IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUMPS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Wilson, of Norton, in the County of Durham,
Brass Finisher, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF PUMPS."
Sealed the 7th June 1859, and dated the 9th December 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
December 1858.
I, HENRY WILSON, of Norton, in the County of Durham, Brass Finisher,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUMPS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the introduction into pumps of a plate of brass or
other metal, to which are attached two or more suction pipes leading in
different directions. On the other side of this plate another plate is ground
air-tight, and is made to work either with a circular, semicular, or lateral
motion. The sliding plate is perforated with one or more holes, so that when
the holes in the sliding plate are opposite the holes in the stationary plate, the
water or other fluid may be drawn by the action of the pump from one or more
different sources, as may be required.
When the improvements are applied to beer pumps or any other where
it is required to draw only one liquor at a time, the sliding plate has only
one hole in it, and the foot valve of the pump and the foot valve of the
pump may either be inserted in the one in the sliding plate or in each

page_text: of the holes in the stationary plate, in which case the sliding plate presses
down all the valves excepting the one immediately under the hole, thereby
allowing the liquor to enter from the suction pipe to which that valve is
attached, and by the moving of the plate to uncover any of the valves or
ends of the suction pipes, by which means any single liquor may be drawn
and delivered without being mixed with the liquor drawn before it. In the
case of ships' pumps or others, where the changes are not frequent, and where
it is advantageous to be able to draw out of two or more compartments of the
ship at one time, a revolving disc is the most convenient form for the sliding
plate, being easily understood, and not liable to derangement. The same
principle may be applied in every case where liquors have to be drawn from
different sources, and where separate pumps are required for each, one single
pump fitted with the aforesaid improvements being able to do the same service
as two or more fitted in the usual way.
The Invention further consists in coupling the hose to the pump by first
screwing the screw upon the end of it into a cross piece, the ends of which
pass into or on to studs projecting from the pump, and are retained there by a
spring, key, or staple.
The Invention finally consists in fitting a clack in the spout or delivery pipe
of a pump where required, and closing the said clack, when necessary, by means
of an excentric worked by a lever.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th June 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
WILSON, of Norton, in the County of Durham, Brass Finisher, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Wilson, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Wilson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
Wilson, 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,

page_text: and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUMPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Henry Wilson, my executors or administrators, by an instru-.
ment 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 Henry Wilson, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say :-
This Invention consists in the introduction into pumps of a plate of brass
or other metal to which are attached two or more suction pipes leading in
different directions. On the other side of this plate another plate is ground
air-tight, and is made to work either with a circular, semicircular, or lateral
motion. The sliding plate is perforated with one or more holes, so that when
the holes in the sliding plate are opposite the holes in the stationary plate,
the water or other fluid may be drawn by the action of the pump from
one or more different sources, as may be required.
When the improvements are applied to beer pumps or any other where it is
required to draw only one liquor at a time, the sliding plate has only one hole
in it, and the foot valve of the pump may either be inserted in the one in
the sliding plate or in each of the holes in the stationary plate, in which case
the sliding plate presses down all the valves excepting the one immediately.
under the hole, thereby allowing the liquor to enter from the suetion pipe to
which that valve is attached, and by the moving of the plate to uncover any of
the valves or ends of the suction pipes, by which means any single liquor may
be drawn and delivered without being mixed with the liquor drawn before it:
In the case of ships' pumps or others, where the changes are not frequent, and
where it is advantageous to be able to draw out of two or more compartments
of the ship at one time, a revolving disc is the most convenient form for the
sliding plate, being easily understood, and not liable to derangement. The
same principle may be applied in every case where liquors have to be drawn
from different sources, and where separate pumps are required for each, one,
single pump fitted with the aforesaid improvements being able to do the same
service as two or more fitted in the usual way..

page_text: The Invention further consists in coupling the hose to the pump by first
screwing the screw upon the end of it into a cross piece, the ends of which
pass into or on to studs projecting from the pump, and are retained there by
a spring, key, or staple.
I
The Inventiou finally consists in fitting a clack in the spout or delivery pipe
of a pump where required, and closing. the said clack, when necessary, by
means of an excentric worked by a lever.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed I have represented a pump embodying
my several improvements. Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 an end
elevation, and Figure 3 a plan of this pump which is adapted for ship purposes;
Figure 4 is a detached plan view of the plate A of brass or other metal, which
is fixed within the box or case B, and to which the several suction pipes are
attached. On the upper side of the plate A is ground air-tight another plate or
revolving disc C, shewn detached in plan view in Figure 5, which is fitted to
turn about a centre. This plate C is perforated with holes D, D, which are
so situated in relation to the holes shewn in the plate A, Figure 4, that by
turning the plate C upon the plate A around its centre, one of the holes in the
upper plate may be brought immediately over either one of those in the lower
plate, or two of those in the upper plate may be brought over any two of the
lower, and so forth, in such manner that the space above the plate C, and
therefore the pump which is in immediate communication with the said space,
may be brought into commnnication with any one, two, or more of the suction
pipes as may be desired. Above the plate or disc C is fitted the sight plate
shown detached in Figure 6, upon which are marked certain figures and com-
binations of figures, as shown, for the purpose of indicating in what position
the pointer P must be placed in order to open any one, two, or more of
the passages, the pointer P being fitted upon the spindle of the revolving
disc or plate C.
The method of carrying out my next improvement, that of coupling the hose
to the pump in the manner before explained, is illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.
E is the hose, the brass end piece F of which screws into the cross piece G, the
ends of which pass over the studs H, H, and are retained there by means of
the pins I, I. In some cases we affix the cross piece G to the end piece F;
or form it in one with it, and form the studs H, H, upon a moveable ring or
socket which screws into the body of the pump.
In place of the clack valve, worked by means of an eccentric and lever, the
use of which for closing the spout or delivery pipe of a pump forms the third
part of my Invention, I sometimes prefer the following equivalent 'arrange-
ment of parts-I fit within the box or case K a vertical shaft, which has a

page_text: slot a, Figure 2, formed in it, and a screw thread 6 formed upon it. By
turning the lever or handle c this shaft may be raised or lowered. Into the
slot a a stud d, projecting from a valve e, enters. This valve e slides up and
down in guides on the plate g, as shewn in the detached views, Figures 7
and 8. As the vertical shaft is raised or lowered by the lever or handle c, the
valve e is carried up or down, and thus the passage h is opened or closed as
may be desired. The valve e is shown open in Figure 7 and closed in Figure 8.
On the lower end of the vertical shaft are fixed two plates of metal faced with
leather or india-rubber, so arranged that when the valve e is closed the water
may be drawn from the sea or other source and forced down the suction pipe
to keep them clear in case of fouling.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the method of establishing or cutting off communication between the
pump and any one, two, or more of several suction pipes by the means and in
the manner herein-before described.
Secondly, the method of coupling the hose to the pump by the means and in
the manner herein-before described.
Thirdly, the method of fitting a valve to the spout or delivery pipe of a
pump, and of working the same by means of an eccentric and lever, or by
means of a rising and falling shaft, or by other equivalent means, essentially as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Wilson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of June, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-nine.
HENRY WILSON. (L.S.)