Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring and Controming Supply of Water for Domestic and other Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1887
Complete Left, 10th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th Apr., 1888
Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring and Controming
Supply of Water for Domestic and other Purposes.
THO
I, OSWALD BROWN, of 27, Great George Street, in the City of Westminster,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of water-measuring
and controlling apparatus of the kind referred to in the Provisional Specification
accompanying my application for Letters Patent of the United Kingdom filed
16th October, 1886, No. 13,228; certain of my present improvements being, however,
applicable to other kinds of apparatus intended for similar purposes.
In my aforesaid Provisional Specification is described the use of an oscillating
measuring vessel mounted upon an adjustable tray containing water; such liquid
serving the double purpose of enabling the tray to be accurately levelled and of
cushioning the fall of each loaded compartiment of the measuring vessel as the latter
rocks upon its pivot.
My present invention relates in part to the construction of the measuring vessel
itself and to improved means for regulating either the escape of the water temporarily
confined beneath the loaded compartment upon the latter falling, or the displacement
by water of air similarly confined.
A measuring vessel constructed according to my improved method is preferably
formed of sheet metal and consists of three pieces; a central division plate, and two
body-pieces each of which latter forms the sides and bottom of one of the two
compartments whereof the measuring vessel is composed. The edges of each body-
piece to be attached to the central plate are flanged downwards as regards the bottom,
and outwards as regards their sides; the corresponding flanges of each body-piece
being subsequently brought opposite one another upon the respective sides of the
central plate; whereupon the three parts are rivetted together and the whole rendered
watertight by immersion in a galvanizing bath. By stamping the two plates whereof
the bodies of the compartments are formed from the same or similar metal sheets by
means of the same die, the opposite compartments of the measuring vessel when
complete are rendered of practically equal weight.
For regulating the escape of the water temporarily confined beneath the loaded
compartment upon the latter falling, I vary the space between the floor of the tray
and the bottom edge of the central plate appertaining to the oscillating measuring
vessel. The edges of the central plate project laterally and are formed as knife-edges
for resting in V-grooves provided in the sides of the tray. By filing or otherwise
reducing the knife-edges, the oscillating measuring vessel is lowered in the tray, and

page_text: the bottom edge of the central plate brought nearer to the floor of the said tray; the
passage for the flow of the water from one end of the tray towards the other being
thereby restricted and the action of the apparatus regulated.
By lowering the measuring vessel towards the tray, the angle through which the
vessel oscillates is diminished, and a smaller quantity of water suffices to produce an
overbalancing effect thereon. I utilise this characteristic for the purpose of adjusting
the measuring action of the apparatus; the angle of oscillation being reduced and the
number of strokes increased until the number of strokes recorded properly indicates
the quantity of water passed by the measuring vessel. It will be obvious that the
measuring effect may be adjusted upon the same principle by lowering the bearings
for the pivots, or by increasing the height of the stops upon which each compartment
of the measuring vessel rests after falling.
As farther means for cushioning the loaded compartment upon falling and mitigating
the shock incidental thereto, as also for modifying the suddenness of the action at its
commencement, I sometimes provide each compartment with a false bottom, open at
the sides, and preferably closed at the centre so as to intercept communication between
the false bottom of one compartment and that of the other. When the charged
compartment falls, air is temporarily confined between the underside of the compart-
ment, the false bottom and the sides of the tray; such air being, however, quickly
displaced by water entering the false bottom from the tray. When the empty
compartment rises, water is temporarily retained in the false bottom, and the opposite
or charged compartment of the measuring vessel is partially counterbalanced, the
action of the apparatus being thereby checked at its commenceinent. Variations may
be made in the construction of the measuring vessel and in the means for regulating
the action thereof without departing from the principles described.
With many kinds of water-meters, experience shews that a large proportion of the
stoppages are attributable to the counter or recording mechanism, rather than the
measuring apparatus, being out of order. It is therefore desirable to provide means
whereby the counter may be readily disconnected and bodily removed, another being
substituted in its place and connection with the measuring apparatus quickly restored.
With this object, I employ a fork-shaped clip, the loop or bend whereof engages with
a rod operating the counter, and the arms whereof embrace the central division plate
of the oscillating measuring vessel, or occupy two of the corners formed by the said
central plate and the flanged sides of the measuring vessel.
In using measuring apparatus of the kind herein before referred to with a high
pressure service, it is necessary for the supply orifice from the main to be of small
diameter. In order to assist in maintaining such a supply orifice free from obstruction
by grit or other solid impurities conveyed with the water, I employ the following
device; the same being applicable for use with certain other kinds of water meters
which are subject to stoppage or derangement from similar causes. The supply nozzle
is vertical and is provided with a valve-seat at its upper extremity. To the valve,
which rests upon the said seat, is attached a pendent wire or rod which extends down-
wards through the supply passage. When the valve is lifted, the wire or rod is raised,
and tends by its movement within the passages to free the latter from any obstractive
matter which may have become lodged therein.
For securing and locking a cover to the apparatus and preventing an unauthorised
person from tampering with the measuring or recording apparatus, I employ in
conjunction with hinges or suitable catches a quadrant-shaped bolt which passes through
holes in the cover and the side of the casing respectively, the extremity of the bolt
protruding a sufficient distance to permit of the bow of a padlock being passed there
through. Or a wire may be similarly applied and sealed with lead in the usua
manner.
DL: 1011
1007
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Supply of Water for Domestic and other Purposes.
I, OSWALD BROWN, of 2, Victoria Mansions, in the City of Westminster, Consulting
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to bo performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of water-measuring and
controlling apparatus of the kind referred to in the Specification to Letters Patent of
the United Kingdom granted to me and dated 16th October, 1886, No. 13,228;
certain of my present improvements being, however, applicable to other kinds of
apparatus intended for similar purposes.
In my aforesaid Specification is described the use of an oscillating measuring
vessel mounted upon an adjustable tray containing water; such liquid serving the
double purpose of enabling the tray to be accurately levelled and of cushioning the
fall of each loaded compartment of the measuring vessel as the latter rocks upon
its pivot.
My present invention relates in part to the construction of the measuring vessel
itself and to improved means for regulating either the escape of the water temporarily
confined beneath the loaded compartment upon the latter falling, or the displacement
by water of air similarly confined.
Water-measuring and controlling apparatus embodying my present improvements
is represented in longitudinal and transverse vertical section in Figures 1 and 2 and
in plan in Figure 3. The measuring vessel a is preferably formed of sheet metal and
consists of three pieces; a central division plate a¹ and two body-pieces a² a³, each of
which latter forms the sides and bottom of one of the two compartments whereof
the measuring vessel is composed. The edges of each body-piece to be attached to
the central plate are flanged downwards as regards the bottom and outwards as regards
their sides, the corresponding flanges of each body-piece being subsequently brought
opposite one another upon the respective sides of the central plate, whereupon the
three parts are rivetted together and the whole rendered water-tight by immersion in
a galvanizing bath. By stamping the two plates whereof the bodies of the compart-
ments are formed from the same or similar metal sheets by means of the same die, the
opposite parts of the measuring vessel when complete are rendered of practically
equal weight.
For regulating the escape of the water temporarily confined beneath the_loaded
compartment (6 or 6¹) upon the latter falling, I vary the space between the floor of
the tray c and the bottom edge of the central plate a¹. The edges of the central plate
project laterally and are formed as knife-edges a' at for resting in V-grooves provided
in the side of the tray. By filing or otherwise reducing the knife-edges, the oscillating
measuring vessel a is lowered in the tray and the bottom edge of the central plate a¹

page_text: brought nearer to the floor of the said tray, the passage for the flow of the water from
one end of the tray towards the other being thereby restricted and the action of the
apparatus regulated.
By lowering the measuring vessel towards the tray, the angle through which the
vessel oscillates is diminished and a smaller quantity of water suffices to produce an
overbalancing effect thereon. I utilise this characteristic for the purpose of adjusting
the measuring action of the apparatus; the angle of oscillation being reduced and
the number of strokes increased until the number of strokes recorded properly
indicates the quantity of water passed by the measuring vessel. It will be obvious
that the measuring effect may be adjusted upon the same principle by lowering the
bearings for the pivots or by increasing the height of the stops upon which each
compartment of the measuring vessel rests after falling.
As further means for cushioning the loaded compartment upon falling and
mitigating the shock incidental thereto, as also for modifying the suddenness of
the action at its commencement, 1 sometimes provide each compartment b b¹ with
a false bottom a a open at the sides and preferably closed at the centre so as to
intercept communication between the false bottom of one compartment and that of
the other. When the charged compartment falls, air is temporarily confined between
the underside of the compartment 6 or 6', the false bottom a or a and the sides
of the tray c; such air being, however, quickly displaced by water entering the
false bottom from the tray. When the empty compartment rises, water is temporarily
retained in the false bottom and the opposite or charged compartment of the measuring
vessel is partially counterbalanced, the action of the apparatus being thereby checked
or rendered less abrupt. Variations may be made in the construction of the measuring
vessel, and in the means for regulating the action thereof, without departing from the
principles described.
The water discharged from the measuring vessel a at each oscillation thereof falls
into the lower part of the apparatus, whence it may be withdrawn through the tap h.
If, however, the water be not withdrawn, it operates in time, by means of a float and
suitable connections, to automatically close the inlet valve e and thus shut off the
supply from the main. Tho vertical and horizontal sections, Figures 4 and 5, shew
to an enlarged scale the mode I prefer for constructing the outlet tap h.
With many kinds of water meters experience shews that a large proportion of the
stoppages are attributable to the counter or recording mechanism, rather than the
measuring apparatus, being out of order. It is, therefore, desirable to provide means
whereby the counter may be readily disconnected and bodily removed, another being
substituted in its place and connection with the measuring apparatus quickly restored.
With this object, I employ means such as represented in side elevation in Figure 6;
d being a fork-shaped clip, the loop or bend whereof engages with a rod d' operating
the counter d², and the arms whereof embrace the central division plate a¹ of the
oscillating measuring vessel or occupy two of the corners formed by the said central
plate and the flanged sides of the measuring vessel.
In using measuring apparatus of the kind herein before referred to with a high
pressure service, it is necessary for the supply-orifice from the main to be of small
diameter. In order to assist in maintaining such a supply orifice free from obstruction
by grit or other solid impurities conveyed with the water, I employ a device such as
Ι
illustrated in sectional elevation in Figure 7; the same being applicable for use with
certain other kinds of water-meters which are subject to stoppage or derangement from
similar causes. The supply-nozzle e is vertical and is provided with a valve-seat el at
its upper extremity. To the valve e², which rests upon the said seat, is attached a
pendent wire or rod e³ which extends downwards through the supply-passage e¹.
When the valve is lifted, the wire or rod is raised, and tends by its movement within
the passage to free the latter from any obstructive matter which may have become
lodged therein.
For securing and locking a cover, such as f, (Figures 1 and 2) to the outer casing
and preventing an unauthorised person tampering with the measuring or recording
apparatus, I employ, in conjunction with hinges or suitable catches, a quadrant-shaped

page_text: bolt g (Figure 2) which passes through holes in the cover and the side of the casing
respectively, the extremity of the bolt protruding a sufficient distance to permit of
the bow of a padlock being passed therethrough. Or, a wire may be similarly applied
and sealed with lead in the usual manner.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. In measuring apparatus of the kind herein referred to, constructing the
oscillating measuring vessel of sheet metal substantially as herein described, whereby
the opposite compartments of the vessel when completed are rendered of practically
equal weight.
2. In measuring apparatus of the kind herein referred to, regulating the action of
the measuring vessel by controlling the escape of the water or other fluid temporarily
confined beneath the loaded compartment upon the latter falling, substantially as
set forth.
3. In measuring apparatus of the kind herein referred to, checking the action of
the measuring vessel at the commencement of each oscillation by providing each
compartment thereof with a hollow bottom to which water is temporarily admitted
from the tray, the same serving to partially counterbalance the opposite or loaded
compartment during its fall, substantially as set forth.
4. In measuring apparatus of the kind herein referred to, adjusting the measuring
capacity of the vessel by varying the angle through which it is permitted to oscillate,
substantially as herein described.
5. In measuring apparatus of the kind herein referred to, the improved means,
substantially as described and illustrated, for connecting the counter to the oscillating
measuring vessel, whereby the former may be readily detached and bodily removed
and another counter substituted in its place and expeditiously connected.
6. For use with intermittently-supplied water-measuring apparatus, the improved
construction of inlet-valve with pendent rod traversing the supply-passage and
operating substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
7. The use, in conjunction with hinges or suitable catches, of a quadrant-shaped
bolt, applied substantially as herein described and operating to secure the cover to
the tank of the measuring apparatus.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.