Patent GB-190428097-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Pumps for Raising Liquids.
Inventor: SACCHI FRANCESCO
Filed: 1904-12-22
Granted: 1905-10-19
Abstract: 28,097. Sacchi, F. Dec. 22. Mercury and liquid-piston pumps; mine pumps.- Consists of a liquid-piston pump for raising liquids from great depths without the use of underground pumps or the like. A pump without valves is connected by a long bent pipe with the suction pipe of the apparatus. In the lower bend and the ascending part of the bent pipe, a heavy liquid or its equivalent is placed, and the descending limb is filled with a comparatively light liquid. Fig. 1 shows one form of the apparatus. The pump having the piston P is in communication with a pipe E, which descends to a point below the surface of the liquid to be raised and has an ascending limb D communicating through valves with the liquid suction pipe L and the delivery pipe H. In the pipe D is fitted a piston or plunger M, packed at 31, 32, and of such a size as to counterbalance the weight in the descending limb F of liquid, which is of the same or of less specific gravity than that to be raised. In the working of the pump, the heavy liquid or its equivalent is reciprocated correspondingly to the piston P. The liquid or the piston M acts in the ordinary manner with regard to the suction and delivery valves V, V<1>. To compensate for the loss of liquid in the decending pipe, a reservoir A is provided, communicating with the pump at a point immediately under the piston when at the top of its stroke. In Fig. 2 is shown a modification in which a heavy liquid, such as mercury, is employed, and, preferably, enlargements B, C are provided and also a plug or the like to separate the heavy liquid from the liquid to be raised. Instead of the reservoir A, the pipe H may communicate through a non-return valve with the descending pipe. In such a case, a safety-valve 34 is used, and also a float valve 35 having a diameter a little larger than that of the exit of the chamber B, so that, if too great a quantity has passed through the valve 33, the excess may he forced through the valve 34. A plunger formed of an iron tube filled with lead may be provided to economize the heavy liquid. Where the descending pipe bends, a series of balls may be provided. Where it is necessary to have all the heavy liquid placed above the level of the liquid to be raised, the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 is used. The whole column of heavy liquid is split into several portions, so that the sum of the several columns of heavy liquid is equivalent to the whole column which is necessary. Reservoirs R<1> may be provided at the upper bends of the pipes. In the form shown in Fig. 4, the ascending pipe is led through a non-return valve V<2> into the descending pipe, and an air vessel U is fitted. The descending pipe communicates with the delivery spout Q through a valve R. This valve is arranged to be closed on the down-stroke of the piston P and opened on the up-stroke. In order that the air in the air vessel may not be dissolved by the running liquid, the pipe leading to the vessel V may be bent into the form of a siphon which may contain an indifferent liquid. To render the use of small rapid pumps possible, two apparatus are combined as shown in Fig. 7. The pump communicates with two descending pipes E', E', the descending parts of which lead to the same suction pipe L and delivery pipe H. Liquid is drawn from one pipe E<2> and forced into the other E', the operation being reversed by the rotary valve 45, so that the heavy liquid in each arm rises and falls alternately. Fig. 8 shows another method of placing the pipes E<1>, E<2> in similar connection with the pump alternately. In the valve-box 60 are arranged four valves 66, 67, 68, 69 mounted on the same mechanically-operated rod 65. In the form of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the piston M may be reduced at one or both ends. Instead of the usual packing, a hydraulic seal, such as that shown in Fig. 11, may be used. The arrangement shown in Fig. 11 necessitates a heavy and voluminous piston, and, to avoid this increase in size, the modified apparatus shown in Fig. 12 may be used. The piston M<2> is formed of a light gas-holder bell divided into annular and circular chambers 81, 80, respectively, by the partition 92, and is contained in a chamber 82 having analogous cylindrical partitions 83, 84, 85, forming a central tube 86, surrounded by an annular chamber 87 and two other annular chambers 88, 89. The chambers 87, 89 contain given quantities of heavy liquid, into which projects the partitions 92 and the walls of the piston or bell M<2>. The chamber 82 communicates with a pipe 90 ending in a reservoir 91, which could be the cylinder of a pump. When the piston P descends, the pressure in the chamber 81 rises and the bell is raised, and liquid is sucked from the pipe L to the chamber 86 and is forced into the delivery pipe H as the bell-descends, owing to the piston P being raised. The piston P<1> in the cylinder 91 may work in opposition to the piston P to make the action of the apparatus more complete.