IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO PURPOSES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Atkins, of Saint Albans, in the County
of Herts, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PUMPS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
PURPOSES."
OTHER
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Atkins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th June 1872.
I, THOMAS ATKINS, of Saint Albans, in the County of Herts, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN PUMPS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO
OTHER PURPOSES,” to be as follows (that is to say) :—
The object of this Invention is to produce a pump simple in con-
struction, effective in action, and with the valves so contrived that in
case of wear they may be readily replaced without taking the pump.in

page_text: pieces, such valves being also applicable for use in other situations, and
for other purposes than in connection with pumps.
The first part of this Invention relates to the general construction of
the pump, which is of the description known as double action, and in a
simple form is as follows:-The bore of the pump is closed at each end
by a suitably formed cover affixed by flanges and bolts or other suitable
contrivance, one or each of which covers is provided with a stuffing box,
through which the plunger rod passes to be actuated by any suitable
means. The water ways, both for the inlet and discharge, are cast in
the main body of the pump much after the manner of the steam ways
of the cylinder of a steam engine, and are made to communicate with
the bore of the pump through the covers on its ends by means of suit-
able apertures formed therein in preference to being carried through the
sides of the bore, those for the inlet passing to each end of the bore on
onc side thereof, and those for the outlet on the opposite side, and ter-
minating at their inner extremities in an opening or passage formed at
right angles to the direction of the said bore, and formed in the same
casting.
These passages, which I term the valve boxes, are of a circular or
other suitable sectional form, and are provided with suitably working
valves more fully herein-after described, and communicate the one with
the water supply and the other with the main discharge pipe and with
an air chamber, which air chamber is also cast with the pump. Thus
the bore of the pump, the water ways, valve boxes, and air chamber are
all cast in one piece.
The second part of this Invention relates to the valves, which I con-
struct as follows:-In the valve box above described as of circular or
other suitable sectional form, and which is made perfectly true by being
plained or turned, I insert a skin or lining of leather, india-rubber, or
other suitable material of corresponding shape and exact fit, and having
lip or other suitable valves cut or otherwise formed therein to correspond
with the ends of the water ways within or in communication with the
said valve box which they have to cover. The lining and valves being
thus inserted the ends of the valve box are closed by suitable covers,
and if such covers be provided with glass plates the valve box may be
looked through, and the action of the valves seen during the working of
the pump. When a new valve is required it is only necessary to remove
the cover from one end, draw out the lining, insert another, and replace

page_text: the cover.
In the case of the valve box communicating with the inlet
water ways where the valves open outwards from the valve box it is
necessary besides the leather or other lining to insert an inner tube of
metal or other hard substance in order to get a seat for the valves to
resist the back pressure.
The third part of my Invention relates to a form of pump for use in
cases where it is necessary to thoroughly empty the bore of the pump at
each stroke of the plunger, as, for instance, in the case where liquids
and gases are pumped together. For this purpose instead of placing
the valve boxes at or between the inner extremities of the water ways
I form them in the covers at the ends of the bore of the pump in
such a manner that the valves will open directly on to or behind the
surface of the plunger. The valve boxes and valves are in this case
formed and applied on exactly the same principal as those already
described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Atkins in the Great Scal Patent Office on
the 24th December 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
ATKINS, of Saint Albans, in the County of Herts, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Atkins, Her special license that
I, the said Thomas Atkins, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Thomas Atkins, 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, PARTS OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition
'

page_text: (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Atkins, 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 cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent 5
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Atkins, 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 1
following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, the same letter
wherever it occurs indicates the same or corresponding parts :-
This Invention relates to or consists in improvements in pumps, parts
of which improvements are also applicable to other purposes, and the
object is to produce a pump simple in construction, effective in action,
and so contrived that should the valves become worn they may be
readily replaced without taking the pump to pieces.
The first part of this Invention (see Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying
Drawings) relates to the general construction of the pump, which is of
the description known as double action, and is as follows:-The bore (A)
of the pump is closed at each end by a suitable cover (B) affixed by
flanges and bolts or other suitable contrivance. One or each of these
covers is provided with a stuffing box (C) through which the piston
rod (D) passes to be actuated by any well-known and suitable means.
The water ways (E, F,) both for the inlet and discharge are cast with
the pump much after the manner of the steam ways of the cylinder of a
steam engine, and are made to communicate with the bore of the pump
through the covers on its ends by means of suitable apertures (G) formed
therein (in preference to being carried through the sides of the pump),
the inlet water ways (E) passing to each end of the bore on one and the
same side thereof, and the outlet water ways (F) on the opposite side
and communicating at their inner extremities with transverse openings
or passages (H) formed at right angles to the direction of the bore of
pump and in the same casting. These passages (H) which form the
valve boxes are of a circular (or other suitable) sectional form, and are
provided with suitable valves (I), which are more fully herein-after
the

page_text: described. They also communicate on the one side with the water
supply pipe (J), and on the other side with the discharge (K), and with
an air chamber (L), which is also cast with the pump. Thus the bore
of the pump, the water ways, valve boxes, and air chamber are all cast
in one piece. A cock (R) is provided to let out any water that may
enter the air chamber, and to readmit any air thus forced out by the
entrance of the water.
In cases where it is necessary to discharge the whole of the contents
of the pump at each stroke of the plunger (as, for instance, when gases
or liquids and gases together are pumped), instead of placing the valve
boxes at or between the inner extremities of the water ways as already
described I form them in the covers at the ends of the bore of the pump
(see Figures 9 to 16) in such a manner that the valves will open directly
on to or behind the surface of the plunger.
The second part of this Invention relates to the valves, which I con-
struct as follows:-In the valve box (H) above described (and which
is made perfectly true by being turned or planed) I insert a skin or
lining (M) of leather, india-rubber, or other suitable material of corre
sponding shape and exact fit, and having valves (N) formed therein or
attached thereto. The lining and valves being thus inserted the ends of
the valve box are closed by suitable covers (O). When desired these
covers are provided with glass plates (P), so that the valve boxes may be
looked through, and the valves inspected without taking off the covers,
and even during the working of the pump. When a new valve is
required it is only necessary to remove the cover from one end of the
valve box, draw out the lining, insert another, and replace the cover.
In the case of the valves communicating with the inlet water ways in
which the valves open outwards from the valve box it is necessary
besides the leather or other lining to insert an inner lining (Q) of metal
or other hard substance in order to get a seat for the valves to resist the
back pressure.
We also find it advantageous to employ a similar inner lining in
connection with the valves opening inwards, although it is not absolutely
necessary.
In the accompanying Drawings Figurés 1 and 9 are longitudinal
sections; Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section taken at the line a, b,
Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side clevation; Figure 4 is a transverse sectional

page_text: view on an enlarged scale of the inlet valve, shown also in section at
Figure 1, and Figure 5 is a plan thereof; Figure 6 is a transverse
sectional view on an enlarged scale of the outlet valve, shewn also in
section at Figure 1, and Figure 7 is a plan thereof; Figure 8 is a
sectional view of the inlet valve and valve box taken at the line c, d,
Figure 3; Figure 10 is an end elevation of the form of pump shewn in
section at Figure 9, and Figure 11 is a side clevation thereof; Figure 12
is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale of the outlet valve
shewn also in section at Figure 9, and Figure 13 is a plan thereof;
Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale of the
inlet valve, shewn also in section at Figure 9, and Figure 15 is a plan
thereof; Figure 16 is a sectional view of the inlet valve box taken at
the line e, f, Figure 9.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to or may be
performed, I claim as my Invention to be secured by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent,-
First. Improvements in pumps as herein-before set forth and described
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The improved form of valve herein-before set forth and
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Atkins, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
Witness,
JOHN W. GRAY, C.E.,
Office for Patents,
23, Billiter Street,
E.C.
THOMAS ATKINS. (L.S.)