AN IMPROVED ROTARY WATER METER
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM NEWTON Cox of Wentworth Road, Horfield, Bristol, in the County
of Gloucester, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"AN IMPROVED ROTARY WATER METER to be as follows:-
This Invention, which relates to improvements in Rotary Water Meters, consists
in the employment of a casing or box preferably of cast iron, having ports for the
ingress or egress of the water to be measured, tho ingress port being preferably at
the lower part of the casing and the egress port at the upper part thereof. Fitting
within the said casing is a measuring chamber consisting of a straight sided vertical
cylinder preferably of brass or gun metal. Between the outer casing and the inner
or measuring cylinder there is formed a curved channel, and in proximity with the
bottom of the cylinder, and meeting the said curved channel is cut out an inlet
port to the cylinder or measuring chamber the said port being preferably oblong
and narrow in proportion to its length, the length being in the direction of the
circumference of the cylinder, and the ends of the slot or port being made as nearly
as convenient tangential to the inner circumference of the cylinder. The inflowing
stream of water first receives a circular direction by passing through the curved
channel, and according to the size and shape of the opening or port into the cylinder
the whole of the water therein is caused to rotate more or less rapidly. In the
upper portion of the cylinder or measuring chamber is a fan or vane wheel
preferably four bladed, the bottom of the vanes being at such a distance above tho
upper edge of the inlet port of the cylinder or measuring chamber as to insure that
the varying percussive effects due to varying pressures and speeds of the water at
the inlet port shall be expended against the walls of the cylinder, and against the
water therein.
In connection with the spindle of the vane wheel is arranged the counting gear
to register upon a figured dial the number of revolutions made by tho water in the
measuring chamber. The said gear consists of pinions, preferably of pinion wire,
the said pinious gearing into wheels, the whole of the gearing being preferably of
phosphor bronze.
To adjust the meter a short cylinder is employed fitting within the measuring
cylinder, but with about one fourth of its circumference removed and somewhat
similar to a 21
piston ring." By rotating the said cylinder or ring within the

page_text: measuring cylinder by means of a bolt or pin from the outside of the meter, the
inlet port can be made fully open, or entirely closed, with all the intermediate
graduations. Or in lieu of this arrangement the cylinder or ring may be arranged
as a sliding shutter, by raising or lowering which the port is opened or closed.
The necessity of removing the glass cover of the dial very frequently, on account
of "dewing," may be dispensed with according to the present improvements by
making the cover a fixture, with a water tight joint, and filling the inside with a
suitable transparent fluid, such as glycerine, plain water, or water slightly alkaline.
Dated this first day of April 1884.
J. H. JOHNSON, DAY & JOHNSON, 1
Petitioner's Agents,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.

page_text: I, WILLIAM NEWTON Cox, of Wentworth Road Horfield, Bristol, in the County
of Gloucester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN
IMPROVED ROTARY WATER METER and in what imanner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My Invention, which relates to improvements in Rotary Water Meters, consists
of a casing or box preferably of cast iron, having ports for the ingress or egress of
the water to be measured, the ingress port being preferably at the lower part of
the casing and the egress port at the upper part thereof. Fitting within the said
casing is a measuring chamber consisting of a straight sided vertical cylinder
preferably of brass or gun metal. Between the outer casing and the inner or
measuring cylinder there is formed a channel in proximity with the bottom of the
cylinder, and meeting the said channel is cut out an inlet port to the cylinder or
measuring chamber, the said port being preferably oblong and narrow in proportion
to its length, the length being in the direction of the circumference of the cylinder,
and the end of the slot or port being made as nearly as convenient tangential to
the inner circumference of the cylinder. The inflowing stream of water first
receives a circular direction by passing through the channel, and according to the
size and shape of the opening or port into the cylinder the whole of the water
therein is caused to rotate more or less rapidly. In the upper portion of the
cylinder or measuring chamber is a fan or vane wheel, the bottom of the vanes
being at such a distance above the upper edge of the inlet port of the cylinder or
measuring chamber as to insure that the varying percussive effects due to varying
pressures and speeds of the water at the inlet port shall be expended against the
walls of the cylinder and against the water therein.
In connection with the spindle of the vane wheel is arranged the counting gear
to register upon a figured dial the number of revolutions made by the water in the
measuring chamber. The said gear consists of pinions, preferably of pinion wire,
the said pinions gearing into wheels, the whole of the gearing being preferably of
phosphor bronze.
To adjust the meter, the short cylinder which is the measuring cylinder is
employed, fitting within the outer cylinder or casing, but with about one fourth of
its circumference removed that is to say, having a port whose length is about one
fourth of its circumference.-By rotating the said cylinder or ring within the outer
cylinder or casing by means of a bolt or pin from the outside of the meter, the
inlet port can be made fully open, or entirely closed, with all the intermediate
graduations. Or in lieu of this arrangement the cylinder or ring may be arranged
as a sliding shutter, by raising or lowering which the port is opened or closed.
The necessity of removing the glass cover of the dial very frequently on
account of "dewing" may be dispensed with according to the present improve-
ments by making the cover a fixture, with a water tight joint, and filling the
inside with a suitable transparent fluid, such as glycerine, plain water, or water
slightly alkaline.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1, is in part a side elevation and in part a vertical section of a water
meter constructed according to and constituting my present Invention.
Figure 2. is a view of the same partly in plan and partly in horizontal section.

page_text: .
Figures 3. and 4. are respectively a front elevation and a horizontal section of
the measuring cylinder or sliding shutter forming part of the apparatus represented
at Figures 1, and 2, and Figures 5 and 6. are respectively an elevation and a plan
of the vane wheel employed in such apparatus.
In carrying out my present Invention, I provide the circular chamber or casing a,
into which the water to be measured is admitted through the inlet b at or near the
bottom of its periphery and is freo to escape at or near the top through the outlet c,
which is of larger area than the inlet. The position of the inlet port or aperture b.
is such that the force of the incoming stream of water impinges on the water
contained in tho chamber or casing a, and imparts a rotary and helical motion to
the said water and in itself pursues the same rotary and helical course on its way
to the outlet c,-This rotary motion continues so long as the inlet and outlet cocks
or valves remain open, and varies directly in proportion to the quantity of water
passing through the meter, but is not affected by variations in the pressure under
which the water to be measured, is delivered.
The number of revolutions which the water makes within the chainber or
casing a, for each unit of quantity, say per gallon or litre, depends also on the area
and position of the inlet aperture b. To allow of the speed of the revolution of
the water being adjusted within considerable limits, the apparatus is supplied with
a ring or chamber d, fitted accurately within the chamber or casing a. This ring
or chamber d, which is represented more particularly at Figures 3. and 4. is so
made, that by means of a key or wrench it may be readily turned round within
the chamber a, to any desired position and this is effected by removing the screwed
plug e, at the bottom of the meter, without having otherwise to remove any
further portion of the meter. The ring or chamber d, has an elongated slot f
formed through its periphery, and it is obvious if the centre line of this slot f.
coincide with the centre line of the inlet aperture b. and its width be the same, or
nearly so, as represented upon the annexed drawings its length being greater, that
it may be so turned in the chamber a, as to regulate the area of the orifice through
which the incoming water passes into the meter, and that the said orifice may be
fully open, quite closed, or opened to any intermediate degree.
The number of revolutions which the water makes within the chamber a. may
also be regulated by the screwed plug g, which by screwing or unscrewing may be
nade to project more or less within the chamber a, and by offering a resistance
when projecting within the said chamber a, retard the speed of the water; but I
only use this form of adjustinent for very slight differences of speed, and only in
cases where the adjustment by means of the ring or chamber d, is not quite delicato
enough.
I make the interior surfaces of the chamber a, and ring or chamber d, as also the
interior sufaces of the inlet port b, and outlet port c, approximately smooth in
order to reduce to a minimum the resistance offered to the free rotation of the
water within the meter, as the loss by friction and the inertia of the water remains
as a fixed quantity at all speeds; and while it is scarcely appreciable at a high
velocity, it equals the whole force of the incoming stream at a very low velocity,
and no rotation takes place within the chamber a.
For registering the number of revolutions made by the water within the meter,
I provide a form of counting mechanism, consisting entirely of toothed wheels and
pinions in place of the worms and worm wheels hitherto employed. For this
purpose I provide within the chamber a, the fan or vane wheel h, preferably
composed of very thin and light sheet metal and of the shape represented more
particularly at Figures 5 and 6,-I mount this vane wheel 'h, on the spindle i,
having the pinion head j, at or near its upper end.-In order to reduce the specific
gravity of the vane wheel h, spindlo i, and pinion head j, to about the same
specific gravity as that of water, I may secure the float k, to the underside of the
said vane wheel h,-This float when so employed is preferably composed of baked
wood or cork thoroughly saturated with paraffin wax.-The ends of the spindle i,
are hardened, and work in and between hard centres, one of which, preferably the
-

page_text: upper one, is made adjustable within the fixed bracket m.-The fan or vane.
wheel h, is so secured to its spindle that tho vanes are on a level above that of the
inlet orifice b, and below that of the outlet c, so that the said fan or vane wheel h
is not affected by the direct porcussive action of the inflowing stream of water nor
by the syphoning effect (if any) of the outflow thereof, a suitable position for the
said vane wheel h, being about mid-way between the levels of the inlet b, and that
of the outlet c.-This arrangement of parts admits of a much slighter and lighter
form of fan or vane wheel h, being employed, for in practice it is found that the
speed of the fan is neither retarded or accelerated by a very considerable lowering
or raising of the initial pressure, or by altering the pressure within the measuring
chamber, but that its speed is affected by an alteration of the quantity of water
passing through the meter in a given time quite independently of the pressure at
which it is received or delivered.-The construction and mode of supporting the
fan or vane wheel h, allows it to revolve with very great caso and to consume but
a very small portion of the total force imparted to the rotating water; and in
practice the speed of the fan relatively with that of the water, excepting at very
low velocities, is not materially less than the speed the water would attain if the
fan were removed. It is therefore only necessary to apply to the spindle i, a
suitable train of freely moving wheels and pinions to enable the revolutions of the
fan or vane wheel h, to be counted and recorded upon a figured dial, and thereby
ascertain the quantity of water which has passed through the meter from time to
time.
The counting mechanism which I prefer to employ consists of the toothed
wheel n, gearing into the pinion j, on the spindle i.-This wheel n, carries on its
axle another pinion or by preference the said axlo is composed of pinion wire o,
which gears into a second toothed wheel p, whose arbor turns upon an axis
coincident with that of the spindle i,-The axle of this wheel p, carries a
magnet q, and the whole of this mechanism is secured under tho cover 7, which
is composed of any non-magnetic material The remainder of the counting
mechanism which may bo of any convenient construction, with its dial and other
connected parts, I arrange within the second case 8, and actuate the same by a
pinion on the spindle (or by the pinion wire t.) to which a second magnet, or
magnetic armature u, is secured. The dial case 8, is then fixed over the cover ™,
and is so arranged that the two magnets or their equivalents may be as near to
each other as possible.-As a precaution against any interference with the magnets
from the outside of the meter, I placo a soft iron plate immediately underneath the
dial plate, and make the cap nut w, of iron.
The outer case a, whose interior herein before described is marked a, is preferably
formed of gun metal or of any other suitable non-rusting metal, and has a dirt box
or strainer y, upon the inlet into the meter. The inlet b, and outlet c, aro each
provided with an union joint respectively marked, and a¹, but for larger sizes of
meters, I may make the outer case of cast iron with flanged or other equivalent
connections, the chamber a, under such construction will then be of gun inetal or
other non-rusting metal fitted securely as a liner inside such cast iron casing. The
inlet and outlet branches may also be set radially to the outer case a, instead of
tangentially as shewn upon the annexed drawings, providing always that the inlet
port b, is so arranged as to cause the inflowing stream of water to produce the
necessary rotary motion within the chamber a. For the purpose of lessening
the cost of production, and when, but a very small range for adjustment is
required, I may dispense with the ring or chamber d, and use the plug g, only,
for adjustment.
It is to be understood, although I have hereinbefore described and shewn upon
the annexed drawings a form of water meter wherein are embodied the essential
features of my Invention, that I may vary such form, and the sizes and material of
the relative parts without departing from such essential features of my Invention,
and I desire it to be further understood, although I have described magnets as used

page_text: in connection with my Invention, that I lay no claim whatever to the use of such
magnets, being well aware they have been similarly employed heretofore.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to bo performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. In a rotary water meter, a chamber a, with its inlet b; of smaller area, and
upon a lower level, than its outlet c, and the arrangement of the fan or vauc
wheel h, between the two levels thereof substantially as and for the purposes
herein before set forth with reference to the annexed drawings.
Second. In a rotary water meter, the adjustable ring or chamber d, in com-
bination or not in combination with the screwed plug g, substantially as and for
the purposes hereinbefore set forth with reference to the annexed drawings.
Third. In a rotary water meter, the arrangement and combination of parts
substantially as hereinbefore set forth with reference to the annexed drawings.
Dated this thirtieth day of December 1884.
J. H. JOHNSON, DAY & JOHNSON,
Applicant's Agents.