IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING AND REGULATING THE LEVEL AND FLOW OF LIQUIDS, PART OF та ADBLICART.P FOR PROPELLING VESSELS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Dunn, of the City of Manchester, Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR
ELEVATING AND REGULATING THE LEVEL AND FLOW OF LIQUIDS, PART OF
та ADBLICART.P FOR PROPELLING VESSELS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. left by the said Thomas Dunn at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
August 1859.
I, THOMAS DUNN, of the City of Manchester, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND
APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING AND REGULATING THE LEVEL AND FLOW OF LIQUIDS
PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE FOR PROPELLING VESSELS," to be as follows:-
My improvements in machinery and apparatus for elevating fluids, consist
in certain improved modes of constructing endless chain pumps. A chain of
balls or cylinders, made of wood or other material, is put in motion either in a
vertical or diagonal position, one side of the chain works within the pipe
through which the fluid is raised, while the other side descends free, the
descending part of the chain assisting the ascending fluid, and the other part
Грай. 921

page_text: of the chain. These endless chains are also applicable to propelling vessels,
and they may be applied to the stern or along the keel, or any part of the
length of the vessel. When applied along the keel, the vessel in shallow
water or on banks, may be rolled forward on the cylinders of the propellers.
Another part of my improvements in machinery or apparatus for elevating
fluids, consists in making the pump barrel to move to and fro on the feed and
discharge pipes, which are furnished with valves; by this means a double-
acting pump is obtained with a single pump barrel.
My improvements in machinery and apparatus for regulating the level and
flow of liquids, are as follows:-When water or other fluid has been elevated
into a cistern by means of the improved machinery above described, or other-
wise, the fluid is kept to the same level by a float connected to a valve, either
in the bottom or near the top of the cistern. This last part of my Invention
is also applicable to let off water from steam pipes. In this case the valve is
placed in the off pipe, and the float is contained in a vessel in which the
water accumulates, consequently when there is enough water to lift the
float a part runs off to allow the valve to close.
The level and flow of fluids can also be regulated by a graduated
weighted lever connected to a valve; when the pressure of the fluid is
sufficiently great to raise the valve the fluid will flow through the valve
until the pressure is reduced to the point fixed upon.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Dunn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th February 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
DUNN, of the City of Manchester, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Dunn, Her special licence, that I, the said Thomas Dunn, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Dunn, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,

page_text: exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING AND REGULATING THE LEVEL AND
FLOW OF LIQUIDS. PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE FOR PROPELLING VESSELS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Dunn, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing uuder my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said: Thomas Dunn, do hereby declare
the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
.
My improvements in machinery and apparatus for elevating fluids, consist
in certain improved modes of constructing endless chain pumps. A chain of
balls or cylinders, made of wood or other material, is put in motion, either in a
vertical or diagonal position, one side of the chain works within the pipe
or tube through which the fluid is raised, while the other side descends free.
These endless chains are also applicable to propelling vessels, and they may
be applied to the stern or along the keel, or any part of the length of the
vessel. When applied along the keel, the vessel in shallow water or on
banks, may be rolled forward on the cylinders of the propellers, or on rollers
independent of the propellers.
My improvements in machinery and apparatus for regulating the level and
flow of liquids, are as follows:-When water or other fluid has been elevated
into a cistern by means of the improved machinery above described or other-
wise, the fluid is kept to the same level by a float fitting loose on the spindle
of a valve. This last part of iny Invention is also applicable to let off water
from steam pipes. In this case the valve is placed in the off pipe, and the
float is contained in a vessel in which the water accumulates, consequently
when there is enough water to lift the float the valve is opened to allow the
water to run off...
..
The level and flow of fluids can also be regulated by a graduated weighted
lever connected to a valve. When the pressure of the fluid is sufficiently
great to raise the valve; the fluid will flow through the valve until the pressure
is reduced to the point fixed upon.

page_text: Another part of my improvements in machinery or apparatus for elevating
Huids, consists in making the pump barrel to move to and fro on the feed aud
discharge pipes, which are furnished with feed and delivering valves. By this
means a double-acting pump is obtained with a single pump barrel.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the two accompanying Sheets of
Drawings, reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
On Sheet 1, Fig. 1, is an elevation, partly in section, of my improvements
in the construction of endless chain pumps. a, a, are the links of an endless
chain, to which are fixed the balls or cylinders a. The endless chain passes
around the drums band b', the former of which is turned round by steam or
other power applied by a strap to the pulley c, on the shaft c¹, to which is
fixed the pinion c², gearing into the wheel 62 on the axle of the drum b, or
in any other convenient manner; or the drum may be turned by manual
labour. is a pipe or tube within which one side of the endless chain works;
this pipe or tube is rather larger than the balls or cylinders a', and the lower
end is open to admit the water to be raised, while the upper end is furnished
with a cistern or trough e, to which is jointed the discharge pipe e'. When this
machinery is at work the chain moves in the direction of the arrow, and the
balls or cylinders on the ascending side of the chain raise the water into the
cisterne, from whence it flows through the pipee', the descending part of thechain
assisting by its gravity the ascending water, and the other part of the chain,
as in endless chain pumps of the usual construction. The endless chain may
work in a vertical instead of a diagonal position, if preferred, as shewn in
Fig. 1ª, in which similar letters of reference are placed upon corresponding
parts. In this view the balls a¹ are strung upon a common link chain or
cord, and a washer of vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable material is
placed between the balls; the drum is turned round by hand or otherwise,
and in so doing the fluid in the cistern 6" is raised through the piped into the
chamber e, from whence it is discharged through the pipe e'. This pump is
particularly applicable for raising liquid manure, or for agricultural or other
purposes where valves are objectionable. Fig. 2, is an elevation of a vessel
to which my improved endless chain propeller is applied. The propeller
consists of an endless chain made of the links a, to which the balls or
cylinders a are connected; the propeller is carried over the two drums b
and ', the former of which is turned round by an oscillating steam engine,
partly shewn in dotted lines at 62, or by any other suitable description of steam
engine. In front of the vessel is placed the rollerf, the object of which is to

page_text: protect the propeller, and for the vessel to be rolled forward upon in
shallow water or on bauks. I wish to observe here, that the propeller may
be placed in the centre of the vessel along the keel or on each side thereof,
and the length of the propeller can be increased or diminished if desirable.
Fig. 3, is an elevation of another vessel to which my improved endless
chain propeller is applied. In this instance the propeller is placed at the
stern of the vessel, and projects rather more beyond the rudder than the
one shewn in Fig. 2. The rollers f¹ are also placed nearer the keel than the
one marked in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of part of my improved machinery or appa-
ratus for regulating the flow of liquids. g is a pipe which is to be placed in a
cistern containing water or other liquid, as shewn in Fig. 5, or in any other
vessel containing liquid, the level of which is to be regulated. The pipe g is
furnished below with a valve h, to which is attached the spindle ¹, passing
above through a stuffing box or guide. The float fits freely on the spindle h',
which has two keys h2 and 3 passing through it; to the top of the spindle /¹
is fixed the pointer 4, and to the lid of the pipe y is fixed the graduated
scale g', the spindle /' is counterbalanced by the weight, fixed to the lever;',
the extremity of which fits in a groove in the spindle h¹. The mode of opera-
tion is as follows:-When the level of the water exceeds the required limit,
the ball or float is raised (by the water entering through holes in the
lower part of the pipe g) and coming against the key h², lifts the spindle /',
and with it the valve h, thereby allowing a portion of the water to flow off
until the level is lowered sufficiently to allow the valve to close. This
apparatus inay also be used to let off water from steam pipes. When used
for this purpose the holes g² must be closed, and the branch pipe g³, shewn
in dotted lines, must be attached to the pipe g, for connecting it to the end
of the steam pipes.
Fig. 5 is a section of a cistern to which two other modifications of my
improved apparatus for regulating the level and flow of fluids are applied. kis
a valve, the spindle of which is weighted by the lever . This valve fits on a
suitable seating in the pipe m, attached to the lower part of the cistern m³.
The valve is weighted according to the column of water or other fluid in the
cistern. When the pressure of the fluid is sufficiently great to raise the
valve k, the fluid will flow off through the valve until the pressure is reduced
to that due to the level required. The flap valve n at the right-hand side of
the cistern is weighted by the ball n', which is adjustable on the bar n², and
this valve acts in the saine mauner as the valve kc, above described.

page_text: On Sheet 2, Fig. 6, is an elevation of another part of my improvements in
o is the pump
machinery for elevating fluids. Fig. 7 is a plan of the same.
barrel, which is moved to and fro on the stationary pipes p and q. 'The feed
valve p' and receive the water or other fluid to be pumped through the
suction pipe, and the discharge valves 2 and 22 deliver the fluid through
the branch piper. When the pump barrel o is moving in the direction of the
arrow, the feed valve opens to admit the fluid, while the discharge
valve p is forced open to deliver it, and when the pump barrel moves in the
opposite direction the action of the valves is reversed, that is to say, the fluid
enters at p³, and is discharged at q². The requisite to-and-fro motion may be
given to the barrel o by any suitable machinery, or direct by the steam engine
shewn at t, the piston rod of which is attached to the centre partition of the
pump barrel o, which is furnished with trunnions for the side rods t¹, which
are connected to the crauks t2, fixed to the crank shaft t3. This shaft has
a fly wheel and excentric to work the slide valve of the steam engine; as
clearly shewn in the Drawing. By means of these improvements a very
simple double-acting pump is obtained.
. Fig. 8 is an elevation in section of a modification of my improved double-
acting pump.
In this view the pump barrel o is moved to and fro by the
piston rod o¹ in a similar manner to that shewn in Fig. 6, or by any suitable
reciprocating motion. The feed and discharge valves are similar to those
shewn in Fig. 6, and are marked with corresponding letters of reference.
The fluid is delivered through the pipe v.
Fig. 9 is another modification of my improved pump. In this arrauge-
ment the pump barrel o may be placed in a vertical or diagonal position
instead of horizontally, as shewn in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. The valve w is placed
in the partition of the pump barrel; when the pump barrel is rising, the fluid
enters through the feed valve w¹, and in descending the fluid passes through
the valve w, and at the next upward stroke of the pump barrel the fluid above
the valve w is forced through the discharge valve w² into the off pipe.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the means
of performing the same, I declare that I claim,—
First, the improved construction of endless-chain pumps, shewn and
described in reference to Figs. 1 and 1".
Secondly, the improved endless chain propellers, shewn and described in
reference to Figs. 2 and 3.
Thirdly, the application of rollers to vessels, as shewn and described in
reference to. Figs. 2 and 3, for supporting the vessels in shallow water.

page_text: Fourthly, the improved combination of parts, shewn in Fig. 4, for regula-
ting the level and flow of liquids.
Fifthly, the improved combinations of parts, shewn in Fig. 5, for regulating
the level and flow of liquids.
Sixthly, the improved double-acting pumps, shewn and described in
reference to Figures 6, 7, and 8.
And lastly, the improved pump, as shewn and described in reference to
Fig. 9.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Dunn, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
THOMAS DUNN. (L.s.)