AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MEASURING WATER."
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Anthony Charles Sacré, senior, of Brussels, in the
Kingdom of Belgium, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MEASURING WATER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Anthony Charles Sacré
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd November 1857.
I, ANTHONY CHARLES SACRE, senior, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MEASURING WATER," to be 'as
follows:-
My Invention relates to a novel arrangement or construction of water
meter, the object being to measure with accuracy the quantity of water
supplied to the consumer. The meter consists of an oblong or other con-
veniently shaped vessel divided by a horizontal partition into two compart-
ments or chambers, the upper one of which contains the measuring apparatus.
and the lower one is intended for the reception of the water after it has been
measured, and from which it may be drawn off by the consumer through a
suitable aperture provided for the purpose. The measuring apparatus consists

page_text: of a float attached to one end of a rocking lever, which extends across the
measuring chamber, and has its fulcrum at its other extremity, and at an
intermediate point between the float and the fulcrum of this lever it is con-
nected to or made to act upon a weighted arm and an arrangement of trip
levers, by which the entrance and exit valves are actuated at the proper time.
The float lever is also connected at its end nearest the float with suitable
counting apparatus, similar in construction to that of a gas meter, and by
which the quantity of water that has passed through the meter is indicated
on a series of dials. The interior of the meter may be supplied with com-
pressed air at any suitable pressure for the purpose of acting upon the water
and facilitating its discharge. The action of the meter is as follows:-Water
is supplied to the upper or measuring chamber by means of a bent pipe
situate at the side of the vessel; as the water rises in the measuring
chamber the float lever will rise with it and cause the weighted arm above
to act on the trip levers connected with the induction and eduction valves,
thereby closing the former and opening the latter, which will allow the water
to flow out through the eduction pipe, of the measuring chamber into the
chamber below; on the float, descending as the water flows out of the
measuring chamber, its lever will actuate the weighted arm above and throw
it over in the contrary direction, thereby closing the eduction valve and
opening the induction valve, by which means the measuring chamber will
be again filled, when the contrary action will again take place, and so on
alternately as long as the cock on the supply pipe remains open. Every time
the float rises, a small rod attached to its lever and to a click connected with
the first counting wheel moves the latter round one tooth, and so on to the
second and third wheels. in the same manner as the counting apparatus of a
gas meter, by which means the quantity of water that has passed through the
.measuring chamber may be accurately ascertained.
I also propose to make the meter double-acting (and therefore continuous)
by dividing the measuring chamber into two parts, and providing each com-
partment with a separate float, with suitable induction and eduction valves,
which will be caused to act alternately, the action of the parts being other-
wise essentially the same as in the single-acting arrangement. A small air
pump may be adapted at the side of the meter for the purpose of supplying
a fresh quantity of air on the air becoming exhausted. or any escape taking
place:
T
I also propose sometimes in place of the weighted. lever above mentioned
to employ two springs attached to or connected with the float lever in such
manner as to yield to the action of the float or floats on one side, and also of

page_text: the arrangement of levers on the other side, and yet when the pressure of the
acting parts is removed to have a tendency to force them into their former
position, thus producing an effect analogous to that of the weighted lever.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Anthony Charles Sacré in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 1st May 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANTHONY
CHARLES SACRE, senior, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Mechanical
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Anthony Charles Sacré, Her special license, that I, the said Anthony
Charles Sacré, my executors, administrators, (and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Anthony Charles Sacré, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at. any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR MEASURING WATER," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Anthony Charles Sacré, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Anthony Charles Sacré, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
My Invention of "An Improved Apparatus for Measuring Water" relates
to a novel arrangement or construction of water meter, the object being to
measure with accuracy the quantity of water supplied to the consumer. The
meter consists of an oblong or other conveniently shaped vessel divided by

page_text: a horizontal partition into two compartments or chambers, the upper one of
which contains the measuring apparatus, and the lower one is intended for
the reception of the water after it has been measured, and from which it may
be drawn off by the consumer through a suitable aperture provided for the
purpose. The measuring apparatus consists of a float attached to one end
of a rocking lever, which extends across the measuring chamber, and has its
fulcrum at its other extremity, and at an intermediate point, between the float
and the fulcrum of this lever it is connected to or made to act upon a
weighted arm, and an arrangement of trip levers, by which the entrance and
exit valves are actuated at the proper-time. The float lever is also connected
at its end nearest the float with suitable counting apparatus similar in con-
struction to that of a gas meter, and by which the quantity of water that has
passed through the meter is indicated on a series of dials. The interior of the
meter may be supplied with compressed air at any suitable pressure for the
purpose of acting upon the water and facilitating its discharge. The action
of the meter is as follows:-Water is. supplied to the upper or. measuring
chamber by means of a bent pipe situate at the side of the vessel; as the
water rises in the measuring chamber the float lever will rise with it, and
cause the weighted arm above to act on the trip levers connected with
the induction and eduction valves, thereby closing the former and opening
the latter, which will allow the water to flow out through the eduction pipe
of the measuring chamber into the chamber below; on the float descending
as the water flows out of the measuring chamber its lever will actuate the
weighted arm above and throw it over in the contrary direction, thereby
closing the eduction valve and opening the induction valve, by which means
the measuring chamber will be again filled, when the contrary action will
again take place, and so on alternately as long as the cock on the supply pipe
řemains open. Every time the float rises, a small rod attached to its lever
and to a click connected with the first counting wheel moves the latter round
one tooth, and so on to the second and third wheels in the same manner
as the counting apparatus of a gas meter, by which means the quantity of
water that has passed through the measuring chamber may be accurately
ascertained.
.
I also propose to make the meter double-acting (and therefore continuous).
by dividing the measuring chamber into two compartments, and providing
each compartment with a separate float, with.suitable .induction and eduction
valves, which will be caused to act alternately, the action of the parts being
otherwise essentially the same as in the single-acting arrangement. A small
air pump may be adapted at the side of the meter for the purpose of supplying:

page_text: a fresh quantity of air on the air becoming exhausted or any escape taking
place.
I also propose sometimes to employ in place of the weighted lever above
mentioned two springs attached to or connected with the float lever in such
a manner as to yield to the action of the float or floats on one side, and also
of the arrangement of levers on the other side, and yet when the pressure of
the acting parts is removed to have a tendency to force them into their former
position, thus producing an effect analogous to that of the weighted lever.
In order, however, that my Invention may be properly understood, I have.
in the Drawings, forming part of this my Specification, represented various
views of the apparatus which I employ for carrying the same into effect.
Fig. 1 being a vertical section of the single-action meter, and Fig. 2 a
horizontal or top view of the same with the cover removed. Fig. 3 is a
vertical section of the double action meter, and Fig. 4 a bird's-eye view of the
the same, the cover being removed. Fig. 5 represents some of the parts
detached. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the double-action measuring chamber
attached, in which springs are employed; Fig. 7 is a top view of the same.
Fig. 8 is a view of a single-action measuring chamber detached, acting by
means of springs; and Fig. 9 is a top view of the same. Figures 10, 11,
and 12 represent some of the parts detached. In all these Figures similar
letters denote corresponding parts. The parts L', P, I, N, L", D, are repre-
sented detached at Figures 12*. When in place they are mounted upon the
shaft of the crank lever N, and are capable of rocking thereon. This shaft
is fixed between two supports screwed on to the cross piece M of the
measuring chamber V. The rod or lever L of the float F is connected by
means of a connecting rod 6 with the lever L'; this lever is provided with
two catches, between which the weight P is raised from right to left when
the float rises, and from left to right when the float descends. There is a
certain amount of play between the two catches to allow of the weight P
approaching the opposite catch freely. The lever L' during its movement
comes in contact first with the trip lever I, the inclined edge of which raises
the detent D, which serves to retain the bell-crank lever N in position,
this latter being linked to the rod O, and which raises and lowers the valve
rod by means of its catch. During the course of the water through the
meter there are two alternating stops worked by the float.
The compressed
air serves to propel the water on its leaving the meter.
The single-acting meter represented at Figures 1 and 2 may be made of
either iron, copper, or other suitable material; it is of an oblong form, and is
hermetically closed. The water to be measured enters the meter through the

page_text: pipe T (as shewn by the arrows, Fig. 1), and passing through the box B and
through the opening or way in the slide valve G (see Fig. 5), enters the
pipe T, which is trumpet-mouthed at its lower end, and from thence into the
measuring chamber V. It will be seen by the position of the float in Fig. 1
that the measuring chamber is full, that the lever L of the float has caused
the moveable weight P to move from left to right, where it is retained in its
course by one of the arms E (Figures 1 and 2), thereby closing the induction
orifice and raising or opening the valve S¹, by which means the water is
allowed to flow from the measuring chamber through the pipe T into the
lower compartment R. The float will descend with the level of the water,
and its lever L³ acting upon the lever L, the right-hand catch of this latter
will raise the weight P into a vertical position, when it will tip over from right
to left, by that means closing the valve S¹and opening the induction orifice;
the measuring chamber will then again become filled with water, and so on, as
long as the supply cock is open. A small rod attached to the curved rod L
and connected with a click attached to the counting apparatus (which is
situated at the top of the meter, as seen in Fig. 2,) moves forward the first or
unit wheel of the counting apparatus at each upward movement of the float
to the extent of one tooth or unit, this wheel marking from 0 to 10, which
constitutes an entire revolution of the first wheel; when this has been ac-
complished, the first wheel will, by means of a stud or pin, raise a spring]
detent and click (see Fig. 11), which will thereby be set free and move forward
the second wheel one tooth or figure. A second similar spring is raised by
the second wheel, which, at each revolution it makes, moves forward the third
wheel one tooth or figure. The wheels are prevented from moving back by a
ratchet and click arrangement. These three counting wheels each carry two-
circles of figures. Supposing the dials to indicate 05)05)01), that will make
050501, or fifty thousand five hundred and one gallons, and so on up to
999,999, the six zeros indicates a million, then the counting will begin again;
a small circular opening is made in the meter, to allow the quantity measured
to be ascertained by inspection. In the double-action meter represented at
Figures 3 and 4 the water follows the same course as in the meter above
described, with this difference, that the measuring chamber is divided into two
compartments V and V, and is provided with two floats adapted to a common
lever L; there are also two valves S, one for each compartment. A slide
valve g (see Fig. 5) to direct the water alternately into each compartment is
situate underneath the induction aperture, and is placed under the entrance
orifice in a box having two pipes T¹, T"; this second slide valve is worked by
a forked arm situate between these two pipes, and afterwards by a rod Y on

page_text: the shaft A (see Fig. 10), which carries, first, the double valve rod L, secondly,
the moveable weight P and the two float levers. This shaft has its bearings.
in two supports screwed to the central partition of the measuring chamber;
one of these supports p is connected by links to the weight P, for the purpose
of arresting the latter at the end of its course, and carries the lever of the
large float F of the chamber R. This lever is jointed on one side to the
rod O of the induction slide valve (see Fig. 5), and on the other side, to
the rod of the large float F" (shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 3), which passes
through the pipe fixed in one of the compartments of the measuring chamber.
On opening the supply cock t, the level of the water in the lower chamber.
will sink, the float F will descend and open the slide valve to an extent in
proportion to the quantity of water which flows out of the meter. On the
cock being closed, the level will again rise and raise the float, by which means
the induction orifice will be closed, and all action will cease.
In the arrangements represented at Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9, in which springs
are employed instead of the weight P, a horizontal connecting rod Z, Fig. 8,
is jointed to the lever L of the float, and with the connecting rod K, which
holds the spring r¹ distended in the eye of the valve rod O, the lever L' is held-
stationary by the jointed lever C. The float lever L also carries a connecting
rod b, which raises the segment lever L", provided with two screws; immedi-.
ately the right-hand screw touches the moveable finger (shewn by dots), this
latter acts upon the arm of the jointed lever C and causes it to close, the.
lever C opening and forming a stop chain for the lever L', which is jointed to
it, and also to the slide valve rod O. Thus, the lever L' being pressed by the
spring, passes from right to left, closes the entrance orifice and opens-the
slide valve G at the bottom of the chamber. When the float descends,
the connecting rod K is forced in a contrary direction by the float lever, which
compresses the spring r; the connecting rod 6 causes the opposite screw to
touch the finger, which acts upon the lever arm C¹, and the lever passes from.
left to right, and so on, as long as the current of water continues.
In the double action arrangement, represented at Figures 6 and 7, the.
springs 7, 1, are fixed to the float lever L, their point of support being towardsi
the centre; when one of the springs is compressed by the action of the float,
the other, which is distended, must leave sufficient space to allow of the
lever L', which works the slide valves and directs the current of water, passing.
freely. The alternate current in the two measuring chambers is continuous,.
and is stopped by the float F" of the lower chamber of the meter, when the
outward flow is stopped by shutting off the cocks on the pipe t.
In these two latter arrangements the action of the floats of the measuring

page_text: chamber differs in this respect, that their immersion is augmented in pro-
portion to the tension of the spring, so that at the moment when the straight
line of the centres of the jointed levers is broken, the spring will act with its
greatest force upon, the slide valve. The other valve S in the valve box B,
which is acted upon by a screw and spring, must be placed upon the feed pipe
in a box in front of the meter, so that it may turn freely; for example, suppose
there is a pressure of five atmospheres to be reduced to one atmosphere, the
screw is to be turned until the valve will only rise under a pressure of four
atmospheres. It serves also to prevent the air from escaping when the outer.
pipes are being repaired, and also to diminish the wear which might be
occasioned by too great pressure upon the slide valve G. In case of an
escape of air taking place, a small air pump a is placed at the side of the
meter for the purpose of pumping in fresh air, as will be understood on
reference to Figures 3 and 4.
Another arrangement is shewn in Fig. 13, in which, instead of the rod K
and its springs r, r', and connecting rod Z of Fig. 8, I employ a vertical rod
K', upon which are adapted two helical springs,, which are kept in
their place by screw nuts a, a¹, at each extremity of the rod, upon which a
hinge joint slides, and this rod K' is jointed to the float lever L; on the float
rising it will compress the lower spring against the lever, which is held in
place by means of the jointed arm C; the other part of the binge will rise by.
means of the supporting piece on the rod K¹, leaving a space free; then the
finger, which is actuated by the large float by means of the rod b, will touch
the jointed arms and break the line of the centres, the lever L will pass from
left to right and close the induction orifice and open the valve at the bottom
of the chamber, which may be either a clack or slide valve; the water will
then be allowed to flow into the lower chamber of the meter, the float will
descend and compress the top spring 1, which will press the half hinge
against the lever arm L', held back by the opposite arm C¹ until the finger
touches it. The top spring.acts in its turn upon the half hinge, which bears
in a contrary direction and drives the lever from right to left, opens the
induction valve and closes the valve at the bottom of the chamber, and so on
as long as the cock on the supply pipe t is open.
This apparatus may work under any pressure, from simple atmospheric
pressure up to a pressure of a column of two hundred feet high; this pressur
may be modified by the apparatus, or the same pressure may be kept up. The
pressure may be modified by the action of the large float F" in the lower com-
partment of the meter, which by closing the induction valve prevents the air
from being compressed by the outside, pressure, so that the water in flowing

page_text: from the meter shall only be subject to the pressure of the compressed air
contained therein.
Having thus set forth the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above
in part recited Letters Patent I do not claim any of the parts above shewn
and described taken separately, as certain of them are well known, and have
been employed for similar or analogous mechanical purposes; but that which
I consider to be new, and therefore wish to claim as the Invention secured to
me, is, the mode above shewn and described, or any mere modification thereof,
whereby the alternate filling and emptying of a measuring chamber or
chambers may be caused to act upon a counting apparatus, and by that means
indicate the quantity of water that has passed through the meter or vessel.
In witness whereof, I, the said Anthony Charles Sacré, senior, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-sixth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
A. CHS SACRÉ, AINE. (L.D.)