IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID METERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Conrad Ahrbecker, of Nos. 117 and 119, Stamford
Street, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID
METERS."
Sealed the 6th April 1877, and dated the 10th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Conrad Ahrbecker
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th October 1876.
HENRY CONRAD AHRBECKER, of Nos. 117 and 119, Stamford Street, in the
County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLUID METERS."
My Invention has reference to that description of fluid meters wherein the fluid
in passing in contact with helical blades in the direction of their axis causes them
to revolve, and thus to impart motion to the index of the registering mechanism.
According to my present Invention I construct a hollow cylinder capable of
rotating on supports in the line of its axis, and containing one or more helical or
screw blades which are fixed both to the sides of the tube and to the centre spindle
thereof, thus formning one or more helical passages between the blades. The tube is
placed in a cylindrical chamber, and is open at both ends fitting with its one end
closely against a plate closing the one end of the chamber, in which plate are formed
a number of oblique holes sloping in a contrary direction to the inclination of the
screw blades and adjustable in area by a rotatable plate with corresponding holes.
The fluid to be measured being made to enter through these holes impinges in
oblique jets upon the screw blades and then flows through the helical passages
whereby rotary motion will be imparted to the tube, which motion is conveyed by
a worm on its spindle to the registering mechanism in any known manner.
Although I prefer to make the blades in the tube of helical shape, yet when the
tube is of limited length they might for the sake of cheapness be nearly oblique
surfaces inclined to the axis of the tube to any required degree. The fluid on issuing
from the open end of the tube is conducted away through an outlet opening in the
chamber.
In order to prevent any leakage of fluid between the before-mentioned perforated
plate and the end of the tube, I prefer to make on the former a cylindrical projection
within which the end of the tube fits.

page_text: Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying Drawings shew one arrangement of my before
described improved fluid meter; Fig. 1 shews a plan partly in section; Fig. 2 shews
a cross section of the rotating cylinder with helical blades; Fig. 3 shews an
elevation partly in section; and Fig. 4 shews a front and side view of the plate D
detached.
The casing. A, A1, A2, of the meter is connected at E to the supply, and at K to
the delivery. In the part A2 is the hollow cylinder C in which are one or more
helical blades C fixed both to the inner surface of the cylinder and to the central
spindle I by which the cylinder is supported, as shewn, and by which the rotary
motion of the cylinder is imparted to the registering mechanism at J in any suitable
known manner. The chamber A2 of the casing is closed at its inlet end by a
dise D having oblique passages D¹ through which the fluid passes from the chamber A¹,
and in thus being made to impinge in oblique jets against the screw blades C¹ and
then to flow through the helical passages formed by the latter the fluid will effect
the rotary motion of the cylinder and blades which will be imparted to the counter.
The end of the cylinder C is made to fit as closely as practicable into the cylindrical
recess in the plate D so as to prevent any leakage of fluid past the cylinder. The
plate D has a circular projection upon which is fitted the wire gauze or perforated
sieve B through which the fluid has to pass from the chamber A¹ to the passages D¹
which are thus prevented from being choked with impurities. The plate has also a
hollow sleeve D2 extending across the chamber A¹ through which the spindle I
passes, and which bears with a bevilled shoulder against the end of the same, as
shewn. The fluid passes from the inlet E to the chamber A¹ through a channel E¹
formed at the side of the chamber J containing the counter.

page_text: E is the
Figs. 5 to 8 shew another arrangement of the improved meter in which the
cylinder C with helical blades C¹ is placed in a position at right angles to the inlet
and outlet apertures instead of in line therewith as in the preceding arrangement.
Fig. 5 shews a vertical section; Fig. 6 shews a plan of the plate D; Fig. 7 shews a
section through the cylinder C; and Fig. 8 shews a plan of the meter.
inlet through which the fluid enters the chamber A¹ of the casing, and whence it
passes through the sieve B to the oblique apertures D¹ of the plate D, issuing through
these in oblique jets into the helical passages of the cylinder C, from the lower end
of which the fluid escapes through the outlet K. The spindle I of the cylinder is
supported on the lathe centre H, and passes through the sleeve D2 into the chamber J
containing the counter.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim,--
First. The construction of fluid meters wherein the fluid is caused to pass through
oblique passages in a fixed plate or diaphragm into helical or oblique passages
formed in a rotatable cylinder carried by a central spindle, so that the fluid in
impinging obliquely against the said passages and then flowing through them longi-
tudinally of the cylinder imparts rotary motion to the latter and through its spindle
to the counter, substantially as herein described.
Second. In fluid meters, constructed and operating as set forth in the preceding
claim, forming on the plate or diaphragin a recess or projecting rim within which
the receiving end of the rotating cylinder fits as closely as practicable so as to
prevent the fluid from escaping between the meeting surfaces of the diaphragm and
the cylinder, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Conrad Ahrbecker, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
HENRY CONRAD AHRBECKER. (L.S.)