Improvements in Pneumatic Apparatus for Raising Water and other Liquids.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Apparatus for Raising Water and
other Liquids.
I, LOUIS LÁNG, Director of the Budapester Pumpen- und Maschinenfabrik, of
45, Aeussere, Weitznerstrasse, Budapest, Hungary, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to pneumatic apparatus for raising water and
other liquids, and is particularly adapted for raising liquids from deep borings,
but as hereinafter explained it may be advantageously employed in other cases,
The improved apparatus forming the subject of the present invention will
give a higher useful effect as compared with machines and apparatus hitherto
known. A characteristic feature of the improved apparatus is constituted by
the fact that a chamber which is immersed in the liquid to be raised may be, by
the intermediation of a suitable reversing arrangement, brought periodically
alternately into communication with a suction and a compressed air conduit by
the action of the rising liquid itself, so as to be periodically automatically filled
and again emptied. In liquid raising apparatus operated by compressed air as
hitherto known a more or less considerable per-centage of compressed air had
to be allowed to escape unutilized. According to the present invention the equi-
valent quantity of air is always employed and it is only the decrease of tension
due to the work performed and leakage which has to be made good by a com-
pressor.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings represent apparatus con-
structed in accordance with this invention and suitable for raising water from
boringa.
Figure 1 is a general view of the apparatus in partial section, and Figures 2
and 3 illustrate detail arrangements hereinafter described. Figures 4 and 5
illustrate a modification of apparatus suitable for employment for raising liquids
from wells or other places of larger diameter.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 a is a compression engine driven by suitable
power, such as steam, electricity, etc. It is connected in such manner with a
barrel or chamber 6 sunk into the liquid to be raised that this chamber may,
by turning a three way cock c or other reversing device, be put into communi-
cation with the air pressure conduit d or with the suction pipe e. The barrel
or chamber b, which for bent borings is constructed of flexible material, is fitted
with a suction valve 61 and a pressure valve (Fig. 1) and when it has been
immersed in the liquid to be raised and put in communication with the suction
pipe it will become filled with the liquid. It will, in fact, become filled faster
than is the case with apparatus working on the principle of an ordinary montejus,
because the vacuum co-operates to assist the action. If the chamber b be now
put in communication with the pressure side of the compression engine a the
liquid will be raised to the required height if the compressed air is at a sufficient
tension.
The liquid raised, or a portion thereof capable of regulation by means of the

page_text: cock f, as hereinafter explained, may be led into the reverser tank g, the liquid
level in which rises till the float opens the air escape valve i and thus allows
the liquid to enter the hood k. In the hood k is a second float which is con-
nected with the three way cock c through the intermediation of rack gear, as
shown, or in any other suitable way. The float may also be arranged to open
the exit valve m of the reverser tank g by means of suitable mechanism such
as the link connection shown.
In order to operate with the apparatus, the three way cock is first set so that
the chamber b is put in communication with the suction pipe e of the compressor a.
The liquid to be raised will thus rise through the suction strainer and the
Buction valve 6' at the lower end of the chamber b and fill the
chamber below the pressure valve 62. The three way cock 0 18
then set 80 ag to put the pressure pipe d, in which an accumu-
lator P is interposed, into communication with the chamber b. The pres-
sure of the compressed air is now exerted upon the liquid in the chamber and
this liquid is forced up the stand pipe which reaches nearly to the bottom of
the chamber b, and thence flows into the tank o. A portion of the liquid will
pass through a branch pipe which may be more or less opened or shut off by
means of a cock f and will fill the exterior compartment of the tank g until the
float rises and opens the air escape valve i of the hood k. Not until this
occurs can the liquid pass up into the hood and thus raise the float 1, which
then at once effects the reversal of the three way cock c and puts the chamber b
again in communication with the suction pipe e to cause this chamber to be
again filled.
At the same time the exit valve m has been opened by the rise of
the float and the liquid from the reversing tank g is allowed to run off into
the delivery tank o in a quantity that can be regulated by means of the cock n.
The float h thus falls and closes the air valve i so that the liquid in the hood k
cannot escape.
This liquid cannot leave the hood until the liquid level has
sunk below the lower edge of the hood. As soon as this occurs, the air passes
up into the hood k from beneath and the liquid in the hood falls and likewise
runs off through the valve m and the cock into the tank o. The float thus
suddenly sinks and reverses the three way cock, at the same time closing the
valve m, whereupon the sequence of operations is repeated. The action of the
apparatus may be accurately regulated by means of the cocks n and f.
The lower edge of the hood is preferably at the same height as that of the
highest level which it is desired to allow the liquid in the tank o to attain,
whereby the advantage is obtained that the operation of the apparatus is
slackened in proportion as the liquid rises above the level of outlet orifice of
the cock n until the action of the apparatus at length ceases altogether when
the liquid level in the tank o has reached the level of the lower edge of the
hood.
In place of the reversing arrangement above described reversing mechanism
driven from the compressor engine through the intermediation of suitable gear-
ing may be employed, and which, being actuated at determined intervals of
time by the compression engine, opens communication alternately with the suc-
tion pipe and the pressure pipe. The reversing may then be effected by means
of cock, valve slide valve, or other suitable means.
The accumulator p interposed in the pressure conduit serves for storing the
compressed air in order that the tension thereof shall not sink during the pres-
sure period of the apparatus below the minimum allowable in working.
r is
a snifting valve inserted in the suction pipe e and serves to compensate for the
compressed air taken up by the liquid raised or lost by reason of leakage which
may occur.
So long as the liquid to be raised flows uniformly to the chamber 6, the action
of the apparatus can be so regulated by the manipulation of the cocks f and n
that the chamber 6 is never entirely emptied, so that compressed air cannot
escape up the liquid stand pipe., In order however to prevent escape of com-

page_text: pressed air in the case of irregular flow a float valve s is preferably disposed
in the chamber b, as shown in Figure 2, which valve closes before the liquid
falls to the level of the mouth of the standpipe and therefore prevents escape
of the air up the standpipe.
When the liquid has to be raised from particularly narrow borings, the tube-
sections of which however are well connected up, the construction shown in
Figure 3 may be employed with advantage. This consists of two pistons u and v
maintained at a suitable distance apart by means of a pipe t, these pistons en-
closing a space of the bore pipe, this space constituting a substitute for the
chamber b, Fig. 1. The piston u is connected to a tube t¹ reaching up to the surface of
the earth. A wire rope w similarly reaches from the piston to the surface of
the earth. The pistons u and v may advantageously consist each of two discs
between which are interposed india rubber rings, the ring in the piston being
of somewhat smaller diameter than the bore pipe, while the piston u contains
a ring of similar diameter to that of the piston v, and also a still smaller one,
as shown in the figure. If now the tube is secured at its upper end and the
wire rope w pulled taut, the outer rubber ring in the piston u, and the rubber
ring in piston will press against the wall of the bore pipe so that the space
is closed in an air tight manner. The connection between the space and the
compressor a is effected through the pipe t' by means of one or more branches ta
(one being shown) which lead into the space enclosed between the two concentric
rubber rings of the piston u, which space communicates with the space x by
means of several small openings. The liquid rises in the pipe t and enters the
space in the piston u which is enclosed by the inner rubber ring and from which
space several openings adapted to be closed by an annular non-return valve lead
to the portion of the bore tube above the piston u into which the liquid passes
up, and thence to the stand pipe and to the tank o.
In cases where the liquid has not to be raised from borings but from wells
or receptacles of larger diameter, and the employment of an ordinary pump is
excluded by reason of the chemical nature of the liquid to be raised or for any
other cause, the construction represented in Figures 4 and 5 may be employed.
This consists of a casing A with a suction valve S, a pressure pipe K passing
down into the casing A and carrying a pressure valve at its lower end. In the
casing A is a hood B provided with an air valve C operated by a float F. In
the hood B is a suitably mounted large
cock E through the inter mediation of
levers, rack and toothed sector as shown.
alternately into communication with the
the compressor.
Hoat D, which operates a three way
suitable gearing such for example as
This three way cock puts the casing A
suction pipe and the pressure pipe of
The action of this apparatus is as follows:-Upon putting the casing into
communication with the suction pipe of the compressor the casing becomes filled,
but the liquid cannot enter the hood B. It is not until the liquid raises the
float F of the air valve C that it can enter the hood and raise the float D to
cause the three way cock E to be reversed. By this reversal the casing has now
been put in communication with the pressure pipe, and the liquid is forced out
through the pipe K.
As soon as the level in the casing falls below the lower edge of the hood the
liquid in the hood B runs out of same, the float 1) falls and effects the reversal
of the three way cock, and the series of operations begins anew.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:―
1. In pneumatic apparatus for raising liquids, the combination of a liquid
chamber such as b, a suction conduit and a pressure conduit, said chamber being
adapted to be put alternately in communication with said suction conduit and
said pressure conduit, and means for effecting the alternate reversals to bring

page_text: Baid liquid chamber alternately into communication with said suction and, pres-
sure conduits either automatically by the liquid raised, or mechanically, from
another source of power, whereby said liquid chamber may be periodically filled
with liquid and such liquid periodically forced up therefrom substantially as
described.
2. In apparatus of the kind specified in Claim 1, means substantially as
described for automatically effecting the alternate reversals specified in Claim 1
by the action of the liquid raised or a portion thereof, said means comprising
a tank such as g, a hood (k) therein provided with an air escape valve (2) adapted
to be closed by a float (h), a second float (7) in said hood and an outlet valve (m),
means connecting said float (7) with the suction and pressure conduit reversing
apparatus and with said outlet valve (m) all arranged and operating substantially
as described and shown in Figure 1.
3. The combination with apparatus of the kind specified in Claims 1 and 2 of
a tank such as o, wherein the highest level which it is desired to allow the
liquid to attain corresponds with the lower edge of the hood herein before
described, whereby the action of the apparatus is automatically arrested when
this level is attained, substantially as described.
4. In apparatus of the kind specified in Claim 1 the construction of the liquid
chamber (6) of flexible material, for the purpose of enabling same to be inserted
in bent borings.
5. In apparatus of the kind specified in Claims 1 to 4, the arrangement of a
float valve such as 8 in the liquid chamber (b) for the purpose of preventing a
loss of compressed air in the flow of the liquid, substantially as described and
represented in Figure 2.
6. In apparatus of the kind specified in Claim 1, the substitution for the
chamber (b) of a space such as r enclosed between two packed pistons (u and v)
substantially as described.
7. In apparatus of the kind herein referred to, the combination of a casing
such as A, a pressure pipe (K) passing into same, a hood in said casing, an air
escape valve in said hood, said valve being operated by a float (F,) a float (D)
working in said hood and connected with the suction and pressure conduit
reversing apparatus, all constructed and operating substantially as described and
represented in Figures 4 and 5.
8. Apparatus for raising liquids constructed and operating substantially as
described and shown in Figures 1 and 2 and in Fig. 3, and in Figures 4 and 5.
Dated the 25th der of August 1800
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.