Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., .1892-Accepted, 25th Mar., 1893

page_text: The ports a d, f, and are connected directly into the upper ends of the
cylinder D, E.
The rock-shafts R, R', are operated by the pans I, J, as will be seen, and these
rock-shafts operate the valves. Connected with each of the valves are two arms i,
which have their outer ends pivoted upon the shafts j, which are supported a
suitable distance above the partition B, by means of brackets, as shown. Secured
to the rods or shafts j, between the ends of the arms i, are collars k, which hold the
arms against lateral movement upon the rods, and the valves in place upon or over
their seats as will be seen. The inner ends of these rods are connected with the
valves by means of any suitable universal joint, so that the valves will seat them-
selves squarely and evenly, upon the whole surface of their seats, thus making at
all times a gas-tight joint.
Connected at their lower ends to the valves 1 and 2' are the links m which have
their upper ends inclined. towards each other and pivotally connected to the inner
ends of the links n. The outer and opposite end of the link n is connected to the
downward extending arm p of the rock shaft R In a similar manner the
valves 3 and 4 are connected to the upwardly extending arm on the rock
shaft R, and on the other side of the partition the valves 5' and 61 are connected to
downwardly-extending arm a, on the rock-shaft R, and the valves 7 and 81 are
connected to an upwardly-extending arm y, on the rock shaft R'. Surrounding the
openings U and V, and extending upward from the bottom of the chambers D, E.
are the walls G and H, which are of a shape corresponding to the shape of the
pans and fit closely within them. This arrangement reduces to a large extent the
amount of oil necessary to fill the chambers to the proper level, as shown by
the dotted line f-g. On the rock shafts R and R', arms are connected by the
links, with a crank on the shaft w which operates any suitable registering
mechanism, and also serves to keep the pans in the same relative position with
reference to their stroke, so that when one pan is at the end of its stroke and its
connection to the crank is on its dead center, the other pan will be about in the
middle of its stroke, thus permitting a uniform rotation of the crank.
Owing to the fact that one valve of each pair forms the fulcrum upon which the
other is raised, it is necessary for one valve of each pair to be properly seated
before the other is opened, which prevents the opening of both valves at the same
time, or the opening of one valve in each pair in advance of the closing of the other
valve. Thus a serious and common defect of ordinary meters is avoided in my
meter in the manner just set forth.
In operation, the gas or air may be fed into either the chamber L or the
chamber M as desired, the only.effect being to reverse the motion of the meter.
For the purpose of illustrating the operation, the port, A' will be described as
the inlet, and the port B as the outlet port.
As shown in Figure 1, the pan I is at the upper limit of its stroke, the pan.
moving down, and gas,passing from the chamber M through the open valve 4' to
the chamber E above the pan and forcing it down, while gas is passing from the
under side of the pan J through the passage T and port e controlled by valve 5¹ to
the chamber L.
The continued downward movement of the pan J opens the valve 1', controlling
the port a, communicating with the chamber D, and on the other side of the
partition opens the valve 81, controlling the port g, which communicates with the
pan I through the passage S, at the instant the pan I has reached the upward limit
of its stroke. When the pan J reaches the downward limit of its stroke, the
valve 4 controlling the port d, which communicates with the upper side of the
pan J, is closed, and the valve 31 controlling the port c which communicates with
the underside of the pan J, is opened, thus admitting gas below the pan J, and at
the same time the valve 5¹ is closed, and the valve 6' is opened, allowing the gas
from the upper side of the pan J to escape through the port f into the chamber L
and through the outlet port B
The valves 1, 2, 7' and 8' which control ports for admitting and exhausting gas

page_text: 5
to operate the pan 1, are operated and controlled by rock shaft R', which. is
operated by the pan J and the valves 3, 4, 5 and 6 which co-act with the pan J,
are operated and controlled by the rock shaft R, which is connected with the
pan I.
From this it will be seen that the valves which co-act with one pan are operated
and controlled by the movement of the other pan. It will also be understood from
this description that gas is fed to and exhausted from opposite sides of the pans in
a manner similar to admitting and exhausting steam to and from opposite sides of
the piston of a steam engine.
While I here show and describe a pan which is operated upon by the gas, I do not
limit myself to the use thereof, for it will be understood that a diaphragm, piston,.
or other similar device may be substituted therefor without affecting the con-
struction or operation of my valve mechanism in any manner whatsoever.
In Figures 9, 10, and 11 I show a modified construction of my improvement, in
which there are two or more valves connected and moving in pairs each pair having
fulcrums upon another pair.
Figure 9 shows the meter and valve mechanism in vertical longitudinal section;
Figure 10 is a plan view with the top removed, and Figure 11 is a vertical cross
section taken through the cylinders on the line a-b of Figure 10, and on the
line c-d of the same figure above the cylinders.
.
In Figures 9, 10, and 11, 2 indicates a valve casing, to the lower side of which
is connected the cylinder casing containing the cylinders 3 and 4 and the ports.
leading thereto. Placed in these cylinders are the reciprocating pans or pistons 5;
the cylinders being partially filled with liquid to make a gas tight seal with the
pans. The valve casing 2 is divided throughout its length into an inlet chamber 6
and an outlet chamber 7 by a vertical partition extending downward from the
top, leaving a space between its lower edge and the bottom 9 of the said casing.
Gas or air is fed into the inlet chamber and is prevented from passing under.
this partition 8 to the outlet chamber by an oil or liquid seal with which the
central portion of the casing is filled to the dotted line y-y, thus sealing the inlet
and outlet chambers against any escape of gas from one to the other, without first
passing into the cylinders 3 and 4.
Extending upward from the bottom 9 of this casing 2 are the vertical longi-,
tudinal walls 10 which form the sides of a well between them to receive and hold.
the liquid which seals the lower side of the partition 8.
Also placed within this casing are port chambers 11 at each end thereof, that
are closed at their upper ends by a cover or partition 12 and the port chambers are
in communication with the upper ends of the cylinders.
Placed within the inlet chamber 6 are four valves 13, 14, 15, 16, the first two of
which open communication with the cylinder 3 and the two latter with the
cylinder 4. Also placed within the outlet chamber 7 are four valves 17, 18, 19,
and 20, the first two of which open communication with the cylinder 3, and the two
latter with the cylinder 4. The valve 13, 18, 15 and 20 communicate with the port
chambers 11 which are in communication with the upper ends of the cylinders.
through openings made in the tops thereof, while the valves 14, 16, 17 and 19.
communicate with the ports 21 which have their lower ends communicating with.
chambers 22 which communicate with the lower ends of the cylinders through.
channels 23 as shown.
Extending upward from the pans or pistons 5, are the vertical rods 24, which.
pass through tubes 25 which extend into hoods 26, that form a part of the.
partition 8. The upper ends of the tubes 25 extend above the level of the liquid,
placed in the well; and the lower ends of the depending hoods, extend below the,
liquid level, thus making a gas-seal without a stuffing-box, to prevent the escape of
gas into or from the upper ends of the cylinders through the rod-tubes 25. Secured.
to the upper ends of these rods 24 are cross heads 27, from opposite ends of which
are suspended links 28. Supported in the well are rock-shafts 29 and 30 provided;
with outwardly projecting arms 31 which have their outer ends bifurcated to extend

page_text: upon opposite sides of the tubes 25 and connected respectively to the lower ends of
the said links 28. Extending inwardly from the said rock-shafts are counter-
weights 32 which balance the weight of the pans or pistons 5 through the medium
of intermediate mechanism hereinafter described, the upper and lower edges of
the said weights being sharpened to prevent swashing of the liquid in which they
move.
The port chambers 11 which communicate with the cylinder 3 are separated from
those which communicate with the cylinder 4 by vertical partitions 33 shown in
dotted lines in Figure 10.
Connecting the valves of the inlet and outlet chambers in pairs, are the valve
yokes 34 which are essentially U-shaped, and to the outer ends 35 of which are
attached the valves, preferably by the ordinary gimbal or universal joint 36. The
object of using universal joints to connect the valves with the yokes 34 is to insure
the valves resting squarely and with equal pressure all over their seats.
These yokes connect one of the valves in the inlet-chamber with the valve in the
outlet-chamber which is opposite to it, by extending down under the partition 8 as
shown in Figure 11.
Depending from the horizontal portions 35 of these yokes at opposite sides of
the partition 8, are links 37 which are braced or inclined towards each other to
prevent swaying of their lower ends.
The links of these two yokes which operate in connection with one cylinder,
extend towards each other and are connected by a bolt or pin 38 which passes
through their lower ends. In this manner the valves are connected in fours by the
links, while at the same time in pairs by the yokes 34.
Connected with the lower ends of these links 37 are links 39 which have their
opposite ends connected with downwardly extending arms 40, upon the rock
shafts 29, 30, thus connecting the valves through the medium of the mechanism
thus described with the rods 24 of the pistons 5. It will be noticed that the rod 39,
that is connected with the piston of one cylinder, has its opposite end connected
with the valves which operate in conjunction with the other cylinder.
Projecting outwards from the shafts 29, 30, are arms 43 which have their outer
ends connected with the lower ends of a pitman 44, which have their upper ends
connected with the crank of a shaft 45 that operates an indicating mechanism of
any desired construction.
For the purpose of holding the valves against endwise displacement in relation
to their seats, links 46 are pivoted therewith at one end, their opposite ends being
pivoted on pius attached to the sides of the hoods 27. These links however may
be omitted, and vertical guide ways provided for the horizontal portions of the
yokes, as will be readily understood, which will serve the same purpose.
A vertical flange 48 extends around the inner edge of covers 12, to form a pocket
for catching any liquid that may be sprayed from the cylinders through the outlet
ports, when the capacity of the meter is overtaxed, which sometimes occurs. The
valve seats on the outlet side which communicate with the upper ends of the
cylinders, are made slightly lower than the valve seats which communicate with
their lower ends, so that the liquid sprayed from the cylinders into the said pocket
will run over the lower valve seats into the upper ends of the cylinders, when the
meter has stopped, or is running within its rated capacity as will be understood.
For the purpose of preventing the liquid that is sprayed from one cylinder running
into the other cylinder and thus causing it to accumulate in one, and be lessened
in the other, a partition 50 extends across the said pocket, thus dividing it into
two pockets, and preventing the liquid sprayed from one cylinder passing into the
other.
The valves consist of discs which have secured to the under face a piece of felt,
wash leather, or other suitable material which becomes thoroughly saturated with
the liquid, which is preferably oil, thus causing the valves to seat themselves gas-
tightly, the felt on the valves becoming so thoroughly saturated with oil, that the
valve is made doubly gas-tight by capillary attraction.

page_text: From the above description it will be seen that when the rock shafts are
operated, through the mechanism of the links 39 and 37, one pair of valves are
raised, the others fall down upon their seats before the valves to be raised start up,
which must of necessity be so, owing to the fact that one set of valves forms the
fulcrum upon which the others are raised, as shown in Figure 9. From this figure
it will be seen that the pair of valves of which the valve 17 is one, and the pair
of valves of which the valve 18 is one, are coupled together by the links 37 so that
when the said links are tilted as shown in this figure, both the valve 18 and the
valve 14 connected therewith, must fall down upon their seats before either of
the valves 17 and 13 connected with it, can be raised. This operation makes
certain the closing of both valves of each pair before either valve of the other pair
can be opened.
In this manner it is impossible to raise two pairs of valves at the same time,
or to have either one or both valves of one pair slightly raised, while either one or
both valves of the other pair are off their seats, thus causing a leakage and allowing
the gas to flow without operating the valve and the pistons, when there is a very
small volume passing through the meter. The weight of the respective yokes and
links for operating the valves, are sustained by the respective valves to which they
áre connected, and it is necessary for one pair of valves to be at rest upon their
seats, when the gas is flowing through the other pair. This being so, the gas must
of necessity pass into the cylinder at one or the other end, as the case may be, and
out at the other and thus operate the piston or pan therein.
This operation of the pan, in return must of necessity operate the valves, so that
the alternate opening and closing of the valves is made positive, and the operation
of the meter certain, no matter how small the volume of gas.
The two valves of each pair communicate with the upper and lower ends of the
cylinders respectively; that is to say, the valve 13 communicates with the upper
end of the cylinder 3 through the adjacent port chamber 11, while the valve 17
communicates with the lower end of the cylinder 3 through the port 21, chamber 22,
and channel 23. In this manner, when the piston rod of the cylinder 4 is moving.
down, the valves 13 and 17, are raised thus allowing gas to pass through the
valve 13 into the upper end of the cylinder 3, forcing the pan down and discharging
the gas in the lower end of the cylinder. 3 out of the valve 17.
When the mechanism has reached the position shown in Figure 9, the piston of
the cylinder 4 has reached the lower limit of its stroke, and its pitman on a dead
center, while the piston of the other cylinder 3 is about half its stroke, and on its
downward movement, the gas passing in over cylinder 3 through the valve 13 forces
it down carrying the pitman connected with the cylinder 4 past the dead center, as
will be understood. Now, the continued movement downward of the piston in the
cylinder 3 rocks its adjacent shaft 29 which is connected with the valves of the
other cylinder, pushing its links 39 towards the cylinder 4 which raises the valves 16
and 20 off their seats thus admitting gas through the valve 16 to the lower end of
the cylinder 4 which forces its piston up driving the gas above it through the
valve 20 while at the same time the rock shaft 30 connected with the piston rod of
the cylinder 4 is being rocked, thus drawing its rod 39 towards the said cylinder
and allowing the valves 13 and 17 to fall upon their seats.
As soon as the valves 13 and 17 are seated the continued movement of the said
shaft 30 shifts the fulcrum-point of the links 37 from the valves 14 and 18 to the
valves 13 and 17, thus raising the valves 14 and 18 from their seats which allows
gas to pass through the valve 14 to the upper end of the cylinder 3, the piston of
which has at this instant reached the upper limit of its stroke, and the gas to pass
from the lower end of the said cylinder through the valve 18 into the outlet-
chamber.
From this description it will be seen that the four valves of the respective
cylinders are alternately raised in pairs to allow the gas to be alternately fed and
forced out of the upper and lower ends of the cylinders as just described, one valve
of each pair being an inlet valve and the other an outlet valve:

page_text: In this way the cylinders receive and exhaust gas upon opposite sides of their
pistons like the cylinders of a steam engine.
The upper face of the valve seats are preferably rounded to furnish a smooth seat
for the faces of the valves to rest upon.
While I here use the terms "pan" and "piston" to indicate the parts placed in
the cylinders, they are intended to comprehend a pan moving in a liquid, a tightly
fitting piston, a diaphragm, or any equivalent device to opposite sides of which air,
or gas, is admitted.
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 :-
First. A valve mechanism comprising two or more valves which are fulcrumed
one upon the other, and an operating mechanism connected therewith as described.
Second. A valve mechanism comprising two valves fulcrumed one upon the
other, which respectively control ports communicating with opposite sides of a
piston, and mechanism for alternately opening and closing the said valves; sub-
stantially as described.
Third. In a valve mechanism comprising four valves connected in pairs, the
valves of each pair being fulcrumed upon each other, and operating means for and
connected with each pair which reciprocates in a line therewith, whereby the
valves of each pair are alternately rocked upon the other valves of the same pair;
substantially as specified.
Fourth. A valve mechanism comprising four valves connected in pairs, the
valves of each pair being fulcrumed upon each other, and operating means for-and
connected with each pair for rocking them which reciprocate in a line with each
pair of valves, the two reciprocating means moving in opposite directions; sub-
stantially as described.
Fifth. A valve mechanism for two cylinders, comprising two pairs of valves for
each cylinder, the valves of each pair controlling ports which communicate
respectively with opposite sides of a piston and a reciprocating operating mechanism
connected with the valves for alternately opening and closing the valves of each
pair respectively, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. A valve mechanism for two cylinders comprising valves for cach cylinder
which are connected in pairs by links, having one end connected with the valves,
and their other ends connected together, and an operating mechanism connected
with the links of each pair, which reciprocates the links back and forth for
rocking the valves of each pair alternately upon each other; substantially as set
forth.
Seventh. A meter comprising a casing divided into cylinder and valve chambers,
the valve chamber being divided into inlet and outlet chambers, a piston within the
cylinder chamber, ports communicating respectively with opposite sides of the
piston and with the inlet and outlet chambers, valves connected in pairs for
controlling the said ports, and operating mechanism connected with the valves and
the piston for alternately opening and closing the valves of each pair respectively;
substantially as specified.
Eighth. A meter comprising a casing divided into cylinder and valve chambers,
the valve chamber being divided into inlet and outlet chambers, a piston within
the cylinder chamber, ports communicating respectively with opposite sides of the
piston, valves connected in pairs and fulcrumed upon each other for controlling the
said ports, and operating mechanism connected with the valves and piston which
reciprocates the pair of valves whereby they are rocked one upon the other and
alternately opened and closed substantially as described.
Ninth. A meter comprising an inlet and outlet chamber, a piston, ports
communicating respectively with opposite sides of the piston, valves controlling
the ports connected in pairs and fulcrumed upon each other, and operating means
connected with the piston and the valves which reciprocates with the pairs of

page_text: valves, for rocking the valves of each pair upon each other, and alternately
opening and closing them, substantially as specified.
:
Tenth. A meter comprising a valve chamber divided into an inlet and an outlet
chamber, two cylinder chambers, pistons therein, boxes in the valve chamber com-
municating with the cylinder-chambers, ports communicating with opposite sides.
of the pistons, valves for controlling the said ports, rock shafts in the valve
chambers passing through the said boxes, the pistons connected with the rock
shafts within the boxes, and connections between the shafts and the valves outside
of the boxes, for operating them, substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. A meter comprising a circular casing having inlet and outlet.
chambers, two cylinder chambers, crescent-shaped pistons therein, passages below
the cylinder chambers communicating respectively with the under sides of the-
pistons, ports between the crescent-shaped pistons communicating with the
passages, ports communicating with the cylinder chambers, valves for controlling-
the said ports and operating mechanism for the said valves, substantially..as
specified.
Twelfth. A valve mechanism comprising two or more pairs of valves connected
and fulcrumed one upon the other and means connected therewith for operating.
them.
Thirteenth. A valve mechanism for cylinders having a piston, the said
mechanism comprising four valves which are connected in pairs, to move together,.
means connecting the said pairs fulcrumed thereon for alternately moving them in
pairs, the valves closing ports at opposite sides of the said piston; and operating.
means connected with the said connecting means, substantially as specified.
Fourteenth. A valve mechanism for two cylinders having pistons the said
mechanism comprising two pairs of valves for each cylinder, the valves of each
pair moving together and closing respectively ports leading to opposite sides of the.
pistons, and means connected with the piston of one cylinder for alternately
operating each pair of valves which co-act with the other cylinder, substantially as.
specified.
Fifteenth. A valve mechanism for cylinders having pistons, the said mechanism
comprising four or more.valves connected to move in pairs, means connecting the
said pairs of valves, and fulcrumed thereon, and a connection between the piston,
and the said fulcrumed connections, substantially as shown.
Sixteenth. A valve mechanism for cylinders comprising four valves connected
and moving in pairs, links connected loosely at one end to each pair, and an
operating mechanism connected with the links at their opposite ends for-
reciprocating them whereby the valves are alternately operated, substantially as
set forth.
Seventeenth. A valve mechanism for cylinders having pistons, the said
mechanism comprising four valves connected and moving in pairs, the valves of
each pair closing respectively ports leading to opposite sides of the piston, links
loosely connected at one end to the valves and inclining towards each other, and.
loosely connected together at their opposite ends, operating mechanism connected
with the links for reciprocating them, whereby the pairs of valves are alternately
operated, substantially as specified.
Eighteenth. A meter comprising inlet and outlet chambers, two cylinders having
pistons, valves connected in pairs and in fours for each cylinder, the valves of each
pair closing respectively ports which lead to opposite sides of the cylinder-pistons
and opening respectively into the inlet and outlet chambers, and connections.
between the pistons of one cylinder for operating the valves of the other cylinder,
substantially as specified.
Nineteenth. A meter comprising a casing having a well carrying a liquid, a
partition extending downward from the top of the casing into the liquid, forming
inlet and outlet chambers, and a cylinder, valves in the inlet and outlet chambers.
communicating respectively with opposite ends of the cylinder, yokes extending

page_text: under the said partition and connecting the valves in pairs, and means connected
with the valves for alternately operating them in pairs, substantially as shown.
Twentieth. A meter comprising a casing having a well carrying a liquid, a
partition extending downward from the top of the casing into the liquid, and
having a space between its lower edge and the bottom of the well forming inlet and
outlet chambers, valves in the said chambers communicating respectively with
opposite ends of the cylinder, connections extending under the said partition for
connecting the valves in pairs, and in fours, and operating mechanism connected
with the connection which connects the valves in fours, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
Twenty-first. A meter comprising inlet and outlet chambers, two cylinders
carrying pistons, two pairs of valves for each cylinder opening into the inlet and
outlet chambers, rock-shafts carrying counterweights connected with the pistons
and a connection between the rock shafts and the pairs of valves for operating
the two pairs of valves for each cylinder alternately, substantially as set forth.
Twenty-second. A meter comprising inlet and outlet chambers, valves placed in
the said chambers, two cylinders, ports connecting the valves and opposite ends of
the cylinders, pistons carrying piston rods, a well below the inlet and outlet
chambers containing a liquid, a tube surrounding the piston-rod extending, above
the liquid-level, a hood surrounding the tube which extends into the liquid, and a
connection between the valves and the piston-rods, substantially as specified.
Twenty-third. A meter comprising two pistons, inlet and outlet chambers, ports
connecting the said chambers and opposite sides of the pistons, a rock shaft for
each piston which is connected therewith, valves for closing the said ports, an
operating connection between the valves and pistons, consisting of a crank, and
pitman links and connecting arms upon the said rock-shafts, whereby the pistons
are held in their proper relative positions throughout their strokes, substantially as
set forth.