Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Nov., 1898-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1898
I, HERBERT ASHLEY, of 3, Warwick Terrace (North), Mount Pleasant Lane,
Upper Clapton, London, N.E., Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in improved methods of constructing pumping
apparatus of any kind when easy rapid and certain access to the pump valves is
desirable for the purpose of inspection, renewal or repair but more especially
those pumps to be used for raising liquids from considerable depths in which
cases much difficulty, loss of time and accidents have occurred through want
of such accessibility.
According to my invention I provide among other things a pump bucket
(hereinafter called the bucket) consisting preferably of a cylinder of metal in
which are contained not only the delivery valves but the suction valves as well.
This bucket has the usual reciprocating motion imparted to it, and moves in
a working barrel of particular construction; immersed, or partially immersed,
in the liquid to be pumped and containing openings through which the liquid
obtains access to the suction valves of the bucket.
The bottom portion of the bucket and of the working barrel are formed in
such a manner as to obviate the risk of damage to any of the fixed parts of the
apparatus, if the bucket should fall owing to failure of any part of the apparatus
which gives to it its reciprocating motion.
The reciprocating motion or stroke may be imparted to the bucket by any of
the methods now in use for such a purpose; but in the case of pumping from
wells or boreholes 1 provide according to my invention a wire rope, chain or
other flexible connection, attached at one end to the bucket, and at the other to
an oscillating drum to which the required motion is imparted by a steam engine
or by other means.
In these cases the rising main is a continuation of the working barrel upwards
and is of an internal diameter not less than the maximum external diameter of
the bucket and the wire rope or other flexible connection works up and down in
the rising main.
The oscillating drum referred to is so constructed that it can be thrown out
of gear with the main engine and into gear with an auxiliary engine constructed
to give it a rotary motion and thus to wind upon its rim the wire rope or other
flexible connection by which the bucket is attached.
The object of this arrangement is to quickly raise to the surface the bucket
when desired for examination or repair.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed to
further describe it and I shall assume in so doing that the work to be done is
to raise water from a deep well to the surface of the ground, and that the nature
of the apparatus to be used must be such that in the case of a failure of the
pump valves or any other moving part such parts can be quickly drawn to the
surface of the ground for inspection or repair for which contingency my inven-
tion amply provides.
It must however be clearly understood that what follows is not to be taken

page_text: as descriptive of working details nor as indicating the only methods of con-
struction contemplated by my invention.
Difference in detail may of course be rendered necessary by the varying cir-
cumstances of individual cases and this description is to be regarded only as an
aid to the proper understanding of my invention.
The external surface of the bucket which is a cylinder of metal 50% longer
(more or less, according to circumstances) than the length of the stroke of the
pump is accurately turned for a convenient distance at its upper and lower ends
to accurately fit the minimum diameter of bored portions of the working barrel
in which it moves.
These turned portions act as guides to keep the motion of the bucket truly
rectilinear, and their diameter approximates so closely to the diameter of the bored.
portions of the working barrel in which they move as to entirely or practically
entirely prevent the passage of water between the two surfaces, to which end also
water grooves may be formed upon their circumference."
The upper portion of the bucket is formed in such a manner as to enable it to
be properly and securely attached to the wire rope or whatever means may be
employed to give to it its reciprocating motion.
Below this attachment seatings are formed upon which the delivery valves are
placed. These delivery valves and the attachment for the wire rope etc. are
formed in such a manner as to be readily removable if desired when the bucket
is drawn to the surface although securely held to their proper positions when
at work.
The delivery valve may be of any suitable form now in use but in special cases
and in certain types of bucket I use a valve described hereafter which may be
called an internal hat-band valve."
66
The remainder of the bucket is, except in special cases, a simple hollow
cylinder. In the sides of it however and below the delivery valves are formed
openings, preferably circular into which short valve boxes, projecting a little
distance into the interior of the bucket, are fixed, flush with the outer circum
ference, by screwing or otherwise, so that although rigidly held in place when
the pump
is at work they can be readily removed when the bucket is drawn to
the surface. These valve boxes contain the suction valves which may be of
any suitable type now in use, but in special cases I substitute for these valve
boxes and valves a special type of valve which may be called an internal hat-
band valve."
$
This valve is of a type which in certain forms of bucket may be used either
for the delivery or for the suction valves or for both.
When used for both, the bucket may consist of a hollow cylinder within which
is another concentric cylinder closed at the bottom and open at the top, while the
annular space between is closed at the top and open at the bottom.
These cylinders are rigidly secured to each other and are formed in such a
manner that although firmly fixed when at work they can be easily taken apart
when access to the valves is desired.
This type of valve is similar in principle when used either for the suction or
for the delivery valves or for both and may be described as follows: -In the
walls of the cylinder are formed openings.
These are covered on the inside by bands of rubber or other suitable material
completely covering the openings when the valves are closed and secured along
one edge to the walls of the cylinder by metal bands or otherwise and free to
open in one direction only.
The rubber or other material may be in one piece as a complete ring or other-
wise and may have one edge serrated to facilitate quick action. The fastening
bands of metal may be provided with guards to limit the amount of opening
of the valve.
In some cases I make a bucket substantially as described and having the
delivery valve at its upper end.

page_text: . Underneath this a concentric cylinder or pipe through which the water obtains
access to the delivery valves is secured to the internal walls of the bucket and
is continued downwards and terminates in an open end at, or near, the bottom
of the bucket.
This pipe is contracted for a certain portion of its length somewhat after the
In this
manner of the contraction of water pipes used with a Veuturi meter.
way a relatively large annular space is obtained between the exterior of the pipe
and the walls of the bucket and in this are placed the suction valves to which
the water obtains access by suitable openings in the walls of the bucket.
The working barrel is a hollow cylinder accurately bored at two parts of its
length for a distance greater in each case than the length of the stroke of the
pump to fit the upper and lower turned portions of the bucket as described above
and the lower bored portions may be continued to the bottom of the working
barrel. Between these two bored portions the working barrel may be enlarged
to a convenient diameter considerably greater relatively than the diameter of
the bored portions.
These two bored portions are exactly concentric with each other and their
position is such that throughout the stroke the lower turned portion of the bucket
never leaves the lower bored portion of the working barrel, and the upper turned
portion of the bucket never leaves the upper bored portion of the working barrel.
The enlarged portion of the working barrel contains suitable openings not
necessarily restricted by valves of any sort and is so placed in the well that the
highest opening is always below the lowest level from which it is desired to pump
the water. Thus the water to be pumped is free to enter these openings and to
come into contact with the external surface of the bucket and to enter the interior
of the bucket and the lower portion of the working barrel through the suction
valves upon the up stroke.
The working barrel may be strengthened in any desired manner by ribbing or
otherwise and may be flanged at the lower end to form a base.
The bottom of the working barrel is so constructed as to act as a dashpot and
bring the bucket quietly to rest in case of failure of the suspension gear.
It will be manifest that in the case of any failure or breakdown of either the
delivery or the suction valves they can both be readily and quickly drawn, at
one operation, to the surface for examination and repair, more especially so when
a wire rope or other flexible connection and the method (described above) of
attachment to the engines at the surface are used but also much more quickly
than is at present possible with any of the methods of attachment now in use for
the same purpose.
Dated this Eighth dov of Fahruary 1898
Improvements in Fumping Apparatus.
I, HERBERT ASHLEY, of 104, Mount Pleasant Lane, (formerly known as 3, War-
wick Terrace, North), Upper Clapton, London, N.E., Civil Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment, that is to say:-
My said invention consists in improved methods of constructing pumping
apparatus of any kind when easy rapid and certain access to the pump valves
is desirable for the purpose of inspection, renewal or repair as for example in the
cases of pumps to be used for raising liquids from considerable depths in which

page_text: cases much difficulty, loss of time and accidents have occurred through want
of such accessibility. My improved pumping apparatus may however be applied in
various situations, and with the pump barrel vertical, horizontal or inclined.
According to my invention I provide among other things a pump bucket
(hereinafter called the bucket) consisting preferably of a cylinder or vessel of
metal in which are contained not only the delivery valves but the suction valves
as well.
This bucket has the usual reciprocating motion imparted to it, and moves in
a working barrel of particular construction; immersed, or partially immerserl
in the liquid to be pumped or to which the liquid has access and containing
openings or passages through which the liquid passes to the suction valves of
the bucket. The bottom portion of the bucket and of the working barrel are
in some modifications formed in such a manner as to obviate the risk of damage
to any of the fixed parts of the apparatus, if the bucket should fall owing to
failure of any part of the apparatus which gives to it its reciprocating motion.
The reciprocating motion or stroke may be imparted to the bucket by any of
the methods now in use for such a purpose; but in the case of pumping from
wells or bore holes I may provide according my invention a wire rope, chain
or other flexible connection, attached at one end to the bucket, and at the other
to apparatus by which the required motion is imparted from a steam engine or
by other motor.
The rising main may, in the case of mine or deep-well pumps be a continuation
of the working barrel upwards and is of an internal diameter not less than the
maximum external diameter of the bucket and the wire rope or other connection
works up and down in the rising main.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory draw-
ings to be hereinafter referred to and representing various examples of pumping
apparatus embodying my improvements.
Figures, 1, to 6, Sheet, 1, of the drawings represent one modification, Figure, 1,
being an elevation, Figure, 2, a view showing the barrel in vertical section and
the bucket in elevation, Figure, 3, an enlarged vertical section of the bucket,
Figure, 4, a horizontal section of the bucket Figure, 5, a more enlarged section
of one of the inlet or suction valves, and Figure, 6, an inside view corresponding
to Figure, 5.
A second modification is shown in vertical section and in horizontal section
in Figures, 7, and 8, Sheet, 1.
A third modification is shown in Figures, 9 to 13, Sheet, 2, Figure, 9, being
an elevation, Figure, 10, a vertical section, and Figures, 11, 12, and 13, horizontal
sections.
A fourth modification is shown in Figures, 14 to 18, Sheet, 2, Figure, 14, being
an elevation, Figure, 15, a vertical section and Figures, 16, 17, and 18, horizontal
sections.
Figure, 19, is a vertical section of a further modification of inlet or suction
valve.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark
the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
In the first modification (Figures, 1 to 6) the barrel, A, of the pump consists
of an external castiron shell, provided with an inner gunmetal lining, a, in which
the bucket, B, works. The bucket, B, is a cylinder or vessel the upper and lower
parts, b, c, of which are slightly larger than the intervening part, and are grooved
and adapted to work as pistons in the upper and lower parts of the barrel, A.
The head, b, of the bucket, B, is fixed to the pump rod, C, by means of an in-
ternally screwed boss, D, connected to the sides of the head by radial flanges;
and in the head, b, there are formed annular ports, E, for closing which there are
annular valves, F, adapted to work within guards, G, these ports and valves
constituting the delivery valves, which open during the down stroke of the bucket

page_text: to allow liquid to pass through them from the interior of the bucket, and close
during the up stroke.
The inlet or suction valves are fitted to the part of the bucket, B, between its
piston-like ends, holes, H (Figures, 1, 2) being bored through the shell of the
bucket to receive valve boxes, J (Figures, 3, 4, 5) which are screwed into the
holes, and which are provided with rubber disk valves, K, secured in each case.
by a central bolt, L, between the wheel-like inner face of the box, and a curved
guard, M. The part, B, of the bucket may be of square or polygonal cross section
so as to have flat sides through which to fix the valve boxes, J. The liquid has
access to the inlet or suction valves, through inlet openings, N, in the barrel, A,
these openings being at about the middle of the length of the barrel, which is
immersed in the liquid to be pumped to such an extent, at least, as for the level
of the liquid outside of the barrel to be above the inlet openings, N.
The bucket, B, is in Figure, 2, represented as at about half stroke. When it
rises the space within and beneath it is enlarged and the liquid enters through the
inlet openings, N, and through the suction valves, J, K, and at the same time
liquid above the bucket is forced upwards, the delivery valves, F, being closed.
On the descent of the bucket, the suction valves, J, K, become closed and liquid
passes through the delivery valves, F.
The rising main, of which the bottom, P, of the lowest length, is shown in
Figures, 1, 2, as fixed by flanges to flanges at the top of the barrel, A, is internally
of slightly larger diameter than the working part of the barrel, so that the
bucket, B, can easily be drawn up through it when required.
In the second modification (Figures, 7 and 8) the delivery valves, F, are similar
to those of the first modification. The bucket, B, is, between its piston-like ends,
made of such a reduced diameter as to allow of an annular cylindrical space
between it and the. barrel, A a, such that the water entering at the barrel in-
lets, N, has access to the inlet or suction valves not only opposite to those inlets
but to the others which may be above or below them at any time. This con-
struction admits of the bucket being of less length and of the inlet valves being
fewer for a giver stroke, than in the first modification.
The bucket may consist of a single casting as shown in Figure, 3, or it may
consist of separate castings bolted together as shown for example in Figure, 7.
The inlet or suction valves of the second modification are of what I term the
hatband type. Ports or openings, Q, are formed in the sides of the contracted
part of the bucket, B, and to the inner sides of these ports are applied bands, Q¹,
of rubber or the like, these bands being fixed by being bolted at their lower edges
between plates, Q2, which are curved to serve as guards to limit the extent of
opening of the valve bands, and are perforated to allow them to leave the guards
freely when closing. The section, Figure, 8, is as taken just above one of the
tiers of inlet valves.
In Figure, 7, provision is shown for cushioning the bucket, B, in the event of
its becoming detached from the gear which works it.
At the bottom of the
barrel, A, there is fixed a short inner cylinder, R, which has between it and the
sides of the barrel a space of about the thickness of the bottom piston end, c, of
the bucket. There are perforations in the cylinder, R, and in the event of the
piston end, c, entering the annular space it has to force the water through the
perforations and its descent is thereby retarded.
In the third modification (Figures, 9 to 13) the delivery valves, are of the
hatband type, and consist of bands, S, of rubber or the like, encircling a series of
cylindrical surfaces of graduated diameters having ports formed through them.
The inlet or suction valves, Q', are of the hatband type, their lower parts opening
inwards (instead of their upper parts as in Figure, 7), their upper edges being
fixed between guards, Q, and the sides of the bucket, B, (these sides not being
contracted as in Figure, 7). The sections, Figures, 11, 12, and 13, are as
at x, y, and z-z respectively, in Figure, 10. The part, B, of the bucket
may be built up of separate rings half-checked into each other to facilitate the

page_text: fixing of the valves. The rings are securely held in position between the bucket
ends by the rod, C, and its screw nuts.
In the fourth modification (Figures, 14 to 18) the delivery valves, F, are similar
to those of the first modification. The suction valves, T, are of the hatband type
arranged to open outwards, instead of inwards as in the second and third modifi-
⚫cations. The bucket, B, extends down from its upper piston end, b, in a con-
tracted form or pipe, U, which near its lower end is still more contracted, its
extremity being flared. The lower piston end, e, is fixed to the pipe, U, and is
formed with cylindrical surfaces of graduated diameters through which ports are
formed and which are encircled by bands, V, of rubber or the like. The water
entering through the barrel inlets, N, has access between the pipe, U, and the
lower piston end, c, to the hatband valves, V, and through to the lower part of
the barrel and to the interior of the bucket. The sections, Figures, 16, 17, and 18,
are as at r, yy, and z-z, respectively in Figure, 15. The barrel casting, A,
is made with a shroud or outer cylindrical shall, X, extending down below the
inlets N, and which will allow the liquid to be drawn from a somewhat lower
level.
In Figure, 19, a flat annular inlet or suction valve, W, is shown as an alterna-
tive for the valves, V, shown in Figure, 15.
In the case of a pump to be used above ground or in any situation in which
the pump barrel is conveniently accessible, the barrel being vertical, horizontal
or inclined, the pump rod may pass through a stuffing box in a cover bolted to
the barrel end, and the liquid may be delivered through a pipe connected to the
barrel at or near its delivery end. In some cases also a suction pipe may be fixed
in connection with the inlet openings of the barrel, and may extend downwards
to a limited extent. Metal valves may be substituted for the rubber valves, K, W,
Figures, 5, and 19.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
-
1. In pumping apparatus a stationary barrel having inlet openings in its
sides for the liquid to be pumped, a bucket reciprocating within the barrel, suction
valves in the bucket for admitting liquid to its interior, delivery valves in the
head of the bucket, which with its suction and delivery valves is capable of being
withdrawn from the barrel, and all combined and operating substantially as and
for the purposes herein before described.
2. The improved combination of pumping apparatus substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figures, 1 to 6, of the accompanying drawings.
3. The improved combination of pumping apparatus substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figures, 7, and 8, of the accompanying
drawings.
4. The improved combination of pumping apparatus substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figures, 9, to 13, of the accompanying
drawings.
5. The improved combination of pumping apparatus substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figures, 14, to 19 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this Second day of November 1898.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.