Improvements in Steam Vacuum Pumps.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 21st Mar., 1890-Accepted, 26th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Vacuum Pumps.
I, JOHN BRINDLEY of 57 Waterloo Road North Wolverhampton in the County of
Stafford Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
In Steam Vacuum Pumps or apparatus for raising water or other liquids by the
direct pressure of steam on the surface of the liquid in the chamber or chambers
whereby the liquid is forced out and up the delivery pipe. The steam after completing
its work being condensed to form a vacuum thus causing the chamber or chambers to
be again filled.
In the simplest form of pump according to my Invention I construct a chamber of
cast iron or other suitable material of special form, approximately pear-shaped, and
terminating at its base with an enlarged portion which accomodates the suction and
delivery valves.
I dispense with a steam-controlling valve in this instance and thus reduce the
working parts of the pump to two ordinary valves or clocks, one for the inlet of the
water to the chamber and the other for the outlet of the same.
I have ascertained that with a pump chamber as above described, and with steam
flowing continuously into it, the water or other liquid being pumped is driven out to
the lowest level; when, by the rapid expansion and instantaneous condensation of the
steam on the large surface of water bere exposed, a vacuum is created in the lower
portion of the chamber.
At this moment the water enters through the inlet valve with such velocity and
momentum as to overpower the incoming steam and fill the chamber.
As the water rises in the narrow upper portion of the chamber it is in its turn
overpowered by the steam and again driven out through the outlet valve and up the
delivery pipe.
I utilize the force of the incoming water to feed a steam boiler and provide
suitable attachments therefor, thus dispensing with the use of the usual injector or
other form of boiler-feeder.
When economical working and a steady discharge, free from pulsations, are desired
I apply an automatic arrangement controlling the steam, consisting of a valve of
suitable form in conjunction with a second chamber of smaller capacity but of
corresponding shape to the main chamber, provided with similar inlet and outlet
valves as in the former instance and so connected with the larger chamber that, as
soon as the pressure in the latter falls below the pressure of the rising main, it enables
the steam admission valve to the smaller chamber to open, thus cutting off steam
from the main chamber and allowing it to flow into the smaller chamber and expel
the water therein.
As soon as the rising main pressure is established in the larger chamber, the steam
dmission valve to the smaller chamber closes; a vacuum is there formed and the
chamber again fills.
At the same time the steam again flows into the main chamber and expels its
vater.
I have ascertained in actual working that the vacuum is formed in the main
Bamban and the C
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page_text: he steam to discharge the water from the said chamber: thus it is unnecessary to
have the second or smaller chamber of greater capacity than will allow of the
water or other liquid being discharged from it whilst the larger main chamber is
filling.
I thus effect a considerable economy in steam and save weight.
Suitable pipes and connections are provided to attain the various objects herein
mentioned.
Where the word "water" is used in this Specification "or other liquid " is also to be
understood.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Vacuum Pumps.
I, JOHN BRINDLEY of 57 Waterloo Road North Wolverhampton in the County of
Stafford Mechanical 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 :-
My Invention relates to Steam Vacuum Pumps wherein the pressure of steam
applied directly on the surface of the water or other liquid in the working chamber
or chambers causes the liquid therein to be expelled through the delivery pipe :-a
vacuum subsequently ensuing a fresh supply of liquid is drawn into the chamber ready
to be again expelled.
In the simplest form of pump according to my Invention I construct a working
chamber of cast iron or other suitable material of a form approximately "pear-
shaped" and having at its base a chamber which accomodates the suction and
delivery valves; this chamber I prefer to make as a seperate casting. I dispense
with a steam controlling valve in this instance and thus reduce the wearing parts of
the pump to two ordinary valves; one for the inlet of the water into the chamber
and the other for the outlet of the same.
With a pump constructed as above described and with steam flowing continuously
into the working chamber, the water or other liquid being pumped is driven out to
the lowest level, when, by the rapid expansion and instantaneous condensation of the
steam on the large surface of the water here exposed, a vacuum is created in the
working chamber. A fresh supply of water enters from the suction pipe and fills
the chamber ready to be again expelled by the steam.
I provide an injection nozzle to be hereinafter described which makes a communi-
cation between the water in the delivery pipe and the interior of the working chamber
in order to hasten the vacuum, and I also attach at the upper portion of the working
chamber an air valve, of novel construction, to admit a supply of air to the
working chamber so as to reduce the force of the inrushing water to any desired
extent.
The force of the inrushing water to the working chamber I have found to be so
great that I utilize it to feed a steam boiler and I provide a suitable check valve
attachment for that purpose.
I also make use of the inrush of the suction water in another way viz.-I construct
alongside of the working chamber an air vessel of suitable capacity and provide it
with suction and delivery valves and communication with the main suction and
delivery passage of the working chamber.
The action is as follows:-When the momentum of the inrushing water is checked
by the fact of its having filled the working chamber, the water expands its force by
flowing into the air vessel and compressing the air therein.-The air being elastic
naturally expands and forces out the water so admitted up the delivery pipe.
The discharge of steam vacuum pumps constructed as above described is intermittent
to some extent on account of their being single-acting only.

page_text: When a steady discharge of water and economical working are desired I apply, in
connection with the main working chamber, an automatic arrangement controlling
the steam admission, consisting of a valve of suitable form (two such valves are
hereinafter described and illustrated) in conjunction with a second chamber of smaller
capacity but of a corrresponding shape to the main chamber, provided with similar
inlet & outlet valves and so connected with the larger chamber that as soon as the
pressure in the latter falls below the pressure of the rising main, it enables the
steam admission valve to rise and so cut off the steam from the main chamber and
allow it to flow into the smaller chamber and expel the water therefrom.
As soon as the rising main pressure is established in the main chamber, the steam
admission valve falls and cuts off steam from the smaller chamber, thus allowing it
to flow once more into the main chamber and expel the water therefrom.
It will thus be seen that the main or large working chamber governs the action of
the steam controlling valve, and the function of the smaller chamber is merely it to
keep the discharge column in motion whilst the main chamber is filling.
I have ascertained that the vacuum is formed in the main chamber and the chamber
filled in considerably less time than is required for the steam to discharge the water
from the said chamber, thus it is only necessary to have the smaller chamber of
sufficient capacity to allow of the water contained therein being expelled whilst the
main chamber is filling.
Considerable economy of steam is thereby attained whilst the weight and
dimensions of the pump are reduced as compared with existing forms of steam-vacuum
pumps.
A pump constructed as above described is double-acting and maintains a steady
& continuous discharge.
A suitable injection nozzle is provided and hereinafter described and illustrated.
Air valves, as in the case of the single-acting pump are also attached at the upper
portions of the working chambers, whilst throughout suitable doors for access and
examination of the valves etc. are provided.
Where the word " water is made use of in this Specification "or other liquid " is
also to be understood.
Referring to the Drawings accompanying this Specification, Fig. 1. is a transverse
section through the simplest form of single-acting pump-A. being the working
chamber B. the enlarged portion accomodating the suction valve C. and the delivery
valve D.
F. is the suction inlet and X. the delivery outlet. K. is the steam inlet and H. the
boss provided for attaching the air valve-G. is the check valve attachment for
boiler feeding and S. the injection nozzle.
Fig. 2. is a section of a single-acting pump taken at right angles to Fig. 1.
but is shown with an air vessel attachment a, and additional suction valve C¹.
Two delivery valves and a common discharge chamber, not shown, are also
provided.
Fig. 3. is a cross-section through the working chambers of a double-acting pump
according to this Invention-A. being the main working chamber and a. the
smaller or auxiliary working chamber. K. is the steam inlet. J. is the controlling
valve. T. is the injection nozzle forming a communication between the lower
chamber B. and the main working chamber A. Two delivery valves and a
common discharge chamber, not shown, are also provided.
Fig. 4. is an enlarged section through the steam controlling valve shown in
Fig. 3.
J. is a piston valve so arranged that when it is in the position illustrated it
allows the steam to flow past it thus putting the steam inlet K. in communication
with the passage L. and consequently with the main chamber of the pump.
When however the piston valve J. rises consequent on the pressure in the main
working chamber of the pump falling the steam is cut off from the passage L. and
flows through the opening in the seat M. and thence into the smaller working
chamber.

page_text: I so arrange the overlapping edges of the piston valve J. that the steam is cut
off from one chamber entirely before it is admitted to the other chamber.
The small passage communicating from the top of the piston valve J. to the
passage L. is for the purpose of transmitting whatever pressure is in the working
chamber A. Fig. 3. to the top side of the piston valve J.
Fig. 5. is an enlarged section through another form of steam controlling valve.
I adopt in some cases. On reference it will be seen that a double mitred-faced valve V.
takes the place of the piston valve J. Fig. 4.
The action is precisely the same as the latter except that the steam, in this case, is
not cut off from one working chamber before it is admitted to the other.
Fig. 6. is an end view and Fig. 7. a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of
the injection nozzle S. alluded to in Fig. 1. It is simply a long screwed nozzle,
preferably of gun metal, having a solid collar S. formed on it at one end and a hole
drilled through its centre and is provided with locknuts E. E.
The outer end beyond the collar S. is squared for convenience of fixing and
removing.
Fig. 8. is a longitudinal section and Fig. 9. a plan on an enlarged scale of
the injection nozzle T. used in connection with the double-acting pump illustrated
in Fig. 3.
Fig. 10. is a transverse section of the air valve aforementioned and consists of a
case Y. (preferably of gun metal) in which is formed the seat for the valve P. and has
a screwed nipple for attachment to the bosses F. Figs. 1. 2. 3.
The stalk of the valve P. is screwed and has the milled nut Q. provided for adjusting
the tension of the spring N.
The upper end of the valve stalk P. is squared and works in a corresponding squared
hole in the shield R.
This latter is cut away as shown so that the milled nut Q. may be turned by the
finger and thumb of the operator.
Screwed plugs are provided in the case as shown, the lower one forming a con-
venient stop for the valve P. and the other at right-angles to it is freed opposite the
inlet hole to the working chamber of the pump and is a convenient means of access
for cleaning purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A single-acting steam-vacuum pump having one working chamber only and
without ball valve or other steam controlling device, as hereinbefore described and
represented in the accompanying drawings.
2. A single-acting steam vacuum pump having a single working chamber and an
air chamber with seperate suction and delivery valves, but without steam controlling
valve, for the purpose aforesaid.
3. In a steam-vacuum pump, applying the force of the inrush of the water into the
working chamber, to feed a steam boiler.
4. In a steam vacuum pump applying the force of the inrush of the water into an
air vessel, whereby air is compressed and subsequently expanding drives out the water
so admitted up the delivery pipe.
5. In a double-acting steam vacuum pump, constructing the working chambers of
unequal capacity for the purpose aforesaid.
6. A double-acting steam-vacuum pump having its working chambers of unequal
capacity and provided with a piston or other form of steam-controlling valve and so
arranged that the larger chamber governs the action of the steam-controlling valve
aforesaid.
7. The application to a double-acting steam-vacuum pump, having two working
chambers, of the piston valve J. whereby the steam admission to either chamber is
controlled substantially as illustrated and described.
8. The application to a double-acting steam vacuum pump, having two working

page_text: chambers, of the double mitred-faced valve V. whereby the steam admission to either
chamber is controlled, substantially as illustrated and described.
9. The application to steam-vacuum pumps of the removable injection nozzles S.
& T. respectively, substantially as illustrated and described for the purpose aforesaid.
10. The application to steam-vacuum pumps of the air valve Fig. 10. having the
adjustable spring N. and the inverted valve P substantially as illustrated and described
for the purpose aforesaid.