IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RAISING, FORCING, AND MEASURING LIQUIDS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Howard Kidd, of Wrexham, in the County of
Denbigh, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR RAISING, FORCING, AND MEASURING LIQUIDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Howard Kidd at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th April 1881.
JOHN HOWARD KIDD, of Wrexham, in the County of Denbigh.
IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RAISING, FORCING, AND
MEASURING LIQUIDS."
"
In performing my Invention I make use of a cylindrical or other shaped vessel
placed below the level of the liquid to be raised.
In the cover at the top of this vessel is a vacuum valve opening inwards, and
immediately under it is an equilibrium valve to admit the steam.
This latter valve is opened and closed by means of levers on a horizontal shaft,
which are operated upon by a hollow float moving freely up and down a loose
vertical rod attached to one end of one of the levers, and extending through the
cylinder.
This cylinder or other vessel is fitted on a chamber in which are placed the inlet
and outlet valves.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
The fluid to be raised rushes through the inlet valve or valves into the cylinder
with a velocity due to its head of pressure, carrying with it the hollow float which
slides up the vertical rod until it is arrested by a pin or cotter, which then causes
the rod to travel with it a little further until it can by the lever to which it is
attached throw over the weighted lever which actuates the equilibrium valve used
for the admission of steam from the boiler.
The steam then acting upon the surface of the fluid closes the inlet valves and
the vacuum valve, and opens the outlet valve through which it forces the fluid to a
height due to the pressure of steam in the boiler; the float descending with the

page_text: fluid then comes in contact with a pin or cotter in the lower end of the vertical rod
and turns off the steam.
When the vessel is empty a vacuum is instantly formed, and the top valve falls
in to allow of the escape of the condensed steam, when the operation is again
repeated.
When this apparatus is to be used as a meter, the vacuum valve at the top is
connected to any suitable counting apparatus, and every time the cylinder is
filled and emptied the index finger is actuated, thus recording the quantity of fluid
ejected.
If compressed air be used for forcing the fluid I employ of pair of equilibrium
valves, one valve being placed on each side of the centre pin of the weighted lever,
so that when one valve is closed the other is opened, and vice versa.
The weighted lever carries at its upper end a box in which a metal ball can
roll freely so as to give an impetus to the lever, which will carry it well over the
centre line.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Howard Kidd in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th October 1881.
JOHN HOWARD KIDD, of Wrexham, in the County of Denbigh.
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR RAISING, FORCING, AND
MEASURING LIQUIDS."
In performing my Invention I make use of a cylindrical or other shaped vessel
placed below the level of the liquid to be raised. In the cover at the top of this
vessel is a vacuum valve opening inward, and immediately under it is an equilibrium
valve to admit the steam from the boiler.
This latter valve is opened and closed by means of levers on a horizontal shaft,
which are operated upon by a hollow float moving freely up and down a loose
vertical rod attached to one of the levers.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The fluid to be raised rushes through
the inlet valve or valves into the cylindrical or other shaped vessel with a velocity
due to its head of pressure, carrying with it the hollow float which slides up the
vertical rod until it is arrested by a pin or cotter, which thus causes the rod to
travel with it a little further until it can by the lever to which it is attached throw
over the weighted lever which actuates the equilibrium valve,
The steam then acting on the surface of the fluid closes the inlet and vacuum
valves, and opens the outlet valve, through which it forces the fluid to a height due
to the pressure of steam in the boiler; the float descending with the fluid then comes
in contact with a pin or cotter in the lower end of the vertical rod and turns off
the steam.
The contents of the vessel having been ejected and the steam pressure cut off,
the vacuum and inlet valves open, the outlet valve closes, and the operation is
repeated.
The vacuum valve at the top is connected to any suitable counting apparatus to
record the quantity of fluid ejected.
If compressed air be used for forcing the fluid, I employ a pair of equilibrium
valves, one valve being placed on each side of the centre spindle, so that when one
valve is closed the other is opened, and in this case I may dispense with the use of
the vacuum valve.
The weighted lever carries at its upper end a box in which a metal ball can roll
freely, so as to give an impetus to the lever which will carry it well over the centre
line.
Or by another method, when permanently fixed, I prefer to dispense with the
float and use a simple cam action or other suitable mechanism to raise and lower
the steam valve, regulating the number of strokes according to the rapidity with
which the vessel can be filled and emptied.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried out,
I will describe the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings, reference being had to the
figures and letters marked thereon.
On Sheet I., Fig. 1 shows in section my improved apparatus employed for raising
liquids.
a is the cylindrical or other shaped vessel; b is the vacuum valve; c is the
equilibrium valve whose spindle is connected to the lever e¹, which is fast on the
spindle e² on which is keyed the lever d, part of its boss being cut away and made
to fit into a corresponding recess in the boss of the lever e which turns loose upon
the spindle, to one end of which is suspended the rod fon which slides the float g;
there is a pin or cotter near the bottom and near the top of the rod f against

page_text: .
which the float strikes.
valves h.
The vessel is provided with inlet valves i, and outlet
The mode of operation is as follows:-
.
The inlet valve or valves i have an area equal to that of the vessel employed;
through these valves the water rushes with great velocity, carrying with it the
hollow ball or float g, which moves freely on the vertical rod fattached to the end
of the lever e. The hollow float before reaching the termination of its upward
stroke strikes the pin or cotter in the upper part of the loose hanging rod f, and
carries it and the levers e and d upward until the rolling weight in the lever d is
over the centre, when it falls, turning the spindle on which is keyed the lever e¹
which raises the spindle of the valve c, and admits steam to the vessel a.
vacuum and inlet valves are instantly closed, and the outlet valve opened for the
discharge of the liquid contained in the vessel.
The
When the float strikes the pin or cotter in the bottom of the rod f, the lever e is
moved downward, and carries with it the lever d, until the rolling ball falls to the
reverse side and shuts off the steam. The vacuum and inlet valves open, the
outlet valve closes and the operation is repeated.
There is practically no vacuum and but little condensation as the steam acts upon
the surface of a solid pillar of liquid, and its action is too rapid, as many as from 40
to 50 strokes being attainable in the minute.
On Sheet 2, Figs. 2 and 3 are elevations in section, and Fig. 4 is a plan of a
modification of my. Invention, being a double acting pump with cam shaft e³ to
work both divisions, the cams being set in opposite directions; a description of one
part being as follows:-a is the vessel; b is the vacuum valve; c is the equilibrium
valve; e, the lever for raising the valve, constructed as shown and described in
reference to Fig. 1, but I dispense with the rod f, the float g, the weighted lever d,
and the lever e¹; I use instead the cam g' which is fitted on the shaft es, driven in
any convenient manner at a speed regulated according to the rapidity with which
the vessel can be filled and emptied; this cam actuates the leve e and valve o.
Having stated the nature of my Invention and described the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the
details given, as they may be varied or modified without departing from my
Invention.
And I declare that I claim,-
1. The method of and apparatus for raising liquids, substantially as described
and shown.
2. The combination of the vessel a with the vacuum valve b, the equilibrium
steam admission valve c (the latter operated by the levers e', d, and e, and the
float g), the inlet valve i, and the outlet valve h, as and for the purpose shown and
described in reference to Fig 1.
3. The combination of the vessel a with the vacuum valve b, the steam admission
valve c (the latter actuated by the cam g¹) the inlet valve or valves i, and the
outlet valve h, as and for the purpose shown and described in reference to Figs. 1,
2, and 3.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Howard Kidd, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of October, One thousand eight hundred
and sightπ one
JOHN HOWARD KIDD. (L.S.)