IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY PUMPS FOR LIFTING AND FORCING WATER
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY PUMPS FOR LIFTING AND
FORCING WATER."-A communication from abroad by Samuel
Alexander West, of San Francisco, California, and Lewis Goodwin,
of Virginia, Nevada, both in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th March 1873.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY PUMPS FOR
LIFTING AND FORCING WATER," a communication, to be as follows:-
The said Invention relates to improvements in pumps of that class in
which an eccentrically mounted piston revolves upon its shaft within a
cylindrical case, and which are known as rotary pumps, and it consists
mainly in a novel construction and arrangement of the piston; and in

page_text: its connection with an adjustable operating eccentric by means of
conical or other shaped friction rollers either with or without centres,
whereby all the working parts are caused to run with the least possiblo
friction.
It further consists in the employment of an india-rubber packing
upon the outside or inside cylinder or both, and in a rolling contact of
the parts which gives smoothness and a close fit. A sliding valve or
diaphragm is fitted to move automatically with the piston and separate
the suction and discharge chambers, and this is also provided with
friction rollers. The ends of the piston are channelled and an adjustable
packing plate is set up by adjusting screws, so that water is employed to
make the parts as tight as may be desired while in action without
creating unnecessary friction.
The case of the pump is made preferably in the form of a short
cylinder, and is provided with suction and discharge chambers. These
chambers are separated by a partition, and openings lead from the
chamber into the cylinder proper. A shaft passes through the centre of
the cylinder and has secured to it the aforesaid eccentric. This eccentric
is made of two frustums of cones keyed to the shaft.
The piston proper consists of a cylinder made somewhat smaller than
the interior of the case, and its outer surface is covered with the rubber
packing. The interior is made conical as shown, and this and the
eccentric are placed a number of rollers made in the form of double
cones or frustums, so that when in place they just fit the grooves made
by the peculiar shapes of the eccentric and the piston. The aforesaid
partition is slotted and the moving sliding diaphragm fits into the slot ;
this diaphragm is made hollow to relieve the friction of the moving
parts. Arms extend upon each side of this diaphragm and at their ends
carry rollers which fit into the channels, and as the piston is carried
around by the movements of the eccentric the diaphragm is moved out,
thus always keeping the division complete between the inlet and
discharge chambers.
I construct a valve which can be used in any place and under any
pressure. This valve has one end made cylindrical to fit into a socket,
and about this point the valve makes a partial rotation or vibration, as
the eccentric piston alternately approaches and recedes. The outer end
of the valve is fitted to receive a roller which rests against the periphery

page_text: of the piston, and thus relieves the friction of the valve. At the end of
the piston are plates which are adjusted by set screws from the outside,
and are by this means brought as close to the ends of the piston as may
be necessary, and when the pump is running the water contained in the
chamber serves as a packing which is of superior tightness with the least
possible friction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent.
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th September 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ROTARY PUMPS FOR LIFTING AND FORCING WATER," a communication to me
from abroad by Samuel Alexander West, of San Francisco, California,
and Lewis Goodwin, of Virginia, Nevada, both in the United States of
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
Our Invention relates to improvements in pumps of that class in
which an eccentrically mounted piston revolves upon its shaft within a
cylindrical case, and which are known as rotary pumps, and it consists
mainly in a novel construction and arrangement of the piston, and in
its connection with the operating eccentric by means of conical or other
shaped friction rollers either with or without centres, whereby all the
working parts are caused to run with the least possible friction.
It further consists in the employment of a rubber packing upon the
outside or inside cylinder or both, and a rolling contact of the parts
which gives smoothness and a close fit. A sliding valve or diaphragm is
fitted to move automatically with the piston and separate the suction
and discharge chambers, and this is also provided with friction rollers.
The ends of the piston are channelled and an adjustable packing plate is
set up by adjusting screws, so that water is employed to make the parts
as tight as may be desired while in action without creating unnecessary

page_text: of the cylinder and has secured to it an eccentric H. This eccentric as
shewn is made of two frustrums of cones keyed to the shaft to stand a
short distance apart and with their smaller ends towards each other;
but that one piece turned with a groove might be made to answer. The
piston proper I consists of a cylinder made somewhat smaller than the
interior of the case; its outer surface is covered with a rubber packing J.
The interior is made conical, as shewn, and between this piston and the
eccentric H are placed a number of rollers K. These rollers are shewn
made in the form of double cones or frustrums, the bases lying together
so that when in place they just fit the grooves made by the peculiar
shapes of the eccentric and the piston. The two parts of the eccentric H
are so fitted that they can be moved nearer together on the key or
feather by nuts r, and by this means with the conical rollers above
described compensation is obtained for any wear of the parts. A
washers is placed between the nuts and the sides of the eccentric to'
give elasticity and relieve the strain. The outer edges of the piston are
channelled as shewn at L for a purpose to be herein-after described.
The partition D is slotted as shewn, and a moving sliding diaphragm M
fits into this slot, being as wide as the piston. This diaphragm is made
hollow below, as shewn, to relieve the friction of the moving parts.
Arms extend upon each side of this diaphragm and at their ends carry
rollers N which fit the channels L, and as the piston is carried around
by the movements of the eccentric the diaphragm is moved out and in,
thus always keeping the division complete between the inlet and
discharge chambers. A friction roller O also moves at the edge of the
said diaphragm and against the face of the piston to ensure freedom of
action.
The device consisting of the sliding valve M with its friction rollers N
and O will be useful in pumps which are required to throw water under a
small pressure, but when the pump is to be used in a mine or where there
is a high column to be elevated, and consequently a great pressure, the
friction will be too great for economy in the use of this device. But a
valve constructed as shewn at T, Figure 5, which can be used in any
place and under any pressure. This valve has one end made cylindrical
to fit into a socket at u, and about this point the said valve makes a
partial rotation or vibration as the eccentric piston alternately approaches
and recedes. The outer end of the said valve is fitted to receive a
roller V which rests against the periphery of. the piston I, and thus

page_text: Fourth. The side plates P with their adjusting screws Q in com-
bination with the piston I, as herein set forth and for the purpose
described.
Fifth. In combination with the adjustable packing plate P, the
piston I when channelled or chambered at L for the purpose of furnishing
a water packing, as herein described. ·
Sixth. The sliding diaphragm or partition M with its friction
rollers O and N in combination with the piston I channelled at L, tho
whole operating as herein described.
Seventh. A moveable diaphragm and its slide between the suction
pipe and discharge pipe, as herein described.
Eighth. The vibrating valve T constructed to operate as herein
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
Witness,
HENRY J. NOONE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
W". ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)