IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC PUMP APPARATUS
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 5th Apr., 1887.
We, MOSES ALEXANDER MICHALES, Steamboat Master and Pilot, residing at 52
Fayette Street in Allegheny and ALBERT MICHAELS, Engineer, residing at 98 Franklin
Street in Pittsburgh, both in the County of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, and
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC PUMP APPARATUS and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The invention herein relates to certain improvements in pump apparatus wherein
is employed a portable pump and motor therefor, and stationary or relatively stationary
generator for supplying the power to the motor. Although the apparatus as herein-
after described can be used for other purposes, it is especially applicable for pumping
out boats, barges or other vessels, whether the same are collected around or in proximity
to a tow boat or wharf boat. In towing coal boats or barges on Western rivers and
other waters, the boats or barges are collected around and attached to a steam tow boat,
and as these boats or barges are somewhat frail structurally and are also subjected to
hard usage they require frequent pumping to keep them afloat. Very frequently the
leaks are so serious that hand pumps are practically useless, and in such cases resort
is had to what is known as a steam siphon pump, the steam necessary for operating
these pumps being obtained from the boilers on the tow boat.
As the boat or barge
to be pumped out is very often three or four or five boat or barge lengths from the tow
boat, three, four or five hundred feet of pipe is necessary to connect the siphon pump with
the boiler, hence a great deal of valuable time is lost in making the connections over
the intervening boats or barges, and further it requires quite a high boiler pressure to
obtain the necessary steam pressure at the pump, this is especially true in cold weather,
when the radiation from the exposed pipe connections is very rapid, thereby effecting
a great amount of condensation of the steam in the pipes. It also frequently occurs
that the boat to be pumped is located at such a distance from the tow boat that it
is impracticable to obtain the necessary force of steam at the pump and hence it is
necessary to remove the intervening boats in order that the tow boat may get suffi-
ciently near the hoat or barge requiring the services of the boat. The delay involved
in the removal of the intervening boats, is frequently so great that a leaking boat or
barge will sink before the pump can be put into operation.
The object of the invention herein is to provide a pump apparatus which can be
easily moved from boat to boat as circumstances require, the power generator remaining
relatively stationary, and the power employed being of such a character as to suffer but
little loss in transmission from the point of generation to the point or points of use.
In general terms the invention consists in the construction and combination, sub-
stantially as hereinafter described, and claimed.

page_text: Figure 1, is a diagrammatic view of a tow and its barges having our pump apparatus
applied thereto.
Fig. 2, is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of our improved pump
apparatus.
Fig. 3, is a detail view of the manner of connecting the pump and motor.
In carrying out our invention we employ what is known as a rotary pump, consisting
of the tubular body portion 1, formed of sheet iron or light boiler iron, and provided
near its upper end with a discharge spout 2. At the lower end of the body portion. 1,
is formed a chamber 3, in which is located a screw 4, similar in construction to a
propeller screw. This screw is mounted on a shaft 5, extending through the body
portion 1, and supported at its lower end in a step 6, secured to the lower end of the
chamber 3, the upper end of the shaft being centrally supported by the cap plate 7,
forming the top of the body portion and secured thereto in any suitable manner.
Over the lower end of the chamber 3, is placed a perforated plate 8, to prevent foreign.
substances from entering and thereby clogging the screw, and around the chamber is
arranged a conical shield 9, having perforated sides for the same purpose. On the
upper end of the pump is placed an electric motor 11, having a vertically arranged
armature 12, the lower end of the shaft of said armature being provided with a
socket 13, for the reception of the squared end of the shaft 5. The frame of the motor
is provided with a pedistal 14, adapted to rest upon the cap plate 7, of the pump, the
cap plate and pedistal being secured together by bolts 15, which are pivoted between
suitable lugs on the underside of the cap plate and when used are turned up into
notches in the peripheries of the cap plate and pedistal, see Fig. 2. Any other suitable;
means may be employed to clamp the motor to the pump, the above described means
being mentioned as one of the readily applied means for that purpose.
A pump constructed as above described, and provided with a readily detachable
motor, can be easily transported from boat to boat of a tow as required and can be
quickly put into operation. The generator 16, is located on the tow boat or wharf
boat around which the boats or barges are arranged, and is connected to the motor by
insulated conductors 17, which can be allowed to rest upon the intervening boats or
barges. The use of a stationary electric generator and a portable motor and pump,
will permit of the pumping out of a boat or barge, at a comparatively great distance
from the tow or wharf boat, without any material loss of power between the generator
and motor, and without the effectiveness of the apparatus being impaired by atmo-
spheric influences.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is:
1. A pump apparatus having in combination a stationary dynamo electric generator
and a portable pump provided with an electric motor, substantially as set forth.
2. A pump apparatus having in combination a stationary dynaino electric generator
and a portable pump provided with an electric motor detachable from the pump,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this Sixteenth day of February A.D. 1887.