Improvements in Diaphragm Pumps.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 8th Jan., 1895--Accepted, 23rd Feb., 1895
DOCKNOT, Sweden, Merenan.]
Improvements in Diaphragm Pumps.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of 28 Southampton Buildings, in the County of London
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in diaphragm pumps driven by
steam, or other motive fluid, the admission and exhaust of which is regulated by a
slide valve or corresponding contrivance.
The most important improvement is that the diaphragm is weighted, so that it is
forced in one direction by the pressure of the steam, when the water or other fluid.
which is to be pumped is driven upwards and the weight raised, and, after the steam
outlet is opened, the weight carries the diaphragm in the opposite direction wher
fresh water or fluid is sucked up in the pump.
On the accompanying drawing the invention is shewn as applied to a steam
diaphragm-pump with a horizontal diaphragm and boiler of its own which is heated
by a petroleum lamp, though any other source of heat may be used at will. The
pump is shewn in section; 1 is the boiler, 2 the steam pipe leading to the slide
box 3 with the slide valve 4, the latter controlling the inlet channel 6 leading to
This Inst
the chamber under the diaphragm 5, as also the outlet channel 7.
mentioned channel is prolonged by the pipe 8 which is connected with the upper
end of the spiral or coil 10 placed in the chamber 9 which spiral is cooled by the
water forced up by the pump and the other end of which spiral is connected with
the descending pipe 11, the lower end of which is above the upper open end of the
vertical vessel 14, that communicates by a pipe 12 with the suction valve of the
feeding pump 13. 12 is the feeding pipe of the boiler. On the diaphragm 5,
which is of one piece, there is a metal plate 20 and in the apparatus shewn there is.
a somewhat larger intermediate plate 21, made of flexible material in order to
protect the diaphragm.
The plate 20 is attached to a guided rod 18 which passes up through the pump
chamber and out through a stuffing box 19.
Outside the pump chamber the rod 18 is jointed by means of a link to the
weighted arm. 16 (weight marked 17) of a beam oscillating on the pivot 15.
The suction pipe of the pump is 31 and 32 its forcing pipe, while 33 is the suction
valve and 34 the forcing valve.
The valve motion (represented in the drawing in its middle position) is of the
following construction.
On the left hand side of the pivot 15 of the beam this is jointed to the rod 22
which operates both the slide valve and the plunger 23 of the feeding pump.
Pivotted upon a fixed axis 25 there is a double armed lever 26 which, with its one
arm, suitably shaped for this purpose, embraces the rod 22 between its two
adjustable tappets 24, 24*, while the second arm traverses an elongated groove in
the slide valve rod 4¹. The lever 26 also has an arm 27 extending upwards which
is hinge-jointed to a rod 30, influenced by a spring (not visible in the drawing)
placed in the case 29 swinging upon the fixed pivot 28 and thus forming with 27 a
sort of toggle ioint.

page_text: The pump works in the following manner.
When there is no pressure of steam on the underside of the diaphragm, this sinks
under the action of the weight 17 and the water is sucked in through the suction
pipe; at the same time the rod 22 rises, carrying with it the lower tappet 24* that
strikes against the arm of the lever 26 above the tappet, which arm is lifted. The
toggle joint 27, 30 is thereby made to pass the centre line and no sooner has it
done so, than the spring in the case 29 throws the other end of the lever 26 against
the lower edge of the groove in the slide valve rod 4' when the slide valve is rapidly
drawn down and opens the inlet channel 6. If there be steam in the boiler 1 and the
steam valve (not shown in the drawing) is open, the steam enters the chamber
under the diaphragm, driving the latter upwards, and forcing the water out through
the pipe 32. The rising of the diaphragm also causes the rise of the rod 18 and the
weight 17 and the sinking of the rod 22, when the plunger 23 forces the water into
the boiler, and the upper tappet 24 of the rod 22 reverses the slide valve as
previously described, so that the slide valve places the chamber under the
diaphragm in connection with the outlet channel 7.
The steam under the diaphragm now passes the refrigerating spiral 10 and is
condensed. The weight 17 then presses down the diaphragm and the water is
sucked in by the pipe 31, while, at the same time, the plunger of the feed pump,
which sucks in the condensed water collected in the vessel 14 through the pipe 12
is raised and the lower tappet 24* on the rod 22 reverses the slide valve at the
proper moment so that the steam is again admitted under the diaphragm, when the
action is repeated.
The cooling of the spiral 10 may be accomplished in any other convenient manner
instead of as shewn ; thus it may be located in the suction pipe if desired or it may
be cooled otherwise.
The pump may also be applied to existing steam boilers and be driven by the
steam therefrom, in which case the boiler 1 with its feed pump is not required, nor
is the condenser needed.
The rod 22 must in that case be guided below. The valve motion may also be
differently arranged, but it is preferable to operate it from the beam as shewn.
Dated this 6th day of November 1894.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Diaphragm Pumps.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of 28 Southampton Buildings, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in diaphragm pumps driven by
steam, or other motive fluid, the admission and exhaust of which is regulated by a
slide valve or corresponding contrivance.
The most important improvement is that the diaphragm is weighted, so that it is
forced in one direction by the pressure of the steam, when the water or other fluid
which is to be pumped is driven upwards and the weight raised, and, after the
steam outlet is opened, the weight carries the diaphragm in the opposite direction
when fresh water or fluid is sucked up in the pump.
On the drawing accompanying my Provisional Specification the invention is
shewn as applied to a steam diaphragm-pump with a horizontal diaphragm and
boiler of its own which is heated by a petroleum lamp, though any other source of
heat may be used at will. The pump is shewn in section. 1 is the boiler, 2 the
steam pipe leading to the slide box, 3, with the slide valve 4, the latter controlling

page_text: the inlet chaunel 6 leading to the chamber under the diaphragm 5, as also the
outlet channel 7. This last mentioned channel is prolonged by the pipe 8 which is
connected with the upper end of the spiral or coil 10 placed in the chamber 9 which
spiral is cooled by the water forced up by the pump, and the other end of which
spiral is connected with the descending pipe 11, the lower end of which is above the
upper open end of the vertical vessel 14, that communicates by a pipe 12 with the
suction valve of the feed pump 13; 12x is the feed pipe of the boiler. On
the diaphragm 5, which is not weakened by rivet holes through it or otherwise―
there lies a metal plate 20 and, in the apparatus shewn, there is a somewhat
larger intermediate plate 21, made of flexible material in order to protect the
diaphragm.
The plate 20 is attached to a gnided rod 18 which passes up through the pump.
chamber and out through a stuffing box 19.
Outside the pump chamber, the rod 18 is jointed by means of a link to the
weighted arm 16 (weight marked 17) of a beam oscillating on the pivot 15.
The suction pipe of the pump is 31 and 32 its discharge pipe, while 33 is the
suction valve and 34 the discharge valve.
The valve motion (represented in the drawing in its middle position) is of the
following construction.
On the left hand side of the pivot 15 of the beam, this is jointed to the rod 22
which operates both the slide valve and the plunger 23 of the feeding pump.
Pivotted upon a fixed axis 25 there is a double armed lever 26 which with its one
arm, suitably shaped for this purpose, embraces the rod 22 between its two
adjustable tappets 24, 24*, while the second arm traverses an elongated groove in
the slide valve rod 41. The lever 26 also has an arm 27 extending upwards which
is hinge-jointed to a rod 30, influenced by a spring (not visible in the drawing)
placed in the case 29 swinging upon the fixed pivot 28 and thus forming with 27 a
sort of toggle joint.
The pump works in the following manner :-
When there is no pressure of steam on the underside of the diaphragmn, this sinks
under the action of the weight 17 and the water is sucked in through the suction
pipe; at the same time the rod 22 rises, carrying with it the lower tappet 24* that
strikes against the arm of the lever 26 above the tappet, which arm is lifted. The
toggle joint 27, 30 is thereby made to pass the centre line and no sooner has it done
so, than the spring in the case 29 throws the other end of the lever 26 against the
lower edge of the groove in the slide valve rod 4' when the slide valve is rapidly
drawn down and opens the inlet channel 6. If there be steam in the boiler I and
the steam valve (not shown in the drawing) is open, the steam enters the chamber
under the diaphragm, driving the latter upwards, and forcing the water out through
the pipe 32. The rising of the diaphragm also causes the rise of the rod 18 and the
weight 17 and the sinking of the rod 22, when the plunger 23 forces the water into
the boiler, and the upper tappet 24 of the rod 22 reverses the slide valve as
previously described, so that the slide valve places the chamber under the diaphragm
in connection with the outlet channel 7.
The steam under the diaphragm now passes through the refrigerating spiral 10
and is condensed. The weight 17 then presses down the diaphragm and the water
is sucked in by the pipe 31, while, at the same time, the plunger of the feed pump,
which sucks in the condensed water collected in the vessel 14 through the pipe 12 is
raised and the lower tappet 24* on the rod 22 reverses the slide valve at the proper
moment, so that the steam is again admitted under the diaphragm, when the action
is repeated.
The cooling of the spiral 10 may be accomplished in any other convenient.
manner instead of as shewn; thus it may be located in the suction pipe if desired
or it may be cooled otherwise.
The pump may also be applied to existing steam boilers and be driven by the
steam therefrom, in which case the boiler 1 with its feed pump is not required, nor
is the condenser needed.

page_text: The rod 22 must in that case be guided below. The valve motion may also be
differently arranged, but it is preferable to operate it from the beam as shewn.
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. A steam diaphragm pump constructed and operating substantially as described
with reference to the drawing.
2. In a diaphragm pump, in combination with the flexible diaphragm a plate and
rod connected to a beam or lever loaded so as to cause the back stroke of the
diaphragm when it is relieved from the steam pressure which caused the forward
stroke, substantially as described.
3. In combination with the loaded lever above referred to, a tappet rod working
a lever which operates in a slot of the slide rod, and has a toggle connection to a
spring, causing the lever to move rapidly from its middle to its extreme positions,
thus moving the slide valve whereby steam is alternately admitted to and allowed
to escape from the diaphragm chambers, substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of December 1894.
ABEL & IMRAY.