Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1895
A communication by WILLIAM KIRKWOOD, of Chicago, in the County of Cook
and State of Illinois, United States of America, Plumber and Gasfitter.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, and 31, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in steam pumps and it pertains to that
class by which water is caused to flow in to the pump by vacuum and atmospheric
pressure and is forced therefrom and elevated by the action of the steam applied
either direct upon its surface or through an intervening float or piston.
The construction of this invention is explained by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which,
Figure 1, represents a vertical section.
Figure 2 is a top view and
Figure 3 is a horizontal section drawn on line x x of Figure 1.
Like parts are referred to by the same reference letters throughout the several
views.
A is a so-called vacuum chamber, which, when the pump is in operation, is
alternately filled with steam and water. B is a water chamber or duct through
which the water, as it is forced from the vacuum chamber, passes to the discharge
duct C. D is an annular check-valve and E is its seat through which valve the
water passes from the chamber A to the upper end of the chamber B, and by which
the return of the water is prevented. The seat E is preferably supported at ons
side from the exterior wall of the chamber A and its opposite side or periphery is
fitted closely to the interior wall of chamber B. The two respective sides of the
seat E are connected together at intervals by the cross pieces d. The valve D is
provided with several guide bearings Flocated at intervals around the central
vacuum chamber A against which they bear and by which the valve is guided to its
seat. In operating the pump, steam is admitted to the vacuum chamber A from
steam boiler through the steam pipe G, duct H and radial steam ports 1.
Presuming the pump to. be submerged, and the chambers A and B to be filled with
water, the water in the chamber A is forced down and out through the openings J
and up past the check-valve D. When the steam in thus forcing the water from
the chamber A reaches its lower end, it escapes therefrom through the openings J
with a quick, explosive movement beneath the water in the chamber B, whereby
the water is intensely agitated, and the steam in the chamber A is instantaneously
condensed, whereby a partial vacuum is produced, when owing to the excess of
pressure of the surrounding water, the water controlling check valve K is raised
and the water from below admitted.
With the upward movement of the check-valve K, the steam ports I are
simultaneously closed by the action of the reciprocating steam valve L, whicì,
valve is formed upon the upper end of the valve rod M. The steam being thus
excluded water continues to enter until the chamber A is filled.
As soon as the water ceases entering, the check valve K drops to its seat again
whereby the steam ports I are again opened and steam is again admitted, and the

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action described is again and continuously repeated so long as the supply of steam
and water is maintained.
The pump as thus far described, is operative and practical without additional
parts, but its 'efficiency is increased by the piston or float N and the air chamber O,
as hereinafter described, while the pump is caused to operate more smoothly and
with less noise by employing a reliéf valve P and a water cushion and plunger Q.
When the air chamber is employed a check valve R is also required at the
lower end of the inlet water pipe S, whereby as the column of water moves up in
the pipe S in filling the vacuum chamber as described, it is carried forward by its
momentum after filling said chamber into the air chamber when the check
valve R closes beneath it, thus retaining it under pressure in said air chamber
preparatory to entering the vacuum chamber as soon as the steum therein is again
condensed, whereby said vacuum chamber receives its initial supply of water direct
from the air chamber more quickly than from below, and the pump is caused to act
more rapidly.
To prevent the quick violent action of the check valve K as the water from
beneath rushes upward to fill the vacuum chamber, a small water chamber T is
provided around the lower end of the valve stem U and to the end of the valve
stem U is attached a plunger Q which with each upward movement of the valve K
is brought against the water contained in said chamber whereby the upward
movement of the plunger and valve is retarded and permitted to rise only as fast as
the water contained in said chamber T escapes. Provision is made for the slow
escape of water, either around the bearing of the valve stem U or the plunger Qas
desired. As a further preventive of the water hammer or concussion caused by the
rapid entrance of water, the valve P is provided at the upper end of the condensing
chamber. The valve P is held to its seat against the normal pressure of the steam
or water in said condensing chamber by the spring W, but when an excess of
pressure is brought to bear against it by the concussion of water, the spring W
yields and the valve is thrown open and the water permitted to escape froin the
condensing chamber direct into the outlet water passage.
To diminish the condensation of steam, the vacuum chamber A is preferably
formed of two metallic cylinders, a and b, having a lining e between them formed
of asbestos, paper or similar material, which lining diminishes the radiation of heat.
When the pump is submerged, it is desirable to protect the steam pipe G from
the direct contact of water. This end is accomplished by the exterior covering
pipe A' which is screwed into the collar B' formed in the end of the pump around
the steam pipe whereby a hot air space is provided between the steam pipe and
said covering pipe.
The piston or flout N is adapted to move freely upward and downward on the
stem M within the chamber A, whereby as the water enters said chamber, the
piston is caused to rise above it and thus forms a barrier or partition between
the surface of the water and the steam, whereby the direct contact of the steam
with the surface of the water is prevented and the condensation of steam which
would otherwise occur, is greatly reduced, and while the pump would operate
without such piston, its efficiency is greatly increased thereby.
With a view of making the pump as small and compact as possible, that the same
may be used in small tubular wells and also for convenience of construction, the
vacuum chamber is located within the water chamber and both chambers are
located above the inlet water controlling check valves.
The invention is not however limited to this exact arrangement of such parts, us
their relative location can be changed without changing the function of the pump
or otherwise affecting the combination.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a single acting steam pump, the combination of a single vacuum chamber

page_text: having a steam inlet duct, a valve controlling said duct, a water controlling valve
located at the opposite end of said chamber and a connection between said valves,
whereby the vacuum causes the movement of the second valve and thereby the first
is actuated to cut off the steam, substantially as described.
2. In a single acting steam pump, the combination of a vacuum chamber having
a steam inlet duct, provided with radial ports above or at a slight distance from its
lower end, a steam controlling valve having a reciprocating movement in said duct
upwards and downwards past said radial ports and adapted to cut off the steam as
it is raised above said openings, without contact with seat or other bearings, and to
admit steam as it is moved in the opposite direction below said openings, and a
connecting rod communicating between said steam controlling valve and the inlet
water controlling valve, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a single acting steam pump, the combination with a single vacuum chamber
having a steam inlet duct, a steam controlling valve located within said duct, an
inlet water controlling valve, a connection between said steam and water controlling
valves, said valves being adapted to alternately act upon each other through said
connection as the pump is operated, and a discharge duct provided with a check
valve to permit the escape and prevent the return of the discharged water,
substantially as described.
4. In a pump, the combination with a single vacuum chamber having a steam
inlet controlled by a slide valve, a water controlling valve located at the opposite
end of said chamber, a rod connecting said valves, a water inlet pipe provided with
a check valve, a reservoir or air chamber connected therewith, and a discharge
duct communicating with the vacuum chamber, substantially as described.
5. In a pump, the combination with a single vacuum chamber having suitable
induction and eduction ports for water, a steam inlet, a valve controlling the steam
inlet and a second valve at the opposite end of the chamber, a connection between
the said valves, a pipe or passage connecting the upper end of the vacuum chamber
with the discharge pipe or duct, and a relief valve arranged in said pipe or duct,
substantially as described.
6. In a single acting steam pump of the class described, the combination of a
steam chamber provided at its upper end with a steam controlling valve; and an
exterior enclosing chamber communicating at its upper end with the water
discharge pipe and provided at the lower end with an inlet water controlling check
valve; a valve rod communicating between said check valve and said steam valve;
an annular valve seat surrounding the lower end of said steam chamber enclosing
the space between said steam chamber and the enclosing water chamber; and an
annular valve surrounding said steam chamber, against which it has guide bearings,
adapted to close said annular valve seat against the return of water elevated,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
7. In a steam pump, the combination of a single vacuum chamber having a steam
port controlled by a reciprocating valve, a water controlling valve located at the
opposite end of such chamber, a rod connecting said valves, and a reciprocating
piston or float adapted to slide on said valve rod within said vacuum chamber,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
8. In a steam pump, the combination with a single vacuum chamber having a
steam duct controlled by a reciprocating valve, a water controlling check valve,
located at the opposite end of said chamber, a plunger or piston affixed to the
lower end of the stem of said check valve below its seat, and a chamber located
above said plunger and adapted to receive and retard the upward movement of said
plunger and valve by its contained water, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 16th day of September 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.