IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH PUMPS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Adair, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH
PUMPS."
Sealed the 13th June 1876, and dated the 2nd February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Adair at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd February 1876.
WILLIAM ADAIR, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
MENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH PUMPS."
"IMPROVE-
This Invention relates more especially to pumps for use on board ship, and
consists,-.
First. As means for obtaining a quick closing valve of small weight and for
increasing the durability of valves used in ships' pumps, and in pumps for mines,
or where grit or other substances is or are liable to pass the said valves with
the liquid raised, I employ a flexible disc valve of india-rubber or leather, and a free
feather lift or like valve perforated or with the top removed, combined together
as one. The said flexible disc valve when the pump is in action opens and
closes quickly so as to allow the liquid and grit, sand, or like substance to pass freely
in an upward direction, but prevents return of the said liquid. The liquid in rising
passes the said flexible disc valve instead of flowing between the feather lift
valve and its seat as heretofore, hence all abrasion and wear of the said valve and
its seat is avoided. If, however, any large or bulky object, such as is too large
to pass the flexible disc valve, is drawn up with the liquid, the said feather lift
valve opens and allows free way to the said object. The construction of the
said compound valve is such that it is complete in itself, and can easily be removed
should the pump become choked below the said valve or should its removal be
desired from any other cause.
Second. As means for utilizing as force pumps ships' pumps in which a solid
piston or plunger is used, and in which a pair of valves are directly over each other
in a chamber open at top, I provide an air vessel fitted with suction and delivery
valves and with hose connections. When it is desired to use a lift pump as a
fire engine, or for forcing water, the pair of suction and delivery valves are reinoved
and the said air vessel and connections attached, preferably by a bayonet joint
Dine 621

page_text: so as to close the ordinary suction pipe. The water is drawn from over the ship's side
through the air vessel.
Third. As means for securing when water is drawn from over a ship's side for
a fire engine or force pump that the suction hose shall properly enter the water,
I attach to the end of the said hose a metal suction piece, by preference D shaped,
and I pass the said suction piece down between or through a retaining piece or
pieces secured to the ship's side.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said WILLIAM. ADAIR, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th July
1876.
WILLIAM ADAIR, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
MENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH PUMPS."
"IMPROVE-
This Invention relates more especially to pumps for use on board ship, and
consists,―
First. As means for obtaining a quick closing valve
of small weight
and for increasing the durability of valves used in ships' pumps, and in pumps
for mines, or where grit or other substances is or are liable to pass the said valves
with the liquid raised; I employ a flexible disc valve of india-rubber or leather, and
a free feather lift or like valve perforated, or with top removed, combined together as
one. The said flexible disc valve when the pump is in action opens and closes
quickly so as to allow the liquid and grit, sand, or like substance to pass.
freely in an upward direction, but prevents return of the said liquid. The liquid in
rising passes the said flexible disc valve instead of flowing between the feather
lift valve and its seat as heretofore; hence all abrasion and wear of the said
valve and its seat is avoided. If, however, any large or bulky object, such as is too.
large to pass the flexible disc valve is drawn up with the liquid, the said feather lift
valve opens and allows free way to the said object. The construction of the
said compound valve is such that it is complete in itself, and can easily be removed
should the pump become choked below the said valve, or should its removal be:
desired from any other cause.
Second. As means for utilizing as force pumps ships' pumps in which a solid
piston or plunger is used, and in which a pair of valves are directly over each other
in a chamber open at top, I provide an air vessel fitted with suction and delivery
valves and with hose connections. When it is desired to use a lift pump as
a fire engine or for forcing water the pair of suction and delivery valves are
removed and the said air vessel and connections attached, preferably by a bayonet.
joint, so as to close the ordinary suction pipe. The water is drawn from over.
the ship's side through the air vessel.
Third. As means for securing when water is drawn from over a ship's side;
for a fire engine or force pump, that the suction hose shall properly enter the water,
I attach to the end of the said hose a metal suction piece by preference.
shaped, and I pass the said suction piece down between or through a retaining piece
or pieces secured to the ship's side...
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrates the first part of my
Invention, part of the sides of one of the valve chambers being removed for
the purpose. The lower valve shows a modification in which the india-rubber disc
valve a works on the feather valve sent b and on the seating c. In ordinary
working the valve a alone operates, the feather valve b working only in case
of emergency.
The upper valve shows a further modification in which the india-rubber disc a fits
on its perforated seating band seat c, and is guided in its lift by the spindle e, which
works loosely in the guide f preferably made with three prongs or legs g to rest on

page_text: he seat c.
It will be obvious that various modifications of valves can be made
under this part of my Invention.
Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 illustrate the second part of my Invention; Fig. 2 is a view
of a pump showing the valve chamber i, part of the piston barrel j, and my air
vessel and connections in section; Fig. 3 is a view at right angles to Fig. 2, also partly
in section; Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are sections at the lines A, B, C, D. When a pair of
valves has been removed from one of the valve chambers I insert in their place the
air vessel and connections as shown, so that the packing pieces rest on the upper
and lower valve seatings and make the joints tight. The said air vessel and
connections are secured in position by a clamp. If the pump is double acting, as is
the one shown, the valves in the other chamber may be removed. A suction
hose m to be passed overboard or into any water containing receptacle is attached to
the nozzle and a delivery hose o to the nozzle p. When the pump is operated.
water is drawn through the hose m down the passage or way q through the valve r
into the chamber 8 on the up-stroke of the piston t, and is expelled on the down.
stroke thereof through the valve u into the chamber v which acts as an air vessel,
and thence through the way or passage w to the delivery hose o. The arrows show
the direction of motion of the fluid. It will be obvious that various modifica-
tions and arrangements of the above described apparatus may be made without
departing from my Invention.
Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are views illustrative of the third part of my Invention;
Fig. 8 shows a section of a ship's side with the hose in position, Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are
views where x is the suction piece and y are the studs or retaining pieces.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention so that others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect,
I claim-
Under the first part (a), the combination of the parts a and b constructed and
operating substantially as described and illustrated. (b), the combination of the
parts a, b, e, f, and g, constructed and. operating substantially as described and
illustrated.
Under the second part, the apparatus described under Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7,
arranged and operating substantially as described and illustrated.
Under the third part, the construction, arrangement, and combination of the
parts x, y, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Willian Adair, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
WM ADAIR. (L.S.)