Year: 1897

page_text: I, ROBERT ARMSTRONG, of Thomson Place, Jerviston Road, Motherwell, Lanarkshire,
Colliery Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to pumping machinery suitable for mines, quarries, and the
like and also for other places where water or other liquid is required to be pumped or
lifted.
In this invention hydraulic pressure is used to effect the pumping.
In carrying out the invention I arrange at the top of the shaft or other place a
double hydraulic ram which is reciprocated by a suitable engine. This ram acts on
two hydraulic columns which act upon two pistons working in a suitable tubular
chamber. The action of the double ram and the water columns is such that when
the ram moves in one direction one of the pistons is forced upwards and the other is
drawn downwards and vice versa. A column of liquid supplied from an accumulator
is arranged so as to fill up the space at the back of the pistons. Fitted to the pistons
are piston rods which pass out through stuffing boxes in the tubular chamber afore-
said. Each piston rod is connected by links or equivalent with a vertical pump tube.
These pump tubes, at their upper ends, work in a tubular chamber or bend communi-
cating with the outlet for the pumped fluid. This chamber or bend is provided with
stuffing boxes to ensure the tight working of the pump tubes. The lower end of each
pump tube works up and down in a central passage or pipe formed in a tubular
chamber having the central passage aforesaid and two lateral passages which com
municate with the lower end of the central passage. Just above the point of commu-
nication between the lateral and the central passages is arranged a suitable clack or
other valve and also just below this point is arranged a second clack or other
valve. Secured to each pump tube is a double ram which works in the lateral
passages aforesaid. One of these tri-tubular chambers is arranged for each pump
tube.
In order to support the weight of the pump tubes an equilibrium hydraulic device
is provided consisting of a chamber with two passages therein in which work two
rams one being connected to one pump tube and the other to the other pump tube.
The chamber is supplied with fluid from the accumulator. According to the length
of the pump tubes one or more of these devices may be provided.
The water for the double hydraulic ram at the head of the shaft or other place can
be supplied from a tank through a non-return valve device.
The whole arrangement is such that when the engine is started the pistons are
caused to lift up one pump tube and depress the other and vice versa and this motion
of the pump tubes causes the rams in the tri-tubular chambers to reciprocate
alternately. At the upstroke of each double ram fluid is sucked through the lower
valve into the lateral passages and at the next down stroke is forced upwards through
the central passage and the upper valve into the pump tubes from whence it is
discharged through the outlet.
Stuffing boxes are provided to prevent leakage where the rams and pump tubes
work in the tri-tubular chambers.

page_text: According to the depth of the mine or other place one or more lifts may be pro-
vided. If more than one lift is provided then a set of tri-tubular chambers and pump
tubes is used for each lift.
If desired bi-tubular chambers or chambers with more than three passages can be
used. In these cases of course a corresponding number of rams is employed.
This invention has the advantages that no elaborate pumping machinery is
required; that pump rods are done away with; that the weight of each section or lift
of the pump tubes is supported thereby greatly reducing the amount of power
required to work the pump.
The machinery is very efficient and economical in its working.
I, ROBERT ARMSTRONG, of Thomson Place, Jerviston Road, Motherwell, Lanarkshire,
Colliery Manager, 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 pumping machinery suitable for mines, quarries and the 2
like and also for other places where water or other fluid is required to be pumped or
lifted.
The pumping is effected according to the hydraulic system i.e. the system wherein
hollow pump rods or tubes constitute the rising main.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto 2
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon,
Fig. 1 is a partly sectioned front elevation of the pumping apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a partly sectioned side elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on the line A-B.
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan on the line C-D.
Fig. 5 is a sectional plan on the line E-F.
Fig. 6 shows a construction of bell-crank driving gear.
Referring to the drawings whereon the same reference letters wherever repeated
indicate the same parts.
In carrying out the invention I arrange at the top of the shaft or other place a
double hydraulic ram a which is reciprocated by any suitable and well known form of
engine. This ram a acts on two hydraulic columns (in the pipes b, c,) which act upon
two rams d, e, working in the tubular chambers f, g. The action of the double rain a
and the water columns is such, that when the rain a moves in one direction one of the
rams dor e is forced downwards and the other is drawn upwards and vice versa. A 4
column of liquid, supplied by pipes h¹, h from an accumulator located in any suitable
position, is arranged so as to fill up the chambers f, g, and pipes b, c, and keep them
constantly filled. The rams d, e, pass out through stuffing boxes in the tubular
chambers aforesaid. The rams are provided with cross heads k which are connected
by lift rods i, j, or equivalent, with the cross heads 1 of the vertical pump tubes m, n.
These pump tubes m, n, at their upper ends, work in a tubular chamber or bend o
communicating with the outlet p for the pumped fluid. The chamber or bend o is
provided with stuffing boxes o¹ to ensure the tight working of the pump tubes m, n.
The lower end of each pump tube works up and down in a central passage q¹ formed
in a tubular chamber q having the central passage aforesaid and two lateral

page_text: passages q2, 93, which communicate with the lower end of the central passage. Just above
the point of communication between the lateral and the central passages is arranged a
suitable clack or other valver and also just below this point is arranged a second
clack or other valve p¹. Secured to the crosshead 8 of each pump tube are two
rams t, which work in the lateral passages q², q³, aforesaid. One of these tri-tubular
chambers q is, as shown, arranged for each pump tube.
In order to support the weight and balance the action of the pump tubes an
equilibrium hydraulic device is provided consisting of a chamber u with two
passages u¹, u², therein in which work two rams u, v, one ram v being connected to
the pump tube m and the other v¹ to the pump tube n. The chamber u is supplied
with fluid by means of a pipe leading from the accumulator.
There is, or may be, also fitted at the upper end of the pump a second chamber w
with passages w', w², in which work rams w³, w', connected to the tubes m, n. This
extra device is useful when bell crank driving gear is used to operate the pump.
The water for the double hydraulic ram apparatus at the head of the shaft, or other
place, can, if desired, be supplied from a tank through a non-return valve device of
any suitable and well known construction.
xare lengths of pump tube leading to the bottom of the shaft or other place where
the water is to be pumped. y are valve boxes. zare supporting rails or beams.
2 are stuffing boxes.
The whole arrangement is such that when the engine is started the rams d, e, are
caused to lift up one pump tube and depress the other and vice versa and this motion
of the pump tubes causes the rams t, t', in the tri-tubular chambers q to reciprocate
alternately. At the upstroke of each double ram t, t¹, fluid is sucked through the
lower valves p into the lateral passages q², 93, and at the next downstroke is forced
upwards through the upper valves and the central passages q₁ into the pump
tubes m, n, from whence it is discharged throught the outlet p.
The stuffing boxes prevent leakage at the parts where the rams and pump tubes
work in the tubular chambers.
According to the depth of the mine shaft or other place one or more lifts may be
provided. If more than one lift is provided then a set of tri-tubular chambers g and
pump tubes is used for each lift. In this case the pump tubes of each lift are
connected together by connecting rods so as to work in unison.
If desired bi-tubular chambers or chambers with more than three passages can be
used. In these cases of course a corresponding number of rams is employed.
The equilibrium device is a very important feature as the water in the chamber u
supports the rams v, v', and through them the pump tubes m, n, thereby taking the
dead weight off the pump rods i, j, and rendering the apparatus capable of being
easily operated. The water supplied to the chamber u from the accumulator is at a
suitable pressure.
The water circulates in the chamber u up and down the
passages u¹, u², as the pump tubes m, n, and the rams v, v¹, rise and fall.
Snifting valves are provided on the hydraulic chambers for blowing off air when
filling.
By having the second inverted chamber w at the top of the pump the tubes m, n,
and their parts are caused to mutually assist one another in their action and any
movement or pressure brought to bear on the one side is communicated by the
current of water in the chamber to the other side.
Fig. 6 shows the pump tubes as being operated by bell cranks I, J, and connecting
rods K L, attached to the crossheads k. Both cranks are operated by a single
connecting rod N.
The pump tubes may be operated in any suitable and well known manner and the
motive force may be either hydraulic pressure, steam, compressed air, electricity, etc.
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
consider novel and desire to claim is:
1. Pumping machinery working on the hydraulic principle having, in combination,

page_text: reciprocating pump tubes, means for operating the tubes, and an equilibrium device
arranged in conjunction with the tubes, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. Pumping machinery working on the hydraulic principle having, in combination,
reciprocating pump tubes, means for operating the tubes, chambers (9), and rams (t)
connected with the tubes and working in the chambers, substantially as herein before
described with reference to the drawings annexed.
3. The general arrangement and combination of parts of the double acting pump-
ing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the drawings
annexed.