IMPROVE- MENTS IN STEAM PUMPS FOR COMPRESSING OR EXHAUSTING AIR OR GASES WITH OR WITHOUT FLUIDS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon
and Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton
Buildings, London, and 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN STEAM PUMPS FOR COMPRESSING OR EXHAUSTING AIR OR GASES
WITH OR WITHOUT FLUIDS." A communication from abroad by George F.
Blake, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th January 1878.
"
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue Laffitte,
Paris. IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPS FOR COMPRESSING OR EXHAUSTING AIR
OR GASES WITH OR WITHOUT FLUIDS." [A communication from abroad by George
F. Blake, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This Invention of improvements in steam pumps for compressing or exhausting
air or gases, with or without fluids, consists,-
First. In the combination with a flanged top provided with the inlet and discharge
openings, and a flanged fluid chamber of the valve plate interposed between the top
and chamber, and provided with the inlet and discharge valves, the parts being all
secured together.
Also in the fluid chamber being provided with openings and channels in combi-
nation with inlet and discharge valvės.
Also in a direct-acting pump, the top provided with the inlet and discharge
openings, and the fluid chamber connected with and containing the pump cylinder
in combination with inlet valves opening downward into such chamber, and dis-
charge valves opening upward from such chamber.
Also in an india-rubber valve, it having its under surface concaved or made dishing
from its edge to its centre, so that when being fitted to the face of the valve seat,
it will bear evenly thereon, and will not be distorted or curled.

page_text: Also in the combination of a centrally held india-rubber valve and a valve seat,
whereby the central portion of the valve, when brought to its seat, moves after the
outer portion of the face of the valve comes to a seat on the valve face.
In this Invention, the inlet and discharge chambers are in a top formed as a single
casting, preferably dome shaped, and flanged to be placed upon a metallic valve
plate, sustained by the flanged portions of a casting which I denominate the fluid
chamber, such casting containing the pump cylinder. This valve plate has a series
of seats for the inlet and discharge valves, the faces of these seats being on opposite
sides, so that the valves open in opposite directions therefrom.
The fluid chamber rising above and containing within it the pump cylinder,
both preferably in one casting, has about its top a flange to sustain the valve plate.
This fluid chamber is divided by a partition into two parts, each of which is capable
of containing a quantity of fluid equal to or greater than the volume of the fluid
displaced from the pump cylinder at each stroke of the piston. The top of the fluid
chamber is provided with openings communicating with the discharge valves, and
with an opening communicating with the inlet valve. These openings are connected
by channel ways which act to prevent the accumulation or retention in the opening
of the material being pumped, such material escaping through the channels into the
openings when the fluid in the fluid chamber rises. By this construction every par-
ticle of air or other material being pumped is expelled at each rise of the fluid in
the fluid chamber.
Each compartment of the fluid chamber has an opening covered by a plate, by
which access may be had to the inlet valves. The valve plate has on its upper side
a series of seats for the discharge valves, and on its lower side a series of seats for
the inlet valves.
The outer edge of this valve plate rests upon the upper portion of the fluid
chamber and its edges extend over the flange.
All the valves may be simultaneously placed in position with reference to the
fluid chamber, and the valve mechanism is simplified and cheapened more than
would be the case were the valves on separate plates, and upon different levels, as is
now common. This valve plate will be bolted to the top. This top sustains a
chamber communicating with the inlet valves, and a chamber communicating with
the discharge valves, and at its lower end is provided with a flange to receive bolts
through it, and with a valve plate and the flange by which such parts are firmly
bolted together, suitable packing being used between them. The top has an inlet
opening surrounded by a flange to connect with the inlet pipe and discharge
openings surrounded by a flange, either or both of which may be connected with
discharge pipes, and it has also one or more hand holes by which to gain access to
the discharge valves.
To support the piston and prevent it from wearing away the lower portion of the
pump cylinder, the rear end of the piston rod is sustained in a bushing which may
be turned as it wears. The extreme end of the piston rod passes into a cylinder which
communicates by holes with the interior of the cylinder, such holes receiving water
to fill the cylinder when the piston rod is withdrawn.
In operation, the piston at each reciprocation is followed by the fluid in the fluid
chamber, but the fluid never descends low enough to leave the face of the piston
immersed, so when the piston makes its return stroke, the fluid moved before it
ascends in the chamber up to, and touches the bottom of the discharge valves, dis-
placing all the air or gas within the fluid chamber.
The inlet valves are arranged, it will be noticed, to open downward, so as to
operate with the greatest ease, and with the least resistance. This is of much im-
portance, especially when pumping gases and vapours from condensers, and exhausting
the vacuum pans used in the manufacture of sugar.
The valve plate may be omitted, and either inlet or discharge valve seats or both
may be made in or secured in a cover or plate formed in the upper portion of the
fluid chamber, or in a portion attached to the lower portion of the top.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
July 1878.
86
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and _1, Rue Laffitte,
Paris. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM PUMPS FOR COMPRESSING OR EXHAUSTING AIR
OR GASES WITH OR WITHOUT FLUIDS." A communication from abroad by George
F. Blake, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
This Invention of improvements in steam pumps for compressing or exhausting
air or gases with or without fluids, consists,―
First. In the combination with the flanged top provided with the inlet and
discharge openings, and the flanged fluid chamber of the valve plate interposed
between the top and chamber, and provided with the inlet and discharge valves, the
parts being all secured together, substantially as herein-after described.
Also the fluid chamber provided with openings and channels, in combination with
inlet and discharge valves, to operate substantially as herein-after described.
Also in a direct-acting pump, the top provided with the inlet and discharge
openings, and the fluid chamber connected with and containing the pump cylinder
in combination with the inlet valves opening downward into such chamber, and
discharge valves opening upward from such chamber, all substantially as herein-
after described.
Also in an india-rubber valve, it having its under surface concaved or made dishing
from its edge to its centre, substantially as herein-after described, so that when being
fitted to the face of the valve seat, it will bear evenly thereon, and will not be dis-
torted or curled.
Also in combination; a centrally held india-rubber valve, and a valve seat con-
structed substantially as described, whereby the central portion of the valve when.
brought to its seat, moves after the outer portion of the face of the valve comes to
a seat on the valve face, all as herein-after described.
In the Invention herein described, the inlet and discharge chambers are in
a top formed as a single casting, preferably dome shaped and flanged, to be
placed upon a metallic valve plate sustained by the flanged portions of a casting,
which I denominate the fluid chamber, such casting containing the pump cylin-
der. This valve plate has a series of seats for the inlet and discharge valves,
the faces of these seats being on opposite sides, so that the valves open in
opposite directions therefrom.
The upper and lower flanged castings forming the main portion of the pump are
held together by bolts passing through the flanges and the edge of the valve plate.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing shews in vertical longitudinal section a
pump provided with my improvements.
Figure 2, a section on the line x, x; Figure 3, a top view; and Figure 4 shews,
at the right the upper portion of the fluid chamber casting, and at the left a portion
of the valve plate resting thereon.
Figure 5 represents, in vertical section, a valve provided with my Invention; and
Figure 6 a top view of the valve seat.
The fluid chamber a rising above and containing within it the pump cylinder b,
both preferably in one casting, has about its top a flange c to sustain the valve
plate d. This fluid chamber a is divided by a partition e into two parts, each of
which is capable of containing a quantity of fluid equal to or greater than the volume.
of the fluid displaced from the pump cylinder b at each stroke of the piston f. The
top g of the fluid chamber is provided with openings h, h, communicating with the
discharge valves i, and with an opening j communicating with the inlet valve k.,
These openings and j are connected by channel ways , which act to prevent the
accumulation or retention in the opening ; of the material being pumped, such.

page_text: material escaping through the channels into the openings h when the fluid in the
fluid chamber rises. It will be seen by this construction that every particle of air
or other material being pumped is expelled at each rise of the fluid in the fluid
chamber.
:
Each compartment of this fluid chamber has an opening m covered by a plate, by
which access may be had to the inlet valves k. The valve plate d has on its upper
side a series of seats 2 for the discharge valves, and on its lower side a series of
seats 3 for the inlet valves.
The outer edge of the valve plate rests upon the upper portion of the fluid
chamber, and its edges extend over the flange c.
By this construction it is obvious that all the valves may be simultaneously placed
in position with reference to the fluid chamber, and that the valve mechanism is
simplified and cheapened more than would be the case were the valves on separate
plates and upon different levels, as now common. This valve plate will be bolted
to the partition e and to the lower portions 4 of the top p. This top sustains a
chamber q communicating with the inlet valves, and a chamber communicating
with the discharge valves, and at its lower end is provided with a flange s to receive
bolts t through it and the valve plate and the flange c, by which such parts
are firmly bolted together, suitable packing being used between them. The top
has an inlet opening surrounded by a flange to connect with the inlet pipe
and discharge openings v surrounded by a flange, either or both of which may.
be connected with discharge pipes, and it has also one or more hand holes w by
which to gain access to the discharge valves.
To support the piston and prevent it from wearing away the lower portion
of the pump cylinder, the rear end of the piston rod is sustained in a bushing x
which may be turned as it wears. The extreme end of the piston rod passes
into a cylinder y, which communicates by holes 5 with the interior of cylinder b,
such holes receiving water to fill the cylinder y when the piston rod is withdrawn.
In operation, the piston at each reciprocation is followed by the fluid in the fluid
chamber, but the fluid never descends low enough to leave the face of the piston
unimmersed, so when the piston makes into return stroke, the fluid moved before it
ascends in the chamber up to and touches the bottom of the discharge valves, dis-
placing all the air or gas within the fluid chamber.
The inlet valves are arranged, it will be noticed, to open downward, so as to
operate with the greatest ease and with the least resistance. This is of much
importance, especially when pumping gases and vapors from condensers, and
exhausting the vacuum pans used in the manufacture of sugar.
The valve plate d may be omitted, and either inlet or discharge valve seats, or
both, may be made in or secured in a cover or plate formed in the upper portion g
of the fluid chamber, or in a portion like g, attached to the lower portion of the top
though the construction here shown is preferred.
Figures 5 and 6 show the valves and seats enlarged.
In such Figure the valve seat of metal is provided with openings 62, and has a
valve pin c² and valve fender d², all of usual construction.
The valve i instead of being made flat on its under side as usual, is concaved, or
made dishing, as shown at Figure 5.
When the under edge of the outer portion of the valve rests npon the outer edge g²
of the valve face, the centre of the valve is elevated above the central portion 12 of
the valve face. Now as the fender is turned down from the position shown in
Figure 5 to depress the centre h² of the valve upon its seat in working position, the
under concaved face of the valve gradually touches from near its outer edge toward
and to the valve pin, and when the valve is made to bear upon the whole of the
valve seat face, the substance of the valve is not pinched or squeezed centrally, and
therefore the diameter of the valve is not increased, nor is the valve distorted or
caused to curl upward at its outer edge.
It is obvious that the same result may be obtained by making the face of
the valve seat concaved, as shown in dotted lines, and the valve a plane surface.

page_text: This valve is of special advantage when so located that it gravitates away from the
seat.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,-
First. The combination with the flanged top provided with inlet and discharge
openings, and the flanged fluid chamber of the valve plate interposed between the
top and chamber, and provided with the inlet and discharge valves, the parts being
all secured together, substantially as described.
Second. The fluid chamber provided with openings h, j, and channels 7, in com-
bination with inlet and discharge valves, to operate substantially as described.
Third. In a direct-acting pump, the top provided with the inlet and discharge
openings, and the fluid chamber connected with and containing the pump cylinder
in combination with inlet valves, opening downward into such chamber, and dis-
charge valves opening upward from such chamber, all substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination with the cylinder head, and an adjustable bushing x of
a cylinder y communicating with the main cylinder by means of openings 5, and
containing the end of the piston rod, substantially as described.
Fifth. As a new article of manufacture, an india-rubber valve having its under
surface concaved or made dishing from its edge to its centre, substantially as
described.
Sixth. In combination, a centrally held india-rubber valve and a valve seat con-
structed substantially as described, whereby the central portion of the valve. when
brought to its seat, moves after the outer portion of the face of the valve comes to
a seat on the valve face, all substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN.
(L.S.)