US1001578A - Water-meter. - Google Patents

Description

J. M. BURTON.

WATER METER.

APPLICATION FILED 111.11.11', 1910.

PatentedAug. 22, 1911.

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J. M. BURTON.

WATER METER.

AYPLIGATION FILED 111111.11, 1910.

1,001,578. Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

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WATER METER.

APPLIoATIoN FILED 11113.11, 19-10.

1,001,578. Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

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itlNlttTE STATES PATENT Olttil.

JAMES DI. BURTON, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NEPTUNE METER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEV JERSEY.

VATERVIETER.

i ,corses Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 11, 1910.

Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

Serial N0. 548,524.

lie it known that l, .laines M. lUnrroN, a. citizen of the United States, residing in Long island tlity, in the borough of Queens ot the city of New York, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Vater-li/Ieters, of which the ilollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

rthis invention relates to the constri'lction of meters designed especially for use where the ordinary [low for consumlition is to be metered while an extraordinary tlow, as when lthe water is used for tire purposes, is permitted automatically without metering and without loss of head. Such metering devices are provided ordinarily with multiple conduits, in one of which is placed the measuring device throllgh which the normal flow of water takes place, while the other conduit is normally closed but opens automa tically to permit a free ttow of water in ease of an extraordinary demand, as for tire service. itietcrs of this character have been criticised by water department otlicials be cause of the frequency with which, under practical comilitions ot' use, more or less [low through the tire service conduit takes place without any indication thereof, and by tire umlcrwriters because of the frequency with which, also under practical conditions of use, the conduit for tire service becomes clogged or obstructed so that there is abnormal loss i of head, while in all of such devices, so far as known, there has been hitherto some loss of head due to certain features of construe tion. Not only have devices of this charac ter, as heretofore offered to the publie, suffered from the :faults of construction above alluded to by which therevis at best more or less diminution of head when the lire conduit is open, and by which there .is introduced an element ot' uncertainty as to the indication of the opening of the tire service conduit, but the construction has been highly complicated, involving many `ioints and a corresponding number of gaskets and bolts, and there has been formed invariably a dead end in which sand and other foreign matter accumulates to such an extent as sometimes to obstruct seriously the tire conduit when it should permit a free tlow, while the existence of such dead end and therefore the eX istenee of a body of still water favors ac- (annulation and the lgrowth ol barnaclcs or similar snbaqucous growth, which always brings about a serious loss of head, while sometimes it prevents the proper opening ot the tire service valve.

l't is the object of this invent ion to produce a meter or metering device of the character ret'errtal to which shall he tree from the defects above alluded to, and especially shall be very compact and easily capable ot embodiment in a single structure.tha t is,within a single shell or casing, shall consist of a minimum number ot' parts avoiding a multiplicity of joints and a correslnnnling multiplicity of gaskets and bolts, shall have no dead end for the accunmlation ot sand and other foreign matter. shall permit a straight and unobstructed flow when the lire valve is open without any loss ot head, and shall indicate with certainty both the number ot openings of the [i re service valv` and the cx tent; of each opeiiing.

',l`he invention will be more fully explained hereinafter with 'reference to the accompanying drawings in which it Yis illustrat'ed and in which- Figure l is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section through the mecha.- nism chamber on thc plane indicated by the line 1*1 of lig. 2, loolt'ing in the direction of the arrows. VFig. l is a. view partly in clevation and partly broken out and in section on the plane indicated by the line fle-2 of `llig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view in side elevation of parts of the mechanism shown in Fig. ll but on a larger scale. Fig. t is a detail view in elevation ot some of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view on a still larger scale of the means for supporting and etiecting the movemci'it of the re cording drum. Figs. (3 and T are views in longitudinal section illustrating moditications in the arrangement of the tire valve with respect to the metering dcvicc.

Referring first to the constrlaftion illustrated in ltigs. '1---5, it will he seen that the shell or casing (l, which receives and supports all ofthe working parts, is divided by a vertical partition a. to form at one side thercoli a chamber u? in which are located the mechanical devices directly concerned with the movement of the tire valve and with the rceording of such movement, thc connnirtmcnt on the other side of the partition a. being further divided by a, wall a. to form an inlet compartment at which communicates with the inlet a5, and an outlet compartment a which communicates with the outlet a7. In the vertical part of the wall a3 and in line with the inlet L5 and the outlet al is formed a fire port as, the area of which is at least equal to the area in cross section of the inlet (1.5 and of the outlet a7, so that when the fire port is open there is no loss of head through restriction of the conduit through which the water then flows.

In the horizont-al parts of the wall c3 are located the register meter wheels, preferably turbine wheels and b rotated by the passage of the water and mounted upon a vertical shaft b2 which is operatively connected at its upper end with the usual register mechanism b3. The latter may be mounted on the top of the shell or casing a and provided with a removable cover bt, as usual. The fire port as being normally closed, all of the ordinary flow passes through the metering` device and the volume thereof is registered as usual by the register 3.

It. will be observed that there is in advance of the fire port as no dead end or chamber in which sand or other foreign matter may accumulate -or in which the water may remain quiet so as to favor corrosion or subaqueous growth. The fire port, moreover, is elevated above the bottom of the shell or casing a., so that such foreign matter as may be brought into the shell or casing immediately drops below the line of the fireport as and across the face of the nary flow through the metering devices there is a constant movement of water across the fireport as and across the face of the valve, which closes it, so that there is no possibility of clogging or restricting the fire port through accumulation -of foreign matter or attachment of forms of subaqueous growth. All such foreign matter as may be introduced into the shell or casing falls, as stated, into the lower part of the shell or casing, where it is out of the way and cannot in any manner interfere with the free iow of water through the fire port.

The ireport as is closed normally by a valve c, which is preferably swiveled, as at c, upon its supporting arm c2, so that it shall seat itself tightly against the edge of the port as when it closes. The supporting arm c2 is fixed upon a shaft c3 which is mounted in suitable bearings and within the compartment a2 is provided with an arm c4 which carries at its extremity a roller c5. Also pivotally mounted in the compartment a is a cam arm or lever Z having on its underside a short dwell d which is at right angles to the initial line of movement of the roller 05, with which it cooperates, and a long curved cam surface Z2 with which the roller c5 cooperates after its movement has started.

ln the free end of the arm Z is a sheave d'". A chain c, having one end secured to a iixed point, as at e, passes over the sheave 1.73 on the end of the arm (Z, thence under a sheave cf mounted on a fixed axis preferably below the line of the lower edge or limb of the fire port as, and thence over a sheave c3 mounted. on a fixed axis preferably above the line of the upper edge or limb of the nre port as, the chain having attached at its free end a weight c4. lt will be observed that when the valve c is in its closed position, an shown by full lines in l*l ig. 3, the weight e* acts through the chain c and the lever arm (Z with its maximum power to hold the valve closed, the short dwell c/ on the underside of the cam arm or lever (Z then resting upon the roller 05 just above its center. lt will also be seen that just as soon as the valve c has opened slightly, under an increased pressure dierential brought about by a greater demand on the outlet (il, the roller passes beyo-nd the point which separates the dwell CZ from the curved or inclined cam surface (Z2, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8, so that t-he effective resistance offered by t-he weight c4 to the continued movement of the valve c is greatly reduced. Therefore, the weight itself being selected with reference to the initial pressure differential which is required to open the fire valve, the valve will be held securely closed until such pressure differential is developed and will then open quickly and freely.

Recording devices are provided whereby a record is made each time that the fire valve opens and the extent of each opening is also recorded. rlhe recording mechanism will now be described. @n the shaft c, in the compartment Ca2, is mounted a double cam f, consisting of a` flange secured to the shaft through the medium of a web f and a hub f2, the outer surface f3 of the flange having a cam formation while the edge or end f4 also has a cam formation.

The cam f3 cooperates with a cam lever g which carries at its .free end a pawl g. The weight of the pawl g sufficiently overbalances the lever y] so that its lower end always presses against the cam f3 and so that the pawl end swings back after it has been swung forward and released. rlhe pawl g engages a ratchet wheel 7L which is mounted for rotation on a stud z' mounted in the wall a. The ratchet wheel 7L has fixed therein studs 7L', the outer ends of which are held in proper relative position by a plate 7a2. @n the studs h is mounted a recording drum z" which is adapted to move freely, in a longitudinal direction, on the studs t, and is threaded. internally to engage the threaded portion 2 of the stud z'. By this means, as will be understood, the recording drum z" is rotated and at the same time receives a slow longitudinal movement. ',lhe edge cam cooperates with a spring pressed lever /e which carries at its upper end, a stylus /u, adapted to cooperate with the drum fr or with the record sheet tenuiorarily secured thereto.

.its will be imderstood, the longitudinal displacement, with respect to the axis of the drum fi, of the mark made by the stylus /e corresponds to the extent of movement of Athe cam j and therefore to the degree of opening of the lire valve The drum itself receives both a rotary and a longitudinal movement at each opening of the lire valve, so that a fresh surface is presented to the stylus at each opening. Therefore, the drum, which will be readily observable through the top of the casing a, when the cover plate is removed, shows instantly and positively both the number of times the fire valve has opened since the last inspection and the extent of each opening.

1t will be understood, of course, that various changes in details of construction and arrangement, not only with regard to the recording n'iechanism, but with regard to other features of the invention might be made to meet the refpiirements of dillerent conditions of use without departing from the spirit of the invention. Figs. ti and 7 of the drawings, illustrate, for example, changes which may be made in the relative arrangement of the lire valve, meteringl device, the main conduit in which is located the tire valve and the ley-pass conduit in which is located the metering device. In each of these figures the shell a is shown as of a shape suited to the internal arrangements. 1n both figures the lire valve c is shown as in line between the inlet af and the outlet al and as having an area equal to that of the inlet or of the outlet. It is also shown as located in a vertical part of the wall a3 and at some distance above the bottom of the shell c so that there is formed on each side of the tire valve a pocket to receive whatever sand or other foreign matter may be brought int-o the shell, Without permitting it in any manner to interfere with the opening of the tire valve. ln both figures, as will also be seen, the face of the lire valve and the vertical Wall in which it is located is constantly washed by the intlowing water and there is no dead end in which the water is permitted to rest, to favor either the accumulation of foreign matter or the formation of subaqiiieoi'is growths or corrosion of the metal. 1n Fig. G the fire valve is shown as nearer the outlet al While the metering device is shown as adapted to receive water from below through the main inlet chamber a. and from above through a conduit am and to discharge the same through a con duit all and the outlet chamber am. In Fig. 7 the metering device Z is shown as adapted to receive the water through a conduit al and to discharge the same above and below into the outlet chamber au. 1n both eases, as well as in the construction shown in Fig. fl, the face of the tire valve and the vertical wall in which it is located is constantly washed by the water which llows from t-he inlet to the metering device. Various other changes will readily suggest themselves.

Se far as the construction shown and dei scribed herein is capable of being claimed only as a llow recorder as distinct trom a meter, in accordance with the lat'ent Ollice classitication of subject matter of invention, no claim therefor is made herein, but the right to malte claims therefor in a separate application is reserved to thi applicant.

l claim as my invention:

l. The combination of a shell or casing, a vertical wall dividingl the interior of the shell or casing into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber and having a port therein, a pivoted valve normally closing the port and adapted to be opened by an .increase in thc pressure ditl'crential, a by-pass conduit around the valve, a metering device in said conduit, recording mechanism and means whereby the recording mechanism is operated by the movement of the valve.

2. 'lhe combination of a shell or easing, a wall dividing the interior of the shelter easing into an inlet chamlnr and an outlet chamber and having a port therein, a valve normally closing the port and adapted to be opened by an increase in the pressure dill'erential, a by-pass conduit around the valve, a metering device in said conduit, res coi-ding meehanisni and means \\'hereby the recording mechanism is oliierated by the movement of the valve, such recordingmechanism comprising means whereby each open ing of the valve is recorded and means whereby the extent of each opening of the valve is recorded.

25. A water meter comprising a plurality of conduits, a pivoted valve normally closing the main conduit and adapted to be opened by an increase in the pressure dil- 'terential, a metering device located in the other conduit and recording mechanism operated by the opening of the valve in the main conduit, such recl'n'ding .mechanism comprising means Vwhereby each (mening olf the valve is rccortfled and means whereby the extent of each opening of the valve is recorded.

et. A water meter comprising a shell or easing, a wall dividing the interior of the shell 'or casing into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber and having a Aport therein, a valve normally closing said port and adapted to be opened by an increase in the pressure ditlferential, a shaft supporting said valve, bearings for the shat't, a cam carried by said shaft, a support for a recording sur face, a stylus and means operated by said cam to shift the stylus to an extent corresponding to the extent of movement of the valve.

5. A water meter comprising a shell or casing, a wall dividing the interior of the shell or casing into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber and having a port therein, a valve normally closing said port and adapted to be opened by an increase in the pressure differential, a support for a movable recording surface, a movable stylus to cooperate therewith, means operated by the opening of the valve to shift the recording surface and means operated by the opening of the valve to shift the stylus.

6. A water meter comprising a shell or casing, a .wall dividing the interior of the shell or casing into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber and having a po-rt therein, a valve normally closing said port and adapted to be opened by an increase in the pressure differential, a shaft supporting said valve, a support for a movable recording surface, a movable stylus, a cam on said shaft and connections whereby the recording surface is moved at each opening of the valve and a second cam on said shaftand connections whereby the stylus is shiftedA at each opening of the valve to an eX- tent corresponding to the extent of opening of the valve.

7. The combination of a valve, a shaft supporting the valve, a recording drum, a ratchet wheel, means operatively connecting the same with the drum, a pawl lever, a cam on said shaft for operating said pawl lever, a stylus, a lever carrying the same, and a second cam on said shaft for operating the stylus lever.

8. The combination of a valve, a shaft supporting the same, a screw threaded stud, a recording drum mounted on said stud to rotate and to move longitudinally thereon, a ratchet wheel mounted loosely on said stud and means operatively connecting the same with the recording drum to rotate the same and to permit longitudinal movement thereof, a pawl lever to cooperate with said ratchet Wheel and a cam on said shaft to operate said pawl lever.

9. rfhe combination of a valve, a shaft supporting the same, a screw threaded stud, a recording` drum mounted on said stud to rotate and to move longitudinally thereon, a ratchet wheel mounted loosely on said stud and connected with the recording drum to rotate the same and to permit longitudinal movement thereof, a ratchet lever, to cooperate .with said ratchet wheel, a cam on said shaft to operate said ratchet lever, a stylus, a lever carrying the same, and a second cam on said shaft to operate the stylus lever.

rIhis specification signed and witnessed this 10th day of March, A. D., 1910. y

JAMES M. BURTON.

Signed in the presence of- ELLA J. KRUGER, AMBnosE L. OSHEA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

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