IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM-PUMPS
Year: 1885

page_text: I THOMAS HENRY WILLIAMS of Carn Brea House, Castlenau, Barnes in the
County of Surrey Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM-PUMPS" to be as follows:-
My invention relates to that class of steam pumping engines, in which the main
Blide valve of the steam cylinder is actuated by supplementary pistons for effecting
the reversal of the same. And it has for its object the effecting of such reversal
in a more certain, reliable, and effectual manner than hitherto has been found to
obtain in practice with such steam pumping engines.
In carrying out my invention, I construct the main steam cylinder with the
usual induction and eduction steam ports or passages for admitting and releasing
the steam-In addition thereto I provide two supplemental passages or ports
which communicate with the interior of the steam cylinder and the stalks of the
auxiliary valves hereinafter named which admit steam for actuating those auxiliary
valves.
The main slide valve may be of a double D or single D form, and works in
a suitably formed steam chest; the ends of which terminate in short cylinders for
the reception of supplemental pistons.
»
These cylinders and supplemental pistons are hereinafter respectively called
"valve cylinders" and "valve pistons -The valve pistons are so coupled together
that they reciprocate simultaneously, their motion being communicated to the slide
valve, by a suitable connection, to admit and release steam to and from the steam
cylinder.
Small auxiliary valves are fitted to, or in connection with, the valve pistons, or
valve cylinders, and a small hole communicates with the larger ends of the auxiliary
valves, and the valve cylinders, through which the steam, after having actuated the
valve pistons and slide valve, exhausts, (when the auxiliary valves are lifted) into
annular chambers formed around the stalks of the auxiliary valves and communi-
cateing with the exhaust passage of the steam cylinder, through suitable conduits
provided for that purpose.-Constant communication is also established between
the tops of each of the auxiliary valves and the main steam parts of the steam
cylinder through suitable holes and grooves formed in the valve pistons, or holes
only, in the covers of the valve cylinders, which correspond with similar holes
leading from the main steam ports of the steam cylinder.

page_text: Holes or passages are also provided, for admitting steam behind each of the valve
pistons for effecting the reversal of the same; and the auxiliary valves may be so
modified in form as to admit and release steam, to or from behind the "valvo
pistons "The valve pistons and auxiliary valves are entirely actuated by steam,
and the steam ports and passages are so proportioned and arranged as to ensure the
effective cushioning of all moving parts.
.
A starting lever is provided and connected with a shaft which works in a
suitable stuffing box formed in a moveable cap on the steam chest by means of
which motion may be imparted to the valve, in order to start the engine, after
which the reciprocating motion is continued, automatically, as long as steam is
supplied.
.
The piston rod of the steam cylinder is connected directly with the piston of the
pump, the cylinders of both being in a line with each other.
The pump valves are made in two or more parts, and are designed for the use of
removable elastic or other beats, and the kind of material I prefer to use in the
construction of the beats is hard vulcanised india rubber, or, what is an excellent
substitute, vulcanised fibre; but other suitable materials may be used.
Although the foregoing description applies to a single cylinder horizontal
pumping engine, it is obvious that with slight modifications in the details it
may be arranged to work vertically or on the compound system, and with or
without a condenser.

page_text: I THOMAS HENRY WILLIAMS of N° 11 Queen Victoria Street in the City of
London and the County of Middlesex Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to that class of Steam pumping engines in which the main
slide valve of the steam cylinder is actuated by supplementary pistons, for effecting
a reversal of the same-And it has for its object the effecting of such reversal in a
more certain reliable and effectual manner than hitherto has been found to obtain
in practice with such steam pumping engines.
In carrying out my invention I construct the main steam cylinder with the
usual induction and eduction steam ports or passages for admitting and releasing
the steam. In addition thereto I provide two supplemental passages or ports,
which communicate with the interior of the steam cylinder, and the stalks of the
auxiliary valves, hereinafter named, and which admit steam for actuating those
auxiliary valves.
"
The main slide valve may be of a double D or single D form, and works in
a suitably formed steam chest, the ends of which terminate in short cylinders, for
the reception of supplemental pistons. These cylinders and supplemental pistons
are hereinafter respectively called "valve cylinders" and "valve pistons."
The valve pistons are so coupled together that they reciprocate simultaneously,
their motions being communicated to the slide valve by a suitable connection, to
admit and release steam to and from the steam cylinder.
Small auxiliary valves are fitted to, or in connection with, the valve pistons, or
valve cylinders, and a small hole communicates with the larger ends of the auxiliary
valves and the valve cylinders, through which the steam, after having actuated the
valve pistons and slide valve, exhausts (when the auxiliary valves are lifted). into
annular chambers formed around the stalks of the auxiliary valves, and communi-.
cating with the exhaust passage of the steam cylinder, through suitable conduits
provided for that purpose. Constant communication is also established between
the tops of each of the auxiliary valves and the main steam ports of the steam
cylinder, through suitable holes and grooves formed in the valve pistons, or holes
only in the covers of the valve cylinders, (or suitable facings formed on the valve
cylinders, or on the steam cylinder, as the case may be) which correspond with
similar holes leading from the main steam ports of the steam cylinder.
Holes or passages are also provided, for admitting steam behind each of the valve:
pistons, for effecting the reversal of the same; and the auxiliary valves may be so:
modified in form as to admit and release steam to, or from behind the valve
pistons. The valve pistons and auxiliary valves are entirely actuated by steam,
and the steam ports and passages are so proportioned and arranged as to ensure the
effective cushioning of the moving parts.
;
A starting lever is provided and connected with a shaft, which works in a
suitable stuffing box formed in a moveable cap on the steam chest by means of
which motion may be imparted to the valve in order to start the Engine, after

page_text: which the reciprocating motion is continued automatically, as long as steam is
supplied.
The piston rod of the steam cylinder is connected directly with the piston
or plunger of the pump, the cylinders of both being in a line with each other.
The pump valves are made in two or more parts and are designed for the use of
removable elastic or other beats and the kind of material I prefer to use in the
construction of the beats is hard vulcanized india rubber, or what is an excellent
substitute vulcanized fibre; but other suitable materials may be used.
Although the foregoing description applies to a single cylinder horizontal
pumping engine, it is obvious that, with slight modifications in the details, and
without departing from the nature of my invention, it may be arranged to work
vertically, or on the compound system and with or without a condenser.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
On the accompanying Drawings;
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of one form of my steam pumps in
which the auxilliary valves are arranged to work in the valve pistons, and the
pump valves are constructed to receive interchangable elastic or other beats, and
to work on guide spindles.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section of Fig. 1 through the steam cylinder valve pistons
and valve cylinders on the line A. A. shewing the steam passages or.ports.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, showing the auxiliary valves as arranged to work
horizontally in the covers of the valve cylinders.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the steam cylinder with the steam chest and valve cylinders
removed, showing the main steam ports and supplemental ports or passages.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the steam cylinder and valve cylinders on
the line B B, showing the steam passages.
Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the steam cylinder, and valve cylinder, with the
covers of each removed, showing the direction of the steam passages.
Fig. 7 is a section through the valve cylinder cover, on the line C C, showing
the supplemental steam passage which communicates with the interior of the steam
cylinder, and the stalk of the auxiliary valve.
Fig. 8 is a section through the cover of the valve cylinder on the line D. D.
showing the annular exhaust chamber formed around the stalks of the auxiliary
valves, and the exhaust passage leading therefrom to the exhaust port of the steam
oylinder.
Fig. 9 is an inside view of the valve cylinder cover, showing the positions of the
steam and exhaust passages in the same by dotted lines.
Fig. 10 is an outside view of the valve cylinder cover, with the positions of the
passages or ports shown dotted,
Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the steam cylinder, valve pistons,
and valve cylinders, shewing the auxiliary valves arranged to work on the side of
the steam cylinder.
Fig. 12 is a plan of the steam cylinder with the steam chest and valve cylinders
removed, showing the steam ports and passages, in section with full and dotted
lines.
Fig. 13 is a transverse section of the end of the steam cylinder and socket of the
auxiliary valve on the line E E showing the steam and exhaust passages, and the
auxiliary valve.
Fig. 14 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the steam cylinder, valve cylinders,
and valve pistons as arranged for a modified form of auxiliary valves and suitable
for pumping engines, working in either vertical or horizontal positions.
Fig. 15 is a plan of the cylinder with the valve chest & removed, shewing the
steam and exhaust ports and passages.
Fig. 16 is a plan of the facings cast on the side of the steam cylinder to receive
the auxiliary valve sockets and auxiliary valves, and showing the position of the

page_text: steam and exbaust ports or passages, therein for the modified form of auxiliary
valves.
Fig. 17 is a transverse section, through the steam cylinder, valve cylinder, valve
pistons and auxiliary valve socket on the line F F. showing the steam ports and
passages.
Fig. 18 is a section through the centre of the auxiliary valve socket, showing the
auxiliary valve steam and exhaust, passages.
Fig. 19 is a plan of the face of the auxiliary valve socket, showing the
positions of the steam and exhaust passages, corresponding to those shown in
Fig. 16.
a a¹ are the valve cylinders formed at the ends of the steam chest 6 6¹, and c. c²
are the corresponding valve pistons, which are connected together by one casting c
as shown, or otherwise united so as to reciprocate simultaneously in their respective
cylinders a a¹, their motion being communicated to the slide valve d d by means
of the coupling tube e, which connects the valve pistons c c¹ with the slide valve
dd in the manner shown; or otherwise: ff' are the auxiliary valves which are
free to work in their respective sockets. g. g¹ g¹¹ g¹¹¹ gʻ g³ 9ª 9º are the supple-
mental passages or ports, leading to the stalks of the auxiliary valves f.f¹. hh¹,
hh, are passages leading from the annular chambers j¹ to the exhaust passages
of the steam cylinder. ut are small holes drilled through the valve pistons c c¹,
which provide for and allow the passage of a constant supply of live steam from
the valve chest b to the spaces a³ and a³, behind the valve pistons c c¹ respectively,
thereby placing those valve pistons in a state of equilibrium. vv are exhaust
passages through which the steam escapes into the annular chambers j¹, when
the auxiliary valves ƒ ƒ¹, are lifted, as hereinafter described. го гил гия ги³ are
longitudinal grooves formed in the valve pistons c. cor equivalent facings-of
sufficient length to permit the valve pistons to travel their full stroke, without
overlapping their respective holes or passages h g g³ and i.-k. is the starting lever
inside the steam chest, and is the starting handle fitted to the shaft k³ and
working in a stuffing box, as shown. is the main steam piston; "the piston
rod; and the pump piston, which works in the pump m (shewn partly in section).
n is the body of the pump delivery valve, formed to receive the movable elastic or
other beat o, which is held in position by the washer p, screwed on the sleeve of
the body n, as shewn. The beat o works on an ordinary seating r, and is guided
by the fixed spindle, as shewn; or otherwise suitably guided. q and q¹ are tubular
India-rubber springs to assist in closing the valves; but spiral metallic or other
suitable springs may be substituted therefor. The suction valve n¹ (shewn in
elevation) is similarly formed to the delivery valve as above described. The body n
of the valves may be modified by having a spindle formed in one therewith, and
arranged to work in suitable guides formed in the seating r, or by other equivalent
means.
The action of my improved steam pump is as follows:-
The respective parts being in the positions shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 and the steam
being on, steam is passing under the valve d to the passage 8¹ and to the main
piston L. The steam also gains access to the top of the auxiliary valve f¹ by the
passage hh³, to keep it from the lifting. The exhaust steam is at the same time
passing by the passage & and valve to the eduction passage t of the steam
cylinder; the top of the auxiliary valve f is also in communication with the
exhaust port t by means of the passages h2 h and 8: likewise the stalks of the
auxiliary valves fand f¹ are in communication with the exhaust by the grooves ww
and the passages gl glll g³ g³ g and g¹ through the steam cylinder and steam
passages. The live steam gains access behind the valve pistons c c through holes u
and thereby placing the valve pistons c and c¹ in equilibrium. On the main
piston being driven by the entering steam from the position shewn towards the
left hand end of the steam cylinder and passing the port g' such port is opened to
the live steam which enters the same and gains access to the stalk of the auxiliary
valve f¹. The auxiliary valve f¹ remains stationary however in consequence of

page_text: steam having been previously admitted to the larger end thereof. When, however,
the main piston 7 bas further travelled and passed the port g, live steam gains
access to the stalk of the auxiliary valve f through the passages g 9 g¹¹g and
groove w and lifts the auxiliary valve f which valve f uncovers the hole v, thereby
exhausting the steam from the space a³ of the cylinder a, into the annular chamberj
and thence through the groove w³, into the exhaust passages i and the exhaust
port t of the steam cylinder, to the atmosphere or condenser, as the case may be.
The equilibrium of the valve pistons c c¹ is thus destroyed causing the reversal of
the said valve pistons and consequently of the main slide valve d d¹.
When the portion d of the slide valve d d admits steam to the port 8 the steam
gains access by the passages h. h³ and groove w³ to the top of the auxiliary valve f
which is thereby closed. The area of this end of the auxiliary valve f being
greater than that of the stalk, enables the newly admitted steam to overcome the
back pressure due to the previously admitted steam exhausting, this enables the
auxiliarly valve f to close quietly on the seating s² at the same time closing
the hole v, and thereby restoring the equilibrium of the valve pistons c. c¹ and
thereby also preventing the valve piston from striking its cylinder cover.
The seatings 883 and the corresponding beats of the auxiliary valves ff¹ are
intended to check and limit the motion of the auxiliary valves ƒ ƒ' and are not
necessarily steam tight.
The respective positions of the ports gh. h are so arranged as to give a
positive lead to the slide valve to admit steam just before the completion of the
stroke of the main piston 7 and thereby cushion or check its motion and prevent
striking the cylinder covers.
In the event of wear taking place in the auxiliary valves for f¹ or their
respective sockets and thereby, or otherwise leakage of steam should take place
past the auxiliary valves ff1 such leakage would pass into the annular chambers j
or and thence into the exhaust passage t in the manner before described thus
avoiding an objectionable accumulation of pressure and ensuring the effective
action of the valves f, f¹ at all times and under all conditions.
The relative areas of the holes u u¹ and v v¹ are so proportioned as to provide
for any leakage which may take place past the auxiliary valves f, f¹, or the valve
pistons c. c, the exhaust passages vand i being sufficiently large to conduct away
not only the normal amount of exhaust steam but also that arising from any leakage
which may take place. It is obvious that by placing the valve cylinders a. a¹ and
their respective valve pistons f f¹ at right angles to the steam cylinder, and
suitably modifying the steam ports and passages to correspond the steam pump as
above described can be arranged to work vertically.
Although the foregoing description refers in particular to Figs. 1 and 2 it
is nevertheless descriptive of the modifications represented by Figs. 3 to 13
respectively, and inclusive; and the same letters and figures of reference are used
in each, thereby rendering further explanation unnecessary.
With respect however to Figs. 14 to 19 inclusive, which represent the modified
auxiliary valve as designed to alternately admit and exhaust steam to and from
the piston valves, and to admit of my steam pump working in either a vertical or
horizontal position with equal certainty, and without the necessity of modifying
the relative positions of the valve cylinders and steam passages, in respect to that
of the steam cylinder, for working in a vertical position; I will describe the same
separately.
The respective moving parts being in the positions shown, relative to each other,
and steam on, steam enters the steam port and passage s' from the steam chest b,
and acts upon the piston ; steam also enters, the passage h¹ formed in the valve
piston c¹ and gains access to the top of the modified auxiliary valve f¹ through
the passage h¹ Steam also enters the port or passage h², but it is prevented
passing through into the valve cylinder by the valve piston c' which covers it.
The main piston 1, in moving from the position shown to the other end of the
steam cylinder, passes the supplemental port gl and admits steam to the stalk of

page_text: the auxiliary valve f¹ through the passage g¹ but the auxiliary valve f³ does not
move in consequence of steam having been previously admitted to the largest end,
in the manner above described.
When the slide valve d and the valve pistons c c¹, are in the positions shewn,
the groove w establishes communication between the passages h and h³ and thereby
places the top of the auxiliary valve f in communication with the steam passage &
and the exhaust passage t-The groove wl in the valve piston c¹ and the passage h
in the valve piston c are then not in requisition..
When the main piston has passed the port 9 steam enters and gains access to
the auxiliary valve f and lifts it.
The upper groove in the auxiliary valve ƒ then establishes communication
between the passages u and v and allows the live steam from the steam chest b to
enter through the passages u and v into the space a² of the valve cylinder a to
reverse the valve pistons c and c¹ and consequently the slide valve d and main
piston The lower portion of the auxiliary valve f has then closed the exhaust
ports thereby. preventing the escape of the steam previously admitted from
the port v.
When the passage h in the valve piston c coincides with its corre
sponding passage in h in the valve cylinder a steam enters the passages h and
acting upon the top of the auxiliary valve f closes it and also the steam passage u
and at the same time opening the passage to the annular exhaust chamber ; and
exhaust passage i; and consequently the passage t which communicates with the
atmosphere or condenser as the case may be, the main piston / having passed the
supplemental port gl, simultaneously with the escape of the steam from the space a
of the valve cylinder a through the passage v, a reversal of the valve pistons c cl
and slide valve d takes place as before described. The same action takes place at
each stroke and continues automatically as long as steam is on.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The manufacture and use of steam pumps, constructed arranged and operating
substantially as herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
2. In steam pumps of the description aforesaid, the construction and use of pump
valves with moveable elastic or other beats o, fitted and sustained in their places,
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn on the
drawings.
3. The means and arrangements whereby positive "lead" of the slide valve is
secured, just before the completion of the stroke of the Steam Piston, substantially
as and for the purposes herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
4. In steam pumps of the description aforesaid the use of the auxiliary valves ƒ ƒ¹,
in combination with the annular exhaust passages jj, substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described and shewn on the drawings.
Dad L 7000