IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR MEASURING LIQUIDS
Year: 1884

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COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
I FRANK WALKER of Tombstone in the County of Cochise Territory of Arizona
United States of America do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR MEASURING LIQUIDS" and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My Invention consists of improvements fully described and claimed hereafter in
the construction of meters for the measurement of water and other liquids, the
objects of the said improvements being the lessening of the friction of the moving
parts of the meter, and rendering its action positive and accurate.
In the accompanying Drawings
Figure 1 is a plan view of the meter with the cap plate removed.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the piston in a position differing from that
Been in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line - Figure 1.
Figure 4 a transverse section on the line y-y Figure 2; and
Figure 5, a perspective view of the meter with the cap plate removed as in
Figures 1 and 2.
The body A of the meter is of the cylindrical form shown in the Drawing, and
is provided with a flange around its upper edge, to which is bolted the cap
plate A¹
The interior of the cylinder is divided into three chambers B, B1 and B³, of
which the first B is the main working chamber separated from the inlet chamber B¹
and the outlet chamber B' by a transverse partition C. With the inlet chamber B¹
communicates a suitable supply pipe 61, the outlet chamber having a discharge
pipe 6. The inlet chamber B' communicates with the main chamber B through
passages or ports H, H (Figures 1 and 3) in both the bottom plate and cover A¹
the main chamber B being in communication with the outlet chamber B³ through
similar passages or ports H', H' in the bottom plate and cover (Figures 1, 4 and 5.)
I prefer to arrange in the passages H, H, deflectors h, Figure 3, to render; the flow
of water more steady.
On the main chamber side of the partition C are formed, adjacent to the
entrance ports H, H recesses ii shewn in Figures 1 and 3 but more clearly in
Figure 5 and adjacent to the outlet ports are somewhat larger recesses h³, h', into
which the outlet ports extend as shown in Figure 5 for a purpose explained,
hereafter.

page_text: In the centre of the cylinder is a fixed post or pin D on which a squared hub E
is free to turn, and on this hub is fitted the piston G having a central elongated
rectangular slot g and rounded outer ends so that while the piston will make a
half revolution with the hub in the direction of the arrow Figure 1 and as
indicated in Figure 5 it is free to slide longitudinally on the hub from the position
shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 1. The upper end of the hub E is
slotted at e for the reception of the coupling on the lower end of the shaft F which
passes through a stuffing box in the cover A¹, and is geared to the usual registering
mechanism.
At each end of the slot g is formed in the piston a recess K K³, one of which K¹
for example when the piston is in the position shewn in Figures 2 and 4 is in
contact with the hub e and forms a small chamber open at top and bottom to
receive the incoming water through the ports H.
In each side wall of the piston are formed ports I J (P, J.), Figures 3 and 5,
which, when the piston reaches the position shown in Figure 1 form communication
between the inlet ports H, H and the recesses ii in the face of the partition C.
Supposing the piston to be in the position shown in Figure 1, the water entering
through the ports H, H will have filled the interior of the slot g in the piston, and
will pass through the ports 1, J to the recesses ii behind the piston, and exert its
pressure to turn the latter in the direction of the arrow 1 Figures 1 and 5 the
water in advance of the piston being meanwhile discharged through the outlet
H, H.
When the piston has reached the position shown in Figure 2 the incoming water
will enter through the ports H to the recess K¹ between the piston and the hub É
and as the slot on the other side of the hub is open to the discharge ports H¹, H¹,
the pressure of water will force the piston diametrically across the chamber on the
hub E from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 1 when the
first described movement of the piston will be repeated. It will thus be seen that
a partial rotation of the piston alternates with a positive diametrical movement of
the same and the result of this will be the intermittent rotation of the hub E,
which is communicated to the registering devices.
As the piston G is nearly balanced in all positions and during its semi-circular
movement the hub E prevents the piston from binding against the circular wall of
the chamber B, there is comparatively little friction and the meter will work
accurately under a very light pressure.
The recesses h¹ in the partition O at the outlet ports are to allow the water in
advance of the piston to escape more readily and permit the piston to complete its
half revolution and come up flush with the partition C prior to its diametrical
movement.
In large meters I prefer to make in the inner faces of the cover A¹ and the
bottom plate diagonal ports 1, m (Figures 2 and 4) which supplement the ports I, J
and I, J, in allowing the water from the interior of the piston to pass to the
recesses i i behind it to start the piston in its rotary movement.
In Figure 6 I have shown a modification of part of my Invention.
In this case the piston is slightly reduced in width and the casing has a
projection P with a segmental recess concentric with the rounded end of the piston
so as to form an extended bearing for the latter as it swings, thus steadying the
movement of the piston and preventing leakage.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
First The combination of the casing and pivoted hub E of a water meter and
a slotted piston having a partial rotation with the said hub and adapted to slide
thereon with ports opening into the slot of the piston to allow the water to give
the same a positive diametrical movement alternating with the said partial rotation
of the piston substantially as set forth.

page_text: Second-The combination of the casing and hub E of a water meter and a
slotted piston G having partial rotary motion with the hub, alternating with a
diametrical sliding motion on the same with ports H H and H³, H' in the casing
and ports K in the piston substantially as specified.
Third: The combination of the casing of a water meter having inlet and outlet
ports H, H, and H, H¹, with a hub E, and a slotted piston G having ports I, J
and I, J, as and for the purpose described.
Fourth-The combination of the casing having inlet and outlet ports, and
ports 1 m with a hub E and slotted piston G substantially as set forth.