IMPROVE- MENTS IN HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Moore, of 213 Harrison Street, San Francisco,
in the United States of America, Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Moore at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1883.
JOSEPH MOORE, of 213 Harrison Street, San Francisco, in the United States
of America, Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS
"
This Invention has for its object to lessen the cost of pumping apparatus when
applied to mines, to reduce the liability to derangement from accident, wear and
tear, to economise the power required to work the apparatus, and generally to
improve its various parts and simplify their arrangement. The improvements are
also more or less applicable to other than mine pumps.
The main part of the improved pumping apparatus consists of two barrels
placed one below the other in the same vertical line, the lower one, having a
stuffing box at its upper end end and the upper one having a stuffing box at its
lower. A tubular vertically reciprocating plunger of differential areas connects
the two barrels, with its upper part which is of half the sectional area of the lower
part working through the inverted stuffing box of the upper barrel, and with its
lower and larger part working through the stuffing box at the top of the lower
barrel. The suction or inlet pipe is attached to the bottom of the lower barrel
and is fitted with a foot or lift valve. A check valve is fitted in the lower larger
part of the tubular plunger, and in order to facilitate its extraction for examination
and repair, the larger and smaller parts of the plunger are made in separate pieces
which are bolted together, whilst the upper smaller part is made with an extension
projecting down inside of the larger part and which is arranged to lift the valve,
when the parts of the plunger are separated. The top of the upper barrel is
connected to the ascension or discharge pipe. When the tubular plunger rises it
forces from the upper barrel up the discharge pipe a quantity of water measured
by the sectional area of its upper part multiplied by its length of stroke, and at

page_text: the same time double that quantity of water enters the lower barrel through the
foot valve. On the plunger descending it displaces the quantity of water just
previously received into the lower barrel which water passes up through the
plunger and as its quantity is double that for which the descent of the plunger
leaves space in the upper barrel one half of it at once passes on up the discharge
pipe, the result being that equal quantities are forced up the discharge pipe at
both down and up strokes of the plunger, which renders the upward movement
of the water practically continuous.
The tubular plunger is made to reciprocate by means of a cross head fixed to
its middle part and to two opposite pairs of plungers working in lateral cylinders
which are conveniently formed upon or fixed to the sides of the main pump barrels.
It is by forcing water under sufficient pressure alternately into each pair of
lateral cylinders that their plungers are moved and impart motion to the tubular
plunger of the main pump; and this water under pressure is led to the lateral
cylinders by two pipes communicating with an actuating engine which may be at
the top of the mine shaft or in any convenient situation and which may itself be
actuated by any suitable motive power. The actuating engine is arranged to
force water into the two pipes, alternately and when the water is being forced
down one pipe it returns up the other pipe to the engine, so that the water in the
two pipes operates to a great extent like the rods of ordinary mine pumps, but in
a much more economical and convenient manner. When the shaft is extended
downwards all that is required is to increase the lengths of the ascension or
discharge pipe and of the pipes by which the water is led from the actuating
engine to the lateral cylinders of the pump, and to lower the pump barrels-for
which purposes a special hydraulic cylinder. is by preference provided to which
the pump apparatus or a part of it is connected by suspensory rods. The whole
arrangement can be readily lowered, or drawn to the surface if it should happen
to be submerged or for other purposes, as it is provided with guides which engage
with guide rods which are carried down the shaft as the sinking proceeds.
The lateral cylinders or the pipes leading the water under pressure to them are
connected by a pipe fitted with a valve or valves actuated by the moving. parts
in such a way as to open as either end of the stroke is approached or reached, and
so as to then equalise the pressure and prevent injury should the forcing of water
down either pipe be continued longer than required for the completion of the
stroke.
The plungers or rams may be of the ordinary construction and they and the
whole apparatus may be arranged either horizontally or in an inclined position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Moore in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th November
1883.
1
JOSEPH MOORE, of 213 Harrison Street, San Francisco, in the United States
of America, Engineer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS
"
My said Invention' has for its object to lessen the cost of pumping apparatus
when applied to mines, to reduce the liability to derangement from accident, wear
and tear, to economise the power required to work the apparatus, and generally to
improve its various parts and simplify their arrangement. My improvements are
also more or less applicable to other than mine pumps. One important advantage
of my improved arrangements consists in the facility with which the pumping
barrels can be lowered step by step as a mine or shaft is being extended
downwards.
The main part of my improved pumping apparatus consists of two barrels placed
one below the other in the same line, the lower one having a stuffing box at its
upper end, and the upper one having a stuffing box at its lower end. A tubular
vertical reciprocating plunger of differential areas, connects the' two barrels, with
its upper part, which is of half the sectional area of the lower part, working
through the inverted stuffing box of the upper barrel, and with its lower and
larger part working through the stuffing box at the top of the lower barrel. The
suction or inlet pipe is attached to the bottom of the lower barrel and is fitted
with a foot or lift valve. A check valve is fitted in the lower larger part of the
tubular plunger. The top of the upper barrel is connected to the ascension or .
discharge pipe, and when the tubular plunger rises it forces' from the upper barrel
up the discharge pipe a quantity of water measured by the sectional area of its
upper part multiplied by its length of stroke, whilst at the same time double that
quantity of water enters the lower barrel through the foot valve. On the plunger
descending it displaces the quantity of water just previously received into the,
lower barrel which water passes up into the plunger forcing out a corresponding
quantity from the top of the plunger, and as this quantity is double that for which
the descent of the plunger leaves space in the upper barrel one half of it at once
passes on up the discharge pipe, the result being that equal quantities are forced
up the discharge pipe at both up and down strokes of the plunger, which renders
the upward movement of the water practically continuous.
The tubular plunger is made to réciprocate by means of a crosshead fixed' to
plungers working in lateral cylinders and acted on by water under pressure, com-
municating by two suitable pipes with the cylinders at the pumps and' with an
engine at the top of the mine shaft, or in any other convénient position. This'
engine is arranged to force water into the two pipes alternately, and when the
water is being forced down one pipe it returns up the other pipe to the engine, so
that the water in the two pipes operates to a great extent like the rods of ordinary
mine pumps, but in a much more economical and convenient manner.
When the shaft is being extended downwards and the water has to be raised
from a lower level, all that is required is to increase the lengths of the ascension or
discharge pipe, and of the pipes by which the water is led from the actuating
engine to the lateral cylinders of the pump, and to lower the' pump barrels, for
which purposes a special hydraulic cylinder is by preference provided, to which
the pump apparatus or a part of it is connected by suspensory rods. The whole
apparatus can be readily lowered, or it can be drawn' up to the surface if it'should'
happen to be submerged; or for other purposes, as it is provided with slides to

page_text: engage with fixed guides which are extended down the shaft as the sinking
proceeds.
The pump barrels and other parts which have been described as being vertical
may be placed in inclined or even horizontal positions in any cases in which it
may be more convenient, and in cases in which it may be found preferable there
may be substituted for the pumps with compound tubular plungers, any other
suitable construction of pumps with plungers or buckets or pistons, many of the
improvements comprised in my Invention being advantageously applicable in
combination with parts constructed or arranged otherwise than as herein
described.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to and representing my improved apparatus.
Figure 1 on sheet 1 of the accompanying drawings is an elevation of the
pumping apparatus, and figure, 2, is a corresponding vertical section. Figures, 3
and 4 are enlarged views of certain valve details for correcting excess of action of
the water which actuates the pumps. Figure, 5, is a plan of the pumps with the
air vessel removed, and figures, 6, 7, and 8, are transverse horizontal sections.
Figure, 9, is an enlarged section showing an improved construction of stuffing box
which I prefer to use. Figure, 10, on sheet 2, is an elevation of the apparatus for
lowering and raising the pumps, and figure, 11, is a vertical section as at right
angles to figure, 10. Figure, 12, is a general view on a reduced scale, of the
pumping apparatus and its lifting gear and other parts, figure, 13, being a plan of
a detail for guiding the pipes. Figures, 14, and 15, are a plan and side elevation
of a temporary suspension block used when lengthening the rods by which the
pumps are suspended, and figure, 16, is an enlarged section showing the connection
of the pipes with the apparatus at the top of the shaft. In these drawings the
same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they
are repeated..
The pumping apparatus comprises two barrels a lower one, 21, and an upper
one, 22, each made in a separate casting; and the two castings are connected
together, with a space between them, by four tie rods, 23, (seen only in the
sections figures 6 and 8) and by channel-shaped angle-iron slides, 24, which latter
move on vertical guides, 25, (figure, 12) fixed in the shaft or pit and extended
downwards as the sinking proceeds. The effective cross-sectional area of the
lower barrel, 21, is double that of the upper barrel, 22; and a compound tubular
plunger, 25, 26, with its lower part, 25, double the effective area of its upper
part, 26, extends from one barrel to the other, and is made to reciprocate vertically
with its lower larger end, 25, working through a stuffing box at the top of the
lower barrel, 21, and with its upper smaller end 26, working through a stuffing
box at the bottom of the upper barrel, 22. At the bottom of the lower barrel, 21,
there is fitted a foot or suction valve, 27, by which the water enters the barrel
when the plunger, 25, moves upwards, access to this valve, 27, being given by a
lateral door, 28, on the inside of which is formed or fixed the guard, 29, for
limiting the extent of lift of the valve. In the lower plunger, 25, there is
arranged a check valve, 30, which closes on a contracted opening, 31, and which,
for the purposes of facilitating its removal and replacement when required, is
made with a headed stem, 32, on its upper side. The part of the lower
plunger, 25, below the check valve, 30,, is lined with wooden segments, 33, to
reduce the space in which air might lodge and to facilitate the removal of air. The
lower plunger, 25, is in a separate casting from the upper one, 26, and the two
are bolted together whilst the upper one, 26, is made with an extension, 34,
which projects down into the lower plunger, 25, and is at its lower end shaped to
serve as a guard for the check valve, 30, and also as a means for withdrawing that
valve, as will be understood from figure, 2. The top of the upper barrel, 22,
communicates with an air vessel, 35, the main part of which is by preference made
of comparatively thin sheet metal as shown. The water passes up a central

page_text: pipe, 36, which dips down from the top of the air vessel, 35, and it is the annular
space round this central pipe which forms the air space, the central pipe 36
communicating at the top with the ascension or discharge pipe, 37. A dish, 38,
and small discharge pipe, 39, are provided for receiving and at convenient intervals
discharging any sediment deposited from the ascension pipe.
For working the compound pump plunger, 25, 26, there is provided a cross-
head, 40, which is formed in the same casting as the lower plunger, 25, and this
crosshead, 40, has attached to it two lower plungers, 41, and two upper plungers, 42,
which work through stuffing boxes, into lower and upper cylinders, 43, 44, formed
respectively in the castings of the lower and upper pump barrels, 21, 22, the two
cylinders of each pair being on diametrically opposite sides. The lower cylinders, 43,
communicate with each other by a cross pipe, 45, seen in figures 1, 5, 6, and 8, and
a similar cross pipe, 46, figure, 5, connects the two upper cylinders, 44, One of the
lower cylinders, 43, has connected to it the lower end of a line of piping, 47, and
another similar line of piping, 48, has its lower end connected to one of the upper
cylinders, 44, These lines, 47, 48, of piping and which may be termed the power
pipes extend up to the top of the shaft and are there connected to a forcing engine
which may be of any suitable kind and worked by steam or any other convenient
motive agent. This engine when in action forces water alternately down the power.
pipes, 47, 48, the water returning up one pipe when being forced down the other.
When the water is being forced down the pipe, 47, it acts in the two lower
cylinders, 43, so as to raise the plungers, 41; and when it is forced down the other
pipe, 48, it acts in the upper cylinders, 44, so as to depress the plungers, 42, The
alternate action of the forcing engine at the top of the shaft, by acting on the
plungers, 41, 42, as described, makes those plungers by means of the crosshead, 40,
work the tubular-pump plungers, 25, 26, up and down, thereby effecting the desired
pumping operation.
A pipe, 49, with a stop valve, 50, is provided for putting the lower and upper
pump barrels, 21, 22 in communication when required for charging the barrels with
water at starting or for other purposes. There are also pipes, 51, 52, provided for
connecting the power pipes, 47, 48, (the latter through the cylinder, 44) with a
pair of valve boxes, 53, shown enlarged in figure, 4, and one of them in section in
figure, 3. These valve boxes, 53, contain valves arranged to prevent injurious.
action in the event of the pressure strokes of the water in the power pipes not
terminating when the plungers, 41, 42, reach the ends of their strokes. Each of
the valve boxes, 53, has in it a valve, 54, closed by a spring excepting when it is
opened by the action on its spindle, 55, of a small bell crank lever, 56. There
is also in a passage, 57, leading from the lower part of each box to the upper part
of the other box, a check valve, 58, allowing the water to pass in one direction
only. There are two bell crank levers, 56, one for each of the valve spindles, 55,
and having horizontal arms to act on those spindles whilst they are formed with
vertical arms to be acted on by inclined pieces, 59, 60, which are adjustably fixed
on a bar, 61, adjustably secured to the plunger crosshead, 40. When the plungers,
25, 26, 41, 42, rise the lower inclined piece, 59, as the end of the stroke is nearly
or quite reached, acts on one of the bellcrank levers, 56, and by its means opens a
valve, 54, which allows water to pass from the power pipe, 47, to the power pipe, 48,
and when the plungers descend the upper inclined piece acts in a similar manner
on the other valve, 54, which allows water to pass from the power pipe, 48, to the
power pipe, 47. This arrangement of the connecting pipes 51, 52, with the
valves, 54, and other described details, gives great and convenient control over the
operation of the engine, as the inclined pieces, 59, 60, can be adjusted in relation
to the terminations of the strokes of the plungers, 41, 42, and of the forcing engine
at the top of the shaft, so as to obtain the best action with the least concussion
and without too sudden a change in the direction of motion of the water or
moving parts.
I prefer to construct all the stuffing boxes in the improved manner shown in
figure, 9. The gland, 62, and the bottom of the box, 63, are each made with a

page_text: slightly projecting lip, 64, at the edge close to the moving plunger, 25, these lips
causing the stuffing material to be compressed if anything more against the sides
of the box than against the plunger, 25, and avoiding the excessive friction on
the plunger caused in ordinary stuffing boxes by the tendency of the gland and
bottom of the box to wedge the stuffing material against the plunger.
For suspending and lifting the pumps, two strong eye bolts, 65, are fixed in
lugs, 66, formed one on each side of the upper barrel, 22; and to these eye bolts
are jointed to the lower forked ends of suspending rods, 67, which are in lengths
jointed together as required, fresh lengths being introduced from time to time
when the pumps are lowered as the sinking of the shaft proceeds. An hydraulic
cylinder, 68, is provided for operating on the suspending rods, 67, (figures, 10,
and 11) being placed upon a cross beam, 69, at the top of the shaft, with its
ram, 70, arranged to project from its upper end. The ram, 70, acts by means of a
cross bar, 71, upon two upper lifting bars, 72, which move through guide slots in
the collar, 73, at the top of the hydraulic cylinder, 68, and which are formed with
slots at intervals to receive the cross bar, 71, or to receive keys, 74, by which they
may rest on the cylinder collar, 73. To the lower ends of the lifting bars, 72,
there are jointed rods, 75, forming the top lengths of the suspending rods, 67;
and these rods, 67, 75, have shoulders, 76, formed on them a little below their
upper joint eyes. From the cross beam 69, there is suspended by jointed rods, 77,
a suspension block, 78, which can be swung a little aside, and which is formed
with notches, 79, to engage upon the suspending rods, 67, under the shoulders, 76,
(as shown in figure 11, figure, 10, showing the block 78, as swung aside) Figure, 11,
may be taken as representing the positions of parts at a particular stage when the
pumps are being raised; in which case it may be supposed that the rods, 67, have
been brought up high enough for the suspension block, 78, to be brought under
their shoulders, 76. The rod lengths, 75, can now be disconnected and the lifting.
bars, 72, can be brought down and can have their bottom ends connected to the
rods, 67. This having been done, and the cross bar, 71, having been suitably
placed, the ram, 70, may be made to rise, and as soon as the ram takes the weight
and strain on the suspending rods, 67, the temporary suspension block, 78, can be
swung aside out of the way. The suspending rods, 67, may be of any convenient
length; I however prefer to use lengths of 16 feet, and as the hydraulic ram, 70,
has a stroke of about 8 feet, I provide half-length rods for temporary use between
the cylinder, 68, and the temporary suspension block, 78. If, however, the slotted
lifting bars are made sufficiently long and provided with slots in suitable positions,
any convenient lengths of suspending rods, 67, may be used, without shorter
lengths being required for temporary use. If preferred wire ropes may be used
instead of rods for suspending the apparatus.
The ascension or discharge pipe, 37, and the power pipes, 47, 48, extend upwards
from the pumps in the manner shown in figure, 12, and at suitable intervals they
have fixed upon them crossheads, 80, made in halves as shown in figure, 13, and
formed with forked' ends to slide upon the guides, 25. At their upper ends the
power pipes, 47, 48, are fixed to lengths 81, 82, fitted to work through stuffing
boxes into barrels 83, 84, as shown on an enlarged scale in figure, 16. These
barrels, 83, 84, are fixed in a cross beam, 85, and their upper ends communicate by
suitable pipes with the forcing engine (which is not shown) The ascension
pipe, 37, may in a similar manner have at its upper end a length, 86, fitted to.
work through a stuffing box into a barrel, 87, as shown in figure, 16; the stuffing
box and barrel may, however, be dispensed with, the pipe, 86, being in that case
extended upwards through an aperture in which it can move easily in the cross-
beam, 85, to a sufficient height, a leather or other flexible discharging hose being
attached to its upper end. In order to keep the power pipes, 47, 48, full of water
the tops of their barrels 83, 84, communicate through check valves and pipes, 88,.
with a cistern placed at a suitable elevation, water from which enters through the
check valve during the suction stroke of either pipe whenever there is a deficiency
of water in it. The barrels 83, 84, and' 87, are made of a convenient length such

page_text: as to allow of the lowering of the pumps a certain distance as for example eight
feet, without disconnecting the pipe lengths to insert additional lengths; but when
the pipe lengths, 81, 82, 86, which work through the stuffing boxes have descended
the eight feet or other distance for which they are made, then the joints next below
are unfastened, the pipe lengths 81, 82, 86 run up again to the tops of their
barrels 83, 84, 87, and additional pipe lengths inserted.
The lowering of the pumping apparatus is controlled by a hand lever which
moves the valve or valves by which the water under pressure enters and leaves the
hydraulic cylinder, 68; and the same hand lever is connected to the valves or valve
gear of the forcing engine in such a manner as to stop the action of that engine
whenever the hydraulic cylinder, 68, is being put into action for either lowering or
lifting, the parts being arranged so as to stop the forcing engine before starting
the hydraulic cylinder and vice versa and in this way the action of one is prevented
from interfering with that of the other.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated but that what I believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1. The combination of two pump barrels placed in the same line, with a
compound tubular plunger, with a foot or suction valve in the first or lower barrel,
and with a check valve in the plunger, the part of the plunger working in the
lower barrel being of double the effective area of the part working in the second
or upper barrel to which last the ascension or discharge pipe is connected, and
the parts being arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described.
2. The combination of the pumping apparatus forming the subject matter of the
first claim, with cylinders and plungers arranged to work the compound tubular
plunger, the said cylinders communicating by two pipes with a forcing engine
which transmits the necessary power by water forced by it alternately into the
pipes, the parts being arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described.
3. The construction of the compound tubular plunger combined with its parts
relating to the check valve substantially as hereinbefore described.
.
4. The connecting pipes, valves, and actuating mechanism combined so as at or
near the ends of the strokes to equalise the pressures in hydraulic motive cylinders
used for actuating any suitable kind of pumping apparatus, the parts being
arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The combination of arrangements for guiding, suspending, lowering, and
lifting the pumping apparatus, substantially as herein before described.
In Witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Moore, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this sixth day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty-three.