Improved Apparatus for Controlling and Registering the Flow of Water and other Liquids and Gases.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1394
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Jan., 1895-Accepted, 30th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Controlling and Registering the Flow of
Water and other Liquids and Gases.
We, JULES OURY, Mechanic, of Rue Accolay 81, Brussels and EMILE
TOUSSAINT GAUTIER, Engineer, of Boulevard du Nord 102, Brussels, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has for its object the construction of an apparatus for controlling
and registering the flow of water and other liquids and gases which is distinguished
from known apparatus for the same purpose in particular by the absence of valves,
the liquid being made to flow into the measuring chamber through a hollow piston
which travels in a distributing cylinder and which has its motion automatically
reversed for allowing the liquid which has entered to escape, which arrangement
greatly facilitates the mechanism and obviates the inconveniences arising from the
sticking or choking of valves and insures a reliable and quiet working of the
apparatus.
In addition, in this improved construction al! passages formed in the sides of
the outer casing are entirely avoided, which renders the manufacture of the casings
much more easy and consequently less expensive. Furthermore the regulation of
the apparatus can be effected from the outside in simply lifting the cover of the
casing and all stuffing boxes are avoided, which, in addition to requiring frequent
renewal, cause detrimental frictional resistances.
We will describe the improved apparatus with reference to the accompanying
drawing in which
Fig. 1 shews a vertical section of the same, the measuring vessel being empty.
Fig. 2 shews a vertical section at right angles to Fig. 1, certain parts being
shewn in elevation.
Fig. 3 shews the same section as Fig. 1 at the moment when the measuring
vessel is full of liquid.
Fig. 4 shews a plan, and Fig. 5 shews part of the clockwork mechanism.
The apparatus is composed of a closed casing containing a measuring vessel with
its distributor and a registering mechanism.
The casing L may be of cast iron, wrought iron, copper, glass &c., according to
the nature of the liquid to be measured. The various parts are fixed together by
screw bolts forming fluid tight joints.
The external form of the apparatus may be varied at will; it may be cylindrical,
conical rectangular &c. The measuring vessel E can expand and contract in the
direction of the axis of the casing L. For this purpose the sides are formed with
accordian folds. Each of these folds is secured by metal rings both internally
and externally as shewn on the drawing.
The folds expand or contract according as the pressure is exerted internally or
externally.
The flexible sides are formed of caoutchouc or of other suitable flexible
impermeable material.
The measuring vessel E is fixed at its upper end by means of the bar K, which
is itself fixed to the casing L, by screws vv (Fig. 2). At its lower end it is
supported by a cross piece M fixed to a kind of stirrup formed by the vertical
rods N N and the small stirrup P, which parts are formed in one with the reversing
gear to be presently described.

page_text: The distributor H Fig. 1 is fixed on the upper part of the measuring vessel E.
It consists of an external cylindrical piece provided with the necessary inlet and
discharge openings, and a hollow piston C moveable therein. This piston which
can move to and fro vertically has for its object to open and close alternately the
above mentioned openings. Two passages V V1 serving for the entrance and
exit of the liquid are fixed by one end to the inlet and discharge ends of the
distributor, and at the other end to the unions V2 V3 that pass through the outer
casing. In Fig. 1, where the measuring vessel is shewn at the end of its upward
motion, the liquid entering through V2 and V according to the arrows, flows into
the outer casing through the opening s which is uncovered, while the opening s
which gives access to the measuring vessel, is closed. On the other hand, the liquid
in the measuring vessel, being expelled therefrom by the external pressure, flows
through the hollow piston C and the passage V1 V³.
It cannot flow into the outer casing as the opening s² is closed. These
openings ss are provided with caoutchouc rings forming watertight seats for the
ends of the piston and for the intermediate opening st. The motion being now
reversed by means of the reversing gear to be presently described, the piston takes
the position shewn at Fig. 3; the liquid passing through V, enters into the
measuring vessel through the opening s which is now open, and the liquid contained
in the outer casing, being forced out by the expansion of the measuring vessel,
escapes through the opening s3, which is also open, into the passage V₁ and thence
away from the apparatus. The opening s being closed, the entering liquid cannot
flow into the outer casing. Each movement of the piston therefore causes an equal
quantity of liquid to be discharged, this being in the one case from the measuring
vessel into the outer casing when the vessel collapses, and in the other case from
the outer casing to the discharge pipe when the vessel expands.
The piston C is connected by pivotted links D D to the axis of a knife edge a,
the edge of which is engaged with a notch in a moveable frame A pivotted at B.
A strong spring R is engaged with its one end in a notch c in the tail of the knife
edge c, and with its other end in a notch d in the frame A. close to its pivot B.
To the bottom of the measuring vessel E is fixed a bar M from which rods N
extend upwards and are fixed to a stirrup P having an eye e that slides on a rod f
which is connected at its lower end to a forked piece X, the fork of which is
pivotted to the sides of the frame A, so that it can move up and down with the
latter, its upper end being guided by a small extension sliding in a recess in the
cover of the casing.
Assuming that the fluid pressure in the casing L has forced the vessel E up into
the collapsed position shewn at Fig. 1, the eye e of stirrup P will have come
against a collar on the top of the rod, so that by a slight farther upward movement
of P due to the final compression of E, f will be raised slightly, thereby raising
the free end of frame A until it comes in contact with the stop F. By such
raising of A and consequently of the point of the knife edge a engaged with its
notch, the knife edge will be brought int such a position that the spring R will
tend to throw its tail end downwards, and thus the centres a and rods D being also
moved downwards the position of the valve C will be reversed, that is to say it
will be brought into the position shewn at Fig. 3 in which consequently water will
flow into vessel E from V through opening S, thereby expanding E again and
forcing the water in L out through opening s into the discharge pipe VV³. As
the vessel expands, the stirrup P will move down with it until the eye e comes in
contact with the forked base X of the rod f, and in pressing this downwards, it
will cause the fork to move the frame A downwards till it rests on the stop G.
By this motion the knife edge a will also be turned downward on its pivots until
it is brought into the position shewn at Fig. 3, whereupon the spring R will raise
its tail end and consequently also its pivots, and will thus cause the piston C to
be raised again, closings and S and opening s¹ whereupon E will be collapsed
again and frame A raised as before described.
In order that, during the moment which precedes the reversal of the frame A

page_text: the stops or shoulders of the piston, which constitute valves, are kept firmly on
their seats, the helical springs Fig. 2, which may also be blade springs, are
made to act through the knife edge n upon the two sides of the piston. These
springs are fixed on the outer surface of the distributing piece H. To the rod f
which follows the up and down motion of the measuring vessel, is fixed an arm h
which, in its upward motion turns the cranked spindle i which actuates the toothed
wheel o Fig. 5 fixed thereon; a pawl o¹ holds the wheel o in oue direction and a
spring a¹ causes the spindle i to return to its original position, when h descends.
The step-by-step rotation of the wheel o thus produced is made to actuate the
counter or registering mechanism of any known construction. The pawl o' is
regulated by the screw t".
The spindle which carries the wheel o passes from the interior of the water
casing into the counter casing through a hollow screw on the inner end of which
is fixed one end of a piece of caoutchouc tubing the other end of which is fixed to
the spindle i, thus forming a fluid tight joint without the use of a stuffing box.
Dated this 6th day of April 1894.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improved Apparatus for Controlling and Registering the Flow of
Water and other Liquids and Gases.
We, JULES OURY, Mechanic, of Rue Accolay 81, Brussels and EMILE
TOUSSAINT GAUTIER, Engineer of Boulevard du Nord 102, Brussels do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our invention has for its object the construction of an apparatus for controlling
and registering the flow of water and other liquids and gases which is distinguished
from known apparatus for the same purpose in particular by the absence of valves,
the liquid being made to flow into the measuring chamber through a hollow piston
which travels in a distributing cylinder and which has its motion automatically reversed
for allowing the liquid which has entered to escape, which arrangement greatly
facilitates the mechanism and obviates the inconveniences arising from the sticking
or choking of valves and ensures a reliable and quiet working of the apparatus.
In addition, in this improved construction all passages formed in the sides of the
outer casing are entirely avoided, which renders the manufacture of the casings
much more easy and consequently less expensive. Furthermore the regulation of
the apparatus can be effected from the outside in simply lifting the cover of the
casing and all stuffing boxes are avoided, which, in addition to requiring frequent
renewal, cause detrimental frictional resistances.
We will describe the improved apparatus with reference to the drawing accom-
panying our Provisional Specification, in which
Fig. 1 shews a vertical section of the same, the measuring vessel being empty.
Fig. 2 shews a vertical section at right angles to Fig. 1, certain parts being shewn
in elevation.
Fig. 3 shews the same section as Fig. 1. at the moment when the measuring vessel
is full of liquid.
Fig. 4 shews a plan,
Fig. 5 shews part of the clockwork mechanism.
The apparatus is composed of a closed casing containing a measuring vessel with
its distributor and a registering nechanism.
The casing L may be of cast iron, wrought iron, copper, glass &c. according to

page_text: της και
screw bolts forming fluid-tight joints.
Parvo a
The external form of the apparatus may be varied at will, it may be cylindrical,
conical, rectangular &c. The measuring vessel E can expand and contract in the
direction of the axis of the casing L.
For this purpose the sides are formed with accordian folds. Each of these
folds is secured by metal rings both internally and externally as shewn on the
drawing.
The folds expand or contract according as the pressure is exerted internally or
externally.
The flexible sides are formed of caoutchouc or other suitable flexible impermeable
material.
The measuring vessel E is fixed at its upper end by means of the bar K, which
is itself fixed to the casing L, by screws vv (Fig. 2). At its lower end it is supported
by a cross piece M fixed to a kind of stirrup formed by the vertical rods N N and
the small stirrup P, which parts are formed in one with the reversing gear to be
presently described.
The distributor H Fig. 1 is fixed on the upper part of the measuring vessel E.
It consists of an external cylindrical piece provided with the necessary inlet and
discharge openings, and a hollow piston C moveable therein. This piston, which
can move to and fro vertically, has for its object to open and close alternately the
above mentioned openings. Two passages V V₁, serving for the entrance and
exit of the liquid, are fixed by one end to the inlet and discharge ends of the
distributor, and at the other end to the unions V2 V³ that pass through the outer
casing.
In Fig. 1. where the measuring vessel is shewn at the end of its upward motion,
the liquid entering through V2 and V according to the arrows, flows into the outer
casing through the opening a¹ which is uncovered, while the opening S which gives
access to the measuring vessel, is closed. On the other hand, the liquid in the
measuring vessel, being expelled therefrom by the external pressure, flows through
the hollow piston C and the passage V' Vs.
It cannot flow into the outer casing as the openings is closed. These openings Sa's²
are provided with caoutchouc rings forming water tight seats for the ends s s² of
the piston and for the intermediate opening s¹.
The motion being now reversed by means of the reversing gear to be presently
described, the piston takes the position shewn at Fig. 3; the liquid passing
through V, enters into the measuring vessel through the openings which is now
open, and the liquid contained in the outer casing, being forced out by the
expansion of the measuring vessel, escapes through the opening 2, which is also
open, into the passage V and thence away from the apparatus. The opening a
being closed, the entering liquid cannot flow into the outer casing nor into the
passage V through the hollow piston, the opening S being also closed.
Each movement of the piston therefore causes an equal quantity of liquid to be
discharged, this being in the one case from the measuring vessel when the vessel
collapses, and in the other case from the outer casing when the vessel expands.
The piston is connected by pivotted links D D to the axis of a knife edge a,
the edge of which is engaged with a notch in a moveable frame A pivoted at B.
A strong spring R is engaged with its oue end in a notch c in the tail of the
knife edge a, and with its other end in a notch d in the frame A close to its
pivot B.
To the bottom of the measuring vessel E is fixed a bar M from which rods N
extend upwards and are fixed to a stirrup P having an eye e that slides on a rod f
which is connected at its lower end to a forked piece X, the fork of which is
pivotted to the sides of the frame A, so that it can move up and down with
the latter, its upper end being guided by a small extension sliding in a recess
in the cover of the casing. Assuming that the fluid pressure in the casing L has
forced the vessel up into the collapsed position shewn at Fig. 1 the eye e of

page_text: stirrup P will have come against a collar on the top of the rod f, so that by a slight
farther upward movement of P due to the final compression of E, f will be raised
slightly, thereby raising the free end of frame A until it comes in contact with the
stop F. By such raising of A and consequently of the point of the knife edge a
engaged with its notch the knife edge will be brought into such a position that the
spring R will tend to throw its tail end downwards, and thus the centres a and
rods D being also moved downwards the position of the valve C will be reversed,
that is to say, it will be brought into the position shewn at Fig. 3 in which
consequently water will flow into vessel E from V through opening S, thereby
expanding E again and forcing the water in L out through opening into the
discharge pipe V1 V³. As the vessel expands, the stirrup P will move down with
it until the eye comes in contact with the forked base X of the rod f, and in
pressing this downwards, it will cause the fork to move the frame A downwards
till it rests on the stop G.
By this motion the knife edge a will also be turned downward on its pivots until
it is brought into the position shewn at Fig. 3, whereupon the spring R will raise
its tail end and consequently also its pivots, and will thus cause the piston C to be
raised again, closing 2 and S and opening & whereupon E will be collapsed again
and frame A raised as before described.
In order that, during the moment which precedes the reversal of the frame A
the stops or shoulders of the piston, which constitute valves, are kept firmly on their
seats, the helical springs Fig. 2, which may also be blade springs, are made to act
through the knife edges upon the two sides of the piston. These springs are
fixed on the outer surface of the distributing piece H. To the rod f which follows
the up and down motion of the measuring vessel, is fixed an arm which, in its
upward motion, turns the cranked spindle which actuates the toothed wheel o, Fig. 5,
fixed thereon; a pawl o' holds the wheel o in one direction and a spring a¹ causes
the spindle i to return to its original position, when h descends. The step-by-step
rotation of the wheel o thus produced is made to actuate the counter or registering
mechanism of any known construction. The pawl o¹ is regulated by the screw (11.
The spindle which carries the wheel o passes from the interior of the water
casing into the counter casing through a hollow screw on the inner end of which is
fixed one end of a piece of caoutchouc tubing, the other end of which is fixed to
the spindle i, thus forming a fluid tight joint without the use of a stuffing
box. Each stroke of the measuring vessel causes the counter to advance one
division.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for controlling and regulating the flow of liquids and gases, wherein
the liquid or gas to be controlled and measured is made to flow into an expanding
and contracting accordion-shaped measuring vessel E contained within a closed
casing and so arranged that on the one hand the liquid under pressure is made to
enter the said vessel from the supply pipe and thereby to expand it, and expel
liquid from the casing while, on the other hand, the liquid passes from the supply
pipe into the casing and thereby contracts the measuring vessel and forces the body
of the liquid therefrom into the discharge pipe, the regulation of the flow of the
liquid being effected by a distributing chamber with hollow piston C which, at each
stroke of the measuring vessel, has its motion reversed thereby so as to open and
close inlet and discharge ports for distributing the liquid in the manner substantially
as herein described.
2. In controlling and measuring apparatus such as is referred to in the first
claim, the combination with the measuring vessel E of a cylindrical head H
connected to the outer casing by tubes V VI and containing a hollow piston C for
opening and closing the inlet and outlet ports for the liquid and connected by
rods D and knife edge a to a pivoted frame A acted upon by a spring R which

page_text: causes the piston to rise and fall rapidly when the frame comes against stops FG
at the end of each stroke of the measuring vessel, the piston being connected to the
latter through bars M. N and stirrup P, and being held on the seats of its stops, so
as to act as a valve during the moment of reversal, by means of springs / acting on
the piston through knife edges n, substantially as described.
3. In the controlling and measuring apparatus referred to in the second claim,
the combination with the rod f of an arın which at each stroke actuates a
lever that imparts motion to a counter or registering mechanism substantially as
described.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1895
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.