Improvements in and connected with High Speed Pumps.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1898-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION. .
Improvements in and connected with High Speed Pumps.
I, JOHANN STUMPF, of 19, Lessing Strasse, of Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German
Empire, Professor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:
-
This invention relates to high-speed pumps and has for its object various im-
provements in the construction of the same.
My invention is particularly applicable for pumps arranged for high speeds
of 300-400 revolutions per minute, and in the case of small pumps up to 500
revolutions per minute, the said high speeds being attained by the pumps being
coupled directly to electro-motors without any intermediate gear.
Pumps of this description require firstly an especial form of the suction air-
chamber, said suction-air-chamber receiving such height, that the column of water
contained in the same is caused by its own weight, upon the opening of the suction-
valve, to enter the pump chamber in a rapid and violent manner, or as it were, in
one stream and thereby to entirely fill the said chamber.
The suction-valve is in a construction of this description of very light make and
so connected with the plunger by means of buffers or springs, that the suction
valves are closed by the same.
Proceeding to describe my improvements, I remark, that by special devices the
suction air chamber is kept constantly exhausted of air, in consequence of which,
as is apparent, a column of water can be constantly maintained within the same,
the surface of said water column being always higher than the delivery valve.
It is a recognised fact, that for high speed pumps it is absolutely necessary to
avoid a varying pressure upon the bearing surfaces and joints of the driving gear.
To bring about this result, the plunger is provided with a special pressure-surface
proportioned to the movement of the plunger, and furthermore, under the influence
of the delivery-air-chamber.
This surface is also so constructed that the pressure upon the same exceeds the
resistance of the suction and the inertia of the movable parts, whereby each of
the bearings (viz. the cross-head, the crank, and the shaft-bearings) are caused to
exert their pressure entirely upon one side.
My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings.
In the drawing the plunger a is actuated from the crank c by means of the
connecting rod b. The crank gear is (as shewn in the drawing) arranged within
a closed casing d, thus ensuring a good and thorough lubrication. The suction
valve e has the form of a flat ring and rests upon the ring shaped part of which
surrounds the plunger, the said valve e being guided by ribs or projections upon
the part f. The plunger carries upon an extension rod a ring shaped body h,
connected by ribs 3 with the sleeve h of the said rod h¹. The ring engages over
the valve e by means of a buffer ring hand closes the same upon the finish of the
suction action of the plunger, whilst the opening movements of this valve can
freely take place.

page_text: In this manner the suction-valve is guided by the plunger without the use of
any complicated mechanism.
The self-acting delivery valve i is considerably weighted by springs and
possesses only a very short stroke.
The drawing shows the extent to which the comparatively high form of the
suction air-chamber k projects beyond or above the height of the delivery-valve.
The high level of the water-column is maintained by the ejector-pipe, which
terminates just below the ring of the suction-valve. The water flowing at the
outlet, effects a constant suction of air from the suction-air-chamber k in conse-
quence of which, the water-column is continually maintained at the same height.
To draw the air from the suction-air chamber, a suction-valve m may be em-
ployed connected to the said air-chamber by a pipe m' above the water-column.
The said air can be withdrawn from the suction air chamber by means of the
valve m and pipe m¹ in the following manner: The said pipe m! effects a connec
tion as shown in the drawing between the upper part of the said suction air cham-
berk and the pump chamber, thus when the valve m is open, air must be drawn
by the suction action of the plunger, through the pipe m¹ out of the said air
suction chamber k into the pump chamber, the regulation of this suction action
being effected by the adjustment of the said valve m.
It is however clear, that a small and special pump might also be employed for
this purpose.
The weight of the high vertical water-column maintained in the air-vessel k,
causes upon the opening of the suction-valve, the water to rapidly and violently
stream into the pump-chamber r and to entirely fill the same in spite of its high
speed.
It will be furthermore seen from the drawing, that the plunger, at its rear end,
possesses an extension a¹, in consequence of which, an annular surface a (in the
same direction as the working portion of the plunger), is formed.
The hollow cylinder n in which the annular surface a operates, terminates in a
vessel or receptacle o said vessel being constantly maintained partly filled with oil,
and furthermore, in connection with the delivery air-chamber q by means of the
pipe p.
The said annular surface a² is so proportioned or constructed, that when the
plunger exerts a suction-movement, both the suction action as well as the inertia
of the parts are overcome, and hereby the pressure against the bearings is caused
to be continually exerted only on or against, one side, or, in one direction.
Thus a variation of the pressure during the working of the pump is avoided. It
will be clear, that this is a circumstance of great importance for high speed-pumps.
The oil contained in the vessel o serves at the same time as lubrication for the
stuffing-boxes.
Instead of the pressure-surface a² of the plunger-extension al being directly con-
nected with the delivery air-chamber, it will also be clear, that I may for this
purpose, viz. to produce the necessary pressure, employ a small cylinder (in place
of the vessel o) said cylinder being provided with a piston capable of adjustment
by means of a screw. Thus by a suitable adjustment of this piston within the said
small cylinder the space o can be so placed under pressure, that the gear of the
pump must continually exert a pressure only on one side of the bearings, that is
to say, that this pressure upon the bearings will not first be upon one side and then
upon the other side, as with systems hitherto in use, but that said pressure upon
the bearings (by the said gear of the pump) will always be in one direction only,
the said parts always pressing against the one side of the bearing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. An improved pump, in which for the purpose of rendering a high number of
revolutions possible, the suction-air-chamber (k) is arranged at such elevation or

page_text: height, that the surface of the water is considerably above the surface of the deli-
very valve, the said suction air chamber, during the suction and by means of the
pressure of the water column contained within the same, causing the water to be
violently precipitated into the pump-chamber (7) hereby effecting an absolutely
certain and entire filling of the said pump-chamber (r), substantially as described.
2. In an improved pump, as characterised in Claim 1, the arrangement of a pres-
sure-surface (a) upon the plunger (a), said surface (a²) being continually under
the influence of the delivery air-chamber (q) by means of a pipe (P), whereby the
inertia and the suction resistance is overcome and whereby further, the constant
pressing of the gear against its bearing, in one direction is attained and every
change of pressure obviated, substantially as described.
3. In an improved pump, as characterised in Claim 1, the arrangement of a
pressure-surface (a) upon the plunger (a), said surface (a2) being continually under
the influence of a piston operating within a special cylinder provided for this pur-
pose, whereby the inertia and the suction resistance is overcome and whereby
further, the constant pressing of the gear against its bearing, in one direction is
attained and every change of pressure obviated, substantially as described.
4. In an improved pump, as characterised in Claim 1, the connection of the
suction-valve with the plunger in such manner, that the valve freely opens at the
commencement of the stroke, and is closed towards the end of the stroke, by a
flexible projection upon the plunger, substantially as described.
Dated this 19th day of May 1898.
JOHANN STUMPF,
By Geo. Thos. Hyde,
Agent for the Applicant.
JOHANN STUMPF,
By Geo. Thos. Hyde,
Agent for the Applicant.