Improvements in Liquid-meters.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 12th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 17th Nov., 1894
Improvements in Liquid-meters.
I, WILHELM BERNHARDT, of Vienna XII, Gaudenzdorf, Schönbrunner-
Hauptstrasse No. 23, Austria, Machine-maker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a liquid-meter of the class in which the liquid that flows
into the apparatus, is compelled to pass through a kind of turbine so as to rotate
the wheel thereof and thereby to operate a counting-apparatus that registers the
quantity of liquid passing through the meter.
Liquid-meters of this kind have, as far as I know, hitherto possessed the
disadvantage that as soon as the pressure of the liquid sinks below a certain limit
the turbine ceases in consequence of the low pressure acting on its vanes, to rotate
at a velocity corresponding to the quantity of liquid passing, so that the counting-
apparatus then indicates a smaller quantity of liquid than actually passes through
the meter.
"
Now my invention is designed to obviate this disadvantage for which purpose
the liquid after passing through a mud-catcher or a filter is caused to pass through
a pressure-regulator comprising differential weights which are free to fall and close
the main or ordinary inlet and which form with annular ribs arranged in the casing
of the regulator, an automatic valve which influences the velocity of the turbine-
wheel and automatically closes the aforesaid inlet when the pressure of the liquid
falls below a certain limit so that the liquid can then reach the turbine-wheel
only through one or more tubes connected with a certain number of inlet-passages
in the cylinder of the turbine.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 shows in vertical section, a liquid-meter constructed according to my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section illustrating a modified construction of the pressure-
regulator.
Referring to Fig. 1, the liquid coming from the mud-catcher or filter passes
through a pressure-regulator B before entering the turbine-cylinder C; and before
leaving the meter its quantity is registered by suitable counting-apparatus in a well
known manner.
The pressure-regulator B comprises a casing in which are arranged two annular
ribs and the lower of which serves as a seat for the weighted valves D and D'.
These valves are mounted loosely on a central rod y so that in the absence of
liquid-pressure, they are capable of falling freely and thus form differential valves.
The valves D and D¹ are accurately adjusted for the passage of a definite quantity
of liquid and the lower one is provided with regulating-holes d. Below the
differential valves the interior of the valve-case is connected by one or more small
tubes with inlet-passages in the turbine-cylinder C there being however more
passages than there are tubes k. When no liquid is passing through the
regulator B the upper valve D rests on the lower one D' and closes the holes d
therein. If a weak current of liquid be caused to pass through the regulator B,
the upper valve D will be lifted off the lower one D' by the force of the liquid
forced upwards through the holes d. If the pressure of the current be increased,
the lower valve D' will also be raised and the water will then be able to pass
through the annular opening thus formed between the said lower valve and the
annular rib, whilst the upper valve D will remain more or less stationary on the
rod y.
If the pressure reach a maximum the valve D' will be raised to such an

page_text: extent that it will come into contact with the shoulder of the rod y and the upper
valve D will be raised to its full extent. The differential valves thus form with
the annular ribs and an automátic regulating device that accurately regulates
the pressure of the liquid on the vanes of the turbine-wheel F which operates the
counting-apparatus.
If the pressure of the liquid should fall below a predetermined limit, the valves D-
and D will fall again so that the valve D¹ will close the holes d in valve D' and
the liquid will then be able to enter the turbine cylinder C only through the small
tubes and the corresponding inlet-passages and when the pressure of the liquid
again increases sufficiently to raise the valves the liquid will be again free to enter
the turbine-cylinder through all the inlets thereof.
In the modified construction of pressure-regulator shown in Fig. 2 the weights D
and D¹ have separate seats, the weight D resting on the. annular rib and
the weight D on the annular rib 1. The operation of the regulator is however
the same as that herein before described with reference to the construction shown in
Fig. 1.
The turbine cylinder C is provided with a suitable casing having obliquely
arranged inlet-passages 7. The shaft g of the turbine-wheel F is mounted so as to
be easily rotatable, its lower journal being in the bottom of the cylinder C and
its upper journal in a bracket H situate in proximity to the gearing of the counting-
apparatus.
The aforesaid gearing is or may be of ordinary construction and is arranged to
work in the liquid that passes through the meter; but it is protected by a cover E
both from dirt and from the direct action of the liquid current. The indicating-
apparatus, which is or may be also of ordinary construction, is contained in a box G
and is separated from the gearing in a water-tight manner.
As will be obvious the valves D D' instead of being arranged to close auto-
matically by gravity, may be arranged to be closed by springs the pressure of
which on the valves is suitably regulated for the purpose in view.
Dated this 13th day of April 1894.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Liquid meters.
I, WILHELM BERNHARDT, of Vienna XII Gaudenzdorf, Schönbrunner-
Hauptstrasse, No. 23, Austria, Machine-maker, 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:-
My invention relates to liquid-meters of the class in which the liquid that flows
into the apparatus is compelled to pass through a kind of turbine so as to rotate
the wheel thereof and thereby operate counting-apparatus that registers the quantity
of liquid passing through the meter.
Liquid-meters of this kind have, as far as I know, hitherto possessed the
disadvantage that when the pressure of the liquid sinks below a certain limit the
turbine ceases, in consequence of the low pressure acting on its vanes, to rotate at
a velocity corresponding to the quantity of liquid passing, so that the counting-
apparatus then indicates a smaller quantity of liquid than actually passes through
the meter.
Now my invention is designed to obviate this disadvantage, for which purpose the
liquid after passing through a mud-catcher or filter is caused to pass through a
pressure-regulator comprising differentially weighted. valves which are free to fall
and close the main or ordinary inlet and which form with annular ribs arranged in

page_text: the casing of the regulator an automatic valve or resistance which influences the
velocity of the turbine-wheel and automatically closes the aforesaid inlet when the
pressure of the liquid falls below a certain limit, so that the liquid can then reach
the turbine wheel only through one or more tubes connected with a certain number
of inlet-passages in the cylinder of the turbine.
In the drawing filed with my Provisional Specification,
Fig. 1 shows in vertical section, a liquid-meter constructed according to my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section illustrating a modified construction of the pressure-
regulator.
Referring to Fig. 1, the liquid coming from the mud-catcher or filter passes
through a pressure-regulator B before entering the turbine-cylinder C; and before
leaving the meter its quantity is registered by suitable counting-apparatus.
The pressure-regulator B comprises a casing in which are arranged two annular
ribs z and z¹ the lower of which serves as a seat for the weighted valves D and D¹.
These valves are mounted loosely on a central-rod y so that in the absence of
liquid-pressure they are capable of falling freely. The valves D and D¹ are
accurately adjusted for the passage of a definite quantity of liquid; and the lower
one is provided with regulating-holes d. Below the differential valves the interior
of the case of the pressure-regulator B is connected by one or more small tubes k
with inlet-passages in the turbine-cylinder C, there being however more passages
than those connected with the tubes k. When no liquid is passing through the
regulator B the upper valve D rests on the lower one D' and closes the holes d
therein. If a weak current of liquid be caused to pass through the regulator B,
the upper valve D will be lifted off the lower one D by the pressure of the liquid
forced upwards through the holes d. If the pressure of the current be increased,
the lower valve D' will also be raised and the water will then be able to pass
through the annular opening thus formed between the said lower valve and the
annular rib z', whilst the upper valve D will remain more or less stationary on the
rod y.
If the pressure become sufficiently great, the valve D' will be raised to
such an extent that it will come into contact with the shoulder of the rod y, and
the upper valve D will be raised to its full extent. The differential valves thus
form with the annular ribs and an automatic obstruction that accurately
regulates the pressure of the liquid on the vanes of the turbine wheel F which
operates the counting-apparatus.
If the pressure of the liquid should fall below a predetermined limit, the
valves D and D' will fall again until the valve D' rests on its seat and the valve D
closes the holes d in the valve D', so that the liquid will then be able to enter the
turbine-cylinder C only through the small tubes k and the corresponding inlet-
passages ; and when the pressure of the liquid again increases sufficiently to raise
the valves the liquid will be again free to enter the turbine-cylinder through all the
inlets thereof.
In the modified construction of pressure-regulator shown in Fig. 2 the weights D
and D' have separate seats, the weight D resting on the annular rib = and the
weight D' on the annular rib '. The operation of the regulator is, however, the
same as that herein before described with reference to the construction shown in
Fig. 1.
The turbine-cylinder C is provided with a suitable casing having obliquely
arranged inlet-passages 1. The shaft q of the turbine-wheel F is mounted so as to
be easily rotatable, its lower journal being in the bottom of the cylinder C and its
upper journal in a bracket H situate in proximity to the gearing of the counting-
apparatus.
The aforesaid gearing is or may be of ordinary construction and is arranged to
work in the liquid that passes through the meter; but it is protected by a cover E
both from dirt and from the direct action of the liquid current. The indicating
apparatus which is or may be also of ordinary construction, is contained in a box G
and is separated from the gearing in a water-tight manner.

page_text: As will be obvious, the valves D and D'; instead of being arranged to close
automatically by gravity, may be arranged to be closed by springs the pressure of
which on the valves is suitably regulated for the purpose in view.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A liquid-meter of the type herein referred to wherein the passage of the
-water to the casing of the turbine-wheel is controlled by valves such as D and D'
which are loosely mounted on a guide-rod so as to be capable of moving freely
thereon under the action of gravity or spring pressure, and are adjusted for the
passage of a definite quantity of liquid, the arrangement being such as to form in
conjunction with one or more bye-pass tubes or passages connecting the liquid inlet
pipe at the outer side of the valves with the interior of the turbine-case, an auto-
matic regulating device whereby when the quantity or pressure of the liquid
passing through the meter falls below the normal, the said liquid will be compelled
to enter the turbine case solely through the aforesaid bye-pass tube or passage, or
tubes or passages, and by acting against the vanes or blades of the turbine therein
ensure the requisite rotation of such turbine substantially as herein described.
2. The combination with a liquid-meter of the kind herein referred to, of
regulating-apparatus constructed, arranged and operating as herein before described
with reference to and shown in Fig. 1, or modified according to Fig. 2, of the
drawings.