IMPROVEMENTS IN DIRECT-ACTING PUMPING ENGINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN DIRECT-ACTING PUMPING ENGINES." A communication from abroad by
Edward G. Shortt, of Carthage, in the County of Jefferson and State of
New York, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th June 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DIRECT ACTING PUMPING
ENGINES." A communication from abroad by Edward G. Shortt, of Carthage,
in the County of Jefferson and State of New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in that class of direct acting
steam pumps in which a single plunger is constructed at its upper end in the form
of a piston to be acted upon by steam, while its lower end acts within a pump
cylinder in connection with suitable ports and check valves, and in which the
steam cylinder is in one and the same piece with the pump cylinder, and in the
vertical line of the same with a valve chest and gear mounted upon the top of
the same, and operated through a connection with the piston.
The Invention consists in the following general features of improvement : — First,
in the construction of the steam valve which controls the flow of steam to the
cylinder, the said valve being made with a piston head at its lower end, and a
central hollow stew rising therefrom with openings registering with the steam
ports, and being operated on the up stroke by the increased area of steam surface
ou its underside over and above the area on its upper side (steam being on
both sides of the valve at the up stroke), and being brought down by the
exhaustion of steam from its underside. The second general feature of the
Invention consists in the means for controlling the admission of steam to the main
valve to secure its proper movement, to which end I avoid the hammering action of
tappet movements which have heretofore been used, and construct a special form of

page_text: Piston rod made with steam conduits in it with openings, which smoothly admit
and exhaust steam from the main valve with a perfect and noiseless action.
.The third general featuro of improvement consists in constructing the top
of the steam cylinder with a tapered and central boss or projection through
which the steam passages to this end of the cylinder open, and forming a corre-
sponding depression in the top of the piston, which together forms an annular
steam cushion at the top, which allows the piston on the up stroke (whon it has
but little work to do) to rise more quickly than it descends, and without shock and
damage to the top cylinder head, this quick upward movement of the piston
serving to economise time, and render the discharge of water from the pump more
nearly continuous. The fourth general feature consists in forming the lower part
of the piston constituting the water plunger, in the shape of a metal shell open at
the bottom, and filling it solid with wood or other nonconducting substance, this
filling serving to provent the condensation of steam in the steam cylinder, and
making the piston also lighter and lessening the work of the pump in driving its
operating parts. The fifth general feature consists in a means for preventing the
hydrostatic pressure in the pump cylinder from forcing water up into the steam
cylinder, for which purpose I place in the closed bearing between the two a vent
communicating with the suction side of the pump. The sixth feature consists in
the poculiar construction and arrangement of valves and water ways in the pump
portion of the engine. In addition to these general heads of Invention there are
others of more detailed character, which can be bettor described in connection with
the Drawings, and will be afterwards pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying Drawings Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of the
pumping engine, the views being taken at right angles to each other; Figures 3
and 4 are vertical central sections taken at right angles to each other, and on a
larger scale than Figures 1 and 2 to more clearly show the internal structure;
Figure 5 is a top view of the base of the pump detached; Figure 3 is a horizontal
section through the line x, of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a section through line y-y,
Figure 3, showing a top view of the upper cylinder head; Figure 8 is a top view
of the steam piston; Figure 9 is an underside view of the main steam valve;
Figure 10 is a plan view showing the duplicate arrangement of water valves, one
of which is arranged to close in advance of the other to avoid ramming action;
Figure 11 shows fraginental viows of the upper end of the stem for controlling the
flow of steam to and from the main valve; Figure 12 is a section through - of
Figure 3.
A is the inlet pipo for the water, and B is the circular base of the pump with
which said inlet pipe connects; C is the main cylinder, the upper portion of which
is bored for the steam piston, and the lower portion of which is contracted to a
smaller diameter, and is formed on opposite sides with chambers u, ², for the
water valves wo, w¹. The base B is firmly united to the cylinder C and valve
chainbers by bolts, and in said base are formed water passages which com-
municato as follows:-From the inlet pipe A to the passage a (see Figures 4 and 5),
and thence up through valve to valve chamber u, thence through two openings w
(see Figure 5), at either side of vent to passage a', thonce into the pump
cylinder as beneath the piston (Figure 4), thence out into passage at up through
valve w to valve chamber u, thence down passage a into annular chamber a
(see Figures 4 and 6), and thence out through the discharge pipe a³, a³.
For the insertion or removal of the valve the chambers u, u, are open at the top
and covered by caps, which are caps are held down tight by bail shaped clamps 1,
Figure 2, and set screws q, so that the valves may be readily taken out, inspected,
or repaired without disturbing the rest of the pump; P is the plunger, the
upper portion of which is made to fit the upper part of the cylinder C, and
constitutes the steain piston, while the lower portion of this plunger is made of a
smaller diameter in the shape of a metal shell open at its lower end and having a
solid filling of wood or other nonconductor of heat which prevents condensation of

page_text: steam and lightens the plunger. This lower section of the plunger is made to fit
the bore of the pump cylinder in the base B, and between the base and a
contracted flange of the upper cylinder there is left a recess, which is filled with
the packing rings t, t, between which is an orifice communicating with the vent
passage v, which it will be seen communicates with the passage a which is on the
suction side of the plunger. The object of this arrangement is to prevent the
grent hydrostatic pressure (which exists on the downward movement of the plunger)
from forcing the water up beside the plunger and into the steam cylinder, and this
is accomplished by connecting the space between the rings t with the suction side
of the pump, so that if any water is forced up by the downward movement it is
immediately sucked back again by the upward stroke of the piston and never
reaches the interior of the steam cylinder, where its presence would be objection-
able. For closing in the top of the cylinder C I employ . cylinder bead D of a
peculiar form, upon the top of which is bolted through to the flange of the cylinder
a valve chost E, and in the top of which chest is screwed a cap F. In constructing
the upper cylinder head D it is formed with a central downward projection, which
is tapered and through the lower end of which steam is admitted to and exhausted
from the top of the main piston. The piston is recessed to receive this projection,
so that when the top of the piston rises abovo the level of the lower ond of the
projection on the cylinder head the steam is cushioned in the annular space and all
shock upon this cylinder head is avoided. G is the main valve, which is constructed
with a piston G at its lower and working in a chamber band a hollow stem rising
centrally and fitting within the valve chest. This valve is guided or prevented
from turning about its vertical centre by the guide pin b', and steam is received
into its hollow stem from one or both of the inlet pipes H through openings 62 in
the side of the hollow stem (see Figure 4), and passes thence alternately through
openings, b, (Figure 3) into either the port and the outside pipe H* leading
to the underside of the steam piston or to the port 6 leading to the upper side of
the piston. This port bs opens into the top of the cylinder through a registering
port in the top cylinder head, which communicates with vertical channels b
extending vertically about the periphery of a fixed bushing c and opening at the
lower end of the projection into the cylinder. I is the main exhaust port, which
connects with the exhaust pipe arranged at right angles to the inlet pipe. This
exhaust port is arranged to be alternately connected with the two induction
ports b, b, by a recess c on the main valvo, so that the main valve G, with its
recess and openings b, be, plays over the ports b, I, and in a well known
mauner to admit and exhaust steam alternately from opposite sides of the piston O.
The movement given to the valve G for controlling the flow of steam to and from
the steam cylinder is determined by the depth of the valve chamber b, in which
its piston G' moves. This valve I arrange, as will be seen, to bo worked from its
lower ond, and as the steam area of the bottom side of its piston is greater than
the steam area above it I utilise this differential pressure to lift the valve, steam
being during this stroke on both sides of the valve piston and the valve rising with
a force equal to the difference in the up and down pressure. For the downward
movement of the valve I simply exhaust steam from the underside of its piston
and allow the steam pressure on its upper side to exert its full power, which is
about equal to the differential margin of power which raises it. For controlling
the admission and exhaust of steam for thus working the main steam valve it is
necessary only to admit and exhaust steam from the chamber b beneath the valve
piston, the space above the piston being always connected with the main steam
port at band being supplied with steam by the same. For controlling the flow
of steam then to and from the said chamber b, a port d, Figure 4, is formed in
the valve chest E, and this connects with a port d' in the cylinder head, which
communicates with a recess d in the inner periphery of the bushing c at its lower
end, which ports together constitute a special induction passage. Near the top
of the bushing c and on its inner periphery is another recess ³ connecting

page_text: with a port d in the cylinder head which opens (see Figure 7) into the main
exhaust, and forms a special exhaust passage for the chamber I. Within the valve G
and concentrically in its vertically hollow stem is arranged (fixedly to the valve so
as to move with it) a tube e whose upper end is closed when the valve is at its
highest point by a plug e on the lower end of the spring pressed rod f. Within
this tube, but not fitting closely in it, is a stein f having the appearance and
function somewhat of a piston rod. The space between this stem f, and the
hollow tubo e, is such that this hollow tubo is always in direct communication with
the space b below tho valvo piston. This stem slides tightly through the bushing c,
and is attached to the top of the main steam piston. This stem I mako hollow
with lateral openings g at the top, and at the bottom. Its upper end I also
make to fit tightly in the upper ond of the tubo e whenever said stem f³ is at its
highest point, and upon two sides below the end the tube is made flat, as at fin
Figure 11, for the purpose hereafter explained. Now supposing the main valve G
to have just moved down, this causes the main steam piston to rise by introducing
steam through pipe H to the lower side of piston. As then the piston rises,
stem frises, and as soon as opening in stem f reaches the opening in the
bushing c, steam flows through d to ' and d, and there enters the stem at h, flows
up through the stem to g, and the upper ond h¹ of stem being now in the end of
tube e and closing it, the steam issuing at y passes down outside stem f³ to the
space b, raising the main valve and sonding the main steam piston down again.
Then as the piston goes down, opening, which took its first steam through special
ports d, d, d², continues to tako steain from the inside of the cylinder containing
live steam, so that the flow of steam to the chambor b under the valve G+ is cou-
tinued after opening passes below d', so that the full and complete upward
movement is given to valve G, whose central tube e closes on plug e as soon as the
end of stem f2 is withdrawn from it. The main valvo G is now at its highest
adjustment, and the steam piston and stom going down. Just as or a littlo
before the piston reaches the end of its down stroke, the flat sides of the stem f¹
open a communication between chamber and recess d³ leading to the special
exhaust ', and the steam in b then passes out beside the flat sides of stem ƒ³ to d³,
and through d to the main exhaust I, shown in Figaro 7, and the result is that the
pressure of steam on the upper side of the valve piston G' forces the valve down,
and, by changing the flow of steam through the main ports, sends the piston up
again for a repetition of the same action. The exhaust from the chamber b around
the flat sides of stem to port d corresponds to the special induction in being only
an initial action, ie, after steam commences to be exhausted from this chamber
through this special exhaust the rod rises and soon destroys the initial exhaust,
and the exhaust from chamber b then continues by passing up around stem 12
into the tube e, and from e to the chamber e above, and thence out of e (sce dotted
lines, Figure 8) to the main exhaust. It will thus be seen that the upper end of
tube e is successively closed by the plug e opened and in communication with
chamber e', and ciosed by the end h' of the stem f².
h
In connecting the stem 2 to the piston, it is provided with a head g² at its lower
end which is detachably insorted endwise into an opening in the piston surface, and
then slipped laterally into central position beneath an undercut edge, this loose
connection serving to prevent any undue cramping, binding, and wear on the stein
In arranging the main valve G with respect to its case, it is made to cushion on
both the up and down stroke. Thus, for the downstroke, the lower end of tube e
is allowed to project below the bottom of the piston of the valve, and a recess e* is
made in the top of the bushing into which this end of tube e projects and tightly
fits to form a steam cushion, while a cushion of steam is formed in the chamber e¹
for the upward movement whenever the top of the valve passes the opening e'
leading to the exhaust. When the lower end of tubo e is tightly closed in the
recess in top of bushing e, it will be seen that as steam is fed to chamber through
the lower end of the tube e, it cannot get into the chamber b when in this position
C

page_text: to exert sufficient power to start the valve up, and I therefore make a lateral
opening through the tube e opening down through piston as at i, and over the
mouth of this opening I place a spring valve (see Figure 9), so that while steam
can pass down into chamber through this opening it cannot pass back.
The object of the spring plunger f is to allow the engineer to depress the same,
and shift the main valve in case it stops in a position in which the ports are out
of registration.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same,
I declare that what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,
1st. The main steam valve constructed with a hollow stem and a piston at its
lower end combined with the valve chest having ports as described, and a chamber b
for the valve piston, with mochanism for regulating the admission of steam to and
its exhaust from said valve, substantially as described.
2nd. The main valve having a hollow stem and a piston at its lower end,
combined with the valve chest and mechanism, substantially as described, whereby
steam is applied to both sides of the piston on the upward stroke, and raised by
the different areas of steam pressure, and mechanism for exhausting the steam
from the lower side of the piston for moving the valve on the downstroke,
substantially as described.
3rd. In a direct acting stoam pump, the combination with the pump proper of
the steam cylinder and piston, a steam valve for regulating the flow of steam to the
cylinder, and a rod or stem attached directly to the piston, and provided with
passage ways for controlling the flow of steam to and from the steam valve for
giving it its necessary movements, as set forth.
4th. The steam cylinder having a head with a central tapering boss with ports
in the same, combined with a piston having a cerresponding recess, as and for the
purpose described.
5th. The combination with a steam cylinder and a water cylinder, of a plunger
having its end, which acts in the water cylinder, formed of a metal shell filled with
wood or other nonconducting material to prevent condensation of steam and lighton
the plunger, as described.
6th. In the pumping engine, the combination with a steam cylinder and piston
of a separate cylinder hoad having steam ports therein, and a valve chest and gear
arranged upon the top of the cylinder head, the valve chest, cylinder head, and
cylinder flange being bolted together, substantially as described.
7th. In a pumping engine the steam and water pistons made in one, combined
with the steam and water cylinder having a vent passage between the two,
connected with the suction side of the pump, as and for the purpose described.
8th. The combination of the cylinder C having the water valvo chambers u, ?',
formed at its lower edges, the water valves arranged therein, and the detachable
base B having passages a, a', a³, a', a³, aº, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
9th. The cylinder C formed with valve chambers u, u', combined with the
valves w, w, detachable cups u², and bails », and set scrows q for holding the same,
as shown and described.
10th. The combination with the valve G having tube e, and its chest having
chambers b, of the bushing c, having opening a connected with a supply port d, di,
and the rod f made hollow, and having openings h and g, and connected with tho
piston for the purpose of supplying steam to the main valve, as described.
11th. The combination with the valve G having tube e, and its chest having
chamber b, of the bushing c having opening d³ connected with the exhaust port d',
and the rod having a flattened end and adapted to connect the chamber b with
the port for exhausting steam from the main valve, and bringing it down as
described.
12th. The combination with the main valve G having centra! tubo e, of the hollow

page_text: stem having an upper end ³ and the plug e arranged to fit alternately into the
end of the tube e, as and for the purpose described.
13th. The combination with the bushing c having a recess in its upper end of
tho main valve G having its central tube e extended below its piston, and adapted
to fit in this recoss to form a cushion, and having also an independent downwardly
opening port and valve i, as and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of June, A.D). 1881.