Fluid meter

Claim 1

An improved liquid meter comprising a hollow housing means having a cylindrical inner surface and having separate inlet and outlet port means in said inner cylindrical surface; said inner cylindrical surface having two separate arcuate recesses disposed axially centrally therein, one communicating with said inlet port means and the other communicating with said outlet port means; a disc element rotatably mounted in said housing means on first shaft means, said disc element having a flat circular plate portion mounted upon said shaft means, said disc element also having valving means, said valving means including a plurality of axially extending post members formed integrally with said flat circular plate portion of said disc element and spaced circumferentially at equal intervals thereon, said post members extending arcuately along only a portion of the periphery of said circular plate portion, said post members slidingly engaging said inner cylindrical surface in a sealing relation thereto, said post members being of sufficient length to contact with portions of said inner cylindrical surface on opposite sides of said arcuate recesses; said first shaft means extending axially beyond the hollow housing means, bearing means for said first shaft means, and means for adjusting the bearing means and said disc element axially within said housing means to adjust for optimum tolerances between the moving parts of the meter; end plate means for closing one end of said housing means, said plate means including an axially inwardly directed second shaft means mounted eccentrically with respect to the rotational axis of said disc element which rotates about said first shaft means, movable vane means mounted for movement with said disc element, said vane means including a plurality of two-part vane members with opposite edges respectively slidingly engaging a face portion of said flat circular plate portion and a surface of said end plate means, each vane member having a centrally disposed articulated joint and each of said vane members having a first end portion journalled on said inwardly directed second shaft means for rotation thereabout and having a second end portion movably journalled in an associated post member of said valving means for forming a plurality of separate compartments between the vane members which have communication with said inner cylindrical surface, said inwardly directed second shaft means, said post members, said flat circular plate portion, and said end plate means; and meter registering means connected to said disc element for recording the rotational movement thereof as fluid entering said compartments through said inlet port means causes said disc element to rotate in direct proportion to fluid flowing to said outlet port means.