Improvements in or appertaining to Mercurial Pumps.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 25th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 27th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Mercurial Pumps.
A communication from abroad by Dr. AUGUST RAPs, of 16A Neue Wilhelmstrasse,
Berlin, in the Empire of Germany.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.L.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to mercurial pumps, and has partly for its object an apparatus
for automatically working or actuating mercurial pumps of any kind. In most cases,
the introduction of the mercury into the pump has been effected by agitating or
moving up and down a receptacle containing mercury. When the filling of the
pump was almost completed, the introduction of the mercury had to be very carefully
attended to, and it is just this point to which this invention more especially relates,
since numerous attempts have hitherto failed to effect the working of mercurial pumps
by mechanical means. It has, heretofore, been proposed to effect the lifting of the
mercury by evacuating a chamber which is in connection with the mercury, without,
however, leading to any satisfactory result.
The apparatus forming the object of the present invention is founded on the plan
of introducing mercury into the pump by the application of any suitable kind of
pressure (compressed air, for example) and then withdrawing it from the pump by
means of its own weight, whilst, at the same time, the compressed air is allowed to
escape into the outer atmosphere.
For this object, it is necessary that the mercury reservoir is at one time brought
into connection with a pressure-conduit, and, at the other time, with the atmosphere.
The apparatus will now be described as applied to a Töpler mercurial air pump.
The exhausting compartment and column of the air pump are connected with the
bottom of the mercury reservoir by means of a short bent flexible pipe. The mercury
reservoir rests on one arm of a balanced lever, which is capable of rocking on an axis
or pivot and has an extension arm which carries a counterweight. The latter is free
to slide to and fro between the two controlling collars, and, according to the position
of the balance arm, rests against one or other of the said collars. A second flexible
pipe leads from the upper portion of the mercury receptacle to a threeway cock
which can be alternately connected with a pressure-conduit of any kind and with the
atmosphere. For sake of example, let it be supposed that one of the inlets of the
threeway cock is in connection with a conduit for compressed air, whilst the other is
simply in connection with the atmosphere.
According to the principle of its construction, the action of the apparatus is as
follows:-
Supposing the position of the balance-lever to be such that the mercury reservoir
is at its lower position and the pressure-conduit is opened, as hereafter described, the
pressure operating on the mercury contained in the reservoir causes it to ascend into
the pump. The pump is then almost entirely filled with mercury and the counter-
weight on the lever arm resting against the inner controlling collar, overbalances the
mercury which remains in the reservoir, and the balance lever will, consequently,
turn or rock once, thereby raising the reservoir aforesaid while the other end of the
lever, on which are the arm extension and counterweight, descends. The counter-
weight, in consequence of its own weight, will then slide on the lever arm against the
outer controlling collar. The aforesaid threeway cock is connected with the balance
lever by means of suitable connecting rods, and, when the said balance lever turns on

page_text: its pivot, the threeway cock is simultaneously operated and the mercury reservoir is
consequently brought into connection with the atmosphere.
The mercury contained in the pump will then sink back again by virtue of its
weight into the reservoir, whereupon the latter once more outweighs the counter-
weight, which, in the meantime, has been lying against the outer controlling collar, so
that the balance lever moves to its original position.
An exact adjustment of the counterweight is necessary, because the balance lever
must rock once when the receptacle is full and again once when it is empty or
partially so, and this must be exactly regulated. The adjustment of the sliding
weight controls the static force of the pump.
When the balance lever again moves, the reservoir is again put in connection with
the pressure-conduit, and the action above described is simply repeated. It is
important that the final introduction of the mercury into the air pump be effected
quite gradually, whilst the initial introduction can be effected very quickly with a
view to causing the pump to operate in a speedy manner. This is simply effected by
the threeway cock, which, shortly before the admission or foreing of the mercury
into the pump from the reservoir is completed, is so controlled that only a slight
pressure exists in the mercury receptacle. With this object, a lever, capable of
moving on a pivot, is provided, one arm of which carries a small adjustable weight,
whilst the other arm bears on the under part of that end of the balance lever
aforesaid which carries the mercury reservoir. A small sliding weight is so placed
that it sinks down at the moment when the air pump is almost filled with mercury,
that is to say, when only a certain weight of mercury is left in the reservoir. The
sinking down of the small weight causes the reservoir to be somewhat raised and
thereby the threeway cock is partially closed. The movement of the arm is limited
by means of a stop piece and the movements of the balance lever by means of suitable
projections. By means of the above described device, the last part of the body of
mercury in the reservoir can be introduced quite easily in any desired period of time
into the air pump, so that the pump will not be broken by means of a sudden rush of
the mercury.
The aforesaid lever and small weight can be replaced by means of a regulating
spring or the like working on the balance lever, and, if desired, several pumps can be
placed in connection with the above described balance lever.
The way in which the necessary pressure is produced, for working the foregoing
invention, is quite a matter of indifference. If desired, the appliance can be worked
by connecting it with a water conduit, in which case an air chamber is applied between
the threeway cock and the mercury reservoir through the stopper of which two tubes
(hereinafter called the water and air tubes respectively) pass. This chamber is partly
filled with water, into which the water tube, joined to the threeway cock, dips, whilst
the air tube connected by means of a pipe with the upper part of the mercury
reservoir does not dip although it communicates with the upper part of the chamber.
The surface of the water in the air chamber is purposely covered with a layer of oil,
in order to prevent the introduction of vapour, etcetera, into the pump. If now the
water conduit is opened, a surplus pressure will be introduced in the air chamber,
which drives mercury into the pump, when the balance lever will turn. The threeway
cock will then be moved, and it prevents further admission of water, so that the
water, which has been forced in, escapes out of the other branch of the threeway
cock.
Moreover, with the particular kind of appliance which has just been described, it is
possible to very simply and automatically transport the little bubbles of air from the
pump into a collecting receiver, and afterwards, when they have collected to a certain
amount, to discharge them into the atmosphere.
For this purpose, it is necessary to lessen the travel of the counterweight from time
to time, so that it is only about every tenth time that the air is completely taken out
of the pump, whilst, for the remaining times, by means of slightly lifting the
mercury, the air is introduced into a receiver as above explained, which is placed
between the pump and a barometer tube.

page_text: For this purpose, the following appliance has been arranged:
A toothed wheel laving, say, ten teeth is pivoted on the sliding weight, and on the
frame of the balance lever, a projection is so arranged in any suitable manner that
the toothed wheel is turned one tooth at each stroke. A suitable check pawl is
provided. A disc is connected with the toothed wheel upon its axis, in which disc is
a depression, this depression is of such a size that, at every tenth stroke, a pin
arranged on the inner controlling collar slips into it, whilst at other times the pin
simply lies against the periphery of the disc." As will be easily understood by means
of this appliance, a larger quantity of mercury enters at every tenth stroke into the
pump than at the remaining strokes.
During the action of the pump, the air is consequently exhausted nine times into
the receiver, and at the tenth time, entirely out of the pump.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Mercurial Pumps.
A communication from abroad by Dr. AUGUST RAPS, o 16 Neue Wilhelmstrasse,
Berlin, in the Empire of Germany.
1. WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the
County of Lancaster & 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, 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 invention relates to mercurial pumps, and has partly for its object an apparatus
for automatically working or actuating merenrial pumps of any kind. In most cases,
the introduction of the mercury into the pump has been effected by agitating or
moving up and down a receptacle containing mercury. When the filling of the pump
was almost completed, the introduction of the mercury had to be very carefully
attended to, and it is just this point to which this invention more especially relates,
since numerous attempts have hitherto failed to effect the working of mercurial
pumps by mechanical means. It has, heretofore, been proposed to effect the lifting of
the mercury by evacuating a chamber which is in connection with the mercury,
without, however, leading to any satisfactory result.
The apparatus forming the object of the present invention is founded on the plan of
introducing mercury into the pump by the application of any suitable kind of pressure
(compressed air, for example) and then withdrawing it from the pump by means of
its own weight, whilst, at the same time, the compressed air is allowed to escape into
the outer atmosphere.
For this object, it is necessary that the outer mercary reservoir he at one time
brought into connection with a pressure-conduit, and, at the other time, with the
atmosphere.
Such an apparatus is shown on the annexed drawing.
Figure 1 represents a side view of the apparatus connected to a Töpler mercurial
air pump, whilst
Figures 2 to 6 inclusive represent various parts in detail.
In Figure 1, the exhausting compartment A and column of the air pump áre
connected with the bottom of the mercury reservoir B by means of a short bent
flexible pipe C. The mercury reservoir B rests on one arm of a balanced lever D,
which is capable of rocking with a limited play on an axis or pivot d, and, at the other
side, has an extension arm D' which carries a counterweight D. The latter is free to
slide to and fro between the two controlling collars d' and d³, and, according to the
position of the balance arm, rests against one or other of the said collars. A second

page_text: flexible pipe E leads from the upper portion of the mercury receptacle B to a three-
way cock F. which can be alternately connected with a pressure conduit of any kind
and with the atmosphere. For sake of example, let it he supposed that one of the
inlets of the three-way cock is in connection with a conduit for compressed air,
whilst the other, f, is simply in connection with the atmosphere.
According to the principle of its construction, the action of the apparatus is as
follows:-
Supposing the position of the balance-lever to be such as shown in Figure 1, and
that the mercury reservoir is at its lower position, if the pressure-conduit he opened,
as hereafter described. the pressure operating on the mercury contained in the
reservoir B causes it to ascend into the pump. When the pump is almost entirely
filled with mercury, the counterweight D on the lever arm, resting against the inner
controlling collar i, overbalances the mercury which remains in the reservoir B, and
the balance lever D will, consequently, turn or rock once, thereby raising the
reservoir aforesaid, while the other end of the lever, on which are the arm extension
and counterweight D2, descends. The counterweight D2, in consequence of its own
weight, will then slide on the lever arm D' against the outer controlling collar d².
As, however, the aforesaid three-way cock F is connected with the balance lever I)
by means of the arm g and the connecting rod G, when the said balance lever turns
on its pivot, the three-way cock is simultaneously operated and the mercury
reservoir B is consequently brought into connection with the atmosphere through the
pipe f2.
The mercury contained in the pump will then sink back again by virtue of its own
weight into the reservoir B, whereupon the latter once more outweighs the counter-
weight D, which, in the meantime, has been lying against the outer controlling
collar d², so that the balance lever moves to its original position. An exact automatic
adjustment of the sliding counterweight is necessary, because the balance lever must
rock once when the receptacle is full and again once when it is empty or partially
so, .on
a very slight alteration of the quantity of mercury contained. The
adjustment of the sliding weight controls the static force by means of the pump
itself.
When the balance lever again moves, the reservoir B is again put in connection
with the pressure-conduit, and the action above described is simply repeated. It
is important that the final introduction of the mercury into the air pump be effected
quite gradually, whilst the initial introduction can be effected very quickly with a
view to causing the pump to operate in a speedy manner. This is simply effected
by means of the three-way cock, which, shortly before the admission or forcing of
the mercury into the pump from the reservoir is completed, is so controlled that
only a slight increase of pressure takes place in the mercury receptacle. With
this object, a lever H, capable of moving on a pivot, is provided, one arm of
which carries a small adjustable weight H₁, whilst the other arm bears on the
under part of that end of the balance lever D which carries the mercury reservoir B.
The small sliding weight H is so placed that it sinks down at the moment when
the air pump is almost filled with mercury, that is to say, when only a certain
weight of mercury is left in the reservoir B. The sinking down of the small
weight causes the reservoir B to be somewhat raised, and thereby the three-
way cock is partially closed. The movement of the arm H is limited by means of a
stop-piece. and the movements of the balance lever by means of suitable pro-
jections of and o². By means of the above described device, the last part of the body
of mercury in the reservoir can be introduced quite gently in any desired period of
time, adjustable by means of the counterweight H', into the air pump, so that the
pump will not be broken by means of a sudden rush of the mercury.
The aforesaid lever Hand small weight H' can be replaced by means of a
regulating spring or the like working on the balance lever D, and, if desired, several
pumps can be placed in connection with the above described balance lever.
The way in which the necessary pressure is produced, for working the foregoing
invention, is quite a matter of indifference. If desired, the appliance can be worked

page_text: as shown in Figure 2 by simply connecting it with a water conduit, in which case an
air chamber is applied between the three-way cock and the mercury reservoir B.
This consists of a vessel K through the stopper of which two tubes (hereinafter called
the water and air tubes re-pectively) and pass.
21
This chamber K is partly filled
with water, into which the water tube , joined to the three-way cock, dips, whilst
the air tube l, connected by means of a flexible pipe with the mercury reservoir B,
does not dip although it communicates with the upper part of the chamber. The
surface of the water in the air chamber is purposely covered with a layer of oil k', in
order to prevent the introduction of vapour, etcetera, into the pump. If now the
water conduit be opened, a surplus pressure will be introduced in the air chamber,
which drives the mercury into the pump. By the tilting of the balance lever, the
three-way cock will then be moved and an equalisation of pressure between the air
chamber and the outer atmosphere will ensue, so that the water which has been forced
in, escapes out of the other branch of the three-way cock.
Moreover, with the particular kind of appliance which has just been described, it is
possible to very simply and automatically transport the little bubbles of air from the
pump into a collecting receiver, and afterwards, when they have collected to a certain
amount, to discharge then into the atmosphere.
For this purpose, it is necessary to lessen the travel of the counterweight for one
stroke from time to time, so that it is only about every tenth time that the air is
completely taken out of the pump, whilst, for the remaining times, by means of
slightly lifting the mercury, the air is merely introduced into a vacuum receiver V
which is placed between the pump A and
barometer tube 2.
For this purpose, the following appliance has been arranged
A toothed wheel e having, say, ten teeth, is connected with the sliding weight D³,
and, on the frame of the balance lever, a projection m is so arranged in any suitable
manner that the toothed wheel is turned one tooth at each stroke, as may be easily
seen in Figures 3 and 4. A suitable check pawl el is provided to brake the toothed
wheel e. A disc P is connected with the toothed wheel e upon its axis, in which disc
is a depression; this depression is of just such a size that, at every tenth stroke, a
pin p, arranged on the inner controlling collar d', slips into it, (Figure 5), whilst at
other times the pin simply lies against the periphery of the disc p, Figure 6. As will
be easily understood, by means of this appliance, a larger quantity of mercury enters
at every tenth stroke into the pump than at the remaining strokes.
During the action of the pump, the air is consequently exhausted nine times into
the receiver V, and, at the tenth time, entirely out of the pump.
The invention is, of course, not limited to any particular number of strokes.
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. An apparatus for automatically working or actuating mercurial pumps by means
of any suitable external pressure, characterised by a pivoted lever arm carrying on
one side of its pivot the mercury receptacle B and on the other an automatically
adjusted travelling counterweight D2, which lever arm rocks automatically in con-
sequence of the larger or smaller amount of mercury contained in the receptacle B,
and, by means of a three-way cock connected with the lever arm, brings the
receptacle B alternately into connection with a
pressure pipe and with the
atmosphere, whereby the mercury flows back again out of the pump by its own weight,
substantially as described.
2. In an apparatus such as described, the arrangement of a weighted lever H. or its
equivalent, bearing on the pivoted lever in such a manner that the said lever is
partially tilted as soon as the air pump is nearly filled with mercury, for the purpose,
by reducing the inflow orifice, of permitting the final portion of the mercury to pass
very gradually into the pump and thus to avoid any bursting of the latter, substantially
as described.
3. In an apparatus such as described, the periodic alteration of the leverage of the

page_text: counterweight by means of the said weight D2 moving nearer the centre of oscillation,
in consequence of the automatic revolution of a toothed wheel, after a predetermined
number of strokes, for the purpose of expelling into the atmosphere the air-bubbles
which before were only pumped into the vacuum receiver V, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth."
4. The herein described arrangement of parts forming the apparatus for auto-
matically working or actuating mercurial pumps, substantially as described. -
Dated this 24th day of October 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.