Improvements relating to the Raising of Liquid or Semi-liquid Substances, and to, Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application; 14th Dec.; 1895
Complete Specification Left, 12th, Sept., 1896-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOSEPH HOROWITZ, of 42 Boulevard Bonne
Nouvelle, Paris, in the Republic of France.]
Improvements relating to the Raising of Liquid or Semi-liquid
Substances, and to, Apparatus therefor.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows :—
The present invention which relates to pumping and removing liquid matter, is
based on the use of compressed air or gas. The objects of the new arrangement
comprise the three following features which are essential for proper working:
(1.) Raising liquid to a desired. height.and keeping it at the same time, under
a constant and regular pressure.
(2.) Removing, liquid from a closed or open receptacle, in order to raise it to a
certain height or to discharge it into a receiver such as a cesspool or, the like, or
into the sea, a river,,canal.or elsewhere.
(3.) Recording at, the pumping station or at a distance therefrom an exact
indication of the volume of liquid, which has been raised or removed by means of
the apparatus. For this purpose there is used a special recording apparatus
connected to the, apparatus for raising the liquid by, means of a flexible or rigid
tube the operating devices of the recording apparatus. baving no direct connection
with the liquid.
In accordance with those objects, the liquid is raised by means of an apparatus,
in which compressed air or gas. is the operating medium, and which has two
alternately filling and emptying chambers and a slide valve, said valve being also
operated by compressed air. In order to ascertain the amount of liquid raised, a
simple counter is used, said counter being provided with a flexible diaphragm and
connected by a pipe to the discharge chamber, so as. to indicate the periodic
pulsations of pressure, whether they be brought about by the compressed air
entering or leaving; the use of this counter dispensing with, the double counters
usually employed in apparatus of this class.
The applications of the system are numerous: it may be used with advantage
in all cases where it is desired to raise liquid from wells, cisterns, streams, cesspools
and the like to quickly raise the. liquid to the surface of the ground, or to keep it
under pressure in reservoirs or pipes.
The apparatus for, carrying this invention into practice comprises two chambers
which are to be alternately filled and emptied. A pipe introducing compressed air
into a valve-box, enclosed within a casing the valve-box communicating by
passages with the above mentioned chambers said passages being provided at their
ends with check-valves; the slide valve alternately sets the passages in
communication with the exhaust, and outlet pipe. The slide valve is operated
by a piston which is connected with it and moves in a cylinder with the two ends
of which connect flexible tubes jointed to hollow rods respectively connected to an
arm carrying a float working in the chambers.
At the starting of the apparatus the chambers are filled from a reservoir through
pipes with branches, the ends of which are provided with check-valves.

page_text: When the chambers are filled, compressed air is admitted through the slide valve
and flows through one of the above mentioned passages and its valve (the latter
of which it forces open) into the first of the two chambers and drives out the
liquid, by exercising pressure on the whole of its surface, so that the liquid is
forced up through a valve-controlled discharge pipe in the interior of the said
chamber, into the common discharge pipe.
Meanwhile the check valve of the pipe through which the liquid is admitted
into the first chamber, is closed by the pressure, and, by the sinking of a float,
suspended from a lever, the hollow rod hereinbefore mentioned is lowered to such
a position that an opening or hole which was previously in communication with the
atmosphere, allows compressed air inside the said chamber to pass through the
flexible tube to the back of the piston in the before mentioned cylinder.
By this means the slide-valve will be moved so as to allow the compressed air to
escape from the first chamber into the already filled second chamber. While the
liquid is being driven out of the second chamber through a pipe in its interior
which is provided with a valve the same action takes place, as in the first chamber:
the float lowers the hollow rod with an opening for compressed air and so finally
produces again a movement of the slide valve.
To fill the chambers (the compressed air being let out) the inlet valves at the
bottom are automatically opened till the liquid reaches the upper part of the
chambers and at that moment the valve controlling the passage to the valve box is
closed, so that the liquid cannot enter the said valve-box.
During the period of filling of either of the chambers the float rises up to the
cover of the chamber and pushes the hollow rod upwards, during which movement
the above-mentioned openings or holes remain in communication with the
atmospheric air.
The valves in the discharge pipes prevent in each case the return of the liquid.
The apparatus as adapted for pumping or displacing sewage and other more or
less dense matter comprises chambers and valve gear substantially similar to those
previously described. Only in this case the pipes or passages branch off directly
from the compressed-air pipe and pass as rigid pipes from valve boxes to the ends
of the cylinder containing the piston. The valves in the boxes are mounted on
and guided by rods. The passages or ports leading from the slide-valve box to
the chambers unlike the arrangements above described have no valves.
The slide valve being in the position to admit air into the first chamber the
liquid inlet valve is kept closed in consequence of the pressure, and said pressure
helping the float which is formed as a valve body with a rubber facing, against the
orifice of the outlet or discharge pipe.
While the second chamber is in communication with the atmosphere it becomes
filled and its float is raised so that its lever raises a rod and thereby opens the
double valve provided in the casing at the top of the chainber. In consequence of
which air passes from the compressed air pipe, through its branch and through the
pipe connecting the valve box with the cylinder, so that the slide valve is moved.
This movement effects a communication between the inlet-passage and exhaust and
opens the passage connecting the second chamber whereby the compressed air
contained in the first chamber is free to escape, while simultaneously a fresh supply
of compressed air enters into the second chamber, the liquid contained in this
chamber being forced out under the pressure, opening a flap valve into the discharge
pipe.
The inlet valve of the second chamber meanwhile closes, and the inlet valve of
the first chamber opens to permit the liquid to enter.
The said chambers are provided with manholes in order to allow the same to be
cleaned and all parts of the apparatus are airtight so that no smell is noticeable in
the works where the apparatus is placed.
Owing to the apparatus hereinabove described having two chambers, the liquid
displaced flows out in a continuous stream.
The counter is arranged as follows:-A diaphragm chamber is connected by

page_text: means of a small pipe with the compressed air exhaust or with one of the inlet
passages. In this way each time the compressed air enters or is exhausted the
diaphragm is moved, whereby a bar connected to the diaphragm is raised and by
means of a pawl actuates a ratchet wheel, while during the descent the further
turning of the wheel is effected by a second pawl. Through a train of gearing,
motion is transmitted from the ratchet wheel to an index or pointer which moves
over a scale on the casing. From the divisions of this scale the volume of the
displaced liquid can be readily ascertained said volume being equal to that of the
compressed air, used for raising and discharging the contents of the chambers.
Dated this 28th day of April 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Raising of Liquid or Semi-liquid
Substances, and to Apparatus therefor.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 present invention which relates to pumping and removing liquid matter, is
based on the use of compressed air or gas. The objects of the new arrangement
comprise the three following features which are essential for proper working:
(1.) Raising liquid to a desired height and keeping it at the same time under a
constant and regular pressure.
(2.) Removing liquid from a closed or open receptacle, in order to raise it to a
certain height or to discharge it into a receiver such as a cesspool or the like or
into the sea, a river, eanal or elsewhere.
(3.) Recording at the pumping station or at a distance therefrom an exact
indication of the volume of liquid which has been raised or removed by means of
the apparatus. For this purpose there is used a special recording apparatus,
connected to the apparatus for raising the liquid by means of a flexible or rigid
tube the operating devices of the recording apparatus having no direct connection
with the liquid.
In accordance with those objects, the liquid is raised by means of an apparatus,
in which compressed air or gas is the operating medium, and which has two
alternately filling and emptying chambers and a slide valve said valve being also
operated by compressed air. In order to ascertain the amount of liquid raised, a
simple counter is used, said counter being provided with a flexible diaphragm and
connected by a pipe to the discharge chamber, so as to indicate the periodic
pulsations of pressure, whether they be brought about by the compressed air
entering or leaving, the use of this counter dispensing with the double counters
usually employed in apparatus of this class.
The applications of the system are numerous: it may be used with advantage
in all cases where it is desired to quickly raise liquid from wells, cisterns, streams,
cesspools and the like to the surface of the ground, or to keep it under pressure
in reservoirs or pipes.
In the accompanying drawings are illustrated examples of such apparatus, which
are used preferably for liquid, which must be kept under pressure or raised directly
to the surface of the ground.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a section and plan of an apparatus for raising
liquid, and keeping a volume of liquid under pressure.

page_text: Figure 3 is a view of the counter with flexible diaphragm which indicates the
amount of liquid raised and the compressed air used for that purpose.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of a draining apparatus constructed according to
this invention, for raising and discharging waste-water, liquid manure or other foul
liquid, which may be thereby made to flow on to the surface of the ground
continuously or intermittently.
Figures 5 and 6 are an elevation partly in section and a plan respectively of a
modification of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2.
r
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the two chambers of the apparatus, which are to
be alternately filled and emptied, are marked 9 and 10. A pipe 1 introduces
compressed air into a valve-box, enclosed within a casing 21, the valve-box com-
municating by passages 24, 25 with the above mentioned chambers 9 and 10 said
passages being provided at their ends with check-valves 19, 20 respectively: the
slide valve 31 alternately puts the passages 24 and 25 in communication with the
exhaust 26 and outlet pipe 7. The slide valve 31 is operated by a piston 28 which
is connected with it and moves in a cylinder 27 to the two ends of which are
connected flexible tubes 29 and 30 jointed to hollow rods 17 and 18, respectively
connected to an arm carrying a float working in each of the chambers.
At the starting of thetapparatust the chambers 9, 10 are filled from a reservoir
through. pipes with branches 2 and 3 (Figure 2) the ends of which are provided
with check-valves 11 and 12.
When the chambers are filled, compressed air is admitted by the slide valve 31
(Figure 1) and flows through the passage 24 and valve 19 (the latter of which it
forces open) into the chamber 9 and drives out the liquid, by exercising pressure
on the whole of its surface, so that the liquid is forced up through a discharge
pipe 4, in the interior of the said chamber, provided with a valve 15, into the
common discharge pipe 6.
Meanwhile the check valve 11 of the pipe 2, through which the liquid is admitted
into the chamber 9, is closed by the pressure, and by the sinking of a float 13,
suspended from a lever, the hollow rod 17 is lowered to such a position (for
example that shown in Figure 1) that an opening or hole 22 which was previously
in communication with the atmosphere, allows compressed air inside the said
chamber 9 to pass through the flexible tube 29 to the back of the piston 28.
By this means the slide valve 31 will be moved so as to allow the compressed
air to escape from the chamber 9 through the valve 19, passage 24 and exhaust 26,
while the compressed air simultaneously enters the chamber 10 already filled with
liquid, through the passage 25 and valve 20. While the liquid is being driven out
of the chamber 10, through a pipe 5 in its interior which is provided with a
valve 16 the same action takes place as in the chamber 9; the float 14 lowers the
hollow rod 18 with an opening 23 for compressed air and so again produces
movement of the slide valve 31.
' &
The filling of each chamber which becomes possible when the compressed air is
let out, is effected by the automatically opening valves 11 or 12, the liquid enters
until the upper part of the chamber is reached and at that moment the valve 19 or
20 is closed, so that the liquid cannot enter the said valve-box.
During the period of filling of either of the chambers with liquid, the float 13 or
14 rises up to the cover of the chamber and pushes the hollow rod 17 or 18
upwards, during which movement the hole 22 or 23 is put in communication with
the atmospheric air.
-
The valves 15 and 16 prevent the return of the liquid from the discharge pipe 6.
The apparatus as adapted for pumping or displacing sewage and other more or
less dense matter is shown in Figure 4, this comprises two chambers 9 and 10 and
valve gear substantially similar to those previously described. Only in this case
the pipes or passages 291 and 30' branch off directly from the compressed-air
pipe 1 and pass as rigid pipes from valve boxes 38 and 39 to the ends of the
cylinder 27 containing the piston 28. The valves in the boxes 38 and 39 are
mounted on and guided by rods 40 and 41. The passages or ports 24 and 25

page_text: leading from the slide-valve box to the chambers 9 and 10 unlike the arrangements
shown in Figure 1, have no valves.
The slide valve 31 being in the position shown, the air passes through the
passage 24 into the chamber 9, and by its pressure keeps the liquid inlet valve 11
closed, and presses the float 13, which is formed as a valve body with a rubber
facing, against the orifice of the outlet or discharge pipe+4.
While the chamber 10 is in communication with the atmosphere through the
passages 25 and 26 it becomes filled with liquid and the float 14 is raised so that
its lever raises the rod 41 and thereby opens the double valve in the casing 39. In
consequence of which compressed air passes from the pipe 1 through the branch 30¹
and through the pipe 44 which connects thervalve box 39 with the cylinder 27, so
that the slide valve 31 is moved. This movement effects a communication between
the passages 24 and 26 and opens the passage: 25 whereby the compressed air
obtained in the chamber 9 is free to escape, while simultaneously a fresh supply, of
compressed air enters into the chamber 10, the liquid contained in this chamber
being forced out under the pressure, opening the flap valve and passing into the
discharge pipe 5.
The inlet valve 12 of the chamber 10 meanwhile closes, and the inlet valve of
the chamber 9 opens to permit the liquid to enter.
The said chambers 9 and 10 are provided with manholes 42 and 43 in order to
allow of the chambers being cleaned, and all parts of the apparatus are air tight:so
that no smell is noticeable in the works where the apparatus is placed.
Owing to the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 4 having two chambers, the liquid
displaced flows out in a continuous stream.
The counter represented in Figure 3 is arranged as follows:-A diaphragm
chamber 32 is connected by means of a small pipe 8 with the compressed air
exhaust 7 or with one of the inlet passages 24, 25. In this way each time the
compressed air enters or is exhausted the diaphragm 32 is moved, whereby a bar 33
connected to the diaphragm is raised and by means of a pawl 34 actuates a ratchet
wheel 36, while during the descent the further turning of the wheel is produced by
a second pawl 35. Through a train of gearing, motion is transmitted from the
ratchet wheel 36 to an index or pointer (dotted in Figure 3) which moves over a
scale on the casing 37. From the divisions of this scale the volume of the
displaced liquid can be readily ascertained, the said volume being equal to that of
the compressed air used for raising and discharging the contents of the chambers 9
and 10.
I will now describe a modified construction of the devices previously set forth.
In this modification, shown in Figures 5 and 6, the chambers 9 and 10 are placed
in juxtaposition, being formed in a single piece, and the liquid to be raised enters
these chambers successively by traversing boxes with retaining valves 11 and 12;
the discharge pipe 6 is divided in order to pass into the lower part of each of the
reservoirs 9 and 10 and is also closed by retaining valves 15 and 16.
The compressed air or gas passes into the upper part of each of the reservoirs 9
and 10; it is conducted for this purpose into the box of the slide valve 31, so that
if, as represented in the drawing, the reservoir 10 communicates with the gas under
pressure, the reservoir 9 will be in communication with the outer air.
The principle underlying the operation of the apparatus in the modified con-
struction represented in Figures 5 and 6 is precisely the same as that previously
described, that is to say, it consists in automatically operating the distributing slide
valve 31 so as to establish the successive communication of each of the reservoirs 9
and 10, alternately with the air or gas under pressure, and with the atmosphere,
so that the movement of the liquid to be raised inay be continuous in the discharge
pipe 6.
As in the foregoing examples, and for the same purpose, the slide valve 31 is
connected to the piston 28 adapted to move in the cylinder 27, one extremity of
which is in communication with the lower part of the reservoir 9 through a pipe 17,
and the other extremity in communication with the lower part of the reservoir 10

page_text: through a pipe 18. The lower extremities of the pipes 17 and 18 are respectively
closed by valves 44 and 45 carried and operated by floats 46 and 47 adapted to
oscillate respectively about axes 48 and 49.
With a view to obviating any passage of the liquid into the slide valve box 31,
the orifices for the admission of the gas or air under pressure into the reservoirs 9
and 10 are furnished with valves 19 and 20 connected to the floats 50 and 51.
This modified apparatus may be completed by the addition, to the lower orifices,
of discharge pipes 4 and 5, valve boxes 52 and valves 53, which valves are
combined with floats 54 in such a manner that the operation of the apparatus will
be as follows:
The reservoir 10 being in communication with the compressed air, the reservoir 9
will communicate with the atmosphere as herein before set forth, and consequently
be filled with the liquid to be raised; the pressure exerted upon the liquid in the
reservoir 10 forces the said liquid into the discharge pipe 6, causing its level to be
lowered in the chamber at a speed depending upon the intensity of the air pressure,
and the height to which the liquid is to be raised. When the level of the liquid in
the reservoir 10 is sufficiently lowered the float 47 is also lowered, thereby opening
the valve 45, of the lower orifice of the pipe 18 and admitting the passage of the
gas or air contained in the reservoir 10 into the cylinder 27. In consequence of
this introduction of compressed gas into the cylinder 27 the movement of the
piston 28 and of the slide valve 31 takes place so as to put the reservoir 10 in
communication with the exhaust and the reservoir 9 in communication with the
compressed gas.
At this moment the liquid of the reservoir 9 will be forced into the pipe 6 while
the reservoir 10 communicating with the atmosphere will be filled in its turn.
The time necessary for the float 47 to close the orifice of the tube 18 again by
its valve 45 is sufficient to allow the pressure in the cylinder 27 to be brought back
very nearly to the pressure of the atmosphere, and owing to the rapidity with
which the displacement of the slide valve 31 takes place no intermission in the
movement of the column of the liquid forced can occur.
In the normal operation of the apparatus (the chamber 10 being in communi-
cation with the compressed gas), under the action of the liquid contained in the
said reservoir 10, the float 54 keeps the valve 53 of the valve box 52 on the
discharge pipe 5 in a position which allows the liquid to be forced into the said
pipe 5 until the float 54 which is lowered at the same time as the level of the
liquid, closes the said valve 53 before the compressed gas has been able to pass
into the discharge pipe 5.
This safety closing device on each of the dischage pipes 4 and 5 has for its
essential objects, more especially in the application of my apparatus to lifts:
1. To obviate any direct contact between the compressed gas and the outlet
orifices formed in a receptacle filled with any liquid which has to be forced either
into a closed reservoir or into distributing columns or even into the open air.
2. To continually keep a quantity of liquid at the bottom of the elevator
receptacle in order that the outlet orifices shall always be immersed.
3. To ensure the immediate and certain closing of the delivery orifices in cases
of accident.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In an apparatus for raising liquids worked by compressed air, the combination
with two chambers of a main slide valve, a piston connected to it, a double acting
cylinder containing the piston, pipes connecting the respective ends of the cylinder
with the two chambers, valves controlling the passage of compressed air to the
cylinder and floats in the chambers for operating these valves substantially as
set forth.
2. In an apparatus such as referred to in Claim 1, the combination with the

page_text: passages connecting the chambers and slide valve casing, of valves for controlling.
these passages.
3. The modified construction of the apparatus represented in Figures 5 and 6,.
and the arrangement of safety closing devices at the lower orifices of the discharge
pipes of each reservoir, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
4. The combination with an apparatus such as that referred to in Claims 1, 2
and 3, or with an apparatus having a single chamber, of a counter having a
diaphragm, pawls connected to the diaphragm, and a connection with one of the
compressed-air passages leading to or from the slide valve casing substantially as-
set forth.
Dated this 19th dor of Sentember 180K
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.