IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM Pumps OF PUMP
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Cameron, of the Oldfield Road Iron Works,
Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM Pumps.”
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM PUMPS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Cameron at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition on the
22nd November 1875.
I, JOHN CAMERON, of the Oldfield Road Iron Works, Salford, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM PUMPS,"
to be as follows:-
In steam pumps of the ordinary construction the foundation plate,
the pump cylinder, the supporting columns containing the ingress and
egress valves, and the bottom plate of the steam cylinder, are all cast
in separate pieces and fitted together, thereby occasioning a considerable
amount of labour in fitting up and in making water-tight joints.

page_text: Now, my Invention consists in casting all the parts above enumerated
in one piece, whereby the labour of fitting together is economised, and
no joints are required. The bearings for the crank shaft are also cast
to the columns, and the eccentric for working the steam valve is forged
to the end of the crank shaft, thereby saving fitting and keying on.
The steam cylinder is secured to its bottom plate, which connects the
upper ends of the columns. The piston rod is connected to the open
frame cast with the plunger, and this frame is connected by a link to
the crank shaft in the ordinary manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Cameron in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 20th May 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CAMERON, of the Oldfield Road Iron Works, Salford, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second 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 John Cameron, Her
special licence that I, the said John Cameron, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Cameron,
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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM PUMPS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Cameron, 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

page_text: The parts marked a, b, c, and f, I now propose to cast together instead
of casting them separately and then fitting them together as heretofore
customary, by which improved mode of construction the labour of
fitting and bolting the parts together is avoided, and as there are no
joints between the said parts, no leakage can take place. The piston
rod / is connected as usual to the open frame i which is cast with the
plunger working in the pump barrel b, and to the open frame i is
jointed the upper end of the link j, the lower end of which is connected
to the crank shaft k in the ordinary manner. The bearings of the
crank shaft are also cast with the columns instead of being bolted
thereto, as now customary. The eccentric ¹ for working the slide valve
is forged to the end of the crank shaft instead of being keyed on it as
usual, thereby economising the labour of fitting and keying. The
supply pipes, connecting pipes, and the other parts requisite to complete
the pump are made in the usual manner.
By means of these improvements the number of parts of which the
pump is composed is greatly reduced, thereby rendering such pumps
more durable, and economising labour in construction.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention and described the
manner of performing the same, I declare that I claim as my improve- 2
ments in the construction of steam pumps,-
First. Casting the foundation plate, the pump cylinder, the sup-
porting columns, the bottom plate of the steam cylinder, and the
bearings of the crank shaft, all in one piece, as shewn and described.
And, Secondly. Forging the eccentric for the slide valve on the end of 2
the crank shaft, as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Cameron, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.