Improvements in Fluid Pumps and Engines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Mar., 1894-Accepted, 25th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fluid Pumps and Engines.
We,
JESSE WHITCHER of 119 & 120 High Street, West Cowes, Isle of Wight,
Engineer, and JAMES WHITCHER of 14 Orde Hall Street, Bloomsbury,
London, W.C. Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In pumps or engines for use with foul liquids and liquids carrying solid matter in
suspension, such as sand, we use the following means for protecting the packings
and working surfaces from the incursion of the said foul and solid matters, and
consequent clogging, attrition, or destruction of the said packings and working
surfaces.
Between all main packings and the fluid chambers we interpose spaces or grooves
across which the foul or sandy fluid must pass before it can anywhere reach the said
packings. These spaces or grooves we maintain full of some Huid or gas which has
no detrimental or destructive effect upon the packings or working surfaces, such
for instance as, air, clean water, or other liquids or lubricants, or the particular
Such
fluid being pumped or used, previously strained or otherwise clarified.
substances must be supplied to the grooves or spaces always at pressures equal or
higher than the pressures in the fluid chambers in order that they shall not be
displaced or forced out by fluid therefrom.
To prevent mixing of the protective fluid or liquid with the pumped or working
fluid, or its undue escape or leakage from the said spaces or grooves, the spaces or
grooves are closed or isolated as far as possible from the adjacent fluid chambers,
preferably by extra and subsidiary packings. Or flexible, extensile, or collapsible
jackets may be used to intervene. An arrangement of telescoping shields may be
employed for the same purpose; and in this case extra subsidiary packings can also
be employed working against the shields. When air or gas is used as the protective
medium we form the telescoping shields so that they retain the air in their upper
parts and all around the main packings.
We do not restrict ourselves to the use of any one material for the aforesaid
subsidiary packings; but we prefer to make these of a fibrous or flexible substance:
as they resist no great pressure they need not bear very tightly against the working
surfaces. They are required rather to act as scrubbers or squeegees," in con-
junction with the outward escape of the protecting fluid thoroughly cleansing the
working surfaces before these enter the main packings.
66
The protecting fluid medium may be supplied to the spaces or grooves formed for
it by any means capable of supplying it at the requisite pressure and in sufficient
quantities to replace the loss by leakage. In deep well pumps for which these
improvements are chiefly designed, to overcome the common difficulty arising from
the presence of fine sand, we use either air or clear water as the protecting medium.
The former must of course be supplied to the pumps by pipes from the surface; the
latter may be supplied either by such pipes or by an arrangement consisting
generally of a filter or stramer and a small pump worked from the pump rods, fixed
just above the main pumps. By this apparatus the water is clarified at the spot,
and forced with a good sluicing flow through the subsidiary packings.
When telescoping shields or other devices are used which cause the spaces con-
taining the protecting medium to vary in content periodically with the stroke of the
pump, we may use a regulating device to assist the inflow and outflow of the medium
into or out of the said spaces consisting of a cylinder in connection with the spaces

page_text: in which a piston is oscillated to and fro by connection with the pump rod. By
this means oscillatory movements in the supply tubes can be prevented and the
pressure more surely maintained in the shields.
As a particular instance of the application of these improvements, in a common
lifting pump they would be carried out somewhat as follows:-The main packing
would be fixed and encircle the plunger bucket as usual: above and below this ring
packing would be one or more ring grooves formed in the casing and supplied with
the protective medium. On the outsides of these grooves would come rings of
subsidiary packing, of fibre or rubber for choice. The plunger bucket may with
advantage be lengthened to afford ample space for these grooves etc.; and so that
no part of its working surface which comes in contact with the foul water shall
enter the main packing during the stroke. The supply to the grooves on the lower
side of main packing should be controlled by a ball or spring valve which would
be closed by a rush in of the protecting medium to prevent undue waste of same
during the lift.
Where shields are employed they would consist preferably of stout sheet metal,
one set being attached to the bucket, and another to the casing or barrel, the two
sets telescoping together in such a manner as to interpose a long path round from
the main packings to the exit from the shields into the pump barrels.
With such shields we may use, instead of a fluid protective medium, masses of
resilient solid or gelatinous substances, or distended flexible bags, cells, or tubes,
which have sufficient resilience to expand and contract as the shields are extended
and retracted by the stroke of the plunger or bucket and so keep the spaces
contained by the shields continually full.
To secure a condition of constant pressure on the lower side of the bucket or
plunger, for instance of a lift-pump, we use an additional clack-valve in a fixed
position above the plunger or bucket.
Dated this 24th day of June 1893.
JESSE WHITCHER.
JAMES WHITCHER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fluid Pumps and Engines.
We JESSE WHITCHER of 119 & 120 High Street West Cowes I. of W.
Engineer, and JAMES WHITCHER of 14 Orde Hall Street Bloomsbury,
London, W.C. Electrical 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in pumps for water supply, sewage
pumping, sand and mud dredging, cement and slurry pumping, and other purposes.
Its purpose is to afford protection to the working surfaces and packings of the
pumps from sand, grit, and other solid or liquid obstructive or destructive matter.
Also to secure a smoother and more efficient working of such pumps and generally
to comprise an improved construction of pump for the said purposes, with especial
facility for effective maintenance and repair.
These improvements are particularly applicable to deep well pumps for water
supply, more especially to those in which the water being derived from sand or
gravel beds, the supply is more or less sui charged with sand or grit.
With pumps
of ordinary construction such sand rapidly cuts up and deteriorates the working
surfaces and packings necessitating frequent repairs. Further when the sand
comes in excessive proportions the rising and suction mains and the pumps and
valves are liable to become choked with deposits preventing or hindering the
working of the same.

page_text: Our invention comprises means of protecting the working surfaces and packings
and keeping them clean also for the prevention of deposits in the mains and pumps
and the clearing away of such deposits when they occur.
Our invention is further applicable to pumps for sewage, cement, slurry, mud
and similar purposes where fluids or liquors with solid matter in suspension are
required to be pumped also to pumps for acid or corrosive liquids. And it may
further be applied to motor engines for protection of the working surfaces in a
similar manner to the methods herein detailed as applied to pumps.
:
Generally our invention consists of the application of shields either to the fixed
cylinder or liner of the pump, or to the moving piston or plunger, or to both, in
such a manner that the shields shall lap over the working surfaces and be adjacent
to them. The shields would be generally of dimensions and design to cover, but
not touch against, the working surfaces during all parts of the stroke. Thus the
fluid pumped through is prevented from coming in direct contact with packed
surfaces; and the greater part will pass through the pumps without reaching any
part of the mechanism where the contained matter is likely to prove injurious
(excepting the valves).
We use either single shields, or series of shields arranged so that sets of shields
fixed to the piston or plunger shall telescope with stationary shields. And by
preference we arrange the shields so that the volumes contained and shut off
by them from the main volume or contents of the pump, shall continue constant
throughout the stroke. By such an arrangement the total content of a "shield
space as we shall herein designate the said volume shut off and contained by a
shield or set of shields, not being subject to variation by the working of the pump,
the fluid contents of the said shield spaces will be retained in them, and will
prevent entry of the outer fluid except by gradual mixing or diffusion.
19
If necessary we may use supplementary pumps in communication with the shield
spaces to take up any change of volume that may occur in them. Such supple-
mentary pumps we call "regulators.'
"
For many purposes sufficient protection will be afforded by the action of the
shields and the fluid or gas confined in them. Thus the fluid which enters the
shield spaces remaining comparatively stagnant and unchanged will soon lose or
deposit its solid or deleterious matter and the deposit on to the working surfaces
or packings will be insignificant. And we may arrange strainers or filters so that
the shield spaces will be filled by leakage through such strainers rather than
through the narrow gaps between shields.
But for some purposes we prefer to introduce a protective cleansing, or lubricative
Huid, or a gas, into the shield spaces from an outer source. And generally we
prefer to make such cleansing fluid flow into the shield spaces through the packings,
for instance by applying it under suitable pressure to one side of a packing so that
it shall leak through to the other. The packings will thus be cleansed by the
leakage; and the shield spaces filled and constantly replenished by the same.
constant flow away from the packings outwardly into the main portion of the pump
will be promoted in the shield spaces opposing entry of deleterious matter and
driving out any that may enter.
A
The cleansing fluid may be supplied from a filter and supplementary pump;
which shall strain or clarify portion of the fluid being pumped and force it into
the shield spaces in the manner described. Or for most purposes clear water could
be used pumped or supplied from a suitable source. If the pump can be placed
below the level of the supply air may be advantageously used in some cases more
particularly in those where there is not a high lift. The capacity of the pump
may be diminished when air or gases are used; but by suitable arrangement of
regulators" or compensating air pumps, this effect may be neutralised.
66
Air
or gases would be most appropriately used in pumps for acid or corrosive liquids.
For the purpose of preventing deposits of solid matter in the pump or mains we
employ several means of quickening & maintaining constant the flow of fluid
through the pump and mains. Thus we arrange the shields so that they narrow

page_text: the way through the pump. And we arrange the shields so that their action, for
instance, in a lift pump shall be to supplement a plunger action on to the lift
action, acting on the down stroke or when the lift action has ceased. Thus a
constant flow is maintained in the rising main by a single pump, except for a slight
cessation at the end of each stroke, which can be readily compensated by an air
vessel. By putting a clack valve on the rising main side of pump and inverting
the preceding arrangement of shields such constant flow may be created in the
suction main in place of in the rising main.
For the purpose of quickening the flow in the rising mains more particularly of
lift pumps for wells and water borings, where the diameter of the main has to be
somewhat greater than that of the bucket and valves, in order that these may be
lifted when desired, we sometimes line the main with smaller pipes usually of very
light gauge and readily lifted when desired. Or we inay use one or more lines of
piping put down inside the main. The pumps may sometimes be suspended by
such piping; and the piping or lining may further be used as a conveyance for
clear water to the shieldspaces or for flushing purposes. Also we may use piping
of suitable dimensions to narrow the main in required manner, as the pump rods.
Or we may attach discs or other masses to the rods at intervals for the same
purpose. Such means of quickening the flow in the rising mains are not likely
however to be often required. To prevent excessive settling of deposits in very
long mains, during cessation of working clack valves may be placed at intervals in
such mains.
For the purpose of clearing out deposits or accumulations in the pumps or mains
we provide means by which they may be flushed out when required with water
or other fluid. We prefer to use for this purpose a suitable system or arrangement
of piping and valves by which the flushing fluid can be supplied at will to the
pumps while working in place of the fluid ordinarily drawn through the suction main.
By this means the deposits may be flushed out through the rising mains. The
If desirable we may apply
operation may be repeated at the necessary intervals.
this flushing process to parts only of the system and not to the whole: in which
case as the propulsive power of the pumps will not be available to force the
flushing fluid through we provide suitable means of propelling the flushing fluid
through the parts to be flushed such for instance as a supplementary pump or a
suitable head or pressure of the flushing supply. By this means we make available
a ready method of clearing out apparatus put in the line of mains such for instance
as condensers which are often used in waterworks in connection with the rising
mains. These condensers are very liable to become choked with deposits and they
are difficult to clean.
We make practical applications of our said improvements as follows:-
In the case of common lift pumps for wells and water borings and other purposes
where only the simpler forms of protection would be permissible in view of cost,
we use a form of pump as illustrated at Fig. 1 Sheet I of the drawings herewith.
The pump consists of a bucket with valve of the usual type as shown at A to
its upper side is attached the shield D and to its lower side the shield E. These
lap over or protect the working surface or liner of the barrel as shown at B and
they work immediately adjacent to it but not touching. At F and G are protective
rings or abutments fixed to the barrel to break up currents of fluid that may tend
to rush in behind the shields. We may attach other shields to these to telescope
within the former shields as shown by the dotted lines. We prefer to attach the
liner of the pump to the abutment F as shown and to fit the liner in the barrel so
that it may be drawn up with the bucket for repairs etc. Otherwise F should be
loose in the barrel so that it will not prevent the withdrawal of the bucket. C is
the bottom or suction valve of the pump.
Another arrangement is shown in Fig. 2 Sheet I where the same lettering
applies. In this case the liner L is fitted with a recess behind it in which the
shield E slides the arrangement being otherwise as before. It be reversed
the upper end being made the lower, and then the bucket may be withdrawn
may

page_text: without the liner. We would note that in many of the arrangements we give the
packings may be upon the bucket and the "liner" or surface upon which the
packings work fixed to the pump barrel; or the liner may be upon the bucket and
the packings fixed to barrel. In some cases we may dispense with packings
altogether more particularly for low lifts, using instead a closer or touching fit
between adjacent shields-some or all.
A useful construction is shown in Fig. 3 Sheet I in which case the shields are
as it were incorporated into the liner and bucket. The bucket proper A and the
shield E form together a deep bucket with the valve and rod attachment at
bottom, and a ring H to carry packings at the top. The liner L dips inside this
bucket and is turned on its outer surface where the packing works upon it. The
packing and working surfaces are therefore enclosed in an annular cylinder formed
between the pump barrel and the liner; and are very effectively protected. As
they occupy the upper part of this annular chamber solid matter will tend rather
to gravitate away from them. The abutment G serves to keep the outer shield
space enclosed between the bucket and liner and the pump barrel nearly constant
throughout the stroke. The construction admits of the bucket and liner being
most readily withdrawn for repacking or repairs. A shield may be added to this
design attached to the bucket as shown by the dotted lines.
At Fig. 4 Sheet I is shown a somewhat similar construction but with an outer
liner as well. The packing ring or annular piston P is provided with both outer
and inner packings. The annular space above it may be put in connection with
an air vessel or supplied with clarified fluid from some source. As shown it is
supplied through a filter or strainer K placed above the pump. Its connection to
this filter may be free or controlled by a simple valve opening inwards only. In
the latter case the annular space acts as a pump drawing in fluid through the
filter on the down stroke and forcing it out through the packings on the up
stroke. To relieve or prevent excessive pressure on the up stroke the annular
space may be fitted with a suitable air chamber or preferably with a relief valve
The filter may be formed as a case of perforated metal either alone or with
double perforated walls between which any filtering material may be placed.
similar filter with a slow action might be fitted to Fig. 3.
A
At Fig. 5 Sheet II is shown a construction with a deep bucket A with packing
or piston ring at top bearing against an outer liner L only. A shield E depends
within the bucket. This construction may be fitted with a simple filter or strainer;
or the shield E may be perforated to act as a strainer or made up of two perforated
sheets with filtering cloth between in the manner described hereafter in treating of
shields generally.
At Fig. 6 Sheet II a construction is shown with deep bucket A with annular
piston P working on inner and outer liners. The bucket is thickened to fill the
shield space by the addition of another shield D or it may be cast solid for the
same purpose. The area of the annular piston may be arranged to equal one
half the pump area or that enclosed within the outer liner. The pump has then
equal lift and plunger actions occurring alternately thus producing a nearly
constant flow in the rising main. This action of course depends only on the
annular piston and not on the manner in which the shield spaces beneath it are
filled up. The annular space above the piston may be filled in any of the ways
already described. When as usual in deep wells a pair of pumps are used, the one
balancing the other, making its down stroke while the other is on the up stroke
and vice versa, we prefer to connect up the two annular spaces by a passage of
ample size. Then the change of volume in the annular space of one pump is
compensated by the change of that of the other pump aud the total volume remains
constant. In this case a very convenient and reliable method of supplying the
clear water is by means of a small pipe from the surface taking its supply from a
somewhat higher head than the head on the pumps. Such connection of the said
annular spaces of two or more balanced pumps is useful whether clarified quid
or any of our improved constructions are used. It admits of a plunger action

page_text: being superimposed upon the lift action without changing the condition of the
pump rods being always in tension as in the common type of lift pump. It forms
as it were a hydraulic linkage between the pumps.
Fig. 7 Sheet II is a construction similar to Fig. 6 in the arrangement of the
bucket, liner, and shields but in connection with a rising main not in the line of
the barrel. It is for instance one half of an arrangement of a pair of balanced
pumps feeding immediately into a common rising main. The pump is arranged so
that it can be removed bodily from the barrel by removing the fastenings of the
cover. The part of the rod which reciprocates through the packing glands G is
protected by the tubular shield H. Also clarified fluid from the annular space
above the piston is admitted to a space between the two gland packings and tends
to leak outward through them in the requisite manner. N is the connection for
the supply of clarified fluid.
In deep well pumps where for instance a balanced pair of lift pumps are used
each in its own rising main, which mains rise to above the surface of the water in
the well and are there connected into one main rising to the surface, we sometimes
protect the glands and rods from sand and gritty matter by continuing the two
rising mains for a length or two above their junction into one and then attaching the
cap and packing glands. By this means a column of comparatively stagnant
water is interposed between the glands and the upward flowing water and the sand
gravitates away from the fitted surfaces before reaching closely enough to be
carried into them by the leakage through them. These extensions to the rising
mains may be of smaller pipe which can be detached when the pumps are to be
raised. They may be used as air chambers to assist in maintaining a constancy of
flow; the air may be prevented from leaking out through the glands by one or
more tubular shields surrounding each rod.
Fig. 8 Sheet III represents a pair of balanced pumps fitted with shields, flushing
arrangement, connection of the annular spaces above the pistons, and pure water
supply complete as fixed in well. Here the shielding consists of a deep bucket B
with annular piston P at its upper end. The inside liner L is prolonged downwards
and has a shield C mounted on an abutment below the range of the stroke of the
piston and depending downwards. This engages or telescopes with another
On the outer liner a similar shield E
cylindrical shield D mounted on the bucket.
is mounted in the same way engaging with a shield F on the bucket. The annular
space above the piston of the one pump is in connection with that of the other
pump through the pipe G to which pure or clear water is conveyed by the pipe H
to supply the leakage through the packings of the pistons. This being supplied
under pressure there is a tendency to lift the pumps from their beds in the mains
but this can be readily prevented either by weighting them down by weights above
them or by locking arrangements consisting for instance of ratchets engaging in
grooves in the bore of the mains or by a suitable screw thread into which a screw
cut on some part of the pump may be twisted when the pumps are lowered. J is
the flushing main communicating with the tee chamber K entering at the back of
the hinged valve M. This valve usually lies back against the entry from flushing
main but when the supply is turned on for flushing the valve is pushed over and
closes the suction main S till the flushing is over when it is driven back by the
water drawn through the suction.
A common suction main is used as thereby an almost constant flow is secured in
this main. The flushing connections may be sometimes made lower down or at the
bottom of the suction main or mains. And it is not always necessary to have a
valve below them though preferable to prevent waste as the supply may be
regulated to furnish the amount required by the pumps without surplus to find its
way out at the bottom end of suction mains. Further the flushing connections
may be made immediately above the pump valves V. V. in which case each entry
from the flushing main must be controlled by a clack valve opening inwards to the
pump.
The flushing main J may be combined into one with the pipe H in which case

page_text: the valve controlling the flushing supply will need to be below the connection.
to G and will have to be opened or closed by a wire from the surface or to.
of well.
On Sheet IV are shown some methods of applying the invention to various
other types of pumps.
At Fig. 9 is a pump applicable to sewage or slurry
pumping or for dredging purposes. It consists of a plunger P working through a
gland at G. It is hollow and within it is the fixed shield D: within this shield
are fixed the strainers S S and the space between these might sometimes be filled.
with loose filtering material. The action of this pump is obvious from the
drawing, and the number of shields and strainers may be increased as desired, or
the arrangements inverted.
It
At Fig. 10 Sheet IV is a typical instance of the application of the invention to
a sinking pump. It is similar to Fig. 9 in the arrangement of plunger shield and
strainers but the packing or metallic liner of the gland is made so that a supply
of clear fluid may be admitted. This supply is derived preferably from a filter or
strainer as at F of any convenient form put in the rising or pressure main.
should be made so that it is readily cleansed or detached when required. The size
of the filter and the tightness of the packing of the gland which separates this
clear water supply from the pump may be graduated to suit the amount of
cleansing the plunger requires. The action is that any desirable amount of leakage
may be caused to take place through the filter and lower gland packing into the
pump during the up stroke: the said leakage tending to wash solid matter off the
plunger as it enters the packing gland. During the down stroke the leakage does
not occur and is not required. The shield assists to retain the clear water about
the plunger.
Fig. 11 Sheet IV shows the application of the invention to a horizontal double
action plunger pump of a common type. In this case we use cylindrical
shields S S one at each end completely or partially enclosing the plunger. The
shields are made of gauze or perforated metal and to keep the pump clean the
perforations should preferably be confined to the lower parts of the shields. There
are clear ways round outside the shields and the action is that solid matter is
strained from the fluid which follows up the plunger and left in the outer space to.
be carried away by the fluid ejected by the return of plunger. The same method
is applicable to piston pumps; and Hat, conical, or other shape of shields or
strainers may be used. It should be noted that in all cases where strainers or
filters are used so that the whole amount of fluid pumped has to pass through
them, the surface of the strainer or filter or the size of the mesh or perforations
of the strainer should be sufficiently large to allow a sufficiently free passage to
prevent any great hindrance to the working of the pump. The use of telescoping
shields, however, does not require that the whole of the fluid should pass through
the strainers or perforations and where it is not possible to make the straining or
filtering surfaces large enough or free enough consistently with the work they
have to perform, this method should be employed being applied in any of the
methods herein set forth.
Two
At Fig. 12 Sheet V is illustrated another application to deep well pumps.
separate lines of rising and suction mains are shown as used for ordinary lift pumps
but the method is designed for the use of valveless buckets while at the same time
securing that the 1ods shall be always in tension and that the pumps and valves
may be as easily raised as in the common type of lift pump. By this means we
are able readily and effectively to apply our methods of protecting the working
surfaces and packings in a very simple manner. Different methods are used in
each barrel for the sake of the illustration. At P. P are the valveless buckets or
plungers, working against liners L. L. These liners are prolonged to carry the
valves and bottom seatings of the pumps. The valves Vand W may be of the
annular type shown. That at V in each pump opens into passage in communication
with the upper side of the pumps by means of the common way K. The valves
at W W are the suction valves and S. S. are the suction mains. At E in the left

page_text: hand pump is a perforated shield or strainer fixed stationary in the liner. At its
lower end is a loose ring or a rubber ring R arranged to act as a valve allowing
any solid matter that may have passed the shield to be carried out but nothing to
enter that way. At F is a filter or strainer fixed across the top of the liner and
separating the space above the bucket from the rising main above. The rod works
through the tubular shield C with which may be combined to telescope another
fixed on the rod as at D. The bucket is fitted with the small valve B which is
lifted for a moment by striking the top of shield E to allow any sand or solid
matter that has found its way through F to be carried down.
The spaces
enclosed above the buckets in each pump are connected together by a pipe of
ample size G so that the combined enclosed content will be constant and the
passage of fluid through the filters F F independent of the working of the pumps.
The right-hand pump is similar except that the Exed strainer-shield E is replaced
by a system of telescoping shields.
In place of the common way K the barrels at A A might be enlarged so as to
leave a space outside the pumps as they bed in the mains allowing the water from
the valves V to flow upwards into the main above. Provision would of course have
to be made for the connection G and it would be advisable to connect the mains
above the pump, otherwise equalisation of the flow in them will tend to take place
through G which must be avoided. The connection of such rising mains
immediately above the pumps is useful to secure a more constant flow in any case
and it enables smaller air vessels to be used.
The material and manner of construction of the shields herein referred to may be
of any suitable metal or substance, glass, burnt ware, and enamelled metals may
sometimes be used. For well pumps boiler tubing may be readily adapted to the
purpose. As stated it is often advisable to perforate these shields and in this case
woven gauze in one or more layers may be used. By laying together two or more
perforated sheets with a suitable cloth or substance between a simple and efficient
filter or filtering shield may be constructed. The fixing of these shields and the
bedding in the mains of our improved construction of pumps and other general
constructional details may be carried out in various ways into which it is not
necessary to enter.
We do not claim as our invention the application of shields to protect the working
surfaces of gas engines nor do we claim the application of lubricating or
cleansing fluid to a packing under pressure. In these respects our invention relates
to our methods of applying the shields and various combinations of the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. The use and application of shields as described in pumps and fluid engines
arranged in a manner to afford or tend to afford protection to the working surfaces
and packings of the said pumps and engines from direct contact with the fluid
treated, and thereby to secure the said working surfaces and packings from the
obstructive and destructive effects of solid or other deleterious matters contained in
the said fluid, substantially as described.
2. The combination and arrangement of the said shields to secure that a mass of
comparatively unchanging fluid shall intervene between the working surfaces and
the fluids passing through the pump or engine substantially as described for the
purposes aforesaid.
3. The combination and arrangement of the said shields with strainers, or filtering
apparatus, and the formation and development of the said shields as strainers or
filters, for the purposes aforesaid, substantially as described.
4. The use and application substantially as described of a supply from any source
of a lubricating, cleansing, or clarified fluid, to the packings of pumps and fluid
engines so that a leakage through the packings may occur in a direction to prevent
the entry of fluid passing through the pump or engine into such packings and

page_text: generally to promote a flow away from the packings and working surfaces in the
manner and methods herein described in combination with arrangements of shields
for the purposes aforesaid.
5. The use and application of filtering or straining apparatus placed in the
pressure or rising mains of the system to supply clarified fluid to the packings or to
the "shield spaces
"and the arrangement of the pump so that its working surfaces
and packings and glands shall be surrounded with strained filtered or settled fluid
for the purposes aforesaid substantially as described.
6. The use and application of air or gas in the shield spaces and the use of
regulators or supplementary pumps to regulate the content of the shield spaces for
the purposes aforesaid substantially as described.
7. The improved pump as described arranged with an inner and outer liner
which together form an annular chamber in which an annular piston fixed on a
prolongation of the bucket works in such a manner that while the one liner acts as
a shield or protection for the working surfaces and packings for the purposes afore-
said, the combination superposes a plunger action on to the ordinary lift action of
the pump and tends to produce a more constant flow. Further the connection of
the annular spaces above or on the closed sides of such annular pistons of pumps
arranged in balance respecting each other for the purposes aforesaid substantially
as described.
8. The use and application of the system substantially as described of flushing
out pumps, rising and suction mains and apparatus in connection therewith wholly
or in part by supplying or forcing clear water or other fluid through the system of
mains pumps etc. for the purposes aforesaid.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1894
JESSE WHITCHER.
JAMES WHITCHER.