Improvements in Pumps.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES CAMPBELL WORTHINGTON, Mechanical
Engineer, of Irvington, in the State of New York, United States of America.]
Improvements in Pumps.
I HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of The Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of London, Patent Agent, 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 :-
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved pump construction,
and especially to improve the construction of that part of the pump containing the
pulsation and force and suction chambers, the invention being especially applicable
to horizontal pumps having the force chamber on one side of the pulsation chamber,
the common form being that in which the force chamber is above, and the suction
chamber below, the pump cylinders.
In previous pump constructions of this class, the suction chamber and the force
chamber valve plates have been made integral with the pulsation chamber, and the
cover forming the force chamber then secured to the pulsation chamber, with the
result, that the high force pressure must be sustained by the flange securing
the force chamber, and these parts consequently made very heavy, to secure the
requisite strength.
The invention provides an improved construction, reducing the weight and
securing much greater strength, by casting the force chamber integral with the
pulsation chamber, so that the flange-secured part is the suction chamber.
By this improved construction, the strength resulting from a continuous jointless
wall is brought on the force side, where the pressure is great, instead of on the
suction side, where there is less pressure, as in the usual constructions. The
amount of metal required on the force side is thus lessened without decreasing
the strength, and as the flanges now used sustain only the suction pressure, they
may be made much lighter.
E
Another
very important advantage is secured by this construction, in making
possible the reduction of the size of the force chamber, and the use of a less
number of force-valve openings. A larger percentage of valve area is usually
required in the valves on the suction side than on the force side. In previous
constructions, however, in which the suction valve openings were tapped, and the
valve seats put in through the force valve openings, it was necessary to use as many
of the latter as of the former, resulting in a larger force chamber and greater valve
plate area than would otherwise be necessary. By the improved construction, in
which the force valve openings are tapped, and the force valves put in through the
suction valve openings, there may be more suction valves than force valves, thus
enabling the size of the force chamber to be reduced, and further decreasing the
weight and cost of the structure, and increasing its strength.
The invention includes also an improved check valve of that class in common
use on pump mains and similar constructions, consisting of a number of small
valves placed in a diaphragm extending across the pipe to which the check valve
is applied, and called, for convenience, multiple check valves. In this class of
check valves, it is necessary that the diaphragm should be enlarged beyond the
area of the pipe in order to enable a sufficient number of valves to be placed in
the diaphragm, to secure a valve area of the required percentage of the pipe area,

page_text: and for this purpose the check valve is made larger in the centre than at the ends
or valve openings at which connection is made with the pipe or pipes to which the
check valve is to be applied.
In constructions heretofore in use, the diaphragm extends in a single plane across
the check valve, within the space produced by the enlargement above referred to,
the valve seats being drilled, and the valves opening at right angles to the
diaphragm. It is obvious, therefore, that in such constructions, one or more of
the outer rows of valve seats must be drilled by hand with much difficulty, and at
consequent expense, as the opening of the check valve which is smaller than the
diaphragm, prevents the introduction of a machine borer at the proper angle. The
check valve may be made in two parts and flanged on the centre, thus enabling
the seats to be drilled in the diaphragm in one part, and the other part of the
check valve to be then secured in place, to complete the check valve, but this
construction is expensive and objectionable, and a check valve in one casting much
preferable.
An improved check valve is provided by which the proper valve area may be
secured, and all the valve seats drilled in the complete construction by machine,
by throwing the centre of the diaphragm up, so as to place the outer row or rows
of valves at such an angle that they can be reached with the boring tool through
the opening of the check valve. By thus throwing the centre of the diaphragm
up, and arranging the diaphragm so that the pressure comes on the crown of the
arch, a cheaper and lighter check valve, while securing the requisite strength, may
be made by omitting the ribs beneath the diaphragm which heretofore have been
used to strengthen and support it. It will be understood, however, that the
invention is not to be limited to a construction in which the ribs are not used, but
that the main feature of the invention, consisting of a diaphragm so arranged that
the valve seats are placed at such an angle as to permit them to be bored by
machine, may be used in check valves employing these supporting ribs or other
similar devices.
As a full understanding of the invention can best be given by a description of
constructions embodying the invention, all further preliminary description will be
omitted, and such a description now given in connection with the accompanying
drawings, which show some of the preferred constructions in which the invention
may be embodied, and the features of the invention will then be specifically pointed
out in the claims.
While the invention, considered broadly, is applicable to duplex or single pumps,
it has been designed especially for application to duplex pumps, and certain features
of the invention reside in constructions of duplex pumps embodying the invention.
The invention, therefore, has been illustrated, and will be described in connection
with duplex pumps of the general type now well known as Worthington Duplex
Pumps.
In the accompanying drawings:-
66
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the water end of a duplex pump, embodying all the
features of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation.
Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section, taken centrally through the valve chamber on
the line 4 of Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal central section of one of the pump cylinders.
Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section of the valve chamber, at right angles to
Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7 of Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is a central longitudinal section of the pump cylinder on one side of a
duplex pump, showing a construction in which the pump cylinder forms the
pulsation chamber.
Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section of the same construction, taken through the
pump cylinders on the line 9 of Fig. 8.

page_text: Fig. 10 is a plan view of the water end of a duplex pump, having separate
castings for the pulsation chambers at the opposite ends of the pump cylinders.
Fig. 11 is a detail section of the check valve.
Referring now especially to Figs. 1 to 7, A, B, are the two pump cylinders on
opposite sides of the pump, and a the plungers, which are shown as of the common
hollow form, operated by the piston rods 10. It will be understood, however, that
these plungers and the cylinders may be of any form other than that shown. In
the construction shown in these figures, the pulsation chambers for the two sides of
the engine and for the two ends of the cylinders, are made in a single casting,
these pulsation chambers C being mounted above the cylinders A B, and connected
thereto respectively at the opposite ends of the cylinders by the elbow pipes D
and E, the two chambers for opposite sides of the engine being formed in the
casting by a partition 11, longitudinal of the pump, and the two chambers on each
side for the opposite ends of the cylinders by the cross partition 12.
Integral with the casting forming the pulsation chambers C, is the valve plate 13
for the suction valves b, and the valve plate 14 for the force valves c, the force
chamber F being also integral therewith, while the suction chamber G is formed
by a separate casting secured to the base of the pulsation chamber C by a flange
The force main H and
and bolts, as shown, or in any other suitable manner.
suction main I are connected respectively with the force and suction chambers F, G,
the force main H being shown as provided with a multiple check valve K, as usual.
The suction valve plate may be formed integral with the suction chamber, and
with the latter attached to the pulsation chamber, without departing from the
invention, considered broadly, but the construction shown is much preferable, as no
joints are exposed to the pressure in the pulsation chamber; and this construction
forms a part of the invention.
For convenience of construction, the pump cylinders A B are shown as each
formed in two parts, the division line being transverse, and central of the cylinders
longitudinally, the two parts of the cylinders being connected together by flanges 15.
It will be understood, however, that this is not essential.
It will be seen that this construction provides a pulsation and force chamber in
a single casting, so that the usual flanges on the force side are avoided, and the
In the construction shown,
force pressure resisted by a continuous wall of metal.
in which the suction chamber is on the opposite side of the pulsation chamber from
the force chamber, the flanges are used for the suction chamber, but they are
exposed only to the low suction pressure.
The detail construction of the check valve embodying this part of the invention,
is shown in Fig. 11. K is a casting forming the valve casing, and having the usual
open ends for attachment to the pipe H, upon which the check valve is to be placed,
the central enlargement for increasing the cross area, and the diaphragm L within
the enlargement, provided with the usual valve seats for the valves d, which may
be of any suitable construction, but are shewn as spring valves of a common form.
The valve casing is shewn as attached to the pipe H by flanges, as usual, but it
will be understood that any other suitable construction may be used for this
purpose..
As shewn in the drawings, the centre of the diaphragm is thrown up, so as to
bring the outer row of valve seats at the proper angle to be reached and drilled by a
machine borer, avoiding the hand-work necessary in previous valves of this class,
and, by throwing the centre of the diaphragm up, and arranging the diaphragm so
that the pressure comes on the crown of the arch, as shewn, the supporting or
strengthening ribs previously used beneath the diaphragm may also be omitted,
thus simplifying and cheapening the construction of the check valve, and making it
much lighter with the requisite strength.
The construction shewn in Figures 1 to 7, employing a pulsation chamber for
both sides of a duplex pump, connected to the pump cylinders by suitable pipes, is
very simple of manufacture, and will be found a very desirable construction: It
will be understood, however, that the pulsation chamber formed in a single casting

page_text: with the force chamber may be used, also, with other constructions of single or
duplex pumps.
In Figures 8 and 9 is shewn a construction of duplex pump in which the pump
cylinders A'B' form the pulsation chambers C' for the opposite sides of the engine,
these two chambers being formed in a single casting with the force chamber F and
suction and force valve plates 13, 14, the suction chamber G being formed by a
separate casting secured by flanges to the base of the pulsation chamber, as before.
It will be seen that this construction is substantially the same as that previously
described, except that the pump cylinders form the pulsation chamber direct,
instead of being connected therewith by the elbow pipes. In this construction, a
less amount of valve area is shown on the force side, which is made possible by the
invention, as above described, and which, it is apparent, enables the size of the force
chamber to be reduced, and the structure thus lightened, while retaining the full
strength.
In the constructions thus far described, a single casting forms the pulsation
chambers for the opposite ends of the pump cylinders, but it will be understood that
this is not absolutely necessary, although preferable. Thus, in Figure 10, there is
shewn, in plan view, a construction similar to that shewn in Figures 1 to 7, except
that separate pulsation, force, and suction chambers, are used for the opposite ends
of the cylinders. It will be understood that, in this construction, two pipes may be
used on each side, one for each end of the cylinder, but it will be found preferable
to use two pipes for each end of each cylinder, as the pipes are thus connected to
the pulsation chamber at its ends, leaving the central part for the force main, and
the two pipes form a stronger support for the pulsation chamber, as will be apparent
from an examination of Figure 10.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art, that other changes may be made
in the construction and arrangement of the pulsation chamber and other parts of
the pump, without departing from the invention.
It will be understood, also, that that part of the invention relating to the multiple
check valve is not to be limited to the exact form or construction of the valves d
or casting shewn, but that the invention is applicable to all multiple check valves
of the general class employing a number of valves, and having an enlargement to
accommodate a diaphragm of greater area than the pipe with which the check valve
is to be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed (us communicated to me
from abroad), I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A pump having a force chamber formed integral with the pulsation chamber,
and a suction chamber non-integral with, but attached to, the pulsation chamber,
substantially as described.
2. A pump having a force chamber and suction valve plate integral with the
pulsation chamber, and a suction chamber non-integral with, but attached to, the
pulsation chamber, substantially as described.
3. A duplex pump having the force and pulsation chambers for both sides of the
pump formed integral, and having the suction chamber for both sides of the pump
non-integral with, but attached thereto, substantially as described.
4. A duplex pump having the force and pulsation chambers and the suction valve
plate for both sides of the pump formed integral, and the suction chamber for
both sides of the pump non-integral with, but attached thereto, substantially as
described.
5. A duplex double-acting pump having a single casting forming the pulsation
and force chambers, and the suction valve plate for both sides and ends of the
pump, and a second single casting forming the suction chamber for both sides and
ends of the pump attached to the first mentioned casting, substantially as described.
6. The combination with the pump cylinders of a duplex pump, of a single
casting above the pump cylinders, forming the pulsation and force chambers for

page_text: both sides of the pump, the suction chamber for both sides of the pump non-integral
with, but attached to said casting, and pipes connecting said pulsation chambers and
pump cylinders, substantially as described.
7. The combination with the pump cylinders of a duplex pump, of a single
casting above the pump cylinders, forming the pulsation and force chambers for
both sides and ends of the pump, the suction chamber for both sides and ends of the
pump non-integral with, but attached to said casting, and pipes connecting said
pulsation chambers and pump cylinders, substantially as described.
8. A multiple check valve provided with a diaphragm transverse to, and of
greater area than the valve opening, and having its centre thrown up, so as to place
the outer valve seats at the proper angle to be drilled by a tool passing through
the valve opening, substantially as described.
9. A multiple check valve provided with a diaphragm transverse to, and of
greater area than the valve opening, said diaphragm being supported at the edges
only, and having its centre thrown up to form an arch supporting the pressure, and
to place the outer valve seats at the proper angle to be drilled by a tool passing
through the valve opening, substantially as described.
Dated this 29th day of October 1894.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.