Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1876-08-02
IMPROVEMENTS AT THE ALTA.
4 Model Pumping Engine-..Grand,
Novel and Economical Machi.
merry.

For some months past workmen
have been engaged at the Alta mine
in preparing the foundation for
monster pumping engine which
should bcs sufficient In capacity to
free the shaft Of all probable inflow
ing water to q depth of 1,500 feet.
Yesterday the machinery was in
smooth running order, and steam
was for the first time turned on.
Quite large number of people were
present to see how the great engine
would behave under heavy pressure.
Joseph Moore, superintendent of the
Risdon Iron Works, came up from
San Francisco to give directions. At
twelve O'Clock all the parts of the
machinery were warmed up, and the
pump was set agoing at live y rate.
The engine worked as smoothly and
as noise;cssly as possible, not a jar or
a bit of excessive friction being OBJ.
servable anywhere about it.
The engine, from the connecting
rod OF the piston to its farthest part,
is not less than thirty-tive or forty
feet long. 1t is finely finished, but
does not present So much bright work
AS most of mining machinery. 1t is.
however, by reason of its novel con-
struction and the econmy Of its opc-
ration, an object of attraction to all
who take any interest in machinery
and mechanical appliances.
DESCRIPTION OF IT'S PARTs.
1t is low pressure compound en-
CINE, operated by Davey's patent diff
fcrential valve motion. The dame
ter of the high pressure cylinder is
twenty seven and half inches; of
the low pressure cylinder, forty-four
inches; stroke, six feet. The bed
plate is continued, with two cast iron
girders, TO the further balance bob.
These two girders, upon which the
balance bob rests, are laid across the
pump shaft, and have the bearings
for the rocking shaft of the bob cast
upon them. This forms solid cast
iron bed for the engine of over sixty
feet II length. There are two bal
ance hobs, one on each side of the
shaft The connecting rod from
the cross-head takes hold of the first
one, and another rod passes to the
second, so that one bob moves up
ward while the other one makes Il
downward motion. These hobs are
connected with two ten-inch plunger
pumps, set at the 3o0-foot station
Each pumps from the same tank, and
rs when one is on the upward stroke
the other is on the downward, a con-
tinuous l0-inch stream 81 water is
kept flowing. The sinking suction
lift Is attached to the spear rod OF the
further bob, and is balanced by Il
weight in the usual manner.
AN IMPROVEMENT IN PUMPS.
This arrangement of double bob
is something new on the Comstock.
1t is surely an improvement on the
old style of having but one pump
rod and keeping balance at one end
of the hob to equalize the weight
BY the arrangement above described
the work is perfectly balanced, no
matter how deep the shaft may be.
The plunger pumps, it will he seen,
balance each other, and all the bal
last required is enough to counter
weigh the sinking rod, BY this
means, too, u great mass of weight is
got rid of, and greater speed in the
operation of the pump is secured;
also the expense of cutting out sta
tons isgreatly obviated. This pump
ing arrangement is worthy the atten-
ton of all mining men and ensi-
neers.
THE CYLINDERS, VALVES, ETC.
The cylinders are placed one inn
mediately behind the other, the high
pressure cylinder having an aperture
cast On each side of it, through which
the two pistons of che low pressure
cylinder pass to the cross-head. The
three stuffing boxes, therefore, aie
together at the head OF the first cylin-
der This, we believe, is something
new. The air pump is worked by
piston rod running through the
further end of the low pressure cylin-
der and connecting with the air pump
rods. The condenser st .nds little
To one side from the engine, between
the air pump and the bed. The
valves If the engine are what are
lied the balance slide valve,
which have been adopted for their
simplicity and positive action. They
are also more easily kept steam tight
than the poppet valves.
THIS engine is the first of the kind