and for Regulating Fluid Pressures.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1887
Complete Left, 27th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th Apr., 1888
and for Regulating Fluid Pressures.
We, FRANK WESLEY DICK of 14 Royal Crescent, Crosshill, near Glasgow,
Engineer, and JOHN MCLEOWNAN MCMURTRIE of 99 Portugal Street, Glasgow,
Brass Founder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to apparatus for pumping and compressing fluids the improved
apparatus being adapted particularly for compressing air by hydraulic pumps and
delivering it for actuating organ blowers, for raising liquids and for other purposes at
an uniform pressure irrespective of the varying pressures in the air reservoirs, whilst
the apparatus is applicable in part as a pump for general purposes, and in part as a
regulator or governor of fluid pressures.
Under one modification the improved apparatus comprises an air reservoir, a
pumping engine which may be conveniently formed so that the base or bed plate of
the reservoir encloses the engine, and a pressure regulating or reducing valve fitted
upon the reservoir-The pumping engine is composed of four cylinders placed in
pairs end to end the valve gear for controlling the admission of water for actuating
the pistons in the cylinders being situated in a central valve chest. Each pair of
pistons is connected by a piston rod passing through the valve chest one piston being
at the termination of its outstroke while that at the opposite end of the piston rod is
at the termination of its instroke, and the pistons in one pair of cylinders being
preferably arranged to work a full stroke in advance of those in the adjoining pair of
cylinders The admission of water for actuating the engine is controlled by a single
valve for each pair of cylinders the valve being in the form of a tube which is or may
be closed at each end and passing through the valve casing in which as also in the
valve are suitable inlet and exhaust ports-A web or diaphragm in the valve tube
separates the acting portion for the cylinder at one end from that for the opposite end,
and in each portion of the valve tube are two ports one of which is open to the inlet
port of the valve casing whilst one of those in the other division of the valve tube is
open to the exhaust port. A reversal of the admission and discharge in effected by
traversing the valve tube longitudinally within its casing to change the positions of
the ports in the valve tube relatively with the inlet and outlet ports in the valve
D
037

page_text: casing, the necessary movement of the valve being effected by the pistons as they
approach each instroke the ends of the valve tube being acted on as tappets. The
relative positions of the inlet and outlet ports for the two valves are such that whilst
the water under pressure is admitted to one cylinder from one end of the valve casing
the admission of water to the cylinder of the second pair takes place at the same time
from the opposite end of the valve casing, and the pistons of the two pairs of cylinders
travel in opposite directions.
The air to be compressed is drawn in through a valve to the outer end of each
cylinder at each instroke of the piston, and at each outstroke is forced through a valve
into the air reservoir. To ensure that the last trace of air may be expelled from the
cylinders at each outstroke of the pistons a water trap may be provided in connection
with the air outlet from each cylinder, and the water which accumulates in the air
reservoir is or may be removed from time to time by the use of a ball tap and float
fitted within the reservoir the ball tap being opened for the discharge of the water
when the water rises above the normal level and raises the float.
The compressed air is led from the reservoir by a pipe having on it a reducing
valve or cock or a casing provided with a reducing valve which is automatically
operated by a lever connected to a piston, diaphragm or bell so situated on the
discharge side of the valve as to be acted on by the air which has passed through the
valve and the pressure of which has been reduced. The lever operating the cock or
valve is weighted and tends to close the valve but the tendency to close the valve is
counteracted by the pressure of the air on the piston or diaphragm which is connected
by a link or otherwise to the lever. By varying the weight upon the lever the
pressure of the air taken from the reservoir may be reduced to any desired extent
irrespective of variations of pressure within the reservoir which may be provided with
a safety valve to prevent the occurrence in it of an excessive air pressure.
In working the improved apparatus the water passing through the hydraulic
engines instead of being led to waste is or may be utilized in whole or in part by
being conveyed through pipes or tubes to jaw boxes wash hand basins and other
points where a supply of water is usually required the hydraulic engines then
operating according as the taps on the outlet pipes are more or less opened and in
such cases a separate discharge or waste pipe is provided and filled with a cock which
is automatically opened when the supply of water taken from the taps on the outlet
pipes is too small to operate the engines, said cock being operated by a lever from a
piston or diaphragm actuated by the air pressure within the reservoir and being
arranged to open as the air pressure within the reservoir is reduced below the desired
point.
The reducing valve above described may be applied for regulating air, water and
other fluid pressures generally, and the bydraulic engines employed in the improved
apparatus for compressing air may be applied for pumping water and for pumping
purposes generally.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Pumping and Compressing Fluids
and for Regulating Fluid Pressures.
We, FRANK WESLEY DICK of 14 Royal Crescent, Crosshill, near Glasgow,
Engineer, and JOHN MCLEOWNAN MCMURTRIE of 99 Portugal Street Glasgow,
Brass Founder 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 :-
Our Invention relates to apparatus for pumping and compressing fluids the
improved apparatus being adapted particularly for compressing air by hydraulic
pumps and delivering it for actuating organ blowers for raising liquids, and for other
purposes at an uniform pressure irrespective of the varying pressures in the air
reservoirs, whilst the apparatus applicable in part as a pump for general purposes
and in part as a regulator or governor of fluid pressures.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate modifications of the apparatus
constituting the invention, figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of our improved
pump taken at the line 1---1 in figure 2, figures 2, 3 and 4 are horizontal sections
taken respectively at the lines 2---2, 3---3 and 4----
--4 in figure 1, and figures 5, 6,
7 and 8 are cross sections taken respectively at the lines 5---5, 6---6, 7---7
and 8---8 in figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. Figure 9 is an elevation of the improved
apparatus as applied for raising beer or other liquids by air pressure, figure 10 shews
a modification of the same and figures 11, 12 and 13 illustrate in detail modifications
of the pressure regulators employed in conjunction with the apparatus shown in
figures 9 and 10 and as adapted for use as reducing valves, or pressure regulators.
Under the modification represented at figure 9 the improved apparatus comprises
an air reservoir R, a pumping engine P, which though not so shown may be
conveniently formed so that the base or bed plate of the reservoir encloses the engine,
and a pressure regulating or reducing valve V fitted upon or connected to the
reservoir R. As represented at figures 1 to 8 the pumping engine is composed of
four cylinders, C1, C2, C3, C4, placed in pairs end to end, the valve gear for controlling
the admission of water for actuating the pistons p in the cylinders being situated in a
central valve chest D. Each pair of pistons p is connected by a piston rod pl passing
through the valve chest one piston being at the termination of its outstroke whilst
that at the opposite end of the piston is at the termination of its instroke, and the
pistons in one pair of cylinders being preferably arranged to work a full stroke in
advance of those in the adjoining pair of cylinders. The admission of water for
actuating the engine is controlled by a single valve d for each pair of cylinders C, C²,
and C, C, the valve being in the form of a tube which is or may be closed at each
end and passing through the valve casing D in which as also in the valve are suitable
inlet and exhaust ports. A web or diaphragm d' in the valve tube separates the
acting portion for the cylinder at one end from that for the opposite end, and in each

page_text: portion of the valve tube are two ports e and f, one of which e is open to the inlet
ports of the valve casing whilst one of those in the other division of the valve
tube is open to the exhaust ports jj. A reversal of the admission and discharge is
effected by traversing the valve tube d longitudinally within its casing to change the
positions of the ports in the valve tube relatively with the inlet and outlet ports in the
valve casing, the necessary movement of the valve being effected by the pistons pas
they approach each instroke the ends of the valve tube being acted on as tappets.
The relative positions of the inlet and outlet ports i, j, for the two valves d, d are such
that whilst the water under pressure is admitted to one cylinder C¹ from one end of
the valve casing the admission of water to the cylinder of the second pair takes
place at the same time from the opposite end of the valve casing, and the pistons of
the two pairs of cylinders travel in opposite directions.
The air to be compressed is drawn in through a valve k to the outer end of each
cylinder at each instroke of the piston p and at each outstroke is forced through a
valve into the air reservoir R. To ensure that the last trace of air may be expelled
from the cylinders at each outstroke of the pistons a water trap may be provided in
connection with the air outlet from each cylinder; and the water which accumulates
in the air reservoir is or may be removed from time to time by the use of a ball tap B
and float F, fitted within the reservoir, the ball tap being opened for the discharge of
the water when the water rises above the normal level and raises the float. A valve
carried by a float G is also provided to close the egress to the air pipes in the event of
the reservoir filling with water.
The compressed air is led from the reservoir R as indicated at figure 9 by a pipe H
having on it a reducing valve or cock, or a casing V provided with a reducing valve v
which is automatically operated by a lever L, connected to a piston or diaphragm M
or a bell so situated on the discharge side of the valve v as to be acted on by the air
which has passed through the valve and the pressure of which has been reduced. The
lever L operating the cock or valve is weighted and tends to close the valvo v, but the
tendency to close the valve is counteracted by the pressure of the air on the piston or
diaphragm which is connected by a link or otherwise to the lever L. By varying
the weight upon the lever the pressure of the air taken from the reservoir may be
reduced to any desired extent irrespective of variations of pressure within the reservoir
which may be provided with a safety valve to prevent the occurrence in it of an
excessive air pressure.
The air pipe H passing from the reservoir leads to the point at which the uniform
pressure is to be applied, in the present instance passing into a beer barrel I from
which a pipe connection N, is led to a draw tap T in the ordinary way. A pressure
gauge is connected to the pipe H and a branch pipe H provided with a stop
valve h connects the pipe H to the pipe H¹ so that the full pressure of the air within
the reservoir may by turning the tap be directed through the pipe H2 when occasion
may require.
In working the improved apparatus the water passing through the hydraulic
engines instead of being led to waste is or may be utilized in whole or in part by
being conveyed through pipes or tubes to jaw boxes, wash hand basins and other
points where a supply of water is usually required the hydraulic engines P then
operating according as the taps on the outlet pipes are more or less opened; and in
such cases a separate discharge or waste pipe is provided and fitted with a cock which
is automatically opened when the supply of water taken from the taps on the outlet
pipes is too small to operate the engines, said cock being operated by a lever from a
piston or diaphragm actuated by the air pressure within the reservoir and being
arranged to open as the air pressure within the reservoir is reduced below the desired
point.
This arrangement of the apparatus is shown at figure 10 in which a cock or valve s
fitted in either the supply or waste water pipe S is operated by a levert which is acted
on by a diaphragm or piston in a casing U connected by a brauch pipe H³ with the
reservoir R. A direct pipe connection S₁ to the engines is or may be provided and
fitted with a stop valves as shewn whereby the engines may be worked directly

page_text: either along with or independently of the use of the automatic valve arrangement.
In other respects the apparatus shown at figure 10 resembles that illustrated at
figure 9.
The reducing valve above described and as illustrated in figures 11, 12 and 13 may
be applied for regulating air, water and other fluid pressures generally and it may be
formed with a ground plug valve as shown at figure 11, with a duplex piston valve as
shown at figure 12 or with any other suitable form of valve and have a diaphragm or
as shown at figure 13 a piston for operating the valve lever. The hydraulic engines
employed in the improved apparatus for compressing air and as illustrated at
figures 1 to 8 may be applied for pumping water and for pumping purposes
generally.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, wo declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The combination of parts constituting the improved apparatus for raising or
forcing liquids substantially as described with reference to figure 9 of the annexed
drawings.
2. The combination of parts constituting the improved apparatus for raising or
forcing liquids, substantially as described, with reference to figure 10 of the annexed
drawings.
3. In apparatus for raising or forcing liquids by air pressure the provision of an
automatically operating valve for controlling the flow of actuating fluid through the
air compressing engines, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of parts constituting the improved pumping apparatus herein
described with reference to figures 1 to 8 of the annexed drawings.
5. The improved pressure regulating or reducing valve herein described under
different modifications with reference to figures 11, 12 and 13 of the annexed
drawings.
Dated this Twenty sixth day of March 1888.