60 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



NEW WATER METRE. 



THE necessity for a perfect self-acting metre for measuring water, in 

 cities supplied with water-works, has long been felt and acknowledged. 

 This want has at last been met by an invention of Mr. Samuel Iluse, 

 of Boston, who has constructed a machine which is not only simple, 

 but wonderfully efficient. It consists of a hollow cylinder, 10 inches 

 wide and 16 inches in diameter, inside of which is a flange cylinder, 

 about six inches in diameter. This inner C} r linder has flanges, on 

 which are four valves, extending from one end to the other of the 

 cylinder, and attached to it by hinges. These valves, when folded or 

 shut into the cylinder, form a little more than half its surface. Upon 

 one side of the metre the space between the inside of the hollow and 

 the surface of the flange cylinder is so filled as to occupy something 

 more than the width of one of the valves. This filling is made to fit so 

 exactly as to prevent the water from passing. Upon one side of this 

 filling the water enters the metre, and upon the other side the water 

 is discharged. The metre is so placed that the valves will, by the 

 force of gravity, open as they reverse from under the solid filling, and 

 shut upon the opposite side previous to coming in contact with it. 

 When thus arranged, the water is let into the cylinder, and comes in. 

 contact with the open valves ; the inner c} T linder revolves until the water 

 escapes upon the opposite side ; and, of course, for every revolution of 

 the interior cylinder, a given quantity of water must pass through the 

 metre. This is carefully marked by means of a clock which is attached 

 to the cylinder, and which will indicate the precise quantity of water 

 which has passed through the machine in any given time. 



Upon the application of this machine as a water-measurer in Boston, 

 it was found that, owing to the great head which the Cochituate has 

 in most parts of the city, it was well adapted as a motive power, and 

 that to a most unexpected and extraordinary extent. This new prop- 

 erty has been turned to advantage by the proprietors of the Boston 

 Daily Traveller, who now use the metre exclusively for driving one of 

 Hoe's large cylinder presses. The manner in which this is effected is 

 as follows : through a two-inch lead pipe, a stream of Cochituate is 

 introduced into a metre, which only occupies 24 square inches. 

 The fall of water between the Boston reservoir and this metre is about 

 a hundred feet. This two-inch stream will discharge 80 gallons of 

 water each minute, and passing through the metre will give a motive 

 power equal to what is called three horse-power. 



The revolving flange cylinder is connected, externally, with cog- 

 wheels, a shaft, and pulley ; and from the pulley a belt extends to the 

 driving-wheel of the printing machine. The flow of water is regulated 

 by means of a screw-gate near the metre. This machine, where it is 

 capable of application, has many advantages over the steam engine. 

 It is less hazardous, requires no attention, and is always in readiness. 

 It can be used in buildings and neighborhoods where a steam engine 

 would not be allowed. The water passes into the sewer, and will thus 

 perform a sanitary mission in scouring out the drains. As a measurer 

 of water it is also of great value. 



