US963643A - Steam-meter. - Google Patents

Description

E. E. PENDLBTON.

vSTEAM METER.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.9,1909A Patented July 5, 1910.

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F. E. PENDLETON.

STEAM METER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.9,1909.

Patented July 5, 1910.

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STEAM METER.

* APPLICATION FILED APB..9, 1909. 963,648. Patented July 5, 1910.

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STEAM METER.

APPLIGATION FILED APR,9,1909.

atented July 5,1910.

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U'ITED STATE@ Prtflllzlltli FRANK E. PIENDLETGN, 0F MONTC'LAR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GAMALKEL C. ST,

JOHN, 0F MNTCLAIR, NEW' JERSEY.

,suinaiaivin'rna Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented July 5, itl/*Mh Application ledzlpril 9, 1309` Serial No. 488,965.

To all whom it muy concern:

Be it ltnown that l, FRANK E. PENDLETON, u citizen oit the United States, residing at Montclair, in the county of Esser: and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new' and useful improvements in Steam-Meters; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to malte and use the saine.

The object of this invention is, in. a simple, practical, and reliable and certain manner, to improve steam-meters, greatly simplifying the construction and, at once, avoiding breakage, steadyingthe action, and ali'ording safety under great pressure.

A patent granted March l, 1898, No. 599,746, shows a steam-meter, which, though valuable and etlicient in use, is, as my constant experience with steam -meters has shown me, capable of some decided improvements. In that patent, the inlet-chamber and the dash-pot are of separate construe tion, are, in fact, separate parts, screwed tor gather and, thus, not characterized by the greatest simplicity of' construction and wantylng in strength to withstand high temperature and great pressures. Furthermore, as the weight of the meter-valve should bear a 'constant relation to the area of the valve at its seat, in order to produce a uniform dii:- 4ference of pressure on-the two sides thereof and, so, afford a uniform rate of iovv around,

the valve per unit of area of the orifice, in the larger sizes of meter, it is necessary to have a valve of great Weight and `consequent reat size to maintain this relation; and, in tghat patent', inayery large nieter,the heavy valve therein requisite, is of, great size, is entirely in one piece and of the same metal namely, brass, involving ditliculties in production and handling, and greatly-increaseplL expense. Furthermore, tlie vali/ered, or guide-rod, is a'v two-part rod, and an objection to this construction is, that, occasionally, as from movement, or the constant vibration, or from jarring of the valve, the rods either Work a little loose, orthere is a slight raclr? ing, or, departure from proper alinement, detracting from the true rectilineal motion necessary, whereupon there is apt to be Wear and breakage with injurious, or disastrous eiiect.A y Furthermore, in that patent, there are no means `for effecting constant Contact bolted to of the piston-head with the interior Wall oithe dash-pot 'to insure steadiness of motion, and it having been. found, in measuring fluids having a pulsating ioiv, that the tendencyis to maire the meter register higher than the amount at which it Was standard ized When measuring fluid at a constant How, this tendency Was sought to be overcome by supplying a perforated piston with a check-valve; but this device was not fully eiiicient for the purpose, as Wanting in simplicity, of construction and in certainty of action. Furthermore, in that patent, communication from one side of the piston to the other is through, or by, the piston-head, and no means are provided for recognition of the amount' of Water of condensation left in the dash-pot for steadiness, nor for ellin cient control. of the quantity passing from one side of the piston to the' other. Furthermore, in that patent, there are no means pro-- vided for suliicient cooling of the dash-pot. Furthermore, in that patent, the rod, or lever, for the indicating mechanism is attached to the valve-rod in a manner not al- Ways insuring against defect from Wear and from lost motion; and finally, in that patent, there are no means of exhibiting, directly, the momentary rate of .dow through the meter. i

In my invention, the dash-pot and the inlet-chamber are oi' one casting, and strongly the bottom of the dashpot is a blank flange, or bottom-piece, instead of a serew-cap rlhis .feature -is of great importance, greatly simplifying the construction, affording greater security againstdoalrage, and insuring greater safety. Furthermore, in my invention, the valve for` large meters is of two parts, the operative portion, or part at ,theseat, being of the particular metal requisite, and, the other part being of Ia different and cheaper metal, the same being heavierand requiring little or no finishing. This of great importance, since, as, in a large meter, the valve must Weigh many hundred pounds, and the size being consequently and proportionately great, the making and vlinishing and handling l such a valve is a matter of difficulty, and the cost of a valve entirely, say, or brass, is very great. Fun thermore, in my invention, the valve-rod is of one piece, passing centrally through the valve, and has, at the upper endet thevalve, an enlarg-ement preferablyY cone shaped with the taper downward, and, ljust below the lower end of the valve, preferably, a screw-thread provided with a nut. The valve, which may be of any suitable metal, according to the fluid to be measured, has a disk, or cap, bolted, or secured, to its upper end, and there is a conical opening through the cap tapering downwardly. In the remainder of its length .the valve has a central bore corresponding to the shape of the 'rod passing through it. The purpose of the cap is that of a stop upon its seat, when the valve .falls to its lowest position. It will be obvious, where a nut at the bottom only is employed, with any stop-device at the upper end of the valve, and, especially, where the form of rod having the conical-shaped enlargement is employed, that, as the nut at the lower end of the valve is screwed up, the rod will be drawn down with great force and the valve tightly secured to it. Furthermore, in my invention, to insure steadiness of motion of the piston within the dash-pot, and 'in a simple and absolutely-efficient manner to cause the meter to register accurately under a pulsating flow, as well as under con- I stant flow, the piston has, inset ongitsperiphery, elastic metallic snap-rings, or rings of other suitable elastic or flexible substance,

which can be made with whatever expanlx` sive force may be necessary to give delicacy of impingement of said rings against the wall of the dash-pot, most compatiblewith the up-and-down movement of the pistonhead, iiston-rod and valve, and with the necessary partial seal formed bythe pistonhead, snap-rings, and water in the dashpot,-all of which gives steadiness of motion to the entire moving mechanism, which steadiness establishes a mean line in the fluctuating movement of the recording encil up'on the exteriortraveling chart, rom which is measured the quantity of fluid Howing. As the rings constantly tend to spring outward, it will be obvious that they are constanti y in contact with the inner wall of the dash-pot, filling the clearance between the piston and this wall, and thus minimize the Ymovement of the piston therein from sudden pulsations; while, within the dash-pot, isi an inner, or bushing-cylinder, preferably 'fof brass, within which the iston works, this cylinder merelyVV resting within the dash-pot as a casing, or secured therein, at bottom or top, in any suitable manner, the function of the cylinder being that of a wearing-strip. In my invention, furthermore. I apply a bypass to the dash-pot, controlling the quantity of water passing from'one side of the piston to the other, with capability of regulating the same for increased, or decreased',

cushioning of the piston, with the advantage of such action upon the piston and conselquent effect on the valve; and theby-pass nia also serve as a gage-glass, showing the height of water of condensation in the dashpot. I `urthermorc, in my invention, while, under ordinary conditions, radiation from the wall ofthe dash-pc,Y suftices to effect the requisite cooling and consequent condensation and precipitation of watei from the fluid passing through the meter, Where this is not the case, then, to effect condensation and precipitation of water from the fluid passing through the meter, tosupply the necessary water in the dash-pot, l provide the dash-pot with a water-jacket, through .which there may be constant circulation by connection with a return, or circulating, cold water system. Furthermore, in my invention, instead Of a mere single attachment for the end of the indicator-lever to the valverod, I provide the end of the lever, which is at the valve-rod and at the collars there 7i, with a yoke, and insert between each of its bifurcations and the valve-rod, a shoe, set laterally between the fixed collars on the valve-rod, and secure the shoes to the yoke by pins, or by bolts and nuts, as shown, though I may attach the yoke to the rod in any other suitable manner; and finally, in my invention, to present means of instant and immediate readin of the unit of flow, as expressed in cubic feet, pounds, or horsepower', per appropriate unit of time, I employ, with the index-linger, or stylus, which `\nioves in an are to record on the chart the quantity of duid passing through the meter, a second finger, or pointer, set, preferably in the same radial line with the first, and provide an index arranged on an arc concentric`wvith thefir'st pointer and set below the are of motion of the operative end, or point, ,of the first pointer, and above the pivot, or center, marking this second arc with a scale of the desired denomination,

vertical, longitudinal section of a mediumsized meter, where the valve, or plug, not being vei'ylieavy, may be of one piece, exhibiting/the general arrangement of the partsand the relation of those which are cooperative, showing the inlet-chamber and the dash-pot as a single casting, with the blank flange, or bottom-piece, bolted to the `dash-pot; the valve, or plug; a valve-rod, in one piece, passed centrally through the @casas instance, a conical opening through it to accord with the shape of the enlargement; the piston, recessed for and holding elastic or resilient rings and lsecured to the rod by a screw and nut; the bushing-cylinder within the dashot servin(r as a wearing-strip' the by-pass at the dash-pot, affording, also, a rrage-glass; a water-jacket applied to the dash-pot; and collars on the valve-rod, above the valve, to engage with the rod., or lever, for the indicating mechanism; and the indicating device; Fig. 1I is a view in vertical section, partly in elevation, exhibiting a valve tor a large meter, the valve being weighted, that is to say, there being applied to the valve proper a cheaper substance than -that of the valve itself, and for adequate Weight, the valve thus appearinof, in this instance, in two parts, and, in this instance, the 'weight being above; this view showing, in addition'to what. appears in Fig. I, a part of the body of the valve-rod supplying the lower collar for the indicatingmechanism lever; Fig. Hl is a view in plan, "looking down upon Jche top of the weight of the valve in Fig. Il; Figs. .lV and V are views, respectively, in plan and in side elevation, showing the snap-rings for the piston; Fig. VI is a viewy in plan, partly -in section, showing the yoke of the indicatorlever at thevalve-rod end of this lever; the

shoes resting on the lower collar of the valve-rod, and means for securing the yoke to the' shoes, in this instance, bolts and nuts; Fig.v VII is al 'View in perspective, with a portion of 'the' upper collar broken away,

, showing the valve-rod, the' collars, the yoke,

' secured tothe shoes,

and the 4shoes between the collars, the yoke but having movement thereon by headed nut-bolts; Fig. VIII is view looking down upon the indicatorllever, showing the indicator-lever, appearing in partial horizontal section, with a spin- Idie, appearing in full. lines, attached to the indicator-lever by a tit-screw land extending forward from the saine; Fig. IX is a View in perspective,

showing the indicator-aria, 4the spindle extending forward therefrom, the index-finger, or stylus, for recording on l the chart; and a pointer and an arc to present means of `instant and immediate read- -Y'ing o f the unit of flow; and Fig. X is a View `in perspective, exhibiting a heavy ine- ;ter'as itl appears when set up.

Y, Referring to the drawings, A indicates the :dash-pot, and'B the inlet-chamber, and these,

. as distinguished from construction heretofore, are inv aone piece, thereby attaining greater simplicity and readiness of producr eiland of setting up, also absolute security marked respectively, a2 and a3; the shield of i, the inlet-chamber, marked b, iscast with` this chamber, instead of being screwed up into it, as heretofore; and there is a central opening, b2, from the inlet-chamber to the dash-pot. The dash-pot may have inserted into it aii internal cylinder, a4, in the nature ot' a bushing-cylinder, preferably of brass. Instead of a cap screwed upon the bottoiiriiof the dash-pot, as heretofore, the bottom'lylof the dash-pot has tightly bolted to it a blank Harige, or bottom-piece, (i5, and is provided with the usual blow-oli a.

Bolted upon the top of the inlet-chamber, B, is the exhaust, or exit-chamber, C, which has a lateral, hollow extension, c, to serve as a housing, having an access-opening, c2, at its outer end, closed by a screw-plug, c3, all for a purpose which will appear later. This eX- liaust-chamber communicates directly with the exit, c4, there being a brace, or spidertraine, c, between the exhaust-chamber and the exit to furnish a guide for the valve-rod, as will presently be described; and in direct line above the central opening, or boss, of this is a post, or pin, c, set down through the top of the exit to serve as a stop for the upper end of the valve-rod, as will be set forth farther on. Screwed 'into the top of the inlet-chamber is an annular seat, Z13. Inletand exhaust-chambers have pet-cocks, b4, c7.

' D indicates the valve, and this valve tapers downward and has the parabolic -incurve, as iii the patent referred to, and'for the same purpose. Strongly secured on top of the valve, as by stud-bolts, isa cap, al, which serves as a stop, when the valve rests on its seat, bi", the pin, c", limiting the movement of the valve upward. This cap has a central opening through it, tapering from above downward, which is to accord with the shape of an enlargement of the valve-rod, to which the valve is secured; and the valve is centrally perforated from top to bottom.

While for small, or even for medium-sized meters, it is proper, and economical, to have the valve, iii full length, of one metal, say

oi.' its usual metal, namely, brass, yet, where a valve is very large, involving great weight, auch a valve is not only difficult in finishing and handling, but is, intrinsically, of high cost. To obviate these diiiculties, I' supply the valve, at a suitable situation, say, upon its top, with a weight, d2, of soine-lighter and cheaper material, the same being suitably secured thereto, as by bolts through the cap, d, and by this weighting, not only are these diliiculties overcome, but, thereby, the wei 'ht 'of the valve may be adjusted.

The va ve is set down through the screwcapyba, into the inlet-chamber and has its out the rest of its length the rod is bf any projecting therefrom below and above.

' dash-pot to cause the meter to register corvalve upon the perforations to move upward yoke, or ',Ulvshaped spread, g2, at the rod,

lower end entering the tubular shield, b, therein.

E indicates the valve-rod, which is `in one piece, and is attached to the valve: The valve-rod E has an enlargement e, which is preferably cone-shaped, as shown. Throughsuitable shape to extend through the, valve,

Above the enlargement, the rod has one or more collars, e2, there being two collars where the rod is not weighted but in case the rod is weighted, the top of its enlargement serves, if desired, for the lower collar. The purpose of these collars will appear farther on. The rod is guided, above, by passing through a hub, or boss, in the brace, or spider-frame, c, an d, below, by passing t rough the centralopening, b2, which is hetween the shield-tube in the inlet-chamber and the dash-pot. The valve is securely fixed to its rod by a lock-nut, es, screwed upon it at about the lower point of the proper situation of the valve. It will be obvious, that, as the nutis turned up, the rod will be drawn firmly into and held securely in the valve, and the valve, itself, be movably fixed on the rod at its desired situation.

F indicates the piston which is on the lower end of the rod and which is securely fixed thereon by a nut, f. To insure steadiness of motion of the piston within the rectly under a pulsating flow, as well as under a constant flow, instead of having the piston perforated, with a superincumbent on thedownward stroke of the piston, and which is liable to derangement of action from various causes, I recess the piston, circumferentially, as at f2, and set into the re cesses elastic, or flexible, bodies,'for example, steel snap-rings, f3, and, preferably, in such manner that, While the tendency will be to s ring-outward, yet, on pressure, so as to a low some passage of water from one side of the piston to the other, the rings will recede into their recesses. By provision of the bypass, marked f", which may also, serve as a gage-glass, the cushioning eiect of the water 1n the dash-pot, acting withl the rings, is regulated, as by hand-valves, f, The bushf. ing-cylinder, a", is a wearing-strip.

As above'said, the valve-rod is provided with collars, e2. When the valve is fixed to the rod and is in operative position, these rcollars are within the exhaust-chamber, or body of the meter, and their function is, on movement ofthe valve, to operate the indicating and recording mechanism, Gr, by anindiCating-leVer, or arm, g. Instead of this lever being attached to the rod, with one side pivoted directly to the rod and at a single point, the lever, is provided with a essere upright, an index-finger, or stylus, g8, which,

inthe usual manner, as by a pencil, `nnarks a record on Athe chart, as showi In order to afford means of instant and.Y immediate reading el the unit ofioyv, and not to have to make calculation thereof, as?V from the chart, I provide an are, H, marked` as desired, sa for horse-power per appro-lv priate unit of time, and attach this are to al' suitable part, as shown at L, Figs. LIX and X. Toact in a manner cordinate with the stylus,"I employ, additionally to the stylus, a point/er, to point to the unit of iiovv for appropriate unit of time, on the are. The pointer is marked 71,2. Access may be had to the indicator-lever, to set the same by the tit-screw, through the opening, c2, at the end of the'casing.

Having thus fully described my invention and appropriate means for carrying the same into eeci', what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent opt the United States is: v

1. In a luidmeter, the combination withv inletand outlet-chambers, of a valve controlling passage of Huid from the inlet chamber to the outletchamber and having a vertical, central opening through it enlarged at the top, a valve-rod having an enlargement to be set into the opening at the top, and means for securing the valve and rod'together, substantially 'as described.

2. In a Huid-meter, the combination with.

inlet and outletchamhers, of a valve controlling passage of fluid from the inlet chamber to the outlet-chamber and having an opening thi'ough it enlarged at the top, and of a plate,'or cap, ixed to the valve and perforated centrallyV to register with top of the. enlargement gf the opening in the valve.

In a fluid-meter, the combination with.

mletand outlet-chambers, e a valve controlling passage of Huid fro A'chamber to the outlet-chamber, and having the inleta vertical, central openin through it, a valve-rod extending throng said opening, a cylinder, a piston secured to said valve-rod and movable within the cylinder, and a b pass provided with means for regulating tli, flow of liquid from one side of 'the piston to the other, this, in connection with the piston, affording the desired motion, substantially as described.

4. In a fluid-meter, the combination with inletand outlet-chambers, of a valve controlling passage of fluid from the inlet.

chamber to the outlet-chamber and having a "vertlcal, central opening through'it, a valve- 5 rod extending through said opening, a cyl-A trolling passage' of fluid from the inletchamber to the outlet-chamber and having a vertical, central opening .through it, a valverod extending through said opening, a dashpot, a piston secured to said valve-rod and movable Within the dash-pot, and en inner cylinder within the dash-pot and serving as a Wearing-strip, substantially as described.

`6. In a fluid-meter, the combination with inletand outlet-chambers, of a valve oontrolling passage of fluid from the inlet- 4chamber to the outlet-chamber and having a, vertical, central opening through it, e valverod extending through said opening, a dashpot, a piston secured to said valve-rod and movable Within the dash-pot, and a Waterjacket surrounding the dash-pot, as and for the purpose described.

7 In a fluid-meter, the combination With inletand outlet-chambers, of a valve controlling passage of Huid from the inletchamber to the outlet-chamber, a chart, indicating 'devices adapted to mark on said chart, means connecting said' indicating devices With the aforementioned valve, an aro appropriately marked to represent the unit of iioW, as expressed in cubic feet, pounds, horse-power, or the like, per appropriate unit of time, an index-iinger for the chart movable within the limits of said arc, and a pointer arranged to move, also Within the limits of said are and to act cordinately with the index-finger at the chart, substantially as described.

In testimon),r Whereoil1 aiiix my signature, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

' FRANK E. PENDLETON. Witnesses:

R. G. DYRENFORTH, J. W.KENNEDY.

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