Improvements in Pumping Engines for Vacuum and Air Pumps.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left. 2nd Apr., 1895-Accepted. 6th July, 1895
[Communicated from abroad by THE GEORGE F. BLAKE MANUFACTURING Co.,
a corporation of the City and State of New York, United States of
America.]
Improvements in Pumping Engines for Vacuum and Air Pumps.
I, ERNEST DE Pass, of 78, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Fellow of the
Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in pumping engines for vacuum and air
pumps, and has reference more particularly to pumping engines for use on steam-
ships and war vessels, where the head room and floor space are limited, and the
pump requires to be very compact.
I
In carrying out this invention, it becomes important to receive the water of
condensation at as low a point as possible. In the present improvements vertical
acting pumps are made use of, the cylinders of which are placed vertically upon
a hollow base containing the inlet valves, and the pump buckets are also provided
with valves, the outlet valves being above the pump cylinders, and the rods of
the buckets extend up and are connected with the piston rods of the steam cylinders.
The steam cylinders are supported on an entablature or plate over the vacuum or
air pumps, and columns extend from the air pump cylinders to the entablature.
With vacuum pumps the force is necessarily the greatest in drawing the buckets
upward, and to equalize the operation, a rocking bean or lever is introduced
between the pump cylinders and the entablature, the pivot of this rocking beam
being supported by bearings extending down below the entablature, and the piston
rods are connected with the ends of the rocking beam by links, so that the power
exerted is equalized, one of the buckets descending as the other ascends. The
space between the pump cylinders and the entablature is only sufficient for the
introduction of the rocking beam and links, so that the entire pumping engine is
very compact, and uniform in its operation.
The steam cylinders are either single acting, or arranged as in compound or
expansion engines; that is to say, the pistons of the steam cylinders may be worked
by the direct action of steam at any desired pressure, or the steam may be
admitted into a smaller cylinder and expand into an adjacent larger cylinder,
and the cylinders may be arranged for double or triple expansion.
Where only two cylinders are made use of, the high pressure steam is admitted
to one of the cylinders and expands into the second cylinder; or there may be
three cylinders, the high pressure being admitted into the first and expanding into
the second and then into the third, the second and third cylinders being in line
with each other and connected with one piston and pump rod; or there may be
four cylinders working expansively from one to the other, or from the high
pressure cylinder in one pair to the low pressure cylinder adjacent to the high
pressure cylinder, or in the other pair of cylinders, the valves, in each instance,
being properly constructed, so as to admit the high pressure steam and then direct
the steam from one cylinder into the other.
It is usually found advantageous to employ steam direct without a second or
expansion cylinder, in which instance the valves of the respective cylinders are
worked in unison by bell crank levers and connections, and the connections to these

page_text: valves are moved by steam acting upon pistons in a valve driving engine, there
being a valve that receives its motion from a bell crank and a connecting rod to
the rocking beam, so that the smaller valve thus worked by the direct action
admits steam to the valve driving engine, and this in turn moves the valves of
the main engine. The valves are advantageously made so that there may be a
free exhaust from the lower end of each steam cylinder, and the steam is sufficiently
confined by the valves to cushion the steam pistons in the upward movements to
prevent any concussion or hammering action as the pump buckets and steam
pistons reach the ends of the upward strokes. With this object in view,
. independent steam and exhaust ports are advantageously provided, so as to give
a more free discharge to the steam from the lower ends of the cylinders than from
the upper ends.
Deted this 10th day of July 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pumping Engines for Vacuum and Air Pumps.
I, ERNEST DE PASS, of 78, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Fellow of the
Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, 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 :-
This invention relates to that class of pumping engines which are made use of
especially on steamships and war vessels where the head room and floor space are
limited and the pump requires to be very compact.
In carrying out this invention it becomes important to receive the water of
condensation at as low a point as possible. In the present improvements vertical
acting pumps are made use of, the cylinders of which are placed vertically upon a
hollow base containing the inlet valves, and the pump buckets are also provided
with valves, and the outlet valves are above the pump cylinders, and the rods of
the buckets extend up and are connected with the piston rods of the steam
cylinders, such steam cylinders being supported on an entablature or plate over
the vacuum or air pumps, and there are columns extending from the air pump
cylinders to the entablature.
With vacuum pumps the force is necessarily the greatest in drawing the buckets
upwardly, and to equalize the operation, a rocking beam or lever is introduced
between the pump cylinders and the entablature, the pivot of the rocking beam
being supported by bearings extending down below the entablature, and the piston
rods are connected with the ends of the rocking beam by links, so that the power
exerted is equalized, one of the buckets descending as the other ascends, and the
space between the pump cylinders and the entablature is only sufficient for the
introduction of the rocking beam and links, so that the entire pumping engine is
very compact and uniform in its operation.
The pistons of the steam cylinders may be worked by the direct action of steam
at any desired pressure, or the steam may be admitted into a smaller cylinder anl
pass from the same into an adjacent larger cylinder and act expansively and the
cylinders may be arranged for double or triple expansion.
Where only two cylinders are made use of, the high pressure steam is admitted
to one of the cylinders and expands into the second cylinder, or there may be
three cylinders, the high pressure being admitted into the first and expanding into
the second and then into the third, the second and third cylinders being in line
with each other and connected with one piston and pump rod, or there may be
four cylinders working expansively from one to the other, or from the high pressure
cylinder in one pair to the low pressure cylinder adjacent to the high pressure

page_text: cylinder in the other pair of cylinders, the valves in each instance being properly
constructed, so as to admit the high pressure steam and then direct the steam from
one cylinder into the other.
It is usually found advantageous to employ steam direct without a second or
expansion cylinder, in which instance the valves of the respective cylinders are
worked in unison by bell crank levers and connections, and the connections to these
valves are moved by steam acting upon pistons in a valve driving engine, there
being a valve that receives its motion from a bell crank and a connecting rod to
the rocking beam, so that the smaller valve thus worked by the direct action
admits steam to the valve driving engine, and this in turn moves the valves of
the main engine, and the valves are advantageously made so that there may be
a free exhaust from the lower end of each steam cylinder, and the steam is
sufficiently confined by the valves to cushion the steam pistons in the upward
movements, so as to prevent any concussion or hammering action as the pump
buckets and steam pistons reach the ends of the upward strokes, and with this
object in view independent steam and exhaust ports are advantageously provided,
so as to give a more free discharge to the steam from the lower ends of the
cylinders than from the upper ends.
In the drawings,
66
air pump."
Fig. 1 is an elevation partially in section of the said improvement applied to a
vacuum pump, or as it is usually termed in marine engine practice an
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan at the line x, x.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation, and
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan at the line y, y, Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 of the drawings, represents in elevation, partial section, an air pump
embodying this invention. Fig. 6 is a top or plan view of the same.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged face view of the upper part of the pump, a portion of its
exterior casting being broken away to show its valves and operating mechanism
therefor.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section of one of the cylinders showing arrange-
ment of parts, and
Fig. 9 shows the rocking beam by itself.
The pumping engine, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, is provided with air cylinders A A¹
and within these are buckets B and the rods C C¹ pass through suitable stuffing
boxes 2 upon the respective pump cylinders and are formed with or connected to the
piston rods of the steam cylinders E E¹.
A steam chest is represented at F and valve chests at G, and it is remarked
that the valves and the devices for actuating the steam valves may be of any
desired character, so long as they are positive in action, i.e., without "dead
center," but those hereafter described are preferred.
The inlet passage H is connected with the condenser and there are foot valves K
between the same and the respective pump cylinders and there are valves in the
pump buckets B as shown at L, and there is a discharge passage and head
valves N hetween such discharge passage and the respective cylinders of the
vacuum pump. These valves K L N are of any desired character and there is
provided in the side of each air cylinder an opening with a plug P secured by
bolts and the inner face of the plug is bored off true with the interior surface of
the air cylinder so that by removing the plug from either cylinder access can be
given to the foot valves K below the pump bucket when such pump bucket is in an
elevated position, or access can be given to the valves L of the pump bucket
when in a depressed position and it is desirable to provide a movable cap Q in a
convenient position upon the casting forming the discharge passageway to give
access to the valves N.
Upon the respective piston rods C C¹ there are cross heads R R¹ with links S S¹
connecting such cross heads to the double walking beams or levers T T' which are
pivoted centrally at U and there are connecting columns V between the bed plate

page_text: or entablature V' of the engine and the top part of the pump cylinders so that the
engine and pumps are permanently and rigidly connected and the levers or walking
beams being between the bed plate V₁ and the top part of the pump cylinders,
access is readily given to the respective parts and to the stuffing boxes of the
engine cylinders and pump cylinders; and the pistous and rods of the respective
steam cylinders not only act directly upon the respective pump buckets, but the
walking beams unify the action of the respective parts, so that the steam engine
acts with the necessary power in moving the pump buckets, regardless of which
pump bucket may be under the greatest strain in moving against the vacuum action.
Hence this pumping engine is very compact and uniform in its operation and
entirely independent of the main engine.
It will be observed that when the respective pistons and buckets are at the ends
of the stroke, the links S S₁ are in the same plane as the piston rods, and this is of
importance, especially with vacuum pumps, because the heaviest load and con-
sequently the greatest strain is at and near the end of the stroke, and in consequence
of the parts being in alignment at this time, there is little or no lateral strain
upon the piston rods to bend the same and wear the stuffing box packings
unevenly.
Single and compound engines being well known are available with the present
improvements, and in instances where only a vacuum is required, both cylinders A
and A' are fitted with the proper buckets and valves for maintaining the proper
vacuum, and in cases where a water circulating pump is required, both cylinders A
and A' may be used for pumping water, and where it is desired to combine in one
engine an air pump and a water circulating pump, one cylinder A' may be for
water and the other cylinder A for air.
Referring to Figs. 5 to 9, A A' represent the air pump cylinders mounted upon
a suitable bed and provided with inlet valves K and outlet valves N, all of which
are and may be of usual or desired construction.
The pump buckets B provided with the usual valves L are secured to and moved
by the piston rods C C¹ which also constitute the piston rods for the steam
cylinders E E¹ mounted upon the entablature V₁ which latter is carried by the
supporting columns V, see Fig. 5.
A depending bracket C on the entablature V₁ furnishes suitable bearings for
the journal U of the rocking beam, the latter consisting of two like members T T'
arranged at opposite sides of the bearing C and fast to the opposite ends of the
journal U in said bearing, see Fig. 9, the opposite ends of the said beam being
connected by like links S S with the piston rods C C₁, as shown, so that
reciprocation of one piston rod will cause a like opposite reciprocation of the
other piston rod, the movements of the two being thereby concordant.
The steam cylinders E E' are peculiarly constructed to prevent a water hammer
in the pump, said cylinders having independent steam and exhaust ports c c at
opposite ends of each cylinder, the exhaust port at one end of each cylinder
entering the same direct, while the exhaust at the opposite end of the cylinder
communicates with the cylinder only by means of the auxiliary port or passage s
and through the steam port at that end of the cylinder, the auxiliary port s being
controlled by a suitable valve, not shown.
In the construction herein shown the exhaust ports at the lower ends of the
cylinders enter the cylinder direct, while the exhaust ports at the upper ends of
the cylinders communicate therewith only through the auxiliary passages and
steam ports as described, thus providing freer exhaust for the lower ends of the
cylinders than for the upper ends. This forms a cushion for the upstroke of each
piston, and as the two pistons are connected through the beam T T', the effect is
to cushion both strokes and prevent a water hammer in the pumps, the cushion
at the upper end of one cylinder cushioning the up stroke of the piston in that
cylinder and through the beam T T the down stroke of the piston in the other
cylinder, and vice-versa.

page_text: If desired the lower ports c, c', of the steam chest may be connected by an
auxiliary port similar to that shewn at s through which any fluid that may be
coufined below the piston after it passes the port c¹ can escape, so as to cushion
the piston and prevent concussion, said fluid, so confined below the piston, passing
through the port and the auxiliary port into the exhaust port c¹.
The cylinders and valves to control the same are in other respects similar to
those now in common use.
The valves which control the admission of steam to the cylinders E, E', are
actuated by the oppositely arranged like bell crank levers fpirotted at f, the
said levers each having one arm extending between suitable lugs on the back of
the valve by which the latter is moved. The outer arms of the bell crank levers f¹
are connected together by a link having an intermediate opening between its
ends through which is extended a rocking lever h pivotted at 4 and having its
upper end engaged and moved by the piston rod m carrying at its opposite ends
the pistons fitted to move in the like cylinders M' in effect constituting a single
cylinder of an auxiliary or valve driving engine, the inner open ends of the said
cylinders communicating with the steam chamber formed within the casting F
which connects the cylinders E E¹ while the outer ends of the said cylinders are
closed and provided with steam ports m³ which lead to the valve chest G, one of
the ports m³ only being shown in Fig. 5.
The valve chest G contains a valve n actuated by the valve stem n' sliding at
its outer end in suitable bearings formed by the bracket n³, the said valve stem
having two adjustable lugs or tappets n between which moves the sleeve a jointed
to one arm of the bell crank lever n³ pivoted at n° to a bracket n' on the pump
casting, and having its other arm connected by a link n with and actuated by a
stud n standing out from the beam T T¹; see Figs. 5 and 7.
Steam is admitted to the interior of the steam chest F and passes thence to the
cylinders E E', the movement of the valve n controlling the admission of steam to
the opposite ends of the cylinders M' to cause movement of the pistons m¹ therein,
the latter as they move acting through the lever and link to move the valves f
which control the admission of steam to the cylinders E E.
The two pump piston rods C C₁ being connected by the beam T T must move
concordantly, and the valve n being moved from the beam T T'in turn causes
proper movements of the valves f.
The details of construction as shown permit the greatest freedom of access to
the various parts below the entablature, and while the engine above the entablature
presents a plain exterior, all the working parts within the casting F are easily
accessible upon removal of any of the proper covers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what is
claimed is :-
First. The combination with the two vertical pump cylinders and their lifting
buckets and valves, of direct acting steam cylinders and pistons with their piston
rods in line and connected to the rods of the buckets, a frame and columns
connecting with the pump cylinders and on which frame the steam cylinders are
directly connected, a walking beam between the pump and the engine and a pivot
for the same upon a bearing extending down from the frame, and link connections
at the respective ends of the walking beam to the cross heads of the piston rods
for unifying the action of the engine directly upon the lifting buckets, substantially
as set forth.
Second. In a direct acting pumping engine, the combination with a pair of pump
cylinders having lifting buckets and valves and valves in the lower part of the
pump cylinders, of steam cylinders and piston rods connecting the buckets of the
pump and the pistons of the engine, a walking-beam between the pump cylinders
and the steam cylinders, links connecting the ends of the walking-beam with the

page_text: piston rods, and a frame extending up from the pumps and to which the steam
cylinders are directly connected and which frame also supports the pivots of the
walking-beam, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination in a pumping engine, of two vertical pumping cylinders,
buckets and rods for the same, a frame upon the pump cylinders, and steam
cylinders directly connected to and supported by the frame, the piston rods of the
engine being in line with and directly connected to the rods of the pumps, a
walking beam between the pump and the engine and links connecting the walking
beam and the cross heads of the piston rods, the parts being arranged so that the
links are in the same plane or nearly so as the piston rods at the termination of
the respective strokes, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination of two pump cylinders, two steam cylinders arranged
in line respectively with said pump cylinders, buckets in said pump cylinders,
pistons in said steam cylinders, and piston-rods connecting said pistons and buckets,
valves for said steam cylinders to control the admission of steam thereto and the
'movements of the pistons therein, a valve driving engine connected with and to
positively move said valves, a valve mechanism for said valve driving engine, a
rocking beam pivoted at its middle and connected at its ends with and to be rocked
by said piston-rods, and a connection between said beam and valve mechanism
whereby the movements of the valve-driving engine are positively controlled
by the vibration of the beam and the movements of the main steam valves for
the steam cylinders by the valve driving engine, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of two pump cylinders, an entablature supported above
the same and sustaining thereupon two steam cylinders in line respectively with
said pump cylinders and having their pistons connected with buckets in said pump
cylinders by common piston-rods, a bracket on the under side of said entablature,
a beam T T comprising two members pivoted in said bracket and having its
opposite ends connected with and at opposite sides of the said piston-rods, a
valve-driving engine having its valve mechanism connected with and operated
by said beam, and valves to control the admission of steam to the steam
cylinders respectively actuated by said valve-driving engine, substantially as
described.
Sixth. The combination of two pump cylinders, buckets therein, two steam
cylinders containing pistons connected with and to move the said buckets respec-
tively, separate steam and exhaust ports leading from the valve seat to opposite
ends of each of said cylinders, the exhaust port for one end of each cylinder
baving a freer communication with the cylinder than the exhaust port for the
opposite end whereby a cushion is formed at one end of each cylinder, substantially
as described.
Seventh. The combination of two pump cylinders, buckets therein, two steam
cylinders containing pistons connected with and to move the said buckets
respectively, separate steam and exhaust ports c c¹ for the opposite ends of each of
said cylinders, the exhaust port at one end of each cylinder opening directly into
the cylinder, the exhaust port at the opposite end of each cylinder opening into the
steam port at the same end of the cylinder and communicating therethrough with
the cylinder, substantially as described.
Eighth. The combination of two pump cylinders, two steam cylinders in line
respectively therewith and having their pistons connected by common piston-rods
with buckets in the said pump cylinders, steam ports for said steam cylinders and
valves to control the same, a rocking lever between said steam cylinders, a link
connected at its middle with said rocking lever and at its ends with and to move
said valves, and a valve-driving engine connected with and to rock said lever, all
to operate substantially as described.
Ninth. A pumping engine containing the following instrumentalities, viz. :-Two
steam cylinders, steam ports therefor, and valves to control the same, bell crank
levers to move the same, the rocking lever h, a steam piston to rock the same,

page_text: the link connected at its middle with the said rocking lever and at its ends.
with said bell crank levers and the enclosing case F, all to operate substantially
as described.