Improvements in Explosive-gas Actuated Pumps.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 17th June, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THEOPHILE BACKELJAC, of Gand, in the
Kingdom of Belgium, Engineer.]
Improvements in Explosive-gas Actuated Pumps.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 a pump which has no intermediate part between the
element producing the action and the liquid to be set in motion.
The gas and air are brought in suitable proportions in direct contact with this
liquid and the detonations of the explosive mixture cause expulsions followed by
successive suctions.
Any kind of gas may be used providing that it fulfils the condition of forming a
detonating mixture with atmospheric air.
The improved pump comprises a mixer M formed of a tube m provided with a
great number of holes closed to a greater or smaller extent as may be desired by a
small tube m' which enters the said tube m; the gae passes into the mixer carrying
away the quantity of air necessary for the formation of a detonating mixture.
At R the gas is caused to pass into the pipes T and t.
The mixture of gas and air which passes through the pipe T enters a cylindrical
chamber C through the space left open by the valve S, this space being calculated
for a definite delivery of the pump. In the said chamber the detonating mixture
explodes as soon as it comes in contact with the incandescent igniting device A
connected with the pipe t. The details of this igniting device will hereinafter be
fully described.
At its lower part the cylindrical chamber C terminates in a valve box B having
in its bottom fan orifice T¹ joined to the suction pipe. The valves S' of this box
open outwards.
The cylinder C is surrounded by a cylinder C2 from which extends the delivery
pipe T provided with a retaining valve S2 opening outwards.
This system is surrounded by a cylindrical air chamber C¹.
By Pare designated the feet made in one piece with the cylindrical chamber C¹
and with the bottom of the aforesaid valve box. Between the latter and its
bottom is formed a tight joint at j by indiarubber cords or other suitable means.
The pump operates in the following manner :
With the aid of a small rotary pump or a fan delivering a continuous jet the
detonating mixture is introduced through the four-way cock R and pipe t into
the igniting device A and as it leaves the igniting device is ignited through the
aperture D the door of which has been opened.
This door is then closed again and the igniting device is allowed to become
incandescent, which does not take long. After this the explosive mixture is caused
to pass through the pipe T and the valve S into the cylinder C by operating the
valve R.
A detonation takes place and the gases resulting therefrom escape through the
valve S with the air contained in this cylinder.
The remaining volume of gas is suddenly contracted and produces a vacuum
behind it which sucks into the cylinder C a certain quantity of water through the
suction pipe.
A fresh quantity of detonating mixture which by the same suction has been
introduced into this cylinder explodes and forces the water into the cylinder C,
confining at the upper part of the latter a volume of air.

page_text: A new suction of water takes place and also another admission of detonating
mixture.
The explosion takes place again and delivers the water through the force
pipe T².
From this moment the delivery continues automatically with the successive
explosions and the pump operates until the admission of the gas is stopped.
The cylinder CT which constitutes an air chamber and the cylinder C² are
concentric with the cylinder C in order that the water which the pump delivers
may constantly cool the sides of the latter cylinder and prevent the temperature of
its sides being raised too high.
The igniting device A is represented to an enlarged scale in Figure 2. The
extremity E of the pipe t has the form shown in the drawing, and is interiorly
screw-threaded for receiving a small platinum tube a and exteriorly screw-threaded
for receiving an iron tube b provided with two apertures c. This latter tube is
closed at its lower part by the aid of a screw which supports a small cup d of
platinum. The whole is enclosed in a third tube e which is likewise screwed upon
the extremity E and possesses four apertures g; the tube e is partly closed below.
This has for its object to secure the igniting device and to prevent the fall and loss
of the tube a and platinum cup d.
As the lighted gas passes through the platinum tube it acts upon the platinum
cup and heats to incandescence the small tube by which the ignition is effected.
The employment of an igniting device constituted in this manner enables all the
mechanical parts of the distributing appliance which are met with in the apparatus
heretofore employed to be dispensed with, this igniting device being constantly in
an incandescent state in the interior of the cylinder C in which the explosions take
place.
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:
First. A pump in which the delivery and suction take place by successive
expansions and contractions of a mixture of detonating gas in immediate contact
with the liquid, the said pump comprising a cylinder Cin which the explosions
takes place, this cylinder terminating in a valve box B and being surrounded by a
cooling cylinder terminating in the delivery pipe T, the whole being surrounded
by a cylinder C¹ forming an air-chamber, substantially as herein described with
reference to the drawing.
Second. In a pump characterized in the first claim an igniting device comprising
a small platinum tube a designed to receive the combustible mixture and terminating
opposite to a platinum cup i, with the object of heating the small tube to incan-
descence, the tube and the small cup being enclosed in one or two concentric metal
tubes, substantially as herein described with reference to the drawing.
Dated this 10th day of March 1893
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant,