IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Edwards, of 22, Buckingham Street,
Adelphi, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer, for the Inven-
6.
tion of IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS."
Sealed the 2nd February 1869, and dated the 6th August 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Edwards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th August 1868.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of 22, Buckingham Street, Adelphi, in the City
of Westminster, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS," to be as follows:-
These improvements are in that kind of pump known as the
diaphragm pump, and consist in making the several parts of the pump
of such materials and in such a manner that they may be put together
in their rough state with little or no fitting, and be then ready for
immediate work, and at the same time be cheaper, more durable, and
more efficient than such pumps as heretofore made. For small hand
CD 017

page_text: pumps for domestic or other use this Invention consists of a tube of
cast iron or other material of suitable height the upper part of which
is expanded into a cup shape having a flange at the top. Upon this
tube is placed another of larger diameter having a corresponding flange
at the bottom, and the two are screwed together by small screws or
bolts with a ring of flexible material (which I prefer of vulcanized
india-rubber) between them which thus forms a water-tight joint
between the two. In the upper part of the lower tube and just below
the cup-shaped part of it I cast or make a horizontal plate perforated
with holes which forms the seat of a flexible valve and across the top
of this plate or valve seat I make a bar having a perforation through
it of sufficient length and depth to allow a disc of india-rubber or other
flexible material to be passed through it, which is held down by the
bar and being allowed to bend up upon each side of the bar forms a
water-tight valve opening upwards. The centre aperture of the flexible
ring which forms the joint between the upper and lower tube flanges,
as described, is closed by a plate having similar perforations in it to
those in the lower valve seat and having also a bar across it with a
perforation through which a similar flexible disc or valve to the lower
one may be passed, which thus forms a second water-tight valve in
the centre of the flexible ring described, and also opening upwards. In
the side of the upper tube is an opening or spout through which the
fluid raised is discharged, and at the upper part of the same tube is
an opening so arranged that a handle may be passed through it, and
having a bracket through which a pin may be passed which also passes
through a hole in the handle, thus forming a joint upon which the latter
may turn. One end of the bar by which the upper valve is held down
is continued upwards and is formed at the top into a joint which is
connected by a pin to the inner end of the handle. By working the
handle the flexible ring with the valve and plate attached to it is thus
bent up and down, its flexibility being sufficient to allow the movement
of the joint connecting it to the handle without any connecting rod
or link between them. The top of the pump may be closed by a loose
cover of any convenient or ornamental shape. And where it is required
that the pump should not only lift a fluid but also force it up to any
height above the pump or to any distance, I make the upper tube
smaller at its top, and I make no discharge opening or spout at its side.
To the top I connect a pipe of suitable size and material through which
the fluid may be forced to any requisite height or distance. In this

page_text: pump
way when the handle is depressed the fluid is not only pumped up
through the lower valve, but is also lifted or forced through the upper
pipe, there being no other aperture for its escape.
And in order to
prevent the fluid passing through the joint upon which the handle
turns, I make the bracket which forms the joint and is attached to the
upper tube circular in vertical section, and I make a ring of similar
diameter upon the handle outside the bracket and close to it, and I
pass a short piece of flexible tube over the bracket and ring to both
of which it is firmly fixed. This tube thus forms a flexible joint which
enables the handle to be readily worked and at the same time forms a
perfectly water-tight joint, even under great pressure, and prevents any
of the fluid from escaping at the opening through which the handle
passes. And sometimes I place the handle and flexible joint below
the flexible ring and plate and upper valve, but above the lower valve.
And where acid or corrosive fluids, or others which require to be kept
perfectly pure, are used, I prefer to make the of earthenware,
glass, or similar material which will not be affected by the fluids used,
the flexible ring and valves being made of india-rubber. And if double
acting pumps be required I sometimes make another disc or ring of
flexible material fixed above and only half the area of the first, as shewn
in the annexed Drawing, or I make a double set of valves of the same
construction as those already described so that the water or other fluid
may be raised both in the up and down stroke of the handle of the
pump, and I prefer to connect the bottom end of the pumps with the
suction tubes through which the fluid is drawn by means of short
tubes of india-rubber or flexible material, one end of such tubes being
passed over the bottom of the pump and the other end over the end
of the suction tube, and I prefer to connect the upper end of the force
pumps in the same way to the tube through which the fluid is to be
forced, or I make a union. joint by means of a flange at the bottom of
the pump having on its upper surface two or more slightly inclined
planes, a loose ring is passed over a similar flange upon the suction
pipe and has lugs upon it which when it is turned round are forced up
the inclined plane and so draw the flanges together. By the novel
arrangements herein described I make pumps of great efficiency at much
less cost than any heretofore made, inasmuch as the castings or tubes,
&c. may be taken in their rough state with the flexible rings and valves
as described, and may be rapidly screwed together with little or no
fitting and are then thoroughly efficient, durable, and cheap.

page_text: In the annexed Drawings Fig. 1 represents a small hand pump con-
structed according to this Invention.
A is a tube or barrel of suitable height, the upper part of which is
expanded into a cup shape B with a flange. Upon this tube or barrel
another of larger diameter C is fixed with a ring of flexible material D
between the two. In the lower tube A just below the cup-shaped part B
is a horizontal plate E perforated with holes upon which a flexible disc F
is placed, which thus forms a valve, being held down by a bar G across
the centre. This is shewn separately in plan in Fig. 2, where F is the
flexible disc or valve resting upon the plate perforated with holes, shewn
in dotted lines at E, E, E, E, G being the bar which holds the valve in
its place. A plate H perforated with holes and having a valve held
down by a bar in the same way as the valve F is attached to the centre
of the flexible ring D, and one end of the bar is prolonged upwards and
formed at the top into a joint fitting upon the handle I; this handle turns
upon a centre K at the top of the upper tube C. A discharging spout L
is formed in the side of the tube C a little above the level of the upper
valve, and the top of the pump is closed by a cover M. A suction pipe
is connected to the bottom of the pump N by a coupling of india-rubber
or flexible tube, or in any other suitable way. Where it is required that
the pump should force as well as lift I adopt the arrangement shewn in
Fig. 3, where A is the upper tube fitting upon the flexible ring and the
flange of the lower tube (Fig. 1). This tube A is contracted in diameter
at the upper part, where there is an opening B through which the fluid
is forced (which opening may, if required, be at the side instead of the
top), and in order to prevent the escape of the fluid through the joint C
upon which the handle I turns I make the joint C circular in transverse
section, and I form a ring D upon the handle I near the joint C. I pass
a short piece of strong flexible tube E over the joint C and the ring I,
and attach its ends firmly to them.
In this way a perfectly water-tight
joint is formed which is at the same time sufficiently flexible to allow
the movement of the handle I. And if a double-acting pump be required,
so that an equal quantity of fluid may be forced during the upstroke and
the downstroke of the handle, I sometimes use the arrangement shewn
in Fig. 4, where B is a flexible ring of half the area of the lower one A
containing the valve as already described, and the two rings are con-
nected together as shewn; C is the passage through which the fluid is
discharged. Where acid fluids or others requiring to be kept pure are to

page_text: be pumped I make the tubes and handle of earthenware, glass, or other
material which will not be corroded, and the valves and flexible rings of
india-rubber, and in such cases I sometimes connect the flexible ring to
the plate carrying the upper valve in the way shewn at Fig. 5, by making
a deep recess A round the edge of the plate D, in which the ring C is
held by its own elasticity. For ships' pumps or other purposes in which
large quantities of fluid are required to be raised or forced I use similar
arrangements to those above described, but I make the handles or levers
of such a form or arrangement that any convenient power may be applied
to work them. And sometimes I attach a pump of the kind above
described to an ordinary sponging or other bath, and I attach a flexible
tube to the aperture through which the water is delivered, and to the
end of such flexible tube I fix a sponge or porous substance. In this
way the bather can use the sponge through which a stream of water is
passed by means of the pump, the same water being used continuously.
And sometimes I use ordinary pumps in the same way and for the same
purpose, or I apply this apparatus to the washing of wood or other
materials.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edmund Edwards in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th February 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDMUND
EDWARDS, of 22, Buckingham Street, Adelphi, in the City of West-
minster, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Edmund Edwards, Her special licence that
the said Edmund Edwards, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Edmund Edwards, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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

page_text: Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPLOVEMENTS IN PUMPS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edmund Edwards, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly 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 I, the said Edmund Edwards, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :-
This Invention consists in making lift or force pumps with flexible
rings instead of pistons or plungers, and flexible discs or plates for
valves, and in making the several parts of pumps of such materials and
in such manner that they may be put together in their rough state with
little or no fitting, and may then be ready for immediate use, and may
be cheaper, more durable, and more efficient than such pumps as here-
tofore made. For ordinary lift pumps I make a tube of metal or other
material of suitable height, the upper part of which is expanded into a
cup shape and has a flange at the top; upon this tube I place another
of larger diameter having a corresponding flange at the bottom, and
I fasten the two flanges together with screws or bolts with a ring of
flexible material between them, 'which thus forms a water-tight joint
between the two; and I make this flexible ring of any suitable material,
such as vulcanized india-rubber; but for considerable lifts I prefer to
make it of a compound of vulcanized india-rubber with layers of canvas
or other suitable fabric or of leather; and where very great strength is
required I sometimes use flexible or corrugated rings of metal. In the
upper part of the lower tube, and in a recess just below the cup-shaped
part of it, I cast or make a horizontal plate perforated with holes which
forms the seat of a flexible valve, and across the top of this plate or
valve seat I make a bar having a perforation through it of sufficient
length and depth to allow a disc of india-rubber or other flexible material
to be passed through it, which disc being held down by the bar, but
allowed to bend up on each side of it, forms a water-tight valve opening
upwards. The centre aperture of the flexible ring already described,
which forms the joint between the upper and lower flanges of the pump,

page_text: is closed by a plate having similar perforations in it to those in the lower
valve seat, and having also a bar across it with a perforation through
which may be passed a disc or valve similar to the lower one already
described. I thus form a second water-tight valve opening upwards .in
the centre of the flexible ring described which is screwed or held fast
between the plate just described and a ring of metal or other suitable
material below. And sometimes instead of making the lower valve seat
as described I make the opening completely through the lower tube, and
I drop or fit into a suitable recess a perforated plate or valve seat upon
which the valve may rest, and I make the bar which holds the valve down
a separate piece, and I make the recess into which the bar fits dovetailed
and wedge-shaped, so that the bar being dropped into its place over the
valve through an opening left for the purpose, and being then partially
twisted round horizontally, becomes wedged into its proper position,
whence it may be easily removed if required, or I screw down the bar;
and sometimes I make the upper valve seat and bar in a similar way.
And sometimes instead of making the upper valve seat and bar in the
upper plate, as first described, I make the valve seat in the centre of the
lower ring, which holds the flexible ring, and in this case I make the valve
seat project above the remainder of the ring, so that it may if required
be easily faced, and I make the bar across the valve in the upper plate,
and sometimes I prevent the valve from working off its seat by a round
or square pin passing loosely through its centre and through the centre
of the valve seat; and sometimes instead of the method just described
I make the cross bar above the valve consist of three or more arms.
radiating from the centre, so that whilst the valve is sufficiently flexible
to be passed between two of these arms the space between them is
sufficiently small to prevent the valve from working off its seat sub-
sequently, and I make these arms sufficiently high above the valve seat
to allow the valve to rise completely off its seat when it opens instead of
bending up between the arms; and sometimes I place a plate of the
same or less diameter than the valve above the valve and attached to it
or loose. When the two tubes are thus secured together with the flexible
ring, platės, valves, &c. in their places, if the centre rings between
which the flexible ring is secured and to which the upper valve is
attached be made to rise and fall vertically (thus bending up and down
alternately the flexible ring) any fluid into which the lower end of the
lower tube dips (at a depth of not more than about thirty feet) will be
raised as by an ordinary pump and discharged through the
upper valve

page_text: into the upper tube which forms a kind of reservoir for it. In the side
of this upper tube I make an opening or spout through which the fluid
raised is discharged, and this spout may be of any convenient size or
length or position. And in order to raise and lower alternately the two
rings with the centre of the flexible ring fixed between them and the
upper valve and seat attached I make in the side of the upper part of
the upper tube an opening so arranged that a handle may be passed
'through it, and having a bracket attached through which a pin may be
passed, which also passes through a hole in the handle and forms a joint
'upon which the latter may turn in the usual way; and I make an inner
"end to the handle of such a length that when the full stroke of the outer
handle is given the inner. end may have the amount of vertical stroke
which it is-wished to give to the rings, valve, and flexible ring above
'described, and.I continue upwards one end of the cross bar by which the
upper valve is held down, and form it into a joint which is connected
by a pin to the inner end of the handle, as above described, the
flexibility of the flexible ring being sufficient to allow the movement
of the joint connecting it to the handle without any connection rod or
link beween them. And when necessary I make a lateral projection
upon the end of the cross bars which is continued upwards, as just
described, which projection may bear upon the inside of the upper tube
of the pump, and thus prevent any undue stretching of the flexible ring
during its upward stroke, on account of the connection to the handle
being from the side and not from the centre of the upper plate. And
sometimes I fix a roller to the projection above described, in order that
the friction may be lessened. And I close the upper part of the pump
'by a loose cover of any convenient or ornamental shape. And where it
is required that there should be some means of altering the angular
position of the handle in relation to the spout in horizontal plan, I
make the bracket which carries the handle and upon which the latter
turns loose, so that it may be brought round into any required position
and there fixed, as shewn in the Drawings (Figure 8) hereunto annexed;
and sometimes when it is required to move the handle round thus I
unscrew the flanges between which the flexible ring is fixed, and turn
round the latter with the rings, upper valve, and handle into the new
position required, and I then screw the flanges together again. Or I
make à vertical pin rising from the centre of the bar or bars which hold
down the upper valve, and I make the lower end of the rod to which
the handle is attached embrace this vertical pin, either partially or

page_text: entirely, so that the handle, the bracket to which it is connected, and
the rod connected to the inner end of the handle may be turned together.
round the vertical. pin into any required position without moving the
flexible ring. And sometimes I continue the vertical pin upwards, and
guide it by allowing it to pass through a hole in the cover of the pump
or in a suitable bracket. And sometimes instead of a moveable bracket
to carry the handle, as described, I make the bracket form part of a
separate ring, which rests upon the top of the upper pump tube, and may
be screwed or clamped to the latter in any required position; or I attach
the bracket carrying the handle to the cover of the pump, and make the
joint at the inner end of the handle over the centre of the flexible ring,
and after turning the handle and cover horizontally into any required
position I screw the cover down firmly to the upper tube. And some-
times I attach the spout to a loose ring which fits outside the upper tube
of the pump, and may be screwed down or clamped into any required
position; and I leave in this case a number of holes in the upper tube
inside this loose ring at the same level as the spout, so that the fluid
may be able to pass through in any position of the latter. And where
it is required that the pump should not only lift water or other fluid,
but should also force it up to any height above the pump, or to any
distance, I contract the upper tube at its top, and I make no dis-
charging spout at its side, but I connect to the top a pipe of suitable
size and material, through which the fluid may be forced to the height
and distance required. In this way when the handle is depressed the
fluid is not only pumped up through the lower valve, but is also lifted or
forced through the upper pipe, there being no other aperture for its
escape. In such force pumps it is necessary to prevent the water or
other fluid from passing through and escaping from the joint upon which
the handle turns. For this purpose where the height to which the fluid
has to be lifted is small, I make the bracket which forms the joint
upon which the handle turns circular in vertical transverse section, and
I make a ring upon the handle outside (or sometimes inside) the bracket,
and I pass a short piece of flexible tube over the bracket and ring, to
both of which it is firmly fixed. This tube thus forms a flexible joint,
which enables the handle to be readily worked, and at the same time
forms a perfectly water-tight joint under pressure, and prevents the
escape of any of the fluid at the opening through which the handle
passes. And where the fluid has to be forced to a greater height or
distance, and its pressure is consequently great, I form the joint upon

page_text: which the handle turns into a stuffing box, which may be of the usual
kind; but I prefer to make such stuffing box in the way shown in
the annexed Drawings (Figures 14 and 15) consisting of a spindle or
bar turning horizontally, and having a short arm inside the pump
fixed upon the spindle, and the handle fitted upon a square part
of the spindle outside the pump, and I fix the handle upon the spindle
by means of a nut upon the end of the latter, which is screwed for
the purpose, and I place a loose ring upon the spindle between the
handle and the stuffing box, so that the handle is pressed by the
nut described against the ring, which thus compresses some suitable
packing in the stuffing box, and makes a water-tight joint. And some-
times I place the handle and flexible joint or stuffing box below the
flexible ring and upper valve, but above the lower valve, and sometimes
I make the lower valve in the plate in the centre of the flexible ring
and the upper valve separate in the discharge or delivery pipe, and
I work the flexible ring, &c. by connecting the handle either above
or below it. Or sometimes instead of making the handle form part
of the pump 1 place it at any suitable height or distance, and connect
in to the flexible disc, or in the case of force pumps to a lever where
the handle is ordinarily placed by means of rods or wires.
And if
double-acting pumps are required so that a part of the fluid to be raised
may be lifted in the down stroke of the handle and a part in the up stroke,
I sometimes make another disc or ring of flexible material fixed above
and only half the area of the first, as shewn in the annexed Drawing
(Figure 18). 'Or I make a double set of valves of similar construction
to those already described, so that the fluid may be raised both by the
up and down stroke of the handle of the pump. And sometimes I make
the flexible ring, as already described, without the valve in the centre,
and I make the delivery pipe for the fluid pumped in the space between
the flexible ring and the lower valve; and I place the upper valve in
the delivery pipe so that the fluid is forced through it when the flexible
ring and plate described are depressed. And I make the upper plate to
which the flexible ring is attached of such a cup shape that when
depressed it may press against the whole surface of the latter, which is
thus prevented from being stretched by the pressure of the fluid. And
sometimes I use the pump with flexible rings, as described, for the
purpose of pumping or exhausting air, gas, or other elastic fluids, and
I then make the valves of any suitable form, size, and material. And
where acid or corrosive fluid or other which require to be kept perfectly

page_text: pure are pumped, I make the different pumps, as above described, of
earthenware, glass, or enamelled metai, or other material which will not
be affected by the fluids used, the flexible ring and valves being of india-
rubber, or of canvas, or other suitable substance coated with india-
rubber, or of flexible or corrugated plates of silver, platinum, or other
substance not liable to corrosion; or I use tubes of earthenware, metal,
or glass, and buckets as herein-after described. And I prefer to connect
the bottom end of the pumps, as above described, with the suction tubes
through which the fluid is driven by means of short tubes of india..
rubber or flexible material, and I connect the upper end of the force
pump in the same way to the tube through which the fluid is to be
forced; or I connect the tubes to the pump by means of flanches and
bolts in the usual way. And sometimes I prefer to connect them by
means of union joints consisting of a flange at the bottom of the pump
having on its upper surface two or more slightly inclined planes. A
loose ring is passed over a flange upon the end of the suction pipe, and
has two lugs upon it, which when it is turned round are forced up the
inclined planes, and so draw the flanges together, and a suitable india-
rubber or other packing being placed between them a tight joint is thus
made. And I use a similar method to connect the delivery pipe to the
force pump. And for ships' pumps, fire engines, or other purposes where
it is required to lift large quantities of water I use similar arrangements
to those already described, but I make the handles or levers of such form
and arrangement that any convenient power may be applied to work
them, and, if necessary, 1 add air vessels to them. And for baths or
for the purpose of washing wood or other substances I connect the ends
of flexible tubes to the delivery pipes of force pumps, as above described,
or of other pumps or reservoirs, and to the other end of such flexible
tubes I attach sponge or other suitable porous or perforated substance,
so that the fluid may be discharged into the interior of such porous sub-
stance, through which it passes as required. In illustration of this
Invention the accompanying Sheets of Drawings contain Figures exhibit-
ing some of the forms and arrangements which I give to pumps con-
structed according to my Invention.
Figure 1 represents a hand-lift pump constructed according to this
Invention. A is a tube or barrel, of any suitable length or height, the
upper part B being expanded into a cup shape, with a flange at the top,
C is another tube of larger diameter, having a corresponding flange at

page_text: the bottom. The two flanges are bolted or screwed together with the
ring of flexible material D between them. E is a horizontal plate
perforated with holes, which forms the seat of a flexible valve F, and
across the top of this valve seat I make the bar G, having a perforation
through which the flexible valve F is passed, a notch being cut in the
latter to prevent it working off its seat, as shown in plan in Figure 2.
The centre of the flexible ring D is held fast between the plate H above
and the ring I below; the centre of the plate H has perforations and a
bar across it forming a valve seat, similar to the lower valve seat E, and
a similar valve K is placed upon this upper valve seat.
Figure 3 shews another method of making the lower valve seat, A
being a loose perforated plate or seat, which is dropped into the recess B.
The valve C rests partly upon the plate or seat A and partly upon the
edge of the recess B. I make the bar D which holds down the valve
loose, and I fix it into place by making the recess into which it fits
dovetailed in section and wedge-shaped, as shewn in plan, Figure 4, so
that the bar D being dropped into its place through openings E, E, left
for the purpose is then turned partially round, and so wedged fast.
Figure 5 shews another method in which I make the upper valve seat,
in the lower of the two rings which hold the flexible ring between them.
B is the valve seat forming the centre of the ring A and raised a little
above it; C is the valve which is held down by the bar D, on the upper
ring E, and may be prevented from working off its seat by a pin passed
loosely through its centre and through the valve seat B.
Figure 6 shews another arrangement of this upper seat in which the
cross bar above the valve consists of three arms radiating from the centre
and holding the valve loosely between them; L, Figure 1, is a spout in
the side of the upper tube C which may be of any convenient size, length,
or position; M is a bracket and opening at the top of the upper tube C
forming a centre upon which the handle N may turn upon a pin as
shewn; O is the inner end of the handle, and is of such a length that
when the full stroke of the outer handle is given the inner end may
have the amount of stroke which it is wished to give to the flexible
ring D, the rings H and I, and the upper valve K; the end O is connected
by a joint to the upper end of the bar P which is a continuation upwards
of the end of the cross bar over the upper valve; R, Figure 1, is a lateral
projection on the side of the bar P which works against the inside of the

page_text: upper tube C, and prevents any undue stretching of the flexible ring D
during the upward stroke.
Figure 7 shews a roller which may be used in any of the arrangements
of pumps instead of the projection R, shewn in Figure 1, for guiding the
bar P; S, Figure 1, is a loose cover by which the top of the pump is
closed.
Figure 8 shews an arrangement by which the angular position hori-
zontally of the handle relatively to the spout can be altered. A is the
bracket upon which the handle N turns; it is loose instead of forming
part of the upper tube C of the pump, and can be moved into any
position round the latter, and is fixed in the required position by the
screw B or in any other convenient way; a flange E is made round the
inside or outside of the top of the tube C with the exception of the part
immediately over the spout where an opening is left by which the
bracket A can be introduced. And in order that the position of the
bracket and handle may be altered if required without moving the
flexible ring D, I make a vertical pin F rising from the centre of the bar
or bars which hold down the upper valve, and I make the lower end of
the rod P to which the handle is attached embrace this vertical pin either
partially or entirely as shewn at G, so that the handle N, the bracket A,
and the rod P may be turned together round the vertical pin F into any
required position.
Figure 9 shows another arrangement instead of a roller for guiding the
bar P. And sometimes I make the bracket upon which the handle turns
form part of a separate ring which can be turned round and fixed in any
position, as shewn in Figure 10; or I attach the bracket carrying the
handle to the cover of the pump, and make the joint at the inner end
of the handle over the centre of the flexible ring, as shewn in Figure 11,
where A is the cover which can be turned round and fixed in any
required position. Or sometimes I make the spout form part of a
separate ring which fits outside the upper tube of the pump, and may
be screwed down into any required position, as shewn in Figure 12, and
in this case I make a number of holes in the inner tube as shewn at A,
A, A, so that the fluid may pass through the spout in any position of the
latter.

page_text: below the pump, but has also to be forced to any height above it or to
any distance from it.
A is the lower tube and valve of the pump as in those already described.
B is the upper tube which is contracted at the top and has no discharg
ing spout at the side, to the top C I connect a pipe through which the
fluid may be forced to the height and distance required. In this way when
the handle is depressed the fluid is forced through the pipe, there being
no other aperture for its escape. And in order to prevent the fluid from
escaping at the joint E upon which the handle turns, I make the bracket
ór joint E circular in transverse section, and I make a ring F upon the
handle outside (or sometimes inside) the bracket, and I pass a short
piece of flexible tube G over the bracket and ring, to both of which it is
firmly fixed. And in order to prevent this flexible tube G from being
expanded by the pressure of the fluid within, I sometimes surround it
outside with a casing of wire or rings of metal or other suitable sub-
stance. And where the fluid has to be forced to a great height or dis-
tance I use a stuffing box which may be of any ordinary form, but which
I prefer to make in the manner shewn in Figures 14 and 15, where A is
a spindle turning horizontally, and having an arm B fixed upon the
spindle A inside the pump C, and the handle D fixed upon a square
part of the spindle A outside the pump C by means of the nut E,
and I make a loose ring F upon the spindle A, so that when the
nut is screwed up it may press the ring F against suit-
able. packing placed in the recess G, and thus form a water-
tight joint. And sometimes I place the handle and flexible
joint or stuffing box below the flexible ring and upper valve, but
above the lower valve. And sometimes I place the lower valve in the
centre of the Hexible ring and the upper valve in the delivery pipe,
and I place the handle and joint below the flexible ring and lower
valve, as shewn in Figure 16, and in this case the flexible joint (as
shewn at G in Figure 13 and Figure 17) may be more readily used
as there will in such case be no pressure tending to expand such
flexible joint outwards. The dotted lines in Figure 16 shews how I
sometimes support the whole of the flexible ring at the top of its
stroke where the pressure of fluid above it is considerable. And where
double acting pumps are required I sometimes use another flexible
disc or ring of only half the area of the first, and I connect the two
together and work them simultaneously, as shewn in Figure 18, so
that half the fluid may be raised in the up stroke and half in the

page_text: down stroke of the handle, or I make a double set of valves of similar
construction to those already described, so that the fluid may be raised
both by the up stroke and the down stroke of the handle.
.
Figure 19 shews an arrangement by which the flexible ring A has no
valve in its centre, but the delivery pipe B is formed in the space
between the flexible ring and the lower valve C, and the upper valve D
is placed in the delivery pipe B. And where acid or other corrosive
fluids or fluids which require to be kept perfectly pure are pumped, I
make the different pumps above described of earthenware, glass, or
enamelled metal, or other material which will not be affected by the
fluids used, and I make the flexible ring and valves of india-rubber,
or of canvas, or other suitable material coated with india-rubber, or of
flexible or corrugated plates of silver, platinum, or other material not
liable to corrosion.
Figure 20 shows on a larger scale one form of lift pump as described.
I prefer to connect the bottom ends of the pumps as above described
with the suction tubes through which the fluids are drawn by means of
short tubes of india-rubber or other suitable material, and I connect the
upper ends of the force pumps as described in the same way to the tubes
or pipes through which the fluid is to be forced. Sometimes I make
such connection by means of union joints, which I prefer to make as
shewn in Figure 21, where A is a flange on the pump, having on its
upper surface two or more slightly inclined planes B, B; a loose ring C
is passed against the flange upon the end of the pipe to be connected,
and has two or more lugs or projections upon it, which when it is turned
round are forced up the inclined planes B, B, and so draw the flanges
together against a suitable packing placed between them, and form a
tight joint. Figure 22 shews the lower of the rings which hold the
flexible ring A between them made larger in diameter, and having the
upper outside edge rounded, so as to offer partial support to the flexible
ring A during its up stroke. And sometimes I make this lower ring of
such a diameter and shape that the whole of the flexible ring A may be
supported at the top of its stroke, in which case I make the top of the
lower tube of the pump of such a shape as to fit the lower side of the
lower ring. And in all pumps made according to this Invention I make
the edges of the parts which hold the flexible rings well rounded, so
that the flexible rings may not be injured against sharp edges when
bent,

page_text: Figure 23 shews a section of a pump in which the flexible ring A is
at some distance from the handle B, to which it is connected by a
rod C. The part containing the flexible ring A and valves may be
made separately, as shewn by the dotted lines, and may be placed at
any depth below the handle of the pump.
Figure 24 shews on a larger scale one form of force pump as described.
The arrangements of valves, handles, and apparatus for altering the
angular horizontal position of the handle shewn in Figures 1 to 12 are
applicable to barrel pumps, in which case I prefer to make the barrels
of metal, earthenware, glass, or enamelled metal, and to make them of
large diameter, but with very short stroke of the pistons or buckets
working in them; and these pistons or buckets need not be turned or
fitted, but may be used with elastic rings or packings round their
peripheries instead of the flexible rings already described.
And in
such pumps I hold the short tubes of metal, glass, or earthenware, as
described, between the upper and lower tubes of the pumps, which are
screwed or bolted together as already described: or I make the pump
in one piece, inside which I fix the short tubes.
Great economy is effected in the first cost of pumps made according
to this Invention, as the several parts may be made of such materials
and in such manner that they can be put together in their rough state
with little or no fitting, and be then ready for immediate use, and at
the same time they are of improved appearance, and cheaper, more
durable, and more efficient than such pumps as heretofore made.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Edwards, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
EDMUND EDWARDS. (L.S.)