Improvements in Pumps.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 13th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pumps.
1, ROBERT GRAY BRIGGS of No 1 Belgrave Gate Leicester in the county of Leicester
Master Plumber, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in pumps commonly known as suction pumps
which have a sucker placed in a convexed seat in the suction pipe covered by a clack,
the top of the bucket also having a clack nailed thereon with a rivet on the underside
to fit to the inside of the hole of the bucket. When anything is wrong with the pump
these contrivances and the sucker as well have to be taken out in a good many cases,
for any grit or stones lodging in the clacks, render this operation necessary besidus
causing leaky clacks. My invention obviates this by employing a tail valve over, but
not nailed down on to the bucket, and I also provide a suction valve over the sucker
instead of clacks by which means I am enabled with a shorter stroke of the piston, or
bucket to obtain a larger stream of water and when anything is wrong with the
sucker it can easily be attended to the whole of my contrivance lifting out of the
cylinder by taking the bucket rod from the handle. I do away with the rivet under
the clacks altogether, also do not require to use a pump rod to make an examination
of the sucker, for my use the sucker is secured in a convexed scat in the suction pipe
as usual, but without a clack on the top of the sucker. I make the sucker with a
larger aperture to get a larger flow. The cylinder is then placed in position when
a suction valve made of lead nearly bell shaped with a loop at top by which it is
suspended by a circular linked chain fitted on a rod put across the bottom of the
bucket, the lower end of the valve is flanged and outside this I place a leather washer,
or sucker which is secured by a nut upon a screw inserted in the bottom of the valve,
this washer is circular and cut to the size of the cylinder so that it fits freely therein.
The chain is of such a length that when the bucket is up in the position for lowering
by lifting the handle attached to the bucket rod the suction valve is fast down on the
sucker, but as the bucket rises the suction valve is drawn off. On the top of the
bucket in leau of the clack I place a disc of leather of about the circumference of
the bucket and regulate it from lifting too high by a small horizontal rod fitted in the
hole of the bucket. When the handle of the pump is depressed a little the suction
valve rises, and as the bucket lifts the top valve closes-And the water is raised freely
to any height according to the length of the bucket rod used, by the use of the
contrivances mentioned a shorter stroko is required to bring a larger volume of water,
than by a full stroke of the piston or bucket in common pumps employing clacks or
lip valves.
Dated this 12th day of March 1889.
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
Patent Agent, Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pumps.
1, ROBERT GRAY BRIGGS of No 1 Belgrave Gate Leicester in the county of Leicester,
Master Plumber, 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 improvements in pumps commonly known as suction
pumps, which have a wooden sucker covered by a trap, or clack placed in a convexed
seat or box in the suction pipe. It is of common occurance that when anything is
wrong with such pumps these contrivances have to be taken out in a good many cases
Priced 1

page_text: owing to grit, sand or stones becoming lodged in the clacks, and their being no
provision whereby such grit, sand or stones can be sucked up with the water, causes
leaky clacks, and pumps constantly ont of order.
That my invention may be well understood drawings are annoxed in which :-
Figure 1. is a sectional view of the inside of a wooden pump.
Figure 2, represents, partly in section an iron pump, or what is known as a “hand
pump."
Figure 3. is a view partly in section of a beer pump, several of these are put in a
frame and are known as "beer engines."
The object of my invention is in the first place to do away with the lead weighted
sucker clacks. Secondly, to provide a sucker valve that will not only prevent leaky
clacks, or boring through the casing or cylinder to remedy defects, but which will
allow a continious stream of water, which can be maintained, no matter at what depth
the water has to be raised, at the same time acting as an anti-freezer, and drawing up
any grit, sand or stones, that may get into the pump, when in the act of drawing the
water. can employ my improvements to any suction pump having a frame, or
wooding casing as at A figure 1. or iron, or brass, as B figures 2 and 3.
At the top
of the ordinary bucket or piston C, I employ a tail valve, or, as shown in figure 1, D,
where a circular piece of leather cut to the size of the upper part of the bucket, and
that it will work free of the bucket leather, two holes are made opposite to each
other, through which are put the pins leaving sufficient room for the vertical
movement of the valve, at the bottom of the bucket upon the cross bar E, is suspended
the circular linked chain F, the lower link of which fits into the loop, in the hollow
part, or receptacle for stones, or grit in the bell shaped sucker valve G, which finds
its hed on the top of the wooden sucker H, or its equivalent, the pump rod I, being
attached to the handle J, by a link and pin and cotter in the ordinary way. In
order to examine the lower part of the pump, all my internal arrangements being
secured together-1 have only to detach the pamp rod from the handle, and lift the
whole out, when anything can be easily attended to for the clacks being done away
with, "or trap valves;" if an inspection is required of the sucker H, no pump rod is
required for the purpose of removing any obstruction. My contrivances are arranged
in the following manner, I place the wooden sucker H in the convexed seat or box h²,
in the suction pipe K, in the usual manner, and make the aperture in the top larger to
obtain a larger flow of the water, the cylinder L, or leaden pipe M, is then placed in
its position over the suction pipe-the suction valve G, hanging from the bucket is
then put on the sucker E, the valve being made of lead, and bell shaped at base,
preferred, or for pumps having narrow cylinders, or pipe; I may use the one shown
in figure 2; the lower end of the said valve is flanged and outside this I place the
leather washer, or sucker g', which is secured by the nut N, the screw entering the
bottom of the valve, or to keep the suction valve steady I may employ the long tail
or spindle O, shown in figure 2. the leather washor, g', is cut to the size or thereabouts
of the cylinder L, so that it fits freely therein; the circular linked chain F, is made of
such a length that when the handle J, is up as shown in figure 2 and the bucket C, is
up; and in the position for lowering, the suction valve G, will be drawn off its bed,
and when the handle is in its normal position shown in figure 1, the suction valve G,
will be over the sucker H, and the water up to the spout hole a', figure 1, will remain
in the cylinder L, or pipe M, and if the pump-is frequently used a continious and
copious supply of water is always maintained, the valve D, is regulated by the
movement of the bucket C, by these arrangements if the handle of the pump is only
depressed a little, the top valve closes and the suction valve comes into operation, and
the water is drawn and raised freely to any height according to the length of stroke,
or the length of the bucket rod I, employed.
I supply also a want long felt in beer pumps used by innkeepers to obviate lead
poisoning of the liquid by it being left in the pipes during the night, as will be seen
in figure 8 by attaching the circular linked chain F, to the bucket or piston C, and
securing the bottom to a link, in the tail valve G. I can release the liquid from
the suction pipe K. when it will go back into the cask, or other receptacle from which

page_text: it is being drawn by detaching the link of the pump rod from the handle and lifting
the valve G, from its seating when the handle J, is pulled down the chain is two links
loose allowing the sucker valve to retain its bed, and the rod being lifted up above its
usual height unseats the sucker valve, and so the liquids is allowed to go out of the
machine.
I do not confine myself to the precise shape or length of the suction valve, for in
lift pumps having only a short stroke I may reduce the length of the valve
accordingly.
This invention can be applied to short pumps to bring a large and unceasing volume
of water or other liquid up from the suction pipe, such as in double or treble barrel
pumps, working either by hand or power.
By my improvements pumps can be kept quite clean, and all stones, grit and the
like will be drawn up with the water through the spout, or other supply pipe, and as
before stated by a short lifting up of the bucket more water is raised than by a full
stroke of the piston or bucket in common pumps employing clacks or lip valves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1 claim
is:-
The employment in suction pumps of the various kinds referred to of a suction
valve G, attached to the piston or bucket C, by a circular link chain F, operated in the
manner substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this 11th day of December 1990
WILLIAM B. MAXFIELD,
Patent Office, 19, Bowling Green Street, Leicester, Agent for the Applicant.