IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS FOR SHIPS AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING THE SAME
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Black Fraser, of Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
D
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Black Fraser
.at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th November 1875.'
I, ALEXANDER BLACK FRASER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS FOR SHIPS AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS
FOR WORKING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object the construction of pumps for ships
and other purposes, so that the parts of the pump being the valves,
suction pipe, and plungers or buckets can be readily got at for sounding
and cleaning when necessary, and are not liable to choke.

page_text: A pump constructed according to my Invention consists of two
working barrels, chambers, or cylinders arranged in a casting or chamber
with a suction box or chamber on one side, and a valve and discharge
box on the other side. The bottom of the casting consists of a vacuum
chamber and foot box, which communicates with the suction pipe and
also with the foot valve of the valve box. The valve box communicates
with the bottom of the barrels, chambers, or cylinders forming the
pumps, one of which has a solid ram or plunger, and the other a bucket.
The valve box is provided with a discharge or delivery valve, which may
be placed near the top of the box or chamber. The suction box or
chamber is provided with a removeable cover, the suction pipe or
branch leading from the ship's hold or otherwise coming up through the
suction chamber to a point near the top thereof. Between the suction
pipe and the sides of the suction chamber there is fitted a guard or grid
to gather or obstruct any dirt or foreign matter that may be brought up
through the suction pipe, and to prevent such foreign. matter from
chokeing the foot and delivery valves and pump bucket. This dirt or
foreign matter can be easily removed by raising the cover of the vacuum
or suction chamber. Passing through the suction chamber, and opening
into the suction pipe, there is a pipe leading to the bilge or otherwise,
which delivers through the main suction pipe and chamber. The main
suction pipe and bilge suction pipe are provided with screw plugs, so
that either may be shut or used. The top of the pump is formed with
a suitable guard or pan having a discharge orifice at one side.
Each pump can easily be made into double-action pumps by making
the ordinary double set of valves and passages.
The pump barrels, which are open, top and bottom, are respectively
provided with a solid plunger and a bucket fitted with suitable packing,
and worked by two spears. The spears are connected to a lever which
is carried on and has its fulcrum on a suitable bracket. This lever is
worked by a rolling motion, namely, a lever connected to the pump
lever by means of a link or rod, and provided with a roller or rollers
which is worked by a cam or eccentric operated by a shaft in connection
with a fly wheel.
In the case of double pumps the pump lever is carried on and has its
fulcrum on a bracket between the pumps, each end of the lever working
the respective spears of the pumps. The pump lever is worked by a
double rolling motion, namely, two levers connected to the respective

page_text: ends of the pump lever by links or rods, and actuated by rollers and
cams, as before described.
In some instances the rolling gear can be dispensed with, and the
pump lever and the spears can be worked by a crank or cranks and a
suitable shaft, or by an ordinary hand lever or a
66 wee-gee."
The main advantages of a pump constructed according to my Inven-
tion are, great simplicity of arrangement, so that all the working parts
can be got at. The pump is a double-acting ram and lift pump, and
delivers a continuous stream of water, and does not choke and lose its
priming; it can be sounded and cleaned out without removing the
boxes; it can be used as a bilge and main pump or otherwise, as required.
It can be worked by a lever, crank, or improved rolling motion, the
latter effecting a great saving of power and time, enabling one pump to
be thrown in or out of gear without interfering with or stopping the
working of the other.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Black Fraser in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th May 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
BLACK FRASER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in
the thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Black Fraser,
Her special licence, that I, the said Alexander Black Fraser, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alexander Black Fraser, 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, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention . for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PUMPS FOR SHIPS AND OTHER PURPOSES,.

page_text: AND IN APPARATUS FOR WORKING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Alexander Black Fraser, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under 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 Alexander Black Fraser, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My Invention has for its object the construction of pumps for ships
and other purposes, so that the parts of the pump being the valves,
suction pipe, and plungers or buckets can be readily got at for sounding
and cleaning when necessary, and are not liable to choke.
A pump constructed according to my Invention may consist of two
working barrels, chambers, or cylinders arranged in a casting or
chamber, with a suction box or chamber on one side and a valve and
discharge box on the other side. The bottom of the casting consists of
a vacuum chamber and foot box, which communicates with the suction
pipe and also with the foot valve of the valve box. The valve box
communicates with the bottom of the barrels, chambers, or cylinders
forming the pumps, one of which has a solid ram or plunger, and the
other a bucket. The valve box is provided with a discharge or delivery
valve, which may be placed near the top of the box or chamber. The
suction box, or chamber is provided with a removeable cover, the suction
pipe or branch leading from the ship's hold or otherwise coming up
through the suction chamber to a point near the top thereof. Between
the suction pipe and the sides of the suction chamber there is fitted a
guard or grid to gather or obstruct any dirt or foreign matter that may
be brought up through the suction pipe, and to prevent such foreign
matter from choking the foot and delivery valves and pump bucket.
This dirt or foreign matter can be easily removed by raising the cover of
the vacuum or suction chamber. The suction chamber is also fitted
with a pipe leading to the bilge. The main and bilge suction pipes are
respectively provided with screw plugs, so that either may be shut or

page_text: used. The top of the pump is formed with a suitable guard or pan
having a discharge orifice at one side.
The pump barrels, which are open, top and bottom, are respectively
provided with a solid plunger and a bucket fitted with suitable packing
and worked by two spears. The spears are connected to a lever which
is carried on and has its fulcrum on a suitable bracket. This lever is
worked by a crank or a rolling motion, namely, a lever connected to the
pump lever by means of a link or rod, and provided with a roller or
rollers which is worked by a cam or eccentric operated by a shaft in
connection with á fly wheel.
Each pump barrel can easily be made into a double-action pump by
providing a double set of valves and passages. In such case both working
barrels are provided with solid plungers, and the pump rods work
through stuffing boxes or lifting covers.
A modified arrangement of a pump constructed according to my.
Invention consists in using one working barrel or chamber. In this
case I place such working barrel between the suction chamber and the
discharge chamber, and I provide such barrel with a solid plunger or
ram provided with a spear or pump rod working through a suitable
stuffing box or lifting cover. Below the barrel I form a chamber which
is fitted with a valve opening from the suction chamber of the pump,
and which is also fitted with a valve opening into the discharge
chamber of the pump. Above the working barrel I also provide a
chamber, which is fitted with a suction valve opening out of and
immediately over the suction chamber of the pump. The chamber is
also provided with a discharge valve opening into the pan of the pump.
When a lifting cover is used for the pump barrel this latter valve may
be dispensed with. The suction pipe leads into and is carried up into.
the suction chamber, and is fitted with a grid or guard to prevent dirt or.
foreign matter getting into and choking the lower valves.
This modification results in a double-action pump, the downward
stroke of the solid plunger discharging through the one or lower set
of valves, and the upward stroke of the solid plunger discharging through
the second or upper set of valves or the lifting cover.
The before-going being the nature, object, and purposes of this my
Invention, I will now proceed to describe how the same may be carried

page_text: out into practical effect, and and for that purpose I have hereunto attached
two Sheets of Drawings marked with letters and figures of reference
corresponding with those in the following explanation, like letters and
figures being used to denote similar parts throughout the various views.
. Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a sectional elevation of a pump constructed
according to my Invention, showing the working barrels.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation through the suction chamber and

page_text: 5
Each working barrel can be converted into a double-action pump. by
using solid plungers in both barrels, and fitting a double set of valves to
each barrel, as herein-after described in reference to Figures 5, 6, and 7.
The pump spears work through stuffing boxes or lifting covers.
•
Upon reference to Figures 5, 6, and 7, Sheet 1, it will be seen that
my Invention can be modified by dispensing with the working barrel B,
and placing the barrel A between the suction chamber C and the
discharge chamber D. Below the working barrel A. I form a chamber
D', which is fitted with the suction valve G and the discharge valve H.
Above the working barrel A I form a chamber D³, which is fitted with
a suction valve G' and a discharge valve H³. The pump spear M works
through a suitable stuffing box X, or a lifting cover, as shown at
Figure 8. Above the grid or guard K I form a hand hole L' for
removing dirt or other foreign matter. This modification results in a
3 double-action pump, the downward stroke of the plunger 6 discharging
through the valve H and sucking through the valve G¹, and the upward
stroke of the plunger 6 sucking through the valve G, and discharging
through the valve H¹.
Upon reference to Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12, Sheet 2, it will be seen
that Figure 9 represents a double crank for working a double set of
pumps, the rods m working the solid plungers or rams 6 of the respective
pumps, and the rods m' working the buckets d of the respective pumps.
Figure 10 is a modified arrangement of crank; Figure 11 is an arrange-
ment of lever for working the pump, as shown at Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4,
by a rolling motion, as shown at Figure 12. The rolling motion shown
at Figure 12 consists of a pump rod m jointed to the end of a lever p,
which has its fulcrum on a standard s. y is a cam keyed on to the driving
shaft, and working on to the antifriction roller W on the lever p. The
pumps may be worked by an ordinary hand lever or a wee-gee."
66
The main advantages of a pump constructed according to my Inven-
tion are, great simplicity of arrangement, so that all the working parts
can be got at. The pump is a double-acting ram and lift pump, and
delivers a continuous stream of water, and does not choke and lose its
priming. It can be sounded and cleaned out without removing the
boxes; it can be used as a bilge and main pump, or otherwise, as
required; it can be worked by a lever, crank, or improved rolling
motion, the latter effecting a great saving of power and time, enabling

page_text: one pump to be thrown in or out of gear without interfering with or
stopping the working of the other.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my Inven-
tion, and shown how the same may be carried into practical effect, I
wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details, arrangement, or relative dimensions shown in the Drawings and
herein-before described, as the same may be considerably varied without
departing from my Invention; but what I claim as my Invention is,―
.
Firstly. The construction of pumps as shown at Figures 1, 2, and 3 of
the accompanying Drawings, and herein-before described in connection
therewith, consisting of two working barrels, such as A and B, fitted
respectively with a solid plunger, such as 6, and a bucket, such as d, and
working in connection with a suction box, such as C, a foot box or
vacuum chamber, such as E, suction pipe, such as F, and guard, such as
K, and discharge chamber, such as D, the parts constituting the pump
operating and arranged in relation to each in manner such as shown and
set forth.
Secondly. The construction of pumps as shown at Figures 5, 6, and 7
of the accompanying Drawings, and herein-before described in connec-
tion therewith, consisting of a working barrel, such as A, fitted with a
solid plunger, such as 6, and working in connection with a suction box,
such as C, a foot box or vacuum chamber, such as E, suction pipe, such
as F, guard K, and discharge chambers, such as D', D³, the parts con-
stituting the pump operating and arranged in relation to each other in
manner such as shown and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Black Fraser, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of May, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
six.