IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPING A MIXTURE OF STEAM AND WATER OR OTHER SATURATED VAPOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE PURPOSE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Mudge Marchant, of Kirby Street, Hatton Garden,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PUMPING A MIXTURE OF STEAM AND WATER OR OTHER SATURATED
VAPOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Mudge Marchant
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th June 1880.
ROBERT MUDGE MARCHANT, of Kirby Street, Hatton Garden, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPING A MIXTURE OF STEAM
AND WATER OR OTHER SATURATED VAPOR OR GAS, AND IN PUMPS SPECIALLY
ADAPTED FOR THE PURPOSE,"
My Invention consists in so employing air in the pumping of a mixture of steam
and water or other saturated vapor or gas for motive power purposes that it
acts as a spring, and thereby produces regularity of action and perfects the process
of pumping such mixture or saturated vapor or gas into any boiler or reservoir.
This method of employing air will be understood from the description of the
construction and action of the improved pump, which I now proceed to explain.
My improved pump is constructed for the purpose of pumping steam, or steam
saturated with water, or any vapor or gas, or combination of vapors or gases, or
such vapors or gases saturated with liquid, into a boiler or other reservoir containing
water and steam, or other liquid, or gas, or vapor of a higher pressure than that at
which such saturated vapor is supplied to the pumps as operated on for the purpose
of such compression to the higher pressure required to effect such delivery.
I construct these pumps as follows:-There are two or more barrels of varying
capacity, the smaller barrel being supplied from the larger, which takes in the
charge, and in each of these barrels work pistons where a double action is given to
the pumps, or plungers where a single action given to them.
These barrels and the valves in connection with them are arranged so that the
passages to the latter are as short as practicable, and the least practicable clearance
obtained.

page_text: The suction or feed valves to these pumps may be placed in any desirable
position, and there may be a check valve to each feed as a precaution against any
back action. The force or forward valves to these pumps are supplied from a
passage on a level with the bottom of each barrel, so that the steam or gas shall
force forward any deposit water or liquid with every stroke of the pumps, and not
allow of any liquid accumulating that can affect the action of the pumps on the
suction stroke by its readiness to fill up the vacuum with the steam or vapor into
which it would spring.
For perfected action it may in some cases be desirable to clear the pumps of the
highly saturated steam or other vapor remaining in "the clearance" and passages,
as well as of the water or other liquid, and this action is secured by providing
small valves for the regulated admission of a minimum of air with every stroke of
the pump and into the barrel thereof, and the limitation of the admission of air
can be secured either by a regulating cock to each air valve where more than one
is used, or by suitably sized apertures in a cap screwed on to the bottom of such
air valves.
The effect of such provision is to represent the clearance by air which remains
in the barrels of the pump, and the limitation of air supply should be for the
purpose of passing only sufficient air forwards with each stroke of the pumps to
keep up in each barrel such air clearance. The air in each barrel, in consequence
of the delivery being at the bottom of the barrel and of the superior gravity of
the liquid, and of the highly saturated vapor, remains within the barrel, and it is
only necessary to make good the waste of air by the forward action, and such
application has to be used or discontinued according to the requirements of any
particular engine to which these pumps are applied.
I prefer to deliver the charge of saturated steam or other vapor or gas as taken
into the first pump, direct into the second pump, and without the intervention of
an air chamber between the pumps, and I give the eccentric working the first
pump such a set as shall equalize the work on the two pumps.
In connection with the second pump I provide a storage chamber, in the top of
which the air will collect and form a spring, as herein before described, any
minimized surplus of air over that required for the purpose of an easy and regulated
action being passed forward with benefit to the boiler action. Where I use a third
stage I prefer to suck from such reservoir and deliver direct to the boiler, but I do
not confine myself to such action.
Where I use these pumps in connection with a condenser I attach to the back
of either pump, and to one of the piston rods which are made to project at the
back, and to work in glands which are provided for them in the back cover, an air
pump for the purpose of pumping any accumulation of cold air out of the surface
condenser used, which surface condenser I prefer to construct on the principle of
the one described in a Provisional Specification lodged by me on the 28th January,
No. 374.
But I use these pumps with any surface condenser, in combination with an air
pump, for the purpose of removing the accumulation of cold air in the condenser,
and of delivering such cold air into the atmosphere or otherwise for any purpose to
which a blower of cold air may be desirable.
And in connection with the use of such pumps I prefer to use a special ball
valve, that is to say, I make the ball valve so that the passage of the vapor shall
be vertical and through water, the water acting as a seal and thereby preventing
all back action.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Mudge Marchant in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th December 1880.
ROBERT MUDGE MARCHANT, of Kirby Street, Hatton Garden, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPING A MIXTURE OF STEAM
AND WATER OR OTHER SATURATED VAPOR OR GAS, AND IN PUMPS SPECIALLY
ADAPTED FOR THE PURPOSE."
My Invention consists in so employing air in the pumping of a mixture of steam
and water or other saturated vapor or gas for motive power purposes that it acts
as a spring, and thereby produces regularity of action, and perfects the process of
pumping such mixture or saturated vapor or gas into any boiler or reservoir.
This method of employing air will be understood from the description of the
construction and action of the improved pump, which I now proceed to explain.
My improved pump is constructed for the purpose of pumping steam or steam
saturated with water, or any vapor or gas, or combination of vapors or gases, or
such vapors or gases saturated with liquid, into a boiler or other reservoir containing
water and stean, or other liquid, or gas, or vapor of a higher pressure than that at
which such saturated vapor is supplied to the pumps as operated on for the
purpose of its compression to the higher pressure required to effect such delivery.
I construct these pumps as follows:-
There are two or more barrels of varying capacity, the smaller barrel being
supplied from the larger which takes in the charge, and in these barrels work
pistons where a double action is given to the pumps, or plungers where a single
action is given to them.
.
These barrels and the valves in connection with them are arranged so that the
passages to the latter are as short as practicable, and the least practicable clearance
obtained.
The suction or feed valves to these pumps may be placed in any desirable
position, and there may be a check valve to each feed as a precaution against any
back action. The force or forward valves to these pumps are supplied from a
passage on a level with the bottom of each barrel, so that the steam or gas shall
force forward any deposit water or liquid with every stroke of the pumps, and not
allow of any liquid accumulation that can affect the action of the pumps on the
suction stroke by its readiness to fill up the vacuum with the steam or vapor into
which it would spring.
For perfected action it may in some cases be desirable to clear the pumps of the
highly saturated steam or other vapor remaining in the "clearance" and passages,
as well as of the water or other liquid, and this action is secured by providing
small valves for the regulated admission of a minimum of air with every stroke of
the pump and into the barrel thereof, and the limitation of the admission of air can
be secured, either by a regulating cock to each air valve, where more than one is
used, or by suitably sized apertures in a cap screwed on to the bottom of such air
valves.
The effect of such provision is to represent the clearance by air which remains in
the barrels of the pump, and the limitation of air supply should be for the purpose
of passing only sufficient air forwards with each stroke of the pumps to keep up in
each barrel such air clearance. The air in each barrel, in consequence of the
delivery being at the bottom of the barrel, and of the superior gravity of the liquid
and of the highly saturated vapor, remains within the barrel, and it is only
necessary to make good the waste of air by the forward action, and such application
has to be used or discontinued according to the requirements of any particular
engine to which these pumps are applied.

page_text: I prefer to deliver the charge of saturated steam or other vapor or gas, as taken
into the first barrel, direct into the second barrel, and without the intervention of
an air chamber between the barrels, and I give the eccentric working the first
barrel such a set as shall equalize the work on the two barrels.
In connection with the second barrel I provide a storage chamber, in the top of
which the air will collect and form a spring, as hereinbefore described, any
minimized surplus of air over that required for the purpose of an easy and
regulated action being passed forward with benefit to the boiler action. Where I
use a third stage, I prefer to suck from such storage chamber and deliver direct to
the boiler, but I do not confine myself to such action.
Where I use these pumps in connection with a condenser, I attach to the back of
either pump barrel and to one of the piston rods, which are made to project at the
back and to work in glands which are provided for them in the back cover, an air
pump for the purpose of pumping any accumulation of cold air out of the surface
condenser used, which surface condenser I prefer to construct on the principal of
the one described in the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me, and
dated the 28th January 1880, No. 374.
But I use these pumps with any surface condenser in combination with an air
pump for the purpose of removing the accumulation of cold air in the condenser,
and of delivering such cold air into the atmosphere, or otherwise, for any purpose
to which a blower of cold air may be desirable.
And in connection with the use of such pumps I prefer to use a special ball
valve, that is to say, I make the ball valve so that the passage of the vapor shall be
vertical and through water, the water acting as a seal, and thereby preventing all
back action.
My Invention will be fully understood on reference to the accompanying
Drawings.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved pump, which, as shown, is composed
of two barrels; Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line A, B; Figure 3, &
vertical section on the line G, H; Figure 4, a vertical section of the smaller pump
barrel on the line E, F; Figure 5, a vertical section of the larger barrel on the
line C, D; Figure 6, a side elevation of the smaller barrel and air or storage
chamber; Figure 7, a plan of the pump and storage chamber; Figure 8, a vertical
section of the ball valve, hereinbefore referred to; Figure 9, a view of the top of
this valve, and Figure 10 is a side elevation of the pump and gearing, with an air
pump fixed and working in connection therewith.
a is the first or larger pump barrel, and a¹ the second or smaller pump barrel; a
is the air or storage chamber; b is the suction pipe of the first barrel a, with branches
leading to the two ends of the said barrel. Each of these branches is fitted with a
valve c, which is, by preference, of the form shown in Figures 8 and 9. 6³, b³, are
the force pipes from the two ends of the barrel a, and also forming the suction
pipes to the barrel a¹. Each of these pipes is similarly fitted with a valve c.
b, b', are the force pipes from the barrel a¹, and also forming the suction pipes to
the chamber a²; each of these pipes is likewise fitted with a valve c. 62 is the
delivery pipe from the chamber a² to the boiler or other receiver, this pipe being in
like manner fitted with a valve c. c is the valve for the regulated admission of
air into the barrel a' for the purpose hereinbefore explained. The force pipes b³
and communicate with their respective barrels a and a¹ at the bottom thereof,
so that the steam or gas shall force forward any deposit water or liquid with every
stroke of the piston, as has been already mentioned. Although I have shown only
the second barrel a¹ as fitted with an air inlet valve c', a similar valve may be
fitted to the first barrel a.
The ball valve represented in Figures 8 and 9 (and which may be used in
connection with other pumps) is constructed so that the passage of the vapors or
gases is vertical and through water. The cap of the valve has slots d (4 or other
suitable number). The vapor passes upwards from the valve seat and any liquid
saturation is deposited over the ball, the whole charge passing first externally to

page_text: the slotted passage and then through the slots d and forwards through the
passage.
e, Figure 10, is the air pump fixed and working in connection with the pump;
the piston of this air pump is connected to one of the piston rods of the barrels a
and a¹.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The employment of air, in the manner substantially as herein before
described, in the pumping of a mixture of steam and water, or other saturated
vapor or gas for motive power purposes, so that such air shall act as a spring and
thereby produce regularity of action and perfect the process of pumping the said
mixture or saturated vapor or gas into a boiler or other reservoir.
Second. In pumps composed of two or more barrels of varying capacity, the
smaller being supplied by the larger, I claim the fitting of a valve or valves for
the regulated admission of air in combination with an air or storage chamber,
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and represented in the
annexed Drawings.
Third. The improved ball valve for use for pumping purposes, constructed
substantially as hereinbefore described and represented in the annexed Drawings.
Fourth. Constructing pumps, as herein before described and represented in the
annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Mudge Marchant, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of November, One thousand eight hundred
and eights.
R. M. MARCHANT. (L.S.)