IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM PUMPS."A communication from abroad by Pierre Augustin
Samuel Civil Engineer of 29 Boulevart St Martin Paric
Sealed the 28th August 1868, and dated the 5th March 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 5th March 1868.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in direct-acting steam pumps,
which are applicable either as a feed pump or as an hydraulic engine.
In direct-acting hydraulic engines in order to obtain the necessary
vacuum or condensing chamber is employed together with pumps to
withdraw the mixture of air and water.
According to these improvements the use of the air pump and its
accessories or any other mechanical equivalent for the same purpose is
entirely dispensed with, the vacuum being obtained without any expen-

page_text: with the suction pipe of the pump.
The principle features of these improvements consist,―
1st. In the mode of condensation which allows of the heat absorbed
being returned with slight diminution to the apparatus, at same time
obtaining the vacuum desired.
2ndly. In dispensing with clack valves usually employed, which are
replaced by slide valves.
3rdly. In the arrangement and disposition of parts whereby all glands
and stuffing boxes are rendered unnecessary; the working parts acting in
a liquid space require no lubrication.
In order to better explain the Invention I have represented the
improved direct-acting pump in the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1
of which shows a vertical section of the steam pump taken on the line
1, 2, Figure 4; Figure 2 shews a sectional elevation of the same on the
line 3, 4, Figure 4; Figure 3 shews a horizontal section of the same
taken on the line 5, 6, Figure 2; Figure 4, a similar section on the line
7, 8, Figure 1; Figure 5, a similar section on the line 9, 10, Figure 2;
Figure 6 shows also a horizontal section of the water discharge pipe
taken on the line 11, 12, Figure 1. In all these Figures the same letters
of reference indicate like parts.
a, pump casing; b, rod of the water and steam pistons furnished with
a slotted frame 6', in which works a crank shaft; c, steam piston, pro-
vided with a steel packing fixed at the lower part of rod b, and working
in a chamber or cylinder c¹ formed at the bottom of casing a; d, pump
cylinder bolted to a, and capable of being removed in order to permit of
the piston rod being dismounted. The upper part d¹ of the rod b forms
the hydraulic piston, and works in the cylinder d; e, crank shaft, pro-
vided with a conical collar e¹ fitted in the bearing; f, fly wheel regu-
lating the action of the apparatus keyed on the end of shaft e; g, rod
of valves for regulating the distribution of the steam and water, and
provided with a frame g¹ (see Figure 4). This rod is operated by the
eccentric keyed on the crank shaft e, this eccentric is also provided
with a conical bearing collar h¹; i, bearing of frame g'; j, bearing
for the slotted frame of piston rod; k, slide valve for regulating the
admission of steam to the cylinder c¹ fixed to the lower end of the rod g;
k, k, ports for admitting the steam to the cylinder c¹; k³, steam eduction

page_text: port. The face of the slide valve k does not entirely cover the ports k¹, k³,
in order that when the motion of the piston is reversed at the end of its
stroke the steam which has acted upon it shall escape freely and not
oppose the return of the piston. 2, slide valve regulating the admission
of the water to the pump cylinder d; l', port for admitting water to the
cylinder d; , P, escape ports for the water. The exterior of the valve /
does not entirely cover the ports 1, P, in order that when the motion
of the piston is reversed at the end of its stroke the water which is above
or below said piston shall be immediately free to escape and not oppose
any resistance to the passage of the latter. m, packing of the piston
rod b, acting as stuffing box; n, packing fitted so as to allow of the
valve rod being dismounted; o, plug closing the opening required for
boring the rod guides; p, journal of the shaft e, bored conically to
receive the colla e¹. This journal is fixed in position by the plate q;
fnut and elastic washer on the set screw for regulating the position of
the conical parts of the shaft and eccentric; 8, cover, which when
removed enables the valve boxes to be examined without taking any of
the working parts to pieces; t, nuts connecting the slide valve to rod g;
u, valve chamber for the escaping steam during the suction; v, valve
maintained in position by a spring, and rendered independent of its seat
by means of a movable tube forming a guide for the spring; x, suction
pipe placed at the lower part of the suction chamber so as to effect the
condensation in proportion to the ascape of the steam, and also to cause
the liberated air to pass into the pump by the upward current established
in the apparatus; y, cleansing tap of the steam escape, serving at same
time to set the apparatus in motion; z, bolts for fixing the hydraulic
cylinder d, and closing the openings formed to admit of the insertion or
withdrawal of frame j; a¹, pipe conducting the water either to a steam
boiler or other desired point; a, valve box retaining the water; a³,
reservoir of air to lessen the shock produced by the escape of the water.
From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that the
steam in escaping at the ports k¹, k³, rises in the space a, a, and raises
the valve V, it being then condensed by the current of water drawn up
by the pump passing up through pipe x. The valve then falls by the
pressure of the spring and the weight of the water, a vacuum is thus
obtained alternately on each side of the piston without any auxiliary
mechanism. If on the movement of the valve any water should escape
it will fall into the space u¹, whence it will be returned to the tube x by

page_text: the exhaust steam, which on each stroke of the piston raises the valve v.
The frames i and j and the crank shaft e move in the water drawn in
by the pump, and thus require no lubrication.
One of the great advantages of this apparatus is that it can be made
to feed boilers with water at nearly a boiling temperature, care being
taken to keep up the supply. The exhaust steam which has acted in
the cylinder also slightly increases the temperature of the water.
I reserve the right of making any mere modification of the apparatus
herein described, and also of using expansion slide valves if desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th September 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-first
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special licence
that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville Clark,
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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPS," a communication to me from abroad by
Pierre Augustin Samuël, Civil Engineer, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin,
Paris, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander
Melville Clark, my executors 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 performed, and

page_text: 1
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 I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and.ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had. to the two
Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon (that is to say)
:-
This Invention relates to improvements in steam pumps, direct
acting, and applicable either as a feed pump or as an hydraulic engine.
In direct-acting. hydraulic engines in order to obtain the necessary
vacuum a condensing chamber is employed. together with pumps to
withdraw the mixture of air and water.
According to these improvements the use of the air pump and its
accessories or any other mechanical equivalent for the same purpose
is entirely dispensed with, the vacuum being obtained without any
expenditure of power or of steam by means of a valve placed in com-
munication with the suction pipe of the pump..
The principal features of these improvements consist;-
1st. In the mode of condensation which allows of the-heat absorbed
being returned with slight diminution to the apparatus, at same time
obtaining the vacuum desired.
2ndly. In dispensing with. the clack valves usually employed, which
are replaced by slide valves.
3rdly. In the arrangement and disposition of parts whereby all
stuffing boxes are rendered. unnecessary, and the working parts acting
in a liquid space require no lubrication.
In order to better explain the Invention I. have represented two>
arrangements of the improved direct-acting pump in the accompanying
Drawings.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, shows a vertical section of a steam pump taken.
on the line 1, 2,. Figure 4; Figure 2 shows a sectional elevation of.
the same on the line 3, 4, Figure 4; Figure 3. shows a horizontal.
section of same taken on the line 5, 6, Figure 2; Figure 4, a similar
section on the line 7, 8, Figure 1; Figure 5, a similar section on the
line 9, 10, Figure 2; Figure 6 shows also a horizontal. section of the

page_text: water discharge pipe taken on the line 11, 12, Figure 1. In all these
Figures the same letters of reference indicate like parts.
a, pump casing; 6, rod of the water and steam pistons furnished
with a slotted frame b', in which works a crank shaft; c, steam piston
provided with a steel packing fixed at the lower part of rod 6 working
in a chamber or cylinder c formed at the bottom of casing. a; d, pump
cylinder bolted to a, and capable of being removed in order to permit
of the piston rod being dismounted. The upper part d' of the rod b.
forms the hydraulic piston and works in the cylinder d. e, crank shaft
provided with a conical collar e¹ fitted in the bearing; f, fly wheel
regulating the action of the apparatus keyed on the end of shaft e;
g, rod of valves for regulating the distribution of the steam and water,
and provided with a frame g¹ (see Figure 4); this rod is operated
by the eccentric h keyed on the crank shaft e; this eccentric is also
provided with a conical bearing collar h¹. i, bearing of framo g¹;
j, bearing for the slotted frame of piston rod; k, slide valve for
regulating the admission of steam to cylinder c¹ fixed to the lower
end of the rod g; kt, k, ports for admitting the steam to the cylinder c¹;
ks, steam eduction port. The face of the slide valve k does not entirely
cover the ports k¹, k, in order that when the motion of the piston is
reversed at the end of its. stroke the steam which has acted upon it
shall escape freely and not oppose the return of the piston. slide
valve regulating the admission of the water to the pump cylinder d;
, port for admitting water to the cylinder d; 2, 1, escape ports for
the water. The exterior of the valve 7 does not entirely cover the
ports,, in order that when the motion of the piston is reversed
at the end of its stroke the water which is above or below said piston
shall be immediately free to escape and not oppose any resistance to
the passage of the latter. m, packing of piston rod 6 acting as a stuffing
box; n, packing fitted so as to allow of the valve rod being dismounted;
o, plug closing the opening required for boring the valve rod guides;
p, journal of the shaft e bored conically to receive the collar e¹; this
journal is fixed in position by the plate q. r, nut and elastic washer
on the set screw for regulating the position of the conical parts of
the shaft and eccentric; 8, cover, which when removed enables the
valve boxes to be examined without taking any of the working parts
to pieces; t, nuts connecting the slide valve rod g; u, valve chamber
for the escaping steam during the suction; v, valve maintained in

page_text: position by a spring and rendered independent of its seat by means
of a movable tube forming a guide for the spring; x, suction pipe
placed at the lower part of the suction chamber, so as to effect the
condensation in proportion to the escape of the steam, and also to cause
the liberated air to pass into the pump by the upward current established
in the apparatus; y, cleansing tap of the steam escape, serving at
same time to set the apparatus in motion; z, bolts for fixing the
hydraulic cylinder d and closing the openings formed to admit of the
insertion or withdrawal of frame j; a', pipe conducting the water either
to a steam boiler or other desired point; a³, valve box retaining the
water; a³, reservoir of air to lessen the shock produced by the escape of
the water.
From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that
the steam in escaping at the ports ³, k, rises in the space a³, a', and
raises the valve V, it being then condensed by the current of water
drawn up by the pump and passing up through pipe x. The valve
then falls by the pressure of the spring and the weight of the water;
a vacuum is thus obtained alternately on each side of the piston without
any auxiliary mechanism. If on the movement of the valve any
water should escape it will fall into the space u', whence it will be
returned to the tube x by the exhaust steam which on each stroke
of the piston raises the valve v. The frames i and j and the crank
shaft e move in the water drawn in by the pump and thus require
no lubrication.
Sheet 2 of the Drawings shows another arrangement of direct-acting
steam pump of this Invention. The principle is the same as in the
preceding instance, but the shaft is mounted at the upper part of the
apparatus instead of at the centre, while I use two slide valves instead
of one as before. By placing the shaft at the upper part as shown
it does not require to turn in the water pumped in, and this arrange-
ment is especially applicable in case the water is dirty or charged with
impurities. By employing two slide valves I also avoid crossing the
steam inlet passages k¹, k³, Sheet 1, in the cylinder.
Figure 7, Sheet 2, shows a sectional elevation of the modified arrange-
ment of steam pump taken in line 13, 14, Figures 8 and 9; Figure 8,
a section on line 15, 16, Figure 7; Figure 9, a section on line 17, 18,
Figure 7. The same letters apply to these three Figures. In order

page_text: to render the analogy between this arrangement and that previously
described I have used the same reference letters for similar parts.
a, casing; b, rod of steam and water pistons provided at its upper part
with a frame b₁ carrying the crank shaft; c, steam piston; c',, steam.
cylinder forming part of casing a; d, pump cylinder; e, crank shaft
mounted at the upper part of the apparatus; f, fly wheel; g, stem of
steam and water valves, having a frame g'; h,. valve eccentric keyed
on shaft e; i, bearing of frame g¹; j, bearing of piston head; k, k, slide
valves of steam cylinder c¹ fixed at the bottom end of stem g;, k¹, k, ports.
for admitting steam to cylinder c¹ by employing two valves k, k; as
seen the channels k³, k, are not crossed as in the arrangement shown
in Sheet 1 (in which k¹ communicates with the lower part, and 3
with the upper part of cylinder c¹); k³, k, steam outlets; 2, water valve of:
pump cylinder d; &, water admission to cylinder d; P, P, outlet channels;
u, valve box for exhaust steam when pumping; v, valves; x, suction,
pipe; y, purge cock of steam cylinder; a', pipe for conveying the water.
to a steam boiler or elsewhere; a³, valve for retaining the water; a³,
air reservoir for lessening the shock caused by the outflow of the water..
One of the great advantages of this apparatus is that it can be made
to feed boilers with water at nearly a boiling temperature, care being s
taken to keep up the supply. The exhaust steam. which has acted.
in the cylinder also slightly increases the temperature of the water.
I reserve the right of making any mere modification in the apparatus
herein described, also of using expansion slide valves if desired.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The valve v placed in communication with the suction pipe of
the pump for obtaining a vacuum without the aid of an air pump and
accessories and consequently without expenditure of power or of steam a
substantially in the manner shown and described.
2ndly. I claim the substitution of slide valves for the elack valves
usually employed.
3rdly. I claim the peculiar combination and arrangement of the parts a
whereby all kinds of stuffing boxes are dispensed with, and no lubrication
is required from the acting parts being immersed in liquid.

page_text: I also claim the arrangement of machinery shown in Sheet 2, in
which the pump shaft is mounted at the upper part and turns in a liquid
as before.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.