Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Liquids.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Liquids.
SAMUEL HENRY ADAMS Hydraulic Engineer Peaseholm Green York 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:-
Under my Patent No. 6874, 1892, I described and claimed an improved apparatus
for elevating liquid, utilising the pressure of a head or column of liquid to effect
this purpose, and I now amplify and develope and arrange the detail which in
practice I find most advantageous to the successful operation of my system as a
whole. Briefly the plan adopted is the use of vessels one of which receives the
liquid to be raised whilst the other is put under the pressure of a head or column
of liquid in connection therewith.
Coupling the vessels is an air pipe, and it will be seen at once that the pressure
of liquid created by the column upon the empty vessel will expel the air contained
therein, such air passing through the connecting pipe and driving the liquid
contained in the receiving vessel upwards through an exit pipe provided. The
height to which the liquid is raised being governed by the height of the head or
column of liquid pressing upon the empty vessel. Suitable arrangements are made
for allowing the liquid to flow away from the air vessel after exerting its pressure
upon that to be raised, and also for refilling the vessel from which the liquid is
elevated, that the continuity of action may be ensured.
Now I find in practice that the effectiveness of the air pressure obtained by the
head or column of liquid is greatly enhanced by causing the liquid supply to this
column to be intermittent and although it is not a necessity, where it is possible !
prefer to arrange the supply in this manner and for this purpose I use a collecting
tank or chamber which discharges its liquid contents when sufficiently full by
syphon, valve, or other arrangement. It will be seen on reference to my drawings
that although I shew such a chamber giving intermittent supply I may dispense
entirely with such chamber or valve allowing the liquid used to create pressure, to
enter the pressure column direct. For ease of reference my several sheets of
drawings are lettered to correspond and on reference thereto
Sheet No. 1. This shews a set of my apparatus suitable amongst other purposes
for raising sewage from a level below the desired outfall by water pressure.
J shews the low level liquid entering chamber I. Vessel B'is connected to I by
suitable opening and I generally fix a back pressure valve F here to prevent the
liquid from passing back from B to I. At G is the upcast pipe, H the high level
outlet or sewer to which it is desired to raise the liquid. It will be seen that the
liquid from I will pass freely to and fill B. At A an empty vessel is shewn
connected to B by air pipe C. At N is the high level liquid flowing to chamber M.
This chamber discharges its contents intermittently by syphon or valve L or
other arrangement or it may be dispensed with and the liquid enter pipe K direct the
liquid in this pipe K is the column employed to give pressure and it will be seen
that provided the difference in levels from M to A is greater than from B to H,
the liquid in B will be forced upwards by the force of air pressure and will
discharge at H. After this operation by valve or syphon O, or other suitable
arrangement, I allow the liquid to be withdrawn from A and the process is again
repeated.
*Sheet No. 2. The lettering is as before.

page_text: discharging tank. The chamber I takes the form of a sump which receives liquid
and through which it passes to B to be raised to H as described.
Sheet No. 3. This is also much as the foregoing but instead of a valve at the
outlet of A at DI provide a small orifice of such a size that although the escape
of liquid from it is not sufficiently fast to detrimentally affect the discharge of air
from this vessel to C and B it is ample in size to allow the draining away of the
liquid after its use before another discharge from the tank M takes place.
Sheet 4. This is much as shewn by Sheet No. 1 but that the chambers or vessels
are in masonry or brickwork. It will be obvious that these vessels may be formed
in any material and that whether of iron or masonry or other construction they
may be made effective by carrying out the work according to the detail here
given.
Sheet No. 5. shews the apparatus slightly varied from that drawn on Sheet No. 2
but that the receiver for the liquid it is desired to raise is sunk in a well or chamber,
which well or chamber collects the liquid and the liquid itself enters the bell or
vessel by suitable openings or valves provided, and is as before raised to a higher
level by the force of air obtained by the use of a head or column of liquid. If it
is desired to utilise the air only from chamber A I can do so by dispensing with B
and its accessories. The liquid in M will therefore in such a case give me
compressed air for any purpose I may desire.
Sheet No. 6. Reference to the drawings shows that the pressure at A is
governed entirely by the liquid column G and not by K and the sheet (No. 6) now
referred to deals more particularly with this portion of my invention and shows
how the less of the two columns gives the actual pressure, and how my valves are
operated. Both receptacles A and B are connected together by an air pipe C thus
the pressure in this pipe C and the receptacles A and B will be uniform governed
by the height of liquid in G.
Now in operation my valve O is closed against this pressure from G and I require
a greater pressure to operate it so that the liquid from A may escape and to secure
this increase of pressure I sever the communication between the two receptacles A
and B and having done this and with liquid still rising in column K, I increase the
pressure at A as required and it is this additional pressure I rely upon to operate
my valve O which before was inoperative. To sever this communication 1 prefer
to use a ball or similar valve figured 2 on drawing herewith described (No. 6) and
in operation, when the receptacle A is sufficiently full my valve 2 rises and closes
the mouth of C thus shutting off the exit of air to C and B and the incoming
liquid at K rising gives me the increased pressure or .head required and my
valve O comes into operation allowing the outflow of the liquid from A. The valve O
then closes and the operation is repeated. I use also a valve 4 which allows the
escape of air from B as the liquid from I enters but this valve closes by a greater
pressure as the liquid enters K shutting in the air required for the efficient
operating of the apparatus. I also use a valve at 3 which allows air to enter A
and thus aid the outflow of liquid from this receptacle but which will not allow the
escape of air from within.
"
I prefer to empty the vessel M by means of a self acting syphon or valve, on
Sheets Nos. 1, 2, 3, & 5, the syphon I may use is dotted L'. This syphon owing
to its peculiarly deep trap at outgo shuts-as the liquid rises in M-a certain
amount of air within its interior and the air thus compressed withstands a pressure
of water above it equal to the depth of this trap, but when this pressure is exceeded
the confined air is forced out and syphon action follows; on Sheet No. 4 the syphon
is shewn at L, I may however use any syphon or valve I wish and I make no claim
in this Patent to this syphon which has been the subject of a former Patent
No. 6360, 1892. The valve I shew at O is of peculiar construction but I do not
claim it under this Patent. I describe it however and the manner in which it is
actuated by my apparatus.
.1
The valve face rests upon a seat and the liquid pressure from K and A is
...beneath it, a spindle attached to valve face passes through the outer casing and is

page_text: attached to a lever above. This lever is formed of a hollow tube and in this
tube a metal ball travels, now when the valve is closed the position of the lever
causes the ball to travel to its extremity, exerting a greater leverage. When my
ball valve 2 in A closes and the increased pressure of K is exerted upon this valve, O,
face, the latter is forced up the ball travels back and the pressure of liquid passing
from the valve is sufficient to keep the latter open until gradually the lever
descends and the ball again travels to the extremity of the lever and the valve is
held closed. I may however use any valve I prefer here or a syphon O' as shewn
on Sheet No. 4 if I wish and I can readily employ a syphon where the lift required
is not greater than say about 15 feet, and I thus dispense with the movement of the
automatic spindle valve O on Sheets Nos. 1 and 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
Claim 1. The use of a head or column of liquid created intermittently in a pipe
by the discharge from a chamber or vessel or other contrivance, such head or
column of liquid acting upon a vessel and giving pressure thereto the air
contained in the vessel being carried to another where it shall exert its pressure
upon liquid therein contained and shall force this liquid upwards through a pipe
to a height or level governed by the height of the column or head first named.
Claim 2. The use of a head or column of liquid in a pressure or stand pipe in
combination with a vessel from which it is desired to expel the air contained therein
as described.
Claim 3. The use of the intermittent tank or chamber M in combination with a
pressure pipe K and air vessel A.
Claim 4. The use of the liquid receiver B shewn on Sheet No. 5 and described
in combination with the air vessel A to which pressure is given by stand pipe K.
Claim 5. The use of the liquid receiver B shewn on Sheet No. 3 and described
in combination with the air vessel A to which pressure is given by stand pipe K.
Claim 6. The use of the weeping hole or orifice at D shewn on Sheet 3 and
described in combination with a vessel from which air shall be forced by a head or
column of liquid.
Claim 7. The design and arrangement of the apparatus shewn on Sheet No. 4
and described.
Claim 8. The use of a ball or other valve closing an air outlet by liquid rising,
this liquid thus creating an additional "head" or pressure sufficient to operate
an outlet valve or syphon which before was inoperative for the purpose of allowing
the escape of liquid from a receptacle in combination with an outlet valve or syphon
thus operated.
Claim 9. The use of the valves 3 and 4 in combination with their receptacles for
regulating the air admitted to and its escape from their receptacles.
Claim 10. The general arrangement and design of the apparatus shewn and
illustrated in the accompanying sheets & herewith described or their equivalents
though differing in conformity, substantially the same and for the same purpose.