Improvements in Water Pressure Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 27th Aug., 1892--Accepted, 1st Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Coinmunicated from abroad by HENRI BOSSEAU, of 58 Rue de la Chaussée
d'Antin, Paris, France, Engineer.]
Improvements in Water Pressure Engines.
1, ERNEST DE PASS, of 78 Fleet Street, in the City of London, Fellow of the
Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
This invention relates to improvements in water pressure engines whereby when
used in conjunction with a pump a portion of the water coming from any
convenient source, such as a lake, reservoir, or river, can be utilized to raise the
other portion to a higher level.
The improved engine consists essentially of two cylinders of unequal size placed
end to end, the larger one constituting the working cylinder and the smaller one
the pump barrel. Each cylinder is provided with a piston which may be
furnished with cup leathers and be connected together by a piston rod so that they
move together. This rod may extend through the piston of the pump barrel and
project through the cover thereof, its extremity, carrying a cross head, working
between guides, for the purpose of giving motion to the mechanism actuating the
distributing valves. These valves may be reciprocating valves working within a
chamber or valve chest divided into four compartments, one of which may be in
connection with one end, and another with the opposite end, of the working cylinder,
while the remaining compartments may be connected one with the inlet and the
other with the outlet for the water. By means of the reciprocating valves and
valve mechanism the inlet and outlet compartments can be alternately opened to
opposite ends of the working cylinder, the pressure of the inflowing water being
thereby directed and caused to act alternately upon opposite sides of the piston.
This piston and consequently the piston of the pump barrel are thus caused to
perform their strokes.
Each end of the pump barrel is connected with a subsidiary chamber controlled
by suction and delivery valves and forming part of an air chamber. A portion of
the water to be raised or pumped is conducted to a chamber controlled by the
before mentioned suction valves, whence it is drawn into the pump barrel at each
stroke of the piston; while another portion of the water is conducted to the inlet
compartment of the distributing valve chest and is utilized to actuate the piston of
the working cylinder.
The mechanism for controlling the distributing valves may be operated from the
crosshead carried by the piston rod of the pump barrel piston, by means of suitable
levers, cams and tappets so arranged that when the working piston reaches the end
of a stroke the water inlet to the working cylinder will be automatically reversed
and the water pressure will be admitted to the opposite side of the piston so as to
cause it and the pump piston to perform a stroke in the opposite direction. The
pump is thus rendered double acting.
Instead of employing reciprocating distributing valves working within a valve
chest divided into several compartments, I may employ a cylindrical valve chest
having no partitions but provided with four orifices. In this case the distributing
valve may extend diametrically across the valve chest and thus divide it into two
compartments, one of which may be in communication with one of the orifices,
constituting the inlet, and the other with the orifice constituting the outlet for the
water. By giving an oscillatory movement to the valve, the other two orifices in
the valve chest can be brought alternately into connection with the inlet and outlet

page_text: orifices, and thus at each stroke of the pistons the said inlet and outlet orifices
would be alternately opened to opposite ends of the working cylinder.
In cases where this engine could not be placed on the same level as the lower
water course discharge of the water escaping from the working cylinder, it is
expedient, in order to utilize as much as possible the height of fall, to prolong the
escape pipe a sufficient distance so that it shall dip into the water course.
Dated. this 28th day of November 1891.
ERNEST DE PASS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Water Pressure Engines.
I, ERNEST DE PASS, of 78 Fleet Street, in the City of London, Fellow of the
Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say -
This invention relates to improvements in water pressure engines whereby,
when used in conjunction with a pump, a portion of the water coming from any
convenient source, such as a lake, reservoir, or river, can be utilized to raise the
other portion to a higher level than that of the volume of the motive water.
The improved engine consists essentially of two cylinders of unequal size, placed
end to end, the larger one constituting the working cylinder and the smaller one the
pump barrel. Each cylinder is provided with a piston which may be furnished
with cup leathers and be connected together by a piston rod so that they move
together. This rod may extend through the piston of the pump-barrel and
project through the cover thereof, its extremity carrying a crosshead, working
between guides, for the purpose of giving motion to the mechanism actuating the
distributing valves. These valves may be reciprocating valves working within a
chamber or valve chest divided into four compartments, one of which may be in
connection with one end, and another with the opposite end, of the, working
cylinder, while the remaining compartments may be connected one with the inlet
and the other with the outlet for the water. By means of the reciprocating
valves and valve mechanism, the inlet and outlet compartments can be alternately
opened to opposite ends of the working cylinder, the pressure of the inflowing
water being thereby directed and caused to act alternately upon opposite sides of
the piston. This piston, and consequently the piston of the pump barrel are thus
caused to perform their strokes.
Each end of the pump barrel is connected with a subsidiary chamber controlled
by suction and delivery valves and forming part of an air chamber. A portion of
the water to be raised or pumped is conducted to a chamber controlled by the
before mentioned suction valves, whence it is drawn into the pump-barrel at each
stroke of the piston, while another portion of the water is conducted to the inlet
compartment of the distributing valve chest, and is utilized to actuate the piston of
the working cylinder.
The mechanism for controlling the distributing valves may be operated from the
crosshead carried by the piston-rod of the pump barrel piston, by means of
suitable levers, cams, and tappets so arranged that when the working piston
reaches the end of a stroke, the water inlet to the working cylinder will be
automatically reversed and the water pressure will be admitted to the opposite
side of the piston so as to cause it and the pump piston to perform a stroke in the
opposite direction. The pump is thus rendered double acting.
Instead of employing reciprocating distributing valves, working within a valve
chest divided into several compartments, a cylindrical valve chest having no
partitions, but provided with four orifices may be employed. In this case the

page_text: distributing valve inay extend diametrically across the valve chest and thus divide
it into two compartments, one of which may be in communication with one of the
orifices or ports constituting the inlet, and the other with the orifice or port
constituting the outlet for the water. By giving an oscillatory movement to the
valve the other two orifices or ports in the valve chest can be brought alternately
into connection with the inlet and outlet orifices or ports, and thus at each stroke
of the pistons the said inlet and outlet orifices or ports would be alternately opened
to opposite ends of the working cylinder.
In cases where this engine could not be placed on the same level as the lower
water course discharge of the water escaping from the working cylinder, it is
expedient, in order to utilize as much as possible the height of fall, to prolong
the escape pipe a sufficient distance so that it shall dip into the water course.
And in order that this invention may be readily understood, I will proceed to
describe the same fully with reference to the drawings, which show, by way of
example, an engine of this kind constructed in accordance with the invention.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section, taken on the common axis A, B, of the
working cylinder and of the pump.
.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the working cylinder on the line C, D, of
Fig. 1.
Figs. 24 and 2 are enlarged views of the distributing box or valve chest shown
in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal elevation showing the slide valve gear.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 5, is an end view as seen from the left.
Figs. 6 and 7 shew respectively a longitudinal section and a transverse section of
a modified construction of distributor capable of use with this engine. 1 is the
working cylinder and 12 is the pump barrel which are bolted together end to end
and separated by the (cover 3. The internal diameter of the pump-barrel 2.is so
much smaller than that of the working cylinder 1, as the height of the flow of
water is so much the greater.
Within the cylinders 1 and 2, the pistons 4 and 5 work respectively, the
packing of each being composed of double cup leathers held tightly between two
discs, by bolts. These two pistons are connected together by a piston rod 6, one
end of which projects out of the pump barrel 2; this end is of less diameter, and
traverses the cover 8 through a stuffing box. It is by means of this rod 7 that the
distributing mechanism is worked as will be hereinafter explained.
The combination formed by the cylinder and pump-barrel 2, is secured by
three feet 9 to a bed plate 10.
The two extremities of the working cylinder 1 are connected by the pipes 11, 111,
respectively, to the two end compartiments 12 and 124, of the distributing box
or valve chest, which is divided by vertical partitions 13, 13 into three com-
partments, the middle one of which is sub-divided by the horizontal partition 14
into two compartments, the one, 15, for the inlet or admission, the other, 16, for the
outlet or escape.
The compartments 12 & 12' communicate respectively with the chamber 15
through the ports 17 and 17', which may be alternately opened and closed by one
or other of the two faces of the moveable plug or valve 18. The 'two faces of this
plug or valve are furnished with rubber stop washers which hermetically close the.
ports 17 and 17 when they are brought with sufficient pressure against the edges
of these orifices. The plug or valve 18 is mounted upon a rod 19 capable of.
receiving a reciprocating horizontal movement in guides which diametrically
traverse the ports 17, 17'.
The ports 20, and 20!, through which the compartments 12 and 12¹ communicate
with the chamber 16, may likewise be opened and closed by two rubber stop-plugs
or valves 21, 21', mounted on the ends of the rod 22 which receives its movement in
the same manner as the rod 19.
The two plugs or valves 21,-21', are furnished with tail pieces which bear against
1

page_text: the two extremities of the rod 19, so that this latter cannot be shifted without
taking with it the two plugs or valves 21, 21'. Motion is imparted to the plug or
valve 18, and therefore to the whole of the distributing mechanism by means of the
shaft 23 which is capable of receiving a rocking movement about its axis. This
shaft passes through one of the walls of the distributing box or chest through a
stuffing box, and carries two parallel arms 24, 24, furnished at their ends with two
slots, into which engage pins or studs 25, 25, projecting from the plug or valve 18.
This shaft receives its motion from a counterbalance lever worked by the dis-
tributing mechanism, as explained further on.
The pump is arranged in the following manner:-The two extremities of its.
barrel are connected by the pipes 26 and 26', to a chest or chamber containing the
suction valves 27, 27, and delivery valves 28, 281, this chamber also carrying, at
its upper part, a compressed air chamber 29. The working of the distributor can
now be understood independently of that of the distributing mechanism which will
be hereinafter described.
The motive water arrives by the pipe 30 (Fig. 1). It branches off into two
portions, one of which is brought, under pressure, by the pipe 31, to the
suction chamber of the pump which will raise it to the desired level. The
other portion passes along the pipe 32 into the admission chamber 15 of the
distributing box or valve chest. When the distributor is in the position
shewn in the figures, the pistons move from right to left. The motive water
follows the path shewn by the arrows and passes out from the tube 32 into
the chamber 15, thence through the port 17' and enters the right hand end of the
cylinder through the tube 11. The escape water, which is on the left of the
piston, leaves the cylinder by the tube 11, passes through the port 20, and flows
out through the orifice and the escape tube 34: In cases where this engine cannot
be placed at the same level as the lower water course discharge of the escape
water, it is expedient, in order to utilize, as much as possible, the head of water,
to prolong sufficiently the escape pipe of the motive water, so that it dips into the
water course. In this way the height of water representative of the absolute
static pressure which is exerted on the escape face of the piston becomes equal
to 10m. 33 (mean height of the representative water at atmospheric pressure)
diminished by the height (counted vertically) of the column of water contained in
the escape pipe.
The resisting pressure on the escape face of the motor piston would 'thus,
theoretically, in certain cases, be reduced to a minimum which would be the tension
of steam at the temperature of the escape pipe, whilst by allowing the water to
escape at the same level as the engine the resisting pressure would be the
atmospheric pressure.
In other words, when this arrangement is adopted, the escape water produces on
the piston a sort of suction which is added to the effect of the motive pressure, as
in condensing steam engines, the partial vacuum existing in the condenser allowing
the steam to produce a greater amount of work.
This siphon-like arrangement of the escape tube is not however indispensable for
the working of this engine, and is only mentioned as a precaution which it is useful
to take in certain cases.
While the driving or working piston completes its stroke, the pump piston 5 is
moved in the same direction.
The water entering the pump by the pipe 31 lifts the valve 271, and enters the
right hand end of the pump barrel 2, while the water contained in the left hand
part is forced through the tube 26, lifts the valve 28, and rises in the tube 33
where it is driven out by the compressed air in the air chamber 29.
The distributing mechanism or valve gear is such that when the pistons reach
the end of their stroke, the slide valve (that is to say the whole arrangement of
the double plug or valve 18, and of the two plugs or valves 21, 211) suddenly
change their position by reason of a rapid movement of oscillation communicated
by the engine to the, shaft 23, and to the slotted arms 24. Therefore, when the

page_text: wo pistons reach the left hand extremity of their stroke, the double plug or valve 18,
will close port 171, and open port 17. At the same time the escape port 20
will be closed by the plug or valve 21, whilst the plug or valve 21', in moving
backwards, will leave the port 20' fully open.
The motive water which had acted
upon the right face of the piston will now exert its pressure upon the left face
thereof, and the two pistons will return in the opposite direction, the pump working
in the ordinary manner. The same results will be produced automatically at the
end of each stroke, provided that the piston itself imparts a movement of oscillation
to the shaft 23 at the desired moment.
This result is obtained by the following arrangement. The extension 7 of the
piston rod of the pump terminates in a crosshead 35 (Figs. 3 and 4) working in
two slide guides 36. The middle of the crosshead is jointed to the end of a forked
lever 37, the other end of which is jointed to the rod 38, which latter is moveable
about the top of the small fixed pillar 39. The joint of the lever 37 and rod 38 is
supported by a rod 40 mounted upon a friction roller 41 which moves in a circular
course around the pillar 39 by lending itself to the movement of the connecting
rods.
.
At the point 42, on the lever 37, is jointed by means of a universal joint, the
connecting rod 43, the other extremity of which is attached, in the same manner,
to the lever 44.
This latter is cast in a piece with a sleeve carrying two cams 45, 45¹, and
mounted loose upon the shaft 46, which is capable of turning about two points or
pivots 47, 47. Keyed to the shaft 46, and at the side of the sleeve 48, is a counter-
balance lever 49, carrying a tappet 50 which projects between the two cams 45, 45',
so as to be capable of being pushed alternately by one or the other of them.
When the counterbalance lever 49 turns about its shaft 46, this shaft turns with it
and carries in its movement of rotation two fingers 51, 51', projecting from two
rings or collars 52, 52', fixed to the shaft.
upon
Between these two rings or collars is mounted a lever 53 which is loose the
shaft 46. This lever carries two transverse tappets 54 and 54' which are in turn
struck by one of the fingers 51, 51', thereby causing the lever 53 to oscillate
through a certain angle at each stroke. This movement of oscillation is transmitted
by the connecting rod 55 to the lever 56, and to the shaft 23 to which this lever is
keyed.
This mechanism, shewn in Figs. 4 and 5, in the position corresponding to that
of the pistons shewn in Fig. 1, works in the following manner.
lever 49.
The pistons move from right to left, as has already been described, the lever 37
is therefore moved in the direction of the arrow. It pushes the connecting rod 43
which causes the lever 44 and the two cams 45, 45', to turn with a continuous
movement about the shaft 46. It will be seen (Fig. 3) that in this movement the
cam 45' is in engagement with the tappet 50 and therefore raises the counterbalance
As soon as this lever is out of the vertical its counterweight will cause it to
fall sharply over to the left, thereby causing the shaft 46, and the two fingers 51, 51',
to turn with it. During this movement the finger 51' comes into contact with
the tappet 54' and therefore pushes back the lever 53, together with the connecting
rod 55 and lever 56, thus changing the position of the distributor and reversing
The fall of the counterbalance
the function of the ports, as above described.
lever 49 is arrested when the plugs or valves 18 and 21, come onto their seats.
These plugs or valves are thus firmly maintained in position during the whole of
the following stroke of the piston. The dimensions and strokes of all the parts of
the distributing mechanism are so calculated that the working of the distributor
shall take place exactly at each end of the stroke, although this condition is not
absolutely necessary. Elastic stops 57, 57, serve as supports for the counterweight
at the end of the stroke. Instead of the plug or valve distributor, previously
described, a rotary distributor, as shewn in Figs. 6 and 7 may be employed.
This distributor is simply a cylindrical chamber 58 bored out internally. One
of its ends, 59, is cast in a piece with the cylindrical walls, while the other 60, is

page_text: removeable and fixed in place by bolts. Inside the chamber is a diametral
partition 61, which is made watertight at its edges by means of two cup leathers 62, 62,
held tightly between two metal plates connected together by bolts, said cup leathers
rubbing against the walls of the cylindrical chamber 58. This partition or rotary
distributor oscillates about the shaft 24' and moves sharply from the position shewn
in full lines to that shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 7.
The shaft 24' traverses the cover 59 through. a stuffing box, and it receives ita
movement of oscillation in an exactly similar manner to that described with
reference to the shaft 23 of the slide valve distributor. In the two systems of
distributors the parts that perform the same office are shown by the same numerals..
but with indices in Figs. 6 and 7. Thus, in these figures, 32' is the inlet pipe for
the motive water, 34' is the outlet or escape pipe, 11 and 11 are the pipes which
enable the distributor to communicate with the two ends of the working cylinder,
the water which passes into these pipes traversing perforated diaphragms. It will
be seen (Fig. 7) that each end of the pipes 11" and can communicate either
with the inlet pipe 32, or with the inlet pipe 34, according as the rotary distributor, 61,
occupies one or other of its extreme positions. The working of this distributor will
be readily understood from the explanations given for the slide valve or plug-
distributor.
Figs. 8 and 9 shew a vertical arrangement of this engine.
The engine thus arranged consists, as previously, of a working cylinder 1 and
pump barrel 2, separated by the cover 3, and in which work the pistons 4 and 5
connected together by a piston rod 6.
The piston 4 is connected to the lower extremity of a rod 7, of smaller diameter
traversing the cover 3 through a stuffing box. This rod 7 actuates the distributing
mechanism as hereinafter explained. The distributor consists, in this instance, of a
cylinder 16 of small diameter, communicating with the two ends of the motor
cylinder 1, by passages 11, 11', and provided at its middle with an escape pipe 34.
This cylinder 16 also communicates, by the passages 17 and 17' with the ends of
another cylinder or pipe 15 into which the motive water is introduced by a tube 30.
Within the cylinder 16, and capable of rising and falling, is a rod 19, suitably
guided, and carrying two pistons or plugs 18 and 18', fitted with cup leathers,
which, according to the position they occupy, put the passages 11 and 11 into
communication with the admission port 17 or 17 or with the escape pipe 34, so that
one of the ends of the motor cylinder always communicates with the escape when
the other communicates with the inlet or admission, and vice versa. The rod 19 is
jointed to a connecting rod-55, attached to a lever 53, loose upon the axis 46 Fig. 9
and carrying, at its free extremity, a counterweight 55' which balances the entire
arrangement, so that the rod 19 remains indifferently in its highest position, or in its
lowest position. On the axis 40, is also loosely mounted a rocking lever 49, the boss
of which carries two cams acting in turn upon a stud for pin 54 so as to cause the
lever 53 and rod 19 to oscillate when the lever 49 passes from one to the other of
its extreme positions. The displacement of the lever 49 is produced by a toothed
wheel 44, the two arms of which 45 and 45' alternately encounter a stud or pin 50
carried by the lever 49. The toothed wheel 44 receives movement from a pinion 38¹
fixed on the toothed wheel 38 gearing into the rack 37 which is guided by a friction
Toller.36, and this rack forms a continuation of the rod 7.
The pump.2 is double acting; it receives the water through the pipe 33, and this
water flows through the pipe 26, shewn in dotted lines, to one or other of the suction
valves 27 or 27'; the water, as forced out, leaves the pump through the tube 26',
shewn in dotted lines on the left of 'Fig. 9, and by lifting the valve 28' enters the
air chamber 29, or else by passing directly into this chamber after having raised
the connecting rod 28.
The working is analogous to that previously described for the horizontal engine.
The rod 7 and rack 37 effect the same purpose here as the rod 7 in the latter engine.
They rise and fall at the same time as the motor piston and impart to the toothed
wheels 38, 38' and 44, an alternating movement of rotation which thereby causes

page_text: the lever 49 actuating the lever 53 and the rod 19 to rock at each end of the stroke
as above described. The movement of the water in the distributor is shewn by the
arrows in full lines, and in the pump by the arrows in dotted lines, and will be
readily understood on examination of these arrows, and by reference to the
description given for the horizontal engine, without it being necessary to furnish any
further explanation. The same reference numerals indicate, as far as possible, corre-
sponding parts or devices in both engines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same may be performed I claim, as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent:
1. The construction and arrangement of slide valve, with plug stoppers, actuated
by a reciprocating rectilinear movement, substantially as described.
2. The herein described construction and arrangement of the cylindrical slide
valve or rotary distributor actuated by sharp movements of oscillation about its
axis at each end of the stroke of the working piston, substantially as specified.
3. The connecting rod and lever mechanism, hereinbefore described with
reference to Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings, said mechanism serving to convert the
alternating rectilinear movement of the piston rod into a periodic and sharp move-
ment of oscilation of the driving shaft of the distributor.
4. The combination of the mechanism, as above claimed, with one or other of the
distributors specified respectively in Claims 1 and 2, said combination constituting
substantially the water pressure engine herein described and shewn, by way of
example, in the annexed drawings.
5. The improvements in water pressure engines substantially as described and as
shewn in the annexed drawings.
Dated this 07h 1
1000