AN IMPROVED ENGINE FOR RAISING AND FORCING WATER
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marc Antoine François Mennons, of the Firm of
Mennons and Telescheff, Home and Foreign Patent Agents, of
96, Newgate Street, in the City of London, and 51, Rue de la
Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, in the Empire of France, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED ENGINE FOR RAISING AND FORCING WATER."-A com-
munication from Philip Syng Justice, residing at Philadelphia;
United States of America.
ealed the 16th February 1869, and dated the 22nd October 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marc Antoine François
Mennons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 22nd October 1868.
I, MARC ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the Firm of Mennons and
5 Telescheff, Home and Foreign Patent Agents, of 96, Newgate Street, in
the City of London, and 51, Rue de la Chaussée de Antin, Paris, in the
Empire of France, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED ENGINE FOR RAISING AND FORCING WATER," being a com.

page_text: munication from Philip Syng Justice, a person resident at Philadelphia,
United States of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved pumping engine constructed to
lift and force water in large and small quantities, fulfilling with economy
and facility all the offices of the Cornish engine and other apparatus of
like description.
The accompanying Drawing represents a vertical section through the
centre of the improved engine.
a is a cast-iron chamber constructed by the union of castings b, c,
by bolts d, d; e is a diaphragm of twisted cotton duck of six or
more layers, held between two iron plates f,f, which are connected with
the valve stem g, provided at its lower end with a nut h; i is a pipe
for the conveyance of steam into the chamber a; m is a cast-iron base
secured to the bowl c by bolts n, n; o is a tube, the upper end of
which is used as a valve to close against the scat p; r is a spiral spring
set in this tube o; s is an outlet tube to be provided with a check valve
to prevent return of water; t is an inlet tube also provided with a
check valve; u is a tube leading from tube s to the injector, and
provided with a valve w; x is the exhaust air and hot-water escape
The direction
leading from hot well y, and provided with a valve z.
of the currents is indicated by arrows. The interior of the bowl casting c
is lined whilst heated with gutta percha, which cements a layer of
vulcanized rubber applied thereon for the purpose of having a non-
conductor of heat, that dry steam and a vacuum may alternately act in
the same chamber.
The engine is started in two ways, one of which is to fill with water
the chamber above the diaphragm which is depressed by the weight
of water till the stem g presses upon the spring of the tube o, and
forces the valve (hitherto held up by the steam pressure) away from
its seat. The steam then enters the lower chamber under the diaphragm,
forcing up the latter with the contents of the chamber above, which
When the diaphragm is sufficiently
escape through the pipe s.
clevated the stem g lifts the valve o and shuts off the steam, thus
relieving sufficiently the pressure in the chamber a to allow, the
head of water in pipe u to inject into said chamber. The steam
being thus condensed a vacuum is formed, which is filled by the inlet
water from the pipe until the diaphragm is again forced down,
allowing steam to enter as before and expelling during the pressure

page_text: air and water through the pipe x: The second mode of starting the
engine when the diaphragm is up and the chamber filled with air is
to blow steam through the valve 2, the chamber a, and out of the pipe x
until the air is expelled and steam. has taken its place. The steam being
then shut off at the valve 2 the chamber is relieved of pressure, and
the water being injected produces a vacuum which starts the engine..
If the engine is stopped with the diaphragm down it can be started by
simply turning on the steam. The form, dimensions, and general
details of construction can of course be varied, according to circum-
stances..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent;.
filed by the 'said Marc Antoine François Mennons in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 15th April 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARC
ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the Firm of Mennons and Telescheff;
Home and Foreign Patent Agents, of 96, Newgate Street, in the City of
London, and 51, Ruc de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, in the Empire of
France, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of October, in the year
of our Lord One tliousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her_reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, tlie said Marc Antoine François Mennons, Her
special licence that I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, my
executors,, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Marc Antoine François Mennons, my executors; administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree witli, 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 "AN IMPROVED ENGINE FOR RAISING AND FORCING
WATER," (a communication from Philip Syng Justice, a person resident
at Philadelphia, United States of America, upon. the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons,. my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or

page_text: 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 Marc Antoine François Monnons,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawing, and to the letters marked thereon, that is to
say:
This Invention relates to an improved pumping engine constructed to
lift and force water in large and small quantities, fulfilling with economy
and facility all the offices of the Cornish engine and other apparatus of
like description.
. The accompanying Drawing represents a vertical section through the
centro of the improved engine.
of which is
a is a cast-iron chamber constructed by the union of castings b, c, by
bolts d, d; e is a diaphragm of twisted cotton duck of six or more
layers held between two iron plates f, f, which are connected with the
valve stem g, provided on its lower end with a nut ; i is a pipe for the
conveyance of steam into the chamber a; m is a cast-iron base secured
to the bowl c by bolts n, n; a is a tube, the upper end
used as a valve to close against the scat p; ris a spiral spring set in
this tube o; & is an outlet tube to be provided with a check valve to
prevent return of water; t is an inlet tubo also provided with a check
valve is a tube leading from tube s to the injector and provided
with a valve w; x is the exhaust air and hot water escape leading from
hot well y and provided with a valve z. The direction of the currents
is indicated by arrows. The interior of the bowl casting c is lined whilst
heated with gutta percha, which cements a layer of vulcanized rubber
applied thereon for the purpose of having a non-conductor of heat
that dry steam and a vaccuun may alternately act in the same
chamber.
The engine is started in two ways, one of which is to fill with water
the chamber above the diaphragm, which is depressed by the weight of
water till the stem g presses upon the spring of the tube o and forces

page_text: the valve (hitherto held up by the steam pressure) away from its seat.
The steam then cuters the lower chamber under the diaphragm, forcing
up the latter with contents. of the chamber above which escape through
the pipe s. When the diaphragm is sufficiently elevated the stem g lifts
the valve o and shuts of the steam, thus relieving sufficiently the
pressure in the chamber a to allow the head of water in pipe u to inject
into said chamber. The steam being thus condensed a vaccuun is
formed which is filled by the inlet, water from, the pipe t, until the
diaphragm is again forced down, allowing steam to enter as before, and
expelling during the pressure air and water through the pipex. The
second mode of starting the engine when the diaphragm is up and the
chamber filled with air is to blow steam through the valv 2, the
chamber a, and out of pipe x until the air is expelled and steam has
taken its place. The steam being then shut off at the valv 2, the
chamber is relieved of pressure, and the water being injected produces a
vaccuun which starts the engine. If the engine is stopped with the
diaphragm down it can be started by simply turning on the steam. The
form, dimensi
and general details of construction can of course be
umstances.
varied according
It will be observed that no strain is exerted on the diaphragm beyond
that required to lift the valve stem, and that the pressure is the same
on both sides. With the exception of the weight of the discs and
accessories, the diaphragm therefore simply floats in the pressure and
vibrates to the least inequality of the latter. It is in short mainly used
as a non-conductor of heat between the steam and water and as a means
of operating the steam valves in the alternate filling and emptying of
the chambers. It will also be observed that the injection valve is closed
by the steam pressure on the introduction of steam and that it is opened
by the pressure of the water whenever the steam is cut off, and again,
that the steam, air, and water from condensation is allowed to blow
freely out of the air valve when the steam pressure is on, no air
being allowed to return by reason of said valve when a vaccuun is
produced.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner in which it is or may be carried into effect, I declare that
what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is,―

page_text: the direct operation thereby of the steam admission valve, substantially
as above described and shewn in the annexed Drawing.
2dly. The application of the injecting apparatus in combination with
the tube in manner and for the purpose above specified and shewn in
the Drawing.
3dly. The general construction and arrangement of the bowls b, c, the
diaphragm e, and the valve stem connections f. f, substantially as
above laid down and shewn in the. Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second day of
April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-nine.