IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID METERS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical
Draughtsman, for the Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID METERS."
- A communication from abroad by José Francisco de Navarro, of
the City and State of New York, United States of America.
Scaled the 30th May 1871 and dated the 31st March 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 31st March 1871.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID
METERS," to be as follows:-
This meter has for its object the employment in a practicable and
advatageous manner of a given sized motor or meter proper for
variously sized supply and delivery pipes, and whereby a small sized
meter may be applied to pipes of large dimensions by causing only a
portion of the stream to pass through the meter, while the remainder

page_text: of it passes in a direct manner to the outlet. The meter is applicable
to measuring water, and various other liquids or fluids, but it will
suffice here to describe it as used for the measuring of water.
The Invention consists in a certain combination with a motor that
operates the registering mechanism, and with a main pipe or outlet of 5
a valve operating by differential pressure as controlled by the draught,
and so constructed or arranged that direct passage of the liquid to or
through the main outlet is excluded till its passage is established to or
through the meter and a chamber or jacket from which said meter
is supplied, and so that in proportion as the draught is increased or 1
diminished is the supply to and through the meter as well as in a
direct manner to and through the main outlet augmented or reduced,
causing the diaphragm or pistons of the meter to move faster or slower
in exact proportion to the draught. This system or method of working
insures an accuracy of measurement both of large or small quantities, 1
and under light or heavy streams at all pressures which a fixed area of
supply opening to the motor or meter fails to effect.
The proportioning valve by and through which the liquid passes on
its way to the outlet pipe consists of a hollow vertical cylinder which is
closed at both ends and is free to rise and fall in a cylindrical chamber 2
interposed between the inlet and outlet pipes. This chamber has side
openings corresponding in position with similar openings in the valve,
but greatly superior to them in length, the openings in the valve being
short and made close to the bottom of the valve. The chamber has also
a front opening corresponding with a front opening in the valve extend- 2
ing the greater portion of the length of the valve. At the back of the
valve the chamber is open, so as to leave a free passage through it when
the valve is raised for the passage of the liquid. The front opening of
the cylindrical chamber is provided with an adjustable gate for regulating
the capacity of that opening. As the liquid enters the inlet pipe it 3
passes into the cylindrical valve through the side openings and thence
through the front opening in the valve, and through the front opening
in the cylindrical chamber when it enters the meter case. The liquid
thus passed through the valve is allowed to enter the meter, and after
being measured therein it is delivered from the meter into a passage
leading to the outlet. The rising or falling of the cylindrical valve will
depend on the difference of pressure of the water in the inlet or outlet
passages, the valve as it rises will open an enlarging passage for the water

page_text: direct from the inlet to the outlet, and as it falls the capacity of this
passage will be diminished. The discharge through the valve will cor-
respond with this variation of direct supply and thus the water measured
by the meter will indicate the total quantity passed through the meter.
The Invention likewise embraces a peculiar construction of the valves
used to control or reverse the motion of the moving diaphragms or
pistons of the meter in combination with a certain arrangement of parts
and chambers or passages in relation with the measuring cylinders, outer
supply chamber or jacket, and branch or main outlet, and whereby an
accurate, easy, and balanced action is obtained for the said valves.
Supposing the meter to consist of two measuring cylinders fitted with
pistons which are connected to a crank shaft that works by its rotation,
the registering apparatus valve chambers are formed on these measuring
cylinders, one pair for each cylinder having openings through them.
Between these chambers is a closed chamber connecting with the
outlet passage and with the valve chambers. The openings to the
valve chambers corresponding with openings on the side thereof through
which water is admitted to the valve chambers. These valve chambers
connect by means of ports with the measuring cylinders at opposite
sides of their pistons. The inlet and discharge of the water is con-
trolled by a pair of sliding valves consisting each of a rod carrying a
cylindrical head at its opposite ends, which heads slide in the openings
made in the valve chambers, and alternately admit water thereto from
the meter case and discharge water therefrom, when measured into the
central chamber, whence it passes to join the current flowing directly
hrough the apparatus from the inlet to the outlet passage. Theso
valves are .connected to a rock lever which is operated by the crank.
haft before referred to, and thus the movement of the slide valves:and:
he pistons will have the proper corresponding relation to each other.
.
1

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in
the thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, 5
Her special licence that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, 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 1
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 FLUID METERS," being a communication to mo
from abroad by José.Francisco de Navarro, of the City and State of New
York, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, 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 Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 Drawing hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to:
say):-
This Invention has for its object the employment in a practicable and
advantageous manner of a given sized motor or meter-proper for variously
sized supply and delivery pipes, and whereby a small sized meter may
be applied to pipes of large dimensions by causing only a portion of the
stream to pass through the meter while the remainder of it passes in a
direct manner to the outlet. The moter is applicable to measuring water
and various other liquids or fluids, but it will suffice here to describe it
as used for the measuring of water,
•
The Invention consists in a certain combination with a motor that
operates the registering mechanism and with a main pipe or outlet of a

page_text: valve operating by differential pressure as controlled by the draught and
so constructed or arranged that direct passage of the liquid to or through
the main outlet is excluded till its passage is established to or through
the meter, and a chamber or jacket from which said meter is supplied,
and so that in proportion as the draught is increased or diminished is the
supply to and through the meter as well as in a direct manner to and
through the main outlet augmented or reduced, causing the diaphragm
or pistons of the meter to move faster or slower in exact proportion to
the draught. This system or method of working insures an accuracy of
measurement both of large and small quantities and under light or heavy
streams at all pressures which a fixed area of supply opening to the
motor or meter fails to effect.
The Invention also includes a peculiar and advantageous construction
of the proportioning valve herein-before referred to, and in which the
liquid on its way to the meter is made to pass through the valve.
The Invention likewise embraces a peculiar construction of the valve
used to control or reverse the motion of the moving diaphragms or
pistons of the meter in combination with a certain arrangement of parts
and chambers or passages in relation with the measuring cylinders, outer
supply chamber, or jacket and branch, or main outlet, and whereby an
accurate, easy, and balanced action is obtained for the said valves.
Having thus specified the object or objects and nature of the Invention
its description will be proceeded with in reference to the accompanying
Drawing.
Fig. 1 represents a central vertical section of a meter constructed in
accordance with the Invention, said section being taken as indicated by
the line v, v, in Fig. 2, which is a horizontal section taken as denoted by
the irregular line to, w, in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan in a plane
as indicated by the line x, 2, in Fig. 4, which is a front view with the
outer case in section as denoted by the line y, y, in Fig. 3; Fig 5 is a
vertical section through the line 2, 2, in Fig. 3 in illustration of the
differential pressure or proportioning valve used in the meter. Similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several
Figures.
In the accompanying Drawing A. represents the main inlet and B the
main outlet, both of which may be of any required dimensions or have
large or small pipes attached to them without regard to the size of motor
or meter-proper or rather without restriction as to the meter being of a

page_text: fixed or given size. C is a through passage or chamber connecting the
inlet A with the outlet B. D is a valve box or cylinder preferably
arranged to occupy a vertical position within the inlet A or enlarged
chamber in the rear thereof as formed by side branches a, a, said valve
box intercepting the inlet from the through passage C excepting when
communication is established through side openings 6, b, and a back
opening c made in the valve box. Arranged so as to be capable of close
but easy up-and-down motion within the valve box D and an upper
extension or chamber E is a differential pressure or proportioning valveo
F of cylindrical form, when the valve box D and chamber E are of such
shape. This valve acts freely or independently and serves to automati-
cally proportion, as regulated by the draught, the supply to the meter,
and in a direct manner to the through passage C. The upper cylinder
or chamber E in which it works is arranged within and open at its top
to a water case or jacket G that surrounds and encloses the meter. The
valve F is made hollow and closed top and bottom but is formed with
side openings d, d, at or near its bottom, facing the openings b, b, in the
valve box, and with a front or it may be, back vertical opening e, or both
opposite a vertical opening or openings in the front, or back, or both
of the cylindrical extension or chamber E, for which latter may be.
substituted, if desired, only a partial cylinder or upright guide or guides
provided with a slot f. The valve is guided in its up-and-down course
by a projection on the valve fitted to slide within the openings. The
valve when fully down is exposed to water from the inlet acting on the
under face of its bottom which is shelved or cut away opposite the
openings b, b, for such purpose, but the opening c in rear of the valvo
box is closed. Water from the inlet also is free to enter and keep
charged the interior of the valve through the side openings b, b, and d, d,
both when the valve is down and in the course of its operation, but
when down the opening fis closed by the valve. When there is no
draught on the outlet B the pressure of the water in said outlet being
the same as in the inlet and equal by or through a communicating
outlet h from the meter throughout the water case G that encloses the
meter, the valve F is balanced or rather is kept down simply by its
own weight or any superincumbent weight that may be added indepen-
dently of the pressure of the water which is equal on its opposite faces
both top and bottom. When, however, draught is made upon the
outlet B the pressure is reduced in the passage C and through the.
outlet in the case G, the valve F is then relieved of load or a

page_text: differential pressure is produced that causing it to rise under the
superior pressure of the water from the inlet on the valve, and accord-
ingly as the draught is heavy or light will cause the said valve to bo
more or less raised. The valve F in rising not merely uncovers or
exposes the opening c to give a direct supply to the outlet B but simul-
taneously establishes communication by or through the openings e and ƒ
to the case G from which the meter draws its supply, and this uncovering
of the opening f varies proportionately with the uncovering of the
opening c, so that not only will any increase or diminution of the draught
increase or diminish the area under exposure of the direct opening o to
the main outlet, but also and proportionately or thereabouts enlarge or
contract the area under exposure or in communication with the case G
of the opening e and f which gives an increased or diminished supply to
the meter, causing it to move faster or slower, and thereby without the
intervention as a necessity of varying mechanism to cause the meter to
register the quantity of water passing both through it and in a direct
manner through the opening c, likewise leaving the valve F free of any
mechanical connection with the registering devices.
It is an important element in this principle or system of action not
only that the area of the supply opening to the meter varies with
variation of area under exposure in a direct course to the main outlet,
but that the meter draws its supply from an outer case or chamber
which is kept charged with water under full pressure during all
variations in area of the supply opening as established by the valve,
and that all the water passing to and through the meter or motor has
first to enter said chamber. To set or regulate the supply from the
interior of the valve F to the case G so that it shall bear a proper
proportion to the supply as established by the direct opening c, the
opening is provided with an adjustable gate H that may be set as
required to give greater or less width to the opening f. This may be
done by pivotting the gate below and making it adjustable by a slot and
set screw from above, whereby instead of the opening f being of uniform
width throughout its length it is made gradually to increase in width in
an upward direction, so that when a heavy draught is being made and
the valve is considerably raised there is a slight increase in the pro-
portion of the supply to the meter relatively to the direct supply to the
main outlet, which is believed to be advisable, but the gate H may, if
desired, be made to give a different or uniform width to tho' opening
throughout its length.

page_text: The motor or meter proper may be variously constructed, but it is
preferred to employ a meter having two pistons I, I, working in hori-
zontal cylinders J, J, and communicating rotary motion by cranks r, r,
to a shaft K that serves through cranks on said shaft and slotted levers
8, 8, or other suitable means to operate the valves L, L, which control 5
and reverse the motions of the pistons I, I.. The shaft K may also serve
to operate the registering mechanism which is not here shewn and may
be variously constructed and arranged. The valves L, L, are shewn as
reciprocating slide valves, the one arranged above and the other below,
and each composed of two piston heads i, i, that move through and 1
within openings k, k, l, k, in fixed ends or heads 1, 2, and through and
within corresponding openings m, m, m, m, in intermediate partitions n, n,
that in connection with other partitions o, o, serve to establish chambers
M, M, N, N, and O, the one pair of chambers M, M, communicating by
ports u, u, with the opposite ends of the one cylinder, and the other pair 1
of corresponding chambers N, N, communicating by similarly arranged
ports with the opposite ends of the other cylinder that lies by the side
of the first one, and the chamber O communicating directly with the
opening / to the through passage C that connects with the main outlet B.
By properly proportioning the length of the piston heads i, i, of the 2
valves relatively to the fixed ends or heads 1, 2, the partitions n, n, and
chambers M, M, N, N, and O, the water is admitted to and discharged
from opposite ends of either cylinder J, J, alternately and in duo course
to keep up a reciprocating action of the pistons I, I, and during their
entiro operation the valves L, L, are exposed to a counterbalancing 2
pressure or action of the fluid on their heads and around them which
secures for them a free and easy motion under all pressures of the
working or passing fluid.
"
Having now described the Invention of "Improvements in Fluid
Metres as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and ex- 3
plained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be under-
stood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent, I claim,—
First. The combination with a direct passage for tho liquid through
the meter and with a passage or chamber from which the motor draws
its supply of a free or independent differential pressure valve operating 3
to control both passages essentially as herein set forth.
Second. The construction and arrangement between the main inlet
and main outlet of the differential pressure or proportioning valve F,

page_text: with a hollow body having one or more inlets d, and one or more outlets
e, in combination with one or more fixed passages b, c, and ƒ, and with
a fluid chamber or case from which the motor draws its supply and
which is in communication through the motor with the main outlet
substantially as specified.
Third. The combination with the differential pressure or proportioning
valve F of the adjustable gate H to or over the opening by which the
motor or its case G is supplied with fluid through the valve essentially
as described.
Fourth. The construction and arrangement under exposure to the
fluid in the outer case G, and in the exhaust chamber O of the valve or
valves L, L, having piston heads i, i, in combination with the openings
k, k, and m, m, the chambers M, M, or N, N, and O, and cylinder
ports u, u, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have here-
unto set my band and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.