IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND MODE OF EMPLOYING AND DRIVING CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS AND PUMPING ENGINES, AND IN SURFACE CONDENSERS TO BE EMPLOYED IN CONJUNCTION THEREWITH, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Gwynne and Henry Anderson Gwynne, of
the Hammersmith Iron Works, Hammersmith, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF AND MODE OF EMPLOYING AND DRIVING CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS
AND PUMPING ENGINES, AND IN SURFACE CONDENSERS TO BE EMPLOYED IN
CONJUNCTION THEREWITH, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO
OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 26th January 1869, and dated the 30th July 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gwynne and
Henry Anderson Gwynne at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 30th July 1868.
We, JOHN GWYNNE and HENRY ANDERSON GWYNNE, of the Hammer-
smith Iron Works, Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex, Engineers,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND MODE OF EMPLOYING AND DRIVING CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS
AND PUMPING ENGINES, AND IN SURPACE CONDENSERS TO BE EMPLOYED IN

page_text: CONJUNCTION THEREWITH, PARTS OF
OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO
This Invention relates to improvements in centrifugal pumps, to the
gearing employed in driving centrifugal pumps and transmitting motion
to other machinery, and to an arrangement for condensing the steam of
engines either employed for driving or conveniently near to centrifugal
pumps or other hydraulic machinery that advantage may be taken of
the pump suction or delivery pipe for such purpose, as herein-after
described.
1st. The improvements in the construction of centrifugal pumps
consist in the making of the impeller without the usual discs or side
plates. This impeller we prefer to make of cast steel, thus forming a
much lighter and equally strong motor. This form of impeller is
especially adapted to the form and construction of centrifugal pumps
ordinarily made by us.
2nd. In order to vary the speed between that of the engine shaft and
the centrifugal pump we propose to employ a novel arrangement and
construction of frictional wheels with one square or angular-shaped
groove in the one and corresponding projection upon the other fitting
into the aforesaid groove, the amount of friction between the wheels
being regulated in the following manner :-The wheel with the spuare or
angle-shaped groove is divided into discs, and when in working order
these discs are separated from one another a short distance and held in
that position by bolts and nuts or a traversing central nut, or by any
other of the well-known mechanically equivalent means. When from
any cause it is required to vary the amount of friction between the
wheels, the bolts holding these discs are tightened or slackened
accordingly; or, in other words, the lateral distance between these discs
is varied. If preferred, the wheel having the projection may be
similarly varied, or each wheel may have grooves and projections upon
their faces alternately. There may be several such discs or grooved and
beaded wheels mounted on the same shaft or shafts at any convenient
distance apart. These wheels may be used for driving other descriptions
of machinery and employed for the purpose of transmitting motion.
3rd. For the purpose of condensing the exhaust steam of the engine
working the pump we propose to make the suction or delivery pipe of the
pump for a certain portion of its length of thin metal, and enclose this
length within a casing of greater diameter than the pipe, so that an

page_text: annular space or chamber is formed by closing it at each end. This
annular space or chamber forms a condenser for the exhaust steam from
the cylinder of the engine, which upon being caused to pass into it is
immediately condensed by contact with the cold metallic surface main-
tained cold by the circulation of the water passing through the internal
pipe. An air pump is fitted to this annular condenser in the usual
manner, or this water may be removed from the condenser by having a
vertical pipe leading downwards of sufficient length, a steam trap being
placed at the bottom of it, or by a pipe leading into the suction pipe of
pump, a vacuum being formed by the velocity of the water. If preferred,
the condensing chamber may be enlarged and the inside pipe perforated
so as to condense the steam more rapidly, a combination of the water jet
and surface condensation being effected within the same vessel; or the
exhaust steam may be blown directly into the discharge or suction pipe of
the pump. The pipe of the centrifugal pump where used as a condenser
as previously described may be corrugated or fluted to expose a larger
surface or area, or the suction pipe may be enlarged and two or more
pipes introduced therein. This condenser or a second condenser upon
another portion of the suction or delivery pipe of the centrifugal pump
may be used for the purpose of condensing the steam of any other engine
conveniently near instead of or in addition to the driving engine employed.
for working the pump. This form and arrangement of surface con-
denser is also applicable to the pipes of any other pumps and to other
hydraulic machinery, through which or by means of which a considerable
current of water is produced or set in motion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Gwynne and Henry Anderson Gwynne in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th January 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
GWYNNE and HENRY ANDERSON GWYNNE, of the Hammersmith Iron
Works, Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex, Engineers, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-

page_text: second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said John Gwynne and Henry Anderson Gwynne,
Her special licence that we, the said John Gwynne and Henry Anderson
Gwynne, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
we, the said John Gwynne and Henry Anderson Gwynne, our 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
THE CONSTRUCTION OF AND MODE OF EMPLOYING AND DRIVING CENTRIFUGAL
PUMPS AND PUMPING ENGINES, AND IN SURFACE CONDENSERS TO BE EMPLOYED
IN CONJUNCTION THEREWITH, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE
TO OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said John Gwynne and Henry Anderson Gwynne, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain 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 immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Gwynne and Henry Anderson
Gwynne, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement in writing and on reference
to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings:-
This Invention relates to improvements in centrifugal pumps, to
the gearing employed in driving centrifugal pumps and transmitting
motion to other machinery, and to an arrangement for condensing the
steam of engines either employed for driving or conveniently near to
centrifugal pumps or other hydraulic machinery that advantage may
be taken of the pump suction or delivery pipe for such purpose, as
herein-after described.
1st. The improvements in the construction of centrifugal pumps
consist in the making of the impeller without the usual discs or side
plates. This impeller can be made of gun metal, cast iron, or cast steel,
but we prefer the latter material, as it forms a much lighter and equally

page_text: strong motor. This form of impeller is especially adapted to the form
and construction of centrifugal pumps ordinarily made by us.
2nd. In order to vary the speed between that of the engine shaft
and the centrifugal pump we propose to employ a novel arrangement
and construction of frictional wheels with one square or angular-shaped
groove in the one and corresponding projection upon the other fitting
into the aforesaid groove, the amount of friction between the wheels
being regulated in the following manner :-The wheel with the square.
or angle-shaped groove is divided into discs, one of which is provided
with a boss on which a thread is cut. When in working order these
discs are separated from one another a short distance, and held in that
position by a metal nut which screws on the boss. This nut is circular
in form and the periphery is cut into a ratchet wheel. When from
any cause it is required to vary the amount of friction between the
wheels the ratchet nut holding these discs is tightened or slackened
accordingly; or, in other words the lateral distance between these
discs is varied. A pawl and catch is attached to one side of the disc to
prevent the ratchet unscrewing. These wheels may be used differen-
tial gearing or for driving other descriptions of machinery and employed
for the purpose of transmitting motion.
3rd. For the purpose of condensing the exhaust steam of the engine
working the pump we propose to make the suction or delivery pipe
of the pump for a certain portion of its length of thin metal, and
enclose this length within a casing of greater diameter than the pipe,
so that an annular space or chamber is formed by closing it at each
end. This annular space or chamber forms a condenser for the exhaust
steam from the cylinder of the engine, which upon being caused to
pass into it is immediately condensed by contact with the cold metallic
surface maintained cold by the circulation of the water passing through
the internal pipe. An air pump is fitted to this annular condenser
in the usual manner, or this water may be removed from the condenser
by having a vertical pipe leading downwards of sufficient length, a
steam trap being placed at the bottom of it, or by a pipe leading into the
suction pipe of the pump, a vacuum being formed by the velocity of the
water. If preferred, the condensing chamber may be enlarged and the
inside pipe perforated so as to condense the steam more rapidly, a com-
bination of the water jet and surface condensation being effected within,
the same vessel. The pipe of the centrifugal pump when used as a

page_text: condenser as previously described may be corrugated or fluted to expose
a larger surface or area, or the suction pipe may be enlarged and two
or more pipes introduced therein. This condenser or a second condenser
upon another portion of the suction or delivery pipe of the centrifugal
pump may be used for the purpose of condensing the steam of any
other engine conveniently near instead of or in addition to the driving
engine employed for working the pump. This form and arrangement
of surface condenser is also applicable to the pipes of other pumps, and
to other hydraulic machinery, through which or by means of which
a considerable current of water is produced or set in motion.
In order that the Invention may be fully understood we will now
proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 a front sectional elevation
of the disc or impeller (A) which in this case has six arms (B), but
any other number of arms may be employed; these arms are cast in
one piece with the boss. A centre plate (C) springs from the boss,
gradually decreasing in thickness until at the termination of the radial
portion of the arnis the plate finishes with a knife edge or as thin
as practicable, the object of this plate (C) being to separate the currents
of water upon each each side of the disc without producing an eddy or
reflux. The arms are radial for about two-thirds of their length, curving
off towards the periphery in an opposite direction to the line of rotation.
Two rings D, one at each side of the arms, form the bearing surface,
and we prefer to make the entire impeller or disc of one casting.
Figures 3 and 4 are side and front sectional elevations respectively of
the pump casing E with the impeller or disc A fitted in position; F, F,
are the suction passages which branch off from the suction pipe G at
the point g. To prevent any obstruction to the water this bottom part of
the casing E is thinned off to a knife edge, as shewn at g, and a space
is left between the passage and the case to carry the suction pipes F, F,
over the enlargement of the discharge passage in a straight line to the
openings in the centre of the disc A, at which point they curve into the top
of these openings. The discharge passage is sprung from the periphery
of the disc in the form of a helix or volute, commencing at the top
of the case (e) and gradually increasing at e¹, e", until at e¹¹¹ it reaches
the full size of the discharge pipe. That part of the pump casing E
which contains the impeller A is made of the same shape as the profile
of the impeller and similar in section, and of just sufficient size to permit

page_text: the impeller to revolve, as shewn in Figure 4, the bearing rings D
being accurately fitted to the turned recesses in the casing. By this
means the usual side plates on the discs of centrifugal pumps are not
required, the peculiar form of the pump casing as herein-before described
acting in the place of such plates, consequently the friction of the
disc A is very much reduced as the disc is accurately fitted on its
spindle, and the bearing surface for the rings D as well as the sides
of the case are carefully turned so that the arms fit but without actual
contact.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the second part of our Invention, viz., an
improved description of frictional gearing for driving centrifugal pumps
or other machinery. Figure 5 is a cross section of two wheels or wheel
and pinion fitted according to our Invention. In this case the larger
wheel H has a projection h formed upon the periphery fitting into a
recess of similar shape in the smaller wheel (or pinion) I, I'. This
pinion is made in two parts or halves; one half I is cast solid with the
boss of the pinion, this boss being turned on its outer side to receive
the other half of the pinion I which is accurately bored to fit the
boss; the shoulder i is also turned to fit the recess formed upon the
other half (I) of the pinion to give greater steadiness. This pinion
is carried on the shaft by means of one or more feathers, so that
it is free to slide lengthwise upon the shaft. In order to adjust the
friction between the wheel H and pinion I, I', to any desired extent
a screw is cut upon the boss of the pinion, upon which a nut K is
fitted, the inside of which bears against the half I of the pinion and
consequently increases the pressure of the angular sides of the groove
against the similar sides of the projection upon the wheel H to
any desired extent. The nut K is formed with a ratchet upon the outer
edge, as shewn in Figure 6, into which a pawl L works and prevents
the nut from slackening. This ratchet may be divided into any
number of teeth, so that the nut may be held in any desired portion
of a revolution, thereby obtaining great fineness of adjustment. The
nut K is provided with holes k for the purpose of tightening or
slackening it as may be necessary.
The third part of our Invention is illustrated by Figures 7, 8, & 9,
and consists of a novel arrangement of condensing apparatus for the
purpose of condensing steam and adding to the power of the engine by
bringing to the aid of the moving piston the vacuum produced by the

page_text: condensation aforesaid; this we effect by utilizing the cold water passing
through the suction or delivery pipe of a cold water pump. In Figures 7
and 8 two methods of accomplishing the foregoing objects are illustrated.
One of these methods consists in forming the suction pipe of thin copper
or other rapid heat conducting metal or material for a portion of its
length at M, immediately outside which another pipe or casing N is
placed so much larger than the inner one M as to leave a steam space
between them. The pipes are connected together so as to form a steam-
tight chamber. The exhaust steam pipe m from the steam engine or
from any vessel from which the steam to be condensed has to be dis-
charged communicates with this chamber, which is kept constantly
cold by the rapid circulation of the water passing through the suction
pipe M, and the steam is thereby condensed. An air pump commu-
nicates with the chamber in this instance by means of the pipe n, as
shewn in section in Figure 8, for the purpose of working the condenser
in the usual way. When the casing is placed sufficiently above the
water level to enable the condensed water in the casing to overcome
the force of gravity, or, say, more than twenty-seven feet of fall or
height of column, the air pump may be dispensed with, as the water
will run away by its own gravity.
Another mode of applying our Invention is shewn at O, Figures 7
and 8. In this case the condenser is fitted to the delivery pipe of
the pump instead of to the suction pipe as before, and illustrates a
method of obtaining an increase of the condensing surface in a con-
venient way and thereby shortening the length of pipe required for
this purpose. The delivery pipe O has two casings or pipes P, Q,
fitted around it in a similar manner to that just described with respect
to each other. To the inner chamber P the exhaust steam pipe p
communicates, while the water in the delivery pipe O is permitted to
circulate freely in the outer chamber Q through the openings q. By
this means both the inside and outside of the exhaust chamber P is
cooled by the water raised by the pump and discharged therefrom, and
consequently the condenser may be made much shorter. The air pump
is in this case worked similarly to that above described though the
pump n. We would observe that this double casing may be applied
to the suction pipe of a pump, and similarly the single casing herein-
before described may be applied to the delivery pipe of a pump should
it be preferred or found more convenient.

page_text: Having now described our Invention, and the manner in which we
prefer to put the same into practice, and having in the Sheet of Drawings
hereunto annexed illustrated such parts or portions thereof as
consider requisite and necessary for the purpose of making more clear
some portions of the textual description herein-before given, we wish
it to be understood that what we claim is,-
First. Making the revolving impeller blades or vanes of centrifugal
pumps without side plates, as herein described.
Second. Forming or constructing the cases of centrifugal pumps of
such a form that the water must be subjected to the full effect of the
impelling force of the blades in manner herein-before described and
as illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Third. The mode or method of constructing frictional gearing for
diving centrifugal pumps or other machinery whereby the amount of
friction between the surfaces of the wheels may be adjusted and regu-
lated with or by means of a ratchet wheel and screw and nut in manner
herein described.
Fourth. The modes or methods of condensing steam by means of the
water passing through the suction or delivery pipes of centrifugal or
other pumps, as herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings.
Fifth. Constructing the suction or delivery pipes of centrifugal or
other pumps so that they may be used for condensing the steam of
the driving engines or increasing the power of detached engines.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Gwynne and Henry Anderson
Gwynne, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirtieth
day of January One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
TWINNE.
(L.S.)
Witness,
HENRY ANDERSON GWYNNE. (L.s.)
W. FREDERIC ROGERS,
19, Salisbury Street,
Strand.