Improvements in Hydraulic Pumping Apparatus for Mines. due to
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Lelt, 11th July, 1895-Accepted, 24th Aug.. 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hydraulic Pumping Apparatus for Mines.
I, ANDREW BETTS BROWN, of Rosebank Iron Works, Edinburgh, in the
County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this, invention to be as follows, that is to say.
My.said.invention has for its object, by improved constructions and combinations.
of parts, to render hydraulic pumping apparatus for,,mines freer than heretofore
from excessive.concussive strains and strains due, to unbalanced, pressures.,
r
"
In carrying out my invention according to one modification, I employ under-
ground apparatus comprising three single-acting plunger cylinders the plungers of
which are in the same pieces with or fixed to plungers of three directly acting,
motor cylinders.worked by the water from the motor pumping apparatus at the
surface. For the purpose of controlling and harmonising the motions of the motor
plungers so as to avoid concussive strains, the three plungers or rams are connected
to three equidistant. cranks on a rotating shaft; and this shaft actuates a valve or
valves for distributing the motor water to the motor cylinders. By preference,
a single distribution valve, of an improved kind hereinafter described, is employed
for the three motor cylinders. Each pump plunger is made of an area equal to the
sum of the motor-plunger area and the area designed to act on the water to be,
pumped; and it is bored out, so as to work upon a fixed pipe the outer end of
which communicates either with, the return-pressure pipe of the motor apparatus, or
with the rising main of the pumps. With this arrangement so much of the
pressure in the motor cylinders as is due to the column in the pipes communicating
between the underground apparatus and the surface apparatus is balanced, whatever
may be the vertical length of that column. It follows that in the return st
strokes of
the motor, plungers the pressure due to the column has not to be contended with,
and the force which in some existing apparatus has to be transmitted through. the
crank shaft to meet that pressure has not to be provided for. The crank shaft
and connections, can, therefore be made of moderate strength; and do not require.
any greater. strength, for more deeply placed than, for less deeply placed. under-
ground pumps.
"
The improved valve.is worked directly by the crank shaft or by a rotating shaft
driven from the crank shaft, and comprises an eccentric formed or fixed on the
shaft, and. a. ring fitted to the eccentric and moving upon a port face in a manner. in
effect the same as that of an ordinary slide valve. The pressure water is admitted
to the outside of the ring valve, and finds its way to the motor, cylinder through
ports which are uncovered in rotation, by the ring valve, the exhausts taking place"
into the interior of the ring valve and thence through a central port in the port face.
The ring valve is free to turn on the eccentric to accommodate itself to any slight
inequalities of friction, but, such turning does not affect the operation of, the valve
which is due to the eccentric motion. The shaft extends 'in opposite directions
from the, valve and, through, opposite stuffing boxes, and both ends being of the
same diameter any internal pressure, acts equally in both directions and is balanced.
The pressure in the exhaust passage is also balanced, by means of a small passage
formed through the part of the shaft within the valve, box and communicating
between the exhaust passage and a chamber in which chamber the pressure acts on
a trunk or enlargement formed or fixed on the shaft and of the same area as the
1

page_text: eccentric. With this improved construction the pressures due to the columns in
the pipes of whatever vertical length are balanced, and friction and power to
drive the valve are greatly diminished.
Dated this Fifteenth day of October 1894.
EDMUND HUNT,
. Applicant's. Agent.
:
Improvements in Hydraulic Pumping Apparatus for Mines.
I, ANDREW BETTS BROWN, of Rosebank Iron Works, Edinburgh, in the County
of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Engineer, 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, that is to say:
My said invention has for its object, by improved constructions and combinations
of parts, to render hydraulic pumping apparatus for mines freer than heretofore
from excessive concussive strains and strains due to unbalanced pressures.
In carrying out my invention I employ underground apparatus comprising three
single-acting plunger cylinders, the plungers of which are in the same pieces with
or fixed to plungers of three directly acting motor cylinders worked by the water
from the motor pumping apparatus at the surface. For the purpose of controlling
and harmonising the motions of the motor plungers so as to avoid concussive strains,
the three plungers or rams are connected to three equidistant cranks on a rotating
shaft; and this shaft actuates a valve or valves for distributing the motor water to
the motor cylinders. By preference a single distribution valve of an improved kind
hereinafter described is employed for the three motor cylinders.
The pressure in the pipe by which the motive water returns to the pumping
apparatus at the surface or the pressure in the rising main from the pumps is made
to act on the motor plungers in a manner to balance back pressure in the motor
cylinders due to the column of water returning to the surface apparatus. It follows
that the force which in some existing apparatus has to be transmitted through the
crank shaft to meet the back pressure has not to be provided for. And no special
provision for difference of depths from the surface has to be made.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings, to
be hereinafter referred to, and showing two examples of my improved hydraulic
pumping apparatus.
Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, of the drawings is a plan and Figure, 2, is a sectional side
elevation of one modification.
Figure, 3, on Sheet, 2, is a longitudinal vertical section of another modification.
Figures, 4, and 5, are enlarged vertical sections, as at right angles to each other,
of the distribution valve.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
"I employ underground apparatus comprising three single-acting plunger
cylinders, A, B, and C, the plungers, A 1, B 1, and C 1, of which are in the same
pieces with or it might be fixed to plungers; D 1, E 1, and G 1, of three directly-
acting motor cylinders, D, E, and G, worked by the water from the motor pumping
apparatus at the surface. For the purpose of controlling and harmonising the
motions of the motor plungers, D1, E1, and G 1, so as to avoid concussive strains,
the three plungers or rams are connected to three equidistant cranks, D2, E 2,
and G2, on a rotating shaft, H, and this shaft actuates a valve, J, for distributing
the motor water to the motor cylindere, D, E, and G:

page_text: In the modification shown in Figures, 1, and 2, each pump plunger, A 1, B 1, C 1, is
made of an area equal to the sum of the motor-plunger area plus the area designed.
to act on the water to be pumped; and it is bored out to work upon a pipe, K,..
screwed or otherwise fixed inside of the pump cylinder, the outer end of the pipe, K,
communicating by a pipe, K 1, either with the return-pressure pipe of the motor
apparatus, or with the rising main of the pumps. With this arrangement so much
of the pressure in the motor cylinders, D, E, and G, as is due to the column in the
pipes communicating between the underground apparatus and the surface apparatus
is balanced whatever may be the vertical length of that column. It follows that in
the return strokes of the motor plungers, D 1, E 1, and G 1, the pressure due to the
column has not to be contended with and the force which in some existing apparatus
has to be transmitted through the crank shaft, H, to meet that pressure has not to
be provided for. The crank shaft, H, and connections can therefore be made of
moderate strength; and do not require any greater strength for more deeply placed
than for less deeply placed underground pumps.
The
The improved valve, J, shown enlarged in Figures, 4, and 5, is worked directly
by the crank shaft, H, or it might be by a rotating shaft driven from the crank
shaft, and comprises an eccentric, M, formed or fixed on the shaft, and a ring, M 1,
fitted to the eccentric and moving upon a port face plate, M 3, fitted in the valve
box in a manner in effect the same as that of an ordinary slide valve.
pressure water is admitted to the outside of the ring valve, Mi, by the pipe, N, and
finds its way to the motor cylinders, D, E, and G, through ports, P, Q, and R,
which communicate by pipes, P 1, Q 1, and R 1, with their respective cylinders and
which are uncovered in rotation by the ring valve, the exhausts taking place
through the same pipes into the interior of the ring valve and thence through a
central port, S, in the port face plate, M 3. The central port, S, communicates
with the return-pressure pipe, L. The ring valve, M 1, is free to turn on the
eccentric, M, to accomodate itself to any slight inequalities of friction but such
turning does not affect the operation of the valve which is due to the eccentric
motion. The shaft, H, extends in opposite directions from the valve and through
opposite stuffing boxes, H 1, and H 2, formed in the valve box and both ends being
of the same diameter any internal pressure acts equally in both directions and is
balanced. The pressure in the exhaust passage is also balanced, by means of a
small passage, H 3, formed through the part of the shaft, H, within the valve box
and communicating between the exhaust passage, S, and a chamber, J 1, in which
chamber the pressure acts on a trunk or enlargement, J 2, formed or fixed on the
the shaft, H, and of the same area as the eccentric, M. With this improved con-
struction the pressures due to the columns in the pipes of whatever vertical length
are balanced and friction and power to drive the valve are greatly diminished.
In the modification shown in Figure, 3, separate cylinders, T, are provided to
perform the functions of the hollow pump plungers and the pipes, K, of the first
modification. The cylinders, T, are placed in a line with and between their
respective motor cylinders (D) E (G) and pump cylinders, (A) B (C) and their
plungers, T 1, are formed in a piece with or fixed to their respective motor
plungers, (D1) E 1, (G1) which are connected by side rods, V, to their respective
pump plungers, (A 1) B 1, (C 1). The cylinders, T, are connected by pipes, T 2,
to the return pressure pipe, or to the rising main the consequent pressure on the
plungers, T 1, neutralising the back pressure in the motor cylinders, (D) E, (G)
due to the column of water in the return pipe. Parts of the second modification
not specially referred to are like the corresponding parts of the first modification.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In hydraulic pumping apparatus for mines, balancing back pressure in the
motor cylinders due to the column of water returning to the surface apparatus by
means of apparatus substantially such as is hereinbefore described.

page_text: 2. The construction; arrangement,and. combination of parts constituting. the
hydraulic apparatus for mines substantially as hereinbefore described with reference,
to Figures, 1, and 2, of the accompanying drawings
3.. The construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting..the
hydraulic apparatus; for mines-substantially as modified in the manner herein before
described with reference to Figure,.3, of the accompanying-drawinga:
"
4. The improved construction and arrangement of distribution valve with
pressure-balancing appliances substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to Figures, 4, and 5, of the accompanying drawings..
Dated this Tënth day of July 1895.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.