Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning Gullies, Drains, and the like, Extinguishing Fire, Sprinkling Roads, and for Destroying Certain Animals.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning Gullies, Drains, and the
like, Extinguishing Fire, Sprinkling Roads, and for Destroying
Certain Animals.
I, FELIX LOUIS DECARIE, of City Hall, Montreal in the Province of Quebec,
and Dominion of Canada, Gentleman, 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 an apparatus for cleaning gullies, drains, and the like,
and it has for its object to effect certain improvements in apparatus of this character
whereby the same may be easily controlled in cold, as well as in warm weather
for the purpose of not only elevating and discharging large quantities of water
or other liquids from gullies, drains or the like, but also being adapted for use
as a fire extinguisher, for road sprinkling purposes, for thawing out gullies,
cesspools and so forth, and for destroying live animals that are commonly regarded
as nuisances.
With these and other objects in view which will readily appear as the nature of
the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction
combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated
and claimed.
In the drawings:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of an apparatus constructed in
accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line x-x of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a detail plan view, foreshortened, of one of the hand levers employed
in connection with the apparatus.
Figure 4 is a detail sectional view on the line y-y of Figure 2.
Referring to the accompanying drawings 1 designates a portable frame mounted
for transportation over the ground on the front and rear wheeled axles 2 and 3
respectively, carrying upon their opposite ends the ground wheels 3", but in winter
if found necessary the said frame may be supported on suitable sled runners
as will be easily understood. The portable frame 1, essentially comprises the
opposite parallel frame side-bars 4, made of channel iron, and depending from
said frame side-bars 4 near the rear ends thereof are the opposite depending
bearing-brackets 5 carrying at their lower ends the bearing boxes 6, in which turn
the opposite ends of the rear axle 3. The rear axle 3 for the frame 1 is sectional
or divided and consists of the separate and independent axle sections 7 that are
independently rotated by the ground wheels made fast on the outer ends thereof.
The axle sections 7 are arranged in direct horizontal alignment and the inner
adjacent ends of the axle sections 7 are provided with the annular grooves 8
adapted to receive the inner ends of the set screws 9 mounted in a loose axle
sleeve 10 arranged on the inner adjacent ends of the axle sections 7 to provide for
maintaining said sections in alignment, while at the same time not interfering with
the independent rotation of the axle-sections when the apparatus is turned or
backed, and said sleeve 10 is provided at a point intermediate of its ends with an
oil hole 11 providing means for the oiling of the sleeve and the ends of the axle
sections turning therein.
The portable wheeled frame 1 supports therein an enlarged vacuum tank 12 that

page_text: is preferably cylindrical in shape and extends above and below the frame. The
said enlarged vacuum tank 12 is provided at the top with an ordinary man-hole 13
by means of which ready access may be had to the interior of the tank when
necessary, and the said tank is provided below the frame 1 with a tapered or
contracted bottom portion 14 having the bottom discharge opening 15 for the
discharge of the contents of the tank when full.
The bottom discharge opening 15 of the upright vacuum tank 12 is adapted to
be enclosed by the swinging cover 16. The swinging cover 16 is hinged at one
side at 17 to one side of the bottom portion of the tank, and when closed is
adapted to have interposed between the same and the bottom edges of the tank a
rubber or other suitable gasket 18 to form a perfectly air and water tight joint.
The swinging edge of the cover 16 is adapted to be engaged by the spring-actuated
latch-pin 19 mounted in the bracket-plate 20 secured to one side of the tank at the
bottom thereof, and said latch-pin engages under the swinging edge of the cover to
hold the same closed over the bottom discharge opening 15. In addition to the
latch-pin 19 the cover or gate 16 is firmly clamped over the bottom opening 15 by
means of the hinged clamp-bolts 21 hinged or pivoted at one end, as at 22, to the
bottom portion of the tank 12 and carrying at their free ends the clamp nuts 23 that
engage under the edges of the said cover or gate 16.
The upright vacuum tank 12 has connected thereto at its lower end near the
bottom discharge-opening thereof the main inlet pipe 24 which is provided with a
suitable cut-off cock 25 and with which inlet pipe 24 is adapted to be connected
a suitable hose or piping that is placed in the gulley, cesspool or other place from
which liquid matter is to be elevated. The said tank 12 also has connected thereto
the upper and lower suction pipes 26 and 27 respectively, both of which pipes are
provided with cut-off valves 28, and the lower of which is connected to the tank 12
near the bottom discharge opening thereof, and the upper of which pipes, (26) is
connected to the upper end of the tank by means of a short pipe connection 29
which is provided with an air vent cock 30, the function of which will be presently
referred to. The upper and lower suction pipes 26 and 27 of the tank 12 are
connected at a point intermediate of the cut-off valves 28 thereof by a coupling 31
from which are branched separate pump inlet pipes 32 that lead to the inlet
openings of oppositely arranged and vertically disposed pump cylinders 33. The
pump cylinders 33 are provided with the top and bottom discharge nipples 34, and
accommodate therein ordinary pump piston-heads 35 mounted on the piston rods 37
that work through the stuffing boxes 38 at the top and bottom of the pump
cylinders thereby providing an arrangement wherein the piston rods for the
pump
cylinders work above and below the cylinders in reciprocating the piston heads 35
to provide for causing a pumping action within the cylinders, and a consequent
discharge of the air or water from the tank 12 through the discharge nipples 34 at
the top and bottom of the pump cylinders.
The oppositely-located pump cylinders 33 are secured to the opposite inner sides
of an upright pump fraine 39, at the upper end thereof, by means of suitable
attaching brackets 40 fastened to one side of said pump cylinders and to the sides
of the frame 39 and said frame essentially consists of the opposite parallel upright
frame-sides 40 and a transverse stay bracket 42 bolted at its opposite ends as
at 43 to the upper ends of the upright frame sides 40" and the said transverse stay
bracket 42 is provided at an intermediate point with an upwardly-disposed
bifurcated bearing support 44 in which is pivotally mounted at an intermediate
point as at 45 a transverse walking beam or lever 46 and the piston rods 37 are
connected at their upper ends above the cylinders with the walking beam or
lever 46 at both sides of its point of pivot by means of the short connecting
links 47 pivotally connected at their lower euds to the piston rods and at their
upper ends to the walking beam or lever which, during the operation of the pump
serves to equalize the working of both pumps and to insure a steady and positive
working thereof.
The upright frame, sides 40° of the upright pump supporting frame 39 are

page_text: arranged inside and entirely independent of the portable frame 1 and at their
lower ends the frame sides 40 are connected to the bearings 48 that provide
means for supporting the said pump frame from the rear axle of the portable
frame while at the same time not interfering with the free rotation of the separate
axle sections. Adjacent to the bearings 48 on which the pamp frame 39 is
supported are located the reversely-mounted eccentrics 49 that are carried by
the axle sections 7 and have connected therewith the eccentric rods 50 the
upper ends of which are detachably connected to vertically-reciprocating sliding
cross beads 51 by means of the cross head pins 52 and said sliding cross heads 51
are connected to the lower ends of the piston rods 37 to provide for the
reciprocation of the piston heads within the pump cylinders and by reason of
the alternate or reverse arrangement of the eccentrics 49 the piston heads in the
opposite pump cylinders alternately reciprocate to provide for a continuous and
uninterrupted pumping action. The cross heads 51' are mounted to slide between
pairs of parallel vertically disposed cross head guides 53 that are fastened at one
side of supporting plates 54 secured to and projecting from the inner sides of the
upright frame sides 40°.
The parallel upright frame sides 40" of the upright pump frame have attached
on the outside thereof at an intermediate point and above the frame side bars 4
the offstanding perforated bracket plates 55 thai loosely work over the fixed
or stationary guide pins 56 projected from the upper sides of the fra ne ride
bars 4 and this connection of the upright pump frame with the portable wheel
frame for the apparatus provides for supporting the pump frame in its proper
upright position, while at the same time allowing the pump frame to have an
independent movement so that it can adjust itself to any jarring or jostling of the
truck without any undue strain.
When the apparatus is stationary and it is desired to operate the pump for
certain purposes the eccentric rod connections with the sliding cross-heads are
disconnected and suitable hand levers may be detachably fitted to opposite ends
of the walking beam or lever 46. The said hand levers are in part formed as
socket castings 58 that provide for the detachable connection of the bandles 57 to
the ends of the walking beam or lever.
To adapt the apparatus for use at all times and for the different objects sought,
a steam boiler 58, is mounted on the frame 1, in front of the tank 12 and said
steam boiler has leading therefrom a valved steam pipe 59 connected to the top of
the tank 12 for forming a vacuum therein in winter. The said steam boiler 58" also
has connected thereto a separate steam pipe 60 leading to a water tank 61 to keep
the water therein warm for being fed to the boiler and a separate pipe connection 62
may be made with said boiler for the purpose of thawing out gullies and other
places to be cleaned in winter.
When the apparatus is in motion and the pumps geared up with the sectional
axle in the manner described, it is simply necessary to open up the valve of
the upper suction pipe 26 to exhaust the air from the tank 12. When a sufficient
vacuum has been obtained it is then simply necessary to place the pipe or hose
for the main inlet pipe in the gulley or other place to be cleaned and by opening
the cuck 25 the atmospheric pressure will force the liquid into the tank after
which the cock 25 is closed. To empty the tank the cover or gate 16 is opened
and also the air vent cock 30. In winter, the vacuum is produced in the tank
by introducing steam therein through the pipe 59 and opening the air vent cock 30
until all air is expelled therefrom. The cock 30 is then closed and the steam
allowed to flow into the tank until a pressure is formed therein. The steam is then
cut off and by condensation produces the necessary vacuum for the operation of the
apparatus.
By attaching a sprinkler to the pipe 24 and reversing the pump, the apparatus
may be used as a road sprinkler, and to use the apparatus as a fire-extinguisher
the tank is filled with water by the means described, and the lower suction pipe 27
opened up so that the pump may draw out and discharge the water from the tank

page_text: and in this use of the apparatus the hand levers aforesaid displace the gear
connections with the pump.
A further use of the apparatus may be said to consist in making provision for
destroying or killing dogs or other animals which are commonly regarded as nuisances
in large cities. It is simply necessary to place those animals in the tank and then
to exhaust the air therefrom in the usual manner.
Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be
resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages
of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In an apparatus for cleaning gullies, drains and the like, the combination
of a portable frame, an upright vacuum tank supported within said frame and
provided with a bottom air and water tight gate, enclosed discharge opening,
and a main valved inlet pipe forming a connection for suitable hose or piping,
an upper valved air suction pipe connected to the upper end of the tauk and
provided with an air vent cock, a lower liquid suction pipe connected to the
tank near its lower end, a single coupling connecting the adjacent ends of the
separate air and liquid suction pipes, a pump mounted within the portable frame
and having the inlet pipe thereof connected with said coupling for the two suction
pipes, and means for operating the pump, substantially as set forth.
2. In an apparatus for cleaning gullies, drains and the like, the combination
of a wheeled frame, a vacuum tank supported in said frame and provided with
a lower valved inlet pipe and an upper air suction pipe, an upright pump frame
supported on one of the axles of the wheeled frame, a double cylinder pump
mounted within the upright pump frame and having its inlet connected with said
suction pipe, and means for operating the pump from one of the axles, substantially
as set forth.
3. In an apparatus for cleaning gullies, drains and the like, the combination
of the wheeled frame provided at opposite sides with upwardly disposed stationary
guide pins, one of the axles of said wheeled frame being sectional and consisting
f independently rotating sections, a vacuum tank supported in said frame and
provided with a lower valved inlet pipe, valved upper and lower suction pipes
connected to the tank at one side, and the upper of which suction pipes is further
provided with an air vent cock, an upright pump frame arranged within the
wheeled frame and loosely connected at its lower end to said sectional axle, said
upright pump frame being provided at opposite sides with offstanding perforated
bracket plates loosely working over said guide pins, a double cylinder pump mounted
within the pump frame and having its inlet connected with said suction pipes, and
means for operating the pump from the separate sections of the sectional axle,
substantially as set forth.
4. In an apparatus for cleaning gullies, drains and the like, the combination
of the wheeled frame, one of the axles of which is sectional and consists of
independently rotating parts, an upright vacuum tank supported in said frame
and provided with a lower valved inlet pipe, valved suction pipes connected to
said tank, an upright pump frame supported for self-adjustment within the
wheeled frame upon the sectional axle thereof, said pump frame being provided
at its upper end with a transverse stay bracket having an intermediate bearing
support, opposite pump cylinders secured to opposite inner sides of said pump frame
and having their inlets connected with said suction pipes, the piston rods for
the pump cylinders working above and below the same, a walking beam or lever
pivotally mounted in the bearing support of said stay bracket and connected with
the upper ends of the piston rods, vertical cross head guides attached to the inner
sides of the pump frame below the cylinders, sliding cross heads working in said
guides and attached to the lower ends of the piston rods, reversely arranged

page_text: eccentrics mounted on the separate sections of the sectional axle and eccentric rods
connected to said eccentrics and detachably at their upper ends to said cross heads,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 17th day of March 1006
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.