A NEW OR AN IMPROVED HYDRO-PIRO-PNEUMATIC PUMP
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon and
Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 13, Rue Gaillon, Paris, for the Invention of "A NEW OR AN
IMPROVED HYDRO-PIRO-PNEUMATIC PUMP" A communication fiom abroad by
Jacques Viglino, Engineer, and Jacques Donna, Solicitor, of 15, Place du Statut,
Turin, Italy.
Sealed the 23rd February 1877, and dated the 1st September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st September 1876.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris. "A NEW OR AN IMPROVED HYDRO-PIRO-PNEUMATIC PUMP."
The object of the said Invention of a hydro-piro-pneumatic pump to produce a
new discription of pump for raising water or other liquids economically and rapidly,
both as regards the cost of the apparatus and its industrial results, whilst at the
same time it is easily driven or manipulated. Its action is dependent essentially
on the consumption of gas mixed in such proportions with air so as to produce an
explosive mixture as an economical and certain means of producing a vacuum in
an appropriate vessel, and on the utilisation of such vacuum to raise water to
different heights, and in discharging subsequently the same for different industrial
purposes.
The accompanying Drawing shows different constructions of such a pump in the
shape of dimonstrative diagrams, for as they are of such a nature as to serve for
many different purposes, and to be applied conjointly with other mechanical
appliances to obtain different results, the precise dimensions thereof cannot be given
any more than one single arrangement adapted to all cases.
Figure 1 represents a pump in its simple application.
Figure 2, an arrangement for utilising as a motive power the fall of water raised
by the pump; and Figure 3, a double pump conjointly with a turbine worked by
the suction of the water which the pumps raise very rapidly, and with an uniform
motion
I will now enumerate the principal parts of the pump, and explain its mode of

page_text: working, in order to demonstrate its simplicity, practical utility, and advantages
over other known means of raising large bodies of water.
In Figure 1A is a large suction pipe with its lower extremity immersed in the
water to be raised, B, the discharge pipe conducting the water raised in the dis-
charge canal when the valve D is open by the pressure of the water raised, C, C, are
suction valves which open upwards when a vacuum is formed above them, whilst
at the same time the valve D remains closed; E, E, are the safety valves serving
as an exit for the gases exceeding the capacerty of the body of the pump at the
moment of the explosion; G is a vertical bolt serving to unite the component parts
of the pump, as well as a guide for a float H, which opens and closes the inlet of
the air and of the gaz which constitute the explosive compound produce the
vacuum, and consequently raise the water, L is a rod which is raised and lowered
by the float, and which is provided with collars i, i, that limit the rise and fall of
the float, or which by the aid of the float raise and lower the rod L at its upper
end b. This rod is constructed in such a manner that its to-and-fro motion turns
to the right and then to the left the valves & mounted on the shaft c, which let in
the air and the gas. These valves open when the water flows out of the pump,
and close at the moment of the explosion during the formation of the vacuum, and
the elevation of the water produced by vacuum. N is the gas pipe which conducts
the gas to the very small openings e, in order to produce as homogenous a mixture
with the air as possible, the introduction of the latter being due to the overflow of
the water through the valve D; ƒ is an orifice through which the gas feeds the
ignition cock. h.
When the water in the pump has flowered out through the valve D, and the float
has fallen to the position shewn at Figure 1, the valves D and dare closed, and a small
stream of the explosive mixture within the pump flows out through the orifice n,
where it meets the burner h, whereby the explosion is produced within the pump,
the expansion and the decompositon of the air, the vacuum, and consequently the
suction of the pump, take place nearly simultaneously. The valves E, E, open
more or less by the effect of the pressure, and then close; then the float is raised by
the induction water, and opens the inlets of the air of the gas to enable the water
raised by the vacuum to flow out at the valve D, and draw in the mixture for the
following explosion, and so on.
All these operations take place rapidly and automatically, and when once in
motion this kind of pump requires very little attention or assistance.
The quantity of water raised is proportionate with the dimensions of the pump,
and as the vacuum formed is nearly perfect, it is advantageous to raise the water to
eight or nine meters, in order to utilise its fall in many cases as a motive power.
In this matter may be driven water wheels or turbines, see Figure 2, whilst if the
water is raised to a lesser height its aspiration or elevation may be made available
to work a turbine, see Figure 3.
The upper part of the pump is represented terminated in the shape of the
chimney of a steam engine; such adjunction or form is in no ways a necessary
suplement to the machine, and may therefor if requisite be modified or sup-
pressed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
February 1877.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 13, Rue Gaillon,
Paris. "A NEW OR AN IMPROVED HYDRO-PIRO-PNEUMATIC PUMP." A. communication
from abroad by Jacques Viglino, Engineer, and Jacques Donna, Solicitor, of 15,
Place du Statut, Turin, Italy.

page_text: properly arranged.
Several of the letters of referenco, which exist in the Drawing attached to the
Provisional Protection, have been maintained in the present Drawing to represent
analogous parts answering for the same purposes; these letters are only mentioned
in this Specification where it may be necessary to render the text, more clear.
Fresh letters are employed to indicate fresh or modified parts, although the previous
letters are used to represent parts substituted to those indicated in the Provisional
Drawing without nevertheless making any change in the principles of the Invention.
Thus E, Figures 1 and 4, represent a piston destined to extract from the body of
the pump A the azote and gaseous residues after each explosion. 1, Figure 4, is an
adhering ring between the piston and cylinder, and as there is a certain play in
the groove that it is placed in it can recede froin or approach to the basis of the
piston, according to whether the piston descends or rises; A, Figure 4, is another
ring or adhering hoop, producing a close joint between the piston and the cylinder;
, of the same Figure, is a valve of indian-rubber or other appropriate material,
giving issue to the azote and other gaseous residues of the explosion when the
piston descends, and it prevents the same from returning below when a vacuuin
commences, in consequence of the water descending in the pump barrel; g, g,
Figure 1, is a cushion of indian-rubber or other appropriate material against
which the piston E is arrested on its ascent; e¹, ell, are valves through which the
azote and gaseous residue expelled by the said piston pass; ?, ?, are screws serving
to limit the motions of the said valves e¹, ell; p is a small slide through which the
atmospheric air passes above the piston E directly it has arrived at the bottom of
its stroke, nud that the float has opened this slide; q is the packing which arrests
the descent of the piston; D" is the main distributing slide by means of which
the explosive mixture is produced, and its introduction and explosion within the
cylinder are effected; m, the orifice giving admission to the atmospheric air of the
mixture; e, the orifices admitting the gas, shown more clearly in Figure 3; o, the
orifice through which the mixture absorbed by the pump passes; N, a gas pipe
which charges the canal n for firing the mixture; f, orifice through which the
igniting flame of the said mixture enters the pump; h, igniting gas burner; d,
pressure screw to compensate wear and to maintain the moveable part of the
piston D'in constant adherence with the fixed plate of the guide; d, balance
weight or lever to equilibrate the slide, and render its motion more sensitive; du,
rod which works the slides D¹ and p; c, main shaft which by means of its rocking
motion imparts a to-and-fro motion to the rod d by means of the arms c¹, as it is
more clearly shown at Figure 2; D, D, valves for discharging the water or other
liquid from the pump; B², reservoir for receiving the water or other liquid raised;
and for keeping the valves D, D, constantly covered with water; B, canal or pipe
through which the water passes away from the reservoir; A³, suction pipe in which
the water is raised through the valves C, C.

page_text: Specification, this pump utilises the expansion of the gases to the highest degree, as
well by the elevation of the piston E as by exerting pressure on the water of the
pump; when the vacuum having ceased by the effect of gravity it leaves the
apparatus, and is consequently already in motion.
When in consequence of the vacuum the water is suddenly raised in the pump A
to the level of the float H, this latter, acting against the ring i, 1aises the bar L,
turns the shaft c, and consequently lowers the slides D¹ and p to the position indi-
cated in Figure 1 In this position the action of the vacuum having ceased com-
pletely, on account of the arrival of the mixture above the piston and of the
air below the water, commences to discharges through the valves D, D, the air
and the gas arrising through the orifices m, e, mingle in the slide D, strike
against the diaphragms of the passage of the slide itself, are absorbed through the
orifice o, and making irruption through the water place themselves intimately
mixed between the piston and the descending water. But directly the level of
the water arrives at X, Figure 1, the float pressing on the ring i forces the
rod L to descend, at the same time the shaft c being reversed the arm c¹, Figure 2,
raises the rod d, which acts on the slide D¹ and p. The slide p closes the passage
which admitted air above the piston E, whilst the slide D brings the orifice f in
exact coincidence with the orifice o The orifice of the little chamber or passage n
in the slide, where there exists a current of gas lighted by the burner h, ignites the
explosive matter inside the pump through the orifice o. The ignition, which takes
place instantaneously, acts on the water as it is descending, and the explosion
compels it to be discharged more rapidly through the valves D, D, whilst the
piston E being driven against the packing g, g, forces out the air, azote, and gascous
residues above the piston through the valves c¹, ell, thus since the expansion of the
gasses meet no longer with any resistance or opposition, and can obtain their maxi-
mum effect possible, consequently a vacuum is obtained which corresponds with this
maximum expansion of the products of the explosion This constitutes one of the
features of the great useful effect of the pump. The condensation of the aqueous
essential vapours, due to the explosion with the cooling of the azote, takes place at
this moment, and it gives rise to a nearly perfect vacuum, which raises the water
through the pipe A¹ and through the valves C, C, and brings it to the level of the
float H, whilst the piston E descends by its own weight to the position indicated
in the Drawing. At this moment the ring by its adherence to the sides of the
cylinder remains stationary for an instant in the groove of the guide, and allows
the rarefied azote and the residues of the explosion to escape above the piston E,
from whence they cannot return, being intercepted by the valves " and the ring l¹,
and are on the contrary driven out by the next ascension of the piston. The rapid
repetition of these operations produces the automatic action of the pump, which
action continues until the cock his closed.
The above-described pump can be used with success, as already stated, for
draining lakes, ponds, and marshes, for raising irrigating waters, as well as for a
motive power applicable for manufacturing purposes, navigation, and locomotion,
but the form and dimensions of this apparatus, as well as its detached parts, may
naturally vary according to the different applications made, the localities, and the
nature of the work to be performed; thus, for instance, the reservoir B may be of
a different form, as well as its dimensions and the materials of which it is built,
its use being to receive the water raised by the pump, and to keep the valves D, D,
constantly underwater.
The valves D, D, as well as those C, C, may be arranged horizontally or vertically; ;
they may be made of caoutchouc, leather, metal, or other appropriate material; they
may also be spherical, conical, and raising entirely from their seat.
The piston E may have a longer or a shorter stroke, either for the purpose of
augmenting the height of the vacuum or for diminishing, as far as possible, the
useless space existing between the piston and the float H, as represented at 5
Figure 1.
The valves D' and p may also be driven by the shaft c arranged either above, as

page_text: in the Figure 1, or below; and at the same time these slides and their accessory
parts may be varied according to the power of the pump, and several such may be
applied to a single pump.
The reservoir P, for the purpose of cooling the cylinder in which the piston E
works, may be replaced by a stream of water produced by a small pump worked
by the piston rod of E or by motive power created by the fall of the water raised
by the pump.
After having thus explained the nature of the Invention, and the best means I
am acquainted with for carrying it into practical operation, I claim, the utilisation
of the explosion and expansion of hydrogen gas, whether applicable for lighting
purposes or not, proportionally and homogeneously mixed in a closed vessel with
atmospheric air (as well as any other gas or explosive mixture) to produce a
vacuum in the vessel itself, and the utilization of the consequent instantaneous
action to the raising of water or other liquids to definite levels, according to
circunstances and the requirements of those who apply the system, in order to
consequently discharge this raised water in canals or on soile to be irregated, or for
otherwise making use of its fall as a motive power, acting therefore, as the case may
be, sometimes as a simple suction pump, and at the same time as a motive power, and
at other times merely as a motive power, but always automatically without
opposing resistance to the free expansion of the gasses in their explosion, and pro-
ducing very considerable power with a comparatively very small expenditure or
expense, either as regards first cost of this machinery or that of its working, for the
purposes and in the manner above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN. (LS.)