Improvements in Instruments for Measuring. Fluid-flow, Applicable, also to Ships' Logs and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1889,
Complete Specification Left, 18th Nov., 1889-Accepted: 18th Jan., 1890.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Instruments for Measuring. Fluid-flow, Applicable,
also to Ships' Logs and the like.
I, GEORGE MARIE CAPELL, of Passonham Rectory, near Stony Stratford, in the
County of Northampton, Clerk in Holy Orders, do hereby declare the nature of this.
invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to improve the means used for measuring the flow of
air, gases, steam, or water, moving at high velocities.
Instead of inclined vanes of windmill-type, or helical vanes which receive their
motion from the currents in which they are placed, I employ curved wings or vanes
like those of a centrifugal fan (as illustrated in my specification No. 31171883), placed
upon a disc, either extending from the centre to the periphery, and placed at equal
intervals; or curved blades of equal length, extending from the periphery to a given
distance towards the centre; or wings or vanes placed in series, one set being inter-
spaced with the other. Instead of curved blades, I may employ straight blades, placed
at a suitable angle on the disc. In some cases I use an inlet, as in the case of a fan,
and a covering disc; or the disc is mounted on a suitable axle which can be connected
to wheel-trains, with indicator-dial, and in the case of meters for air or gases with a
small centrifugal pump indicating the speed by raising a column of water or other
suitable fluid.
It is obvions that my invention is not confined to devices the ultimate, object of
which is to measure the flow of fluids; inasmuch as it is clear that, by a slight modi-
fication, the invention can be adapted to indicate the rate at which the instrument is
being dragged through a body of fluid, part of which will be embraced by the
mechanism of my invention, the said mechanism being rotated accordingly. Such an
application would be a ship's log constructed according to the invention the nature of
which I have described above.
Dad: 1011
1000
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Instruments for Measuring Fluid-flow, Applicable.
also to Ships' Logs and the like.
I, GEORGE MARIE CAPELL, of Passenham Rectory, in the County of Northampton,
Clerk in Holy Orders, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to improve the means heretofore in use for measuring
the flow of any fluid, such as air, gases, steam, and water, moving at high velocity,
and at any pressure either above or below the normal.
Hitherto it has been the custom to make instruments for measuring fluid-flow, such
as anemometers and water meters, by mounting one or more helical or helicoidal
blades upon an axis, or arranging a series of planes radially about an axis, the said
planes being inclined to the plane of rotation, after the manner of the sails of the well
known windmill; the blades or planes, whichever it might be, have, too, generally
been surrounded by a cylinder or ring; and whichever construction has been
employed, the fluid-the flow of which the instrument has been used to measure
has passed through it; and if the instrument has been used to indicate the rate at
which it was being drawn through a fluid, as in the case of a ship's log, the indicating
CD 1171

page_text: mechanism has been revolved by the passage of the fluid in lines parallel, or
approximately parallel, with the axis of the instrument.
Now according to my invention, I present a disc to the current to be measured,
and transfer the motion of the latter to the disc by a series of vanes fixed more or less
radially upon the face of the disc and projecting from it. These vanes are preferably
included within the circumference of the disc.
I may fix a cover disc in front of the vanes and form an inlet in its centre through
which the current can pass to the centre of the vane-disc, and thence at right angles
into the ways between the vanes, to escape from the instrument through its periphery.
This last mentioned construction is particularly adapted for ascertaining extra high
velocities, it being desirable in the case of such to present as small an area of vane-
surface as possible to the first impact of the blast.
The disc is connected with any suitable indicating mechanism such as the well
known wheel train and series of dials; such indicating mechanism being preferably
upon the opposite side of the disc to the vanes.
I do not confine myself to the indicating mechanism last described, but may adopt
a centrifugal pump of suitably small dimensions, and having two upright tubes, one
connected with the inlet and the other with the ontlet. The disc and pump are both
mounted upon the same axle. The vanes of the former and the blades of the latter
are preferably of the same conformation; and the ratios of the diameters of the vane-
disc and pump, respectively, are decided by a consideration of the relative pressures
of the blast upon the vane-disc, and of the column of water acted on by the pump.
This pump and gauge indicating mechanism are particularly adapted for use when
it is required-to-indicato either wind-pressure or wind-velocity.
In constructing my invention as an anemometer, I may adapt it to receive the air-
current at the periphery, and to discharge it from the centre. The advantage of this
construction, as compared with a rotating wheel like a water-wheel, is the easy
clearance obtained for the air current.
When adapting my invention to the purpose of ascertaining and indicating the
velocity at which it is being drawn through water I adapt the vane-dise to move with
its face to the front, the indicating mechanism being of the wheel-train type and
carried in a case behind it.
In order that my invention, and the means by which it can be carried into practical
use, may be thoroughly understood; I will proceed to describe them in detail,
referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part of
this specification and read therewith. Corresponding parts are marked throughout
the figures with the same reference letter.
a
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my invention illustrating its construction as
portable anemometer with compound curve or double scroll vanes, disc, and wheel
train indicating mechanism.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a straight vane disc.
Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively, front and side elevations illustrating the combination
of a single scroll vane-disc with a centrifugal pump and syphon-gauge indicating
mechanism.
Figs. 5 and 6 are, respectively, longitudinal sectional elevation and plan of my
improved meter for water, compressed air, and analogous fluids.
Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are, respectively, side, front, and rear elevations of a modified form
of anemometer.
Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a ship's log constructed according to my invention
and with vane disc and indicating mechanism as illustrated in Fig. 1.
Fig. 11 is a rear elevation of the log illustrated in the preceding figure after the
removal of the dial cap of the indicating mechanisın.
Referring to Fig. 1, A is the case of the indicating mechanism, which latter is of the
well known wheel train and multiple dial type.
B is the disc, and b, b, the vanes, the two (irrespective of the conformation of
the vanes) constituting what is herein referred to for the purpose of specification as
the vane-disc.

page_text: The disc is fast upon a continuation of the first motion spindle of the indicating
mechanism, the external bearing for this continuation being provided by a stationary
cross piece C.
My invention does not confine me to any particular shape of vane, although further
on I express a preference for a particular conformation, but only for a particular
application of the invention. I must however point out a special advantage and
function of the vane ends b'. It is by increasing or diminishing their curvature that
the instrument is adjusted so as to give a truthful rendering.
Instead of the vanes being of a scroll or a curved conformation, they may be straight
as those, d, illustrated in Fig. 2. The arrangement illustrated in the latter figure is
the one I prefer when straight vanes are used. It is characterised by each one being
parallel with a diameter of the disc, and also (if continued) parallel with the opposite
vane so long as the latter are of an even number.
A cover disc as illustrated in Fig. 8 may be used if desired. When it is used, the
air current to be measured enters through the central orifice.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, F is a base or stand, the construction of meter and
indicating mechanism illustrated being not so well adapted for use as a portable
instrument as the construction previously described with reference to Fig. 1. B is
the vane-disc; and b, its vanes. No cover-disc is shown, but one might be used.
G is the pump-case; and is a centrifugal pump of any suitable type. The disc-
vanes are drawn of a different conformation from that of the pump-blades, and they
may be so; but I prefer, as already stated, that they be of the same conformation.
Both vane-disc and pump are on the same spindle; and the passage of the latter
through the pump caso is made water tight by a suitable stuffing box. "I do not how-
ever confine myself to this construction as they may be on separate spindles geared
together by any suitable type of gearing.
H, H' are a pair of pipes communicating with the interior of the pump-case G, one
with the inlet and the other with the outlet. The joints of the case as well as those of
the said pipes with the case are water tight. Both pipes have embodied with them
visible glass tubes h, , and scales of either height of the columns of water in the
tubes, or of either pressures or velocities corresponding therewith. The pipes H, H', h
and constitute the syphon gauge above referred to.
The energy developed in the vane-disc by the impact with, and pressure upon, the
internal faces of its vanes on the part of the air-current is transferred to the pump,
and indicated by the height to which the column of water is raised in the pipe H, a
corresponding depression shewing in the pipe H. Any variations in the strength of
the air-current will be indicated by a corresponding rise and fall in the respective
limbs of the syphon gauge.
Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, P is the meter case made after the manner of a flanged
main, and of the same sectional area as the main conducting the fluid to be
measured.
The vane-disc is of the construction described with reference to Fig. 1. The
indicating mechanism is contained within a case p on the top of the meter-case,
and is actuated by the vane-disc through gearing p². Q is a cone behind the vane-
disc. The meter case is expanded around the said disc and cone so as to produce an
annular passage q equal in sectional area to the main, into which passage the water
flows after being measured.
Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 9 the vane-disc, vanes and indicating mechanism are of
the same construction as described by reference to Fig. 1. It is provided with a
cover-disc E, through the central opening e in which the measured current escapes.
Eis a staff by which the instrument can be held in a proper position to receive the
wind fairly through its periphery.
Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, A is the case of the indicating mechanism; a, its
first spindle; a', the multiple dial face; a², its movable cover; B, the vane-disc fast
upon the spindle a; b, the vanes; and C, the cross piece.
I is a tube held axially coincident with the vane-disc by strips i; j is part of the

page_text: loop to which the log-line is attached, and K is.a fin adapted to keep the log steady in
the water.
The above mentioned tube may be replaced by a flat plate in the plane, of the axis
of the tube.
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,
1. The combination of disc and vanes, together constituting the vane-disc, with an
indicating mechanism, as set forth.
2. The combination of-vane disc, an indicating mechanism-operated by the rotation
thereof, and one or a set of indicating dials on the opposite side of the indicating
mechanism to that on which the vane disc is, as set forth.
3. The combination of vane disc, indicating mechanism oporated by the rotation
thereof, and a cover-disc.
4. The combination of vane disc, centrifugal pump and syphon gauge as set
forth.
5. The combination of vane disc, indicating mechanism, and attachments, adapted
to indicate the velocity at which the said combination is drawn through a fluid as set
forth.
6. The combination of vane disc, series of vanes, indicating mechanism, and caso
adapted to contain the said parts and also to provide an annular way from the vanes
to the main, as set forth with reference to Figures 5 and 6.
7. The combination of vane disc, series of double scroll vanes and cover disc
constituting an anemometer as described with reference to Figs. 7, 8 and 9.
Dated this 18th day of November 1889.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.