IMPROVEMENTS IN LIQUID METERS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Clayton Mewburn of 169 Fleet Street in the City.
of London Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer for
an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LIQUID METERS Communicated to him from abroad
by A. Sinson St Albin of Paris France
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Clayton Mewburn at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th October 1882.
JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN of 169 Fleet Street in the City of London, Patent:
Agent and Consulting Engineer, IMPROVEMENTS IN LIQUID METERS [Com-
municated to him from abroad by A. Sinson St Albin of Paris France]
"
This invention relates to liquid meters, and an important feature is the
employment of a measuring device consisting of a cylindrical caoutchouc bellows
applied against a partition which divides the capacity of the meter into two
compartments in which the liquid to be measured circulates. The improved meter
is provided with a valve distribution mechanism actuated by the bellows by means
of a special arrangement composed of a spring working by a small link or rod a
lever which comes alternately against the one and the other of two projections on
the rod which works the valves. The movements of the bellows are transmitted
to a vertical shaft which by means of a ratchet wheel works the counting or
integrating mechanism.
Having stated the nature of the invention I will now describe how it may be
carried into effect.
A metal case or box forming the body of the meter is divided into two com-
partments by a partition having apertures therein and to this partition a cylindrical
bellows is bolted. The inlet pipe for the water or other liquid leads to a cylinder
so that the liquid on entering the meter flows into this cylinder and according to
the position occupied by a valve enters the one or the other of two compartments
of this cylinder so as to act within or outside the bellows. The outlet pipe from
the meter also communicates with a cylinder which can be put alternately into
communication with the two compartments above named through the intermediation
.

page_text: of two valves. While the one of the compartments communicates with the inlet
pipe the other communicates with the outlet pipe. The action or play of the
valves is as follows:-To the end of the bellows is jointed a rod which through
the movements of the bellows works a lever keyed on a vertical spindle. To this
lever is fixed the end of a spring the other end of which is jointed by a link to a
piece having a fork by means of which the said piece is jointed to the end of the
lever. Another piece mounted loosely on the vertical spindle is fixed to the rod
which works the valves. When the end of the bellows is moved the rod which is
jointed thereto transmits its movement to the lever and the oscillating movement
thus given to the spindle is transmitted to the counting mechanism by a ratchet
wheel or other suitable arrangement. At the same time the spring acting upon the
link above mentioned causes the piece to which this link is jointed to turn around
its end so that it comes against the one or the other of two projections on the rod
which works the valves and moves this rod in the one or the other direction.
The distributing mechanism comprises the two cylinders already referred to
which communicate respectively with the water inlet and the outlet. The first of
these cylinders is traversed longitudinally by a rod carrying the valve before
described which valve can be applied against the one or the other of two seats.
The two valves in the other cylinder are likewise carried by a rod and the valve
rods of the two cylinders are connected together by a yoke to the middle of which
the rod for working the valves is fixed.
From the arrangement above described the inlet and outlet valves can be
worked at the same time and therefore if one of the two compartments communi-
cates with the inlet the other communicates with the outlet. The bellows is guided
by side rods and a central rod. The piece which as above described is fixed to the
rod which works the valves has at its free end a roller which while guiding the
movements of this rod permits a slight pressure of the valves upon their seats to
-be-exerted-by a vertical spring. Another roller fixed to the end of the forked
piece before described guides this piece in its movement. -To-a-piece mounted
loosely on the spindle and connected at its end to the rod which works the valves is
fixed a piece having two lateral arms which will serve for working the said rod in
case the spring for any reason fails to act. The valves would then be worked by
the said arms against which a vertical screw or pin fixed to the lever would come.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Clayton Mewburn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd April 1883.
"
JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN of 169 Fleet Street in the City of London Patent
Agent and Consulting Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN LIQUID METERS (A Com-
munication to me from abroad by A. Sinson St Albin of Paris, France)
This invention relates to liquid meters, and an important feature is the employ-
ment of a measuring device consisting of a cylindrical caoutchouc bellows applied
against a partition which divides the capacity of the meter into two compartments
in which the liquid to be measured circulates. The improved meter is provided
with a valve distribution mechanism actuated by the bellows by means of a special
arrangement composed of a spring working by a small link or rod a lever which
comes alternately against the one and the other of two projections on the rod which
works the valves. The movements of the bellows are transmitted to a vertical
shaft which by means of a ratchet wheel works the counting or integrating
mechanism.
Having stated the nature of the invention I will now describe with the aid of
the annexed drawings which represent one of the improved meters how it may be
carried into effect. Figure 1 is a vertical section through the distributing cylinders,
Figure 2 a plan, Figure 3 a longitudinal section and Figure 4 is a transverse
section on the line A B.
A metal case or box A forming the body of the meter is divided into 2
compartments by a partition B having apertures therein, and to this partition a
cylindrical bellows C is fixed by means of bolts a a. The inlet pipe D for the
water or other liquid leads to a cylinder E so that the liquid on entering the
meter flows into this cylinder, and according to the position occupied by a valve F
enters the one or the other of 2 compartments a and B of this cylinder so as to
act within or outside the bellows C. The outlet pipe G from the meter also
communicates with a cylinder H which can be put alternately into communication
with the two compartments a and ẞ through the intermediation of two valves I J.
While the one of the compartments a and B communicates with the inlet pipe D
the other communicates with the outlet pipe G. The action or play of the valves
is as follows:-To the end of the bellows C is jointed a rod K which through the
movements of the bellows works a lever L keyed on a vertical spindle M. To this
lever L is fixed by screws oo the end of a spring N the other end of which is
jointed by a link P to a piece Q having a fork d by means of which the said piece Q
is jointed to the end e of the lever L. Another piece R mounted loosely on the
vertical spindle M is fixed to the rod S which works the valves. When the end of
the bellows C is moved the rod K transmits its movement to the lever L keyed on
the vertical spindle M and the movement thus given to the spindle is transmitted
to the counting mechanism by a ratchet wheel on the spindle M outside the case A
or by other suitable arrangement. At the same time the spring N acting upon the
link P causes the piece Q to turn around its end e so that it comes against the one
or the other of 2 projections ff on the rod S which works the valves and moves
this rod in the one or the other direction.
The distributing mechanism comprises the 2 cylinders E and H which communicate
respectively with the water inlet and the outlet. The first of these cylinders is
traversed longitudinally by a rod i carrying the valve F which can be applied
against the one or the other of 2 seats g h. The 2 valves I J of the cylinder H
are likewise carried by a rod k and the valve rods i and k are connected together
by a yoke to the middle of which the rod S for working the valves is fixed.

page_text: From the arrangement above described the inlet and outlet valves can be worked
at the same time and therefore if one of the 2 compartments for example the
compartment a communicates with the inlet the other B communicates with the
outlet. The bellows C is guided by side rods mn and a central rod O. The piece R
which is fixed to the rod S which works the yalves has at its free end a roller p
which while guiding the movements of the rod S permits a slight pressure of the
valves upon their seats to be exerted by a vertical spring V. Another roller q fixed
to the end of the piece Q guides this piece in its movement. To the piece R
mounted loosely on the spindle M and connected at its end to the rod S which
works the valves is fixed a piece V₁ having 2 arms 8 which will serve for
working the said rod in case the spring N for any reason fails to act. The valves
would then be worked by the said arms ra against which a vertical screw X or pin
fixed to the lever L would come.
Having now described the nature of the said invention as communicated to me
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I claim :—
First Constructing liquid meters with a measuring device consisting of a
cylindrical bellows applied against a partition which divides the capacity of the
meter into two compartments the movements of the bellows actuating the liquid
distributing apparatus and the counting or integrating mechanism substantially as
hereinbefore described and represented in the annexed drawings.
Second-The distributing mechanism consisting of three valves the rods of
which are connected together by a yoke these valves being actuated by a lever
and spring connected by a link to another lover the displacement of which works
the rod which actuates the valves substantially as hereinbefore described and
represented in the annexed drawings.
Third-The supplementary arrangement for ensuring the action of the valve
rod and consisting of a screw or pin and two arms on the lever which actuates the
said rod, substantially as herein before described and represented in the annexed
drawings.
Fourth-The combination of parts forming an improved liquid meter arranged
and acting substantially as hereinbefore described and represented in the annexed
drawings.
In witness whereof I. the said Jolin Clayton Mewburn have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twenty third day of April One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
1