
fluid-tight through the ends of the vessel, which is most conveniently arranged
by having flexible discs fixed to the ends of the rod and to the ends of the
vessel. The piston rod is of such length that when one end is protruding,
the other end is flush with the end of the vessel, and there are projections fixed
near the ends of the piston rod, by which, when the piston comes against the
collar at either end, it moves the piston rod, and causes it to be withdrawn
from the, other end, and protruded at the end nearest that where the weighted
piston has arrived, by which the opposite end of the rod is withdrawn from a
catch or detent, and the protruding end is retained by another catch or detent,
when the vessel completes its motion.
In order to prevent waste in the supply of fluid, a cylinder or barrel is used;
the supply is introduced at one end, which is covered with a valve, and the
outlet passage is beyond such valve, and to the valve stem is affixed a piston,
by preference with a cupped leather, or other cupped material. In the
cylinder is a bucket on a rod. The valve rod or spindle is formed with a
narrow passage which has a piece of wire passing through, but not filling the
passage, the end of the wire is fixed on the end of the bucket rod, by this means
the passage through the valve spindle is constantly kept open and clear as
the valve spindle in its movement slides on the wire, and the movement of
the bucket rod also moves the. wire through the spindle. Between the upper
and lower end of the cylinder or barrel is a tube by which the water which
passes through the bucket in its descent is forced back into the main: When
the bucket rod is moved, the pressure of the water supply will move the valve;
and the water will flow to the outlet, till, .by the passage of water or fluid
through the valve spindle, the space between the piston and bucket becomes
full of water or fluid, when the pressure of water or fluid between the piston
and bucket will close the valve.
For some purposes the piston rod and piston thereon are dispensed with,
and a small water passage is made between the barrel and the outlet, in which
passage there is a cock or valve which is acted on by a ball-cock, or otherwise.
Another arrangement for supplying water to water-closets and preventing
waste consists in applying a regulating piston to a common valve, and in
forming the top of the valve with a diaphragm and rod, which rod, by the

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Josiah George Jennings and Thomas Culpin in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 3rd January 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOSIAH
GEORGE JENNINGS, of Holland Street, Blackfriars, and THOMAS CULPIN, of 25,
Royal Hill, Greenwich, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the Twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Josiah George Jennings and Thomas Culpin, Her special licence that
we, the said Josiah George Jennings and Thomas Culpin, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Josiah George
Jennings and Thomas Culpin, our 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 APPARATUS FOR MEASURING, REGULATING, AND PREVENTING
WASTE WHEN SUPPLYING FLUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said Josiah George Jennings and Thomas Culpin, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their hands and
seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, or them, 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 Josiah George Jennings, on behalf of
myself and the said Thomas Culpin, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
that is to say:-
}

page_text: This Invention has for its object improvements in-apparatus, for measuring,
regulating, and preventing waste when supplying fluids. For these purposes
a cylindrical or other suitable form of vessel is used, which is mounted on axes,
on one of which is formed the plug of the supply cock, which, is so formed that
the inclining of the vessel, first in one direction and then in the other, causes
the direction of the flow of water to be reversed, and the plug or valve is so
formed that it will not quite close the passage, by which there will be a con-
stant flow, even when the vessel is changing its direction of motion. In large
apparatus, provision is made to prevent a shock in bringing the vessel to rest
when it changes its position. Within the vessel there is a weighted piston,
moving fluid-tight, by preference by the aid of cupped, leathers, where a
cylinder is employed, but in some cases flexible diaphragms are used., ..The
weighted piston moves on a piston rod, which works fluid-tight..through, the
ends of the vessel, which, is most conveniently arranged by having flexible discs
fixed to the ends of the rod and to the ends, of the vessel... The piston rod, is
of such length, that, when one end is protruding, the other end is flush with
the end of the vessel, and, there are projections, fixed near the ends of the
piston rod,. by. which, when the piston comes against the collar, at either end,
it moves the piston rod, and causes it to be withdrawn from, the other, end
and protruded at the end nearest that where the weighted piston. has arrived,
by which the opposite end of the rod is withdrawn from a catch or detent, and
the protruding end is retained by another catch or detent, when the vessel
completes its motion.
In order to prevent waste in the supply of fluid, a cylinder or barrel is
used; the supply is introduced at one end, which is covered with a valve,
and the outlet passage is beyond such valve, and to the valve stem is affixed
a piston, by preference with a cupped leather, or other cupped material.
In the cylinder is a bucket on a rod. The valve rod or spindle is formed with
a narrow passage, which has, a piece of wire passing through but not filling
the passage; the, end of the wire is fixed on the end of the bucket rod,, by
this means the passage through the valve spindle, is constantly kept open
and clear, as the valve spindle in its movement slides on the wire, and, the
movement of the bucket rod also moves the wire through the spindle.
Between the upper and lower end of the cylinder .or barrel is a tube, by which
the water which passes through the bucket in its. descent is forced back into
the main. When the bucket rod is moved, the pressure of the water supply
will move the valve, and the water will flow to the outlet till, by the passage
of water or fluid through, the valve. spindle, the space between the piston and
bucket becomes full of water or fluid, when the pressure of water or fluid.

page_text: between the piston and bucket will close the valve. For some purposes the
piston rod and piston thereon are dispensed with, and a smail water passage
is made between the barrel and the outlet, in which passage there is a cock or
valye, which is acted on by a ball-cock, or otherwise.
In supplying water to baths or wash basins, we combine the principle of
the plug-cock with the, common valve.
And in order that our said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure is a side view, partly in section, of a water meter constructed
according to our Invention; Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken through
the centre of the rocking chamber of the same: Figure 3 is a side view of
one of the axes of the rocking chamber,. together with its bearing, which axis
also forms the supply cock, and regulates the water in its passage to the
meter; Figure 4 is a longitudinal section, taken at the centre line of the
The chamber of the meter is made in two parts, a and a', which are
firmly bolted together, so as to nip and hold the edges of the flexible dia-
phragm c, (for this diaphragm a piston may be substituted, if the chamber
be made cylindrical.) The centre of the diaphragm is attached to a weight d,
which is capable of sliding on the rod e, but without allowing the water to
pass between it and the rod; this rod e passes through stuffing boxes at the
ends of the chamber (or the opening through which it passes is rendered
water-tight by flexible discs) and has projections e' upon it, with which the
weight d comes in contact as it approaches the ends of its stroke, each time
that it is driven from one end of the chamber to the other by the admission of
water by one or other of the passages a; the object of moving the rod e is
herein-after stated. The water passages a are continued into the axis f. (tho
other axis is solid.) and they terminate in openings f. f, through the axis.
The axis is supported within a chamber connected with the source of
supply, and the escape of water from the chamber by the space around the
exterior of the axis is prevented by a packing, as is shown by the Drawing.
The top of the chamber g communicates with the pipe h, which conducts away
the water that has passed through the meter, but the water is prevented pass-
ing directly from the source of supply to the pipe h by the hollow piece i,
which entirely fills the upper part of the chamber g, and is made tight by
packing; the lower end of this piece rests on the axis f, and is ground to fit it
closely. It will be seen from the form of the passages and. the piece i, that
when the rocking chamber is tilted over, either to the one side or the other,

page_text: the piece covers one of the openings . and leaves the other uncovered,
consequently water from the source of supply enters this latter and forces the
diaphragm and weight from the lower end to the upper of the chamber, the
water on the other side of the diaphragm escaping by the pipe h. The rocking
chamber is prevented changing its position except when the weight and dia-
phragm come to the end of their course by catches not shewn in these Figures,
but which are shown at i, i, Figure 5, as applied to a meter of very similar
construction, presently to be described; these catches, it will be seen, "spring
over the ends of the rod e and hold it until the weight d, having passed to the
other end of the chamber, comes against the projection e¹ and draws the
rod away from the catch, the chamber then tips over and the other catch
retains the other end of the rod, the weight then moves in the opposite direc-
tion, the tipping of the chamber having reversed the direction of the flow of
the water in the passages a, a, and so the motion continues.
The meter shown in longitudinal section at Figure 5, and also partly in
horizontal and transverse section at Figures 6 and 7 respectively, differs from
that already described principally in the manner in which it is supplied with
water; the chamber a is, as will be seen, enclosed in a case k, which is in
connection with the source of supply; it turns on ordinary centres, and has
at each end an opening 1, by which the water from the case enters the two
sides of the chamber alternately. The water escapes from the chamber, a by
the opening at the upper end on its being brought up to an orifice m, which
communicates with the pipe which conducts away the water after it has passed
through the meter; the case k is furnished with two of such orifices, one for
each end of the chamber a, and these when out of use are closed by valves;
when the end of the chamber comes against the orifice it forms a tight joint,
being furnished with an elastic ring for the purpose; a cross bar also placed
across the opening 1, raises the balls n, n', so as to close the tube o at its
lower end, and open it at its upper end. This tube o is fixed in the valve p,
which closes the orifice m, and is capable of working up and down in the
cylinder q, being rendered water-tight by a cupped leather. Thus it will be
seen that so long as the ball n remains down, water passes by the tube o
through the small hole in its side into the space in the cylinder q above the
piston, and the pressure of the water keeps the valve shut, the area of the
top of the valve p being greater than the area of the bottom; but as soon as
the balls n, n', are raised, the passage for the water from the case k above
the piston is closed, and the water already above the piston is able to
escape through the top of the tube o, and the top pressure being thus relieved
the valve p rises & the water passes from the interior of the chamber a and

page_text: allows the measured water to escape by one of the pipes r; which branch from
one pipe. When. the chamber a changes its position the balls n, n', before
raised, fall by their own weight, and the valve p immediately descends.
The oscillations of the rocking chamber of the meters are counted, and
registered by a train of wheels as in other water meters, the chamber a at
each motion giving motion to a pawl or driver which moves a ratchet wheel
one step forward. In order to prevent meters registering air, we place on the
pipe connecting the meter with the main, a chamber containing a float, which
when the pipe does not contain water falls, and in so doing opens a valve to
allow the air to escape by an opening, which the valve again closes when 'the
float is raised by the return of water. The meters shewn in the Drawing are
arranged entirely to stop the flow of the water at the time when the motion
of the rocking chamber takes place, but this, if considered undesirable, may
easily be obviated by decreasing the width of the partition between the two
openings, f, in the axis f. Figure 8 is a transverse section and Figure 9
is a plan in section of a water meter, which is suitable to be used in places
where a continuance of action is not required, but rather where it is desirable
that after a measured quantity has been supplied, the flow should be stopped
until the meter is again put in motion by hand. As the meter for this pur-
pose is no longer required to be self-acting, its construction is much sim-
plified, the chamber which before was the rocking chamber is now fixed, it
is made in two parts a and a', as before, bolted together so as to nip and
hold the edges of the flexible diaphragm c, the weight at the
centre of the diaphragm is much reduced in size, as its object
now is to prevent the diaphragm entering the passages a²; a², by which the
water flows to and from the meter. The passages a, a, pass into a chamber
g, connected with the source of supply, and above this chamber is a second
chamber connected with the exit pipe. This upper chamber communicates
with the passages a, a, by sliding tubes s, s¹, having at their ends valves t, t',
which are capable of being raised and depressed by the lever handle u. When
the valve is depressed, the valve t' is raised, and it lifts with it the tube s'.
which it will be seen has a valve formed on it, and when it is raised the inlet
chamber is put in communication with the space on one side of the dia-
phragm, and the exit chamber h, with the space on the other side of the dia-
phragm, and consequently a measured quantity of water is allowed to escape
by the exit pipe, and then the flow ceases until the position of the handle is
reversed; the valves on the tubes s, s, closed by the pressure of the water
when the valves t, t, are moved away from them by the handle u Counting
apparatus may be connected with this handle .u.

page_text: Fig. 10 is a vertical section of a meter almost identical in construction with
that just described, it differs only in that the water is regulated in its flow to
and from the meter by a two-way cock V, the action of this meter is so obvious
that no further description of it is necessary. Figure 10* is a section taken
at the line A, A, Figure 10.
Figure 11 is a longitudinal section of an apparatus for preventing waste of
water or fluid. a is a cylinder or barrel which is connected with the source of
supply at a; b is a valve immediately above, and c is the outlet. The valve
b has a passage through it and carries at its upper end a piston b¹, rendered
tight by a cupped leather. Within the cylinder a is a pump bucket à capable
of being worked up and down by the rod e; f is a small passage connecting
the source of supply with the space above the bucket d; this passage is fur-
nished with a valve f; preventing water passing from the main to the
cylinder a; but allowing it to pass in the opposite direction. The action of the
apparatus is as follows:-So long as the bucket remains stationary the water
passing up through the passage in the valve b presses downwards on the piston
b, and keeps the valve closed, but when the bucket is drawn up, the water
above it heing forced back into the main, the pressure on the top of the valve b
is relieved, and it opens and remains open until a sufficient quantity of water
has passed up through the passage in the valve to refil the space under the
bucket d, and then the valve b again closes, and to cause a further quantity of
water to pass, it is necessary to push down the bucket d, and then again raise
it. The wire g is for the purpose of keeping clear and free from stoppage the
passage through the valve b, and this application of a wire to keep clear small
passages formed through valves, to equalize the pressure on their two sides,
forms an important part of our Invention.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section of an apparatus for supplying water to
closets, in which a wire is employed for the purpose of keeping clear a
passage through a valve. a is a pipe connected with a source of supply; b
is an opening put in connection with the closet; c is a lever actuated by the
handle of the closet, it serves to raise the valve d, which has a piston d¹
mounted on its end, which piston works in a cylinder e, and the passage formed
through the valve allow the pressure of the water to keep the valve closed, as
before explained; f is the wire for keeping the passage through the valve clear.
It is fixed in the top of the cylinder e, and as the valve moves it slides within
the opening through it; g is a weighted bucket, which when moved by the
lever c remains up for a period until the water is able to escape from under it
by the small passage h, and until this takes place the valve remains open.
Figure 13 is a longitudinal section of a modification of the apparatus' shown

page_text: at Figure 11, wherein the piston rod and piston are dispensed with, and a
small water passage is made between the barrel and the outlet, in which
passage there is a cock or valve which is acted on by a ball-cock.
a is the
barrel and a is the inlet as before; b is the valve having a narrow passage
through it kept clear by a wire; and c is the outlet, and c¹ is the small water
passage leading from the barrel a to the outlet; g is a ball actuating a valve
g for closing the passage c', which is most conveniently done at the point
where it issues from the barrel a.
It will be seen that so long as the ball g keeps the valve g¹ closed, the water
passing up through the valve, and by the small hole to the space in the
barrel a, over the piston b¹, and the water being unable to escape presses on
the piston b', and keeps the valve closed, but when the valve g is allowed in
rise, then the water passes away from the space over the piston b'. by the
passage c to the outlet, and if the passage c' is fully large enough to carry
away all the water that passes by the passage through the valve b, then the
pressure being relieved from its upper side this valve immediately rises; we,
however, find it more convenient. in place of making the passage c¹ of such a
size, to place a small ball on the end of the wire (which keeps the passage in
the valve b clear) to close this passage, when the valve g' rises.
Figure 14 shows the apparatus with the parts in the positions they assume
when the ball is raised. Figures 15 and 16 show a similar apparatus in which
the valve g is acted on by a spring g, in place of by a ball, and in order to
cause the water to flow, it is necessary to draw up the button h by hand.
Figure 17 is a longitudinal section of an apparatus for supplying water to
baths, in which the principles of the plug-cock and of the common valve are
combined. a is the plug-cock capable of being turned by the handle a', and b
is the common valve capable of being raised off its seat by the stem b¹, ter-
minating in a button b. The action of the apparatus is apparent.
In witness whereof, I, the said Josiah George Jennings, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
JOSIAH GEORGE JENNINGS. (L.S.)