IMPROVE- MENTS IN WATER METERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Kennedy, of Kilmarnock, in the County of Ayr,
North Britain, Water Meter Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WATER METERS."
ealed the 26th June 1877, and dated the 28th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Kennedy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th December 1876.
THOMAS KENNEDY, of Kilmarnock, in the County of Ayr, North Britain, Water
Motor Manufacturer. IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER METERS."
"
This Invention relates to water meters of the positive and reciprocating class
such as that known as Kennedy's, and comprises various improvements in details,
having for object to render the meter less liable to dorangement.
The stroke of the tumbling weight on the lever of the four-way cock has à
tendency to move the cock plug on end, and the larger end of the plug having
hitherto been towards the lever, the action has tended to jam the plug. By the
present Invention the smaller end of the plug is put towards the lever, so that the
endway action tends to relieve it, and the plug instead of being made with the
usual slight taper is made with a conical surface forming an angle of at least thirty
degrees of the circle with the axis, or it may be made flat or of any angle between
thirty and ninety degrees. The cock plug is pressed into its seat firmly but not
rigidly by a spring applied to its spindle, such spring consisting, by preference, of a
piece of vulcanised rubber faced with vulcanite. The cock plug is balanced as
regards lateral pressure due to any difference of pressure on the inlet and outlet
sides by having blank ports or recesses formed in its surface near its larger end,
such ports being put in communication respectively with the opposite through
ways.

page_text: My said Invention relates to water meters of the positive and reciprocating class,
such as that known as "Kennedy's," and comprises various improvements in details,
having for their object to render the meter less liable to derangement.
And in order that my said Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, may be properly understood I hereunto append a Sheet of explanatory
Drawings to be herein-after referred to, and representing my improved water meter
details. In these Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same
or like parts wherever they are repeated.
My improvements relate more particularly to the four-way cock or valve by
which the water is directed alternately to and from opposite ends of the cylinder or
measuring chamber and to parts immediately connected with that cock.
Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings are horizontal and vertical sections of the
casting, which in a Kennedy meter comprises the inlet and outlet passages 5, 6,
the passages 7, 8, leading to the opposite ends of the cylinder and the valve details.
Figure 3 is an end view of the valve or cock 9, as detached, but having on its
spindle 10 the two-armed lever 11, by means of which it is moved; and Figure 4
is a side view of the cock 9.
The stroke of the tumbling weight, which, in the Kennedy meter, effects the
shift of the valve or cock 9 in acting on either arm of the lever 11, fixed on the
cock spindle 10, has a tendency to move the cock plug on end, and the larger end
of the plug having hitherto been towards the lever, the action has tended to jam
the plug. By my present Invention the smaller end of the valve plug 9 is put
towards or nearest to the lever 11, so that the endway action tends to relieve the
plug, and the plug 9 instead of being made with the usual slight taper is made
with a conical surface forming an angle of at least thirty degrees of the circle
with the axis, or it may be made flat or of any angle between thirty and ninety
degrees. The cock plug 9 is pressed into its seat firmly but not rigidly by a spring
applied to its spindle or centre, such spring consisting, by preference, of a piece 12
of vulcanised rubber faced with vulcanite. The spring 12 is inserted in a small
socket formed on the inside of a cover 13, which closes the opening by which
the cock plug 9 and its seating 14 are entered into their places. The cock
plug 9 is, by preference, of brass or bronze, and its seating 14 is of brass or
vulcanite or lignum vitæ, and the cock plug 9 is balanced, or nearly so, as
regards lateral pressure due to any difference of pressure on the inlet and outlet
sides of it by having blank ports or slight recesses 15 formed in its surface near its
larger end, such ports 15 being put in communication respectively by grooves 16
with the opposite through ways 17, 18. The plug spindle 10 passes out through a
stuffing box 19 in the usual way, and has the two-armed lever 11 fixed on it
externally.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of por
forming the same I have to state that what I believe to be novel and original, and
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the constructing and arranging of the four-way valve or cock of a
Kennedy or other positive reciprocating water meter, substantially in the improved
manner herein-before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
*
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Kennedy, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
THOS. KENNEDY. (L.S.)