Improvements in Water-meters.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
Improvements in Water-meters.
We, HEINRICH MEINECKE and PAUL MEINECKE, both of 24 30 Garvestrasse,
Breslau, Germany, Manufacturers of Water-meters, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, and in what manner the same is to he performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The invention relates to existing water-meters, and more particularly to those
known as Thomson's water-meters, and the object in view is to prevent damage by
frost to the works of such water-meters.
Although arrangements have been previously made to prevent frost from damaging
the works of water-meters, they presented generally the serious disadvantage of
causing after each frost an inundation of the room in which the meter was placed.
By the present improvements we obviate the latter disadvantage, while at the same
time protecting the works from damage.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a vertical and Fig. 2 a horizontal sectional view of a Thomson or disc
water-meter with the improvements of our present invention adapted thereto.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a vertical and a horizontal section of the outlet.
Fig. 5 is a detail view of the globular hearing of the disc.
Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 1, but showing the parts in the position they assume
through the action of frost.
It may be mentioned that Figs. 3 to 5 are drawn to a larger scale than the others,
and that the same letters of reference denote similar parts in all the figs.
The disc, as is usual in this class of water-meter, is placed in a special casing o
in the interior of the main case A. The casing o is provided with upper and
lower flanges e fitting tightly the interior of the main casing A, and is pressed
against the bottom plater by the downward pressure of the top cover B, provided
with a rubber or other packing ring. The bottom plate c is bevilled all round
its edge and is seated on a bevilled ring firmly secured to the main casing A.
Thus the space between the bottom plate and the casing o is empty and
watertight from the interior of the meter, which is filled with water. The bottom
plate c is purposely the weakest part of the water-meter as compared with all the
other parts, so as to be the only part to yield under the pressure of the freezing
water. Naturally the pressure caused by the expansion of the ice is exerted in all
directions, but as the walls and the cover of the meter are comparatively strong
to the bottom c, it will be evident that the strain must bear against the latter, so
that the downward pressure of the internal casing o will cause the deformation of
the bottom plate c and finally push it from its seat on the bevilled edge of the
ring, as shown at Fig. 6. The increase of space resulting therefrom is sufficient
to allow for the expansion of the ice without damage to the works. To prevent
the bottom plate c from falling right out, a flange X or other suitable means may
be provided at the lower edge of the ring 6 to receive the bottom after being
pushed from its seat by the movement of the interior casing o and at the same
time keep the space C watertight.
The damage to the meter from frost may sometimes be left unnoticed and water
may be drawn off without registering after melting the ice as, through the displacement
of the internal casing o, there is now a direct passage from the inlet to the outlet,
see Fig. 6.

page_text: In order to prevent this care must be taken to create a watertight joint as far as
possible at the outlet with the internal casing. For this purpose we provide the
outlet socket of the main casing with internal screw threads to receive a screw-
threaded ring or sleeve /, the interior edge of which presses against the packing ring
and thereby forms a tight joint between the faced socket of the internal casing and
the faced collar of said packing ring, without however preventing the displacement of
the casing o by the ice pressure.
It has also been found advantageous to cut off the supply through the displacement
of the internal casing, so that the damage to the meter on account of frost, i.e.,
the bulging of the plate c, becomes at once apparent and can be repaired. For this
purpose we provide a rib or peripheral extension d on the internal casing o, so formed
as to fit against and close the inlet orifice at the downward movement of the said
casing o. The consumer is therefore bound to notice and to report on the damage to
the meter.
It has been already intimated that to make the space C absolutely watertight from
the upper part of the meter, and in order to prevent any water passing through the
screw-threads of the adjustable bearing D of the disc, we fit a screw threaded cap k
provided with a packing ring on the socket y, as shown in detail at Fig. 5.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. A disc water-meter provided with an internal casing containing the disc,
arranged in such a manner in the interior of the main casing as to obtain a water-
tight space underneath the said internal casing and adapted to be moved downward
through the expansion of the ice and thereby deform the thin bottom plate of the
main casing and force the bevilled edge of such plate off the seat on its supporting
ring, substantially as herein before shown and described and for the purpose stated.
2. In combination with the water-meter claimed in Claim 1, the screwed sleeve f
in the interior of the outlet socket of the main casing adapted to press the faced
collar of the packing ring against the faced surface of the outlet socket of the disc
casing, substantially as hereinbefore shown and described and for the purpose
stated.
3. In combination with water-meters of the character herein before referred to, a
rib or peripheral extension fitting the interior of the main casing and adapted to fit
against and close the inlet orifice of the water supply pipe, substantially as hereinbefore
shown and described.
4. In combination with the water-meter claimed in the first claiming clause, a cap
for the globular bearing of the disc, substantially as and for the purpose stated.
5. The improved water-meter constructed substantially as hereinbefore shown and
described.
This oth dox of November 1806
M. HORSCHEL,
A gent.