Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of New Bridge Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
It is very well known that in vacuum air pumps, the pressure in the receiver or
in that space which is being exhausted of air, becomes less and less until finally, it
is not sufficient to operate the valves although there still remains some air in the
receiver. My invention relates to an automatic means for operating the valves,
said means being independent of the pressure in the receiver.
I am aware that heretofore mechanical means have been provided for this
purpose, and therefore I lay no claim to such means. My invention relates to
means dependent for action upon electricity.
The object therefore of the invention is to apply electricity to an air pump in
such a manner that the electric energy may automatically operate the valves.
Accordingly, my invention consists in applying electro magnets in the neighbour-
hood of one or both of the valves. The valves are mounted upon any suitable
gearing which may be varied indefinitely. The simplest is, perhaps, a lever one
end of which is linked to the lever and the other secured to a piece of soft iron
employed as an armature. A magnet is placed adjacent to the armature so that
when a current passes through it the armature will be attracted towards the
magnet and thereby operate the valves. Those who are versed in the art can
understand how the said electromagnets may be switched in and out of the current
by means of any suitable commutator which can be operated by the vibratory
motion of the piston.
My invention does not consist of any special mechanical device operated by
electricity; but it includes broadly the application of electric energy for the
automatic operation of valves in air pumps.

page_text: Pumps.
I WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of 70 Market Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, 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 :-
It is very well known that in vacuum air pumps the pressure in the receiver or
in that space which is being exhausted of air becomes less and less until finally it
is not sufficient to operate the valve although practically there is some air left in
the receiver. This invention relates therefore in particular to means for operating
said valve, said means being independent of the pressure in the receiver and
adapted to be operated by electricity.
The object of my invention is to provide the valves of an air pump with
devices adapted to operate automatically.
In order to illustrate the practical manner of carrying out the invention and tó
enable others skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use
the same, drawings are hereunto annexed and described.
Fig. 1 is a general view, partly in section and with some portions broken away;
Fig. 2 is a modification and Fig. 3 shows a detail of construction of the piston.
The device embodying my invention consists essentially of the combination of
the piston A; the cylinder B; receiver C; a chamber D, communicating with
said receiver; a first valve E. leading to said receiver from said cylinder; a spring
support F. for said valve; an operating lever G. geared at one end to said valve
and fixed at the other end to an armature H; an electro-magnet I under said
armature, and in circuit with a first electric generator J; a second valve K. and a
spring support L therefor; and armature L attached to said valve; an electro-
magnet M. under said armature and in a circuit having a second electric generator N ;
and a commutator O. having electrical connection with said circuits and with a pole
changer P which is geared to said piston.
Some of the details of construction are as follows:
Fig. 3 shows a ring Q. similar to those composing the piston A. A triangular
piece of wire R. and nut S serve as a means of making the ring larger or smaller so
as to vary the pressure of the leather or rubber packing S against the inner surface
of the cylinder. The pole changer P. geared to the piston of the cylinder T.
containing the conical pieces T and T. supported by spiral springs U and U. These
conical pieces are adapted to contain other conical pieces V and V suspended from
the handle W. of the piston. The commutator consists of 2 solenoids X and X
having a common core Y. to which is fixed a piece of insulating substance a
supporting a contact piece b which is adapted to slide from the contact piece c to
the contact piece d.
;
J
In both electric valves the magnets I and M are located without the respective
valve chambers except one end of each which screws as shown into the said valve
chambers.

page_text: The operation of the air pump is substantially the same as in ordinary air pumps
except as regards the valves. When the contact points V and T. come together the
current passes through the magnet X drawing the core to the left so that the
current can pass through the contacts b and c into magnet M which operates.
the valve K. and keeps it open until the contacts V₁ and U switch the current
through magnet X drawing the core T to the right thereby allowing the current to
energize the magnet I which keeps the valve open until the contacts V. and T.
come together again.
The invention is not limited to the precise construction herein before described,
as it is evident that many modifications may be made therein without departing
from the spirit of the invention.
In Fig. 2 is shown the valve E¹ partially supported by a spring F and by a
weight or core H¹ which is connected to the valve stem G¹ by cords e passing over
pulleys f.
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 combination with the usual valves and piston of an air pump, operating
electrical devices geared or connected to said piston and to said valves.
2. In an air pump, the combination of a piston, a cylinder in which said piston
fits in the usual manner; a first and second valve in said cylinder, the first com-
municating with the air pump receiver and second with the atmosphere; electrical
operating devices geared to said valves and electrical commutating devices geared
or connected to said piston and having electrical connections to said operating
devices, substantially as described.
3. In combination with an electric air pump, two solenoids having a common
core; a piece of insulating substance rigidly fixed thereto; a piece of conducting
substance secured to the said insulating substance and resting upon one of two
conducting pieces, the said three pieces having electrical connections as described.
4. In an air pump, the combination with the handle or operating lever of the
pump, of a fulcrum for said lever; loosely suspended conically shaped contact
pieces or terminals to said handles, one being on each side of the fulcrum; corre-
sponding terminals supported on springs and located below the first named
terminals; electric valves to said pumps; and suitable electrical connections
substantially as described.
5. In an air pump, the combination of the usual piston, cylinder and receiver; &
chamber communicating with said cylinder and with said receiver; a first valve
leading to said receiver from said cylinder; a spring support or balance for said
valve; an operating lever geared or connected at one end to said valve and fixed
at the other end to an armature; an electro-magnet under said armature and in
circuit with a first electric generator; a second valve and a spring support or
balance therefor; an armature attached to said valve; an electro-magnet under
said armature and in a circuit having a second electric generator; and a com-
mutator having electric connection with said circuits and with a pole changer
which is geared to said piston; substantially as described.