IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPING MACHINES OR ENGINES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Benson, of 14, Hinde Street, Manchester.
Square, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPING MACHINES OR ENGINES."
Sealed the 12th December 1865, and dated the 3rd July 1865.
:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Martin Benson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd:
July 1865.
I, MARTIN BENSON, of 14, Hinde Street, Manchester Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPING MACHINES OR ENGINES," to be as
follows:
The general construction of pump to which my improvements are most
applicable is the direct double-acting reciprocating pump, and belonging to
the class where the piston of the steam cylinder and piston of the pump are
attached to the same piston rod, and worked without crank shaft, connecting
rod, fly wheel, and eccentric, for giving motion to the steam valve. The cylinder

page_text: of the engine and pump are secured to a bed plate of metal in the usual way,
or a piece of timber, and placed so that their centres will be in right line
with each other. The cylinders a far enough apart when secured to the bed
plate for attaching an arm to the piston rod between the two cylinders, from
which motion is taken to work the steam valve by an arrangement of rods and
levers, acted on through part of their motion by a spring or weight. Space
sufficient is given between the steam and pump cylinders, so that the aforesaid
arm will not strike against the cylinder ends when the pump makes its longest
stroke. The steam cylinder is made of the usual form suitable for the ordinary
slide valve structure, but in place of using the slide valve a hollow cylindrical
and conical shaped valve is employed, furnished with inlet and outlet
openings for admitting steam to and from the cylinders. The steam is admitted
into the small end of the valve. The valve case or seat is secured to the
cylinder by means of bolts and nuts. The conical valve is made sufficiently
taper to prevent its jamming or becoming so tight as to prevent its free and
easy working either by the contracting of the case around the valve, after the
engine has been at work, or being jammed by the attendant of the pump or
from other causes. A set screw is provided for forcing a centre piece against the
large end of the valve for properly adjusting the valve to its seat while working.
This screw is made only to work by hand without a wrench or key, so that the
valve cannot be forced too tight into its case without using some violent means
for wrenching the set screw against the end of the valve. The water is drawn
out of the conical valve to prevent rusting the valve seat and freezing in the valve
in cold climates. This is effected by cutting recesses in the valve seat or case
opposite the inlet openings made through the sides of the valve; these recesses
are connected with the steam openings leading into the cylinder by drilling
boles and cutting channels through the valve case, which permits the water
formed by the condensed steam to run out of the valve into the cylinder, from
whence it is drawn off by the cocks usually placed in each end of the cylinder.
As before mentioned the conical valve receives its motion from an arm attached
to the piston rod between the steam and pump cylinders. A connecting rod
is attached to this arm, which is likewise attached to a lever; this lever is
made to oscillate or move through the arc of a circle on a centre pivot, in line
with the centre of the valve, but not directly attached to the valve. There are
lugs attached to the oscillating lever which are made to strike against a lever
attached to the valve, and thereby move the valve, and when the lever attached
to the valve has been moved beyond the centre or vertical line in either direc-
tion by the motion of the arm, then a system of levers and rods, acted on by a
spring or weight are made to move the valve to its proper position for admitting

page_text: steam to and from the cylinder; but should the spring or weight fail in their.
action, the lugs attached to the oscillating lever before mentioned will then
again commence acting on or moving the valve. The steam openings in the
valves and arrangement of levers and rods for moving the valve are so adjusted.
with each other as to prevent the piston striking the cylinder head; by
admitting steam into the end of the cylinder to which the piston is ap-
proaching before the piston comes in contact with the cylinder head, stops.
and guides will be employed to prevent the valve from moving beyond a
given point.
When large pumps are constructed by placing the cylinders of the engines
and pumps on a bed plate, as berein-before described, it requires an uncom
monly strong bed plate and foundation to resist the strain caused by the
working of the pump. This arises from the action the forces produce on the
bed plate, owing to the plate being placed to one side of the steam and pump
cylinders. If the metal or part of it forming the bed plate was made to hold
the two ends of the steam and pump cylinders together at equal divided points
around the circumference of the cylinder, then the metal would be so distri-
buted that its utmost, tensial and compressive forces would be utilized, and
consequently a stronger pumping machine could be made with a given quantity
of material than by using a bed plate in the ordinary method. In constructing
the larger size pumps I would employ a skeleton cylinder or frame for uniting
the ends of the steam and pump cylinders together, with suitable openings
made in the skeleton frame, for getting at the stuffing boxes of the pump and
steam cylinders, and the ends of the frame will be provided with flanges for
joining to the cylinders by means of bolts and nuts; for the smaller sizes of
pumps, rods will be employed for holding the ends of the steam and pump
cylinders together for taking the strain off the bed plate in place of using the
skeleton cylinder before mentioned.
!
Any of the known constructions of pumps can be used in connection with
the improvements in the steam portion of this pumping machine or engine.
The kind of pump I would combine with the steam cylinder should have the
inlet and outlet valves arranged at the top of the pumping cylinder, for being
handy to get at for repairs and other purposes. The pump should be con-
structed for attaching the suction pipe to either side of the pump. Pockets
or recesses should be made at the lower part, and in each end of the cylinder
of the pump, for receiving any solid substances that may accidentally get into
the cylinder to prevent the piston from breaking any part of the cylinder. In
constructing the larger class of pumps, where the valves are arranged on the
top of the cylinder in a horizontal position, I would have the valve scats or

page_text: chambers cast or made in a pipe or box separate from the cylinder of the
pump, and secured to the cylinder by means of bolting; the cylinder being.
provided with suitable openings and flanges for receiving the valve pipe:
or box.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Martin Benson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
December 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARTIN,
BENSON, of 14, Hinde Street, Manchester Square, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Martin Benson, Her special licence that I, the said Martin Benson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Martin
Benson, 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 STEAM ENGINES,
AND DOUBLE-ACTING LIFT AND FORCE PUMPS COMBINED FOR SHIPS, IRRIGATION, AND
OTHER USES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Martin Benson,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 immediatley after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Martin Benson, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is. to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The general construction of pump to which my improvements are most
applicable is the direct double-acting reciprocating pump, and belonging to
the class where the piston of the steam cylinder and piston of the pump are

page_text: attached to the same piston rod, and worked without crank shaft, connecting
rod, fly wheel, and eccentric, for giving motion to the steam valve. The
cylinder of the engine and pump are secured to a bed plate of metal in the
usual way, or piece of timber, and placed so that their centres will be in right
line with each other. The cylinders are far enough apart when secured to
the bed plate for attaching an arm to the piston rod between the two cylinders,
from which motion is taken to work the steam valve by an arrangement of
rods and levers acted on through part of their motion by a spring or weight.
Space sufficient is given between the steam and pump cylinders so that the
aforesaid arm will not strike against the cylinder. ends when the pump makes
its longest stroke. The steam cylinder is made of the usual form suitable for
the ordinary slide valve structures; but in place of using the slide valve a
hollow cylindrical and conical shaped valve is employed, furnished with inlet
and outlet openings for admitting steam to and from the cylinders. The
steam' is admitted into the small end of the valve. The valve case or seat is
secured to the cylinder by means of bolts and nuts. The conical valve is
made sufficiently taper, to prevent its jamming or becoming so tight as to
prevent its free and easy working, either by the contracting of the case around
the valve after the engine has been at work, or being jammed by the attendant
of the pump, or from other causes. A set screw is provided for forcing a
centre piece against the large end of the valve for properly adjusting the valve
to its seat while working. This screw is made only to work by hand, without
a wrencli or key, so the valve cannot be forced too tight into its case without
using some violent, means for wrenching the set screw against the end of the
valve. The water is drawn out of the conical valve to prevent rusting its
seat, freezing, in cold climates, and to balance the pressure of steam on all
sides, of the, valve. This is effected by cutting recesses in the valve seat or
case opposite the inlet openings made through the sides of the valve; these
recesses are connected with the steam, openings leading into the cylinder by
drilling holes and cutting channels through the valve case, which permits the
water formed by-the condensed steam to run out of the valve into the cylinder,
from whence it is drawn off by the cocks usually placed in each end of the
cylinder. As before mentioned the conical valve receives its motion from an
arm attached to the piston rod between the steam and pump cylinders. A
connecting rod is attached to this arm which is likewise attached to a lever;
this lever is made to oscillate or move through the arc of a circle on a centre
pivot in line with the centre of the valve, but not directly attached to the
valve. There are lugs attached to the oscillating lever which are. made, to
strike against a lever attached to the valve and thereby move the valve, and

page_text: when the lever attached to the valve has been moved beyond the centre or
vertical line in either direction by the motion of the arm, thus a system of
levers and rods, acted on by a spring or weight, are made to move the valve
to its proper position for admitting steam to and from the cylinder; but
should the spring or weight fail in their action the lugs attached to the
oscillating lever before mentioned will then again commence acting on or
moving the valve. The steam openings in the valves and arrangement of
levers and rods for moving the valve are so adjusted with each other as to
prevent the piston striking the cylinder head by admitting steam into the end
of the cylinder to which the piston is approaching before the piston comes in
contact with the cylinder head; stops and guides will be employed to prevent
the valve from moving beyond a given point.
When large pumps are constructed, by placing the cylinders of the engines
and pumps on a bed plate, as herein-before described, it requires an uncom-
monly strong bed plate and foundation to resist the strain caused by the
working of the pump. This arises from the action the forces produce on the
bed plate owing to the plate being placed to one side of the steam and pump
cylinders. If the metal or part of it forming the bed plate was made to
hold the two ends of the steam and pump cylinders together at equal divided
points around the circumference of the cylinder, then the metal would be so
distributed that its utmost tensial and compressive forces would be utilized,
and consequently a stronger pumping machine could be made with a given
In
quantity of material than by using a bed plate in the ordinary method.
'constructing the larger size pumps I would employ a skeleton cylinder or
frame for uniting the ends of the steam and pump cylinders together; there
will be suitable openings made in the skeleton frame for getting at the
stuffing boxes of the pump and steam cylinders, and the ends of the
frame will be provided with flanges for joining to the cylinders by means
of bolts and nuts. For the smaller sizes of pumps rods will be employed
for holding the ends of the steam and pump cylinders together for taking
the strain off of the bed plate in place of using the skeleton cylinder before
mentioned.
Any of the known structures of pumps can be used in connection with the
improvements in the steam portion of the pumping machine or engine. The
kind of pump I would combine with the steam cylinder will have the inlet
and outlet valves arranged to the top of the pumping cylinder for being handy
to get at for repairs and other purposes. The pump will be constructed for
'attaching the suction pipe to either side of the pump. Pockets or recesses
will be made at the lower part and in each end of the cylinder of pump

page_text: '
for receiving any solid substance that may accidentally get into the cylinder
to prevent the piston from breaking any part of the cylinder. In con-
structing the larger class of pumps, where the valves are arranged on the
top of the cylinder in a horizontal position, then the valve seats or chambers
will be cast or made in a pipe or box separate from the cylinder of the
pump and secured to the cylinder by means of bolting, the cylinder being
provided with suitable openings and flanges for receiving the valve pipe
or box.
Of the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 (Sheet 1) is a side elevation of the
steam cylinder provided with the improved valve and means of working it by
motion obtained from the piston rod; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the steam
cylinder showing the arrangement of parts for working the valve; Fig. 3 is a
separate view of the bottom side of the valve case (c, c,); Fig. 4 is an end
view of the valve case; and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the valve
case; Fig. 6 is an end view of the cylindrical steam valve A", showing an
arm or lever F, F, attached to its end, the use of which will be hereafter
described.
Fig. 7 (Sheet 2) is a side elevation of a steam cylinder and pump joined
together by a skeleton frame, which dispenses with the bed plate commonly
used for bolting them to. This view shows some difference in the mode of
working the valve which will be explained hereafter; Fig. 8 is a plan or top
view of Fig: 7; and Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the cylinder showing part of
the pump; Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the pump.
No portion of a pump is represented on (Sheet 1). The Drawings on
this Sheet entirely relate to the improved valve gear and mode of working
it. The broken rods (I, I,) shown in Fig. 1 and 2, are for connecting
the ends of the small sizes of steam and pump cylinders together when
mounted on a bed plate. The broken piston rod (G) will be made long
enough to serve as the piston of the pump, and the bed plate (B) will be
increased in length for attaching the pump barrel to it, similar to the steam
cylinder.
A, A, is the steam cylinder provided with suitable flanges for bolting it to
the bed plate (B); the cylinder is furnished with an ordinary piston. The
piston rod (G) has an arm (H) attached to it for moving the steam valve A"
through the medium of the connecting rod (J), arm K, and lever E, E. The
arm or lever K is attached to the piece L, L, and consequently are moved
together; the piece L, L, is attached to a pivot on the outside of the guide
plate (D, D,) shown in Fig. 2. The office of the guide plate is to carry the
levers K and E, the former on the outside, and the latter on the inside of the

page_text: guide plate; the plate is secured to the valve case (c, c,) by means of bolts
(é, e,) which screw into the projections (f, f,) forming part of the valve case.
The piece L, L, is furnished with short arms; or lugs 14 and 15, extending
inward, and are employed for moving the lever E from side to side, according
to the motion of the piston rod through the medium of the parts before named.
The lever E, as before stated, is attached to or made to swing on the inside
of the guide plate D, D. The office of this lever is to give motion to the
valve A by acting against the lugs (r,r,) cast or otherwise attached. to the
end of the valve, as shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 6. It will be observed, although
the lever E is employed to move the steam valve A" by coming in contact
with the lugs (r,r,) on the end of the valve, yet the lever is not directly
connected with the valve, consequently the valve is left free to adjust itself. to
its seat, and is held there by means of the set screw S acting on the pin (v),
'one end of which pin is made to press against the end of the valve A", as
represented in Fig. 2' by dotted lines. The centre piece (v) passes through
"an opening made in the centre of the pivot on which the levers E and K work.
Steam is admitted into the small end of the steam valve A" through the
opening. (h) in the valve case (c, c,). The steam valve is hollow, as repre-
sented by dotted lines in Fig. 2, to serve as a passage for the steam to pass
and répass through the openings (d, g,) made through the sides of the valve.
By the motion of the steam valve A" in connection with the openings (d, g, i;)
in the valve, as represented in Fig. 5, and openings (a, b, and m,) in
the valve case (c, c,) steam is alternately admitted and discharged from each
fend of the cylinder, according to the principle of the working of the ordinary
slide valve. The valve case (c, c,) is secured to the cylinder by means of
bolts passing through the holes y, y. When the motion of the piston rod (G)
ceases to act on the valve (A") through the medium of the parts before
described then the valve is forced to its proper position for admitting steam to
and from the cylinder by the force of the spring (P); the action of the spring
is thus, it is attached to a short pivot, or shaft supported
the stand (M),
(as represented in Fig. 1 and 2). The arm O is attached to the other end of
this pivot, and to this arm is connected the rod. N, and the rod is joined to
'the upper end of the lever E by means of the pivot (x). When the lever is
forced slightly beyond a vertical line with the centre of the cylinder the spring
(P) will then act through the medium of the parts before described and force
the steam valve A" to its proper position for admitting and discharging steam
to and from the cylinder through the openings in the valve case before
'described! The other end of the spring (P) is joined to the adjusting stud
(Q), which is attaclied to the valve case, and can be shortened or lengthened

page_text: for increasing or diminishing the force of the sping by means of screw nuts
on the lower end of the stud (Q). In place of using a curved spring; as
represented in Fig. 1, a straight one can be employed, as shown in Figs. 7
and 8 (Sheet 2), for moving the valve when the' motion of the piston ceases
to act on it. Other forms of springs, can be used as well as weights for the
same purpose. F, F, is a lever attached to the end of the steam valve A, as
represented in Fig. 2 and 6; the top end of this lever is furnished with a
guide pin (w), which works in a slot in the guide piece p, p, to prevent the
valve moving beyond a given point; 9,9, is also a guide piece furnished with
a slot, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the pin a works; this is to prevent
the lever E, E, from moving beyond a given point. The ends of the slots in
the guides are furnished with bits of india-rubber or other elastic material to
serve as cushions for the pins (w) and (a) to strike against for preventing
too great a concussion of the parts and making a noise when the pump is
worked at high velocities. The motion of the piston rod does not commence
moving the valve until it has made about half its stroke, although the con-
necting rod J and arm K have a continuous motion the same as the piston
rod, yet the lever E and steam valve have not; this is effected by placing the
moving lugs 14 and 15, attached to the piece L, L, some distance apart;
12 shows the striking side of one of the lugs by dotted lines, and 13 the other
(in Fig. 1) for moving the lever E, consequently the lever (E) and steam
valve A will be at rest during the time the arm K is travelling, to bring either
of the lugs against the lever to move the valve A": The object in keeping
the valve at rest for a short time is to permit a free ingress and egress of
steam to and from the cylinder. w¹¹, w, are recesses cut in the valve surface
of the valve casing (c,'c,); these recesses, are made the same sectional size and
shape as the openings. in the side of the valve A", and about of an inch
deep, and are connected with the steam openings (a) and (b) by the channels
, K; for instance, the channel K" connects the recess w¹¹ and; opening b, and
the channel k connects the recess W and opening a. The object of the
recesses w, w, are for admitting steam to balance the pressure of steam
against the valve for preventing it being forced and wearing to one side, and
cause it to work with the same ease or power under a high as under a low
pressure of steam.
1.
The: moving of the steam valve A" is thus:-The parts, as represented in
Fig. 1, are drawn as supposing the piston rod (G) to be moving in the direction
of the spears marked on the piston rod, and consequently all parts connected
with the rod will be passing in the same direction. The connecting rod J
moves the lever K, which brings the lugs 14 and 15 in contact with the

page_text: lever E, and this lever acts against the lugs r, r, on the end of the valve A",
and consequently move the valve in the direction to suit the motion of the
piston for admitting and discharging steam to and from the cylinder. When
the lever E is moved slightly beyond a vertical line by the motion of the
piston rod then the spring (P), as before described, is made to act on the
lever (E) through the medium of the arm (0) and rod (N), which forces
the lever down so that the guide pins (w) and (a) will come against the
ruller cushions (y, y,). This position of the lever places the steam openings
in the valve in their proper relative position with the openings in the valve
case (c, c,) to admit steam to and from each end of the cylinder, according to
the direction of the motion of the piston.
The Drawing (on Sheet 2) shows the mode of constructing the pumping
machine without the use of a bed plate. (A) is the steam cylinder, and W.
the pump. The cylinder and pump are joined together by the skeleton frame
(R, R,) which is furnished with flanges at the ends for bolting it to. the
cylinder and pump barrels; the ends of the frame (R) are made to serve as
covers to the ends of the cylinder and pump ends, to which they are joined;
by this mode of construction, which is only applicable to the larger class of
pumps, they can be made much lighter and more compact. A frame of
wood X, X, will be employed to set the machine on when put to work; it
will be secured to the frame by bolts. The bolts will be subject to but little
strain, as the strain produced by the working of the pump comes on the
frame R, joining the cylinder and pump together. (Y) is the suction pipe,
and Y delivery pipe. S, S, is a straight spring arranged for moving the
steam valve through the rod T, similar to the spring P ou (Sheet 1). There
are no guard pieces 9 and h (shown Sheet 2) for limiting the motion of the
steam valve; for the larger class of pumps with slow velocities it is probable
they will not be required.
Having described the Invention of my improvement in pumping engines,
and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim-
1st, the structure of the valve A" combined with the case (c, c,), and each
furnished with openings to admit steam to and from the steam cylinder, in
the manner before described.
2nd, I claim the arrangements of the parts employed for giving motion or
working the steam valve A, first by the motion taken direct from the piston
rod and then by the action of a spring, all in the manner herein-before
described and represented on Sheet 1.
3rd, I claim constructing pumps, as represented on Sheet 2, for dispensing
with the use of bed plates, commonly used for bolting the barrels of steam

page_text: and pump cylinders to, by using the skeleton frame R, in the manner and for
the purposes before mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said Martin Benson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
MARTIN BENSON. (L.B.)