IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID-METERS
Year: 1883

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
and Co, Patent Agents Southampton Buildings London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID-METERS communicated to him from abroad by
Frederick Godfrey Hesse of. Oakland, California, United States of America,
Scientific Mechanician
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th August 1883.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake and C° Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID-METERS" communi-
cated to me from abroad by Frederick Godfrey Hesse of Oakland California,
United States of America Scientific Mechanician
This invention relates to meters for measuring fluids, and especially water by
the velocity and force under pressure of a "head." The object of the said invention
is to cause such meters to fulfil as far as practicable the following conditions that
is to say the meter is (1) to register the quantity of water flowing through it with
approximate accuracy whether the quantity of such water be very large, or so small
as to flow at the rate of say one gallon in from ten to thirty minutes; (2) to be
durable by having its wear from friction or other cause reduced to a minimum; and
(3) to be comparatively cheap as regards costs of construction.
i
I attain these objects by constructing a velocity meter, so called, in contra-
distinction to a volume meter, adopting in construction the devices hereinafter
described.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a vertical, central section of the meter case, showing in part the
interior works constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a top view showing the dial' plate, and the outer case of the meter.
Figure 3 is a top view of the devices contained in the upper water chamber.
Figure 4, is a vertical central section on the line x, x figure 3
Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line ×³ x¹ figure 3.
Figure 6, is a horizontal section on the line
figure 1.
Figure 7, is a top view of the water measuring wheel, and
Figure 8 is a top view of the registering mechanism

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The cylindrical case of the meter consists of two parts a* and a' which are united
by means of flanges and bolts as shown in figures 1 and 2. The space enclosed
by the said parts is divided by a horizontal plate D' into two water chambers,
CC which communicate with each other by means of a passage V₁ (which may or
may not be closed by a valve V) and by another passage m m² m² as hereinafter
described.
The service or supply pipe A communicates with the lower water chamber C by
means of a conduit o (see figures 1 and 6) and openings H H, while the discharge
pipe A' communicates with the upper water chamber C³ by means of a conduit o¹,
which latter affords a free escape for the water.
The lower chamber C contains a measuring water wheel W made to revolve upon
a vertical shaft or spindle S¹. This wheel is similar in construction to a tangential
or impact wheel, and is acted upon by the two jets of water issuing forcibly from
the openings H, and striking the buckets 7, 7. as shown in figures 1 and 6.
The top and bottom plates dd of the wheel are provided with buckets 71 71
similar to the buckets ŕ but reversed in position relatively thereto, so that the
water which comes in their course shall tend to retard the speed produced by the
direct action and force upon the buckets r. I make all the buckets r and r¹ of
a curved shape in order to produce the most accurate results, as hereinafter
described.
In connection with the buckets of the wheel W, stationary wings are
provided, these being attached to the bottom part a¹ of the case, and to the under-
side of the horizontal plate D' thereof as-shewn. To avoid friction of the step in
which the shaft S' of the wheel rests, all parts of the wheel including buckets and
shaft, are preferably made of vulcanized gutta-percha, as the specific gravity of this
material is about that of water. The upper water chamber C contains a cylinder
or vessel E which is closed at its top by an elastic bellows-like device or
diaphragm B, the said device consisting of corrugated india-rubber or other flexible
material between metal plates P P' as shown. The lower plate P₁ (Figures 1, 4,
and 5) is fastened to the top edge of the cylinder E, and through it an annular
opening is formed, whereby communication with the said cylinder is secured. The
bottom of the cylinder E is closed with the exception of the opening or passage m
which communicates with the interior of cylinder E by means of a small circular
opening m³ as shown in Figure 5.
Communication between cylinder E and the upper water chamber is established
by means of the small conical opening or passage m²; this opening or passage m
is the discharge from the cylinder E, while the openings or passages m and m¹ are
the inlets to the same; and both openings or passages m' and m³ have the same
axis in common, while the area of the opening or passage m² is about twice as
great as that of the opening ml. In the operation of the meter as hereinafter
described, the diaphragm B is caused periodically to rise, and then allowed to
descend by reason of an intermittent interruption of the direct flow of the water
through the cylinder E.
The spindle S' of the water wheel W extends up into the cylinder E, and carries
on its upper end a screw S³ (seo figure 4) which gears into a worm wheel D. The
rim of the wheel D is connected to the hub h by means of a sector or semi circular
plate d' (see Figures 4 and 5) which stands vertically between, the nozzle ends of
the openings or passages m¹ m³, and a slight distance away from each of the said
ends, and in its revolution with the wheel D, it acts intermittently as a water
interrupting and diverging diaphragm between these openings or passages, while it
does not completely close either of them. The wheel D is open from side to side
between the other portion of its rim and the upper straight edge of the diaphragm
sector-plate d'. This device of the diaphragm sector-plate d is such that each balf
revolution of the worm wheel D will either break the direct communication across
from the opening or passage m¹ to the opening or passage m³, that is, turn
downward or upward the jet of water issuing from the passage m¹ and thereby
ensure the desired operation of the meter, or leave the current to flow directly

page_text: across from the opening or passage m¹ to the opening or passage m³ through the
opening in the wheel D."
The top P of the bellows-like device or diaphragm B (Figure 5) carries two
vertical rods a, a which are pivoted to curved horizontal lever arms (Figures 1
and 3) attached to a rock shaft S³ hung in a bracket or plate P¹; the said rock
shaft having a lever arm fastened rigidly to it.
S indicates a vertical shaft which passes through a stuffing box into a chamber R.
which contains the registering mechanism. To this shaft S a lever arm l³ is.
attached, and the end of this arm is connected by a rod 1 to the lever arm of
the rock shaft S¹³. By means of the flexible diaphragm B and the mechanism
between it and the shaft S, a reciprocating motion is imparted to the said shaft S,
as the plate P of the diaphragm B moves up and down, the said up and down
movement being due to the intermittent change in the pressure of the water in
the cylinder E caused by the intermittent action of the sector plate d¹.
That end of the shaft S which passes through the meter case into the chamber R
has attached to it a levert (Figure 8) which in connection with the pawl P³ and
ratchet wheel P³ imparts rotary motion to the index wheels and dial hands of the
meter, and thus effects the registration of the water.
The worm S' and the wheel D with its sector plate d¹ are preferably made of
gutta-percha so as to have them of about the same specific gravity of the water.
In Figure 1 I have shown the passage V₁ as being closed by a valve V, and on
the stom of this valve a weight G is shown. This weight is slipped upon the stem
and can be substituted by a lighter or heavier one according as the flow or "head
of water may require. The valve V is only needed for small quantities of water in
order to produce sufficient pressure to compel a portion or the whole of the water to
flow through the passage way m, m³, m².
"
For large quantities of water flowing through the meter, a mere passage Vi
(Figure 4) without a weighted valve will be sufficient, since the relative size of the
passage or opening produces the necessary difference of pressure to cause the water
in part to flow through the passage way m, m³, m³..
The operation of the apparatus is as follows: that is to say the meter being
fitted in position, the water from the supply pipe A flows through the conduit o and
openings in two forcible jets which revolve the wheel W. The water discharged
from the buckets of the wheel is caused, by the top and bottom buckets'.
acting upon it in conjunction with the upper and lower sets of stationary
wings ²² to rotate, and consequently is caused by centrifugal action to circulate
as indicated by the arrows. The resistance offered by the water to the buckets ¹¹
which are reversely set with respect to the buckets 7, r, is similar to that of a
centrifugal pump, that is retarding the motion of the wheel so that its velocity
will be about one tenth the velocity of the water issuing from the openings H.
It will be understood that the buckets are under the direct "head" force of
the water, while the buckets are above and below such force, and hence the
revolution of the wheel W will only be regulated and retarded by the buckets red gol
in a proper manner. The accuracy with which the meter registers the water,
increases it is found with the pressure or impact of the jot against the buckets r,
provided the resisting action of the water in which the wheel W revolves, is
proportionate to the impact or pressure. For these reasons I have substituted
curved buckets for radial wings, and introduced a great number thereof providing
buckets both above and below the buckets r, thus increasing the resisting
action of the water as above described.
The water in circulating passes from the lower chamber C to the upper
chamber C' through the passage V' and also through the passage way m, m², m³,
Figure 5.
The relative quantity of water which flows through the passage way m, m', m³
can be regulated if desired by the use of the weighted valve V, whereby a given
difference of pressure between the lower chamber Cand upper chamber C¹ may be

page_text: sustained. An increase of the size of the weight G will cause an increase in the
flow of water through the passage way m, m', m²; and for a given small quantity
of water flowing through the meter, the valve will remain closed, and all the
water be discharged through the passage way m, m³ m². As the weight G is
made to slide on the valve rod, it can readily be changed from a light to a heavier
one as may be necessary. While the wheel W is rotating, a slight rotary motion
will be imparted to the wheel D and sector plate d in the chamber E, and in each
revolution of the wheel D the direction of the current issuing from the passage m¹
will be changed during one half of the revolution of the said wheel by the sector
plate d. If the passage way between the nozzle of the openings or passages m³
and m² is free or uninterrupted by reason of the sector plate d' being in the
position shewn in Figures 4 and 5, the pressure of water in the cylinder or
vessel E will not be sufficient to raise the diaphragm B, but the reverse will be
the case if the said passage way between the openings or passages m³ m² has the
sector plate d' turned into it as herein described. Thus, for every revolution of
the wheel D and sector plate d', the difference of water pressure in the cylinder E
and chamber C', will cause the plate P of diaphragm B, to rise once and descend
once; and the reciprocating motion thus produced, will be transmitted to the
registering mechanism and converted into rotary motion as herein described. The
pressure on the plate P of the diaphragm B, either during its up or down stroke,
increases with the quantity of water flowing through the openings or passages
m² m², and this can be readily controlled by having a weight Ġ of suitable size on
the valve V.
The pressure in the vessel E caused by the divergence or interruption of the
direct flow of the current from the opening or passage m to the opening or
passage m³ by the interference intermittently of the sector plated, can be increased
by placing the sector plate so that it will move very near the opening or passage m²
and thereby obstruct the rapid direct passage out of the cylinder E of the water
to a greater extent than it did when it was farther away from the passage m².
In such case the up stroke of the plate P of the diaphragm B, will be capable of
overcoming greater resistance than its down stroke; and, as the resistance-of-the
stuffing box remains the same, this plate P of the diaphragm B is made of
sufficient weight to equalize the force of the up and down strokes. Thus, it will
be seen that the friction caused by the stuffing box and registering mechanism
does not offer any serious resistance to the rotation of the wheel W, which revolves
under jets of water from the openings H independently of the work done in
driving the registering mechanism, and yet having its revolutions registered with
the same precision as if it were geared to or connected with the said mechanism.
In the meter shown in the drawing, every rotation of the wheel D in the
vessel E corresponds to one fifth of a cubic foot. The ratchet wheel P³ has fifty
teeth, and hence each revolution indicates ten (10) cubic feet. If the rate of tho
flow of the water corresponds to one gallon in twenty (20) minutes the meter still
registers with sufficient accuracy. If the meter discharges water at the rate of
one cubic foot per minute the loss of head is about four and one half (41) feet.
As an equivalent of the elastic diaphragm B or bellows-like device, a cylinder
with a piston may be used.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
Foreign Correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it
understood that I Claim.
First. In a fluid-moter, a revolving wheel D provided with a device d², whereby
the direct course of a portion of the water in its passage through the meter is
intermittently interrupted, substantially as described.
• Second. A fluid-meter provided with chambers C C, and a cylinder or vessel E,
the chambers C C being placed in communication with each other by a passage V,
while the vessel or cylinder E is made to communicate with the chambers C C' by
passages m, m³, m², substantially as, and for the purpose, described.

page_text: Third. A fluid-meter, having chambers OC and a cylinder or vessel E, which
are placed in communication by openings or passages m, m', m³, and the opening V₁
provided with a weighted valve V, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
Fourth. In a fluid-meter provided with chambers C C and a cylinder or
vessel E placed in communication by openings or passages V¹, m, m³, m², or their
equivalents, the combination of a measuring water-wheel W, a worm S', a worm-
wheel D baving a sector plate d', a diaphragm B or its equivalent, and mechanism
for transmitting the movements of the diaphragm B to registering mechanism,
substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
Fifth. The combination of the cylinder or vessel E provided with passages or
openings m², m³, and the revolving wheel D having the sector-plato d¹, substantially
as, and for the purpose, described.
Sixth. The vesssel or cylinder E provided with passages or openings m³, m³,
and the revolving wheel D having the sector plate d', in combination with a
passage or an opening V', and a water-wheel W or its equivalent, substantially as,
and for the purpose, described.
Seventh. The combination of the cylinder or vessel E, the passages or openings
m', m³, the worm-wheel D carrying the sector-plate d', the clastic diaphragm B or
its equivalent, the water-wheel W having the worm S' on its shaft, the weighted
valve V, and suitable connecting mechanism between the said diaphragm and
registering mechanism, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
Eighth. The cylinder or vessel E, the passages or openings m', m³, and the
revolving sector d, in combination with an elastic diaphragm or its equivalent,
substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
Ninth. The combination, with the wheel W having curved buckets r, of
stationary ribs, 72, and two sets of curved buckets r,, one set being applied
on one side, and the other on the opposite side of the wheel, and both sets being
placed in reversed position with respect to the buckets r, substantially as, and for
the purpose, described.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Fourteenth day of August in the year of Our Lord one thousand
eight bundred and eighty three.
HENDV HT TARD