IMPROVEMENTS IN DOUBLE-ACTION PUMPS, AND IN THE METHODS OF OPERATING PUMPS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER .
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Holman, of No. 10, Laurence Pountney.
Lane, London, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention.
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DOUBLE-ACTION PUMPS, AND IN THE METHODS OF
OPERATING PUMPS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
.
"
Sealed the 10th December 1867, and dated the 22nd June 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Holman at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd:
June 1867.
I, STEPHEN HOLMAN, of No. 10, Laurence Pountney Lane, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said.
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DOUBLE-ACTION PUMPS, AND IN THE METHODS OF
OPERATING PUMPS, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
RECIPROCATING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
The first part of this Invention relates to a novel arrangement of pump
valves whereby the construction of double-action pumps is rendered simple.
and moderate in cost. This object is effected by making valve passages in,
the covers or ends of double-action pumps in close proximity to the
reciprocating piston or pistons, which pistons in this arrangement are solid,
pistons without valves. To the barrel of the pump two longitudinal passages
are.cast (without transverse divisions) running parallel the whole length of the
barrel, and open at the ends; a branch is formed in one of the passages for
the induction pipe, and in the other for the eduction pipe. The pump covers,
are formed with openings at distances corresponding to the openings of the

page_text: passages formed on the barrel casting, so that one cover embraces at one and
the same time one end of the pump cylinder and one end each of the induction
and eduction passages; a second cover embraces the other end of the pump
cylinder, and the ends of the induction and eduction pipes in a precisely
similar manner. Two valves are fitted to each cover of the pump, namely, one
induction valve and one eduction valve; these valves may be either hinged
clack valves or of any ordinary construction. When the pump piston is put in
motion the effect will be in the following manner:-As the piston recedes
from either cover or end the suction or induction valve in such cover from
which it recedes will open to permit the fluid to follow the piston through the
inlet pipe, and at the same time the eduction valve in the other cover to
which the piston approaches will open to permit the discharge of the fluid
from the pump through the outlet pipe. This process or action is repeated at
each traverse of the piston in any direction. By the release of either cover
from the pump two of the valves (one a suction and the other a delivery
valve) and one side of the piston is brought under simultaneous inspection.
The whole of the valves and valve seats are readily removed or examined
without any disturbance of pipes, and the tin covers necessary for the pump
contain all the working details except the piston.
This Invention relates, secondly, to an extension of the foregoing arrange-
ment whereby pumps of a greater working capacity are obtained. An inter-
mediate valve box is either cast or placed midway between two pump
cylinders. Two pistons are attached to one rod, one to work in each cylinder,
the central valve box is provided with four valves; two valves are also fitted
to each cover as described in the first part of this Invention. Each piston
operates two of the central valves and two valves in one cover, it traverses
therefore between two pairs of valves. The piston rod passes through a central
plate either cast or inserted in the central chamber, and each piston as it
reciprocates between two pairs of valves acts precisely similar to what is
generally known as a double-action pump: One induction pipe only supplies
the fluid to both the pistons, and each piston discharges the fluid through one
eduction pipe.
This Invention relates, thirdly, to the following arrangement of pump
wherein two pistons are attached to one connecting piece or rod, which con-
necting piece or rod differs from ordinary piston rods, inasmuch as its whole
length is within the pump cylinder when at work. In this arrangement of the
pump each piston is provided with a valve which reciprocates in the cylinder
with it, and one valve only is fitted to each cover. The pump will be operated
in the following manner (the pistons are reciprocated by an internal lever

page_text: berein-after described) :-As the pistons are reciprocated in the cylinder the
single valve in each cover (whether it be made a suction valve or a delivery
valve) will open alternately, and the valves in the pistons will open and shut
corresponding to the opening and closing of the valves in the covers (in this
arrangement of the pump one water passage only is cast on the side of the
cylinder or barrel in a longitudinal direction), the water or other fluid is
drawn into the pump through an induction pipe between the pistons, and
forced out through the pistons and through the delivery valves in the covers
alternately, or the water or other fluid may be drawn into the pump through
suction valves in the covers, and discharged through an eduction pipe in the
cylinder between the pistons.
Pumps according to the first and second parts of this Invention are more
particularly suited for working by steam or other analagous motive power:
Pumps according to the third part of this Invention are better adapted for
hand-power pumps, and for pumps of a lighter description, and for lighter
work.
This Invention relates, fourthly, to a simple and inexpensive method of
operating pumps and other reciprocating machines, but it is more particularly
adapted to pumps having two pistons, and arranged as described in the third
part of this Invention. For these purposes a short internal lever having a
roller in the end is made to work in a slot or opening formed in the rod con-
necting the pistons; the lever is operated by a central fulcrum spindle which
passes through a stuffing box, and projects outside the pump cylinder a
sufficient length to receive an outside lever; by working the outside lever the
inside lever (through the medium of the spindle) causes the pistons to
reciprocate in the cylinder, and the pistons being secured to a rigid connecting
rod must necessarily travel in a parallel line, hence no external or internal.
vibrating links or separate guides are required.
The pumps herein specified are intended as horizontal pumps; a modi-:
fication of the arrangement only will be necessary to adapt them as vertical
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed,
by the said Stephen Holman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st December 1867.
, TO ALL TO WHOM THESE. PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, STEPHEN
HOLMAN, of 10, Laurence Pountney, Lane, London, in the County of Mid-.
dlesex, Engineer, send greeting..

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the
year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto the
said Stephen Holman, Her special licence that I, the said Stephen Holman,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Stephen
Holman, 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 PUMPS, AND IN
THE METHODS OF OPERATING PUMPS AND OTHER RECIPROCATING MACHINES,"
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Stephen Holman, my exe-
-cutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, 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.per-
formed; 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.
upon
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Stephen Holman, do hereby declare the
nature of the 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, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
:-
The first part of this Invention relates to a novel arrangement of pump
valves whereby the construction of double-action pumps is rendered simple
and-moderate in cost. This object is effected by making valve passages in
the pump covers or ends in close proximity to the reciprocating piston or
pistons, which pistons are solid pistons without valves. To the barrel of the
pump two longitudinal passages are cast without divisions, running parallel
the whole length of the barrel and open at the ends, a branch is formed in one
of the passages for the induction pipe, and in the other for the eduction pipe.
The pump covers are formed with openings at distances corresponding to the
openings of the passages formed on the barrel casting, so that one cover embraces
at the same time one end of the pump cylinder and one end each of the induction
and eduction passages; a second cover embraces the other end of the pump
cylinder and passages in a similar manner. Two valves are fitted to each
cover of the pump, namely, one induction valve and one eduction valve; these
valves may be either hinged clack valves or of any ordinary construction.

page_text: When the pump piston is put in motion, and as it recedes from either cover
or end, the suction or induction valves in such cover from which it recedes
will open to permit the fluid to follow the piston through the inlet pipe,
and at the same time the eduction valve in the other cover to which the
piston approaches will open to permit the exit of the fluid from the pump
through the outlet pipe. This process is repeated at each alternate traverse
of the piston.by the release of either cover from the pump, two of the valves
(one a suction and the other a delivery valve), and one side of the piston is
brought under simultaneous inspection. The whole of the valves and valve
seats are readily examined or removed without any disturbance of pipes, and
the two covers necessary for the pump contain all the working details except
the piston.
This Invention relates, secondly, to an extension of the foregoing arrange-
ment, whereby pumps of a greater working capacity are obtained. An inter-
mediate valve box is cast or placed midway between two pump cylinders, two
pistons are attached to one rod, one to work in each cylinder, the central valve
box is provided with four valves; two valves are also fitted to each cover,
as described in the first part of this Invention, each piston operates two of the
central valves, and the two valves in one cover; the piston rod passes through
a.central plate cast or inserted in the central chamber in order that each piston
may be double-acting. One induction pipe supplies the fluid to both pistons,
and each piston discharges the fluid through one eduction pipe.
This Invention relates, thirdly, to an arrangement of pump whereby two
pistons are attached to one rod, each piston having a valve which reciprocates
in the cylinder with it; one valve is also fitted to each cover. As the pistons
are reciprocated in the cylinder the single valves in each cover,. whether it be
niade a suction valve or a delivery valve, will open alternately, and the valves
in the pistons will open and shut corresponding to the opening and closing of
the valves in the covers; one water passage only is cast on the barrel. The
water or other fluid is drawn into the pump through an induction pipe between
the pistons, and forced out through the pistons and through the valves in the
covers; or the water or other fluid may be drawn into the pump through the
valves in the covers, and discharged through an eduction pipe between the
pistons.
This Invention relates, fourthly, to a simple and inexpensive method of.
operating the pump specified in the third part of this Invention. A short
internal lever, having a roller in the end (if preferred) is made to work in a
slot formed in the rod connecting the pistons; the lever is operated by a central
fulcrum spindle (which may be cast, forged, or fitted to it), which passes

page_text: through a stuffing box, and projects outside the pump cylinder a sufficient
length to receive an outside lever; by working the outside lever the inside
lever causes the pistons to reciprocate in the cylinder, and the pistons being
secured to a rigid connecting rod must necessarily traverse in a parallel line,
hence no external or internal vibrating links or guides are required. The
pumps herein specified are intended to be horizontal pumps; a modification of
the arrangement only will be necessary to adapt them as vertical pumps.
This Invention consists, fifthly, of an arrangement of compound pump valves,
the object of which arrangement is to permit these and other pumps to be
worked at comparatively quick speeds with a minimum of concussion at the
time of the opening and closing of the valves at every reverse of stroke. I
purpose to use flexible valves made of india-rubber or other suitable material,
and generally of endless rings of round sections of rubber or other suitable
material similar to the valves specified in the second part of my Patent
Specification, dated 21st June 1862, No. 1834. I place two or more rings
or bars on a fixed base, allowing the rings or bars (which are flexible and which
constitute what I herein term a compound valve) to be in contact with each
other when closed; the rings or bars are thus seated against each other and not
seated on the edges of metal seatings as hitherto done, that is, they do not
each cover an opening (as described in my Specification of June 21st 1862,
and described in Mr. West's Specification, No. 691, dated 14th March 1863),
but in every case two rings or bars are intended to meet opposite the openings
or spaces from which the water or other fluid is discharged, leaving the
extreme inner diameter of the ring or central portion of the bar of rubber to
bear on a continuous solid bed instead of bearing on either side of a space.
When the pump causes the water or other fluid to pass through the compound
valve the rings or bars will stretch and compress so as to permit the discharge
of the fluid between them, and they will close quickly when the pump reverses
its stroke. When any pressure forces the compound valve on its base (whether
cylindrical or flat) the act of compression will cause the flexible rings or bars
to spread sideways and bear more strongly against each other, rendering them
(whether two or more are used) more perfectly water-tight. I am aware that
considerable modification may be made in the form of these compound valves ;
in some cases mere rings, in some cases coils of rubber (either cylindrical or
flat coils) and in some cases longitudinal or parallel pieces; as also in the
sectional forms of rubber, such as round, oval, square, rectangular or trian-
gular, and also the bases on which the flexible material rests when the valve
is closed, may be either uniformly perforated or may be constructed with
continuous openings or spaces, and made of one or several pieces; but what-

page_text: ever may be the modification I consider this part of my Invention to consist
in the seating of portions of india-rubber or other suitable material against.
each other laterally, as shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
57
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevation
shewing the arrangement of pump valves.according to the first part of the
foregoing Specification. A, A, A, A, are four valves; B is the inlet or induction
pipe; C is the outlet or eduction pipe when the piston D moves in the
direction of arrow E the suction valve and delivery valve 2 will open; at the
reverse of stroke these two valves close, and suction valve 3 and delivery
valve 4 will open; thus a continuous discharge will be effected through
eduction pipe C.
Fig. 2 shews an extension of this arrangement. Piston D will operate
valves A, A, A, A, in a precisely similar manner as in Fig. 1,, while piston F
will operate four valves B, B, B, B, simultaneously with valves A, A, A, A, it
will be observed that the rod H passes through the division I, which renders
this pump of a capacity equal to two double-action pumps.
Fig. 3. shews the arrangement of pump according to the third part of this
Specification, as also the method of operating the same according to the fourth
part of this Specification. A, A, is the pump barrel; B, B, are two buckets
having valves C, C, which are provided with spiral springs D, D, to keep them
closed when the pump is at rest; E, E, are two suction valves (which like
valves A in Fig. 1 are fitted in the covers or ends of the pump); F, F, is a.
passage for the admission of the fluid to the pump; G is the inlet; H, the
outlet; when the outer lever I is operated the inner lever K will actuate
buckets B, B, simultaneously, and valves E, E, will open alternately to admit
the water to the pump; it will be obvious that the discharge will be constant
through the outlet H.
Fig. 4 shews the plan of connecting rod with buckets B, B, attached ;
Lis the slot in which lever K with (or without) roller M works.
Fig. 5 is a cross section shewing internal lever K and spindle N which
projects to receive lever I.
Fig. 6 shows an end elevation of Fig. 3 with door O, by the removal of
which lever K is readily taken out, and by the removal of either end P the
valve and bucket will be at once inspected.
Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, represent various ways of arranging the compound.
valves, as described in the fifth part of this Invention. Fig. 7 shews six rings
on a cylindrical base A, rings 1, 2, 3, are in section, and rings 4, 5, 6, in
elevation; when superior pressure is applied to the interior of the cylindrical
base A the flexible rings will be expanded, their sections will be reduced by

page_text: this operation, and they will be compressed laterally sufficient to allow the fluid
to escape between every two rings; it will be obvious that the number of rings
will be determined by the area of discharge that may be required. Fig. 8
represents a series of vertical strips or bars of rubber B secured to a perforated
cylindrical base D. Fig. 9 is a plan of same; the holes are put in promiscuously,
they may however be put in rows, or the discharge may be through long spaces,
the ends are secured to the base by means of bands E and screws F. The
novelty and utility of the compound valve consists in the fact that the pieces
(when in seperate pieces) or portions of the same piece when coiled on to a
base seal up the openings in the metal base by coming in contact with each
other. Fig. 11 represents the pieces on a longitudinal base of which Fig. 10
is a section.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of improvements in pumps,
and in the method of operating pumps and other reciprocating machines, I
wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent,
I claim,
First, the general construction and arrangement of pump as set forth
in the first and second parts of this Specification and the accompanying
Drawings.
Secondly, I claim the construction and arrangement of pump, together with
the method of operating same, as set forth in the third and fourth parts of this
Specification and the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly, I claim the construction, application, and arrangement of compound
valves, as set forth in the fifth part of this. Specification and the accompanying
Drawing, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Holman, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
STEPHEN HOLMAN.
(L.S.)