IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO PHIMPS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Vincent Fosbery, of Cannon Street, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
PHIMPS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Vincent Fosbery
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th October 1878.
GEORGE VINCENT FOSBERY, of Cannon Strect, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO PUMPS."
This Invention relates chiefly to an improved pump of novel construction, and
which is applicable for pumping water, air, and other fluids.
The said pump is so constructed that it takes up a very small space relatively to
the amount of work which it is capable of performing, and its use is therefore
highly advantageous on board ship and in boats, also under all circumstances where
it is necessary or desirable to make use of a pump of small dimensions and of large
capacity. By reason of its novel construction a pump made according to my said
Invention may be placed and will operate very advantageously in confined and
small spaces such as would not be sufficient to receive a pump of any of the ordinary
forms now in use and of anything like the same power as my improved pump.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a vessel, which may be of
iron, brass, or other material, and I prefer that the said vessel should be in the form
of a round basin open at top and bottom. To the botton or lower part of the said
vessel I attach a suction pipe, which should be of suitable length to dip into the
water or other fluid to be pumped. This pipe need be only a few inches in length
in cases where the fluid to be pumped can be reached with such a length, as is the
case on board ship and in other places. In combination with the said vessel I
provide a disc or diaphragm of india-rubber or other suitable flexible materials,
which will exclude the entry of air through the same, and I securely attach the

page_text: said disc or diaphragm to the edges of the top of the said vessel by rings, and
screws, and nuts, or by other suitable means, so that the junction between the edges
of the vessel and the elastic diaphragm may be perfectly air-tight.
Through-the-centre-of-the-soid-flexible diaphragm I pass a rod, to the lower end
of which is fastened a piece of metal or other hard substance. This piece is curved
or rounded on its upper side and fits into the space formed by the rising of the
flexible diapliragm in the act of pumping. The said piece thereby forms a solid
support to the said diaphragm when the latter is raised. To the aforesaid rod, which
passes through the diaphragm and just above the latter, another piece of metal or
other hard substance is fastened, also of a curved or rounded form, and the curved
part is placed downwards, that is to say, it is presented toward the said flexible
-diaphragm, so-that when the-latter is pressed downward in operating the pump this
piece fits into the diaphragın and forms a support for it at its upper surface. At the
lower part of the said vessel I provide a suitable valve, which may be a disc of
india-rubber fastened centrally by a rivet or pin, or otherwise, which disc will yield
upwards at its sides when a vacuum is created above it by the action of the said
flexible diaphragm, and the fluid will then enter the aforesaid vessel, to be thrown
out at an outlet pipe suitably provided in the side of the vessel by the downward
action of the diaphragm and inner and outer curved pieces, or the exit and entrance
pipes may enter the said vessel and be provided either within or without it with
suitable valves, or one pipe may enter the vessel in a curved or other suitable form
and communicate with the water or other fluid in the vessel by an aperture or
apertures.
The rod which passes through the flexible diaphragm may be attached at its
upper end to a crank handle working in suitable bearings to operate the pump, or
The to-and-fro movement
the said rod may be worked in any other suitable manner.
of this rod alternately raises and depresses the said flexible diaphragm, the upward
stroke causing a vacuum within the said vessel, and the fluid consequently to enter
through the valve at the bottom of the vessel, and the downward stroke forcing
this water out through the outlet pipe. The curved or rounded surfaces aforesaid
serve to strengthen and support the flexible diaphragm when the latter is distended
in its extreme upper and lower positions.
The said vessel is attached firmly to a base plate or frame, which may be of wood
or metal.
In a modification of my said Invention I make the said pump double acting, that
is to say, I place the flexible diaphragm in the centre of the vessel and so construct
the latter that the water or other liquid or fluid will enter on both sides of the
diaphragm, so that at each stroke of the rod the fluid to be pumped will be drawn
in and expelled from the said vessel, that is to say, when the rod moves in one
direction the fluid will enter on one side of the diaphragm, and the fluid which was
by the previous stroke drawn into the vessel at the opposite side of the diaphragm
will be expelled, and so on at each stroke.
In another modification of my said Invention I provide a flexible tube with.
entrance and exit valves. This tube is placed within the vessel constituting the
body of the pump, and on any extraordinary force being used will expand and
dilate in harmony with the varying pressures and movements of the fluid contained
in the vessel, relieving the diaphragm from any dangerous pressure, and at the same
time adding by its action to the flow of the fluid it may contain. By these means
also a body of water contained in a closed vessel may be made to pump through a
flexible tube other fluids, or two separate fluids may be pumped by the action of a
single pump.
In another modification of my said Invention I construct the body of the pump
in two parts of cylindrical form, these parts fitting together telescopically. The
lower cylinder is stationary, and is fixed to the bed plate or supporting frame. The
upper cylinder is made to slide vertically in the lower one, and may be operated to
and fro by means of a rod or other device attached to its upper side, which rod may
be cranked or otherwise formed, as may be most suitable in any particular case for

page_text: utilizing the power employed for driving the pump. The lower cylinder is formed
with a flange, which projects inwards and extends entirely around the upper part
of the said cylinder. The upper cylinder is also formed with a flange, which projects
outwards and extends completely around the lower part of the said upper cylinder.
The upper cylinder is of smaller diameter than the lower one, and the flange of the
latter encircles the outer circumference of the former, whilst the flange around the
lower part of the upper cylinder fits to the internal surface of the lower cylinder.
It will therefore be seen that there is a space between the internal surface of the
circumference of the lower cylinder, and the external surface of the circumference
of the upper cylinder. I place around the external circumference of the upper
cylinder a ring of india-rubber or other suitable flexible material, which ring
lies between the internal circumference of the lower cylinder and the external
circumference of the upper cylinder in such a manner that the telescopic connection
between the two cylinders will be perfectly air-tight. I provide the said ring with
notches, projections, or teeth, which fit into corresponding notches, projections, or
teeth provided on the internal circumference of the lower cylinder and on the
external surface of the upper cylinder. The ring therefore moves up and down in
the to-and-fro movement of the upper cylinder when the pump is in operation and
the connection is kept perfectly air-tight. A suitable inlet valve is provided at the
lower part of the lower cylinder, and a discharge pipe is placed in any convenient
position.
When using my improved pump on board a boat I provide in connection therewith
an attachment for operating the same which will always be attached to the pump
and ready for use at any moment, but which when the pump is not in use will be
quite out of the way. For this purpose I fix the pump in the position it is to
occupy under the thwarts of the boat, and I securely bolt or otherwise fasten to
the thwart just over the pump a circular plate, which has a slot or groove in its face
and extending all round it. I prefer this slot or groove to be of dovetail form in
transverse section. Below the said plate I provide another plate or piece, having
upward projections fitting into the said grooves or slots. The lower plate or piece
is therefore capable of rotating, and I attach to it a lever of suitable length, which
is pivotted to any convenient part of the said lower plate. This lever rotates with
the plate to which it is attached, and may therefore be moved to any point of the
circle within which it rotates. Extending from the lower plate are rods, which are
carried down to the rod of the pump, and are attached thereto by means of a loose
collar. The aforesaid lever passes through a space between these rods, and is so
connected thereto that when the said lever is raised and depressed the rod attached
to the diaphragm of the pump is also raised and depressed and the pump is operated.
The lever may be turned round at once to any position in which it may be most
convenient to operate it, and will be ready for work immediately it is placed in this
position without any other adjustment.
When the pump is not in operation the said lever is turned round and fastened
up under the thwart quite out of the way.
I may if desirable construct the inlets and outlets of my improved pump in
spiral form to give the water a circular motion, and so facilitate the entrance and
delivery of the fluids.
When a pump constructed according to this Invention is used for the purpose
of pumping air, gas, or other similar fluids, valves will preferably be used
which will be actuated by employing a cylinder filled with a suitable fluid in which
a perforated disc shall actuate a valve of short stroke at the two ends of the rod
actuating the pump itself, permitting the rod to take its full stroke after having
placed the valve in position.

page_text: Plan
WHICH wie pivoted
and support for the same are attached.
the operating lover
Figures 3, 4, and 5 show in plan longitudinal section and transverse section my
improved devices for attaching the operating lever to the working parts of the
pump.
Figures 6 and 7 shew modified forms of my improved pumps as herein-after
described.
Figure 8 represents in longitudinal section a novel device for operating the valves
of a pump.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a box or case a, which may
be of iron, brass, or other suitable material. I prefer that the said case should be
cylindrical in form, and I attach to the same an inlet or suction pipe b, provided
with branches b', b', and an exhaust pipe c, provided with branches c¹, c'. Within
the said case I arrange a disc or diaphragm d, of india-rubber or other suitable flexible
material, alone or in combination with rings, strips, or links of metal, and through
which air cannot pass; I securely fix the said disc or diaphragm between the
flanges a¹, a¹, of the case a, by any suitable means so that the junction between the
said flanges and-the-flexible diaphragm will be air-tight. Through the centre of the
said flexible diaphragm I pass a rod e; to this rod below the diaphragm is fastened
a piece or block of metal, wood, or other hard substance, as shewn at f. This piece
is curved on its upper surface and is made solid to prevent the rising of air into it
as would be the case with a hollow or dished piece. Moreover it acts as a support
for the flexible diaphragm when the latter is raised in the act of pumping. When
metal rings are used in connection with the diaphragm as above described, curved
and radial arms are employed for their support both above and below the said
diaphragm. To the aforesaid rod e, and just above the diaphragm a hollow or dished
piece or disc g of metal or other hard substance is attached; the lower surface of
this piece g is of a curved or rounded form, so that when the said diaphragm is forced
downward in operating the pump this piece takes up the pressure applied to the
rode and forces the diaphragm into the desired position. In the aforesaid suction
and exhaust pipes I arrange suitable inlet and outlet valves b and c².
Instead of arranging inlet and outlet pipes in connection with the said case, as

page_text: above described, I may in some instances employ one pipe only either within or
outside of the same, of curved or other suitable form, and communicating with the
water or other fluid in the case a by one or more apertures.
The rode which passes through the flexible diaphragm and through the aforesaid
pieces f, g, is provided at its lower end with a guide a* either inside or outside of
the said case. The upper end of the said rod passes through a stuffing box in the
top of the case a and is attached to a lever h, whereby the pump is operated, or the
said rod may be worked in any other suitable manner. The to-and-fro movement
of this rod alternately raises and depresses the said flexible diaphragm, the upward
stroke causing a vacuum below the diaphragm and expelling the fluid above it, and vice
versa. The curved or rounded surfaces of the aforesaid pieces f, g, serve to strengthen
and support the flexible diaphragm when the latter is distended in either direction.
When my improved pump is constructed to be used on a ship's boat. or launch,
the operating lever his pivoted at h' to a bracket ³, formed on the plate i, which
is provided with a central aperture, as shown in Figure 2. This plate fits over and
is free to turn upon the stuffing box in the cover of the vessel a, and is provided
with an arm or support 2, which when turned up into the position shewn in Figure
1 will support the aforesaid lever h, and thereby prevent strain upon the diaphragm
when the pump is at rest. The said plate is provided on its under surface with
hooks which fit over a flange cast upon the upper part of the said case and the
said plate is secured in the desired position by means of a loose hook and screw at
3, as shown, or by other suitable means. This arrangement of the movable plate i
permits the handle to be adjusted or turned into any position for the more con-
venient working of the pump. In order to connect the rod e with the operating
lever I prefer to use a rotating swivel j, as shewn in Figures 3, 4, and 5. This
swivel is provided in its upper portion with a hole j¹, through which the rod e
is passed down and placed with its head resting upon the shoulder j³ at the bottom
of the swivel. The lever h rests upon this head and the rod e is held in position
in the said swivel by a plate k placed in a slot in the swivel and above the lever.
The said plate is provided with a projection which enters the aforesaid hole
j', and then holds the lever hand rod e firmly in position whilst at the same time
permitting the turning of the said lever to any desired position without discon-
necting the same from the rod e.
The said case is bolted or otherwise firmly secured to a base plate or frame of
wood or metal.
According to a modification of my said Invention I provide a flexible tube with
entrance and exit valves. This tube is coiled within the case constituting the body
of the pump and on any extraordinary force being used will expand and dilate in
harmony with the varying pressures and movements of the fluid contained in the
case relieving the diaphragm of any dangerous pressure and at the same time
assisting the action of the pump. By these means also a body of water or other
fluid contained in a closed vessel may be employed as a medium to pump through
a flexible tube or by a diaphragm; other fluids or two separate fluids may be
pumped, one through the said tube and the other outside of the same by the action
of a single piston or diaphragm.
In Figure 6 I have shewn a modified arrangement of my improved pump in
which the inlet and outlet pipes b and c surround the body a of the pump, and are
so arranged as to give the water or other fluid a circular motion and thereby
facilitate their entrance and delivery. It will be understood by reference to Figure
6 that the fluid which receives only a vertical motion in the body of the pump a is
compelled to enter and leave the said body through suitable apertures in such
directions as to set up and assist a circular flow in the pipes surrounding it, and
from their construction and arrangement, and from the position of the valves b² and
c, a continuous stream of water will enter at the inlet pipe b and issue from the
exit pipe c, some of the water being alternately drawn into and expelled from the
two portions of the body a and entering or leaving the two branches into which
that portion of the said pipe which surrounds the body a is divided. By reason of

page_text: the proportion which exists between the body of the pump and these branches the
whole of the water cannot enter the pump at any one time, but portions of it are
drawn in and expelled in such a manner as to keep up the above-described centri-
fugal action. In cases where these pumps are worked at a high velocity the effect
of this action will be to keep all four valves b², 62, c², c², more or less open and to
maintain a current through the pump of larger quantity and of greater velocity
than could be driven through the body of the pump itself. Moreover the rapid
changes of direction which militate against the velocity of water issuing from other
reciprocating pumps are avoided. My improved pump therefore, whilst approxi-
mating to a centrifugal pump with regard to quantity and speed of delivery, has
also the advantage of being a direct suction and force pump at whatever speed it
may operate. When this improved form of pump is operated at a high velocity and
with great power I prefer to employ a piston in the place of a diaphragm.
According to another modification of my Invention as represented in Figure 7 I
construct the body a of the pump in two parts a², a³, of cylindrical form, these
parts fitting together telescopically as shown. The lower cylinder a³ is stationary,
and is fixed to a bed plate or supporting frame. The upper cylinder a² is made to
slide vertically in the lower one, and may be raised and lowered by means of a rod
or other device attached to its upper side. The lower cylinder is formed with a
flange a, which projects inwards and extends entirely around the upper part of the
said cylinder. The upper cylinder a² is also formed with a flange a, which projects
outwards and extends completely around the lower part of the said upper cylinder.
It will be seen that this upper cylinder is of smaller diameter than the lower one,
and the flange of the latter encircles the outer circumference of the former, whilst
the flange around the lower part of the upper cylinder fits the internal surface of
the lower cylinder; therefore there is an annular space between the internal surface
of the circumference of the lower cylinder and the external surface of the circum-
ference of the upper cylinder, and in this space I arrange a ring of india-rubber or
other suitable flexible material as shewn at n in such a manner that the telescopic
connection between the two cylinders will be air-tight. I provide the said ring
with notches, projections, or teeth, which fit into corresponding notches, projections,
or teeth on the internal circumference of the lower cylinder and on the external
surface of the upper cylinder. The corrugated surface of this ring may be
strengthened by the addition of pieces or segments of metal when desired; the said
ring therefore moves up and down in the to-and-fro movement of the upper cylinder
when the pump is in operation and the joint is kept air-tight.
A suitable inlet valve is provided, as shewn at b', in the bottom of the lower
cylinder, and a discharge pipe is connected to the same, as shewn at c, or in any
other convenient position. In some cases I employ spiral inlet and outlet pipes as
in Figure 6 in connection with this form of pump.
When a pump constructed according to this Invention is used for the purpose of
pumping air, gas, or similar fluids I prefer that the inlet and outlet valves thereof
should be actuated by a peculiar device, which is constructed and arranged as
follows, that is to say I place above and below, or on the opposite sides of the
pump a small cylinder or chamber o, within which moves a second cylinder p.
The cylinder p working within the cylinder o performs the functions of the inlet
and outlet valves. The cylinder is actuated with a short stroke by the move-
ment of the rode that actuates the pump diaphragms, so that the said rod in com-
mencing its stroke in either direction opens or closes the ports, and then completes
its stroke without further moving the inner cylinder p. The object of this
arrangement is to ensure-the-instantaneous-opening-of-the-ports-to-their-full extent
at the commencement of each stroke of the pump, so that there will be a free
passage of the fluid, and the diaphragms will not be exposed to unnecessary strain,
The said device consists of a box or vessel p¹, through which the said rod is passed,
the said box p¹ being provided with stuffing boxes at both ends to prevent leakage.
Inside this vessel p' the said rod has fixed on it a small perforated plate or piston e¹,
and the said vessel is filled with oil, glycerine, or other suitable liquid. The said

page_text: vessel is attached to the cylinder p, and by its endwise movements actuates the
said cylinder to open and close the inlet and outlet ports b*, c*. At the commence-
ment of each stroke of the rod e the aforesaid perforated piston through the
medium of the fluid in the vessel p¹ moves the latter and the cylinder p with it a
short distance, by and during which movement the said ports are opened or closed
to their full extent; then the liquid having had time to pass through the perfora-
tions in the said piston and around it the latter will not continue to move the
vessel p¹ but will pass through the same to its other end, and then the same move-
ments will be repeated in the opposite direction, and continued alternately in both
directions during the working of the said pump.
In connection with the aforesaid pumps I use, when necessary, an air vessel or
air spring, in which an elastic or flexible diaphragm separates the air from the
water, and I may also use the same device for compressing or exhausting air, gas,
or other fluid from one side of the diaphragm by means of the power applied to a
second fluid on its opposite side; thus, for instance, water might be made to
compress air, or steam to influence water.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shewn how the same may
be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I wish it understood
that I do not claim as a new principle or method of constructing a pump, the
application to the same of a flexible diaphragm placed within a case or box between
two curved or dished plates or discs, and moved to and fro to effect the drawing in
and discharge of the fluid, but I claim,-
First. The double-action pump constructed with a flexible diaphragm placed
between two curved pieces, the lower one of which is a solid piece or block in
combination with the inlet and outlet passages and valves arranged as above
described, and as shewn in Figure 1 of the Drawings, for the purpose specified.
Second. The swivel connection of the rod and lever of the said pump as and
for the purposes specified.
Third. The modification of my Invention wherein the inlet and outlet pipes
surround the body or case of the pump, as described and shown in Figure 6 of the
Drawing, and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The modified construction of my improved pump, as shewn in Figure 7
of the Drawing, and as above set forth.
Fifth. The novel device for operating the valves of a pump used for pumping
air, gas, or similar fluid, constructed as shewn in Figure 8 of the Drawing, and
operating as above set forth.
Sixth. In combination with the pump the apparatus or arrangement whereby I
am enabled to compress or exhaust air or other fluid on one side of a flexible
diaphragm by the pressure of a fluid on the other side of the said diaphragm as
and for the purposes above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Vincent Fosbery, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
GEORGE V. FOSBERY. (L.S.)