A New or Improved Rotary Meter for Water, Steam, Air and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1897
A New or Improved Rotary Meter for Water, Steam, Air and
the like.
I, JOHANN LÜHNE of Aix-la-Chapelle, Germany Engineer; do hereby declare
the nature of my said 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 my invention is to construct a new or improved meter for water,
steam, air, and the like.
According to my invention I utilise the rotation of a wheel having a number
of radial projections or fans attached to a central boss, to indicate the quantity of
fluid passing through a closed conduit, the axle of the fan wheel being connected
with any suitable counting mechanism, the operation being such that it becomes
a matter of impossibility for the counter to register a greater quantity than that
actually used, even if the greatest variations of pressure and the most violent
shocks take place in the conduit, which it is well known are unavoidable.
This apparatus is characterized by the fact that the dimensions and angles of
the admission and outflow openings for the fluid are the same whether these
openings are separated by a central partition or whether a special mode of regula-
tion influences the direction of the flow.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Figs. 1 and 2 are sectional elevations illustrating two methods of construction.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line of Fig. 4; and Fig. 4 is a trans-
verse section on the line y y of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section, and Fig. 6 a longitudinal plan illustrating another
arrangement of the meter.
Referring to Fig. 1, the wheel e is fitted centrally in a casing a, to which the
pipes are connected in the usual manner. The passage of the fluid from 6 to b¹ (or
vice versa)directed by the plates ff, and by the form of the box, causes the rotation
of the wheel e, and such rotation is utilised in connection with any suitable count-
ing apparatus, which may be fitted in the space c, or in any other convenient
position.
Fig. 2 illustrates an arrangement in which the wheel is fitted into the pipe
itself, without the box a.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 the passage of the fluid is caused by an angular
plate or partition d to cross the chamber enclosing the wheel, the plates ff being
angularly arranged as in Figs. 1 and 2. This arrangement increases the efficiency
for measuring small quantities of fluid. The partition d ensures the proper course
of the fluid and imparts great sensitiveness to the apparatus. c is a chamber for
the counting apparatus, and ii are passages for cleansing purposes, and for freeing
the working parts from sediment and dirt.
Instead of the angular plates f and fl perforated channels, such as shown in
Figs. 5 and 6 the channels above the partition d are directed tangentially from the
right hand side towards the measuring wheel, and those below this partition are

page_text: directed likewise tangentially from the left hand side, the result being that the
flowing current is caused to act upon the measuring wheel e tangentially. The
regulator (Fig. 1) influences the current when brought into close proximity to
the wheel, so that irregularity of action is prevented.
In the construction with channels or perforations a similar result is obtained by
closing two-perforatons for the forward as well as for the backward flow.
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. In a meter for water, steam, air, and the like, the combination of a wheel e
fitted between two admission and escapement surfaces f and fl having radial
plates to be acted upon by the motion of the fluids, in connection with suitable
counting mechanism, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by
Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.
2. In a meter of the description aforesaid, the combination therewith of a
plate d substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and illus-
trated by Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.
3. In a meter of the description aforesaid, the modification whereby the entering
fluid is caused to operate the wheel tangentially by means of diagonal openings
in a surrounding cylinder, substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.
4. In a water meter as aforesaid the arrangement of openngs i for allowing water
to have access to the chamber containing the counting mechanism for cleaning
purposes, and for repairing this chamber and keeping up the motion of the meter,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by Fig. 3 of the drawings.
5. The general construction arrangements and combinations of the several and
respective parts, together forming my invention of a new or improved meter for
water, steam, air, and the like, substantially as herein before described and illus-
trated by the drawings.
Dated 15th July 1897.
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS
8 Quality Court, London WC. Agents.