IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH MINE AND OTHER PUMPS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Allan, of Kilbirnie, in the County of Ayr,
North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED
WITH MINE AND OTHER PUMPS." A communication from abroad by William
Paris Barclay, residing at Virginia, in the State of Nevada, United States of
America.
Sealed the 12th February 1878, and dated the 20th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Allan at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th August 1877.
WILLIAM ALLAN, of Kilbirnie, in the County of Ayr, North Britain. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH MINE AND OTHER PUMPS." A cominunication
from abroad by William Paris Barclay, residing at Virginia, in the State of Nevada,
United States of America.
This Invention relates to an improved system of pumps specially designed for
drawing water from mines, but also advantageously applicable in other situations,
the principal object being to obtain increased efficiency, with economy in cost and
power, and with diminished concussion and wear and tear.
In carrying out the Invention a pair of hydraulic cylinders are placed above and
in line with two sets of pumps arranged side by side, such hydraulic cylinders being
worked either by a natural head of water, where obtainable, or by water or other
suitable liquid, to which the necessary pressure is imparted by small pumps worked
by a comparatively quick-running steam engine. The water under pressure acts
alternately in the two hydraulic cylinders and raises their pistons, whilst the descent
of the pistons is regulated by leading the water from under them up to a suitable
discharge level; or, in cases in which steam engines are employed, by causing: the
pumps worked by such engines to draw from the discharge passages of the hydraulic
cylinders, so that the water cannot leave those cylinders more quickly than the
engine pumps will take it.
The pumps in the mine shaft are single-acting and are arranged in pairs, side by
side, there being a pair at each stage of the lift. There is a single rising main from

page_text: each pair of pumps to the cistern of the next higher stage, and as the two pumps
of each pair act alternately, the flow of water up the rising main is continuous, or
nearly so.
The rod of each pump passes out through stuffing boxes at both top and bottom
of the pump barrel, and each rod is connected to those in the same line above and
below it by steel wire ropes.
The wire rope forms an elastic and extremely light connection, and] when
combined with the other described arrangements, admits of the length of stroke of
the pumps being considerably and advantageously increased as compared with that
in existing arrangements. The increased length of stroke obviously reduces the
reciprocation and consequent concussion, and it has associated with it other practical
advantages.
The hydraulic cylinders may be placed horizontally, or at an inclination, the wire
ropes from their piston rods being led round pulleys to the pumps.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Allan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th February
1878.
"IMPROVE-
WILLIAM ALLAN, of Kilbirnie, in the County of Ayr, North Britain.
MENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH MINE AND OTHER PUMPS.". (A communication
from abroad by William Paris Barclay, residing at Virginia, in the State of Nevada,
U.S.A.)
The said Invention relates to an improved system of pumps specially designed for
drawing water from mines, but also advantageously applicable in other situations,
the principal object being to obtain increased efficiency, with economy in cost and
power, and with diminished concussion and wear and tear.
In carrying out the Invention a pair of hydraulic cylinders are placed above and
in line with two sets of pumps arranged side by side, such hydraulic cylinders being
worked either by a natural head of water, where obtainable, or by water or other
suitable liquid, to which the necessary pressure is imparted by small pumps worked
by a comparatively quick-running steam engine. The water pressure acts alternately
in the two hydraulic cylinders and raises their pistons, whilst the descent of the
pistons is regulated by leading the water from under them up to a suitable discharge
level; or, in cases in which steam engines are employed, by causing the pumps
worked by such engines to draw from the discharge passages of the hydraulic
cylinders so that the water cannot leave those cylinders more quickly than the
engine pumps will take it.
The pumps in the mine shaft are single-acting and are arranged in pairs, side by
side, there being a pair at each stage of the lift. There is a single rising main from
each pair of pumps to the cistern of the next higher stage, and as the two pumps of
each pair act alternately, the flow of water up the rising main is continuous, or
nearly so.
.
The rod of each pump passes out through stuffing boxes at both top and bottom
of the pump barrel, and each rod is connected to those in the same line above and
below it by steel wire ropes.

page_text: The wire rope forms an elastic and extremely light connection, and when
combined with the other described arrangements, admits of the length of stroke of
the pumps being considerably and advantageously increased as compared with that
in previously existing arrangements. The increased length of stroke obviously
reduces the reciprocation and consequent concussion, and it has associated with it
other practical advantages.
And in order that the said Invention, and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I hereunto append a Sheet of explanatory Drawings,
to be herein-after referred to, and representing one modification of the improved
system of pumps. In these Drawings the same reference numerals are used to
mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
Figures 1 and 2 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings are vertical sections as
at right angles to each other, showing the upper parts of a set of the improved mine
pumps with their hydraulic actuating cylinders, and Figures 3 and 4 are similar
views of the lowermost pair of pumps
Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section of the lower part of one of the hydraulic
cylinders, with its valves; and Figure 6 is a vertical section of the valves as at
right angles to Figure 5, whilst Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional plan showing the
two hydraulic cylinders with their valve cases and gearing.
The pumping apparatus is represented as supported upon and within timber
framework, the arrangement and construction of which may be varied in different
cases to suit circumstances.
The two hydraulic actuating cylinders 8, 9, are carried on girders 10 at the top
of the mine shaft or above the series of pumps; they are closed at their upper ends,
whilst their piston rods 11, 12, pass through stuffing boxes at their lower ends, and
it is also with the lower ends that the valve casings 13 communicate by pipes 14.
Piston valves 15 are employed, being arranged so as to be in equilibrio and easily
moved; and single inlet and outlet main pipes are connected each by a Y shaped
branch 16 (Figure 7) to the respective inlet and outlet passages 17, 18, of the two
valve casings 13. The valve rods are connected to levers 19, 20, on two rocking
shafts 21, 22, and these shafts are geared together by three bevil wheels 23, so as to
act oppositely; whilst a lever 24, on one of them, is connected by a link to a lever
25 on a third rocking shaft 26, having on it a lever 27 which has jointed to it a
vertical rod 28. This rod 28 has on it two adjustable stops, which are encountered
by the cross head 29 of one of the hydraulic cylinders as that cross head approaches
either end of its stroke, so as to reverse the valves and thus keep up the movements
of the apparatus.
When a natural head of water is available for working the hydraulic cylinders
8, 9 (as happens to be the case in the locality in Canada for which the present
improved arrangement of pumps was originally designed), there is connected to the
outlet pipe from the hydraulic cylinder a stand pipe of such a vertical length that
the column of water in it may counterbalance a large part of the weight carried by
the pistons of the hydraulic cylinders. And to mitigate the effect of any little
concussion at the termination of the down stroke, there is placed in the bottom of
each hydraulic cylinder a series of rubber buffer rings 30, surmounted by a metal
covering ring.
At each stage of the pumping lift there are two single-acting pumps 31, 32, with
their piston rods 33 passing through stuffing boxes at both top and bottom ends of
each pump.
The pump piston rods 33 are fitted with cross heads 34 at both ends,
and by means of these cross heads the several piston rods are connected by steel
wire ropes 35 to the piston rods above and below them, in the same line, the uppermost
pumps being in this way connected by wire ropes 35 to the cross heads 29 of the
hydraulic actuating cylinders 8, 9. For convenience of easy connection and discon-
nection each wire rope 35 has fixed at each end a cross head 36, which is connected
by a pair of links 37 to the piston rod cross head 29 or 34.
The valve details of the pumps present no peculiarity, and will be easily understood
from the Drawings.

page_text: There is a single rising main pipe 38 for the pair of pumps at each stage of the
lift, and it discharges into the cistern 39, from which the next higher pair of pumps
draw. In this way there is a nearly continuous upward flow of water, as the
hydraulic actuating cylinders 8, 9, and the two pumps 31, 32, of each pair always
act alternately and move in opposite directions. The lowest pair of pumps 40 are
made of the bucket or valved piston class, as the rods are not continued further
down. The hydraulic actuating cylinders (8, 9,) may be placed horizontally or at
an inclination, the wire ropes (35) from their piston rods being led round pulleys to
the pumps.
Having thus particularly described the said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, as communicated to me by the said William Paris Barclay, 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 the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,
1. The combination or arrangement of pumping apparatus wherein two hydraulic
actuating cylinders are connected by light wire ropes to two vertical sets of single-
acting pumps, substantially as herein-before described.
2. The arrangement of the valves and valve gearing in connection with the two
hydraulic actuating cylinders, substantially in the manner herein described and
delineated.
3. The application of a stand pipe connected to the outlet passages of the
hydraulic actuating cylinders, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before
described:
In witness whereof, I, the said William Allan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
WILLIAM ALLAN. (L.S.)