Improvements in and connected with Pumping Engines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 23th July, 1892-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Pumping Engines.
A communication from abroad by OTIS BROTHERS & Co., of 38, Park Row,
New York, in the United States of America, Manufacturers.
We, AMERICAN ELEVATOR COMPANY (Incorporated) of 4 Queen Victoria
Street in the City of London, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Attempts to make use of electro-motors in pumping water and other inelastic
fluids have hitherto not been attended with success, except with engines of very
limited capacity, owing to the fact that in the attempt to connect electro-motors,
which of necessity run at high rates of speed, and pumps of ordinary construction,
which of necessity must be operated at comparatively slow speeds and in which
the movements of the liquids are intermittent and pulsating and in many instances
are frequently reversed, the intermittent and irregular action of the pump interferes
with the uniform movement of the electro-motor and results in variations of the
motive current that are extremely detrimental to the efficiency of the engine and
wasteful of power.
Further it is almost impossible to start the electro-motor
against the full pressure of the load of water.
While these difficulties would be partially overcome by the use of intermediate
gears between the high speed motor and the low speed pump, this is attended with
friction and loss of power, noise, and in many instances unduly increases the cost
and size of the apparatus, especially objectionable in such pumping engines as must
be operated in very contracted spaces, as is frequently the case.
Theoretically a rotary pump directly geared with the revolving armature would
overcome any objections incident to electricity as a motive power, but rotary pumps
as heretofore constructed and available for use in such connection do not attain the
percentage of efficiency desirable and necessary in competition with pumps of
other constructions, while it is not practicable to drive the pump piston at the same
speed as the armature of the motor.
In seeking to overcome these difficulties under the present invention it has been
endeavoured to relieve the motor of the water pressure in starting and to secure a
uniform resistance to the action of the motor in operation, and to this end the parts
of a reciprocating piston pump are so constructed as to preserve a continuous flow
of fluid under the action of the pistons and a comparatively uniform rate of
flow of the current in one course so as to avoid variations resulting from a change
of direction, and the revolving armature of the motor is connected directly with
the driving shaft of the pump by means of a belt and pulleys so proportioned as
to secure the desired differences in the rates of motion without noise or friction
but with the motor in close proximity to the pump, and a by-pass is also provided
to permit the water to circulate without pressure until the motor is nearly in full
operation.
While these results may be secured to the use of pumping devices of different
constructions having the characteristics above named, reference will be first made
to constructions which have proved effective and which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1, is a side elevation in part section of the preferred construction.
Fig. 2, an end elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, a sectional plan through the cylinders.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6, are detail views.

page_text: The base or foundation A*, is suitably constructed to support the other parts
including the cylinders, crank-shaft and an electro-motor. In the constructions
Figs. 1 to 11, there are four cylinders D, D1, D2, D3, the pistons 1, 3, of the
cylinders D, D³, being upon a common rod 4, and the pistons 2, 4, of the
cylinders D, D³, being upon a common rod 5, and each piston has a passage 6
through it to which is adapted a spring seated valve a.
A head G, common to both cylinders D, D¹, has a channel 7, communicating
with the ends of both of said cylinders, and from the opposite end of the
cylinder D', to the cylinder D2, extends a pipe 8, and a channel 9, in a head G¹,
common to both cylinders D2, D3, serves as a communication between the ends of
said cylinder.
The inlet pipe 10, communicates with the cylinder D, and the outlet pipe 11,
extends from the cylinder D³. The pistons instead of sliding in the cylinders
themselves, slide in tubular linings 12, each narrower than the cylinder, shorter
in diameter, and with a flange that is clamped between the body of the cylinder
and the head. Figs. 5 and 6 show the details of construction of the pistons and
valves.
The shaft J, has a fly wheel J' at one end and two cranks at right angles con-
nected each by means of a yoke 13, with a cross-head 14, of the adjacent piston,
and the valves are so arranged upon the piston, that as the rod 4, moves in the
direction of its arrow, Fig. 3, the valves of the pistons 1, 3, will open and the
movement of the piston rod 5, in the same direction will cause the valve of
the piston 2, to open and the valve of the piston 4, to close.
As a result of the described arrangement of cylinders valve pistons and cranks,
channels and ports, the water will flow continuously in one direction whatever may
be the direction of movement of the pistons, while the change of load from one
piston to the other is always effected during one fourth of a revolution and begins
as the loaded piston approaches the end of the cylinder towards the termination of
its stroke so that the transfer is effected without shocks.
Thus as indicated in the diagram Fig. 7, when the loaded piston is travelling
with the crank moving at the maximum speed between the points d, d', or f, f,
or e, e¹, or g, g', the unloaded piston is moving and reversing its movement under
the travel of the crank between the points d', for f¹, d, or e', g or g', e, so that
the load is transferred to the unloaded piston as the latter changes its direction
of movement and when it is moving at its slowest speed through one-fourth of its
revolution, while the current of water is always being acted upon in one of the
cylinders by a piston travelling at its maximum speed so that the said current is
constantly maintained travelling in one direction, without change of course, and
without material variation in speed thereby avoiding shocks, pulsations, and other
irregularities of motion or action.
There is thus secured such a uniform resistance to the action of the motor that
an electro-motor may be connected directly with the driving shaft or intermediately
through suitable appliances, and the pump may be driven electrically so as to
secure effective results which could not be done if the pump was constructed and
operated in the ordinary manner. One connection and arrangement is illustrated
in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, in which the electro-motor Q of any suitable construction is
shown as bolted to a bridge 16, supported by the cylinders D D', and upon the
transverse armature shaft 21 of the motor is a pulley R, around which a belt 17
passes to the fly-wheel J', a belt tightening pulley 18, serving to take up slack.
The pulley R, is properly proportioned to the wheel J¹, to permit the armature to
revolve at its most efficient speed without imparting a too rapid movement to the
crank shaft of the pump. It will be evident, however, that friction gears or other
connections may be substituted for the other belts and pulleys.
Inasmuch as the motor in most cases can be best started at or nearly at its
maximum speed there would be a great and detrimental resistance to its initial
action if the entire load of the fluid to be pumped was upon the pump at the
moment it started.

page_text: To avoid this means are provided whereby at the moment of starting the inlet 10
and outlet 11, are connected by a bye-pass or any suitable channel so that
the fluid pumped merely circulates through the cylinders and through said channel
until such pump acquires a pre-determined speed when the bye-pase is slowly and
automatically closed and the water is sent into the discharge pipe without returning
to the inlet.
Various different automatic appliances may be employed for effecting this result
the preferred arrangement being that shown in Figs. 1 and 4.
As shown, a pipe 22, extends from the inlet pipe 10, to a casing 23, in which is
the outlet port 11, the said pipe 22, leading to a point of the casing 23, below a
check valve 24.
At any point in the pipe 22, is a valve casing Y, containing an automatic cut-off
valve Z, shown in the form of a double piston valve.
The position of the parts in starting is shown in Fig. 1, the weight of the water
in the discharge pipe holding the valve 24 to its seat so that the water first dis-
charged from the outlet port of the piston D³, passes to the pipe 22, and through
the valve casing Y, back to the inlet 10. As the pressure increases the pressure
from the pipe 22, is transferred to the bottom of the valve Z, through the medium
of the channel 50, and the valve Z, rises compressing a spring 51, until the pressure
is sufficient to close the valve.
As the passage through the pipe 22 becomes throttled there is an accumulating
pressure below the valve 24, until the pipe 22, is finally closed and the valve 24
finally opened, so that the entire discharge is through the port 11.
Nuts 54 may be adjusted to prevent the valve Z from closing entirely so that
when the pump stops and the valve 24 closes there will be a slight back flow
through the valve casing Y, and the spring 51 will then force the valve Z to an
open position, a channel 56 permitting the water to flow from or to the top of the
valve Z.
The channels 50, 56, are provided with cocks 58, 57, to regulate the flow and
the rapidity of movement of the valve Z.
By this automatic bye-pass valve the pump is relieved of pressure in starting so
that the electro-motor may acquire its full speed with but little initial resistance,
and after said speed is acquired and the pressure accumulates the valve closes
automatically.
Another arrangement effecting like results is shown in Figs. 8, 9, in a vertical
engine in which the parts corresponding to those in Figs. 1 to 6, are correspondingly
lettered. In this case the cylinders D2, D3, are upon the base A', and the
cylinders D, DI, are supported upon pillars 30, while the electro-motor Q is
supported directly upon the base.
Another arrangement of horizontal engine is shown in Figs. 10 and 11, in which
the base consists of two base pieces A' A', and an intermediate trunk As, sup-
porting the bearings of the crank-shaft J, the motor Q, being supported above the
cylinders D, D, and the bye-pass pipe 22, extending beneath the trunk A.
In the construction shown in Figs. 12, 13, and 14, there are but two cylinders D, D',
with a curved connecting passage 7 in the head G.
Between the driving shaft J, and the pistons D, D', are connections so con-
structed that on the revolution of the driving shaft Fig. 13 one piston, as 1, will
move forward driving the water before it, but before the piston reaches the end
of its forward movement the piston 2, will begin its rear movement and the valve
will close, so that the piston 2, acts with a suction effect to draw the water from
the channel 7, so that as the piston 1, begins its return movement its valve will
be lifted from its seat and the water will continue to flow through the cylinder D,
and piston 1, in the same direction in which it was caused to flow by the forward
movement of the piston 1, and this movement will continue during the backward
motion of the piston 1, which, however, is effected much more rapidly than its
forward motion so that said piston 1, again starts forward and begins to act upon
the already moving column of water before the piston 2 reaches its rear position.

page_text: As a result the forward motion of the piston 1, continues the movement of the
water in the same direction as and after the piston 2, starts forward, the valve then
opening for the passage of the water under the action of the piston 1, while the
piston 2, rapidly moves to its outer position.
The means devised for imparting the slow forward motion, quick return, and
for starting each piston forward before the other reaches its inward position arc
as follows :-
On one end of the shaft J, is a crank K, Fig. 14 to the stud of which are
pivoted two links L, L', the link L, connecting with the outer end of an arm M,
on a shaft N, and the link L', connecting with the outer end of an arm M³, on a
with
shaft N¹. On the shaft N, is an arm O, Fig. 13, connected by a link P,
a stud extending across a yoke of the piston rod 4, while an arm O', on the
shaft N', is connected by a link P', with a pin crossing the yoke of the piston 5.
The shaft J, revolves in the direction of its arrow, Fig. 13, and as a result of
the connections described the two piston rods and their pistons have imparted to
them the slow pumping movement in one direction and quick return movement
in the opposite direction and are relatively timed in their action as above
described.
Dated this 6th day of January 1892.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Pumping Engines.
A communication from abroad by OTIS BROTHERS & Co., of 38, Park Row,
New York, in the United States of America, Manufacturers.
We, AMERICAN ELEVATOR COMPANY (Incorporated) of 4 Queen Victoria
Street, in the City of London, Manufacturers, 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 :-
Attempts to make use of electro-motors in pumping water and other inelastic
fluids have hitherto not been attended with success, except with engines of very
limited capacity, owing to the fact that in the attempt to connect electro-motors,
which of necessity run at high rates of speed, and pumps of ordinary construction,
which of necessity must be operated at comparatively slow speeds and in which the
movements of the liquids are intermittent and pulsating and in many instances are
frequently reversed, the intermittent and irregular action of the pump interferes
with the uniform movement of the electro-motor and results in variations of the
motive current that are extremely detrimental to the efficiency of the engine and
wasteful of power. Further it is almost impossible to start the electro-motor against
the full pressure of the load of water.
While these difficulties would be partially overcome by the use of intermediate
gears between the high speed motor and the low speed pump, this is attended with
friction and loss of power, noise, and in many instances unduly increases the cost
and size of the apparatus, especially objectionable in such pumping engines as must
be operated in very contracted spaces, as is frequently the case.
Theoretically a rotary pump directly geared with the revolving armature would
overcome any objections incident to electricity as a motive power, but rotary pumps
as heretofore constructed and available for use in such connection do not attain the
percentage of efficiency desirable and necessary in competition with pumps or other
constructions, while it is not practicable to drive the pump piston at the same speed
as the armature of the motor.
In seeking to overcome these difficulties under the present invention it has been
endeavoured to relieve the motor of the water pressure in starting and to secure a

page_text: PISTONS
Tate of HOW OL
the current in one course so as to avoid variations resulting from a change of
direction, and the revolving armature of the motor is connected directly with the
driving shaft of the pump by means of a belt and pulleys so proportioned as to
secure the desired differences in the rates of motion without noise or friction but
with the motor in close proximity to the pump, and a by-pass is also provided to
permit the water to circulate without pressure until the motor is nearly in full
operation.
While these results may be secured by the use of pumping devices of different
constructions having the characteristics above named, reference will be first made
to constructions which have proved effective and which are illustrated in the
drawings, accompanying our Provisional Specification in which :-
:―
Figure 1 is a side elevation in part section of the preferred construction.
Figure 2 an end elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 3 a sectional plan through the cylinders.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are detail views.
Figure 7 a diagram.
Figures 8 to 14 are views illustrating other forms of embodying the invention.
The base or foundation A is suitably constructed to support the other parts
including the cylinders, crank-shaft and an electro-motor. In the constructions
Figures 1 to 11, there are four cylinders D, D', D2, D³, the pistons 1, 3, of the
cylinders D, D³, being upon a common rod 4, and the pistons 2, 4 of the
cylinders D', D³, being upon a common rod 5, and each piston has a passage
through it to which is adapted a spring seated valve a.
6
A head G, common to both cylinders D, D', has a channel 7, communicating
with the ends of both of said cylinders, and from the opposite end of the
cylinder D', to the cylinder, D2, extends a pipe 8, and a channel 9, in a head G¹,
common to both cylinders D2, D³, serves as a communication between the ends of
said cylinder.
The inlet pipe 10, communicates with the cylinder D, and the outlet pipe 11,
extends from the cylinder D³. The pistons instead of sliding in the cylinders
themselves, slide in tubular linings, 12, each narrower than the cylinder, shorter in
diameter, and with a flange that is clamped between the body of the cylinder and
the head. Figures 5 and 6 show the details of construction of the pistons and
valves.
The shaft J, has a fly wheel J' at one end and two cranks at right angles
connected each by means of a yoke 13, with a cross-head 14, of the adjacent piston,
and the valves are so arranged upon the piston, that as the rod 4, moves in the
direction of its arrow, Fig. 3, the valves of the piston 1, 3, will open and the move-
ment of the piston rod 5, in the same direction will cause the valve of the piston 2,
to open and the valve of the piston 4, to close.
As a result of the described arrangement of cylinders valve pistons and cranks,
channels and ports, the water will flow continuously in one direction whatever may
be the direction of movement of the pistons, while the change of load from one
piston to the other is always effected during one fourth of a revolution and begins
as the loaded piston approaches the end of the cylinder towards the termination of
its stroke so that the transfer is effected without shocks.
Thus as indicated in the diagram Fig. 7, when the loaded piston is travelling with
the crank moving at the maximum speed between the points d, d', or f, f', or e, e',
or g, g', the unloaded piston is moving and reversing its movement under the travel
of the crank between the points d', for f, d or e¹, y or g¹, e, so that the load is
transferred to the unloaded piston as the latter changes its direction of movement
and when it is moving at its slowest speed through one fourth of its revolution,
while the current of water is always being acted upon in one of the cylinders by a
piston travelling at its maximum speed so that the said current is constantly main-

page_text: tained travelling in one direction, without change of course, and without material
variation in speed thereby avoiding shocks, pulsations, and other irregularities of
motion or action.
There is thus secured such a uniform resistance to the action of the notor that
an electro-motor may be connected directly with the driving shaft or intermediately
through suitable appliances, and the pump may be driven electrically so as to secure
effective results which could not be done if the pump was constructed and operated
in the ordinary manner. One connection and arrangement is illustrated in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 in which the electro-motor Q of any suitable construction is
shown as bolted to a bridge 16, supported by the cylinders D D' and upon the
transverse armature shaft 21 of the motor is a pulley R, around which a belt 17
passes to the fly-wheel J, a belt tightening pulley 18, serving to take up slack.
The pulley R, is properly proportioned to the wheel J, to permit the armature to
revolve at its most efficient speed without imparting a too rapid movement to the
crank shaft of the pump. It will be evident, however, that friction gears or other
connections may be substituted for the other belts and pulleys.
Inasmuch as the motor in most cases can be best started at or nearly at its
maximum speed there would be a great and detrimental resistance to its initial
action if the entire load of the fluid to be pumped was upon the pump at the
moment it started.
To avoid this, means are provided whereby at the moment of starting the inlet 10
and outlet 11, are connected by a by-pass or any suitable channel so that the fluid
pumped merely circulates through the cylinders and through said channel until
such pump acquires a pre-determined speed when the by-pass is slowly and auto-
matically closed and the water is sent into the discharge pipe without returning to
the inlet.
Various different automatic appliances may be employed for effecting this result
the preferred arrangement being that shown in Figs. 1 and 4.
'As shewn, a pipe 22, extends from the inlet pipe 10, to a casing 23, in which is
the outlet port 11, the said pipe 22, leading to a point of the casing 23, below a
check valve 24.
At any point in the pipe 22, is a valve casing Y, containing an automatic cut-off
valve Z, shown in the form of a double piston valve.
The position of the parts in starting is shewn in Fig. 1, the weight of the water
in the discharge pipe holding the valve 24 to its seat so that the water first
discharged from the outlet port of the piston D³, passes to the pipe 22, and
through the valve casing Y, back to the inlet 10. As the pressure increases the
pressure from the pipe 22, is transferred to the bottom of the valve Z, through the
medium of the channel 50, and the valve Z, rises. compressing a spring 51, until
the pressure is sufficient to close the valve.
As the passage through the pipe 22 becomes throttled there is an accumulating
pressure below the valve 24, until the pipe 22, is finally closed and the valve 24
finally opened, so that the entire discharge is through the port 11.
Nuts 54 may be adjusted to prevent the valve Z from closing entirely so that
when the pump stops and the valve 24 closes there will be a slight back flow
through the valve casing. Y, and the spring 51 will then force the valve Z to
an open position, a channel 56 permitting the water to flow from or to the top of
the valve Z.
The channels 50, 56, are provided with cocks 58, 57, to regulate the flow and the
rapidity of movement of the valve Z.
By this automatic bye pass valve the pump is relieved of pressure in starting so
that the electro-motor may acquire its full speed with but little initial resistance,
and after said speed is acquired and the pressure accumulates the valve closes
automatically.
Another arrangement effecting like results is shewn in Figs. 8, 9, in a vertical
engine in which the parts corresponding to those in Figs. 1 to 6, are correspondingly
lettered. In this case the cylinders D2, D3, are upon the base A and the

page_text: cylinders D, D¹, are supported upon pillars 30, while the electro-motor Q is
supported directly upon the base.
Another arrangement of horizontal engine is shewn in Figs. 10 and 11, in
which the base consists of two base pieces A A7 and an intermediate trunk A³,
supporting the bearings of the crank-shaft J, the motor Q, being supported above
the cylinders D, D', and the bye-pass pipe 22, extending beneath the trunk A.
In the construction shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, there are but two cylinders D, D', .
with a curved connecting passage 7 in the head G.
Between the driving shaft J, and the pistons D, D', are connections so con-
structed that on the revolution of the driving shaft Fig. 13 one piston, as 1, will
move forward driving the water before it, but before the piston reaches the end.
of its forward movement the piston 2, will begin its rear movement and the
valve will close, so that the piston 2, acts with a suction effect to draw the water
from the channel 7, so that as the piston 1, begins its return movement its valve
will be lifted from its seat and the water will continue to flow through the
cylinder D, and piston 1, in the same direction in which it was caused to flow by
the forward movement of the piston 1, and this movement will continue during the
backward motion of the piston 1, which however, is effected much more rapidly
than its forward motion so that said piston 1, again starts forward and begins to
act upon the already moving column of water before the piston 2 reaches its rear
position. As a result the forward motion of the piston 1, continues the movement
of the water in the same direction as and after the piston 2, starts forward, the
valve then opening for the passage of the water under the action of the piston 1,.
while the piston 2, rapidly moves to its outer position.
The means devised for imparting the slow forward motion, quick return, and
for starting each piston forward before the other reaches its inward position are
as follows:-
On one end of the shaft J, is a crank K, Fig. 14 to the stud of which are
pivotted two links L L', the link L, connecting with the outer end of an arm M,
on a shaft N, and the link L, connecting with the outer end of an arm M,
on a shaft N. On the shaft N, is an arm O, Fig. 13 connected by a link P,
with a stud extending across a yoke of the piston rod 4, while an arın 0,
the shaft N', is connected by a link P¹, with a pin crossing the yoke of the
piston 5.
ou
The shaft J, revolves in the direction of its arrow, Fig. 13, and as a result
of the connections described the two piston rods and their pistons have imparted
to them the slow pumping movement in one direction and quick return move-
ment in the opposite direction and are relatively timed in their action as above.
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven--
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to us by
our foreign correspondents we declare that what we claim is :-
1. A pumping engine provided with an electric motor having an armature
constructed to revolve continuously in one direction, with connected cylinders,
having ports and containing reciprocating pistons each provided with a port and
a valve to afford a channel for the continuous flow of the fluid in one direction,
and connections between the armature and the pistons constructed to reverse the
movement of each piston before the other arrives at one end of its stroke, substan-
tially as set forth.
2. The combination in an electric pumping engine of a motor having an armature
revolving continuously in one direction and a pump provided with two or more
reciprocating valved pistons, and connections for moving said pistons from the
armature, each with a slow forward and quick return movement and for reversing
the movement of each before the other arrives at the end of its stroke, substantially
as set forth.
3. The combination in a pump of four cylinders connected in series and provided

page_text: with valved pistons and means for operating the latter for starting one piston
upon its working stroke before the termination of the working strokes of the
other pistons to maintain a continuous movement of a column of water through
the cylinders at practically a uniform speed, substantially as set forth.
1. The combination in a pump of four cylinders arranged and connected for
the fluid to flow through the same successively, valved pistons and piston rods
cach connecting two pistons of adjoining cylinders and a crank shaft baving
cranks at right angles each connected with one of the piston rods, substantially
as set forth.
5. The combination with the inlet and outlet of a pump of a connecting channel,
a valve arranged in such channel and means for automatically shifting the valve to
close the channel as the pump acquires its operating speed, substantially as set
forth.
6. A pump provided with connected cylinders having inlet and outlet ports,
reciprocating valved pistons in said cylinders whereby to force the water in
one direction through the same, and means substantially as described to move
each piston with a slow lifting stroke and quick return stroke, and for reversing
the direction of one before the movement of the other is completed, substantially
as set forth.
7. The combination in a pump of two valve pistons, moving in connected
cylinders and a driving gear for imparting to each a slow working stroke and
a quick return stroke consisting of a driving crank shaft, two rock levers connected
each to the corresponding piston, and two links connecting said levers with the
cranks whereby the levers are vibrated from the crank at varying speeds, substan-
tially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
8. An electric pumping engine provided with a motor, and an armature con-
structed to revolve continuously in one direction, with connected cylinders having
ports and containing reciprocating pistons each provided with ports and a valve to
afford a channel for the continuous flow of the fluid in one direction, and
connections between the armature and the pistons constructed to reverse the
movement of each piston before the other arrives at the end of its stroke, substan-
tially as set forth.
9. The combination in an electric pumping engine of a motor having an armature
revolving continuously in one direction and a pump provided with two reciprocating
valved pistons and connections for moving said pistons from the armature each with
a slow forward and quick return movement and for reversing the movement of each
before the other arrives at the end of its stroke, substantially as set forth.
10. The within described and illustrated improvements in pumping apparatus
and parts thereof, substantially as set forth.
Dated 100+ 111005
PHILIP M. JUSTICE, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicants.