Improvements in Valve Gear for Cylinder-and-Piston Water Meters.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th May, 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valve Gear for Cylinder-and-Piston Water Meters.
I, WILLIAM MALTMAN MUIRHEAD, of 24, Whitehall Street, in the County of
the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention relates to the valve gear of cylinder-and-piston water meters,
and more particularly to such as have the water distributed alternately to the
opposite ends of the cylinder by means of a four-way cock or valve, which is
shifted at the end of each stroke by the action of a tumbler; and my object is to
render the shifting of the valve more certain and less liable to hesitation than as
hitherto arranged.
In carrying out my invention I cause the piece by the movement of which the
valve is shifted, and which has hitherto been acted on only by the weighted
tumbler, to be also acted on directly by the shaft which turns over the weighted
tumbler, in such a manner as to start the shifting movement of the valve a little
before the tumbler falls over. In consequence of the piece which shifts the valve
having thus started to move, the action of the tumbler on it is quicker and more
certain and the shifting movement is less liable to be incomplete.
The tumbler shaft is turned alternately in opposite directions by means of a
pinion fast on it and acted on by a rack-toothed bar moved by the cylinder piston.
The weighted tumbler is loose on the shaft and is acted on at the ends of the piston
strokes by an arm fixed on the shaft. The tumbler when it falls over acts on a
piece which is loose on the shaft and which is made with a bevil-toothed segment
gearing with a bevil-toothed segment on the spindle of the distribution valve.
For the purposes of the present invention there is additionally fixed on the tumbler
shaft a boss made with a projection like the projection of an ordinary clutch; and
this clutch-like projection, after being carried round some distance by the shaft,
and when the end of a piston stroke is being approached, acts on the piece which
the tumbler acts on and starts its movement a little before the tumbler strikes it.
The said piece may be acted on directly by the clutch-like projection, it is
however, in many cases more convenient for it to act on an intermediate piece
loose on the shaft such intermediate piece first moving to a certain extent itself
and then acting on the other piece.
Dated this Thirteenth day of January 1894.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Valve Gear for Cylinder-and-Piston Water Meters.
I, WILLIAM MALTMAN MUIRHEAD, of 24, Whitehall Street, in the County of
the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Engineer, 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, that is to say :—
My said invention relates to the valve gear of cylinder-and-piston water meters,

page_text: .
.
and more particularly to such as have the water distributed alternately to the
opposite ends of the cylinder by means of a four-way cock or valve, which is
shifted at the end of each stroke by the action of a tumbler; and my object is to
render the shifting of the valve more certain and less liable to hesitation than as
hitherto arranged.
In carrying out my invention I cause the piece by the movement of which the
valve is shifted, and which has hitherto been acted on only by the weighted
tumbler, to be also acted on directly by the shaft which turns over the weighted
tumbler, in such a manner as to start the shifting movement of the valve a little
before the tumbler falls over. In consequence of the piece which shifts the valve
having thus started to move the action of the tumbler on it is quicker and more
certain and the shifting movement is less liable to be incomplete.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append three sheets of explanatory
drawings, to be hereinafter referred to, and showing my improved valve gear for
cylinder-and-piston water meters.
Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, of the drawings is a perspective view of one modification
of the improved valve gear.
Figures, 2, and, 3, on Sheet, 2, are sectional elevations (as at right angles to each
other) of a second modification.
Figures, 4, and, 5, on Sheet, 3, are sectional elevations (as at right angles to each
other) of a third modification.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The tumbler shaft, A, is turned alternately in opposite directions by means of a
pinion, B, fast on it and acted on by a rack-toothed bar, C, moved by the cylinder
piston, the pinion and rack-toothed bar being shown only in Figures, 4, and 5.
In the modification shown in Figure, 1, the weighted tumbler, D, is loose on the
shaft, A, and is acted on at the ends of the piston strokes by an arm, E, fixed on
the shaft. The tumbler, D, when it falls over acts on a projecting part, F, of a
piece, F 1, which is loose on the shaft, A, and which is made with a bevil-toothed
segment gearing with a bevil-toothed segment, G, on the spindle, G 1, of the
distribution valve (not shown). For the purposes of the present invention there is
additionally fixed on the tumbler shaft, A, a boss, H,,made with a projection, J,
like the projection of an ordinary clutch; and this clutch-like projection, J, after
being carried round some distance by the shaft, A, and when the end of a piston
stroke is being approached, acts on the piece, F 1, which the tumbler, D, acts on,
and starts its movement a little before the tumbler strikes it. The said piece, F 1,
may be acted on directly by the clutch-like projection, J, it is however in many
cases (such as for example the modification being described) more convenient for
it to act on an intermediate piece, K, loose on the shaft, A, such intermediate
piece first moving to a certain extent itself, and then acting on the other
piece, F 1.
The description of the modification shown in Figure, 1, applies to the modification
shown in Figures, 2, and, 3, with the exception that instead of the boss, H, a
projecting part, E 1, formed on the lifting arm, E, is employed to act through
a similar intermediate piece, K, on projections, F 2, on the piece, F 1.
In the modification shown in Figures, 4, and, 5, the spindle, G1, of the
distribution valve, G 2, is made with two projecting arms, L, on one of which is
fixed the piece, F 1. On the pinion, B, which is fixed to the shaft, A, are formed
lifting arms, E, which when the pinion is actuated by the rack, C, turn the
tumbler, D, alternately in opposite directions. A projecting part, E 1, is formed
on one of the lifting arms, E, to act on the piece, F1, and through it on the
spindle, G 1, of the distribution valve, G 2, in advance of the tumbler, D. The
tumbler, D, when it falls over, acts by a projection, D 1, on it on the valve spindle
arms, L, and through them on the distribution valve, G 2.

page_text: 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 :
In a cylinder-and-piston water meter the distribution valve of which is shifted
by a tumbler, the providing of the shaft which is turned by the piston rod with
parts arranged to start the movement of the valve a little before the tumbler acts.
on the valve substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this Seventeenth day of May 1894.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.