IMPROVE. MENTS IN HYDRAULIC ENGINES AND PUMPE, AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF APPARATUS FOR APPLYING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1859

page_text: Sealed the 4th January 1860, and dated the 7th July 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Knowelden and
Downes Edwards at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 7th July 1859.
We, JOHN KNOWELDEN, of Southwark, in the County of Surrey, Engineer,
and DOWNES EDWARDS, of Upper Belgrave Place, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN HYDRAULIC ENGINES AND PUMPE, AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF APPARATUS FOR
APPLYING MOTIVE POWER," to be as follows:-
Our improvements consist in so constructing or arranging hydraulic engines
and pumps, that the water to be pumped or employed does not come into con
tact with the piston and cylinder, and we effect this by means of a chamber
placed between the valves and the cylinder, and within the chamber we place
a diaphragm made of elastic material, the space between the diaphragm and

page_text: the piston or ram may be filled with water, oil, or any suitable liquid, and as
the piston or ram is moved, so will the diaphragm be raised or depressed, and
thus the water will actuate or be acted upon by the piston.
Our improvements consist also in the arrangement of two opposite cylinders
and pistons set in a pair or pairs, with their rods connected to one crank, the
space between the pistons being formed into a chamber when the crank is
at right angles to the cylinders, the pistons are nearer to each other than when
the crank is perpendicular, thus causing each piston to be double acting; there
is one inlet and one outlet valve or clack to each cylinder and to the chamber,
and the apparatus may be enclosed in a double or jacket casting, or pipes may
be attached to the valves on a single casting.
Our improvements also consist in placing an air chamber between the
cylinder bottom or cover and the piston of hydraulic engines, and we effect this
by attaching a disc or diaphragm of some elastic material so as to leave a
chamber of air between such diaphragm and the cylinder bottom or cover. In
order to economize the water in working our engines for hauling, hoisting,
lowering, &c., we adjust the weight to be moved proportionate to the pressure
on the crank pin, by employing an expanding or contracting or changeable
drum or barrel, upon which the chain or rope is to be wound. In applying
portable hydraulic engines for motive power for various praposes, we employ
flexible pipes or tubing to supply the water, by which means we can employ
such engines for loading or unloading, hauling, hoisting or lowering in ships or
warehouses or new buildings or quays, or for pile-driving or pumping or
working railway breaks; also for working agricultural machines and implements
and other similar purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Knowelden and Downes Edwards in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th January 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
KNOWELDEN, of Southwark, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, and DOWNES
EDWARDS, of Upper Belgrave Place, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of July, 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 us

page_text: the said John Knowelden and Downes Edwards, Her special licence that we,
the said John Knowelden and Downes Edwards, our exccutors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said John Knowelden and Downes
Edwards, our 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 HYDRAULIC
ENGINES AND PUMPS, AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF APPARATUS FOR APPLYING MOTIVE
POWER," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John Knowelden
and Downes Edwards, or one of us, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or one of our 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 we, the said John Knowelden and Downes
Edwards, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
Our improvements consist in so constructing or arranging hydraulic engines
and pumps that the water to be pumped or employed does not come in contact
with the piston and cylinder or barrel in which it works. We effect this by
means of a chamber placed between the valves and the cylinders, and within
this chamber we place a diaphragm made of elastic material. The space
between the diaphragm and the piston or ram may be filled with water, oil, or
any suitable liquid, and as the piston or ram is moved, so will the diaphragm
be raised or depressed.
Our improvements also consist in the arrangement of two opposite cylinders
and pistons set in a pair or pairs with their rods connected to one crank, the
space between the pistons being formed into a chamber. When the crank is
at right angles to the cylinders, the pistons are nearer to each other than when
the crank is perpendicular, thus causing each piston to be double acting; there
is one inlet and one outlet valve or clack to each cylinder and to the chamber,
and the apparatus may be enclosed in a double jacket or casing; or pipes may
be attached to the valves in a single casting.
Our improvements also consist in placing an air chamber between the
cylinder bottom or cover and the piston of hydraulic engines, and we effect

page_text: this by attaching a disc or diaphragm of some elastic material, so as to leave
a chamber of air between such diaphragm and the cylinder bottom or cover.
In order to economize the water in working our engines for hauling, hoisting.
lowering, &c., we adjust the weight to be moved proportionate to the pressure
on the crank pin by employing an expanding or contracting or changeable
drum or barrel upon which the chain or rope is to be wound. In applying
portable hydraulic engines for motive power for various purposes, we employ
flexible pipes or tubing to supply the water, by which means we can employ,
such engines for loading or unloading, hauling, hoisting or lowering in ships or
warehouses, or buildings, or quays, or for pile-driving or pumping, or working
railway brakes; also for working agricultural machines and implements, and
other purposes.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings shows half in side elevation and
half in sectional elevation, a pump constructed according to the first part of
our Invention; and Figure 2 is a plan of the same. A, A', are the pump
barrels or cylinders, in which the pistons B, B', work. The lower parts of the
barrels A, A, form chambers c, c, which may be filled with water, oil, or any
other suitable liquid; C, C', are the piston rods, which are linked to a shaft
or beam D that rocks about the point E; F, F, are hand levers for imparting
up-and-down motion to the shaft D, and with it the pistons: G, G', are
chambers formed below the barrels A, A', and chambers c, c, and separated
from them by diaphragms H, H, one only of which is seen in the Drawings.
The diaphragms are formed of cauotchouc or other flexible and impervious
material. The barrels A. A'. are bolted to the chambers G. G', by nuts and
bolts a, a, passing through flanges formed thereon, and also through the edges
of the diaphragms held between the flanges; I is a passage leading from the
chamber G to the valve chest J, which contains a valve frame and valves K.
There is a similar passage leading into the chamber G. Detached views of
the frame and valves are given in side elevation and end view respectively at
Figures 3 and 4. The valve frame is constructed in such manner that it can
be removed from the chest at pleasure, by unbolting the face plate L, for the
purpose of repairs. b, b'. ", b, are four valves, one fitted to each arm M of
the frame. The valve b opens inwards to admit water through the suction
pipe N as the piston B' ascends. The valve b' opens outwards to allow the
water to pass off to the discharge pipe O as the piston B' descends. The
valves band b act in a similar manner on the opposite side to those just
described; the valve b corresponds to the valve b, and the valve b to
the valve b'. P is the air chamber or dome. As the plungers B, B', are
worked up and down, so does the diaphragm follow their motion. The upward

page_text: motion of the plunger draws water through the valve b, passage I, into the
chamber G', while the downward motion forces the water back through the
passage I, valve b', into the delivery pipe or hose O. The diaphragms prevent
any water from touching the pistons, no dirt nor grit can consequently enter to
interfere with the working of the pistons nor cut the inner surfaces of the
barrels. Where we use caoutchouc diaphragms, we fill the upper chamber
with water with a film of oil on the top thereof to prevent the oil coming in
contact with the caoutchouc. Our pumps are applicable to air and aeriform
fluids as well as to liquids.
Figure 5 is a section of so much of a hydraulic engine as will be neces-
sary to explain the manner in which this part of our Invention is carried into
effect.
A, A', are two cylinders set opposite one another and cast in a piece with a
central box or chamber B; C, C', are the piston rods connected to the pistons
D, D', which work in the cylinders A, A'. The piston rods C, C', are connected
to a cam E on the crank F, the shaft G of which passes through and works in
bearings formed by a collar cast in a piece with the box or chamber B; II, II',
are the water ways to the pistons, the water passes through passages I, I', from
the valve chambers. The shaft G carries a drum K to which it is secured.
This drum is first placed on the collar L, which acts as a bearing to it, and
round which it revolves. The drum may be removed, and another of a different
size placed in its stead or the same drum can be employed, and its circumference
may be altered by sliding on a frame or other unflanged drum; M, M', are
air chambers formed at the end of each of the cylinders A, A'. These chambers
are separated from the cylinder by diaphragms N, N¹, which are formed of
a similar material and fitted in a like manner to those described with reference
to Figure 1. Instead of a diaphragm and air chamber, we sometimes make
use of a second piston working loosely in each cylinder. The engine just
described can be employed as a pump by altering the arrangement of the
valves, and fitting those that are usually employed for pumps. The working
parts are similar to those employed in the engine just described, and therefore
require no further description.
Diaphragms of the description mentioned in the first part of this Specification
are applicable to existing hydraulic machines. We sometimes use plungers or
rams in connection with either the pump or engine.
And having now described the nature of our said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim,-
First, forming a chamber beneath the piston and barrel of hydraulic engines
and pumps, and dividing such chamber from the barrel and piston by a

page_text: diaphragm, as herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Second, fitting a diaphragm below the piston or plunger of hydraulic
machines, substantially in manner and for the purposes
described.
herein-before
Third, the construction and method of action of the valves herein-before
described with reference to Figure 1, and more clearly illustrated at Figures 3
and 4 of the acccompanying Drawings.
Fourth, the construction of hydraulic engines and pumps with two cylinders
placed opposite one another, the pistons being worked by one common crank.
Fifth, forming an air chamber in the cylinders of hydraulic engines fitted with
diaphragms, as herein-before described.
Sixth, the employment of an expanding or contracting or changeable drum
in connection with hydraulic engines, as herein-bèfore described.
Seventh, the employment of flexible pipes or tubing for supplying water to
portable hydraulic engines, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Knowelden, for myself and on behalf
of the said Downes Edwards, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Sixth day of January, One thousand cight hundred and sixty.
JOHN KNOWELDEN. (..s.)