IMPROVEMENTS IN GIVING MOTION TO THE VALVES OF WATER METERS, AND IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES THEREFOR."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Hamer, of Skegness, in the County of Lincoln,
Master Plumber, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GIVING MOTION TO
THE VALVES OF WATER METERS, AND IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES
THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION' left by the said Peter Hamer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th March 1880.
PETER HAMER, of Skegness, in the County of Lincoln, Master Plumber.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GIVING MOTION TO THE VALVES OF WATER METERS, AND
IN APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES THEREFOR."
The main objects of the said Invention are to give motion to the valves of
reciprocating water meters in such manner that the reversal of the said valves at
each end of the piston stroke shall be effected with rapidity and certainty, and to
provide apparatus therefor.
Heretofore the valves of water meters have been actuated at each end of the
stroke by means of power taken from the piston rod or some equivalent moving
part, the result being that the necessary regularity, rapidity, and certainty of
motion requisite for the correct measuring of the water passing through the meter
was not obtained.
Now my Invention consists in actuating the said valves at each end of the
stroke of the piston or its equivalent by power given out during the motion of the
said piston, and stored up until the moment the valve or valves require to be
moved, such stored energy being then suddenly liberated to act on the said valve
or valves.
In carrying the Invention into effect, the piston rod or some equivalent moving
part of the meter is arranged or connected by levers or suitable appliances so as to
act on and compress or otherwise alter the condition of a spring or springs that a
considerable amount-of-resilience is available at the end of the stroke to effect the
moving of the valve or valves. The resilience of the said spring or springs is
caused to act on the valve or valves directly, or through connections by means of a
catch or catches, a detent or detents, or other suitable mechanism operated at each
end of the stroke by any suitable moving part of the meter. Where cocks are
employed instead of valves, such cocks are operated substantially as above set
forth.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Peter Hamer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
September 1880.
PETER HAMER, of Skegness, in the County of Lincoln, Master Plumber.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GIVING MOTION TO THE VALVES OF WATER METERS, AND IN
APPARATUS OR APPLIANCES THEREFOR.
"
The main objects of the said Invention are to give motion to the valves of
reciprocating water meters in such manner that reversal of the said valves at each
end of the piston stroke shall be effected with rapidity and certainty, and to provide
apparatus therefor.
Heretofore the valves of water meters have been actuated at each end of the
stroke by means of power taken from the piston rod or some equivalent moving
part, the result being that the necessary regularity, rapidity, and certainty of
motion requisite for the correct measuring of the water passing through the meter
was not obtained.
Now my Invention consists in actuating the said valves at each end of the stroke
of the piston or its equivalent by power given out during the motion of the said
piston, and stored up until the moment the valve or valves require to be moved,
such stored energy being then suddenly liberated to act on the said valve or
valves.
In carrying the Invention into effect, the piston rod or some equivalent moving
part of the meter is arranged or connected by levers or suitable appliances so as to
act on and compress or otherwise alter the condition of a spring or springs that a
considerable amount of resiliance is available at the end of the stroke to effect the
moving of the valve or valves. The resiliance of the said spring or springs is
caused to act on the valve or-valves directly, or through connections by means of a
catch or catches, a detent or detents, or other suitable mechanism operated at each
end of the stroke by any suitable moving part of the meter. Where cocks are
employed instead of valves, such cocks are operated substantially as above set
forth.
The accompanying Drawing is a sectional elevation of a water meter, having
valve gear constructed in accordance with my Invention. 1, cylinder; 2, piston;
3, piston rod; 4, lever connected at one end to the piston rod by the links 5, and
at the other to the sliding piece 6 by the links 7; 8, chamber containing spiral
springs 9, 10, attached to the sliding piece 6, and to the caps 11, 12, 13, 14, studs
or projecting pieces secured to the chamber 8; 15, 16, catches held in position by
the springs 17, 18; 19, valve rod attached to the chamber 8; 20, trip piece secured
to the piston rod; 21, counting mechanism; 22, 23, buffers. The general con-
struction of cylinder, piston, and counting mechanism and mode of operating the
same is of any usual or desired kind, the feature of novelty consisting in the new
method of operating the valves, and in the apparatus therefor.
The action of the mechanism is as follows:-Fig. 1 shews the catch 15 raised
clear of the projection 13 on the chamber 8 by the trip piece 20. The compressed
spring 10 will therefore cause the chamber 8, and with it the valve rod 19 to move
down as far as the buffer 22 allows, and reverse the valve. The stud or projection
14 will then be held by the catch 16, as shown by the dotted lines. The valve
being reversed, the piston rod will travel down and carry with it the lever 4 and
compress the spring 9. At the bottom of the stroke the trip piece 20 will come
into contact with the arm 24 of the catch 16, and move it so as to release the stud
or projection 14. The compressed spring 9 will then reverse the valve, and the
catch 15 come into operation.
It will be understood that various constructions and arrangements of apparatus
or appliances may be devised to produce the same action under my Invention.

page_text: Having now described the nature of the said Invention in such manner that
others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I claim,—
First. Giving motion to the valves of water meters, substantially as set forth.
Second. Apparatus or appliances constructed, arranged, and combined substan-
tially in the manuer and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Hamer, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
In the presence of
J. JOHNSON.
PETER HAMER. (L.S.)