IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STEAM PUMP KNOWN AS 'THE PULSOMETER' OR PUMPS OF SIMILAR CONSTRUCTION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Eliot Hodgkin Managing Director of the Pulsometer
Engineering Company Limited of 63 Queen Victoria Street in the City of
London for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STEAM PUMP KNOWN
AS 'THE PULSOMETER' OR PUMPS OF SIMILAR CONSTRUCTION" communicated
to him by Mathias Neuhaus a person resident at Berlin in the Empire of
Germany
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Eliot Hodgkin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th March 1883.
26
JOHN ELIOT HODGKIN Managing Director of the Pulsometer Engineering
Company Limited of 63 Queen Victoria Street in the City of London IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE STEAM PUMP KNOWN AS "THE PULSOMETER " OR PUMPS OF SIMILAR
CONSTRUCTION A communication to me from Mathias Neuhaus a person resident
at Berlin in the Empire of Germany
"
This Invention consists in certain Improvements in the valves and details of
construction of Pulsometers or similar pumps as hereinafter explained.
According to this Invention the water valves are constructed of flexible
materials and are provided with stiffening bars or plates in such a manner that
when the valve bends or yields to the pressure of the liquid it assumes the form
of a segment of a hollow cylinder-The said valves are supported in guides in
such a manner as to be capable of rising bodily from their seat until they come
into contact with adjustable stops when by reason of their flexibility they bend as
herein before described and still further enlarge the area of the passage for the
liquid-Facility is thus afforded for pumping dense or muddy liquids carrying a
considerable quantity of solid matter in suspension and the waste of power
usually attending the employment of rigid valves with a high lift is considerably
diminished as these improved valves straighten themselves out or spring back to
their original shape directly the pressure of the water or liquid is removed.
The guides in which the valves rise and fall from and to their seats may consist
of two pendent forks or slotted arms depending from a horizontal bar provided
with an upright screwed stem capable of vertical adjustment in a cross bar or stay
cast with or secured to the sides of the water chamber of the pump-The central

page_text: stiffening bar of the valve projects beyond the sides of the valve and its extremities
slide in. the slots of the two pendent forks or guides when the valve rises bodily
from its seat during the passage of the liquid.
In place of the pendent forks two slotted guides may be fixed to the bottom of
the water chamber being provided with set screws at their upper part for the
purpose of adjusting the height to which the valve is to be allowed to rise or the
valve may be constructed with a central collar fixed to a vertical rod or stem.
which slides in an adjustable sleeve screwed into a cross bar in the water chamber
the said sleeve being capable of being fixed at the required height to regulate the
lift of the valve.
The central stiffening bar is connected to a rigid plate or disc provided at the
underside of the valve for the purpose of supporting the flexible material of
which the latter is composed.
The Invention further relates to the steam distribution valves of Pulsometers or
like pumps and has for its object to effect the more perfect seating of the valves-
A wedge shaped valve has been used for opening and closing alternately the
steam passages of these pumps-The objection to this form of valve has hitherto
been its unequal wear and the difficulty of renewal of the parts when worn-To
obviate these objections valves are provided connected to an oscillating carrier or
tumbler by ball and socket or universal joints or hinges as may be most convenient
whereby the valves are enabled to accommodate themselves automatically to any
deviation in the fitting or adjustment of the seat or connections.
The valve carrier or tumbler is balanced upon a knife edge in the valve casing
or is suspended from an intermediate casting between the seats and the cap or
cover so as to be capable of oscillating to bring alternately one and the other valve
upon its seat.
The valve preferably works in a casing made in two parts so as to enable access
to be readily obtained to all parts of the valves. and valve seats-The valve casing
may be divided horizontally by a diaphragm and is connected to the upper part
of the pump by suitable flanges-The knife edge is preferably arranged upon a
plate, interposed between the valve casing and the upper part of the chambers of
the pump so that when the valve casing is separated from the pump this plate
(having either the knife edge or the V attached thereto) can be removed thus
exposing an aperture situated at the lower part of the valve casing which greatly
facilitates the operation of cleaning out the latter.-The valve may also be hollowed
out from below in such a way as to move freely upon the upper knife edge of a
vertical tumbler which enters it and the lower knife edge of which tumbler rests
upon a suitable provision in the cap.
Another part of the Invention relates to means for enabling the passages for the
injection water into the chambers of Pulsometers or similar pumps to be cleaned
without the necessity for taking the pump partly to pieces-This is accomplished
according to this Invention by providing these passages with a screw plug
accessible from the exterior of the pump and so arranging the said passages that
by simply removing the said plug access is afforded to the interior of the said.
passages which may thus be cleaned without difficulty.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Eliot Hodgkin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th September 1883.
JOHN ELIOT HODGKIN Managing Director of The Pulsometer Engineering
Company Limited of 63 Queen Victoria Street in the City of London
"
IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE STEAM PUMP KNOWN AS "THE PULSOMETER" OR PUMPS OF SIMILAR
CONSTRUCTION a communication to me from Mathias Neuhaus a person resident
at Berlin in the Empire of Germany
This Invention consists in certain improvements in the valves and details of
construction of "pulsometers" or similar pumps as hereinafter explained.
According to this Invention the water valves are constructed of flexible materials
and are provided with stiffening bars or plates in such a manner that when the
valve bends or yields to the pressure of the liquid it assumes the form of a segment
of a hollow cylinder. The said valves are supported in guides in such a manner as
to be capable of rising bodily from their seat until they come into contact with
adjustable stops when by reason of their flexibility they bend as hereinbefore
described and still further enlarge the area of the passage for the liquid Facility
is thus afforded for pumping dense or muddy liquids carrying a considerable
quantity of solid matter in suspension and the waste of power usually attending
the employment of rigid valves with a high lift is considerably diminished as these
improved valves straighten themselves out or spring back to their original shape
directly the pressure of the water or liquid is removed.
Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings illustrate methods of carrying
this improvement into practical effect. According to the arrangement shewn at
the left hand side of Figure 1 and in transverse section in Figure 2 the guides in
which the valve a rises and falls from and to its seat consist of two pendent forks
or slotted arms bb depending from a horizontal bar provided with an upright
screwed stem b³ capable of vertical adjustment by means of a nut b₁ in a cross bar
or stay c cast with or secured to the sides of the water chamber C of the pump.
The central stiffening bar d of the valve a projects beyond the sides of the said
valve and its extremities slide in the slots of the two pendent forks or guides b b
when the valve rises bodily from its seat during the passage of the liquid.
In place of the pendent forks two slotted guides e may be fixed to the bottom of
the water chamber as shewn at the right hand side of Figure 1 and in transverse
section in Figure 3 the said guides e being provided with set screws e³ at their
upper part for the purpose of adjusting the height to which the valve is to be
allowed to rise. In figures 4 and 5 are represented sections at right angles to each
other of an arrangement wherein the valve a is provided with a central collar ƒª
fixed to a vertical rod or stem f which slides in a sleeve f2 screwed into the cross
bar c in the water chamber c the said sleeve being capable of being fixed at the
required height by means of the nut f³ in order to regulate the lift of the valve
The central stiffening piece d² is connected to or formed with a rigid plate or
disc a³ situated at the underside of the valve for the purpose of supporting the
flexible material of which the latter is composed. At the left hand side of
Figure 4 the valve is shewn closed and at the right hand side of the said figure it
is shewn open. The valves a are preferably provided with metal strengthening
pieces a which may be of various shapes as shewn in dotted lines in figures 2ª 6
and 7 which are plans of the valves. The stiffening pieces d d² also shewn in
these figures allow the valves to yield in one direction only.
The Invention further relates to the steam distribution valves of pulsometers or

page_text: -
like pumps and has for its object to effect the more perfect seating of the valves.
A wedge shape valve has been used for opening and closing alternately the steam
passages of these pumps. The objection to this former valve has hitherto been its
unequal wear and the difficulty of renewal of the parts when worn. To obviate
these objections, valves are provided according to this Invention connected to an
oscillating carrier or tumbler by ball and socket or universal joints or hinges
(as may be most convenient) whereby the valves are enabled to accommodate
themselves automatically to any deviation in the fitting or adjustment of the seat
or connections.
The valve carrier or tumbler is balanced upon a knife edge (or in a V groove) in
the valve casing or is suspended from an intermediate casting between the seats
and the cap or cover so as to be capable of oscillating to bring alternately one and
the other valve upon its seat.
The valve preferably works in a casing made in two parts so as to enable access
to be readily obtained to all parts of the valves and valve seats. The valve
casing may be divided. horizontally by a diaphragm and is connected to the upper
part of the pump by suitable flanges. The knife edge (or the V grooves as the
case may be) is preferably arranged upon a plate interposed between the valve
casing and the upper part of the chambers of the pump so that when the valve
casing is separated from the pump, this plate (having either the knife edge or the
V attached thereto) can be removed, thus exposing an aperture situated at the
lower part of the valve casing which greatly facilitates the operation of cleaning
out the latter.
This part of the Invention is illustrated by Figures 8 to 18 of the accompanying
Drawings. Figures 8 and 9 are vertical Sections at right angles to each other,
shewing the arrangement according to this Invention wherein the valves g are
connected to the oscillating carrier or tumbler.h by means of ball and socket
joists g2 The said tumbler h is formed with a V groove at its underside which
rests upon the knife edges i so that it oscillates thereon. The casing of the valve
is made in parts as shewn to facilitate access to the parts. The knife edge i is
shewn as being mounted upon the removeable plate I and the upper part of the
valve casing as being divided horizontally by the diaphragm J.
Figures 10 and 11 are Sections at right angles to each other, shewing a
modification wherein the valves are situated nearer to a vertical line and turn upon
centre pins g³ passed through lugs on them and the tumbler so as to constitute
hinge joints and Figure 12 is a slightly modified arrangement wherein the valves
are connected by a connecting piece g* through which and the tumbler a pin g³ is
passed so that the valves can turn upon the said pin. In this figure the knife
edge is shewn as. being formed upon the tumbler, the V groove being in the
casting and provided with a hardened piece 12 for the tumbler to rock on.
Figure 13 is a Section of an arrangement wherein the valves are arranged nearer
to a horizontal line. The tumbler is of a shape (as shewn) to suit this arrangement
of the valves which are connected to the tumbler in substantially the same manner
as that shewn in Figure 10. The valve casing is arranged in substantially the
same manner as that shewn in Figure 8. Figure 14 shews an arrangement wherein
the valves are hung upon a hanger k, capable of swinging upon a pin k² passing
through lugs on the valve casing, the valves being connected by a web piece g
through which and the lower end of the hanger k a pin ³ passes. It will be
readily seen that this hanger is the equivalent of the tumbler herein before
described. Figure 15 represents an arrangement wherein the valves are formed in
one piece, hollowed out from below and mounted upon the tumbler which enters it.
This arrangement also it will be evident is analogous to those hereinbefore
described, Figures 16 and 17 are sections at right angles to each other shewing
an arrangement wherein the tumbler oscillates upon a knife edge at its lower end
and is connected at its upper end to the web-piece connecting the valves together
by means of a pin constituting a hinge joint. This arrangement resembles closely
that shewn at Figure 12, the weight being formed with the valves instead of with

page_text: the tumbler. Figure 18 shews an arrangement like that shewn at Figure 14 but
with the valve seats at an angle to the vertical line.
Another part of this Invention relates to means for enabling the passages for the
injection water into the chambers of pulsometers or similar pumps to be cleaned
without the necessity for taking the pump partly to pieces. This is accomplished
according to this Invention by providing these passages with a screw plug 1, as
shewn in the horizontal Section, Figure 19, the said plug being accessible from the
exterior of the pump and so arranging the passages m, for the injection water that
by simply removing the said plug 1, access is afforded to the interior of the said
passages m, which may thus be cleaned without difficulty.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is :
"
"1
First, In Steam pumps known as the Pulsometer or pumps of similar
construction the arrangement and construction of the water valves so that they
are capable of opening to a certain extent by movement in guides and then of
yielding to the form of a segment of a hollow cylinder substantially as and for
the purpose herein before described and illustrated by various arrangements in the
accompanying drawings. Also the various arrangements and construction of the
valves for the said purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 1 to 7
of the accompanying Drawings.
Second, In Steam pumps known as the "Pulsometer" or pumps of similar
construction connecting the Steam distribution valves to a tumbler
or its
equivalent so that the said valves can accommodate themselves automatically to
any deviation in the fitting or adjustment of the seats or connections substantially
as herein before described and illustrated by various arrangements in the
accompanying Drawings. Also the various arrangements and constructions of the
said valves and their adjuncts for the said purpose herein before described and
illustrated by figure 8 to 18 of the accompanying drawings.
Third, In Steam pumps known as the "Pulsometer" or pumps of similar
construction, the arrangement of the screw 1, and passages m as and for the
purpose herein before described with reference to figure 19 of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said John Eliot Hodgkin have to this my Specification
set my hand and Seal this twenty third day of September One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
witness to the signature
of J E Hodgkin.
HARRIET BONE,
Great Malvern
JOHN ELIOT HODO