IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS. APPLICABLE ALSO AS A CURRENT METER
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jan Anthony Muller of Amsterdam Holland Civil
Engineer at present of 6 St Paul's Churchyard in the City of London for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING WATER OR
OTHER LIQUIDS. APPLICABLE ALSO AS A CURRENT METER ม
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jan Anthony Muller at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st October 1882.
JAN ANTHONY MULLER of Amsterdam Holland Civil Engineer at present of
6 St Paul's Churchyard in the City of London "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR MEASURING WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS, APPLICABLE ALSO AS A CURRENT
METER
"
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for measuring water or
other liquids such improved apparatus being also applicable as a current meter, for
which letters Patent were granted to me bearing date the 9th day of December
1874 and numbered 4228.
The principle of measuring the velocity of the water upon which the said former
improvements were based is sound and will be followed in carrying out this present
invention.
Long experience with the former apparatus has proved that the application was
imperfect in the essential parts and I purpose inaking the following material
alterations which I have found to be essential to a proper and practical application
of the said underlying principle
First The floats used in the former apparatus, to which the prime motion of the
water current is imparted and one of the most essential parts I have found to fail
completely when a great pressure of water is acting upon the same and slipping is
very frequent in consequence of the comparatively thin layer of water at
disposal, for communicating rotary motion
To remedy these evils I intend using instead of floats a fan wheel of suitable
dimensions and material preferably of vulcanite, such material to have the specific
gravity equal to one, and not to influence inagnets: this arrangement allows of
D

page_text: a larger body of water to be set in rotation within the casing or body of the
meter and prevents any slipping whilst it is at the same time capable of of bearing
any pressure of water to which it may be subjected
Secondly. The transmission of the motion to the gearing again is faulty in my
former apparatus: since the part intervening between the poles of the magnet and
the armature must necessarily be thin, this thin part I have often found to be
porous and allowing of the water to pass therethrough and the arms of the
armatures as formerly arranged allow of the frequent slipping of the same.
To remedy these evils I make the top cover of the body in part of cast metal
and centrally thereof I secure and employ a drawn tube of smaller diameter and
make the arms of the armatures shorter-which arrangements allow of the
employment of a harder and less porous metal capable of standing a greater pressure
of water and nt the same time cause the armatures to move more slowly thus
ensuring with the same power of the magnets a far greater certainty of action and
a more perfect registration than in the former apparatus.
Thirdly: In manufacturing water meters of large dimensions, it has been most
difficult to arrange the tongue in such a manner that it should always act properly.
To avoid this evil again I make use in my present apparatus of an arrangement
by which only a part of the quantity of the water to be measured, is allowed to
pass through the meter-the rest parts being let in by suitable conduits around the
meter; in other words I intend making only one size of body (a small one)-of
these water meters and to make them give and measure a larger quantity the
difference in quantity is passed through an outer body or casing outside the first
meter body and by altering the gearing of the meter, I cause it effectually to serve,
at a trifling difference of cost, as a watermeter of large capacity

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Jun Anthony Muller in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd May 1883.
JAN ANTHONY MULLER of Amsterdam, Holland Civil Engineer at present of
6 St Pauls Churchyard in the city of London "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR MEASURING WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS APPLICABLE ALSO AS A CURRENT
METER
21
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for measuring water or
other liquids such improvements being also applicable as a current meter for which
Letters Patent were granted to me bearing date the 9th day of December 1874 and
numbered 4228.
The principle of measuring the velocity of water upon which the said former
improvements were based is sound and will be followed in carrying out this present
invention.
Long experience with the former apparatus has proved that the application was
imperfect in the essential parts and I have devised the following improvements
which overcome the objections to the before mentioned apparatus
In the accompanying sheet of drawings Fig. 1 shows in vertical section the
improved apparatus constructed according to this invention and Fig 2 is a horizontal
section at line x, x, Fig. 1 shewing the moving fan portion, and Fig 3 shows a
modification of construction of this improved meter arranged for measuring a large
quantity of water.
First. The floats used in the former apparatus to which the prime motion of the
water current is imparted and one of the most essential parts I have found to fail
completely when a great pressure of water is acting upon the same and slipping is
very frequent in consequence of the comparatively thin layer of water at disposal
for communicating the rotary motion.
To remedy these evils I use instead of floats a fan wheel A of suitable dimensions
and of vulcanite or any such material, having the specific gravity of one and not of
a character to influence magnets: this arrangement allows of a larger body of
water to be set in rotation within the casing or body B of the meter and prevents
any slipping whilst it is at the same time capable of bearing any pressure of water
to which it may be subjected.
"
Secondly. The transmission of the motion to the gearing is faulty in my former
apparatus; since the part intervening between the poles of the magnet and the
arinature must necessarily be thin; this thin part I have often found to be porous
and allows of the moisture or water to pass therethrough and the arms of the
armature as formerly arranged allow of the frequent slipping of the same
To obviate these defects I make the top cover C of the body in part of cast
metal and centrally thereof I secure and employ a drawn tube D of smaller
diameter and make the arms a of the transmission armatures shorter, which
arrangements allow of the employment of a harder and less porous metal capable
of standing a greater pressure of water and at the same time cause the armatures
to move more slowly thus ensuring with the same power of the magnets a¹ a far
greater certainty of action and a more perfect registration than in the former
apparatus.
For employing and securing a steady flow of water for moving the fan portion A,
the cylinder G is provided in the body of the measuring chamber so as to form a
passage for the water; the stop b prevents the water from flowing in any other
direction than that shown by the arrows Fig. 2 whilst a slot H in the cylinder G

page_text: allows of the movement of the current of water passing through the meter body
between the inlet and outlet to be communicated to the film of water laying inside
the cylinder G around the fan portion A so as to actuate the said fan portion.
Thirdly. In manufacturing water-meters of large dimensions it has been found
most difficult to arrange the tongue in such a manner that it should always act
properly. To avoid this evil again I make use in my present apparatus for an
arrangement by which only a part of the quantity of the water to be measured is
allowed to pass through the meter, the rest parts being let in by suitable conduits
around the meter in other words I intend making only one size of body (a small
one) of these waterineters and to make them pass and measure a larger quantity
the difference in quantity being passed through an outer body or casing E, outside
the first meter body B, see Fig. 3 and by altering the gearing of the meter I cause
it effectually to serve, at a trilling difference of cost, as a water meter of large
capacity.
The screen with openings F' serves to distribute in an even manner the water
passing through the meter and past it.
The union portion E which is flanged or socketed to occupy: a position in the
lay of the main or pipe E has provided thereon at E a seating for reception of the
. flange B¹ of the incter.
•
Having now described the nature an-1 particulars of my said Invention I
claim-
Firstly. The improvements in apparatus for measuring water or other liquids
applicable also us a current meter constructed and operating as and for the purpose
herein set forth and shown by the respective figures of the drawings.
Secondly. The combination of the meter with the union E' of the main or pipe E,
with the screen F, provided with the openings F1 the inlet of said meter being.
coincident with and secured to one of such openings F¹ as and for the purpose
herein set forth and shown by the drawings
In witness whereof I the said Jan Anthony Muller have hereunto set my
hand and seal this thirtieth-day-of-April-in. the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
---
In the presence of.
WALTER A. BARLOW
Patent Agent & Engineer
6 St. Paul's Churchyard
London E.C.
J. A. MULLER. (L.S.)