IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINERY FOR WORKING PUMPS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Robbin, of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Master
Mariner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINERY FOR
WORKING PUMPS."
Sealed the 17th June 1859, and dated the 11th January 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Robbin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
January 1859.
I, BENJAMIN ROBBIN, of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Master Mariner, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MACHINERY FOR WORKING PUMPS," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
To apply this Invention to (say, a pair of pumps; above the pumps, mounted
upon suitable framing, is an horizontal beam or crosshead, which works on a
transverse axle in the centre of its length, and to the ends of which the pump
rods are jointed. Formed on or rigidly attached to the under side of the
balance beam is a toothed segment, which gears into a second toothed
segment formed on the head of a pendulous lever, which has its fulcrum
below and in a vertical line with the axis of the horizontal beam or cross
head. A vibratory motion in the direction of the length of the balance beam is
communicated to the pendulous beam by a transverse horizontal cranked shaft,
the crank of which is coupled to its lower limb, or the crank pin may work
within a vertical slot formed in the lower portion of the lever.
Rotary motion is given to the crank shaft by a spur wheel staked thereon,

page_text: gearing into a toothed wheel (which is by preference of larger diameter) on
the driving shaft, which is parallel to the crank shaft, and is provided with a
fly wheel, and so forth; the power being applied thereto by crank handles or
other convenient mechanical equivalent.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Benjamin Robbin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th July 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
ROBBIN, of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Master Mariner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Benjamin Robbin, Her special licence that I, the said
Benjamin Robbin, my executors, administrators, and assigns; or such others
as I, the said Benjamin Robbin 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 Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINERY FOR WORKING PUMPS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Benjamin Robbin, my executors or admi-
nistrators, 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 Benjamin Robbin, 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 (that is to say):-
To apply this my said Invention to (say) a pair of pumps; above the pumps
mounted upon suitable framing is an horizontal beam or crosshead, which
works on a transverse axle in the centre of its length, and to the ends of which
the pump rods are jointed. Formed on or rigidly attached to the under side
of the balance beam is a toothed segment, which gears into a second toothed
segment formed on the head of a pendulous lever, which has its fulcrum below

page_text: A
and in a vertical line with the axis of the horizontal beam or crosshead.
vibratory motion in the direction of the length of the balance beam is com-
municated to the pendulous beam by a transverse horizontal cranked shaft,
the crank of which is coupled to its lower limb, or the crank pin may work
within a vertical slot formed in the lower portion of the lever.
Rotary motion is given to the crank shaft by a spur wheel staked thereon,
gearing into a toothed wheel (which, by preference, is of larger diameter) on
the driving shaft, which is parallel to the crank shaft, and is provided with a
Ay wheel, and so forth; the power being applied thereto by crank handles or
other convenient mechanical equivalent.
The toothed segments below the balance beam, and on the head of the
pendulous lever, and the wheel gear may be dispensed with, if preferred, by
attaching the pendulous lever rigidly to the horizontal balance beam, and
forming the crank direct on the driving shaft, which carries the fly wheel and
the crank handles by which the apparatus is worked.
That this my said Invention may be the more readily seen and understood,
I have hereunto annexed Drawings in illustration of its practical application
to a pair of pumps, like letters and figures marked thereon having reference
to similar parts.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of one modification of my improvements in the
machinery for working pumps; and Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a side view of another modification of my improvements, showing
in what way the toothed gear may be dispensed with; and Figure 4 is an end
elevation of the same. A is the framework; B, the pumps; C, the pump
rods jointed to the ends of D, the balance beam, which works on d, a transverse
pin or axle; E is a toothed segment formed on or rigedly attached to the
under side of the balance beam, and which works into F, a toothed segment,
on the head of G, a vertical pendulous lever, having a long slot formed through
its lower end in which the crank pin (m) works, and which vibrates on g, a
transverse pin or axle; II, a driving shaft, which carries I, the fly wheel; and
K, a cog wheel, which gears into L, a toothed wheel on M, the crank shaft;
m, the crank.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and how the same may be carried into effect, I wish it to be under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the precise details or dimensions herein-
before set forth, as it will be readily seen that they may be varied without
departing from the Invention; but what I do claim is,-
First, the use of the pendulous lever for working pumps as herein-before
described, or any mere modification of the same.

page_text: Secondly, the use of a toothed segment on the under side of the balance
beam, when applied in the construction of gear to work pumps, as herein-
before described, or any mere modification of the same.
And, lastly, the general arrangement and combination of the various parts
of the machinery herein-before described, or any modification of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Robbin, have hereunto set
my hand and affixed my seal, this Eighth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street, Liverpool.
BENJAMIN (L.S.) ROBBIN.