IMPROVE- MENTS IN PUMPS AND HYDRAULIC, STEAM, AND OTHER ENGINES." MENTS IN PUMPS AND HYDRAULIC, STEAM, AND OTHER ENGINES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Wightman, of Elksley, near Retford, in
the County of Nottingham, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PUMPS AND HYDRAULIC, STEAM, AND OTHER ENGINES."
MENTS IN PUMPS AND HYDRAULIC, STEAM,
AND OTHER ENGINES.”
Sealed the 13th February 1872, and dated the 23rd December 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Wightman at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd December 1871.
I, GEORGE WIGHTMAN, of Elksley, near Retford, in the County of
Nottingham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS AND HYDRAULIC, STEAM, AND OTHER ENGINES,”
to be as follows:-
-
My Invention consists in constructing and arranging pumps and the
cylinders of hydraulic, steam, and other engines in the manner herein-
after described, whereby the valves ordinarily employed in or applied to
such pumps or cylinders are rendered unnecessary.

page_text: I will first describe my Invention as applied to the construction of a
forcing pump.
The barrel of the pump consists of a cylinder, one end
of which is closed by a cover screwed thereto, the other end being fur-
nished with a stuffing box, through which the piston rod or plunger rod
works. A portion of the cylinder at each end is made of greater
thickness than the rest of the said cylinder, and is turned truly cylin-
drical. Each of these portions is divided into three equal parts (the
measurement being taken in a line paralell to the axis of the cylinder).
The middle divisions are pierced with ports, through which the water enters
and leaves the cylinder, as herein-after described. The said cylinder is
fitted into an outer cylinder or shell, the internal diameter of which is
such as to leave an annular space between the cylinders, into which
space the water passes as it is forced through the aforesaid ports of the
action of the piston. Internal flanges formed at each end of the outer
cylinder are made to fit water-tight upon those portions of the inner
cylinder which are pierced with the ports herein-before referred to, the
said flanges being of such a thickness as to cover the said ports with the
necessary lap. Two elbow nozzles communicating with the annular
space aforesaid are cast on the outer cylinder, to which nozzles are
bolted, the said pipes being fixed in planes parallel to the axis of the
cylinders. One of these pipes constitutes the discharge or force pipe of
the pump. The other pipe is closed at its upper end and constitutes an
air vessel. The upper ends of these pipes support the bearings in which
the crank shaft works. The crank is connected to the piston rod by
means of the ordinary connecting rod. The inner cylinder is caused to
slide up and down through the internal flanges of the outer cylinder
so as to bring one set of ports into communication with the annular
space aforesaid, and to open the other set of ports outside the outer
cylinder for the admission of the water in which the pump is-submerged.
The requisite reciprocating motion is or may be imparted to the said
inner cylinder from the crank shaft by means of eccentrics fixed thereon.
The said eccentrics are placed at right angles to the crank, and are
connected by rods to a cross head carried by the stuffing box of the said

page_text: rings of metal or other material are fitted tightly upon the said block. The
diameter of these discs is rather less than the internal diameter of the
cylinder, but the circumference of each disc is eccentric to the axis of
the india-rubber block, upon which the said discs are so fitted that those
portions of their circumferences which are farthest from the said block
shall radiate around the same and be pressed thereby against the cylinder
so as to form a water-tight packing, the elasticity of the india-rubber
block compensating for the wear of the said discs. The said discs are
kept in their radial positions by means of a pin passing through coin-
cident holes formed in the said disos, the said holes being larger in
diameter than the said pin to allow of the necessary play. The india-
rubber block and metal rings forming the plunger are held between two
circular plates or discs, the upper one bearing against a shoulder formed
on a piston rod and the lower one being held in position by a nut,
which engages with a screw formed at the lower end of the piston rod,
thereby securing the said plunger to the said rod.
The action of the pump is as follows:-As the inner cylinder is moved
up and down, those of its ports which are brought outside the internal
flanges of the outer cylinder as aforesaid become induction ports, through
which the water enters the said inner cylinder, whence the said water
is forced by the plunger through the other set of ports, which now com-
municates with the annular space between the said outer and inner
cylinders, from which space the said water passes to the discharge pipe.
On the reverse motion of the said inner cylinder, the action of its ports
is reversed, i.e., those which were induction ports become eduction ports,
and vice versa.
I will now describe my Invention as applied to a suction pump. I
cast the outer cylinder herein-before referred to with an induction
passage furnished with a nozzle, to which a suction pipe is bolted, and
I bolt on the ends of the said outer cylinder "dished" air-tight covers.
The ends of the said induction passage communicate with the spaces
enclosed between the said covers and the ends of the said outer cylinder.
One of the said covers is furnished with a stuffing box, through which the
stuffing box of the inner cylinder works. When the pump is worked in
a vertical position I retain the other pipe constituting an air vessel as
before described; when the pump is worked in other than a vertical
position I affix an air chamber to one of the said elbow nozzles commu-
nicating with the annular space aforesaid.

page_text: The action of the pump is as follows:-The water is drawn through
the said induction passage into the space enclosed by one or other of the
dished covers aforesaid, whence the said water is drawn into the inner
cylinder through the set of ports which then communicates with the
said space.
From the inner cylinder the water is forced through the
said ports into the annular space between the cylinders and thence
out through the discharge pipe.
The arrangement of apparatus herein last described may be used as an
engine to be worked by the pressure of water, steam, gas, air, or other
fluid, the fluid used being admitted by the pipe, which in the suction
pump is the discharge pipe, and passing out by the other pipe after
impelling the piston.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent.
filed by the said George Wightman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd June 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
WIGHTMAN, of Elksley, near Retford, in the County of Nottingham,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Wightman, Her special licence
that I, the said George Wightman, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said George Wightman, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PUMPS AND HYDRAULIC, STEAM, AND OTHER ENGINES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Wightman, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one

page_text: of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Wightman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in constructing and arranging pumps and the
cylinders of hydraulic, steam, and other engines in the manner herein-
after described, whereby the valves ordinarily employed in or applied to
such pumps or cylinders are rendered unnecessary.
I will first describe my Invention as applied to the construction of a
forcing pump. The barrel of the pump consists of a cylinder, one end
of which is closed by a cover screwed thereto, the other end being closed
by a cover cast thereon or screwed thereto and furnished with a stuffing
box through which the plunger rod or piston rod works. A portion of
the cylinder at each end is made of greater thickness than the rest of
the said cylinder and is turned truly cylindrical. Each of these portions
is divided into three equal parts (the measurement being taken on a line
parallel to the axis of the cylinder). The middle divisions are pierced
with ports, through which the water enters and leaves the cylinder, as
herein-after described. The said cylinder works in an outer cylinder or
shell, the internal diameter of which is such as to leave an annular
space between the cylinders, into which space the water passes as it is
forced through one or other set of ports by the plunger. Internal
flanges formed at each end of the outer cylinder are made to fit water-
tight upon those portions of the inner cylinder which are pierced with
the ports herein-before referred to, the said flanges being of such a
thickness as to cover the said ports with the necessary lap. Two elbow
nozzles communicating with the annular space aforesaid are cast on the
outer cylinder, to which nozzles pipes are bolted, the said pipes being
fixed in planes parallel to the axis of the cylinders. One of these pipes
constitutes the discharge or force pipe of the pump.
closed at its upper end and constitutes an air vessel.
The other pipe is
The upper ends of

page_text: these pipes support the bearings in which the crank shaft rotates. The
crank is connected to the piston rod by means of the ordinary con-
necting rod. The inner cylinder is caused to slide up and down through
the internal flanges of the outer cylinder, so as to bring one set of ports
into communication with the annular space aforesaid and to open the
other set of ports outside the outer cylinder for the admission of the
water in which the pump is submerged. The requisite reciprocating
motion is or may be imparted to the said inner cylinder from the crank
shaft by means of excentrics fixed thereon and connected by rods to a
cross head carried by the stuffing box of the said inner cylinder. These
excentrics should be so affixed to the crank shaft as to be capable of
adjustment thereon in order to admit of the "lead" being varied as may
be necessary. For ordinary purposes the excentric should be so set as
to have a "lead on the crank equal to about one twenty-fifth part of
the circle.
"
The piston or plunger is constructed as follows:-A cylindrical block
of india-rubber, the diameter of which is about half the internal diameter
of the inner cylinder, is mounted upon the lower end of the piston rod
which passes through a hole in the said block. Four or more discs or
flat rings of metal or other material are fitted tightly upon the said
block. The diameter of these discs is rather less than the internal
diameter of the cylinder, but the circumference of each disc is excentric
to the axis of the india-rubber block, upon which the said discs are so
fitted that those portions of their circumferences which are farthest from
the said block shall radiate around the same and be pressed thereby
against the cylinder so as to form a water-tight packing, the elasticity of
the india-rubber block compensating for the wear of the said discs.
The said discs are kept in their radial positions by means of a pin passing
through coincident holes formed in the said discs, the said holes
being larger in diameter than the said pin to allow of the necessary "play."
The india-rubber block and metal rings forming the plunger are held
between two circular plates or discs, the upper one bearing against a
plate or shoulder formed on the piston rod, and the lower one being held
in position by a nut which engages with a screw formed at the lower
end of the piston rod, thereby securing the said plunger to the said
rod.

page_text: internal flanges of the outer cylinder aforesaid become induction ports
through which a portion of the water in which the pump is submerged
enters the said inner cylinder until it is filled. The water is then forced
through the same set of ports by the reverse motion of the plunger into
the annular space between the said outer and inner cylinders, within
which space the said ports have now by the action of the excentrics
become developed, and thence passes to the discharge pipe. On the
reverse motion of the said inner cylinder the action of its ports is
reversed, i.e. those which were induction ports become eduction ports,
and vice versa.
I will now describe my Invention as applied to a suction pump. I
cast the outer cylinder herein-before referred to with an induction
passage furnished with a nozzle, to which a suction pipe is bolted, and I
bolt on the ends of the said outer cylinder "dished" air-tight covers.
The ends of the said induction passage communicate with the spaces
enclosed between the said covers and the ends of the said outer cylinder.
One of the said covers is furnished with a stuffing box, through which
the stuffing box of the inner cylinder works. The requisite reciprocating
motion is or may be imparted to this cylinder by means of excentrics, as
herein-before described with reference to a force pump.
When the pump is worked in a vertical position I retain the pipe
constituting an air vessel as before described, but when the pump is
worked in other than a vertical position I affix an air chamber to one
of the said elbow nozzles communicating with the annular space
aforesaid.
The action of this pump is as follows:-The water is drawn through
the induction passage into the space enclosed by one or other of the
dished covers aforesaid, whence the said water is drawn into the inner
cylinder through the set of ports which then communicates with the said
space. From the inner cylinder the water is forced through the other
set of ports into the annular space between the cylinders and thence out
through the discharge pipe.
The arrangement of apparatus herein-last described may be used as an
engine to be worked by the pressure of water, steam, gas, air or other fluid,
the fluid used being admitted by the pipe which in the suction pump is
the discharge pipe, and passing out by the other pipe after impelling the
piston.

page_text: Suction pumps of the kind herein-last described may have inner
cylinders open at each end, and when thus constructed are especially
suitable for working under heavy pressure.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to
describe the manner in which the same is to be performed, reference
being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the figures and letters
marked thereon, with respect to which Drawings I would premise that
the course of the water entering the pump is indicated by the arrows
marked v, and the course of the water leaving the pump is indicated by
the arrows marked w.
Figure 1 represents, partly in elevation and partly in section, a forcing
pump constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2 represents the
barrel or cylinder of the said pump in perspective. The same letters of
reference indicate the same parts in both Figures.
A is the barrel; a¹, a¹, are the ports; a² is the stuffing box, through
which passes the rod 6¹ of the plunger B, which is connected by the
rod 6 to the crank C, the shaft of which revolves in bearings d¹, d¹,
mounted on the pipes D¹, D³, the lower ends of which are bolted on to
the ends of nozzles e¹, e¹, on the outer cylinder E, through the flanges
e, es, of which the barrel A slides. The pipes D₁, d³, and the pipe D³,
respectively constitute the discharge pipes and the air vessel. F, F, are
the excentrics, the rods f¹, f¹, of which are jointed to connecting
rods,, the lower ends of which are bolted to a cross head a³ carried
by the stuffing box a³. The plunger B consists of a circular block of
india-rubber b³, on which are mounted metal or other discs 6, 6, held
between other discs 6º, 6º, and kept in their relative radial positions by
means of a pin 6º, as herein-before described. Although I prefer this
construction of piston I do not claim it as of my Invention, as any
suitable plunger may be used.
The action of this forcing pump is as follows:-'
-The descent of the:
piston B causes water to enter into the cylinder A through its upper
ports, as indicated by the arrows v, v, and forces through the lower ports
as indicated by the arrows w, w, the water which was admitted into the
cylinder at the previous stroke. By the time that the piston has
completed its downward stroke the cylinder A, which is moved by the
rods f¹, f¹, worked by the excentrics F, F, will have descended to such
an extent as to bring both sets of ports opposite the flanges e³, e³, and

page_text: there is a short "dwell" of the piston, during which both sets of ports
begin to be opened or "developed." As the piston ascends, the lower
ports are developed outside the cylinder E, and thus become induction
ports, the upper ports being then eduction ports.
The pumps
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings may be used as blowing engines. No material change in the
construction of the said pumps is necessary to adapt them to the purpose
of forcing air instead of water, although when the said pumps are to be
used as blowing engines their ports might be made smaller in proportion
to the cylinders, and might be arranged to work through flanges lined
with leather or other elastic material, and the dished covers herein-after
described with reference to Figures 3, 4, and 5 of the accompanying
Drawings might be applied to the engines to exclude dust and dirt.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a suction pump constructed according
to my Invention; and Figures 4 and 5 are sections thereof, taken
respectively on the lines W and X, Figure 3. The same letters of
reference indicate the same parts in Figures 3, 4, and 5. A is the
inner cylinder or barrel, and a¹, a', are the ports; B is the outer cylinder
on which is cast an induction passage b¹ with a nozzle 6º, to which a
suction pipe is bolted; 68, 68, are dished covers bolted on to the cylinder B;
and 6* is the stuffing box through which the stuffing box a² of the
barrel A works; 6 is the discharge nozzle; 6º is the discharge pipe;
and 6' is the pipe which constitutes the air vessel.
The action of this pump is as follows:-The water drawn into the
pump enters by the nozzle b, and passes through the inlet passage b¹ and
thence through the upper set of ports into the cylinder A, as indicated
by the arrows v, v, and the water which was drawn in at the previous
stroke is forced through the lower set of ports into the cylinder B, and
out by the nozzle 6º and pipe 6º, as indicated by the arrows wo, w. On
the return stroke of the piston the action of the ports is reversed.
Figures 6 and 7 represent in transverse and vertical sections respec-
tively a pump constructed according to my Invention, with a barrel
open at both ends. The same letters of reference indicate the same
parts in both Figures. A is the barrel which is open at both ends, the
3 stuffing box a¹ being affixed to the said barrel by means of a cross head b³,
the arms of which are screwed into the barrel as shown. C is the outer
cylinder, c¹, c¹, are the covers; c³ is the stuffing box through which

page_text: the stuffing box a¹ works; c³ is the nozzle to which the inlet pipe is
bolted, and c³, c³, are the nozzles to which the discharge pipe and the
air vessel herein-before referred to are respectively bolted. This mode of
construction is applicable both to suction and to force pumps, and
admits of their barrels being moved up and down with ease under
whatever pressure the pump may be working, and also of ready access
to the piston by merely removing one of the covers of the outer