Improvements in Steam Pumping and other Engines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3rd May, 1894-Accepted, 30th June, 1894
Improvements in Steam Pumping and other Engines.
I, WILLIAM ABRAHAM BARKER, of 85 Stanley Grove, Longsight, in the City
of Manchester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates principally to steam pumping engines, but my improve-
ments are also in part applicable to steam and other motive power engines
employed for varying purposes.
The objects of my invention are as follows:-Firstly, to construct pumping and
other engines having valve operating mechanism, to which a positive motion is
imparted, by the movement of the piston working in the same cylinder with which
the valve is connected. Secondly, to construct a pump, or pumping engine of the
direct acting type in a compact and convenient form, to have any given definite
length of stroke or travel of piston.
In carrying my invention into effect when constructing a direct acting pumping
engine, for feeding water into steam boilers and for other purposes, I form a steam
cylinder with a hollow trunk or liner extending centrally throughout its length,
thus giving an annular space or area between the exterior of the circular and
hollow trunk, and the walls or interior surface of the cylinder. 1 make the piston in
the form of an annular ring to work in the annular space or area of the
cylinder hereinbefore described, and I connect two or more piston rods to the
piston, and carry them through stuffing boxes provided in the usual and ordinary
manner on the front cover of the cylinder. The upper or outer ends of the piston
rods are secured to a crosshead or connecting piece to which is also attached the
upper or outer end of the pump ram, or plunger rod, and the cam, for controlling
in the manner hereinafter described the slide or other valve, regulating the
admission of steam to the cylinder.
When constructing a single acting pump, I make the ram in the form of a
circular rod, solid or otherwise, having its external diameter sufficient to give the
required displacement on its reciprocation with the like motion of the steam
piston, such motion being communicated or transmitted by the piston rods and
crosshead hereinbefore described. The ram works within a barrel or cylinder
formed by or within the hollow cylinder trunk or liner. I preferably insert an
interior liner of brass, or other metal, within the trunk to form the pump barrel,
and extend its upper or outer end to form a stuffing box for the reception of
packing for prevention of leakage past the ram. Instead of employing a stuffing
box with hemp or other packing, I sometimes attach a cup or other leather to the
ram, or fix a suitably shaped hydraulic leather or other packing within the
cylinder, and adopt other and well known methods of packing to suit any
particular requirement.
The water is admitted to the pump barrel, on the up or out stroke of the
plunger, through a suitable suction valve, and discharged on the down, or in stroke
through a delivery valve into the required rising main, or discharge pipe. I
preferably arrange the suction and delivery valves vertically over and under each
other, in one common valve chamber conveniently connected with the pump
barrel, in order that they may be readily accessible for inspection.
Instead of a ram, I sometimes employ a piston or plunger to work within the
barrel, having a diameter sufficient to give the required displacement, and attached

page_text: by a piston or plunger rod to the crosshead hereinbefore described. With such
an arrangement I obtain a double acting pump by employing a suction and delivery
valve in connection with the top and bottom of the barrel, or on each side of the
water piston or plunger.
I construct a quadruple acting, or a duplex double acting pump in one form,
by employing two water pistons or plungers attached by piston or plunger rods
to the crosshead, one of the plungers being arranged to work in the barrel formed
in the hollow trunk of the steam cylinder, and the other plunger to work within
a barrel arranged on the opposite side of the crosshead. I also construct another
type of quadruple acting, or a duplex double acting pump, by fixing two plungers
and rods on the same side of the crosshead, and arranging them to work within
suitable pump cylinders or barrels.
The admission and release of steam to, and from the cylinders of my improved
pumping or other engines, is effected preferably by a slide valve of the piston or
other type, the necessary movement being imparted to the valve by means of rods
or links connected with a cam and spring levers or tappets, or other like
mechanism, attached to the reciprocating crosshead hereinbefore described. I
preferably form the cam in one piece with or rigidly attached to, an arm or plate
secured to the crosshead. Upon this arm or plate I pivot levers or tappets
provided with springs, each pivot fulcrum being arranged near to one end of the
lever, and in such position upon the plate that the spring provided in connection
with each lever, will always tend to force the long arm of the one into close
contact with the short arm of the other. The valve motion is controlled by a bell
crank or other lever or system of linkage, the upper end of the long arm of the
lever having a sinall roller attached thereto, for the purpose of following or rolling
upon the exterior edge or surface of the cam, the end of the short lever being
connected to the valve rod. The length and extreme breadth of the cam are less
than the length and breadth of the arm or plate with or to which it is connected,
and the levers or tappets hereinbefore described are arranged upon the plate in
such a manner as to entirely embrace or surround the cam, although they are not
in actual contact with it. The small roller on the end of the long arm of the bell
crank or other valve lever is admitted within the groove, or space between the
cam and the interior edges of the levers or tappets, and 1 so form the exterior
or working edge of the cam as to govern the points of admission, cut off, and
release of steam, to or from the cylinder. As the reciprocating crosshead
approaches the end of its stroke in either direction, the lever or tappet with which
the bell crank or other valve lever is in contact, is forced round on its pivot
against the spring and away from the cam, owing to the decreasing width of space
between the cam and the interior surface of the pivot. The length of the cam is
so arranged that on the completion of the piston stroke, the cam shall have been
carried beyond the valve lever roller, and the instant that this occurs the spring
will force the valve lever roller to the opposite side of the cam, and thus alter the
position of the slide or other steam regulating valve. In this manner 1 cause the
motion of the piston to be reversed at the end of each stroke.
I produce a cushioning effect upon the steam piston, preferably by arranging
exhaust ports at each end of the cylinder, in front of the steam ports, and thus as
the piston passes over the exhaust port on approaching the end of its stroke in
either direction, a portion of the exhaust steain is shut in the cylinder, and
gradually brings the piston to rest.
I vary the point of steam cut off by modifying the form of the cam, and in
such manner I am enabled to obtain any required degree of expansion in the steam
cylinder.
When constructing a steam pump for the purpose of boiler feeding or other
like service, I sometimes utilize the exhaust steam for raising the temperature of
the feed water. I accomplish this result by causing the exhausting steam before
its discharge to atmosphere, or to a condenser, to pass around the hollow trunk or
central liner of the steam cylinder, forming the outer casing of the pump barrel,

page_text: as hereinbefore described, and in this manner a part of the heat of the steam is
communicated to the feed water passing through the pump.
Instead of forming a pump barrel within the steam cylinder, as hereinbefore
described, I sometimes construct a pumping engine with an ordinary steam cylinder
or cylinders, with plain disc pistons of usual and ordinary construction, but in all
cases I employ the method of operating and controlling the slide or other steam
regulating valve, in order to obtain a positive and definite stroke, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
I do not limit the application of my invention to any one type of steam pumping
engine or other engine, but modify its details to suit the requirements of varying
services. I also adapt my improved valve mechanism, for employment with gas,
air, hydraulic or other engines, and construct it to suit existing engines to which
it may be advantageously applied.
2004
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.
COMT LIM
Improvements in Steam Pumping and other Engines.
1, WILLIAM ABRAHAM BARKER, of 85 Stanley Grove, Longsight, in the
City of Manchester, Engineer, 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 principally to steam pumping engines, but my improve-
ments are also in part applicable to steam and other motive power engines employed
for varying purposes.
The objects of my invention are as follows:-Firstly, to construct pumping and
other engines having valve operating mechanism to which a positive motion is
imparted, by the movement of the piston working in the same cylinder with which
the valve is connected. Secondly, to construct a pump or pumping engine of the
direct acting type in a compact and convenient form, to have any given definite
length of stroke or travel of piston.
In order that my invention and the method of carrying the same into effect may
be the more readily understood, I append hereunto one sheet of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to.
Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of my improved direct acting
steam pump. Figure 2 is a sectional end elevation of the same.
Figure 3 represents a modified form of the steam valve controlling mechanism.
The same reference letters in Figures 1 and 2 refer to the same parts.
In carrying my invention into effect when constructing a direct acting pump or
pumping engine, for feeding water into steam boilers and for other purposes,
I form a steam cylinder such as A with a hollow trunk B extending centrally
throughout its length, thus giving an annular space or area C between the
exterior of the circular and hollow trunk, and the walls or interior surface of
the cylinder. I make the piston D in the form of an annular ring to work in
the annular space or area of the cylinder hereinbefore described, and I connect
two or piston rods d d¹ to the piston, and carry them through stuffing boxes
provided in the usual and ordinary manner on the front cover of the cylinder.
The upper or outer ends of the piston rods are secured to a crosshead or
connecting piece E to which is also attached the upper or outer end of the
pump ram F or plunger rod, and the cam G for controlling in the manner

page_text: hereinafter described the slide or other valve H, regulating the admission of
steam to the cylinder.
When constructing a single acting pump, I make the ram in the form of a
circular rod F, solid or otherwise, having its external diameter sufficient to give
the required displacement on its reciprocation with the like motion of the steam
piston, such motion being communicated or transmitted by the piston rods and
crosshead herein before described. The ram works within a barrel or cylinder J
formed by or within the hollow steam cylinder trunk B. I preferably insert an
interior liner j of brass, or other metal, within the trunk to form the pump barrel,
and extend its upper or outer end to form a stuffing box such as illustrated for the
reception of packing for prevention of leakage past the ram. Instead of employing
a stuffing box with hemp or other packing. sometimes attach a cup or other
leather to the ram, or fix a suitably shaped hydraulic leather or other packing
within the cylinder, and adopt other and well known methods of packing to suit
any particular requirement.
The water is admitted to the pump barrel, on the up or out stroke of the plunger,
through a suitable suction valve, and discharged on the down or in stroke through
a delivery valve into the required rising main, or discharge pipe. I preferably
arrange the suction and delivery valves vertically over and under each other, in
one common valve chamber K and having also an air vessel L, conveniently
connected with the pump barrel, in order that they may be readily accessible for
inspection.
Instead of a ram, I sometimes employ a piston or plunger to work within the
barrel, having a diameter sufficient to give the required displacement, and attached
by a piston or plunger rod to the crosshead hereinbefore described. With such an
arrangement I obtain a double acting pump by employing a suction and delivery
valve in connection with the top and bottoin of the barrel, or on each side of the
water piston or plunger.
I construct a quadruple acting, or a duplex double acting pump, in one form, by
employing two water pistons or plungers attached by piston or plunger rods to the
crosshead, one of the plungers being arranged to work in the barrel formed in the
hollow trunk of the steam cylinder, and the other plunger to work within a barrel
arranged on the opposite side of the crosshead. I also construct another type of
quadruple acting, or a duplex double acting pump, by fixing two plungers and rods
on the same side of the crosshead, and arranging them to work within suitable
pump cylinders or barrels, and I sometimes employ three or more rams or plungers
arranged around an ordinary steam cylinder.
The admission and release of steam to and from the cylinders of my improved
pumping or other engines, is effected preferably by a slide valve H of the piston
or other type, the necessary movement being imparted to the valve by means of a
bell crank lever or rod such as M connected or in contact at its upper end with the
cam G and spring levers or tappets N N¹, or other like mechanism, attached to
the reciprocating crosshead E herein before described. I preferably form the cam
in one piece with, or rigidly attached to, an arm or plate E¹ secured to the
crosshead E. Upon this arm or plate I pivot the levers or tappets N N' provided
with springs n n', each pivot fulcrum being arranged near to one end of the lever,
in such position upon the plate that the spring provided in connection with each
lever, will always tend to force the long arm of the one into close contact with the
short arm of the other. The valve motion is controlled by the bell crank lever M
or other rod or system of linkage, the upper end of the long arm of the lever M
having a small roller attached thereto, for the purpose of following or rolling upon
the exterior edge or surface of the cam G, the end of the short arm of the lever
being connected to the valve rod as illustrated at Figure 1. The length and
extreme breadth of the cam are less than the length and breadth of the arm or
plate with or to which it is connected, and the levers or tappets hereinbefore
described are arranged upon the plate in such a manner as to entirely embrace or

page_text: surround the cam, although they are not in actual contact with it. The small roller on.
the end of the long arm of the bell crank or other valve lever, is admitted within
the groove or space between the cam and the interior edges of the levers or
tappets, and I so form the exterior or working edge of the cam as to govern the
points of admission, cut off, and release of steam, to or from the cylinder. As.
the reciprocating crosshead approaches the end of its stroke, in either direction,
the lever or tappet with which the bell crank or other valve lever is in contact,
is forced round on its pivot against the spring and away from the cam, owing to the
decreasing width of space between the cam and the interior surface of the pivot..
The length of the cam is so arranged that on the completion of the piston stroke,.
the cam shall have been carried beyond the valve lever roller, and the instant
that this occurs the spring will force the valve lever roller to the opposite side
of the cam, and thus alter the position of the slide or other steam regulating
valve. In this manner I cause the motion of the piston to be reversed at the
end of each stroke.
I produce a cushioning effect upon the steam piston, preferably by arranging
exhaust ports at each end of the cylinder, in front of the steam ports, and thus
as the piston passes over the exhaust port on approaching the end of its stroke
in either direction, a portion of the exhaust steam is shut in the cylinder, and.
gradually brings the piston to rest.
I vary the point of steam cut off by modifying the form of the cam, and in
such manner
I am enabled to obtain any required degree of expansion of the
steam cylinder.
In the modified form of valve controlling motion illustrated at Figure 3, I employ
steel or other spring levers or tappets such as O O' instead of the levers or tappets
with separate springs as hereinbefore described. These levers or tappets are
pivoted at P P on the crosshead arm or plate to which also the cam G is attached
or forms a part thereof. The valve lever roller (attached to the upper end of the
long arm of the bell crank lever M Figures 1 and 2) is represented at R in its
lowest position in relation to the cam G, and when it has just been thrown over
from the opposite side of the cam by the spring tappet or lever O. The piston
would then be at the upper or outer end of its stroke. At mid-stroke of the
piston the relative positions of cam and valve lever is as illustrated at R', while
very near to the end of the stroke, the relative positions are as at R2, the spring
lever O¹ having been forced over to the position shown by dotted lines. When the
piston reaches the end of its stroke, the cam G will be carried clear of the roller
and the latter will then be forced over to the other side of the cam by the spring
lever O, thereby changing the admission of steam for the reverse motion of the
piston.
To provide for adjustment of the spring levers or tappets O O', I form slotted
or elongated bolt holes within the lever or within the crosshead arm or plate Q Q ¹,
in order that the lever may be readily set and bolted to the required position. I
preferably fix buffer pieces of india-rubber or other suitable material at S S¹ to
prevent noise or concussion when the valve lever is thrown over by the action of
the spring levers or tappets.
When constructing a steam pump for the purpose of boiler feeding or other like
service, I sometimes utilize the exhaust steam for raising the temperature of the
feed water. I accomplish this result by causing the exhausting steam before its
discharge from the outlet U to atmosphere, or to a condenser, to pass from the
exhaust port T (Figures 1 and 2) around the hollow trunk or central liner of the
steam cylinder, forming the outer casing of the pump barrel, as hereinbefore
described, and in this manner a part of the heat of the steam is communicated to
the feed water passing through the pump.
Instead of forming a pump barrel within the steam cylinder as hereinbefore
described, sometimes construct a pumping engine, with an ordinary steam
cylinder or cylinders, with plain disc pistons of usual and ordinary construction,
but in all cases I employ the method of operating and controlling the slide or other

page_text: steam regulating valve, in order to obtain a positive and definite stroke,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
I do not limit the application of my invention to any one type of steam pumping
or other engine, but modify its details to suit the requirements of varying services.
I also adapt my improved valve mechanism, for employment with gas, air,
hydraulic or other engines, and construct it to suit existing engines to which it
may be advantageously applied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of operating the slide or other steam or like admission and
controlling valve of a pumping or other engine, substantially as hereinbefore
described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination of a cam such as G attached to or forming part of the
crosshead E of a pumping or other engine, with levers such as N N' and
springs n n substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and as
illustrated at Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination of a cam such as G with spring levers such as O01
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in
Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
4. An improved direct acting pump or pumping engine, consisting of a steam or
like cylinder having an annular or other piston, connected by rods with a crosshead
carrying the valve controlling cam and spring levers, in combination with a ram or
rams or plungers, secured or connected to the crosshead, and working in a barrel
or barrels or water chambers, arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and
as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1901
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.