IMPROVE- MENTS IN PUMPS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Snape, of Mountain Ash, near Aberdare,
South Wales, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PUMPS."
Sealed the 12th November 1869, and dated the 27th May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Snape at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th May 1869.
I, JOHN SNAPE, of Mountain Ash, near Aberdare, South Wales,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to construct pumps in such a manner
that one column of water should be kept between the plunger or ram
and a piston, and another column of water between the delivery and a
second or lower piston; secured by a rod to the first piston in order that
the pistons should be kept in a state of equilibrium.
The Invention consists in fitting between the plunger or ram and the
suction valve a piston, the rod of which passes downwards through a

page_text: stuffing box, and has connected to it another piston working in the
branch of a bent pipe; the bent pipe leads to the outflow, and is con-
nected by a short connection or valve box to the suction pipe.
When it is required to work the pump the space between the plunger
and the piston is filled with water, and also the bent pipe of the
delivery up to about the same level. The plunger or ram is then put
in motion; on its upstroke the water in the space is lifted, and with it
the piston; the action of this piston causes the suction valve to rise and
water to pass through to the space below the upper piston, at the same
time the water in the bent pipe follows the lower piston. On the reverse
or down motion of the plunger taking place the water in the upper space
acts upon the piston and forces it downwards, driving the suction water
up through the delivery valve, at the same time the lower piston acts
upon and forces a portion of the water from the bend up through the
outflow along with the water from the delivery valve. By the above
arrangement it will be observed that the pistons are always in a state of
equilibrium by being supported and acted upon direct by columns of
water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Snape in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Jonn
SNAPE, of Mountain Ash, near Aberdare, South Wales, Mechanical
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent. Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Snape, Her special licence that I,
the said John Snape, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said John Snape, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
. should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and

page_text: Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said John Snape, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Snape, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawing here-
unto annexed, that is to say:-
The object of this Invention is to construct pumps in such a mauner
that one column of water shall be kept between the plunger or ram and
a piston, and another column of water between the delivery and a second
or lower piston secured by a rod to the first piston, in order that the
pistons should be kept in a state of equilibrium.
The Invention consists in fitting between the plunger or ram and the
suction valve a piston, the rod of which passed downwards through a
stuffing box, and has connected to it another piston working in the
branch of a bent pipe; the bent pipe leads to the outflow, and is
connected by a short connection or valve box to the suction pipe.
When it is required to work the pump the space between the plunger
and the piston is filled with water, and also the bent pipe of the delivery,
up to about the same level. The plunger or ram is then put in motion;
on its upstroke the water in the space is lifted, and with it the piston ;
the action of this piston causes the suction valve to rise and water to
pass through to the space below the upper piston, at the same time
the water in the bent pipe follows the lower piston. On the reverse or
down motion of the plunger taking place the water in the upper space
acts upon the piston and forces it downwards, driving the suction water
up through the delivery valve, at the same time the lower piston acts
upon and forces a portion of the water from the bend up through the
outflow along with the water from the delivery valve. By the above
arrangement it will be observed that the pistous are always in a state of
equilibrium by being supported and acted upon direct by columns of
water.

page_text: The manner in which I prefer to carry my Invention into effect is
represented in the accompanying Drawing, which is a sectional clevation
of a pump constructed according to the description above recited. a is
the casing or tube, the upper part b of which is packed for the plunger c
to work in without leakage. The lower portion is terminated by a
plate d, which is fitted with a screwed socket or stuffing box e suitably
packed for the piston rod to work up and down in. Just above the
plate d I form an opening or passage for the water or other liquid to
be drawn through from the suction valve h, which is fitted in the
tube i leading from the supply or reservoir. In another portion of the
pipe, and and above the plate d, there is another opening or passage j for
enabling the water to leave the chamber; on the downstroke of the
plunger the water in its passage passes through an outlet valve k into
a tube leading to the nozzle ». The tube m has a depending leg o,
which is provided with a bend p, so that the water which enters this
bend is free to rise and act upon the under side of a piston q, which
works in the short leg r of the bend p. The rod f, which passes through
the packed socket e, carries at its other end another piston 8, and as the
plunger c is lifted by means of an engine or other appliance the
pistons 9, 8, are caused to follow the same course. As the piston 8 is
rising water is drawn up the pipe or tube i from the reservoir, and on
passing the valve h enters the space or chamber to fill it, at the same
time the water in the short leg follows the piston q and acts upon its
under side as a cushion. On the down stroke of the plunger c the water
or air between it and the pistons causes that piston to force the water
from the space or chamber through the outlet valve k into the tube
leading to the nozzle n, and thence into a receiver to be used for any
purpose for which it is intended, or it may be allowed to flow away into
a channel or watercourse, as desired. The pipes or tubes are fitted with
covers over openings near where the valves and the socket are situated,
so that should repairs or renewals be requisite they can be easily got at.
The pump can be set at any angle to facilitate the working, and from
the position of the pistons and their connection with the one rod,
together with the columns of water below cach of them, very little
power is required for moving them up and down, while at the same time
they are kept in a state of equilibrium. In first starting the pump to
work it will be necessary to fill the tubes to about the same level, so
that the pistons shall be supported by a column of water to ensure their
efficient action.

page_text: And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
Firstly. The construction of pumps and the arrangement of the pistons
for lifting and forcing in the manner herein-before described and repre-
sented in the accompanying Drawing.
And, secondly. Supporting the pistons in an equilibrium state by
means of columns of water, as herein-before described and shewn in the
accompanying Drawing.
In witness whercof, I, the undersigned John Snape, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Twenty-seventh day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.