Improvements in Pumping and Liquid Circulating Apparatus and Radiators.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 29th May, 1889-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pumping and Liquid Circulating Apparatus and
Radiators.
I, JOHN GAMGEE of 6. Lingfield Road, Wimbledon, in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to apparatus in which at all temperatures, determined by
the boiling points of liquids an interaction between, and incessant circulation of gases
and liquids are maintained. The heated liquid is partly gasified to rebound against a
trapped volume of liquid and both combining in ascending tubes cause a rhythmic or
throbbing impulse. Thus fluids are projected and discharged or returned continuously
by the combined impulse and acceleration of gravity past the heated metal surfaces so
that the equilibrium may be uninterruptedly disturbed.
In the improved apparatus which forms the subject of this invention and which may
appropriately be called a self-feeding lifting high pressure thermal syphon, the
liquid is under the pressure of a heated gaseous cushion, against which the
entering liquid strikes and rebounds, the change of physical state causing a loss
of head or rapid vertical discharge of the fluids in a vesicular condition. The
diminished specific gravity of the expanded liquid and the height of the pipe determine
the velocity of the discharge or effectiveness of the impulse and so long as boating
disturbs the equilibrium by ebullition at any temperature due to pressure the apparatus
actually pumps gas and liquid.
In a closed cycle apparatus the movement is continuous without waste of fluids and
with a minimum expenditure of fuel to maintain the continuous physical changes
essential to the uplifting of fluids. The momentum acquired by the rebound of
liquid against the elastic gaseous cushion and the gravity acceleration are such that
the return of fluids into the apparatus occurs at very high velocity against much higher
temperature than in the upper parts of the circuit.
My improved apparatus inay assume many forms which are practically susceptible
of classification under three types.
The first is a hermetically sealed tube or shell of any diamoter or length, with a
horizontal diaphragm dividing the chamber into two and into which two tubes are
fixed, to project in opposite directions and each open at both ends. Liquid enough to
fill one of the chambers or about half the internal space is put into the apparatus
before it is sealed or welded. With differences of temperature in a vertical or oblique
position a continuous circulation occurs so as to wash the inner walls of the apparatus
incessantly and favor the transmission of heat by radiation to surrounding media or
objects. This form or type of my apparatus therefore constitutes an improved
radiator.
The second form is for an external circulation of the fluids, the tube in the upper
chamber is made to project through the top of the vessel so that when the vessel is
heated the liquid will be discharged to return to the vessel or to be replaced by fresh
liquid which enters in direct ratio to the relief of pressure due to the velocity of flow
in the exit tube.
My apparatus can be constructed in a variety of ways to meet special requirements
for lifting and-forcing-liquids by alternate pressure and expansion, action and reaction
as above indicated.
The third form of apparatus which is the one I prefer to use consists of a vertical
shell, egg ended and divided into three compartments by two tube plates fixed hori-
zontally. The lower plate is perforated to receive tubes open at both ends and prefer-
ably of inverted conical form, which hang therefrom into the bottom compartment,
and also tubes, preferably conical which project upwards from the lower plate, and

page_text: pass through the upper plate extending nearly to the top of the top compartment.
The said slightly conical tubes connect the top and bottom compartments but have no
opening into the middle compartment. A central vertical tube commencing near the
upper level of the top compartment but preferably below the upper opening of the
said conical tubes passes through the upper wall of the apparatus and ascends,
the higher the better for efficiency, as the delivery pipe of the apparatus. The inlet or
return pipe enters the middle compartment leaving a steam space at the upper part
thereof and the liquid from the middle compartment passes down the inverted conical
tubes into the bottom compartment which is subjected to the direct action of heat. As
steam is generated or disengaged in the middle compartment, it forces the liquid from
the bottom compartment up the conical tubes into the top chamber and thence to the
central vertical tube or delivery pipe, at the same time drawing in a fresh supply to
the middle and bottom compartments.
The inlet pipe may be provided with a trap or air vessel into which the liquid and
gas enter from below by a pipe extending a short distance into said vessel, and the
discharge pipe into the middle compartment issues horizontally from the lower part of
the trap.
Viewed as a pumping engine the great advantage of my improved apparatus is the
saving of fuel from the direct and immediate action of the steam against the liquid
piston without loss of pressure or free exhaust.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pumping and Liquid Circulating Apparatus and
Radiators..
I, JOHN GAMGEE of 6 Lingfield Road, Wimbledon in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, 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 :-
My invention has reference to apparatus in which, at all temperatures determined
by the boiling points of liquids an interaction between and incessant circulation of
gases and liquids are maintained. The heated liquid is partly gasified to rebound
against a trapped volume of liquid, and both combining in ascending tubes cause a
rhythmic or throbbing impulse. Thus fluids are projected and discharged or returned
continuously by the combined impulse and acceleration of gravity past the heated
metal surfaces so that the equilibrium may be uninterruptedly disturbed.
In the improved apparatus forming the subject of the present invention and which
may appropriately be called a self-feeding lifting high pressure thermal syphon, the
liquid is under the pressure of a heated gaseous cushion against which the entering
liquid strikes and rebounds, the change of physical state causing a loss of head or
rapid vertical discharge of the fluids in a vesicular condition. The diminished specific
gravity of the expanded liquid and the height of the pipe determine the velocity of the
discharge or the effectiveness of the impulse, and so long as the application of heat
disturbs the equilibrium by ebullition at any temperature due to pressure the apparatus
will pump gas and liquid.
In a closed cycle apparatus the movement is continuous without waste of fluids and
with a minimum expenditure of fuel to maintain the continuous physical changes
essential to the uplifting of fluids. The momentum acquired by the rebound of liquid
against the elastic gaseous cushion and the gravity acceleration are such that the
return of fluids into the apparatus takes place at very high velocity against much
higher temperature than in the upper parts of the circuit.
My improved apparatus may assume many forms which are practically susceptible
of classification under three types.
The first type comprises a hermetically sealed tubular vessel or shell of any suitable

page_text: length and diameter divided into two chambers by a horizontal diaphragm into which
are fixed two tubos that project in opposite directions and are each open at both ends..
Liquid enough to fill one of the chambers or about half the internal space of the tubular
vessel is introduced into the apparatus before it is sealed. With differences of tem-
perature the apparatus being in a vertical or an oblique position, a continuous circula-
tion will take place so as to wash the inner walls of the apparatus incessantly and
favor the transmission of heat by radiation to surrounding media or objects. This
form or type of apparatus therefore constitutes an improved radiator or heating
device.
Figure 1 of the annexed drawings illustrates in vertical section a suitable arrange-
ment and mode of construction of this apparatus. It comprises a tubular vessel
divided into two chambers A A¹ of about equal capacity by means of a horizontal
diaphragm B. The shell of the tubular vessel is shown constructed in two pieces for
convenience of fitting in the internal parts. The diaphragm B is formed with holes
to receive two tubes ( C which project in opposite directions and form the sole com-
munication between the chambers. The tubular vessel A A¹ is filled to about one-half
its capacity with water or other liquid, and is then hermetically sealed. On raising
the contents of the vessel to a sufficient temperature by the application of heat to the
lower chamber A or that containing the liquid, the liquid will circulate up through
the tube C¹ into the upper chamber A' whence it will fall back through the tube Cinto
the lower chamber A to recommence its ascent up through the tube C₁. This circula-
tion of the liquid continues as long as sufficient heat is applied to the lower portion of
the vessel, and is rendered especially violent and effective by the pulsatory action of
the steam or vapor which is disengaged from the liquid and collects in the upper
chamber A' to form an elastic cushion or gaseous spring.
The second type of my improved apparatus has for its object to effect an external
circulation of the fluids. The tabe in the upper chamber is made to project through
the top of the vessel so that when this is heated the liquid will be discharged to return
to the vessel or be replaced by fresh liquid which enters in direct ratio to the relief of
pressure due to the velocity of flow in the exit tube.
On
This arrangement of apparatus is illustrated in vertical section in Figure 2 in
which A and A are respectively the upper and lower chambers of a closed tubular
vessel containing a quantity of water or other liquid. B is the diaphragm ; C is the
exit or discharge pipe and C is the inlet or feed pipe. The diaphragm B has an
aperture at D to allow of free communication between the chambers A and A¹.
applying heat to the lower portion A of the vessel, an effective circulation of the liquid
is set up or induced from the lower chamber A up and out through the pipe C¹ and up
through the pipe C into the lower chamber A; this circulation and the violent move-
ment of the liquid is effectively promoted 'by the pulsation of the elastic cushion formed
by the air, steam or vapor which is generated or disengaged from the liquid and
collects in the upper part of the chamber A¹. The exit pipe C₁ may be caused to
deliver into the inlet pipe in which case the liquid is returned to the vessel and can
be used over again indefinitely without waste. Or the exit pipe C may discharge at
any suitable point, whilst the inlet pipe C may draw a fresh supply of liquid from any
suitable source.
My apparatus can be constructed in a variety of ways to meet special requirements
for lifting and forcing liquids by alternate pressure and expansion, action and reaction
as above indicated.
The third form of my improved apparatus or high pressure thermal syphon which is
the one I prefer to use comprises a vertical vessel divided into three compartiments by
means of two partitions or diaphragms fixed horizontally. The lower partition or
diaphragm has holes to receive tubes open at both ends and preferably of inverted
conical form which hang therefrom into the bottom compartment and also tubes prefer-
ably conical which project upwards from the lower partition or diaphragm and pass
through the upper partition or diaphragm extending nearly to the top of the top com-
partment. The latter tubes connect the top and bottom compartments but have no
opening into the middle compartment. A central-vertical tube commencing near the

page_text: upper level of the top compartment but preferably below the upper opening of the
said tubes passes through the upper wall of the apparatus and ascends, the higher
the better for efficiency, as the delivery pipe of the apparatus. The inlet or return
pipe enters the middle compartment leaving a steam space at the upper part.
thereof, and the liquid from the middle compartiment passes down the inverted conical
tubes into the bottom compartment which is subjected to the direct action of heat.
As steam or vapor is generated or disengaged in the middle compartment, it forces
the liquid from the bottom compartiment up through the conical tubes into the top
chamber and thence to the central vertical tube or delivery pipe, at the same time
drawing in a fresh supply to the middle and bottom compartments. The inlet pipe
may be provided with a trap or air vessel into which the liquid and gas enter from
below by a pipe extending a short distance into said vessel, the discharge pipe into the
middle compartment issuing horizontally from the lower part of the trap.
The
A suitable arrangement of the third type of my improved apparatus is illustrated in
vertical section in Figure 3. The closed vessel A is divided into three chambers or
compartiments A' A³ A³ by means of two horizontal diaphragms or plates B¹ B.
lower compartiment or chamber A³ may consist of one single chamber comprised
between the lower diaphragm B and the egg-ended bottom indicated in dotted lines
of the vessel A, or it may consist of a number of smaller chambers or vessels A³ A³
closed at bottom but open at top and attached in any suitable manner to the lower
diaphragm B. From the latter depends into each chamber A³ to near the bottom
of the same an inverted conical tube C² and from each chamber A³ there also
projects an upright_conical tubo (which passes up through the middle chamber A*
and opens into the upper chamber A at a short distance from the top of the same. The
tubes also project some distance into the chambers A³ so as to allow of the formation of
a cushion of steam or vapor in the upper part of each chamber A³. The inlet or feed
pipe C opens into the middle compartment A2 but at some distance from the upper
diaphragin B so as to allow of the formation of a cushion of steam or vapor in
the upper part of the middle chamber A. The formation of a similar cushion of
steam or vapor in the upper portion of the top chamber A¹ is effected by causing
the exit or discharge pipe C to dip into the said chamber for some distance from
the top of the same. On applying heat to the lower chamber or chambers A³,
and it may be also to the middle chamber A2 a vigorous circulation is established
the liquid being caused to flow in at the feed pipe C into the middle chamber A
down through the pipes C¹ into the bottom chamber or chambers A', up through
the pipes CC into the top chamber A¹ whence the liquid is ejected up through
the discharge pipe C. The efficiency of the circulation is effectively promoted by
the pumping action of the steam cushions in the several chambers.
Figure 4 shows a modification of the last preceding type of apparatus.
The
feed pipe C opens into the upper chamber A, whilst the discharge of liquid from
the apparatus takes place from the middle chamber A² up through the exit pipe C
which passes up through the top chamber A¹ but does not communicate with the
same. The lower portion of the exit pipe C is formed in the shape of a hood to
receive the discharge of the pipes from the lowest chamber or chambers A³.
It will be clearly understood that this improved apparatus may be variously
modified without departing from the nature of the invention and that the applica
tion of heat to the lower or liquid containing portions of the apparatus may be
effected in any suitable way.
Viewed as a pumping engine the great advantage of my improved apparatus is the
saving of fuel from the direct and immediate action of the steam against the liquid
piston without loss of pressure or free exhaust.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is-
1. A radiator composed of a hermetically closed vessel or shell divided into
chambers or compartments by a horizontal diaphragm or partition into which are fixed

page_text: two tubes projecting in opposite directions and each open at both ends, the said vessel
being partially filled with liquid, whereby when heat is applied to the lower part a
continuous circulation of the liquid takes place, substantially as herein before described
and illustrated by Figure 1 of the annexed drawings.
2. A liquid circulating or pumping apparatus composed of a closed vessel or shell
divided into chambers or compartments by a horizontal diaphragm or partition into
which is fixed a tube open at its lower end and projecting through the top of the
vessel, another tube for the return or supply of liquid being connected to the bottom
of the vessel, whereby when heat is applied to the lower part of the vessel a continuous
circulation or lifting and forcing of the liquid takes place, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figure 2 of the annexed drawings.
3. The construction of pumps or liquid circulating apparatus substantially as repre-
sented in Figures 3 and 4 respectively and herein before described, in which the lifting
and forcing or circulation of the liquid are produced by the pressure of one or more
heated or elastic gaseous cushions as set forth.
4. Self feeding lifting high pressure thermal syphons constructed and acting as
hereinbefore explained.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.