Improvements in and relating to Steam and other Fluid Pumping. Engines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1992-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Steam and other Fluid Pumping.
Engines.
I THOMAS HENRY WILLIAMS, of 11 Queen Victoria Street, in the City and
County of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
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My invention relates to direct-acting pumping engines having their valves -
operated by steam or other fluid, and it has for its object, ensuring the more
positive action of the said valves and regulating the supply of steam thereto and
preventing the said valves and the main piston striking their respective cylinder.
heads or covers.
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'
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In carrying my invention into practice, I provide the main cylinder with a suitable.
chest having the usual ports formed therein, on the face of which works a double>
"D" slide valve for effecting the required distribution of steam or other fluid to:
the said main cylinder. On to this chest I mount a supplemental cylinder con-
taining a supplemental piston the function of which is to operate the above named
slide valve. At each end of the said steam (or other fluid) chest a socket is
formed transversely for the reception of a differential auxiliary valve which is
operated therein by steam or other fluid. The small end of each of these sockets
communicates with the end of the main cylinder corresponding thereto by means:
of a suitably formed passage, and the other, or large end, of each of the said sockets
communicates with the main admission passage corresponding thereto of the main
cylinder through a passage provided for that purpose. From a suitable part of
each of the said sockets a passage leads to the respective end of the supplemental
cylinder, and at another suitable part of each socket a chamber or cavity is formed >
which communicates by an auxiliary exhaust passage with the main exhaust port.
of the main cylinder. Each end of the supplemental cylinder is in constant com- .
munication with the main steam, or other fluid chest, by means of suitable passages
which are formed to receive a regulating valve, capable of being screwed tight on.
to its seating, thereby entirely preventing the passage of the motive fluid from the
said chest to the supplemental cylinder, other than by leakage past the supple-
mental piston which occurs when the same and its cylinder become worn. By
this means the supply of motive fluid to the supplemental cylinder and piston can
be regulated as required and any wear in the said supplemental piston and cylinder
and consequent leakage of motive fluid can be readily compensated while the .
engine is at work.
The sockets or cylinders in which the auxiliary valves work are preferably.
provided with bye-passages through which steam or other fluid is admitted at a
suitable part of the stroke of the said auxiliary valves for cushioning or otherwise
arresting their motion; or the auxiliary valves may be arranged to work on to
suitable seatings or stops. Each of the admission passages of the main cylinder
are made to enter the said cylinder at a suitable distance from each end so as to
leave "dead" metal between each of the said admission ports or passages and their
respective cylinder heads or covers. The main piston is made of sufficient depth.
or thickness to permit it to close the main admission port for a short distance of
its travel on approaching the end of its stroke thereby confining and compressing
the motive fluid between the said piston and cylinder head for the purpose of
taking up the momentum of the reciprocating parts and to prevent the said pistop
striking its cylinder heads. In addition thereto the auxiliary passages com-
municating with the interior of the main cylinder and the auxiliary valves are so
proportioned in relation to the stroke and normal speed of the main piston as to

page_text: operate the said auxiliary valves, and thereby the supplemental piston and its
alide valve, in such a manner as to reverse the said slide valve and admit live
steam or other motive fluid between the main piston and its cylinder head at the
moment the said piston is about to close the main admission port, thereby insuring
a sufficient plenum of the motive fluid between the main piston and the cylinder
head to form an effective cushion, or otherwise to arrest the motion of the said
piston without its striking the cylinder head. For the purpose of admitting motive
Huid between the main piston and cylinder head in order to reverse the motion of
the said main piston, two grooves are formed arround the periphery of the said
piston equidistaut (or thereabouts) from the centre of its thickness, and holes com-
municate with each of the said grooves and their respective ends of the piston, so
that when the main piston has travelled its full stroke the, main admission port
coincides with its respective groove in the said piston and admits steam or other
fluid between the said piston and its cylinder head or cover, thereby starting and
reversing the motion of the said piston. Both ends are of identical construction.
The action is as follows:-The motive fluid being admitted to the main chest
gains access under the main slide valve and through the main passage to its end
of the main cylinder and acting on the main piston causes it to move therein. The
actuating fluid simultaneously gains access to the large end of the auxiliary valve
causing it to close the passage which communicates between its socket and the
corresponding end of the supplemental cylinder, thereby restoring equilibrium to
the before named supplemental piston and preventing the same striking its cylinder
cover, or head, on completion of its stroke. As the main piston continues its stroke
it passes the auxiliary port and admits steam or other fluid to the small end of the
auxiliary valve, but by virtue of the difference in the areas of the respective_ends
of the said auxiliary valves no motion of the valve at this stage takes place.. Each
end of the auxiliary valve, at the opposite end of the main cylinder to that already
described, is at this stage in communication with the atmosphere, or condenser as
the case may be, through the passages herein before described. The main piston on
completion of its stroke uncovers the other auxiliary port, located at that end of
the main cylinder, and admits steam or other fluid to the small end of the corre-
sponding auxiliary valve and reverses the same, because of its large end being at
that moment in direct communication with the atmosphere and thereby offering
the least resistance. This action opens the passage which communicates between
the said auxiliary valve socket and its end of the supplemental piston, thereby
exhausting the motive fluid from behind the said supplemental piston and
effecting its reversal together with that of the main slide valve, whereby the
motive fluid is admitted to the corresponding main port or passage of the main
cylinder, and simultaneously gains access to the large end of the auxiliary valve
thereby closing the exhaust passage of the supplemental cylinder and restoring
equilibrium to the supplemental piston in time to prevent it striking its cylinder
cover, and also cushions and reverses the main piston in the manner before
described.
So long as the steam or other motive fluid remains on, the above described action
continues automatically.
A hand starting lever is provided for operating the supplemental piston and
slide valve when necessary for starting to work.
..I do not confine myself to any particular type of pump, as one of any suitable
construction may be used in combination with the hereindescribed invention.
Dated this 27th day of October 1891.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Steam and other Fluid Pumping
Engines.
I THOMAS HENRY WILLIAMS of 11 Queen Victoria Street in the City and
County of London, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to direct-acting pumping engines baving their valves
operated by steam or other fluid, and it has for its object ensuring the more
positive action of the said valves and regulating the supply of steam thereto and
preventing the said valves and the main piston striking their respective cylinder
heads or covers.
I attain this end in the manner described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings in which
Figure 1 Sheet No. 1, is a longitudinal section of my improved pumping
engine.
Figure 2 is a transverse section on line x, x, thereof.
Figure 3 is a plan thereof with the supplemental cylinders and steam or other
fluid chest removed showing the induction and eduction ports and passages, and
the differential auxiliary valves in dotted lines.
Figure 4 is a part longitudinal section of the main and supplemental cylinders,
slide valve and main piston, showing the device for cushioning the latter.
Figure 5 is a part underneath plan of the supplemental cylinder and chest
showing the valve for regulating the supply of steam or other fluid from the said
chest to the supplemental pistons in part section on line y, y, Figure 6.
Figure 6 is a transverse section through the supplemental cylinder and
regulating valve-socket on line z, z, Figure 5.
Figure 7, Sheet No. 2, is also a transverse section on line 2, z, of Figure 1.
Sheet No. 1. showing a modified form of differential auxiliary valve.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference...
The main cylinder A is provided with the usual induction passages a, a" and
eduction passage a'. The steam or other fluid chest A' is formed with supple-
mental cylinders A', A', in which fit and work the supplemental pistons, B, B',
which are coupled together in any suitable and convenient manner. The slide
valve C is of the double D form and is coupled to and operated by the supple-
mental pistons, B, B1, which latter are further operated by the lever J through the
shaft ; and the handle J' by hand when it is desired to start the engine in the event
j
of the slide valve C being in mid position. D, D', and D' is the differential
auxiliary valve which is fitted to and works in the sockets d, d¹, formed trans-
versely at each end of the body of that part of the steam chest which is in part
with the main cylinder A. his a port communicating with the supplemental
cylinder A and the aforesaid differential auxiliary valve socket; f is a port com-
municating with the auxiliary valve socket d and the main induction passage a.
e is a port or passage communicating with the main cylinder A and the auxiliary
valve socket d. 9 is an exhaust chamber and g is an exhaust passage leading
therefrom into the main exhaust passage a¹ and establishing communication
between the said exhaust chamber g and the main exhaust passage a. b is a
passage communicating with the steam chest A' and the supplemental cylinder A'.
is an enlarged chamber in which is fitted the screwed valve one end of which
is reduced in diameter to form an annular space. The object of the said valve b' is
to regulate the supply of steam or other fluid from the chest A' to the supple-
mental cylinder A K is the main piston of the main cylinder A having formed
therein two grooves and r². Holes V and V₁ communicate with the said grooves
and their respective ends of the said piston K. is the piston and pump rod.

page_text: 1
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:
z Figure 7, Sheet No. 2, is a groove or channel establishing communication
between the exhaust chambers g, g. y and u are bye-passages for admitting steam
or other fluid into the spaces d' and as behind the large and small ends D' and D'
respectively of the auxiliary valve for the purpose of cushioning the same and
preventing it striking its respective socket ends.
It will be understood that the arrangement of the supplemental pistons, auxiliary
valves, and their respective ports and passages is identically the same at each end
of the main cylinder.
The action of my improved steam pump is as follows :-
The respective parts being in the positions shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7, of
the accompanying drawings. The screw valves 6 Figure 5 Sheet No. 1 being
properly adjusted to admit steam to the supplemental cylinders A* and A³ and the
steam being on, steam passes underneath the slide valve C to the right hand
induction port a" and to the main piston K (which for the present purpose is
supposed to be at the extreme right hand end of the main cylinder and not in the
position shown in Figure 4). The steam also gains access to the large end of
the auxiliary valve socket (corresponding to the right hand end of the main
cylinder) through a passage communicating with it and the main port all and 80
keeps it from moving by virtue of its greater area. The exhaust steam is at the
same time escaping by the left. hand induction port a and slide valve C to the
eduction or exhaust passage a¹ of the main cylinder. The large end of the left
hand auxiliary valve is also open to the exhaust port a¹ by means of the passage f
and main induction passage a and slide valve C corresponding to that end of the
said main cylinder. Likewise the small ende D' of the auxiliary valves D, D¹
and D are in communication with the exhaust port a' by their respective
passages e¹ and e, the main cylinder A, and the left hand induction port a and the
slide valve C. The live steam gains access behind the supplemental pistons B, B
through holes b, which communicate with the steam chest A' as hereinbefore
described thereby placing them in equilibrium. On the main piston K, which is
being impelled by the entering steam, uncovering and passing the right hand
port el in the main cylinder A the steam which is impelling the piston gains
access to the said port e¹ and to the small end of the auxiliary valve corresponding
thereto. This valve remains stationary, however, in consequence of steam having
been previously admitted to the larger end thereof as hereinbefore described.
When the main piston K has further travelled and passed, the left hand port or
passage e in the main cylinder A the steam impelling it gains access thereto and
also to the small end D¹ of its corresponding auxiliary valve D, D¹ and D'
causing it to uncover the hole or passage h and thereby exhausting the steain
from the supplemental cylinder A into the exhaust chamberg and through the
exhaust passage g₁ to the main exhaust a' of the main steam cylinder A, to the
atmosphere or condenser as the case may be. The equilibrium of the supplemental
pistous B, B' is thus destroyed causing their reversal and consequently the reversal
of the main slide valve C in time to arrest and reverse the motion of the main
piston K without its striking the cylinder cover as hereinbefore explained. When
the slide valve C admits steam to the left hand induction port a of the main
cylinder the steam gains access to the large end D and D2 of the auxiliary valve
through the passage thereby causing the auxiliary valve D to close the hole or
exhaust passage and restoring equilibrium to the supplemental pistons B and B¹
: in time to prevent their knocking their respective cylinder covers. The exhaust
port his also closed by its supplemental piston B passing over it thereby affording
an additional means of restoring equilibrium to the supplemental pistons. The
area of the large ends D and D³ of the auxiliary valve being greater than that of
the small ends, D', and D', enables the newly admitted steam acting on the said
large ends D and D', to overcome the back pressure on the small ends D', D', due
to the exhausting of the steam which had been previously admitted thereto, thus
allowing the said auxiliary valves to sit quietly on their seatings & when the said
valves are of the form shown in Figures 2 and 3 Sheet No. 1, of the accompanying

page_text: drawing. But when the said auxiliary valves partake of the form shown by
Figure 7 Sheet 2 steam is alternately admitted to and exhausted from the spaces d
and d respectively of the auxiliary valve sockets at each reversal of the said
auxiliary valve through the bye-passages y and u. To admit of this the said bye-
passages y and u are made of greater length than their respective pistons D' and D¹
when either of the said pistons or ends of the auxiliary valve over-lap their
respective bye-passages nearest the spaces d² and d' respectively, the steam
previously admitted into the said space or spaces is confined therein and serves to
cushion the said auxiliary valve and prevent it striking its socket end and on
reversal of the said auxiliary valve the steam is exhausted from the said space or
spaces through the said bye passages as herein before described.
Should the pressure of steam admitted between the main piston K and its
cylinder cover be insufficient to arrest the motion of the said piston, the latter
passes the main induction port or passage a and compresses the steam confined in
the space between the said piston and its cylinder cover until the groove v in the
piston K uncovers the induction passage a, thereby absorbing the momentum of
the said piston and its attachments and arresting its motion and preventing it
striking its cylinder cover.
In such event the reversal of the main piston K is effected partly by the
expansion of the steam forming the cushion and partly by the admission of live
steam through the grooves u, v, and the other holes V, V, communicating there-
with and the space between the piston and its cylinder cover, and partly by very
slight leakage of steam purposely provided for past the piston into the said grooves
to avoid the piston stopping altogether should the said grooves not quite uncover
the said main induction port or ports.
The above described action takes place at each stroke and continues auto-
matically as long as steam is on.
The foregoing description applies to horizontal engines only, but it is obvious
that by placing the supplemental valve cylinders and their valves at right angles
to the main cylinder and suitably modifying the induction and eduction ports and
passages it will work equally well as a vertical engine. Any suitable type of
pump may be used in combination with the above described invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The improvements in steam and other fluid pumping engines as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a steam pumping engine the combination of a main steam cylinder
provided with steam and eduction passages a piston working in the said steam
cylinder, a double D slide valve for distributing the steam to the main steam
cylinder, the passages e, e¹ and f leading from the main steam cylinder and the
main induction passages a and a" to the auxiliary valve socket d and d¹ the
passage h and h' and the supplemental pistons and cylinders, the auxiliary valves D
and D and D, D₁ and D', the auxiliary valve socket d and d' the exhaust
chambers 9 and supplemental exhaust ports or passages g', g³, 9, the steam supply
valve and the passages 6 and 6' communicating with the steam chest A' and the
supplemental cylinders A', A', the main piston K provided with the grooves
and and the holes V and V. The whole combined, arranged, and operating
substantially as hereindescribed and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of August 1892.
THOMAS HENRY WILLIAMS,
Inventor.