IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR STEAM FIRE ENGINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Barker Hill, of Lambeth Road, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS, CHIEFLY
DESIGNED FOR STEAM FIRE ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Barker Hill at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd January 1876.
FREDERICK BARKER HILL, of Lambeth Road, in the County of Surrey, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR STEAM FIRE ENGINES."
My Invention relates to pumps which are chiefly designed to be used on steam
fire engines, but which may be advantageously used in all cases where it is
desirable to obtain a continuous and steady stream of water and to bave a pump
which will be strong and durable with but little weight of metal, and which will
be cheap, easily put in place and removed, and whose interior will be readily
accessible for repairing or examining the valves and pistons.
My improved pump may be either single or double acting, that is to say, it may
be constructed to discharge the water only at the stroke of the pistons in one
direction or at both the upward and downward or forward and backward strokes
of the said pistons.
"
In adapting this Invention to the purposes of a fire engine I prefer to have
three barrels arranged side by side, the piston of each barrel being connected to an
arm of a three-throw" crank. The said barrels are preferably cast in one piece
of gun metal. The rear or lower end of this casting is an oblong piece, one
portion of which is divided into three spaces or chambers corresponding with the
three barrels, and in which the suction valves work. The said casting also has
another long chamber, in which are placed the delivery valves. These valve
chambers or spaces are all closed by one long cover, which is made properly tight
by leather, india-rubber, or other suitable packing. On the said cover are cast the
valve seats, which project into the said chambers. The valves are fitted to work
on joint or hinge pins secured in lugs cast on the said seats in such a manner that
they open and close freely at each stroke of the pistons of their respective barrels.
The said valves are faced with india rubber or similar substance to render them
noiseless and to ensure their being properly tight on their seats when closed.
The water supply or suction pipe is connected with a hole in the centre of the
said cover at the back of the same, and the water thereby has free access to each
suction valve chamber. The delivery valves open into the long chamber provided
[Price Gd.]

page_text: for them in the said casting, and the discharge or delivery aperture is at the front
of the said long chamber and preferably under or at one side of the central pump
or barrel.
Instead of having three pump barrels, as above described I may have four or
more barrels arranged side by side, with their pistons connected with crank arms
on a suitable shaft arranged at the end of the said barrels; or instead of placing
the pump barrels side by side in a row parallel with the crank shaft I may arrange
three or more barrels radially around a central crank shaft.
It will be understood that my improved pumps may have one or more double-
acting barrels and one or more single-acting barrels; and I may so construct and
arrange the suction valves in combination with stop valves that I may stop the
supply of water to one or more of the barrels while the other barrel or barrels are
working. By this modification of my Invention the whole power of the engine
may be concentrated upon any one or more of the said barrels. The object gained
by this arrangement is the capability of starting the engine with a comparatively
low pressure of steam.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Barker Hill in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd July
1876.
"
FREDERICK BARKER HILL, of Lambeth Road, in the County of Surrey, Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR STEAM FIRE ENGINES."
My Invention relates to pumps which are chiefly designed to be used on steam
fire engines, but which may be advantageously used in all cases where it is
desirable to obtain a continuous and steady stream of water and to have a pump
which will be strong and durable with but little weight of metal, and which will
be cheap, easily put in place and removed, and whose interior will be readily
accessible for repairing or examining the valves and pistons.
My improved pump may be either single or double acting, that is to say, it may
be constructed to discharge the water only at the stroke of the piston or pistons
in one direction or at both the upward and downward or forward and backward
stroke of the piston or pistons.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a plan of three single-acting pumps.
Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the cover detached.
Figure 4 is a section of a cover for a double-acting pump.
Figure 5 is a plan or top view of a cover provided with stop valves.
"
In adapting this Invention to the purposes of a fire engine I prefer to have
three barrels a arranged side by side, the piston of each barrel being connected to
an arm of a "three-throw crank. The said barrels are preferably cast in one
piece of gun metal. The rear or lower end of this casting is an oblong piece b,
one portion of which is divided into three chambers or spaces b₁ corresponding
with the three barrels a, and in which the suction valves d work. The said
casting also has another long chamber e, in which are placed the delivery valves f.
These valve chambers or spaces are all closed by one long cover g, which is made
properly tight by leather, india-rubber, or other suitable packing. On the said
cover are cast the valve seat h, i, which project into the said chamber. The
valves are fitted to work on joint or hinge pins secured in lugs & cast on the said
seat in such a manner that they open and close freely at each stroke of the
pistons of their respective barrels. The said valves are faced with india-rubber or
similar substance to render them noiseless and to ensure their being properly tight
on their seats when closed.

page_text: It is obvious that if desirable or necessary I may provide two or more suction
and delivery valves for each barrel.
The water supply or suction pipe is connected with a hole in the centre of the
said cover at the back of the same, and the water thereby has free access to each
suction valve chamber. The delivery valves open into the long chamber provided
for them in the said casting, and the discharge or delivery aperture m is at the
front of the said long chamber and preferably under or at one side of the central
pump or barrel.
Instead of having three pump barrels, as above described, I may have four or
more barrels arranged side by side, with their pistons connected with crank arms
on a suitable shaft arranged at the end of the said barrels ; or instead of placing
the pump barrels side by side in a row parallel with a crank shaft I may arrange
three or more barrels radially around a central crank shaft.
It will be understood that my improved pumps may have one or more double-
acting barrels, as shewn in Figure 4, in which the suction passage is at the top
of the cover; a stuffing box n being cast in the cover and provided with a suitable
gland n¹ and packing to keep the rod o properly tight; or the said pumps may
have one or more double-acting barrels combined with one or more single-acting
barrels. I may so construct and arrange the aforesaid suction valves in com-
bination with stop valves p, as shewn in Figure 5, that I may stop the supply of
water to one or more of the barrels while the other barrel or barrels are working.
By this modification of my Invention the whole power of the engine may be con-
centrated upon any one or more of the said barrels. The object gained by this
arrangement is the capability of starting the engine with a comparatively low
pressure of steam.
By having the suction and delivery valves arranged as above described and
shewn, that is to say, both inclined at the same or nearly the same angle, and
opening on hinges or pivots in the same direction, I am enabled to have the valve
seats both cast on the cover, and I thereby save the cost of the skilled labour
required for fitting the valves in the cover or in the pump as heretofore, and by
having valves in close proximity to the barrel I diminish the air space, and conse-
quently obtain a better vacuum and great economy in the working of the pump and
obviate the necessity of joints at the valve seats, and the consequent leakage of
the same.
I prefer in all cases that one air vessel should be placed in the suction pipe and
the other air vessel on the delivery pipe close to the pump or pumps.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The peculiar arrangement of the hinged, pivoted, or jointed valves in
relation to the cover and pump barrel, whereby both the suction and delivery
valves open in the same direction.
Second. The cover constructed with the suction and delivery valve seats cast in
or on the same, as above specified.
Third. The combination of a stop valve or stop valves with the said suction
valves and passages, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Barker Hill, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
sight hundred and envanter nive
Witness,
LEWIS SANDERSON,
8, Southampton Bdgs.,
London.
F. B. HILL. (L.S.)