Improvements in Pumps, with Special Reference to the Class of Pumps known as "Beer Engines" used for Raising Beer and other Liquids.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL DI EUITION
Improvements in Pumps, with Special Reference to the Class of
Pumps known as "Beer Engines" used for Raising Beer and
other Liquids.
We, FRANCIS MONTAGUE SIMS, of 2, Smedley Lane, Cheetham Hill, Manchester,
Manufacturer, and FRANK TAYLOR HARROP, Brassfounder, and JAMES HERBERT
HARROP, Brassfounder, both of the Firm of Messrs. Harrop Brothers & Co., of
22, Bridge Street, Manchester, all in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This class of pump i.e. the pump generally known as the "beer engine" is partly
a suction and partly a lifting pump, the: liquid being raised from the lower vessel
containing it (i.e. the barrel or otherwise) to the cylinder of the pump by atmospheric
pressure acting on the surface of the liquid in the vessel containing it, and afterwards
being lifted by the piston or bucket up the egress pipe from the cylinder to a nozzle
or bend through which it passes into the receiving vessel.
,,
A modification has been made in this particular class of pump, as compared
with the general form of "lift pump so long known & used for all purposes, the
piston instead of being pushed up upwards by a piston rod actuated by a frame
outside the cylinder is lifted by a piston rod above the piston, said rod passing air &
liquid tight through a stuffing box in the upper cylinder cover, and worked by a
powerful swinging lever above it.
A great defect in these pumps when arranged so that the piston is lifted by a piston
rod above it instead of being pushed up by a frame below it (and which lifting
arrangement we employ in the present invention), is that after the piston has finished
its ascent & lifting power has ceased to be exerted, & the quantity of liquid desired
drawn off, the flow is succeeded by a trickle & drip varying in amount according to
circumstances, and secondly on reversing the lever there is another distinct issue of
liquid from the nozzle in the form of trickle and drip, again varying according to
circumstances & is in both cases a constant source of mess, annoyance, & waste &
pecuniary loss.
Taking this issue of fluid first into consideration we find that the difficulty has in a
measure been brought about by this piston being lifted from above, and said
lifting from above being the method we employ, our present invention is for the
When the piston has finished its upward stroke
purpose of remedying the defect.
the piston valve is closed, and the suction valve in the bottom of the cylinder is
open, whereby the upward pressure under and on the piston valve is atmospheric
pressure on the liquid in the lower vessel, minus the weight of a column of
fluid of the distance vertically from the surface of the liquid in the vessel to the
under side of the piston valve, and the pressure on the upper side of the piston
valve tending to keep it closed is atmospheric pressure plus the weight of liquid

page_text: in the egress pipe above it (hereafter called the rising main) in pounds per
square inch, and thus it is necessary to use a force sufficient to open the piston
valve and keep it open over and above the pressure necessary to work the piston
down the cylinder. In fact the piston on its downward stroke acts against the
liquid in the cylinder below, as a force pump, with a relief valve in it through which
the liquid can & must pass above the piston, and it is this forcible pressing down of
the piston, and piston rod into the cylinder, that causes the liquid to rise in the
rising main, overflow the bend, and issue from the nozzle, and clearly the amount of
flow may vary according to circumstances.
To prevent this afterflow we propose to use an air vessel, constructed on the
principle of the pressure guage, but with modifications to meet the requirements of
the case, entailed by the action of natural laws as regards the expansion of air when
acted on by a force less than that of the pressure of the atmosphere, and its con-
traction again when re-acted on by an increased pressure.
If a pipe, or guage containing air was placed below the piston on the cylinder, the
said cylinder as also the suction pipe being free from liquid, but the end of it im-
mersed in the liquid to be raised, the air in the pipe or guage would be acted on by
the piston in its capacity as an exhausting syringe, in the same manner and
degree, as the air in the suction pipe i.e. both will be equally rarefied until on the
liquid filling the cylinder, with the suction valve open & the piston valve shut the
pressure on the air in the tube or guage would be atmospheric pressure less the weight
of liquid supported by it (P - W) and the air consequently in a proportionate state
of elasticity or tension.
The formula for this expansion of air is by Boyle's law.
As the diminished pressure on the air is to atmospheric pressure so is its original
volume to its increased volume.
P: P:: V : V₁
-
=
Let the vertical height of the fluid column be 20 feet, at the weight per square
inch of one half pound per foot then P. W equals 15 lbs. 10 lbs.
or if the vertical height of the fluid be taken at 15 feet then P
5 lbs.,
15 lbs. 7 lbs.
- W equals
7 lbs, and in these 2 cases the above formula works out thus
-
=
and then supposing the piston valve opened, and the suction valve closed, the piston 3
remaining at the top of its stroke, the air in this state of tension would be acted on
by an increased pressure equal to atmospheric pressure plus the weight of a column
of liquid above it (P + W) in lbs. per square inch, let W be taken as one pound then
P+W = 16 lbs.
i.e. the attenuated air in the pipe or guage will be contracted in bulk in the propor-
tion shewn, and this contraction and expansion would go on continuously, as long as
the pressure was increased and reduced.
Suppose for the sake of illustration V in the above, to be about 16 cubic inches,
then V in the first case would be 5 cubic inches, and in the second case 7 cubic
inches, i.e. about one third and one half of its bulk respectively.

page_text: Again in this connection the fact that water has the property of absorbing air must
be reckoned with, and such absorption must be provided for, in order to prevent the
air from being exhausted.
Moreover not only is the air subject to absorption by water, but on the liquid first
5 entering the cylinder it is also subject to the greater force of the liquid impelled
against it, by the piston, whereby if even at full atmospheric pressure it is liable to
be forcibly driven out of the tube or guage, and far more readily so, when the air is
in a state of attenuation.
To meet these conditions we carry the short end of a curved tube down from the
bottom of the cylinder at right angles to the piston, when it is recurved and the
longer end carried up a sufficient height, when it is enlarged into the shape of a
sphere or otherwise, the size of such enlargement being determined by the quantity
of air in a state of tension (V of the formula), which it is deemed necessary to have
for efficient working, thus if as above 8 cubic inches were necessary then with a
depth of 20 feet, 3 V or 24 cubic inches would be the capacity at atmospheric pressure
required, and with a depth of 15 feet, 2 V or 16 cubic inches so that at 20 feet depth
to secure 8 inches we should have to make the sphere of 3 times that capacity and at
15 feet twice the capacity.
To provide against the air being carried away in a greater or less degree by the
violent impact of the liquid due to the force of the piston we provide a tap on the
pipe below the enlargement, to be shut when the liquid is first being pumped up
from the lower vessel, and opened when the cylinder is full of liquid, whereby the
air expands, and is withdrawn by the action of the pump, and air and liquid take
up their proper positions with less violent agitation, and subsequently although the
air and liquid are brought continuously together under pressure and air is more or
less absorbed by the liquid it would not be so readilly carried out of the system at
each stroke of the pump.
By this means the pressure of the pump, as also the increased pressure P+W as
above, is employed in compressing the air and confining it in a smaller space, and
the liquid which occupies the space vacated by the air when so contracted accounts
for any quantity displaced by the forcible entry of the piston rod into the cylinder or
otherwise, whereby the liquid in the rising main does not overflow the bend, and
issue from the nozzle.
So accurate is this arrangement in its action that the tap being closed there is
at once flow from the nozzle, and with the tap open there is none.
This also shews that although all the air has been driven out of the pipe by the
action of the pump, that by means of the enlargement accurately fashioned as above
air is therein retained, & serves the purpose required.
As regards the drip at the end of the upstroke of the piston in contra-distinction
to the downstroke treated of above this is the position.
At the moment the upstroke is finished the whole arrangement is that of a
syphon, of which the short leg is from the highest point of the rising main to the
lowest point of the nozzle, and the long leg is the rising main from the highest point
of the bend, plus the cylinder, & suction tube as far as the liquid in the lower vessel,
and the tendency is for the liquid when released from the upward pressure of the
piston to flow backwards towards the barrel, but this flow is intercepted by the closed
valve of the piston, and as in the case of an ordinary syphon after atmospheric pressure
bas obtained access to the short leg on account of its end becoming uncovered by
fluid, the volume of liquid in its rush is broken up by the action of the air before
getting over the bend and a small quantity trickles back into the vessel from which
t was cleared, & so with this beer pump a small quantity trickles out after the flow
proper has ceased.
To prevent this drip as far as possible we fashion our rising main and ǹozzle
including the tap) with as little bend as possible, and let one or more small tubes
nto the larger pipe, said tubes being so inserted in the direction of the flow that the
iquid passing over them cannot be forced up them, and their ends so placed as to
dmit atmospheric pressure at the highest point of the rising main, whereby on

page_text: pressure from the piston ceasing, the liquid has full atmospheric pressure above and
below it, and being thus practically unsupported, falls by reason of its own weight
into the receiving vessel, thus becoming part of the approximately measured
quantity of liquid which it is the object of the lift pump to throw at each stroke.
FRANCIS MONTAGUE SIMS.
FRANK TAYLOR HARROP.
JAMES HERBERT HARROP.
Improvements in Pumps, with Special Reference to the Class of
Pumps known as "Beer Engines" used for Raising Beer and
other Liquids.
We, FRANCIS MONTAGUE SIMS, late of 2, Smedley Lane, now of 850, Stockport
Road, Manchester, Manufacturer, and FRANK TAYLOR HARROP, Brassfounder, and
JAMES HERBERT HARROP, Brassfounder, both of the Firm of Messrs. Harrop Bros. &
Co., of 22, Bridge Street, Manchester, all in the County of Lancaster, 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 class of pump, i.e. the pump known as the "beer engine" is partly a lift
pump, and partly a suction pump, the liquid being raised from the lower vessel con-
taining it (i.e. the barrel or otherwise) to the cylinder a of the pump by atmospheric
pressure acting on the surface of the fluid and afterwards being lifted by the piston,
or bucket e up the egress pipe b from the cylinder a through the nozzle d, through
A modification has been made in this
which it passes into the receiving vessel.
particular class of pump as compared with the general form of lift pump so long
known, and used for all purposes the piston e instead of being pushed upwards by
a piston rod actuated by a frame outside, the cylinder, is lifted by a
piston rod f above the piston e, said rod f passing air and liquid tight through a
stuffing box y in the upper cylinder cover, and worked by a powerful swinging lever
above it (not shewn on the drawings). A great defect in these pumps when arranged
so that the piston e is lifted by a piston rod f above it, instead of being pushed up by
a frame below it, and which lift arrangement we employ in the present invention, is
that after the piston e has finished its ascent, and lifting power has ceased to be
exerted, and the quantity of liquid desired drawn off, the flow is succeeded by a
trickle and drip, varying in amount according to circumstances, and and secondly on
reversing the lever there is another distinct trickle and drip, again varying according
to circumstances and it is in both cases a constant source of mess, annoyance, waste and
pecuniary loss. Taking this second issue of fluid first into consideration we find that
the difficulty has in a manner been brought about, by the piston being lifted from
above, and said lifting from above being the method we employ, our present inven-
When the piston e in annexed
tion is for the purpose of remedying the defect.
sheet of drawings has finished its upstroke the piston valve his closed, and the
suction valve "j" in the bottom of the cylinder a is open, whereby the upward
pressure under and on the piston valve k is atmospheric pressure (15 lbs. to the square
inch) on the liquid in the lower vessel, ininus the weight of a column of fluid of the
distance vertically from the surface of the liquid in the vessel to the underside of the
piston valve h, and the pressure on the upper side of the piston valve h tending to
keep it closed, is atmospheric pressure plus the weight of fluid in the egress pipe b

page_text: above it (hereafter called the rising main) in lbs. per square inch, and thus it is
necessary to use a force sufficient to open the piston valve h and keep it open, over
and above the pressure necessary to work the piston e down the cylinder.
In fact the piston e, on its downstroke acts against the liquid in the cylinder below,
as a force pump with a relief valve h in it, through which the liquid can and must
pass above the piston, and it is the forcible pressing down of the piston rod f, and
piston e, into the cylinder a that causes the liquid to rise in the rising main b over-
flow the bend d and issue from the nozzle c and clearly the amount of flow may vary
with circumstances.
To prevent this overflow, we propose to fit an air vessel constructed on the
principle of the pressure guage but with modifications to meet the requirements of
the case entailed by the action of natural laws as regards the expansion of air when
acted on by a force less than that of the pressure of the atmosphere, and its contraction
again when re-acted on by increased pressure.
If a pipe or guage containing air was placed below the piston e in the cylinder a,
the said cylinder as also the suction pipe being free from liquid, but the end of
suction pipe immersed in the liquid to be raised, the air in the pipe or guage would
be acted on by the pump in its capacity as an exhausting syringe, in the same
manner and degree as the air in the suction pipe, for both will be rarefied until
on the liquid filling the cylinder a with the suction valve jopen, and the piston
valve h shut, the pressure on the air in the tube or guage would be atmospheric
pressure less the weight of liquid supported by it (PW), and the air consequently
in a proportionate state of elasticity or tension.
The formula for the expansion of air by Boyle's law is as the diminished pressure on
the air is to atmospheric pressure, so is the original volume to the increased
volume
5 and then suppose the piston valve hopen and the suction valvej shut the piston
remaining at the top of the stroke the air in the above state of tension would be
acted on by an increased pressure, equal to atmospheric pressure plus the weight of
a column of fluid above it - P+ W in lbs. per sq. inch. Let W be taken as one
pound then P+ W = 16 lbs.
5 i.e. the attenuated air in the pipe or guage will be contracted in bulk in the proportion
shewn, and this contraction and expansion would go on continuously, as long as
the pressure was increased or reduced.
Suppose for the sake of illustration V in the above to be about 16 cubic inches
then in the first case would be 5 cubic inches, and in the second 7 cubic inches
0 i.e. one third and one half of its bulk respectively.

page_text: Again in this connection the fact that water, and other liquids have the property of
absorbing air must be reckoned with, and such absorption must be provided for to
prevent the air being exhausted.
Moreover not only is the air liable to absorption by water but on the liquid first
entering the cylinder or sphere it is subject to the greater force impelled against it
by the pump whereby even at full atmospheric pressure it is liable to be forcibly
driven out of the tube or guage, and far more readily so, when the air is in a state
attenuation.
To meet these conditions we carry (Fig. 1) the short end of a curved tube mu down
from the bottom of the cylinder, as nearly as possible at right angles to the piston e
when it is re-curved, and the long end n carried up to a sufficient height, when it is
enlarged into the shape of a sphere or otherwise (that is it may be a cylinder or
other form) the size of such enlargement being determined by the quantity of air and
state of tension which it is deemed necessary to have for effectual working, thus if as
above, 8 cubic inches were necessary then with a depth of 20 feet 3 V or 24 cubic
inches would be the capacity at atmospheric pressure required, and with a depth of
15 feet 2 V or 16 cubic inches, so that at 20 feet we should have to make the sphere k
3 times the capacity of 8 cubic inches, and at 15 feet twice the capacity.
To provide against the air being carried away in a greater or less degree by the
violent impact of the liquid due to the force of the pump we provide a small tapo on
the pipe below the enlargement, to be shut when the liquid is first pumped up from
the lower vessel, and opened when the cylinder is full of liquid whereby the air
expands, and is withdrawn by the action of the pump, and air and water take
proper positions with less violent agitation, and subsequently although the air and
their
liquid are brought continuously together under pressure, and air is more or less
absorbed by the liquid it would not be so readily carried out of the system at each
stroke of the pump.
up
The small pipe n may at its end be fitted with an elbow n¹, or may itself enter the
sphere at it's side preventing the liquid being forced vertically against the air.
By these means the pressure of the piston as also the increased pressure P+ W,
as above is employed in compressing the air in k, & confining it into a smaller space,
and the liquid which occupies the space vacated by the air, when so contracted,
accounts for any quantity displaced by the forcible entry of the piston rod f into the
cylinder or otherwise, whereby the liquid in the rising main b does not overflow the
bend, and issue from the nozzle c.
So accurate is this arrangement, in its action that the tap o being closed there is
at once drip, from the nozzle, and with the tap open there is none. This also shews
that although all the air has been drawn out of the pipe n by the action of the pump
that by means of the enlargement accurately fashioned as above air is retained
therein and serves the purpose required.
Again in the case of the beer engine, it is an object to throw a certain measured
quantity of liquid at each stroke of the piston, and as on the down stroke of the
piston the liquid forced into k (hereafter called the expansion chamber) is
taken from the quantity of fluid above the piston e i.e. a part of the discharge on
the next upstroke of the piston e it is necessary that the cylinder a between the
upper part of the piston, when at the bottom of it's stroke, and the point where the
lower part of the rising main b enters the cylinder a, shall be of such dimensions that
the quantity contained between the limits as given above, shall be equal to the
quantity desired to be drawn off plus the quantity which will enter the expansion
chamber k.
5
Thus let the desired quantity be one half pint or 17.32 cubic inches, and the
internal diameter of the spherical expansion chamber be 2 inches, and the vertical
fluid height from the lower vessel or barrel 15 feet. The volume of the sphere will
be 23 x 5236 = 4.188 cubic inches, say 4 cubic inches, then by the formula (dis-
regarding friction) P1 PW:
7 lbs. 7 lbs. the state of tension of the 5
air in the expansion chamber before the opening of the piston valve, on the piston
descending and the suction valve closing.
=
15
-
=

page_text: say 2 cubic inches, so that 2 cubic inches will be taken from the quantity of
liquid above the piston, therefore it is requisite that there should be at least
17.322 (say) cubic inches, in the cylinder within the limits given above.
As regards drip at the end of the upstroke of the piston in contradistinction to
the down stroke, treated of above, this is the position.
At the moment the upstroke is finished, the whole arrangement is that of a
syphon, of which the short leg is from the highest point d of the rising main to
the lowest point of the nozzle c¹, and the long leg is the vertical height of the
fluid column, from the highest point of the bend d of the rising main through the
cylinder a, and suction tube, as far as the surface of the liquid in the lower vessel
or barrel; and the tendency is for the liquid when released from the upward pressure
of the piston to flow backwards towards the barrel, and this flow is intercepted by
the closed valve of the pump and as in the case of the ordinary syphon after atmo-
spheric pressure, has obtained access to the short-leg on account of its having become
uncovered, by fluid, the volume of fluid is broken up by the action of the air before
getting over the bend, and a small quantity trickles out after the flow proper has
ceased.
To prevent this drip as far as possible, we fashion our rising main, and nozzle,
including the tap with as little bend as possible, and let one or more tubes into the
larger tube or nozzle of the tap, said tube or tubes being so inserted in the direction
of the flow that the liquid passing over them cannot be forced up them, and their
ends so placed as to admit atmospheric pressure at the highest part of the rising
main, as shewn at p in the drawings annexed whereby on pressure from the piston
ceasing the fluid in the nozzle has full atmospheric pressure above and below it, and
being thus practically unsupported falls by reason of it's own weight into the receiving
vessel, thus becoming part of the approximately measured quantity which it is the
object of the pump to throw at each stroke. We also insert a tube in the larger one
constituting the nozzle of the tap as shewn in the drawings, C¹, said tube terminating
in a feather edge, and as regards it's internal surface perfectly smooth, both being to
prevent adhesion of fluid to the metal.
To meet the contingency of the air in the expansion chamber being by any means
unduly exhausted by absorption or otherwise, which may happen especially when
dealing with gaseous fluid, we fix a small tap q on the top of the expansion-
chamber, by opening which the said chamber may be re-filled with air at atmospheric
pressure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
ion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
laim is:-
First. The provision of what we call an
olume calculated by formula, according to the varying circumstances of the weight
"expansion chamber" of an internal
f the fluid vertically above and below the piston valve, and the consideration of the
uantity of air required to provide against absorption by fluid, the displacement of
he piston rod, and provision for a throw approximately of a certain fixed on quantity
f fluid, the addition of which expansion chamber to the cylinder of the pump,
ithout any other aid whatsoever, and without any other alteration in the form of
he pump, or beer engine now generally in use, as shewn in the drawings, shall
atomatically and entirely stop all drip from the nozzle on the downstroke of the
iston.
Second. The addition to the said arrangement of the small taps, as also of the
bow on the tube or its equivalent, viz. the tube n being bent laterally into the

page_text: expansion chamber substantially in the manner and for the purposes described in
combination with the other improvements relating to the invention.
to
Third. The form of tap or nozzle specially with reference to the perfect smoothness
of the tube inserted into it, as also it's feather edge, as also the small tube open
atmospheric pressure at both ends, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
herein before described in combination with the other improvements relating to the
invention.
Desember 1908
FRANCIS MONTAGUE SIMS.
JAMES HERBERT HARROP.
FRANK TAYLOR HARROP.