Improvements in Means for Automatically Controlling the Motive Force Supplied to Pumping and other Engines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1894
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES CAMPBELL WORTHINGTON, Mechanical
Engineer, of Irvington, in the State of New York, United States of
America.]
Improvements in Means for Automatically Controlling the Motive
Force Supplied to Pumping and other Engines.
I HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of The Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane in the County of London, Patent Agent, 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 :-
The especial object of the present invention is to combine an accumulator with a
pump in such a manner, that a smooth, uniform, and properly regulated action of
the apparatus shall be secured.
The result is attained, in its preferred form, by combining with a pump an
accumulator receiving the force pressure on one side of its piston, as usual in such
constructions, but receiving its working pressure on the opposite side of the piston
from the steam supply to the pump motor, and so arranged that the accumulator
piston controls and automatically varies the supply of steam to the pump, in
accordance with the position of the piston, gradually increasing the supply as the
piston moves against the force pressure, and decreasing the supply as the piston
moves in the opposite direction, under the action of the force pressure. This
gradual adjustment of the steam supply is preferably constant throughout the stroke
of the accumulator or piston, as the most perfect adjustment of the steam in
accordance with the work performed is thus provided, and the highest economy in
the operation of the apparatus secured.
While this combination of accumulator and controlled pump forms an important
part of the invention, such a steam accumulator may be used also in systems in
which the exhaust steam from the accumulator is applied to driving an engine
other than the pump motor, or to doing other work. An elastic fluid accumulator,
with certain regulative features designed to secure its proper action, and various
special features of construction in accumulator, and in combined accumulator and
pump constructions, would also come within the scope of this invention, as will be
hereafter fully described.
As the invention relates especially to combined pump and accumulator
constructions, it will be illustrated as thus applied, and from a description of such
construction, the use of the accumulator alone, or with other apparatus for utilizing
the exhaust therefrom, will be readily understood. It is obvious that many
different pump and accumulator constructions embodying the broad features of the
invention, may readily be devised by those skilled in the art, and that the size of
the accumulator cylinder and piston, and the arrangements for controlling the
steam supply in accordance with its movement, may be varied in accordance with
the size and steain pressure of the pump, and the results desired. In the
accompanying drawings, however, there are shown constructions of some of the
preferred forms embodying the invention, and a detailed description of these
constructions will now be given, and the features forming the invention specifically
pointed out in the claims.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pump and accumulator apparatus embodying the
invention in one of the preferred forms, the engine being shown as of the common
form known as the "Worthington Duplex Pumping Engine," although it will be
understood that the invention is applicable in connection with pumping engines of
other forms.

page_text: Fig. 2 is an end elevation.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged central longitudinal section of the accumulator.
Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a side elevation and plan of a construction with
the accumulator placed beside the pump, the accumulator being of substantially the
same construction as in Figs. 1 to 3, but the connection of the force main being
changed.
Fig. 6 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing a vertical
accumulator, the accumulator and connections with the force main being slightly
modified.
Figs. 7 and 8 show modified forms of accumulator which are arranged vertically,
although it will be understood that they may be either vertical or horizontal.
Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3, the pumping engine is of the common form of the
ordinary Worthington duplex pumping engine, having steam cylinders A B, and
corresponding water cylinders, C, on opposite sides, the steam cylinders being
supplied with steam through the usual supply or induction pipe E and the water
cylinders having the usual suction main F and force main G. Below, and in the
same vertical plane with the pump, is the accumulator H, made, as usual in
hydraulic accumulator constructions, with chambers of different sizes at opposite
ends, and a differential piston having its larger and smaller portions II in
respectively. the larger and smaller chambers of the accumulator.
With the smaller chamber, the force main G connects preferably at the side, and
some little distance from the end, as shown, and from the end of the sinaller
chamber extends the delivery pipe K, this construction being preferred to the usual
arrangement of the force main connection with the delivery pipe, as it prevents
opposing currents in the pipe, the water passing into and out of the accumulator
cylinder in the direction of the current.
The steam supply pipe E of the pump connects at the larger end of the
accumulator with the pipe L, which extends through the accumulator chamber and
the larger piston I, this pipe being provided with openings arranged in the line of
movement of the piston, a series of perforations 10, sufficient to furnish the
greatest amount of steam ever required for the pump, being shown. It will be
understood, however, that slots extending longitudinally of the cylinder may be
used in place of the perforations or any other suitable openings. The pipe M
from the boiler connects with the larger chamber of the accumulator H so as to
supply steam thereto, for the pressure upon piston I, and for the supply of steam
to the pump motor through the perforated pipe L and supply pipe E, and this
pipe M is controlled preferably by an automatic pressure regulator N, which may
be of any suitable form, to ensure the desired pressure in the accumulator. It is
preferably a pressure reducing and regulatiug valve of some suitable construction,
and preferably adjustable to vary the pressure according to the work desired.
A common "Mason" regulating valve construction, which answers all these
requirements, is shown. Upon the pipe E, between the accumulator and steam
supply, is preferably placed also an adjustable valve 11, which may be automatically
adjustable, to control and vary, or maintain constant, the steam supply, but which
preferably is a common throttle valve by which the supply of steam may be
adjusted as desired, it being understood that when this valve is once adjusted to
secure the desired relative supply, the control of the steam thereafter is automatic
by the accumulator piston I. It is not essential in all constructions, however, that
a valve be placed between the accumulator and pump.
The arrangement shown in the construction now being described, in which the
pump and accumulator are placed in the same vertical plane, is desirable, and in
itself forms a part of the invention, as the floor space is thus much reduced, and a
single bed of the width required for one of these members, serves also for the
other. Moreover it permits short and convenient connections between the pump
and accumulator to be used. The placing of the pump above the accumulator is
preferable over the opposite arrangement with the pump below the accumulator, as
the pump is thus brought on top, where its working parts are more convenient of

page_text: access, while the working parts of less convenient access are those of the accumu-
lator which are enclosed and protected within the accumulator casing, and therefore
require but slight and infrequent attention.
The interior arrangement of the accumulator and packing, so as to avoid the
escape of steam from the pipe L may be of any suitable form, but the construction
shown in Fig. 3 will be found very efficient. In this construction, the smaller
piston I is made hollow, so as to accommodate a closed pipe O, which is screwed or
otherwise secured into the piston I, so as to move therewith, this pipe enclosing the
end of perforated pipe L. The space within the piston I around this pipe O, is
preferably filled with non conducting material, such as asbestos, to prevent_the
condensation of the steam by the water surrounding the piston I'. The pipe Lis
surrounded, within the piston, by a metallic sleeve 15, which slides upon the pipe,
and with the construction shown no other steam packing is required. The larger
accumulator chamber is preferably connected by a pipe 13 with a trap p, so as to
trap off the water of condensation from the chamber, and drain pipes 15 for other
parts of the accumulator are preferably provided, as shown. It will be seen that
the accumulator, in this construction, receives the condensation from the steam in
the supply pipe E for the pump motor. This is a desirable feature, as in the case
of pumps called upon to pump intermittently (as is generally the case when
accumulators are used), difficulty results from the water of condensation collecting
in the supply-pipe during the time that the pump is not in action, and which is
liable to be delivered into the steam cylinder on the sudden opening of the
throttle.
While, as above stated, it is preferable that the accumulator and pump be placed
in the same vertical plane, it will be understood that this is not essential, but that
they may be placed otherwise. In Figs. 4 and 5, the pump, accumulator, and
connections, are shown of substantially the same construction as previously
described, but the pump and accumulator are placed side by side, and the force
main G is shown as connecting with the delivery pipe K outside the accumulator.
The accumulator also may be placed vertically, if desired, as usual in the case of
weighted and hydraulic pressure accumulators, such a construction being shown in
Fig. 6. In this construction, the pipe O is omitted, and the pipe L passes directly
into the closed hollow smaller piston I', the force main G and delivery K
connecting at opposite sides of the base of the accumulator.
In all the constructions thus far shown, the control of the steam supply, to the
pump is secured by the accumulator piston moving over a perforated pipe, so that
as the accumulator piston rises, it closes to the steam, more or less of the
perforations 10, and thus reduces the supply of steam, the reverse action occurring
as the piston falls. It is obvious that this result may be secured in other ways,
and of the many modifications which may readily be made by those skilled in the
art, while retaining this feature of the gradual variation of the steam supply to the
pump through the stroke of the accumulator piston, two are shown in Figs. 7
and 8.
In Fig. 7, the perforated pipe L is attached to, and moves with the piston,
passing through the head of the accumulator into a closed chamber Q, with which
the steam supply pipe E connects.
The pipe L is packed in the head of the accumulator, so that the only steam
passing to the chamber Q is that admitted through the openings 10. As the pipe I,
rises with the piston, the number of perforations 10 within the accumulator
cylinder is reduced, and thus the supply of steam lessened, and on the descent of
the piston and pipe, the reverse occurs.
In Fig. 8, a chamber R is formed in the side of the accumulator cylinder, with
which chamber the steam pipe E connects, and this chamber R connects with the
accumulator cylinder through a series of perforations 14, so that some or all of
these perforations are cut off and closed by the rising piston, and as the piston
falls, the perforations are opened.
From the above description and accompanying illustration, the embodiment of

page_text: that part of the invention relating to the combined pump and accumulator, with
other forms of devices and with other arrangements of the pump, accumulator,
and connections, and the application of the accumulator on other systems where
the steam from the accumulator performs other work than actuating the pump
motor, or the accumulator is used alone on a steam or other clastic fluid supply,
may readily be made by those skilled in the art.
The pressure regulator for the accumulator performs an important function, in
that the pressure in the accumulator cylinder must never exceed, even slightly,
what is necessary to balance the pressure on the water end of the accumulator, as
in such case the entire construction would become ineffective.
This pressure
regulator is shewn as an ordinary pressure reducing valve construction on the
connections between the pressure accumulator and boiler, permitting the steam to
flow towards the accumulator, but closing on the increase of back pressure, so as to
prevent a return flow, and with the usual boiler constructions, this will be found
preferable, for the following reasons:-
In
It is important that the pressure on the accumulator shall be constant, and
independent of any fluctuations in the boiler or other supply. In the usual boiler
constructions, such fluctuatious occur, and the maximum pressure on the accumu-
lator must not exceed the lowest point to which the boiler pressure may fall.
order, therefore, to secure any range of regulating action, the valve controlling
the maximum accumulator pressure must be a pressure reducing valve varying the
accumulator pressure below the boiler pressure, in accordance with the action of
the apparatus. It will be understood, however, that any suitable means may be
used for regulating the pressure upon the accumulator, so as to secure a constant
accumulator-pressure of the required amount, and ensure that this pressure shall
not pass the desired point. It is very desirable, also, that this regulator should
be adjustable, so as to vary the pressure in the accumulator when desired, as the
accumulator may thus be applied to work requiring different pressures, solely by
adjusting this pressure regulator.
In
In the construction shown, in which the accumulator cylinder is provided with
an escape or exhaust pipe, which function in the construction shewn is sub-served
by the pipe E, forming a supply pipe for the pump, the required flow of steam
through the reducing valve is assured, and its proper operation thus secured.
combination with the reducing valve which prevents a return flow, such an escape
pipe is important also in preventing the compression of the steam in the upper part
of the accumulator, which otherwise would result as the piston moves up under the
water pressure from the pump, and this forms a feature of the invention in
connection with the pressure reducing valve, whether this escape pipe forms also
an exhaust pipe for conducting away the surplus steam from the accumulator, or
forms simply an escape pipe through which the steam is allowed to escape, to
relieve the pressure, if the latter tends to rise too high.
It will be seen that the construction shewn secures a gradual change of the steam
supply to the pump, and that this change is made practically continuously by very
small variations throughout the stroke of the accumulator piston. While such
small frequent variations are desirable, and the constructions shewn embody the
invention in its preferred form, it is evident that the variations of the supply may
be less frequent, and consequently greater than shewn,-the perforations or other
regulating details being varied. The gradual variation of the steam supply is a
very important feature of the invention, in that the pump is thus started and
stopped without shock. Thus, when the accumulator piston commences its down-
ward movement, steam supplied to the pump by the opening of the perforations 10
as the piston passes over them, the supply being slight at first, and gradually
increased until the pressures upon the piston are balanced, when it remains
stationary, and upon the stoppage, or decrease of the withdrawal of fluid, the
piston will be reversed, and raised by the force pressure without shock, and the
steam supply gradually cut of, so as to stop the piston slowly and without shock.
It will be understood that, while the invention has been described as applied in

page_text: connection with an ordinary steam motor, and the term “ steam has been used
throughout the Specification and claims, the accumulator may be combined also
with an expansion engine employing any other suitable motor fluid, and that the
term "steam" is intended to include such equivalents. If the accumulator be used
independently of any expansion engine, so that there is no supply of steam
therefrom for any other work, it may be found preferable to use compressed air or
other gas rather than steam.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed (as cominunicated to me
from abroad), I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination with a steam engine, of a steam accumulator forming part
of the steam connections between the steam supply and engine, and means for
varying the supply of steam to the engine in accordance with the movement of the
accumulator piston, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a steam pump, of a steam accumulator on the force
main forming part of the steam connections between the steam supply and pump
motor, and means for varying the supply of steam to the pump motor, in accordance
with the movement of the accumulator piston, substantially as described.
3. The combination with a steam engine, of a steam accumulator, and an exhaust
pipe from the steam chamber of the accumulator, forming a steam supply pipe for
the engine and communicating with the steam chamber by openings arranged in
the line of movement of the accumulator piston, and closed and opened by the
latter, whereby the supply of steam to the engine is varied in accordance with the
movement of the accumulator piston, substantially as described.
4. The combination with a steam engine, of a steam accumulator forming part of
the steam connections between the steam supply and engine, and means for varying
the supply of steam to the engine in accordance with the movement of the accumu-
lator piston, and a pressure regulator between the steam supply and accumulator,
substantially as described.
5. The combination with a steam engine, of a steam accumulator forming part
of the steam connections between the steam supply and engine, and a pressure
regulator between the steam supply and accumulator, adjustable to change the
accumulator pressure in accordance with the work required, substantially as
described.
6. The combination with a steam engine, of a steam accumulator forming part
of the steam connections between the steam supply and engine, and a pressure
regulator between the steam supply and accumulator, adjustable to change the
accumulator pressure in accordance with the work required, and adjustable valve
between the accumulator and engine, substantially as described.
7. The combination with a steam pump, of a steam accumulator on the force
main, connections between said accumulator and a steam supply and an exhaust
pipe from the steam chamber of the accumulator, forming a steam supply pipe for
the pump motor, and controlled by the accumulator piston, to vary the supply of
steam to the pump motor in accordance with the movement of the accumulator
piston, substantially as described.
-
8. The combination with a steam pump, of a steam accumulator on the force
main, connections between said accumulator and a steam supply, and an exhaust
pipe from the steam chamber of the accumulator, forming a steam supply pipe for
the pump motor, and controlled by the accumulator piston, to vary the supply of
steam to the pump motor in accordance with the movement of the accumulator
piston, and a pressure regulator between the steam supply and accumulator,
substantially as described.
9. The combination with a steam pump, of a steam accumulator on the force
main arranged in line vertically with said pump, and forming a part of the steami
connections between the steam supply and pump motor, substantially as described.
10. The combination with a steam engine, of a steam accumulator forming part

page_text: of the steam connections between the steam supply and steam engine, and arranged
to form a trap for condensation in the steam connections between the accumulators
and engine, substantially as described.
11. The combination with a pressure accumulator, of an elastic fluid supply for
said accumulator, a pressure-reducing valve mechanism between said supply and
accumulator, and an escape pipe for the fluid from the accumulator cylinder,
substantially as described.
12. The combination with a pressure accumulator having the differential
piston I, I, the piston I being hollow, of perforated exhaust pipe L passing
through the piston L into the hollow piston L', and supply pipe E, substantially as
described.
13. The combination with a pressure accumulator having the differential
piston I, 1', the piston l' being hollow, of perforated exhaust pipe L passing
through the piston I into the hollow piston I', closed pipe O in said hollow
piston I', and supply pipe E, substantially as described.
14. The combination with a pressure accumulator connected with an elastic fluid
supply, of pipe E connecting with the accumulator chamber by a series of openings
arranged in the line of movement of, and opened and closed by the accumulator
piston, substantially as described.
1
CTI
1004
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.