The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-15
A NEW INVENTION FOR LIFTING
IX1TER


We had the pleasure Wednesday of witness
ing a successful operation of the Patent Com
pound Propeller Pump, made by the Bridesburg
Manufacturing Company, of Philadelphia, for
the Glen Carbon Coliery, on the estate of vii
liam Richardson, deceased, in this county. This
colliery is leased and worked by Messrs John
Lucas d Co.
In our Judgment, the title of pump is a mis-
nomer, as it would be more proper to call it
water elevator. The. peculiar features of this
elevator are, cast-iron pipe about eight inches
in diameter and 800 feet long, cast in Longitude
nal sections, and bolted together, each section
being six feet in length. In the intervals be-
tween these sections are shorter sections one
foot long, constructed in the same manner, with
bearings supporting shaft made of steel one
and three fourth inches in diameter extending
the entire length of the pipe. Mounted on this
shaft, at intervals of about three feet, are screw
propelers, with two blades seven and half
inches in diameter, with an angular pitch of 65
degrees, and revolving with the shaft. Midway
between these propellers, and attached to the
walls of the pipe, are wings or blades of the
same pitch and form as the blades of the pro-
pellers, but of a reverse angle. At the lower
end of the elevator is q basket or guard of cast
iron to prevent stones, coal, other obstruc-
tions from passing into the pipe. The top of the
elevator has spout or nozzle to direct the
stream of water as 1t passes out, above which is
q yery novel and ingenious contrivance to sup
port the weight of the shaft with its propelers
and the column of water. There has been con-
siderable delay in putting the elevator into ope
rQtlOn, from the want Ol au auequaI0 support lot
the heavy column of water, but this difficulty
has been entirely, successfully overcome.
There is disc about sixteen inches in dame
ter secured permanently to the top of the pipe,
upon which rests ring of brass about twelve
inches in diameter, on top of which is another
disc about fourteen inches in diameter, and en-
bracing the outer periphery of the brass ring.
This upper disc is permanently secured to the
propeller shaft By means of small donkey
pump water is forced between the two dies un-
der sufficient pressure to slightly separate them,
so that the top disc, propeller shaft and column
OF water are supported by the film OF water be-
tween them, and thus the rotation of the pro-
peller shaft revolving on the water causes only
very small amount of friction
The donkey pump receives the water from a
small tank or barrel, and any surplus water
forced between the discs raises the ring of brass
and is discharged back into the same tank.
The propeller shaft is revolved by a wire rope
passing around groove pulley abovethe upper
disc, and which is driven by steam engine.
On revolving the shaft, constant and solid
stream of water flows from the elevator, at the
rate of 100 gallons per minute-the propeller
lifting the water on to the stationary wings or
blades above it, by which it is supported, and
from which it Is taken by the next succeeding
propeller, and so on until the water is dis
charged, thus avoiding all valves or complicated
machinery. The advantages claimed for this
elevator are, economy in cost and running ex-
penses great simplicity and durability small
amount of friction, and ability to lift large
bodies of water to any height with the smallest
to be peculiarly adapted for deep mines, where
large quantities of water are to be raised, and
they can be made of any size or capacity.
One is now being constructed of twenty
inches diameter, and which will lift 10000 gal
Ions per minute, and which, we understand,
viii shortly be thrown open for public exhibit
tion.
new engine is being placed in close contact
with the elevator at Glen Carbon, on account oi
the difficulty experienced in transmitting power
from an old slope engine which is located at q
considerable distance from it.
It is claimed that this important invention
will greatly lessen the cost of mining, not only
on account of the comparatively small expense
of the apparatus, but also the reduced expendi
ture for power and which will lessen the pre-
sent difficulties and dangers attending the re
moval of water from mines.
Should this pump come up to the eXpecta
tions of the proprietors on further trial. it will
be a great acquisition in the working of col
lieries that are troubled with water to such al
extent as to render their working improbable.
The invention is owned by the Hydrostati
and Hydraulic Company of Pennsylvania, O
which Colonel Barton H. jerks is the Presi
dent AS all our operators are deeply interests
in any new improvement that is simple an
lessons expenses they will watch its workin
with great tinterest.-MinerS' Journal.