IMPROVEMENTS IN BUCKETS FOR PUMPS, ESPECIALLY SUITABLE FOR PUMPS FOR PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Reddicliffe, of Seglenlas Mine, Llanidloes,
in the County of Montgomery, Mine Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BUCKETS FOR PUMPS, ESPECIALLY SUITABLE FOR PUMPS FOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Reddicliffe at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st June 1867.
I, FRANCIS REDDICLIFFE, of Seglenlas Mine, Llanidloes, in the County of
Montgomery, Minė Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUCKETS FOR PUMPS, ESPECIALLY SUITABLE FOR PUMPS FOR
MINES, AND IN PISTONS FOR STEAM AND OTHER ENGINES," to be as follows:-
My improved bucket consists of two plates placed one above the other, and
connected together by distance pieces. Upon the faces of these plates, which
stand towards each other, are protuberances or projections, which are so

page_text: disposed that they do not stand opposite each other, but in directions between
each other, and each extends for about half the space between the two plates.
The packing pieces and gearing are introduced into the apertures between
the protuberances or projections, and are made to fit water-tight and also to
overlap each other at the ends. Each packing piece carries an arm projecting
inward and furnished with a rack; these racks are so disposed as to receive a
pinion between them, by means of which the packing may be adjusted as it
wears, the pinion carrying a fork, and when the gearing is to be adjusted the
rods are to be disengaged from the engine at the top of the pump and the
bucket lowered on a bar near the bottom of the working barrel. The fork
crossing the bar will keep the pinion in position, and the bucket being turned
by the rods will be equal to turning the pinion, and the gearing will thus be
adjusted. The bucket can then be drawn up clear of the bar and set to work.
The gearing may be of leather, gutta percha, caoutchouc, brass, or other
material. Instead of the pinion and racks for adjusting the gearing the arms
may have a hole through their inner extremity, and through each of these
boles a bar passes; these bars are all united at one end, and diverge at or in
the direction of the other extremity, so that when made to pass up and down
through the holes by a screw or otherwise, and when I proceed by turning
the bucket, as in the other case, the gearing is pushed out, or drawn back, or
adjusted, as required.
The like arrangements are applicable in similar manner to pistons for steam
and other engines
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Francis Reddicliffe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th December 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
REDDICLIFFE, of Seglenlas Mine, Llandiloes, in the County of Montgomery,
Mine Agent, send.greeting.
....
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by. Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of June, in- the year. of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in-the thirty-first. year of
Her.reign did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Francis Reddicliffe, Her special licence that I, the said Francis
Reddicliffe, my.executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1,

page_text: the said Francis Redilicliffe, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MOTIVE POWER ENGINES AND PUMPS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Francis Reddicliffe, 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 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 I, the said Francis Reddicliffe, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following.
statement :-
⚫ These improvenients in the construction of motive-power engines and pumps
have for their object and purpose the adoption of mechanical arrangements
whereby I am enabled effectually to adjust the packing of the pistons of steam
or motive-power engines or pump 'buckets as the same wears away in course
of working, thus keeping it in good order.
•
As regards pump buckets (the main features of the Invention being the
same in these as in the pistóns of steam or motive-power engines) my im-
provements consist in the mechanical arrangements following, namely, I
have two plates or rings of metal' placed one above the other and connected;
together by distance pieces. Upon the faces of these plates which stand
toward each other are protuberances or projections "so disposed that they do
not stand opposite each other but in directions between one another, and each
extends for half the space between the two plates. The packing pieces or
gearing are introduced into the apertures between the protuberances or
projections; they are made to fit water-tight, and also to overlap each other
at the ends. Each packing piece carries an arm projecting inwards and
furnished with a rack. These racks are so disposed as to receive a pinion
between them by means of which the packing may be adjusted as it wears.
The pinion carries a fork, and when the packing or gearing is to be adjusted
the rods are to be disengaged from the engine at the top of the pump and the
bucket lowered on a bar near the bottom of the working barrel. The fork

page_text: crossing the bar will keep the pinion-in position, and the bucket being turned
by the rods will be equivalent to turning the pinion, and the packing or
gearing will thus be adjusted. The bucket can then be drawn up clear of
the bar and set to work. The packing or gearing may be of leather,. gutta
percha, caoutchouc, brass, or other material. Instead of the pinion and rack
for adjusting the packing or gearing the arms may simply have a hole through
their inner extremities, and through each of these holes a bar of iron be made
to pass the bars all to be united together at one end and diverge in 'the
direction of the other extremity, so that when they are made to pass up and
down through the holes by means of a screw (by turning the bucket as in the
other case) the packing or gearing will be pushed out or drawn back as
.desired.
By reference to the Drawings accompanying this Specification the details of
this Invention will be readily understood.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
(Drawing No. 1) Fig. 1 (plan view). A, the packing or gearing; a, a,
-shewing the overlap; B, the part to which the packing or gearing is fixed;
C, arms carrying the racks; D, the racks; E, the pinion. The fork and bar are
'the same as in Fig. 3. (Drawing No. 2). In Fig. 2 (vertical section) A, support
for the pinion; B, the arms; C shews where the arms pass through and support
one another.
(Drawing No. 2). Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, shew the other method of adjusting
the packing.. or. gearing. Fig. 3 (sectional view). A, the packing pieces or
gearing; B, the arms carried by packing pieces or gearing; C, bars passing
through the arms; D, the screw; E, the fork; F, the bar at bottom of the
pump barrel. Fig. 4 (plan). A, the arms carried by packing pieces or gearing;
B, the holes in the bars through which the bars pass; D, the screw.. Fig. 5
(partial plan view). A, the packing or gearing; B, part carrying the packing
pieces or gearing; D, the hole in the arm through which the bar passes.
Although I have shewn in the Drawings the Invention as applied to pump
buckets the practical man will without further description readily understand
how the same may be applied to pistons of steam or other motive-power
engines.
'
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare':
that I claim the Invention of the improvements in the construction of motive-
power engines consisting in the adoption of the mechanical arrangement

page_text: herein-before set forth for enabling the packing of pistons and pump buckets
to be adjusted as the same wears away in the course of working.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Reddicliffe, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 16th day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven."
Witness,
ADAM LEE,
Hendre Mines,
Mold.
FRANCIS REDDICLIFFE. (L.B.)