IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ANE HYDRAULIC APPARATUS FOR PUMPING. FORCING. AND MEASURING WATER AND FOR RAISING WEIGHTS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Ramsbottom, of Leeds, in the County of
York, Hydraulic Engineer, and Thomas Massey Pearce, of Bradford,
in the County aforesaid, Wool Merchant, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ANE HYDRAULIC APPARATUS FOR PUMPING. FORCING.
AND MEASURING WATER AND FOR RAISING WEIGHTS."
Sealed the 2nd November 1869, and dated the 7th May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Ramsbottom
and Thomas Massey Pearce at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 7th May 1869.
We, JOHN RAMSBOTTOM, of Leeds, in the County of York, Hydraulic
Engineer, and THOMAS MASSEY PEARCE, of Bradford, in the County
aforesaid, Wool Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM AND HYDRAULIC APPARATUS FOR
PUMPING, FORCING, AND MEASURING WATER AND FOR RAISING WEIGHTS." to be as
follows:-

page_text: a change in the water or steam ways of a single-acting steam or
hydraulic engine or meter before the piston of such engine has com-
pleted its stroke with a view to maintain the motion of such machines
without the necessity of using a fly wheel, air vessel, or other auxiliary
or expedient for that purpose.
We construct our improved valve as follows:-On the cylinder end
of a steam or water pressure pumping engine and forming a part of its
end cover we cast a small valve cylinder at right angles to the cylinder
proper, and in this valve cylinder we place a piston valve intended to be
moved longitudinally in either direction by the steam or water with
which the engine is worked, and by the motion of this piston valve the
passage ways leading to each end of the large or working cylinder are to
be reversed, but this reversing motion of the piston valve is required to
take place before the completion of the stroke of the large working piston
in either direction; and in order that the small piston valve may take
effect at the proper time a spindle with flattened sides and of a spiral form
near each end thereof is arranged so as to pass into a cavity bored up the
end of the large piston rod. The other end of this spindle is constructed
to pass through the middle of the valve cylinder across its diameter, and
is then connected to a circular or plug valve situate in a cavity at this part
cast upon the cylinder of the piston valve, the two valves thus forming the
compound valve referred to. The passage ways from the circular or plug
valve leads to opposite ends of the piston valve and supplies the water or
steam pressure to actuate the piston valve longitudinally. The middle
portion of the piston valve covers and opens passages in its casing com-
municating with each end of the large cylinder in manner similar to an
ordinary slide valve, but with curved cylindrical sides. The flattened
spindle working into the end of the large piston rod passes through two
parallel guides on entering the bored portion of the piston end, and as the
piston when working approaches either end of its stroke these guides
impinge at these points on the spiral parts of the spindle and cause it to
turn partially round on its axis together with the plug or circular valve
with which it is connected. The effect of this is to admit steam or water
to the opposite end of the piston valve to that previously supplied, and to
thus reverse the said valve together with the motion of the large working
piston before its stroke is quite completed. The apparatus is also avail-
able for working hydraulic presses and for raising weights. In raising
weights by water pressure by the machinery known as the ram lift the
weight of the ram has heretofore formed a portion of the load to be raised,

page_text: and frequently the largest portion for which the water has been
expended, and the ram arrangement is otherwise bulky and inconvenient.
The second part of this Invention is intended to economise this exces-
sive water consumption and to secure increased compactness, convenience,
and efficiency in apparatus for lifting weights by water pressure. We
apply valves as above described to a cylinder bored out and containing a
piston with two piston rods extending therefrom outside the cylinder, and
on the ends of these rods we affix a cross head carrying one or more
sheave pulleys. Across this cylinder top we place a shaft in bearings also
carrying one or more pulleys, one of which is keyed fast to the shaft,
and on the end of the shaft we fix a winding drum of large diameter
carrying the chain or rope leading to the gib and weight or hoist box to
be raised. In some cases it may be necessary for the valve to be
worked by hand in one direction and by a lever and weight in the
opposite direction. When the valve is moved supplying water to the
cylinder the piston rises and carries upwards the sheave pulley or pulleys.
on the cross head of the piston rods. A strong chain attached at one end
to the cylinder passes over these pulleys and underneath and around the
other sheaved pulleys on the shaft carrying the winding drum, its
opposite end being secured to the pulley keyed fast on the said shaft.
The motion of the piston is thus caused to give a highly accelerated
motion to the winding drum and to the weight being raised, while a
stroke of limited length only is described by the piston, which compared
with rams as heretofore constructed is much lighter and more compact.
The measurement of the amount of water used is effected by connecting
indicating apparatus herewith, it not being necessary to employ a meter
or separate machine for that purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Ramsbottom and Thomas Massey Pearce
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd November 1869.
We, JoHx
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME,
RAMSBOTTOM, of Leeds, in the County of York, Hydraulic Engineer;
and THOMAS MASSEY PEARCE, of Bradford, in the County aforesaid, Wool
Merchant, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said John Ramsbottom and Thomas Massey
Pearce, Her special licence that we, the said John Ramsbottom and
Thomas Massey Pearce, our exccutors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as we, the said John Ramsbottom and Thomas Massey
Pearce, our 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 STEAM AND HYDRAULIC APPARATUS FOR PUMPING. FORCING.
AND MEASURING WATER AND FOR RAISING WEIGHTS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said John Ramsbottom and Thomas
Massey l'earce, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under we, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should parti-
cularly 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 Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Ramsbottom and Thomas
Massey Pearce, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The first part of these improvements relate to an improved compound
valve and the mode of actuating the same, the object of which is to
effect a change in the water or steam ways of a single-acting steam
or hydraulic engine or meter before the piston of such engine has
completed its stroke, with a view to maintain the motion of such
machines without the necessity of using a fly wheel, air vessel, or other
auxiliary or expedient for that purpose.
We construct our improved valve as follows:-On the cylinder end
of a steam or water pressure pumping engine, and forming a part of
its end cover, we cast a small valve cylinder at right angles to the
cylinder proper, and in this valve cylinder we place a piston valve
intended to be moved longitudinally in either direction by the steam or

page_text: water with which the engine is worked, and by the motion of this
piston valve the passage ways leading to each end of the large or
working cylinder are to be reversed, but this reversing motion of the
piston valve is required to take place before the completion of the stroke
of the large working piston in either direction; and in order that the
small piston valve may take effect at the proper time a spindle with
flattened sides and of a spiral form near each end thereof is arranged
so as to pass into a cavity bored up the end of the large piston rod.
The other end of this spindle is constructed to pass through the middle
of the valve cylinder across its diameter, and is then connected to a
circular or plug valve situate in a cavity at this part cast upon the
cylinder of the piston valve, the two valves thus forming the com-
pound valve referred to. The passage ways from the circular or plug
valve leads to opposite ends of the piston valve and supplies the water
or steam pressure to actuate the piston valve longitudinally. The
middle portion of the piston valve covers and opens passages in its
casing communicating with each end of the large cylinder, in manner
similar to an ordinary slide valve but with curved cylindrical sides.
The flattened spindle working into the end of the large piston rod
passes through two parallel guides on entering the bored portion of the
piston end, and as the piston when working approaches either end of its
stroke these guides impinge at these points on the spiral parts of the
spindle, and cause it to turn partially round on its axis together with
the plug or circular valve with which it is connected. The effect of this
is to admit steam or water to the opposite end of the piston valve to
that previously supplied, and to thus reverse the said valve together with
the motion of the large working piston before its stroke is quite com
pleted. The apparatus is also available for working hydraulic presses
and for raising weights. In raising weights by water pressure by the
machinery known as the ram lift the weight of the ram has heretofore
formed a portion of the load to be raised, and frequently the largest
portion for which the water has been expended, and the ram arrange-
ment is otherwise bulky and inconvenient.
The second part of this Invention is intended to economise this exces-
sive water consumpt and to secure increased compactness, convenience,
and efficiency in apparatus for lifting weights by water pressure.
We apply valves as above described to a cylinder bored out and con-
taining a piston with two piston rods extending therefrom outside the
cylinder, and on the ends of these rods we affix a cross head carrying one

page_text: or more sheave pulleys. Across this cylinder top we place a shaft in
bearings also carrying one or more pulleys, one of which is keyed fast
to the shaft, and on the end of the shaft we fix a winding drum of large
diameter carrying the chain or rope leading to the gib and weight or
hoist box to be raised. In some cases it may be necessary for the valve
to be worked by hand in one direction and by a lever and weight in the
opposite direction. When the valve is moved supplying water to the
cylinder the piston rises and carries upwards the sheave pully or pulleys
on the cross head of the piston rods. A strong chain attached at one
end to the cylinder passes over these pulleys, and underneath and around
the other sheaved pulleys on the shaft carrying the winding drum, its
opposite end being secured to the pully keyed fast on said shaft. The
motion of the piston is thus caused to give a highly accelerated motion
to the winding drum and to the weight being raised, while a stroke of
limited length only is described by the piston, which compared with rams
as heretofore constructed is much lighter and more compact.
measurement of the amount of the water used is effected by connecting
indicating apparatus herewith, it not being necessary to employ a meter
or separate machine for that purpose.
The
Such being the nature and object of this our said Invention, we will
now proceed to describe the same fully and in detail, and in order that
the same may be distinctly understood we have hereunto annexed two
Sheets of Drawings and have marked the same with figures and letters
of reference.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, are views of this compound valve. Figure 1 is a
sectional view shewing the valve as if cut through the middle of its
length, and exhibits that portion which is perforated to permit the
passage of the twisted bar which passes through the compound valves and
outside stuffing box to the small reversing hand wheel. This twisted bar
or spindle passes freely through the slide valve (A), but is made fast to the
reversing or plug valve (B) so as to give motion thereto when turned par-
tially round by the piston motion at each end of the stroke. Figure 1 shows
this compound valvular arrangement and mode of actuation as applied
to a water pressure pumping engine. The piston (C) being continued
from the working cylinder into the pump cylinder (D), and in order to
prevent the piston from turning round by the action of twisting the bar,
a stay piece (E) is attached to the piston rod and slides within a grooved

page_text: rail fixed upon the bed plate. Figure 2 shews the twisted bar (F) as with-
drawn from its sheath in the piston rod and exposing its broadest side.
This view also shows a cross section at right angles to Figure 1; and
Figure 3 a section of the same cut through the side. (G, G,) shows the
piston portions of the valve and (H, H,) the valve proper; (i, i,) Figures 1
and 3, are the feed orifices to the valves, and (J) the exit orifices from the
valves to the outlet pipe (K, K). Figure 2 are the passages leading from
the plug valve to the piston portions of the slide valve for the purpose
of giving motion thereto horizontally, and these passages are changed
from feed to exit passages as the plug valve B is reversed by the twisted
bar; Figure 4 is an end view of the plug valve B and passage ways.
It will be seen that water entering the compound valve, Figure 1, under
pressure would be free to pass from (1) to the plug valve, and thence
through (K), Figure 2, to that end of the piston valve, and after giving
horizontal motion to this piston valve would then be free to pass through
(K), Figure 3, to its end or the working cylinder and give motion to the
piston; the water on the opposite side of the piston would then be free to
escape outwards by (K2) and (J) to the waste pipe on the piston
approaching the end of the cylinder, the parallel guides or slott plate
shewn in Figure 5 on the end of the piston through which the twisted
bar passes. This parallel portion impinges on the twisted portion of
said bar, and causes it to turn partially round; this action being trans-
mitted to the plug valve causes its reversion, and the water pressure thus
changed to the opposite end of the piston valve, which is thereby moved
in the reverse direction and its water ways consequently changed, thus
causing the piston to commence its return stroke, and so the motion is
continued.
Now it will be easily seen that this mode of actuating valves directly
from the piston is not only available in the case above referred to, but is
capable of very extensive application, and in many circumstances it will
be found preferable to apply this mction to various kinds of engines
working by steam, water, heated air, or gas, and by a simple modification,
as shewn in Figure 6 (spiral springs are employed, as shewn, to reduce
concussion), it may
be made available for actuating the ordinary slide or
other valve in a rectilinear manner, thus avoiding the necessity of using
the eccentric, connecting rod, stuffing box, or brackets.
Figure 7 shows the plan adapted to a single-acting steam pumping
engine or injector arranged for fastening against the side of a steam

page_text: boiler. The ram 1 portion of the piston passing through a metallic
stuffing box 2 into the pump chamber 3, a plate 4 being fixed on the
end of the ram 1 working in guide 5 affixed to the chamber side for
the purpose of preventing the piston from turning round when reversing
the plug valve 6, which in this case may be a single and not a compound
valve as would be required for water power. The motion imparted by
the piston to the twisted bar 7 reverses the steam ways (Figures 8 and 9),
and changes the direction of the piston, there being sufficient expansive
force in the steam to accomplish the changes of the valve across the
ports without stoppage. The small hand wheels 10 on the end of the
twisted spindle are to enable the motion to be reversed by hand if
requisite.
Figure 8 shows the arrangement applied to work an hydraulic press.
The water pressure cylinder 1 being fixed on the top of the pump 2 gives
motion to the pump piston. The inlet pipe 3 is the pipe receiving water
from the tank 4, and the pump piston forcing it through the outlet
pipe 5 to the press cylinders as is ordinarily done.
Figure 9 shows the plan as applied to working pump rods for pumping
from mines or of giving of rectilinear motion generally to any kind of
machinery by means of water power, or imparting alternate motion for
raising weights or measuring fluids, recording such motion by any
ordinary indicating gear. The compound valve 1 on the end of cylinder 2
with twisted bar 3 and working piston 4, with large ram-shaped piston 5
working in guides 6, the ram shape being employed to diminish the
consumpt of water on the "return stroke." The connecting rods 7 on
each side of the guide rods are attached to the pump rods
machinery.
or other
Figure 10 is an application to a vertical cylinder 1, with slide bars 2
and connecting rod 3 at top the for pumping or other uses, the valve 4 in
this case being placed below the cylinder and indicating gear in case 5,
as shewn at the top, the descent of piston transmitting motion to the
cross lever 6 on the cover, which is then recorded by ratchet within
gear
the index box in the manner in which such motion is usually
obtained.
Figure 11 shows another modification of this principle of actuating
valves by the direct action of the piston. 1 and 2 show two cylinders
in one of which 1 the piston 4 is attached directly to the main piston;
5 and 6 is the piston valve in small cylinder 2 placed beneath.
The

page_text: notion of the large or working piston is transferred to the small or
pneumatic piston 4, and 6 and 7 are two apertures in cylinder 1 over
which the piston 4 travels as it moves backwards and forwards; and this
piston, after passing these apertures, is free to compress the air remaining
in this cylinder, which would then issue through the orifices 8 and 9
into cylinder 2, and actuate the piston valve 6 by the pressure of air so
compressed.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this our
said Invention for improvements in steam and hydraulic apparatus for
pumping, forcing, and measuring water and for raising weights, we
wish it to be understood that what we claim is, the peculiar construction
of valvular mechanism, as herein shewn and described, whether as a
bar twisted only at or near each end thereof, or as a rod with collar or
piston thereon (as shewn at Figure 6 and 11, moved rectilinearly by the
piston when approaching the termination of each stroke, or, as in
Figure 11, throughout the stroke, for the purpose of effecting changes in
the steam or water ways of single cylinder steam or water engines
or meters, so as to maintain the motion of such machines without the
necessity of using a fly wheel, air vessel, or other equivalent mechanism
by the direct application of the piston's motion. And we also claim
the combined arrangements of parts for purposes in the several machines,
as herein described and shewn in the Drawings, or any mere modification
of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Ramsbottom, for and on behalf
of myself and the said Thomas Massey Pearce, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
0
Witness,
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Patent Agent,
Halifax & Blackburn.
JOHN RAMSBOTTOM. (L.S.)