Improvements in and relating to Automatic Liquid Meters.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1891.
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr.. 1892-Accepted, 9.h July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Automatic Liquid Meters.
1, MICHAEL EDUARD REISERT of Hennef on the Sieg, in the Empire of
Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to automatic liquid meters in which the number of times a
measuring vessel of a given capacity is filled is recorded by a counting device of
usual construction, and the object of the same is to provide means for securing a
minute measuring and correct recording of the exact quantity of the liquid passed
through the apparatus.
For this purpose I provide within the casing of the apparatus and above. the
measuring vessel proper a separate vessel or reservoir in which the liquid is stored
before entering the measuring vessel proper. In this reservoir a floating body
designed to actuate the inlet and outlet-valves is provided, and by this means by
which the supply of the liquid in the apparatus may be stopped, as soon as the
measuring vessel is not only entirely but also the said reservoir partly filled, so that
there is always an excess of liquid in the apparatus beyond the quantity required
for a proper filling of the measuring vessel.
According to this invention the said reservoir may be also divided in its height
into two compartments in the lower one of which a certain time before the supply
ceases less liquid issues than is discharged into the measuring vessel proper, so that
the said floating body is enabled to descend even when the measuring vessel proper
is already filled.
In carrying this invention into practice the valve for establishing communication
between the said reservoir and the measuring vessel proper is connected by a rod
to another valve at the bottom of the latter for controlling the discharge of the
measured liquid, in such a manner, that when the former is opened, the latter is
always closed and vice-versa. But while the opening of the bottom or discharge
valve of the measuring vessel is accomplished by the aid of the said floating body
within the said reservoir above the measuring vessel and the discharge of the liquid
contained in the latter takes place, the lever to which the said floating body is
attached is at the same time caused to open a third valve, which is designed to
govern the supply of the liquid to the said reservoir, and this supply ceases, as
aforesaid, as soon as the said floating body has reached its highest position, in which
it simultaneously opens the inlet-valve and closes the outlet valve of the measuring
vessel. In order to control the exact operation of the said valves and secure an
instantaneous opening and closing of the same, the valve rods may be connected to
suitably arranged weighted tilting levers or any other known means actuating in
conjunction with the said floating body.
In such apparatus in which the reservoir is divided into two compartments one
above the other and thereby an intermediate chamber formed between the reservoir
proper and the measuring vessel, the said compartments are in continuous com-
munication with each other, but preferably by aid of a tubular stud or socket,
which is connected to the bottom of the upper compartment, so that it forms a
The diameter of this
passage between this and the said intermediate chamber.
socket should however be large enough, that it will admit the passage of a quantity
of liquid sufficient to maintain the said intermediate chamber always filled during
the time, within which the level of the liquid in the upper compartment of the
reservoir stands higher, than the upper edge of the said socket that is to say, the
sectional area of the latter is somewhat larger than the free passage of the inlet
valve of the measuring vessel.

page_text: In the wall of the said tubular socket are arranged a number of apertures through
which the liquid is admitted to pass into the said intermediate chamber after the
level of the liquid has sunk in the upper compartment of the reservoir below the
upper edge of the said tubular socket at the bottom of the same. From this it
will be easily understood, that according to the proportion of the total area of the
said apertures in the wall of the said socket to the area of the free passage of the
latter, the discharge of the liquid through the said apertures is more or less checked,
when the outflow from the upper compartment tends to terminate; and consequently,
the quantity of liquid stored in the said intermediate chamber will be gradually
reduced as long as the inlet-valve of the measuring vessel is open, because a larger
quantity of liquid is capable of being expelled from the said intermediate chamber
than at the same time is admitted to enter into the same. It should however be
observed that a certain quantity of liquid must still be retained in the said inter-
mediate chamber even when the inlet-valve of the measuring vessel is closed, so
that the supply of the latter will cease when it is properly filled. However the
floating body within the upper compartment of the said reservoir is still allowed to
descend after the inlet valve of the measuring vessel has cut off the supply of the
same, a circumstance of great importance with regard to the regular working of
the mechanism regulating the supply and the inlet and outlet-valves of the measuring
vessel.
As each filling and evacuation of the measuring vessel is accomplished by the
oscillation of the lever to which the floating body governing the play of the valves
is attached the number of measurements may be transmitted to a counter or tell-
tale by any known means.
The mechanism for governing the motion of the different valves of the apparatus
and for causing a sudden reversing of the same may be of any known construction,
but I prefer the same to be operated through the medium of tilting weighted levers,
periodically charged and released through the buoyancy of the liquid and in
accordance with the rise and fall of the same in the reservoir arranged above the
measuring vessel in the casing of the apparatus.
In some cases I also provide underneath the measuring vessel within the casing
of the apparatus a delivery chamber serving to receive the measured liquid before
it is discharged to further use, and within this chamber I arrange also a floating
body attached to a lever provided with a branch, which is adapted to periodically
support through suitable means the floating body within the upper reservoir of the
apparatus. This is to prevent the floating body in the upper reservoir from actuating
the reversing gear of the inlet and outlet-valve of the measuring vessel, unless a
sufficient quantity of liquid is drawn off the apparatus, that the said delivery
chamber beneath the measuring vessel is enabled to receive the whole contents of
the measuring vessel proper.
Doted this Lat 1. Ը
1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Automatic Liquid Meters.
I, MICHAEL EDUARD REISERT, of Hennef on the Sieg, in the Empire of
Germany, Manufacturer, 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 :—
My invention relates to improvements in automatic liquid-meters, in which the
number of fillings of a measuring vessel of a given capacity is recorded by
counter of usual construction and the object of the same is to provide means for
a,

page_text: securing a minute measuring and correct recording of the exact quantity of the
liquid passed through the apparatus.
I attain this object by providing within the casing of the apparatus and above
the measuring-vessel proper a separate vessel in which the liquid is received before
entering the measuring-vessel proper. In this separate vessel, which is hereinafter
called the "receiver," a floating body designed to actuate the reversing-gear of the
inlet and outlet valves is provided and by this means the supply of the liquid in
the apparatus may be stopped, as soon as, not only the measuring-vessel is entirely
but also the said receiver partly filled, so that there is always an excess of liquid in
the apparatus beyond the quantity required for a proper filling of the measuring-
vessel.
According to this invention the said receiver may be divided in its height into
two compartments, in the lower one of which a certain time before the supply
ceases less liquid is issued than discharged into the measuring-vessel proper, so that
the said floating body is enabled to descend even when the measuring vessel proper
is already filled.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of an apparatus with an undivided receiver.
Figures 2 to 4 are vertical sections of an apparatus having an intermediate
compartment between the receiver and the measuring-vessel proper, showing the
positions of the mechanism at different stages of operation, and,
Figure 5 is a detail of the reversing-gear.
Referring to Figure 1, A is the measuring vessel proper, and B the receiver,
which latter has a greater capacity than the former. The communication of both
vessels is regulated by means of a valve E, actuated by a floating body H through
the medium of a lever H2 which is designed to operate, also, the inlet-valve G of
the supply-pipe b. By means of a rod a the valve E adapted to regulate the
passage of the liquid into the measuring-vessel is connected to a valve F controlling
the issue of the liquid from the measuring vessel A.
The rod a is provided with studs a° and a* adapted to be engaged by the lever H²,
pivoted at H within the receiver B, and to open and close the valves E and F.
The latter are arranged in such a manner that while the one is open the other one
is always closed, and vice versa. The studs a° and a* are also so adjusted that the
valve E is caused to shut off the supply to the measuring vessel instantaneously
after the latter is entirely and the receiver B partly filled, so that a complete
filling of the measuring-vessel A is secured under all circumstances. While the
valve E is closed and the valve F opened the inlet-valve G of the apparatus,
which is actuated by the studs go and g* of the valve stem, and the lever H² has
been opened. In order to control the exact function of the said valves E F G and
secure an instantaneous opening and closing of the same, the valve-rods a and g
may be connected to weighted tilting levers K° and So, respectively, or any other
known means, operating in conjunction with the said floating body H.
The
In the apparatus illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 between the measuring-vessel
proper A. and the receiver B an intermediate compartment C and underneath the
measuring-vessel A a fourth compartment, the reservoir D, for the measured liquid,
are arranged. The compartments B and C are communicating continuously one
with the other, preferably by aid of a tubular stud or socket e, which is tightly
connected to the bottom of the compartment B and open at both ends.
diameter of this socket c is large enough so that it will admit the passage of a
quantity of liquid sufficient to maintain the intermediate compartment C always
filled during the time that the level of the liquid in the receiver B stands higher
than the upper mouth of the socket c that is to say, the sectional area of the latter
is somewhat larger than that of the outlet-valve E. After the level of the liquid
has sunk below the upper edge of the socket c the liquid is permitted to pass
into the compartment C only through the apertures c¹ c² in the wall of the socket c.
According to the proportion of the total area of the apertures or outlets ¹² to the
area of the passage c, the flow or issue of the liquid is more or less retarded as the

page_text: supply tends to cease. Consequently the quantity of liquid stored in the com-
partment C will be gradually reduced, since a larger quantity of liquid is capable
of being expelled than may at the same time be supplied. It should however be
observed, that still a certain quantity of liquid must be retained in the
compartment C, even when the valve regulating the supply of the measuring-vessel
proper is closed.
In this manner the supply of water or liquid to the measuring-vessel has just
ceased when the latter has been properly filled; but the floating body H within the
receiver B is still allowed to descend after the valve E. has cut off the supply of
the measuring vessel A a circumstance of great importance with regard to the
regular working of the reversing-gear of the inlet and outlet valves. The inlet-
valve E of the measuring-vessel proper A is fixed to the outlet-valve F by means
of the rod a in such a manner that one of them has been opened when the other
has been shut up, and vice versa. The supply of the receiver B is regulated by
means of an inlet-valve G connected to a rod y. Both rods a and g are actuated
by a reversing-gear arranged in the receiver B as will be described hereinafter, in
such a manner that as soon as the valve G has been opened the valve E has been
shut up, and at the same time the outlet-valve F opened. At this stage the liquid
is permitted to enter the compartments B and C Figure 2, while the floating
body H ascends to a certain level. At this moment the valve-rod a is pushed
upward, whereby the valve F is closed, and the valve E opened, while at the same
time the inlet valve G is closed.
с
The liquid contained in the receiver B is for the most part conducted through
the socket into the intermediate compartment C, and from the latter through the
passage of the valve E into the measuring vessel A, which is thereby properly
filled, Figure 3. In consequence of the partial evacuation of the receiver B, the
floating body H will descend and cause at its lowest position a sudden downward
motion of the valve-rod a. The valve E is therefore closed while the valve F is
opened, so that the contents of the measuring-vessel may be discharged into the
compartment D. While the valve-rod a is moving downwardly the inlet-valve G
is opened and the receiver B may again be filled which will cause the floating
body H to rise, and the valves E and F to open and shut up, respectively, as herein
described with reference to Figure 1. Each evacuation of the measuring-vessel
proper A is recorded by the counter X, and the manner in which the valves E, F
and G are actuated at the given moment will be understood from the following:
A cam K is keyed on a shaft J, which is journaled within the upper part of the
compartment B. The valve-rod a is provided with two rollers a¹ and a² upon which
actuates the cam K.
The
In the position Figure 2 the cam K tends to move the rod a downward and to
keep the valve E closed, but the valve F opened. In the position Figure 3 the
roller a bears upon the cam K, which thereby maintains the valve E open and the
valve closed. On the shaft J are further fastened two short levers Land M, and
beside the first one is arranged a weighted lever O, turning loosely on the shaft. J
and beside the lever M a weighted lever P. The lever O acts upon the lever L by
means of a pin o, and the lever P by means of a pin p upon the lever M.
levers O and P are respectively provided with studs of and pl engaging pawls o²
and respectively. To the lever H2 of the float H, having its fulcrum at H¹ are
connected two upwardly extending rods h and h', having vertical slots engaging the
pins and 3 of the levers O and P, respectively. Another weighted lever S is
keyed to a shaft J', which is also journaled in the upper part of the receiver B.
This lever S is provided at a little distance from its axis of oscillations with the
pivots, supporting the rod of. the inlet-valve G. It is furthermore connected
with the weighted lever P by means of a slotted rod s' and a stud 2 and with the
weighted lever O by means of a slotted rods and a stud st.
If it is assumed that the inlet-valve G of the receiver B is opened and the
valve E is closed the floating body H rises, and thereby causes the weighted
lever O, by means of the rod hand the stud 2 to swing upward, so that the

page_text: branch o¹ of the same will engage with the pawl o², pivoted to the wall of the casing
of the apparatus. At the same time the stud p³ of the rod h meets with the pawl p²
adapted to engage with the branch pl of the weighted lever P, which is thereby
disengaged, so that it is caused under the influence of its weight to swing
downward, Figure 3. During this oscillating motion the stud p of the lever P
bears upon the short arm M of the shaft J which is thereby caused to turn, so that
the cam K is brought into the position Figure 3. The cam K, however, in the
meantime acts upon the roller a² of the valve-rod a which is thereby pulled upward,
so that the valve F of the measuring-vessel A is shut up and the valve E is opened.
At the same time the rod which is connected to the weighted lever P, acts upon
the studs of the lever S, and thereby turns the latter to the right hand, so that
the inlet-valve G of the receiver 13 is caused to return into its closed position and to
stop the further suppy of the liquid.
By opening the valve E the measuring-vessel proper A is opened at its upper
end, but shut up at its lower end by the closure of the valve F. The liquid
having been previously collected within the compartments B and C is now permitted
to enter into the measuring-vessel A and to fill the same properly. By the sinking
of the level of the liquid in the receiver B, also, the floating body H descends
gradually, which causes the rod to turn the lever P by the aid of the stud ½³
into the upright position, in which the pawl p² engages behind the arm of the
lever, and thus again arresting the same, Figure 4. The stud o³ of the rod h
further meets with the pawl o² and disengages in the lowest position of the floating
body the lever O so that the latter when dropping turns into the opposite position
the cam K by the aid of the stud o which bears on an arm L, keyed to the shaft J
of the cam.
The cam K will thereby press downward against the roller a¹ and
also the valve rod a, and consequently close the valve E and open the valve F, so
that the measuring-vessel proper A is enabled to issue its contents into the lower
compartment D. During the descent of the weighted lever O the rod s³, con-
nected to a branch of the latter, pulls again by means of the stud st the weighted
lever S into the upright position thereby opening again the inlet-valve G.
The above-described operation may then he repeated.
As already mentioned, in the reservoir D is arranged a second floating body T,
attached to a lever t, which is pivoted at t¹ to the casing of the apparatus. This
levert is provided with an arm t2, serving temporarily as a support of a vertically-
guided rod U, which is connected to the floating body H by means of an arm u,
and being allowed to move to and fro with the floating body H. After the
level of the liquid contained in the reservoir D has raised to a certain height, also
the floating body T has ascended far enough to cause the arm 2 to meet with the
rod U, thus preventing the floating body H to further descend, so as to actuate
the reversing-gear of the inlet and outlet valves, Figure 4. The valve G will
therefore be kept closed until so much of the liquid in the reservoir D is dis-
charged through the pipe d that the arm 2 is withdrawn from the path of the
rod U and the floating body H is permitted to descend still farther, and thus
actuate the reversing-gear to such an extent that the opening of the inlet-valve G
is accomplished. Therefore the working of the apparatus is governed exactly by
the quantity of the measured liquid drawn off from the reservoir D.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An automatic liquid-meter, in the casing of which a separate vessel for the
previous reception of the liquid to be measured is arranged above the measuring-
vessel proper, and in which by the rise and fall of the liquid a floating body
governing the supply and discharge of the liquid through suitable mechanism ís
actuated in such a manner that the supply may be stopped after the measuring-
vessel is entirely filled and yet a certain quantity of the liquid stored in the said
higher-placed vessel, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 2. In an automatic liquid-meter, the combination of the herein-described
receiver B and measuring-vessel A with an intermediate compartment C, into
which toward the termination of the supply less liquid is discharged from the
receiver B than issued to the measuring-vessel, so that the floating body H within
the receiver B, governing the supply and discharge of the liquid, has not yet
reached its lowest position when the supply to the measuring-vessel ceases, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In an automatic liquid-meter the combination, with a receiver, of a floating
body H, a measuring-vessel proper A. and a reservoir D, within which a floating
body T, attached to a lever t, is acting by means of a branch t2 and through the
medium of a rod U upon the floating body H in the receiver, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
4. In an automatic liquid-meter, the combination, with a receiver B and an
intermediate compartment C, of a floating body H, a measuring-vessel proper A,
a reservoir D, and a floating body T, lever t, arm t2, and rod U, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
5. In an automatic liquid-meter, the combination with a receiver B, of a floating
body H, attached to a lever H2, a measuring-vessel proper A, and a reversing-gear
consisting of the valve-rods a 9, studs or rolls a¹ a², cam K, keyed to a shaft J,
to which are attached the arms L and M, the weighted levers O and P being pro-
vided with pins o and p, respectively, which bear upon the arms L and M, and
having branches o' and p¹ respectively, which engage with the pawls o² and p²,
respectively the weighted lever S, operated through the slotted rods ss and s¹ by
the levers and P, respectively, and the slotted rods h and h', connected to the
lever H2 provided with projections or studs o³ and p³ respectively, and operating
the weighted levers O and P respectively, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
6. In an automatic liquid-meter, the combination of the two compartments B
and the upper compartment B having an overflow-passage adapted to discharge
into the lower compartment C and having a greater and less discharging capacity,
a floating body H, a measuring-vessel proper A, and a reversing gear consisting of
the herein-described mechanism, which operates the inlet-valve G of the supply
pipe and the supply and discharge valves E and F of the measuring vessel,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
7. In an automatic liquid-meter, the combination with a liquid collecting or
storing vessel B, of a floating body H, a measuring-vessel proper A, a reversing-
gear consisting of the herein-described mechanism, a reservoir D, floating body T,
attached to a lever t, provided with an arm t² and acting through the medium
of a rod U upon the floating body H, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
8. In an automatic liquid-meter, the combination with two compartments B
and C, of a floating body H, a measuring-vessel proper A, a reversing-gear con-
sisting of the herein-described mechanism a reservoir D, a floating body T, lever t,
with arm t², and rod U substantially as and for the purpose specified.
9. In an automatic liquid-meter having a collecting or storing vessel arranged
above the measuring-vessel proper, a tubular stud or socket forming a passage to
an intermediate compartment situated between the said collecting and measuring
vessels and having in its wall close to its lower mouth a number of apertures of
less area than the cross-section of the socket, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 20th day of A 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.