Improvements in Mercurial Air Pumps.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 4th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by MAURICE BLOCK, of 644, Waldemar Strasse,
Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, Manager of Works.]
Improvements in Mercurial Air Pumps.
I LESLIE JEYES of 46 Orbel Street Battersea in the County of London, Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This mercurial air pump is distinguished by the fact that it will without the use
of movable or portable vessels or movable or pliable inside lining of vessels auto-
matically drive or send back the mercury from the lower collecting receiver to
the upper receiver from which the down pipe is fed as soon as the lower collecting
receiver has been filled with mercury to a certain height. In order to effect this
purpose the intermediate tube which connects the vessel in which the spiral down
or full tube terminates with the lower collecting receiver is provided with a
stop cock which is worked by means of a pinion and ratchet and other geared or
toothed wheels or similar contrivances whereby the stop cock is periodically turned
in such a manner that it cuts off the communication between the lower collecting
receiver and the vessel in which the down tube terminates at the same time
establishing communication between the said receiver and the atmosphere, while
at another time it does the reverse, that is, it cuts off the communication of the
said receiver with the atmosphere and re-establishes the communication between
the receiver and the vessel above. These actions are produced by the change of
levels of the mercury in the lower collecting receiver and the upper one in
consequence of the mercury attaining certain levels and setting in motion by means
of electricity the wheel work which turns the stop cock above referred to.
The mercurial air pump herein described consists of an upper mercury receiver
from which a small tube provided with a cock, extends into an apparatus which
receives the mercury that is caused to drop through the said small tube, such drop
apparatus being arranged or placed underneath the said receiver and from which
drop apparatus by means of a tube fixed sideways from it, is connected or may be
connected to any vessel, its shape being immaterial, from which the air is to be
exhausted. From the bottom of the drop apparatus extends a spiral down or fall
tube. The drop apparatus is closed by a stopper and in order to make it thoroughly
airtight, oil or any other fluid for effecting that purpose is placed over it. To the
tube extending into the drop apparatus and towards its end are fixed in any
approved manner on either side two vertical bars or rods which are provided at
their lower extremities with eyes in which is seated by side pins a cup or tilting
cup into which terminates the end of this smali tube. The spiral down tube com-
municates with and terminates within a vessel which is connected on one side by
means of a system of tubes, ball valves, manometer, a reservoir or vessel and a
mechanical air pump or aspirator, a jet pump being preferable, while on the other
side it is connected to the lower collecting receiver by an intermediate tube and a
stopcock, the latter being hereinafter described.
After the mechanical air pump or aspirator has been set going and a rarefaction
of the air within all the spaces of the mercurial air pump has taken place, the cock
in the small tube extending from the upper mercury receiver is opened, the
mercury then falls in drops through the small tube into the cup or tilting cup
which is within the drop apparatus and as soon as the cup is filled to a certain
height, it will in consequence of its form lose its balance, tilt over and suddenly
empty its contents into the spiral down tube, so that the mercury in its descent
draws cr sucks with it the air contained in the vessel and from which it is to be
exhausted. The emptying of the tilt cup takes place at intervals of half a minute

page_text: to one minute so as to allow time for the expansion of the air contained in the
vessel from which it is to be exhausted. After the tilting-cup has emptied itself,
it is so balanced that it will of itself assume its normal position.
The ball valves which are employed in the system of tubes hereinbefore referred
to, make it possible for a series of these pumps to be worked together in such a
manner that should one of them get damaged or in any other way become
unworkable the remainder will continue to work without interruption.
To attain this object only the use of a larger mechanical air pump, aspirator or
jet pump is required.
The reservoir connected with the system of tubes serves the purpose of catching
up any water that may recede from the use of the jet pump, thus preventing it from
entering the mercurial air pump.
As before mentioned there is connected to the vessel in which the spiral tube
terminates an outlet tube placed at a level above the end of the spiral tube, this
outlet tube communicates with and terminates in the lower collecting receiver.
This collecting receiver is connected with the upper mercury receiver by means of
an ascending tube proceeding from the bottom of the lower collecting receiver and
terminating with a bend into the upper mercury receiver at a level above the
mercury line. In the outlet tube is fixed or arranged a stopcock having its outer
casing or barrel open at both ends and from and underneath it proceeds an auxiliary
or go-bye tube which terminates and discharges itself into the outlet tube just
before the latter is connected with the lower collecting receiver. The plug of the
stopcock is hollow and open on one side while its conducting passage between the
vessel and the lower collecting receiver is formed by a seperate tube and a channel
in the plug of the stopcock. Vertically to this tube and diametrically opposite to
each other holes are made in the side of the stopcock one of which only will when
the cock is closed comes opposite and coincides with the auxiliary or go-bye tube
and by it and through the open end of the stop cock communication is established
between the lower collecting receiver and the atmosphere.
"
Attached to the stopcock is a pinion or turning gear which is also in com-
munication with a pinion and ratchet and toothed or geared wheelwork capable of
being started or arrested by electricity.
a
After the mercurial air pump has been put in motion as before described the
mercury draws or sucks the air with it and reaches the vessel wherein the spiral
down tube terminates, the air is then by means. of the mechanical air pump,
aspirator or jet pump drawn up through the conducting tube while the mercury
falls into and is caught by the lower collecting receiver and on its acquiring
certain level therein it comes in contact with the electric current closing wires
which are carried and fixed into this lower collecting receiver either by being
melted into it or taken through a stopper and so closes the electric current which
brings an electromagnet into action thus freeing the ratchet connected with the
wheel work.
The pinion into which the ratchet works is so adjusted or arranged that each
time it becomes disconnected or set free the stopcock is turned through an angle of
90 degrees whereupon it is brought to a stop. With this turn of 90 degrees the
communication of the lower collecting receiver with the vessel above it, is closed,
while by means of the go-bye tube and the hole in the stopcock coinciding with it
communication is established with the atmosphere, so that the mercury contained in
the lower collecting receiver is driven up and through the tube connected with
the upper receiver which is also connected with the mechanical air pump or
aspirator and when the mercury in this receiver reaches a certain level it comes in
contact with the circuit wires introduced therein and so closes another electrical
circuit and brings the electromagnet again into action as herein before described
and causes the wheelwork to again turn the stopcock a further 90 degrees by these
means the communication of the lower collecting receiver with the atmosphere will
be interrupted while the communication of the vessel above with the lower
collecting receiver is re-opened.

page_text: This mercurial air pump works without a stop in consequence of the current
closing wires being inserted in the lower collecting receiver in such a manner that
the mercury in it will be forced up into the upper receiver before that contained in
the latter has entirely run down.
The quiet and uninterrupted working of this pump is further secured by means
of a ball valve which prevents the least air from entering the vessel during the
passage of the mercury from the bottom to the top and while the used up
atmospheric air passes another ball valve until there prevails an equal rarefaction of
air at the vessel and the first ball valve.
Instead of a spiral down tube as represented others of another shape, construction
or arrangement may be used and further instead of only one stopcock two can be
used, one of which will regulate the communication between the lower collecting
receiver and the vessel above, while the other will regulate the communication
between the lower receiver and the atmosphere. A combination stopcock as
described however is preferable.
TAL
T
LESLIE JEYES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mercurial Air Pumps.
I LESLIE JEYES of 46 Orbel Street Battersea in the County of London Civil
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 :-
This mercurial air pump is distinguished by the fact that it will without the use
of movable or portable vessels or movable or pliable inside lining of vessels auto-
matically drive or send back the mercury from the lower collecting receiver to the
upper receiver from which the down tube is fed as soon as the lower collecting
receiver has been filled with mercury to a certain height. In order to effect this
purpose the intermediate tube which connects the vessel in which the spiral down.
tube terminates with the lower collecting receiver is provided with a stop-cock
which is worked by means of geared or toothed wheels whereby the stop-cock is
periodically turned in such a manner that it cuts off the communication between the
lower collecting receiver and the vessel above in which the spiral tube terminates
at the same time establishing communication between the said receiver and the
atmosphere while at another time it does the reverse that is it cuts off the com-
munication of the said receiver with the atmosphere and reestablishes the com-
munication between that receiver and the vessel above. These actions are
produced by the change of levels of the mercury in the lower collecting receiver
and the upper one in consequence of the mercury attaining certain levels and
setting in motion by means of electricity the wheelwork which turns the stopcock
above referred to.
The accompanying drawings will more fully explain and demonstrate the con-
struction and working of the mercurial air pump the subject of this invention.
Fig. 1 is a general view of the mercurial air pump.
Fig. 2 is a side view of a portion of the drop apparatus when a tilting cup
is used.
Fig. 3 is a plan of same.
Fig. 4 is a side view of a portion of the drop apparatus when a fixed cup
is used.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the stopcock placed between the vessel and the
lower receiver.
Fig. 6 is a cross section of the stopcock.
Like letters represent like parts throughout the drawings.
The mercurial air pump herein described and referring to Fig. 1, consists of an
upper mercury receiver A extending from the bottom of which is a small tube A2

page_text: provided with a cock A'. The tube A2 passes into the drop apparatus B which
receives the mercury that is caused to drop through the tube A². From the side
of the drop apparatus B is a tube C¹ which is connected or may be connected with
the vessel from which the air is to be exhausted. From the bottom of the drop
apparatus B extends a spiral down tube C. The drop apparatus B is closed by a
stopper D and in order to make it thoroughly air tight oil or any other fluid for
effecting the purpose is placed over it.
To the tube A2 extending into the drop apparatus B and towards its end are
fixed in an approved manner on either side two vertical bars or rods D² which are
provided at their lower extremities with eyes D³ in which is seated by side pins a
cup or tilting cup B¹ into which terminates the end of tube A². The spiral down
tube C communicates with and terminates within the vessel E which is connected
on one side by means of a system of tubes F, ball valves F¹ F' manometer F³ and
a reservoir or vessel F and a starting pump, preferably a jet pump, while on the
other side it is connected to the lower collecting receiver H by an intermediate
tube G and the stop cock G'.
After the pump has been started and a rarefaction of the air within all the spaces
of the mercurial air pump has taken place the cock A' is opened. The mercury
which is in the receiver A then falls in drops through the small tube A² into the
cup or tilting cup B¹ which is within the drop apparatus B and as soon as the tilting
cup B is filled to a certain height, it will lose its balance tilt over and suddenly
empty its contents into the spiral down tube C the mercury in its descent drawing
or sucking with it a certain portion of the air contained in the vessel from which
it is to be exhausted.
The emptying of the tilt cup B¹ takes place at intervals of half a minute to one
minute so as to allow time for the expansion of the air contained in the vessel from
which it is to be exhausted.
Instead of a tilting cup a firmly fitting cup B2 (Fig. 4) may be used provided
with a lateral notch or cut out over which the mercury will escape or swoop down
after attaining a certain height.
The ball valves F1 F2 which are employed in the system of tubes F hereinbefore
referred to make it possible for a series of these pumps to be worked together in
such a manner that should one of them get damaged or in
any other way become
unworkable the remainder will continue to work without interruption. To attain
this object only the use of a larger jet pump is required. The reservoir F con-
nected with the system of tubes F serves the purpose of catching up any water that
may recede from the jet pump thus preventing it from entering the mercurial
air pump.
As before mentioned there is connected to the vessel E in which the spiral down
tube C terminates the outlet or intermediate tube G placed at a level above the
end of the spiral down tube C. this tube G communicates with and terminates in a
junction with the lower collecting receiver H. This collecting receiver H is
connected with the upper mercury receiver A by means of an ascending tube J
proceeding from its bottom and terminating with a bend in the upper receiver A at
a level above the mercury line.
In the outlet tube G is fixed or arranged a stop-cock G' having its casing open at
both ends and from and underneath the outward portion of the casing proceeds an
auxiliary or go bye tube G2 which forms a junction with and discharges itself in
the outlet tube G before it is connected with the lower receiver H. The stop-
cock plug G³ (Figs. 5 and 6) is hollow and opens on one side while the conducting
passage between the vessel E and the lower collecting receiver H is formed by a
separate tube G* and a channel in the plug of the cock. Vertically to the tube G'
and diametrically opposite to each other are holes G³ made in the sides of the
stop cock G¹, one of which only will when the cock is closed come opposite and
coincide with the auxiliary or go bye tube G and by it and through the open end
of the stopcock G' is communication established between the lower collecting
receiver H and the atmosphere.

page_text: Attached to the stopcock G' is a pinion or turning gear K' which is in connection
with a ratchet and toothed or geared wheelwork K capable of being started or
arrested by electricity.
After the mercurial air pump has been put in motion as before described the
mercury dropping from the upper collecting vessel A draws or sucks the air with
it and reaches the vessel wherein the spiral down tube C terminates the air is then
by means of the jet or starting pump drawn up through the conducting tube F
while the mercury falls in and is caught by the lower collecting receiver H and on
its acquiring a certain level therein it comes in contact with the electric current
closing wires X which are carried in and fixed into this lower collecting receiver H
either by being melted into it or taken through a stopper M and so closes the
electric current which brings the electromagnet L in action and thus freeing the
ratchet connected with the wheelwork K. The ratchet is so adjusted or so arranged
that at each turn it becomes disconnected the stopcock G is turned through an
angle of 90 degrees whereupon it is brought to a stop. With this turn of 90 degrees
the communication of the lower collecting receiver H with the vessel E above it,
is closed while by means of the go bye tube G2 and one of the holes G³ in the stop-
cock G coinciding with it communication is established with the atmosphere so
that the mercury contained in the lower collecting receiver H is driven up and
through the tube J which is connected with the upper receiver A which is con-
nected with the starting pump and when the mercury in this receiver A reaches a
certain level it comes in contact with the current wires Y introduced therein and
so closes another electrical circuit and brings the electro magnet L again into
action and causes the wheelwork K to again turn the stopcock G' a further
90 degrees by these means the communication of the lower collecting receiver H
with the atmosphere will be interrupted and closed while the communication of the
vessel E above with the lower collecting receiver H is reopened.
This mercurial air pump works without a stop by reason of the current closing
wires X being inserted in the lower collecting receiver H in such a manner that
the mercury in it will be forced up into the upper receiver A before that contained
in the latter has entirely run down.
The quiet and uninterrupted working of this pump is further secured by means
of a ball valve which prevents the least air from entering the vessel during the
passage of the mercury from the bottom to the top and while the used up
atmospheric air passes another ball valve there prevails an equal rarefaction of air
at the vessel E and the first ball valve. Instead of a spiral down tube Cas
represented others of another shape construction or arrangement may be used and
further instead of only one stopcock two can be used, one of which will regulate the
communication between the lower collecting receiver H and the vessel E above
while the other will regulate the communication between the lower collecting
receiver H and the atmosphere. A combination stopcock as described however is
preferable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a mercurial air pump the process or combination of sending the mercury
through the down tubes, not in drops but in larger quantities and at certain
intervals of time for the purpose of obtaining thereby a piston or plunger-like
action.
2. In a mercurial air pump in which the mercury intended for feeding the down
tube is driven or forced back by the pressure of the atmosphere from a lower
collecting vessel into an upper vessel in which air is maintained in a rarefied
condition.
3. In a mercurial air pump a cock placed between the down tube and the lower
collecting vessel which by a turn through a certain angle cuts off the communication

page_text: between the down tube and the lower collecting vessel and opens up the latter with
the atmosphere.
.
4. In combination with a mercurial air pump a stop cock as described and set
forth and for the purposes specified.
5. In combination with a mercurial air pump a wheelwork arrangement capable
of being actuated and put in and out of gear by means of two electrical circuits
put in action by the varying levels of the mercury in the lower and upper collecting
vessels and which circuits are closed independantly of each other.
6. A mercurial air pump as described and set forth and substantially for the
purposes specified.
Dated this Fourth day of September 1893
LESLIE JEYES.