Improvements in Steam Pumps.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1887
Complete Left, 20th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 25th May, 1888
Improvements in Steam Pumps.
We, WILLIAM CLARKE, and JOHN BROKENSHIRE FURNEAUX, both of Victoria
Works, Gateshead-on-Tyne, in the County of Durham Engineers, and CHARLES
DowSEN, of 5 Deckham Terrace Gateshead aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of steam or power
pumps of the kind referred to in the specification of an application for Letters Patent
No. 5005 dated 4 April 1887.
The present improvements have reference to so arranging the two steam cylinders,
and their respective pistons, that each piston by means of recesses in its periphery,
shall form a steam admission and exhaust valve for actuating the piston in the other
cylinder.
The recesses in the pistons, and the corresponding admission and exhaust ports, are
so arranged as to obtain positive cushioning at each end of each stroke; and also
are so placed as to, enable the steam distribution to be effected with a very con-
siderable reduction in the length of cylinder as compared with the length required in
the arrangement referred to in the above mentioned previous specification.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: We, WILLIAM CLARKE, and JOHN BROKENSHIRE FURNEAUX, both of Victoria
Works, Gateshead-on-Tyne, in the County of Durham, Engineers, and CHARLES
DowSEN, of 5 Deckham Terrace, Gateshead, aforesaid, 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 :—
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of steam or power
pumps of the kind referred to in the Specification of an application for Letters Patent
No. 5006 dated 4th April 1887.
The present improvements have reference to so arranging the two steam cylinders,
and their respective pistons, that each piston by means of recesses in its periphery
shall form a steam admission and exhaust valve for actuating the piston in the other
cylinder.
The recesses in the pistons, and corresponding separate admission and exhaust ports,
are so arranged as to obtain positive cushioning at the end of each stroke; and also
are so placed as to enable all the necessary objects to be gained with a very con-
siderable reduction in the length of cylinder as compared with the length required in
the arrangement referred to in the above mentioned previous specification, and
without the use of separate valves, tappets or other equivalent devices.
In order that the nature of this invention may be readily understood reference is
made to the accompanying four sheets of drawings in which on Sheet 1 Figs. 1 and 2
show in longitudinal section in the line A B of Fig. 3 the respective halves of a pair
of steam cylinders constructed in accordance with this invention; they show the
ports and passage ways on each half of each pair of cylinders and will enable the
method of distributing the motive fluid herein after set forth to be clearly followed.
Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line CD of Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line CD Fig. 5.
Fig. a cross section on the line E F Fig. 6; and
Fig. 6 a side elevation of a piston provided with recesses in its periphery and
adapted to serve as a steam admission and exhaust valve for controlling the passage
of inotive fluid to and from a similar piston in the other cylinder.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 on Sheet 2 and Figs. 7, 8 and 9 and
Figs. 10, 11 and 12 Sheet are similar views to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 on Sheet 1 and are
similarly lettered, they serve to illustrate the relative positions of the pistons (shown
in elevation) at various parts of their strokes, and also the method of distributing
the motive fluid.
The figures on Sheet 4 are hereinafter described.
Referring to Sheet 1 the two steam cylinders are respectively marked No. 1 and
No. 2 and are each provided with 10 ports of which R is a steam admission port in
the centre of No. 1 cylinder; P a steam port leading from the centre of No. 1
cylinder to the top of No. 2 cylinder where it terminates in the port P¹; and Ta
steam port leading from the centre of No. 1 cylinder to the bottom of No. 2 where
it terminates in the port T¹.
Qis an exhaust port communicating with the atmosphere or with a condenser ; 0 an
exhaust port leading from near the top of No. 2 cylinder to the centre of No. 1

page_text: cylinder where it terminates in the port O'; and S an exhaust port leading from near
the bottom of No. 2 cylinder to the centre of No. 1 cylinder where it terminates in
the port St.
Y is a steam admission port in the centre of No. 2 cylinder and which together with
the port R in No. 1 cylinder receives steam from an inlet opening U common to both;
Wa steam port leading from the centre of No. 2 cylinder to the bottom of No. 1
where it terminates in the port W1; G a steam port leading from the centre of
No. 2 cylinder to the top of No. 1 where itterminates in the port G¹.
X is an exhaust port leading to the atmosphere or condenser and which together
with the port Q allows of the exit of exhaust steam through the com:non exhaust
opening E; Van exhaust port leading from near the bottom of No. 1 cylinder to the
centre of No. 2 cylinder where it terminates in the port V1; and Z an exhaust port
leading from near the top of No. 1 cylinder to the centre of No. 2 cylinder where it
terminates in the port Z.
As will be seen all the steam ports of each cylinder are arranged on one side of the
centre thereof and all exhaust ports on the other side.
The sets of ports PRTO QS, in No. 1 cylinder and W Y G V X Z¹ in No. 2
cylinder are each arranged in a common plane at right angles to the axis of the
cylinder whereby the length of each cylinder may be reduced as compared with that
represented in the arrangement described in Specification No. 5006 of 1887. It will
also be seen that separate admission and exhaust ports and passages are employed in
lieu of using ports and passages that serve alternately for admitting and exhausting
motive fluid as was the case in the arrangement described in the hereinbefore mentioned
prior specification.
Each piston Figs. 4, 5 and 6 (Sheet 1) consists of two junk rings 1, each of which
may have a packing ring 2 in it, and a long piston ring 3 having four recesses
formed in its periphery two 4 and 5 on the steam side and two 6 and 7 on the
exhaust side.
The operation of the pistons and the distribution of motive fluid, for example steam,
thereby is as follows reference being had to Figs. 1 to 12 on Sheets 2 and 3 of the
drawings.
It is assumed that piston No. 2 in No. 2 cylinder is the leading piston; piston No. 1
in No. 1 cylinder to be just commencing its stroke in the direction of the arrow ;
No. 2 piston to have moved just past stroke also in the direction of the arrow thereon;
and that steam is admitted to the inlet U. Then the recess 6 on the steam side of
No. 1 piston being at the centre of the cylinder steam from the port R will be admitted
to the port P and thence through the port P¹ in No. 2 cylinder to the top of No. 2
piston, forcing it down (Fig. 2).
Whilst No. 2 piston is descending the steam below has been released because the
exhaust port S is in direct communication with the exhaust port Q owing to the
exhaust recess 4 on No. 1 piston at this time placing the ports S and Q in communi-
cation with each other Fig. 1. When however No. 2 piston passes the exhaust port S
the remaining steam is imprisoned because the port T in cominunication with the steam
port T¹ is at this time closed, being covered by the plain part of No. 1 piston ring
(Figs. 2 and 3); the piston No. 2 is thus automatically cushioned.
Whilst No. 1 piston Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is admitting steam to the top of No. 2 piston
the steam recess 7 of the latter piston is opposite the centre ports (Figs. 2 and 3) and
the steam from the port Y is admitted to the port G and thence through port G'
to the top of No. 1 piston, driving this piston down. The bottom of No. 1 cylinder
is at the same time open to the exhaust because the port V is in direct communication
with the exhaust port X owing to the exhaust recess 4 of No. 2 piston at this time
opening communication between the ports V1 and X Figs. 1 and 3.
Continuing their movement, No. 2 piston will arrive nearly at the bottom of its
stroke and No. 1 piston at the same time will have passed stroke downwards and
will bring its top steam recess 7 opposite the centre ports as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 ;
steam will then be admitted from port R to port T and by way of the port T to the
bottom of No. 2 piston, forcing the piston upwards and causing it to make its return

page_text: stroke. At the same time the steam in the top of No. 2 cylinder will be exhausted
because port O is in direct communication with the exhaust port Q (Figs. 4 and 6)
owing to the exhaust recess 4 in No. 1 piston at this time opening communication
between the ports O₁ and Q; the steam port P being closed by the plain part of the
piston ring of No. 1 piston which at this time covers it.
As soon as No. 2 piston passes stroke, when ascending, its bottom recess 6 will
come opposite the centre ports (see Figs. 7, 8 and 9 and admit steam from the port Y
to the port W and thence through the port WI to the bottom of No. 1 piston
(Figs. 8 and 9) causing No. 1 piston to perform its upward return stroke. At the
same time, steam in the top of No. 1 cylinder will be released because the exhaust
port Z will be in direct communication with the exhaust port X owing to the
exhaust recess 5 of No. 2 piston at this time opening communication between the
ports Z and X.
When No. 1 piston passes stroke whilst ascending, No. 2 piston will be at the
end of its upward stroke as shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12. The bottom steam
recess 6 on No. 1 piston will then be opposite the centre ports and will admit steam
from the port R to the port P and thence through the port P¹ to the top of No. 2
piston forcing this piston downward on its return stroke as indicated in Figs. 11
and 12. At the same time the steam in the bottom of No. 2 cylinder will be released
because the port S is in direct communication with the exhaust port Q owing to the
exhaust recess 5 on No. 1 piston at this time opening communication between the
ports S¹ and Q.
In the foregoing description the distribution of the steam to each of the two pistons
at all parts of their movements has been explained.
It will be obvious that the motion of the pistons obtained in the manner above
described will serve equally well to actuate a crank shaft with two cranks at right
angles to one another or to directly actuate two pump plungers and that in the latter
case the relation of each pistons movement to that of the other is precisely the same
as though two cranks were being driven.
In order to relieve the pistons of side pressure when using high pressure motive
fluid, each of the cylinders 1 and 2 is provided with two additional sets of ports 8
and 9 as represented on sheet 4, where Figs. 1 and 2 are longitudinal sections of the
two cylinders in the line A B Fig. 3; and Fig. 3 is a cross section thereof in the
line CD Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of complete piston adapted for use in one of the cylinders
and shewing the shape of the recesses formed therein.
Fig. 5 is a cross section of the complete piston in the line L M Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the piston ring in the line E F Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the piston in the line J K Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of the piston ring in the line GH Fig. 5.
The steam recesses 6 and 7 instead of being formed partly through the thickness
of the piston ring 3 are cut through the thickness of the piston ring which is provided
with corresponding openings 6*, 7* directly opposite the openings 6 and 7. With
this arrangement when either of the openings or ports 6 and 7 is open to steam such
steam will pass through the openings 6* and 7* and act against the interior of the
cylinder instead of acting against the piston and forcing the same against the interior
of its cylinder.
To relieve the piston of back pressure due to imperfect exhaust, the piston is pro-
vided with recesses 4* and 5* arranged directly opposite to end corresponding in area
with the exhaust recesses 4 and 5 with which they are placed in communication by a
groove or channel 10.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In steam pumps of the kind hereinabove referred to in which two cylinders and
their respective pistons are so arranged that each piston by means of recesses in its

page_text: periphery shall form a steam admission and exhaust valve for actuating the piston in
the other cylinder, the arrangement of the recesses in the pistons and of the separate
corresponding admission and exhaust ports in such a manner as to obtain positive
cushioning at the end of each stroke substantially as described.
2. In steam pumps of the kind hereinabove referred to in which two cylinders and
their respective pistons are so arranged that each piston by means of recesses in its
periphery shall form a steam admission and exhaust valve for actuating the piston in
the other cylinder, the arrangement substantially as hereinabove described of the
ports in a common plane at right angles to the axis of the cylinder whereby the
length of cylinder may be reduced as compared with that represented in the arrange-
ment described in Specification No. 5006 of 1887.
3. In steam or power pumps the construction and arrangement of the cylinders
and pistons with their respective ports passages and recesses as hereinabove described
with reference respectively to and illustrated on sheet 1 and on sheet 4 of the drawings
annexed.