A NEW AND USEFUL MECHANISM, APPARATUS, OR ENGINE TO BE USED EITHER IN MEASURING WATER DISCHARGED FROM A CONDUIT, OR FOR VARIOUS OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Parsons, of the State of Massachusetts,
of the United States of America, for the Invention of "A NEW
AND USEFUL MECHANISM, APPARATUS, OR ENGINE TO BE USED EITHER IN
MEASURING WATER DISCHARGED FROM A CONDUIT, OR FOR VARIOUS OTHER
USEFUL PURPOSES."-A communication by Gerard Sickels and Oliver
Atkins Farwell, both of the City of Boston, of the State aforesaid:
Sealed the 29th October 1869, and dated the 27th July 1869.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Thomas Parsons at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 27th July 1869, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL PERSONS TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS MAY COME, BE
IT KNOWN, that I, THOMAS PARSONS, of the State of Massachusetts, of
the United States of America, am in possession of "A NEW AND USEFUL
MECHANISM, APPARATUS, OR ENGINE TO BE USED EITHER IN MEASURING WATER
DISCHARGED PROM A CONDUIT, OR FOR VARIOUS OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES," the said
Invention having been communicated to me by Gerard Sickels and

page_text: Oliver Atkins Farwell, both of the City of Boston, of the State aforesaid,
and I do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and the
manner in which it is to be performed, in other words, the principle of
construction of the said Invention, and the mode of its operation, to be
fully described in the following Specification, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings making part thereof.
Of the said Drawings Figure 1 represents a longitudinal and vertical
section taken through the axis of the main cylinder of one kind of the
apparatus or hydraulic engine to be herein-after described; Figure 2 is
a transverse section of the same; Figure 3 is a top view in part and a
horizontal section in part of it.
Figure 4 is a diagram exhibiting a modification of the device for
operating the auxiliary piston by means of the main piston of the
engine.
Figure 5 is a top view, Figure 6 a horizontal section, and Figure 7 a
transverse section of another form of engine embracing the principle
of the Invention; Figure 8 is another vertical section of this latter
form of engine, such section being taken through the axis of its
auxiliary piston.
In the first of the last four Figures the base plate is exhibited without
the cap, which rests thereon, the same being, to more particularly
represent the operative parts, covered by such cap.
The nature or principle of the apparatus or mechanism comprises a
main cylinder, its ports, piston, and valve, an auxiliary piston and
cylinder, and a mechanism for operating the latter piston by the piston
of the main cylinder while in movement within such cylinder, the whole
to be operated by water or other fluid under pressure while passing
through the apparatus.
And the Invention further consists in peculiar mechanisms or com-
binations of parts by which the auxiliary piston and the valve are put in
operation by the main piston.
Also in an arrangement of the auxiliary piston and cylinder with the
main valve, the main cylinder, and its valve chest.
Also in a certain arrangement and combination of parts or mechanism,
as represented in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, and herein-after explained.
The Invention has for its object the production of a simple, cheap,
and efficient apparatus to effect, by means of a suitable registering

page_text: mechanism or clock applied to it, the measure of the amount of water
or fluid which from time to time may flow through the main cylinder
and other parts of the apparatus.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Drawings a denotes the main cylinder,
provided with two heads b, b; it also has two ports n, n', leading into it
at or near its opposite ends. Within the said cylinder is a double-headed.
piston, composed of two heads c, c, united by a bar or stem d, such stem
having a slot made through its middle. The lower arm of a lever o is
projected into this slot, such lever having its upper arm hinged to the
auxiliary piston k, which is adapted to move vertically within a short
auxiliary cylinder 1. This latter cylinder is erected on a slide valve m,
and is open both at top and bottom. The said valve is to operate within
an induction chamber or valve case g arranged on the side of the main
cylinder, the valve seat having the ports n, n', leading from it. Through
the said seat and between the mouths of its ports there is a passage
opening into the main cylinder between the heads of its piston. The
fulcrum of the lever o is provided with rollers or wheels p, p, whose
peripheries rest on a supporting shelf or seat q, which is upheld within
the main cylinder, and in the position as represented in the Drawings, by
means of two standards s, s. The seat or shelf q is curved upward at
its ends, as shown at q, q', such being so as to act as abutments to
arrest the progress of the rollers p, p, at the limits of motion of the
latter in both directions. The lever o instead of being supported by
rollers resting on a shelf or tablet as described, may be pivoted to an
auxiliary lever o¹, as represented in Figure 4, this latter lever being
hinged or pivoted to the lower part of the cylinder a, the slot in the
cylinder serving to arrest the movements of the lever o' at the proper
times.
A suitable registering mechanism for determining the quantities of
water which may pass through the apparatus from time to time may
be arranged on the cup of the apparatus, so as to be operated by the
auxiliary piston while in movement.
The operation of the engine or apparatus, or water meter, as it may
be termed, may be thus explained.
The water on being introduced under pressure into the induction or
valve chamber g will by its action on the valve crowd such down upon
its seat; it will also press downward on the auxiliary piston k, at the
same time water will flow into the uncovered or open port, and thence.

page_text: into the main cylinder at one end thereof. The water by pressure
against such end and the next adjacent head of the double-headed or
main piston will cause such piston to be moved toward the other end of
the main cylinder. During such movement the lever o will be moved
along into and beyond a vertical position, the auxiliary piston k rising or
being forced upward within the cylinder in the meantime. As soon as
the lever o is moved into and beyond the vertical position, the pressure
of the water on the auxiliary piston will force the piston down, and
cause the lever to so act on the valve as to move it across the open
port and past the other port, so as to open the latter, and thereby allow
the water to flow into it and act against the other head of the main
piston, and also allow water to escape through the first port into the
space between the heads of the piston. The said main piston will next
be driven in an opposite direction, and the water previously let into the
cylinder will be expelled through the eduction passage i. The main
piston will first be moved in one direction and next in the opposite one,
the valve being so moved on its seat during each of such movements as
to cause the water by its pressure to reverse the motion of the main
piston, and expel from the cylinder the water against which the piston
may be driven.
i
This
In the apparatus shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, the piston shown
at A has but one head, and two projections or studs a, a, extended
axially therefrom in opposite directions. The cylinder B is arranged
within a case C, whose base plate is shown at b and its cap at c.
case is provided with an induction passage or opening d. It also has an
eduction passage e leading out of a valve seat ferected on the base plate,
and provided with two ports or passages g, g, that are led from the seat
to opposite ends of the cylinder. The valve D (of the said valve seat)
formed in manner as represented is fixed to the stem h of an auxiliary
piston arranged in an auxiliary cylinder k. The cylinder k disposed
within the case and alongside of or near to the main cylinder B has a
valve seat on its top to support a slide valve m, properly constructed to
operate with ports n, o, p. The two ports n, p, lead from the seat to
opposite ends of the auxiliary cylinder, but the middle port o should
lead into the eduction passage e. Two upright shafts r, s, are disposed
in the main cylinder, so as to extend down into it near its opposite ends.
There projects from each of such shafts and within the cylinder an
árm t. Another arm u also extends from the top of each shaft. One

page_text: of these arms u, u, is pivoted or jointed directly to one end of a con-
necting rod O, which is pivoted to the slide valve of the auxiliary
cylinder; the other arm is connected with such valve by being pivoted
to the other end of the connecting rod O. In consequence of the above
the main piston while being moved in one direction within the cylinder
will force one of its projections against the next shaft arm t, and will
move it so as to turn its shaft, and thereby cause the slide valve of the
auxiliary cylinder to be moved in one direction on its seat; a movement
of the main piston in the opposite direction will cause the other arm / to
be moved, and its shaft to be turned so as to effect a reverse movement
of the slide valve of the auxiliary cylinder. These movements of the
slide valve will cause its extreme ports to be alternately opened for the
reception of water from the case, whereby the piston of the auxiliary
cylinder will be put in movement, so as to cause the slide valve of the
main piston to be moved on its seat in the proper manner and at the
proper times to cause the said main piston to have a reciprocating
The water
réctilinear motion imparted to it within its cylinder.
entering each cylinder will move the piston thereof and cause the
expulsion of the water against which the piston may be driven, the
whole passing out of the main eduction passage.
Knowing the amount discharged from the case during each movement
of the main piston, and applying to the case a registering apparatus to
indicate the number of such movements or the measure of the amount
of water discharged from time to time, the engine will become a water
meter, and may be applied to a conduit to indicate the amount of water
discharged therefrom from time to time.
Having thus explained the Invention, what I claim as such is as
follows:-
I claim the combination of the main cylinder, its ports, valve, and
piston, with the auxiliary piston and cylinder, and a mechanism, sub-
stantially as described, for operating the latter piston by the main piston
while in movement in its cylinder, as set forth.
Also each of the peculiar mechanisms or combinations, substantially
as described, by which the auxiliary piston and the main valve are put
in operation through the action of the main piston within its cylinder.
Also the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the auxiliary
piston and cylinder with the main valve, the main cylinder, and its
valve chest.

page_text: Also the combination and arrangement, as shown in Figures 5, 6, 7,
and 8, of the main cylinder, its piston, valve seat, ports, and valve, the
auxiliary cylinder, and piston, and ports and valve, and the mechanism
for actuating the latter valve by the main piston while in operation
within its cylinder, the whole being substantially as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this