Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 19th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1887
I, JAMES COMPTON MERRYWEATHER of Greenwich Road S.E. in the County of
Kent, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention consists of an apparatus for increasing the pressure in a firemain or
other pipe, and to start automatically immediately a hydrant or other outlet is
opened.
The apparatus is virtually a differential pump actuated by hydraulic pressure; the
pressure in the water main being known, the cylinders are made in such relative
proportions, that by admitting a quantity of water at a low pressure to the acting or
larger cylinder, water is delivered at a high pressure from the pump; the quantity
being however in inverse proportion to that supplied to the acting cylinder at a low
pressure. In other words this machine substitutes a moderate delivery of water at a
high pressure for a larger quantity at a low pressure.
The low pressure water is admitted to the larger or acting cylinder by a suitable
arrangement of valve gear; the smaller cylinder or pump is fitted with valves as in
an ordinary pump, and may take its suction from the "exhaust" from the larger
cylinder.
The machine when erected in connection with water mains as described, will at
once establish a high pressure in the closed firemain or other pipe, and immediately a
hydrant or other outlet is opened the pressure being relieved the machine will start
automatically, and maintain the high pressure supply, which may be used for the
extinction of fire.
This invention is also applicable for supplying water to a great height the power
being obtained from a waterfall, reservoir, or other water source at a moderate
elevation, by means of a conduit.
Dated this 21st day of Tenue 1887
JAMES COMPTON MERRY WEATHER.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Extinction of Fire.
I, JAMES COMPTON MERRYWEATHER of Greenwich Road S.E. in the County of
Kent 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:-
The invention consists of an arrangement specially adapted for use in connection
with firemains, for increasing the pressure therein by water pressure through the
medium of a hydraulic pumping engine, the cylinder of which is so proportioned for
the available pressure as to produce a higher pressure in the pump.
The apparatus will charge the firemain and maintain the required pressure ;
immediately a hydrant is opened and the pressure relieved the apparatus will auto-
matically start pumping to keep up the pressure and will stop as soon as the hydrant
is closed. The pump employed may be of any suitable design to effect the required
result and will if required take its suction from the exhaust of the acting cylinder,
thus of the total water expended, a portion will be supplied to the hydrants at an
augmented pressure, which will be produced by the action of the remainder on the
pumping engine.
This invention is also suitable for water supply when having a supply of water and
an available fall, it is required to raise a supply to an elevation; in this case dirty or
impure water may be used to pump water suitable for domestic purposes.
In the drawing A is the hydraulic pump of which B is the primary cylinder taking 2
its supply from the pipe D. The pump C driven by the cylinder B supplies water at
a high pressure to the pipe E on which are fixed the hydrants F F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :—
The arrangement of a hydraulic pumping engine in combination with a firemain or 2
other water pipe for the purpose of producing a pressure in the latter by means of a
lower pressure actuating the engine, substantially as described.
Dated this 18th day of October 1887.
JAMES COMPTON MERRY WEATHER.