IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING WATER
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Lee Norton, of Belle Sauvage Yard, Ludgate-
Hill, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR RAISING WATER."--Partly a communication from abroad
by William Aldon, of 28, Boulevart. Bonne Nouvelle, Paris, in the
Empire of France.
Sealed the 16th April 1862, and dated the 30th October 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Lee Norton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
October 1861.
I, JAMES LEE NORTON, of Belle Sauvage Yard, Ludgate Hill, in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR RAISING WATER," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for raising
water. For this purpose there is formed at the upper end of a pipe leading
to the source of supply a chamber of convenient form, and the opening of the
supply pipe into the chamber is fitted with a ball valve. The top of the
chamber is closed with a flexible disc, usually of leather with a hole through it
at the centre. In this hole a metal ring is fixed, to which also a ball valve is
fitted opening out of the chamber already mentioned. To the metal ring in
the disc a rod is attached, by which the centre of the disc may be moved up.
and down, deflecting the disc alternately in either direction. When the disc
is deflected upwards the capacity of the chamber is increased, and a partial
vacuum formed in it; this is at once supplied by liquid entering the chamber

page_text: by the supply pipe. When the disc is deflected downwards the capacity of the
chamber is diminished, and as the valve prevents the liquid returning into the
supply pipe, it is forced to pass through the passage in the disc, raising the
valve; it thus enters another chamber which is connected with a pipe for
conducting the liquid to the locality where it is required. The apparatus may
be made double acting by dispensing with the passage through the disc, and
adapting supply and exit pipes with suitable valves to each chamber.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Lee Norton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th April 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
LEE NORTON, of Belle Sauvage Yard, Ludgate Hill, in the City of London,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Lee Norton, Her special licence that I, the said James
Lee Norton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Lee Norton, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING WATER," the result partly of a communication
from abroad made to me by William Aldon, of 28, Boulevart Bonne Nouvelle,
Paris, in the Empire of France, and partly of invention and discovery made
by myself, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Lee
Norton, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Lee Norton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for raising
water. For this purpose there is formed at the upper end of a pipe leading
to the source of supply a chamber of convenient form, and the opening of the
supply pipe into the chamber is fitted with a ball valve. The top of the
chamber is closed with a flexible disc, usually of leather, with a hole through it
at the centre. In this hole a metal ring is fixed, to which also a ball valve is
fitted, opening out of the chamber already mentioned. To the metal ring in
the disc a rod is attached, by which the centre of the disc may be moved. up
and down, deflecting the disc alternately in either direction. When the disc
is deflected upwards the capacity of the chamber is increased and a partial
vacuum formed in it; this is at once supplied by liquid entering the chamber
by the supply pipe. When the disc is deflected downwards the capacity of
the chamber is diminished, and as the valve prevents the liquid returning into
the supply pipe, it is forced to pass through the passage in the disc, raising the
valve; it thus enters another chamber which is connected with a pipe for
conducting the liquid to the locality where it is required. The apparatus may
be made double-acting by dispensing with the passage through the disc, antl
adapting supply and exit pipes with suitable valves to each chamber.
And in order that the Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto' annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation and section of a 10-inch diaphragm pump. A is
the upper, and B, the lower shell or box, having-each a flange C, C, between
which flanges the outer diameter of the diaphragm D is held. The diaphragm
is made of leather or other suitable flexible material made or blocked out by
moulds to a suitable shape, and has a hole in the centre, to which is fixed a
valve seat and guards E, E, above and below to support the diaphragm. The
lower guard is formed in one piece with the valve seat; the upper guard
screws on to the piece in which the valve seat is formed, and the diaphragm
is nipped between the two guards; to the upper guard is fixed a bridge piece F,
by which the diaphragm is connected with the rod G and pump-handle H.
The valves are made of iron covered with india-rubber; the upper valve is
marked I, and the lower one K. The bridge-piece F forms a guard to keep
the upper valve I in its place, and allow it to rise and fall, and the guards L,
one of which only is shown, keep the lower valve in its place; M is the
delivery spout.

page_text: is
Figure 2 is a section of a 13-inch diaphragm pump full size; this pump
a modification of that shown at Figure 1; flat valves made of metal or
metal and india-rubber, or other flexible material or india-rubber, only being
used in placed of ball valves. In this Figure the same letters of reference
refer to the same parts as in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation of a pair of diaphragm pumps arranged as a fire
engine. Figure 4 is a sectional plan of the same; the same letters of reference
refer to like parts in each of these two Figures.
A, A, are the two force pumps which are to be mounted upon a cast-iron
frame, not shown in the Drawings; B is an air vessel; C is a double lever
working both pumps, and supported by the standard D; the exit passages E
are shown in Figure 4.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a double-action diaphragm pump.
A, A, are the two suction valves, which may be of any convenient form; and
B, B, are the two corresponding delivery valves; C is the diaphragm with its
guards, but in this arrangement the diaphragm has no hole in the middle, and
the outer circumference of the diaphragm is secured to the casting D by a
ring of metal E; F is the piston rod attached to the lever guard; this rod
works through a stuffing box G, and gives motion to the diaphragm; H is a
door to get to the diaphragm.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of a hand diaphragm fire engine. A is the
suction valve; B is a diaphragm, having no opening or valves as in the pump
just described; C is a diaphragm having an opening through it fitted with a
delivery valve, and being covered or enclosed by a shell D, having an outlet E;
F, F, are two piston rods attached at one end to the diaphragms, and at the
other end coupled by the handle G. The whole is supported on the ground
by the rest H, which is arranged for the person using it to place his foot upon
it. By this arrangement a constant stream of water will be delivered, although
both diaphragms ascend and descend together, and it is accomplished by one
delivery and suction valve.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Lee Norton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
J. L. NORTON. (L.S.)