US385970A - Rotary fluid-meter - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

J. A. TILDEN.

ROMRY FLUID METER.

No. 385,970. Patented July 10, 1888.

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Patente J. A. TILDEN. ROTARY FLUID METER (No Model.)

SRR RV UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. TILDEN, OF HYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE HERSEY METER COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE..

ROTARY FLUID-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part cf Letters Patent No. saaevodatea July 1o, lees.

Application filed January 25, 1887. Serial No. 225,480. (No model.)`

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs A. TILDEN, of Hyde Park, inthe county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fluid-Meters, of whichA the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

This invention relates to an improvement in fluid-meters. In my improvement I employ a piston adapted to have an 'eccentric or side rocking motion across the cylinder-chamber to effect its division'at two or more parts into receiving and discharging spaces. In order to diametrically divide the cylinder-chamber into receiving and discharging spaces,and to maintain a'constant division during the continual changing of the piston, the relative shape of the piston and cylinder is such that a constantly-changing point of contact is secured as a bearing upon which the piston rocks. In all forms of meters of` this class so far constructed the relative shape of the piston and cylinderchamber has been suchthat the several contact bearings in performing their function brought at each rocking-point such a division of the cylinder as to cause the piston .to be' rigidly confined in its movement upon these points. It will be readily understood that in this construction the lodgment of the slightest particle of material-such as sand, pipe-scale, or other substance contained in water-will thoroughly wedge and lock the piston, and under heavy pressures of water breakage of the piston will occur. It is to overcome the defect existing in this class of meters that my invent'ion is intended, and to accomplish this result I adapt the piston to the cylinder in such a manner that it is free or confined upon its contact-points by hydraulic action 'instead of class of meters in which a piston rocks upon continually-changing points or lines of contact withthe cylinder-chamber, and in which the alternating projections and recesses upon the piston are less in number than in the cylinder, that constitutes my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents an elevation of a meter containing my improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same on the lines y y of Fig. 1, showing the piston in section on the lines z 2. Fig. 3 represents another form of piston and ring, in which are a larger number of' contact bearing-points upon which the piston rocks. Fig. 4 represents a similar form having curved surfaces on the piston and ring. Fig. 5 isadiagram-illnstrating the parallelogram of forces as applied in the operation of the meter. Fig. 6 is a detail of the piston and ring, showing the application of' the parallelogram of' forces as acting 7:1 upon the piston in the form contained in my invention. Fig. 7 is adetail of a piston and ring, showing a diagram of forces as acting upon a piston of a form used in the prior state of the art.

A, Figs. 1 and 2, forms the inclosing-cas'e for the piston, the same being provided with alternate projections and recesses, 'and having an inlet-passage, G, for conducting the waterto the center of' the case.

B is the cover which `incluses the parts, and which forms a chamber for the water which has passed through the measuring-spaces, and from which it is conducted by the outletpassage H. The case A is formed in such a manner that there are six projections, h' h'l h3 h" h5 h, having between them six recesses. The bottom of the case is provided with conducting passages or ports extending from openings in each recess to a corresponding open! ing in the center of the case surrounding the inlet-passage, said ports being divided by walls or divisions This arrangement of ports or passages is such that they are governed in the inlet and outlet of' the water bythe valve, which also forms the operating-piston. The piston D is made of hard rubber, having five projections, c c2c c4 c5, and five corresponding recesses, which are of such a form that a plane passing through from the Ico The inlet-passage G and cavity.E conduct the end of one projection to the side of the one opposite will divide the cylinder-case at n n.

water to three of the port-openings in the center of the case, fff3. These ports conduct the water to corresponding openings, e e ethat on the right of n n being open to the inlet and that on the left of n n being open to the outlet. By referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the outlet-passages and their method of operat-ion will be understood. In the piston is an annu lar space, o, which has communication through holes drilled in it to the open space F in the center ofthe upper side of the piston represented by the dotted lines. When the ports ff5f are open to the annular space, the water is conducted from the outlet-division of the case through the openings e e5 e to openingsf4 ff through the holes in the annular space to the cavity F and chamber formed by the cover to the outlet-passage H. This system of porting is duplicated in a plate on the top of the piston, which incloses the piston in the cylinder-chamber, so that a balanced action of the piston is obtained. By referring again to Fig. 2, it will be seen that in the position of the piston as shown, and withthe action of the pressures as shown, when water is drawn from the outlet-chamber, the excess pressure upon one side of the piston acts to rock the piston successively upon the points or projections a.

It will be observed thatthe form or edge of thel piston at n does not confine the piston, but that it is free to slide or push out of place should anything get between the opposite abutment, and that it entirely depends upon the action of the water to cause it to work over the point n and upon the pressureof the water to maintain the division of t-he case.

It will be seen that the piston is entirely free for a 'considerable space, it being limited only by the depth of the recess in the piston. This can be governed in any construction to the size of the port; or, in other words, it can be formed so as to allow all the sliding motion or freedom that is necessary to pass any substance that the ports will admit into the meter.

I do not limit myself to the precise form here shown, as the form will depend to some extent upon the number of projections upon the piston and to the shape and manner of forming the cylinder-chamber.

To accomplish the object of my invention,

` it 'is necessary to form the projections relatively upon the piston and cylinder-chamber in such a inanner that the point of contact upon which the piston rocks shall be behind the direction of rotation, and in such a manner that there shall be no shoulder upon the piston to confine the rockingpoint, but that the rocking-point will at all times be maintained by the direct action of the water.

It will be readily seen that this invention consists in the relative formation of the piston and cylinder-chamber in such a manner that the piston is in no way confined in its division of the case into separate chambers by a strictly mechanical path, but that the proper division of the case into supply and exhaust chambers depends entirely upon the hydraulic action, it being governed by the system of ports soarranged as to properly dispose the water in the measuring parts. By means of this invention the defects heretofore contained in this class of meters are wholly done away withthat is, the liability of its being stopped or locked by any foreign substance getting into the working parts ofthe meter; and, further, that it is self-compensating in its wearthat is, all contact-points of the piston and cylinder-chamber wear alike, and the piston is free tovfollow up this wear and still maintain `its form to properly operate, while in other forms, where the piston is confined in' its path of movement,the lines of division will be shortened by wearing the ends of the piston projections, and allow the water to leak or pass unregistered.

To still further illustrate the scope of my invention, I will describe certain peculiarities in relation .to the bearing-points over which the piston rocks.

An inspection of Figs. 3 and 4. and Diagrams 5 and 6 will show angular rockingpoints, by which there is a wedging effect sufficient to produce contact in the operation of the piston between the rocking-point B, Fig. 5, and abut ment A. This same angular or wedging effeet will be found in Fig. 2; butin these forms of meters there is but one contact-point made by the piston in rotating from one recess into another. l In these forms it is evident thatm somewhat harsh action takes place in the operation ofthe meter, owing to the few points of contact made during a rotation of the piston.

A preferable form of construction is therefore shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Referring to Fig. 3, itwll be. seen that in each recess iu the cylinder case are two angles, as indicated in one of the recesses at k and k. There are also upon corresponding sides of the piston projections two angles. The angles upon the side of the recesses are formed at forty-five degrees to the diametric division made by the piston when it has made its contact-bearing.

It will be seen that when the contact-point m has its bearing on the angular surface k the piston can rock ou that point until the second contactpoint,m,has a bearing upon the angular surface k', which is at forty-live degrees to the diametric division made by its contact. The piston then rocks on this point until the next contactlpoint,m,has its bearing upon the angular surface k. This operation continues, forming continuously-changing contact-bearings for the piston to rock upon, each contactpoint causing the piston to diametrically divide the case in two chambers.

It will be seen that the relative form of the piston and cylinder-case is such that the contact bearing-points are not mechanically defined, but that they are unconned for a considerable space, so that the 1 actual contact- IOO essere n bearing will be at a point upon the angular surface governed by the hydraulic action and upon theabutment-that is, should anything get between the piston and its abutment on the opposite. side the contact-bearing will be made lower on the angular surface, or should the projections on the piston become worn the contact-points will be higher up on the angle; in other words, the piston is free for a considerable space. This space can be governed by the relative formation of the piston and cylinder-case, and can be suieient to allow the passage of any foreign substance that the meter is liable to admit to its working parts.

Other angles than forty-tive degrees may be' used in the formation of the parts,and should he that most suitable to the operation of the meter,and lit will be further considered in the following illustrations. It will be'seen that in the construction a larger number of contact bearing-points are presented, and therefore a very easy and smooth operation of the meter is obtained.

Fig. 4 represents a similar construction to Fig. 3, with the exception that curved su rfaces are formed upon the piston and cylindercase instead of angular surfaces.

To clcarl y demonstrate-the precise operation of the meter andthe difference of its operation over the forms at present known to the state of the alt, I have constructed in Fig. 5 a diagram of the parallelograms of force as applied to vthis form of meter. By referring to Fig. 5, A B represent a line of diamctric division of the cylinder-case or 'the operatingpiston upon which the hydraulic force P acts. O' is any point upon the piston at which the force is directed, as indicated by the arrow. If now an angular surface (for instance, that represented in the dotted lines indicated by twenty-tive degrees) is presented to the point B', and upon which the piston is to rock, swinging by the abutment at A', and it is desired to know the relative contact and rotative effects in its operation,pressnre P (represented by rotative effect. c 0'), may by the parallelogram 0f force be resolved into c' b', or pressure at right angles to A and c B', or pressure at right angles to B',(twentyve degrees.) It will thus be seen that the relative rotative and contact effect-s are as c o' to c b' and c o to c' B'. As the angular surfaces at B are changed, the parallelograms offorce become relativelydifferent-that represented by the angle fortytive degrees producing-,a rotative effect, e o', and contact effect e' d'. As the angle approaches ninety degrees to the direction of force, a greater difference of relative effects appears. For instance, at theangle eighty-five degrees there is an excess rotative et1`ect,k' o', over the contact effect k j'. When the angleof ninety degrees is reached, the lines of parallelogram disappear,and there is rotative effect wholly and no contact-pressure.

Further reference to the operation of the piston will be understood by referring to Fig. 6, which represents a portion-of my improved piston.

It will be seen that the angles upon the cylinder-ease are formed here at forty-five de- 7o grecs, the corresponding angles upon the pist ton projections' being such as to presentacontact-point which finds its bearing upon the angular snrface,where the bearing is made and during its rocking and until another point of 75 contact is made. This forms the diametric division of the case at A' B'.

It will be seen that in constructing the par-` allelogram of force there is an equal division of the pressure effects, pressure P here represented by rotative effect e' 0' and contact effect e' d', the contact-pressure effects being divided into e B' contact-pressure to maintain'the piston against 4the angle, and e' d to maintain the piston against the abutment. By this constructionit will be readilyunderstood that thepiston can be less in diameter than that actually necessary to diametrically divide the case, thereby making it possible to move the piston away from its abutment, and it will return by the action of the water-pressures when the resistance to its contact is removed;

and it -will be observed by referring to Fig. 7, in which the surface presented is at ninety degrees to the direction of force, there is and 9 must be a perfect mechanical fit to divide the case diametrically, and that the pressure is wholly rotative. It is impossible for the piston to Vassume any position in the cylindercase other t-han that which it is confined to by mechanical fit. In my invention there exists afree compensating piston, as clearly shown by the several illustrations, while that shown in Fig. 7 has inherent inits principle a. mechanically-confined piston and an uncompensating construction.

It will be seen from the foregoing that it is quite essential to the advantageous working of rnyimproved form of free hydraulicallymaintained piston that each projection, both on the piston and casing or chamber, shall have its bearing-surface upon the end and one side only, for if there is a bearing upon both sides of the projection, after the mannerof the tooth of a gear and like the ordinary practice heretofore, there will be a locking and mechanical rigidity which it is the very object of this improvement to do awaywith.A Divisioncontact thus takes place between opposing end projections on the o-ne side and opposing side surfaces on the other side in distinction to the end contacts on both sides hitherto used or shown. For the best working of the device there are frequently two or more end projections in contact on the same side and two or more side surfacesin contact on theopposite side, as shown. This insures a greater uniformity and ease of action. The angular side bearing-surface may be on either the piston or casing, or on both, but always in such 13o IOO l IIO IIS

.a manner that the piston may be free andl have the hydraulic division-eontact, as fully set forth.

I do not limit myselfto any particular number of contact bearing-points, or'points form ing diametric divisions ofthe case by the piston, as the same may be so constructed as to present three or more angular surfaces upon each recess in the side of the cylinder-case, having three or more contactpoints upon each piston projection.

I do not in any way claim as my invention the construction of a meter having a piston adapted to have an eccentric or side rocking motion across the cylinder-chamber to effect its division at two or more points into receiving and discharging spaces.

Having-thus fully described my invention,

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pate'nt of the United Statesl. In a. water-meter, the combination of a casing forming a piston-chamber and having projections extending :into the chamber to form measuring spaces or recesses, each of which projections hasabearing surfaceatitsend, with a piston having a series of projections, eaicll of which has a bearing-surface at its end and an angular bearingsurface upon one side, as and for the purposes described.

2. In a water-meter, the combination of a casing forming a piston-chamber and having projections extending into the chamber to form measuring spaces or recesses, each of which projections has an angular bearing-surface upon one side, with apiston having a series of projections, each of which has an angular bearing-surface upon one side, as and for the purposes described.

3. In a water-meter, the combination of a casing forming a piston-chamber and having projections extendinginto the chamber to form measuring spaces or recesses, each of which 4projections has an angular bearing-surface 5. In a fluid-meter, a piston having aseries of projections, each of which has an angular bearing-surface upon one side, as and for the purposes described. l

6. In' a fluid-meter, in combination with suitable inlet and exhaust ports, a ring contained in the 1netercasc and having projections from its inner side, and forming, in connection with the portp1ates, the piston-chamber, each of which projections has an end bearing-surface and a side bearing-surface, with a rotary piston contained in said chamber, having projections, each of which hasan end bearing-surface and a side bearing-surface, and which piston and ring co-operate upon the rotation of the piston to divide the piston-chamber into receiving and discharging spaces by the contact at one point of the end bearingsurfaces of a piston and ring projection, and

at another point of a sliding contact between the side bearing-surface of one ring projection and the side bearing-surface of a piston projection, substantially as described.

JAMES A. TILDEN. In presence of- F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, J. M. DoLAN.

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